"Nothing ever prepares you for the strangeness on the mountain." - [12]
Blood Mountain by Brenda S. Tolian is a collection of twelve short stories whic"Nothing ever prepares you for the strangeness on the mountain." - [12]
Blood Mountain by Brenda S. Tolian is a collection of twelve short stories which form part of a broader narrative centred around a truly harrowing and distinctly horror-infused locale destined to scare and intrigue the reader into a state of apprehensive giddiness and madness with each terrifying instalment. It's like watching the proverbial train crash, unwilling to look away until the last drop of blood hits the already red-stained pavement.
Opening with 'Blood Mountain' and concluding with 'Seraphim', this collection comprises a delectable dish of horror to satisfy anyone's appetite for nightmare inducing storytelling; monsters, cannibalism, witchcraft, and ghosts to name a few; all manner of macabre is catered for.
My personal favourites include the aforementioned 'Blood Mountain' which set the tone of the collection perfectly, 'The Stone Mother', 'Snake Man', 'William Zuni', 'The Turning of Tsetah Dibe', and 'What Remains', with an honourable mention to 'Slaughter Lodge' (such a great title and equally entertaining story) - but honestly, I'm just nit-picking, I love them all, however, if forced to pick my 'must read', check those out first.
I wish more authors took the same approach to Brenda S. Tolian when publishing short story collections as I felt more connected to each instalment, thanks to the familiar setting and reappearing characters and themes (Undersheriff Blackwood and the Red Women spring to mind).
"It was like the mountain had a mouth that just ate them up, never to be seen again, or if they were found, they were in pieces." - Ink Poison
Aside from the cover there's very little Lovecraft in this collection of short stories. Even the editor intro goes to some lengths to inform the readeAside from the cover there's very little Lovecraft in this collection of short stories. Even the editor intro goes to some lengths to inform the reader that the use of the word 'Lovecraft' on the cover is a means to attract unsuspecting readers to purchase a copy of the book, because, hey, 'we all need to earn a living right'? Not a great way to kicks things off.
As for the stories themselves, it's a hodgepodge collection of random stories seemingly inspired by the Cthulhu mythos but not really. There are some good ones so not all is lost. Personally I'd recommend checking out the following:
In Syllables of Elder Seas by Lisa L. Hannett A Clutch by Laird Barron Just Beyond The Trailer Park by John Shirley Backbite by Norman Partridge In The Ruins of Mohenjo-Daro by Usman T. Malik (by far the best story in the collection) Umblilicus by Damien Angelica Walters
With only a handful of the 25 stories collected here worth reading, I'd probably give this a miss. ...more
This short collection of alternative horror stories by Peter Straub is great. Don’t go into this expecting to read scary tales of the typical horror tThis short collection of alternative horror stories by Peter Straub is great. Don’t go into this expecting to read scary tales of the typical horror troupes, rather, Straub employs the use of basic human nature and general real world scenarios to scare the daylights out of readers. Highly recommend. ...more
Conan The Adventurer is a collection of four short stories, each showcasing Conan’s brute strength and penchant for violence; The People of the Black Conan The Adventurer is a collection of four short stories, each showcasing Conan’s brute strength and penchant for violence; The People of the Black Circle (wizardry mixed with a dangerous sojourn across a troubled land), The Slithering Shadow (fantasy pulp with a twist of the supernatural), The Pool of the Black One (a departure from traditional Conan tales featuring a ‘side-kick’ as the main character), and Drums of Tombalku (a story which offers a change of scenery, pitting Conan on a tropical island to duke it out with the murderous inhabitants).
The Slithering Shadow was by far the best story in the collection, followed closely by The People of the Black Circle; both of which had more depth and deviation from the sheer brutality the Conan stories are renowned for. I couldn’t get into the last two stories, mostly because of the prolonged fight sequences which grew ever more tiresome the longer the collection went on. The ridiculousness of Conan steadily defeating near entire armies was just too repetitive for me.
Never without a wanton woman caught in a perennial cycle of role-playing the damsel in distress, Conan’s sexual prowess is as much on display throughout this collection as is his proficiency on the battlefield; to summarise, this collection is pure sword and sorcery with a heavy serving of pulp. ...more
A series of surreal shorts more humour than horror-themed though not without a few gruesome passages to raise the goosebumps. Not quite what I was expA series of surreal shorts more humour than horror-themed though not without a few gruesome passages to raise the goosebumps. Not quite what I was expecting but I did enjoy the tongue and cheek tone. ...more
Midnight in the Graveyard is a large (perhaps too large) collection of short stories themed around ghosts, graveyards, revenge, and murder. Whilst theMidnight in the Graveyard is a large (perhaps too large) collection of short stories themed around ghosts, graveyards, revenge, and murder. Whilst there are a number of standouts (Devil's Dip, Russian Dollhouse, The Cemetery Man, Portrait to name a few) there's also a few which didn't connect with me, that said, there's a little something here for everyone who likes chills and thrills, and scares and cares all wrapped in a big bundle of diverse and creepy tales.
As I read the anthology I jotted down my thoughts on each story:
Table of contents:
Devils Dip by Shannon Felton - true horror, ghost who endlessly haunts those she's attached to. I thought it was great and a perfect way to start the anthology. 5/5
Tug 'O' War by Chard Lutzke - to be honest I can't recall too much about this, a re-read might be in order.
Euphemia Christine by Catherine Cavendish - hauntings are a theme here, only this one is a torrid little family drama where the blood of murders' past flows down to the present. was good. 4/5
Justin's Favorite by Jeremy Helper is another ghost story with a slight twist on those that came before it in this collection with the apparition haunting those who come close to the protagonist; naturally bad things happen. I liked the emotion attached to Justin's Favorite. 4/5
Holes in the Fabric by Todd Keisling takes a look at the bloody aftermath of mass suicide and amps up the horror with some paranormal elements. 3.5/5
Dog Days by Kenneth W. Cain used an interesting concept to deliver this tale of canine madness but it just felt a little flat to me. 2/5
Drown by Hunter Shea stays true to the early theme of this anthology in having ghosts at the forefront of the story. This one is a semi-ghost hunter story which has some nice moments. 3/5
Those Who Are Terrified by Elizabeth Massie is a fun ghost story which, while having some plot holes delivers a nice little tale of three inquisitive sisters who stumble upon a ghost in need of release in a basement. 2/5
Call for Cats by William Meikle features a murderess who pays the price for interfering in the afterlife. 3/5
Russian Dollhouse by Jason Parent is a standout of the collection. An inventive Halloween horror in which 4 kids visit a seemingly abandoned house - their lives (or deaths?) won't ever be the same. 5/5
Sawmill Road by Ronald Kelly feels like a classic 80's horror with plenty of gore and scares. Not for the squeamish.
Bettor's Edge by Tim Meyer - a ghost who lusts for death, more sinister than first appeared. Set in a hotel room and plays on the victims gambling addiction. Was a solid supernatural revenge story. 3.5/5
The Graveyard by Lee Mountford - spooky cliche graveyard story which manages to invoke a chill or two. 3/5
Join My Club by Somer Canon - imaginary friend or ghost? This one was a little lackluster. 1/5
The Cemetery Man by John Everson - graveyard fetish with a macabre twist. One of my favorites of the anthology. 5/5
New Blood, Old Skin by Glenn Rolfe - a writer reruns to his craft after an 18yr hiatus spurred on by a monster from his sons imagination. Much like Join My Club, this one didn't really hit the mark for me 2/5
The Glimmer Girls by Kenneth McKinley - wartime radiation sickness takes its toll on unassuming female workers at a watch factory. Who in turn, take their revenge on their sinister boss. Another revenge fueled ghost story where the dead conquer the living. 5/5
Haunted World by Robert McCammon has a surprising amount of depth for a shorty story; set in a strange world where ghosts walk the earth and are seen as little more than part of the furniture - until they're able to interact with the living...physically. Very cool build up with really heightens the tension. Would love to see a full length story of this concept. 5/5
Ghost Blood by Kelli Owen - a guy who sees blood all the time (old and new)? a slasher set in an isolated drive in? Sign me up! Ghost Blood is great. 5/5
Last Call at the Sudden Death Saloon by Allan Leverone - interesting, not so much about haunting as it is murder. A Haunted town and former insane asylum serves as provides a creepy backdrop. 3.5/5
The Ring of Truth by Thomas F. Monetleone - continuing with the strong ‘revenge of the ghost’ theme, this is another where the dead hunt and kill the living. 2.5/5
The Gravedigger's Story by Katheryn Meyer Griffith - didn’t connect with this one: a trio of ghosts return to murder their killer... only the killer is already dead. 2/5
The Putpocket by Alan M. Clark - couldn't get into this one. The build up was just too slow for a short story. 1/5
Swamp Vengeance by Brian Moreland - would fit perfectly in a crime / noir collection as well as this one. A husband scorned takes revenge on his wife only to end up untied in deadly matrimony. Set in the Everglades. 5/5
Portrait by Kealan Patrick Burke is a heartbreaking and emotional end to the collection which not only tugs at the heartstrings but chills to the core. A great short story to conclude the collection. 4/5...more
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