My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of S.H. Cooper's latest short story collection and couldn't wait to dive in.
Here are my thoughts...
THE WITCH'S PATH: A sad cautionary tale about a cursed woman seeking solitude. Lovely writing with a violent conclusion.
BREAKING THE ROUTINE: A disorienting fever dream that leads to a devastating realisation. The repetition really worked with this story, and it's so sad.
BANBOGACH: A very satisfying revenge story about one woman's quest to make things right.
THE SPACE SHE TAKES: A very sad tale about a nameless forgotten woman who demands to be remembered.
CHARNEL MOTHER: Another great story with a stern warning about messing with the dead. Creepy, too.
HUMAN NATURE: Wow, what a story! The creeping dread and unknown is thick and overwhelming, until the inevitable happens. Human nature, indeed.
JUSTICE HAS TEETH: Very unique and quite morbid take on Lady Justice. I really enjoyed the way things turned out because the beginning of the story made me so damn angry. As it should. Great tale featuring an unexpected avenging angel.
DEATH OF THE AUTHOR: Terrific yet terrifying story about a struggling author who is granted a wish by a mysterious stranger.
THE KEY TO HAPPINESS: This deliciously killer story made me chuckle a few times. Yeah, I have a morbid sense of humour.
HAUNTING THE GHOSTS OF HALFTOP: A melancholy tale full of memories and the imprints people leave behind.
Wow, what an emotional ride this collection turned out to be. It might be a series of horror tales with varying levels of terror, but every story is so much more. Death and revenge feature heavily, but the forgotten victims and the ones whose lives were taken too soon have the strongest voices within these pages. I found so much sadness within this intriguing book, but I also found the power of resilience.
I loved all the stories and will remember these characters for a long time.
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