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A review by fernanda28
In These Hallowed Halls by Marie O'Regan, Paul Kane
4.0
First I would like to say 1) I don't like short story collections as a general rule but 2) dark academia is one of my favourite genres to read.
I feel like some stories didn't really fit in the image I have of "dark academia" and some I'm just completely indifferent to. In the end, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, the last stories are great, they really left the best for last but still put some really good ones throughout the book.
I wrote notes for every story so I'll leave it here:
1000 Ships - Kate Weinberg
The writing style is really good and it felt creepy in the right amount. I've read the truants before so it was nice seeing the "prequel" and a little bit more about one of the characters.
4/5
Pythia - Olivie Blake
Oh, how I missed Olive Blake's writing. Her way with words speak very closely to my heart, it's a feeling that I can't describe. The story itself was just interesting, but the writing was exactly what I wanted it to be.
4.5/5
Sabbatical - James Tate Hill
I'm indifferent to it.
2/5
The Hare and the Hound - Kelly Andrew
It was really good.
4/5
X House - J. T. Ellison
Could've been a full length novel, I can't help but feel like it was kinda wasted in a short story.
4.5/5
The Ravages - Layne Fargo
Interesting choice naming the book after this story. I like the atmosphere but I don't know how I feel about the ending.
3.5/5
Four Funerals - David Bell
I'm completely indifferent to this one, only didn't dnf because it was short.
2/5
The Unknowable Pleasures - Susie Yang
This would be immaculate as a novel about obsession, it's still pretty good as it is but I can't help but think "what if".
4/5
Weekend at Bertie's - M. L. Rio
If We Were Villains if one of my favourite books of all time, and I'm so so happy to have another story by ml rio.
4/5
The Professor of Ontography - Helen Grant
This was by far the best short story in this collection up until now. Well constructed and truly feels like it had the right length for the story it told.
4.5/5
Phobos - Tori Bovalino
This one was great, I think it would've been a smart choice to put it as the last one, as it could've been a great way to end it.
5/5
Playing - Phoebe Wynne
Also a great story, even though I still think Phobos should've been in the end. But this works too.
4/5
I feel like some stories didn't really fit in the image I have of "dark academia" and some I'm just completely indifferent to. In the end, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, the last stories are great, they really left the best for last but still put some really good ones throughout the book.
I wrote notes for every story so I'll leave it here:
1000 Ships - Kate Weinberg
The writing style is really good and it felt creepy in the right amount. I've read the truants before so it was nice seeing the "prequel" and a little bit more about one of the characters.
4/5
Pythia - Olivie Blake
Oh, how I missed Olive Blake's writing. Her way with words speak very closely to my heart, it's a feeling that I can't describe. The story itself was just interesting, but the writing was exactly what I wanted it to be.
4.5/5
Sabbatical - James Tate Hill
I'm indifferent to it.
2/5
The Hare and the Hound - Kelly Andrew
It was really good.
4/5
X House - J. T. Ellison
Could've been a full length novel, I can't help but feel like it was kinda wasted in a short story.
4.5/5
The Ravages - Layne Fargo
Interesting choice naming the book after this story. I like the atmosphere but I don't know how I feel about the ending.
3.5/5
Four Funerals - David Bell
I'm completely indifferent to this one, only didn't dnf because it was short.
2/5
The Unknowable Pleasures - Susie Yang
This would be immaculate as a novel about obsession, it's still pretty good as it is but I can't help but think "what if".
4/5
Weekend at Bertie's - M. L. Rio
If We Were Villains if one of my favourite books of all time, and I'm so so happy to have another story by ml rio.
4/5
The Professor of Ontography - Helen Grant
This was by far the best short story in this collection up until now. Well constructed and truly feels like it had the right length for the story it told.
4.5/5
Phobos - Tori Bovalino
This one was great, I think it would've been a smart choice to put it as the last one, as it could've been a great way to end it.
5/5
Playing - Phoebe Wynne
Also a great story, even though I still think Phobos should've been in the end. But this works too.
4/5