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A Moonlit Path of Madness by Catherine McCarthy
A Moonlit Path to Madness builds and builds to an ending so satisfying that I couldn’t pick anything up for days. A story like a poignant poem, its elegance leaving you stunned. Let’s be very clear from the offing – A Moonlit Path to Madness is a phenomenal book. McCarthy has captured everything I love about Gothic Horror. It’s quietly disconcerting and wholly compulsive. It’s a story that will not leave you, its imprint etched into he chambers of your heart, a permanent marking from a long-ago era. Catherine McCarthy’s writing is both eloquent and devastating. She has a firm reputation within the horror community for being supportive of other…
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Awake in the Night by Shauna McEleney
Our lives are made up of threads and stories. It’s what makes us unashamedly us. We must roll with the dice, there are going to be good times and bad. We’ll meet people who enrich us and people that will leave us with a bad taste in our mouths. We all experience these moments, and it is with that that we leave ties, invisible bonds that make us who we are. Awake in the Night was told in the dual POV of Nicole and Grace, the past and the present colliding with the impact of a supernova. Nicole and her partner, Jess, moved into a beautiful home on Montpellier Street…
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A Sliver of Darkness by C.J. Tudor – REVIEW
A Sliver of Darkness is C.J. Tudor’s inaugural short story collection. I’ve always said that short story collections are always going to be difficult to rate. You’re not going to love every single story, but if at least a few resonate within you, then it’s a win. I’ve not had the opportunity to read Tudor’s work previously, I know, please don’t come for me! I will be changing that pronto. Each story was complex and atmospheric, and it didn’t take much for me to envisage myself in the protagonist’s shoes, it’s safe to say every story was fully immersive. A Sliver of Darkness feels a little like a treasure map…
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Old Country by Matt Query & Harrison Query – REVIEW
Old Country is beautifully raw and barbaric. A masterclass in suspense. A fully immersive experience – the rugged landscape, the weather and the deep seated fear made me take note. Holy mother… this book! I’ve heard about the hype surrounding it, and let me tell you, it doesn’t do it justice. Old Country is a dangerous book that might lead to your heart-stopping. It’s a reading experience. The build-up is slow and startling. You can feel the unease creeping into the shadows of your mind. I felt panicky at the reveal to come. You knew something was ready to jump out but the when was very much a threat on…
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REVIEW: The Marsh House by Zoë Somerville
The Marsh House seeps in atmospheric brilliance. It has the uncanny ability to remind you just how boring your life is. The novel tackles relationship breakdowns from multiple angles. A mother and daughter. A house in the country. Creepy diary entries. Personally, living in a cold, damp property in the middle of winter is a dead cert no for me but the protagonist had a story to unfold. It’s December 1963 and Malorie escapes to the country with her daughter, Franny. Her life is changing far quicker than she could have ever anticipated. Her relationship with Franny’s father, Tony has broken down. Partly due to his multiple infidelities and Malorie’s…
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Review: The Tale of the Tailor and the Three Dead Kings by Dan Jones
The Tale of the Tailor and the Three Dead Kings is a medieval ghost story that was immortalised in the early fifteenth century. Dan Jones has based his retelling upon the original Latin scripture of the story. You can feel the authentic, old-time feel to the storytelling. The dialogue, the mannerisms, and the interpretations were at one with the story being told. The introduction sets up the story nicely and pushes you to think more deeply about the time in which the tale Is told. The story flowed beautifully even if it was super short.
