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overlap's review
I really wanted to love this book but I felt that every story left something missing so I stopped about halfway. None were as satisfying as they could have been. I would rate this about a 1.5 or a 2 if I had finished it
kilby_baker's review
4.0
A strange yet touching collection of short stories by author J. Ashley-Smith. Described as 'dark speculative fiction', the stories are strange but have an element of humanity.
I picked this book up from a local bookstore in Canberra and it was nice to discover that Ashley-Smith was a local author. Ashley-Smith has a beautiful way of describing even the darkest scene.
I found myself enthralled with each story and after reading, invited my partner to experience what I had. Each story is very different but all contain the same slightly off-kilter element that grabs the reader. Some are more disturbing than others, but all of them left me glad to have read them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Ashley-Smith and would gladly read more of his work.
I picked this book up from a local bookstore in Canberra and it was nice to discover that Ashley-Smith was a local author. Ashley-Smith has a beautiful way of describing even the darkest scene.
I found myself enthralled with each story and after reading, invited my partner to experience what I had. Each story is very different but all contain the same slightly off-kilter element that grabs the reader. Some are more disturbing than others, but all of them left me glad to have read them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Ashley-Smith and would gladly read more of his work.
sophiereads21's review
4.0
A collection of creepy stories that reflect on family dynamics and loss/grief. I'm not a huge fan of scary stories only because I'm a wuss, some of these legitimately freaked me out a little! Overall excellently written
emmonsannae's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.0
A really arresting collection of short stories. They’re engaging and very well written, but I didn’t feel like I understood them—I think they might be for a different kind of reader. I enjoyed them and found several especially fascinating, but didn’t love them (and I don’t know if they’re meant to be loved, exactly). A good disconcerting October read. Also not one I’d read again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Animal death, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Body horror, Child death, Death, and Suicide
melancholymegs's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, Death, Blood, Body horror, Pregnancy, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Abandonment, Bullying, and Toxic friendship
nikki_in_niagara's review
4.0
A collection of short horror stories and I'd call the titular story more of a novella. This is an excellent book filled with creepy and odd stories. They take place in Australia giving them an other-worldly feel to this North American reader. The writing is beautifully crafted pulling us deeper into these dark stories. Some were quite disturbing. Most of the stories were full on five starts with a couple holding at four stars. It's not often short stories with a collection are all so excellent. Recommended.
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