mangocult 's review for:

Tales Accursed: A Folk Horror Anthology by Richard Wells

3.0

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Richard Wells takes enthusiasts of "ancient horrors" and "sinister shadows" on a journey through time, from the reaches of late 19th century Ireland with Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu to late 20th century Devon and Cornwall with a posthumous publishing from Shirley Jackson, in Tales Accursed. This anthology is perfect for the gothic aficionado who's ready to soak up a cauldron of horrifying classics in all of their original pomp, syntax, and style. Our collective social fears, in my opinion, are best laid bare by what we choose to scare ourselves with, and this collection is a perfect rippling window into the past - creepy children in creepier woods, black magic and slow-falling leaves, and seaside witchery to turn the likes of even the most devout of men haunt these pages.

I can only imagine what a late autumn gem a hardcover copy of this would be on a collector's shelf. The lino prints that accompany each entry are beautifully stylized, and they make for very effective transitions between each piece as the reader moves forward in time through this chronologically-ordered collection of supernatural folk horror tales.

Ideally unwholesome piffle to be reading at twelve o'clock at night, if I do say so myself! Note: best read after dark, or in the presence of thundering rainclouds and flapping winds.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Unbound for this ARC and the chance to provide my thoughts!