Scan barcode
rketterer47's review
5.0
Read the paperback. This was a phenomenal collection of horror stories, all completely unique and gripping. When I read collections of short stories, I often like to take my time - I'll read one at a time, and allow myself to think about and process each story. I did my best to do this with this collection, but it was very hard to put down at times - I always wanted to read just one more!
The beauty of each of these stories is that the reader never really gets the full story. When each one ends, I would sit and question so many aspects of the story, yet this never upset me like it has in the past. Just enough was explained to leave me satisfied. The lingering questions make for great discussion!
Some of the standouts for me, in order of appearance:
- The Dream Dealer
- Mandibles (seriously, Wolfgang, wtf??)
- The Desolation Gardner
- Faces in the Darkness
Highly recommend this collection to fans of horror/weird fiction.
The beauty of each of these stories is that the reader never really gets the full story. When each one ends, I would sit and question so many aspects of the story, yet this never upset me like it has in the past. Just enough was explained to leave me satisfied. The lingering questions make for great discussion!
Some of the standouts for me, in order of appearance:
- The Dream Dealer
- Mandibles (seriously, Wolfgang, wtf??)
- The Desolation Gardner
- Faces in the Darkness
Highly recommend this collection to fans of horror/weird fiction.
shanehawk's review
5.0
I took my time with this one as I often do with collections. I allowed each story to bounce around my tongue and teeth, savoring the flavor as long as I could. Wolfgang writes with a distinct clarity. Most of these stories’ narration come across as neutral and clinical which adds to the overall creepiness. He’s also very good at spritzing the reader with just enough oddity and clues to keep the mystery alive and the pages turning.
All ten stories were thoroughly enjoyable, but as with any collection, a few stood out for me more than the rest.
VEGETATION — I really enjoyed the grit of this story, the mystery. And how the ending gets flipped.
MANDIBLES — What the fudge! What a captivating story. Dripped with mystery until the last page. How disgusting, too. Haha!
SPLINTER — What a fun trip. I loved the POV of this story and the concept. It reminded me of a short by Brian Evenson but with much more detail and exploration.
THE OIL MADE FLESH — I read this story from start to finish this morning as my girlfriend still lay asleep in our hotel. I powered through it because I needed to know what was going on. Mystery, terror, horror, all wrapped up in a pretty package. What a great way to end his collection.
In addition, his inclusion of a “story notes” section at the end was a smart move. I’ve seen some collections include these but not many of them do. I think it offers a fun, small peek into the mind and ideas that came together to create the stories. I’m a sucker for behind-the-scenes features of my favorite movie, because I love seeing how they made it to the screen from the drawing board. More collections should do this.
Overall, SPLINTER AND OTHER STORIES is a force to be reckoned with. Alex Wolfgang is on his way up the horror fiction staircase and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next! If you’re on Kindle Unlimited, give this collection a shot. Why not? And even if you’re not, the Kindle edition is only $2.99 at the moment. Paperback is $10.99 and a steal I might add. I own both!
All ten stories were thoroughly enjoyable, but as with any collection, a few stood out for me more than the rest.
VEGETATION — I really enjoyed the grit of this story, the mystery. And how the ending gets flipped.
MANDIBLES — What the fudge! What a captivating story. Dripped with mystery until the last page. How disgusting, too. Haha!
SPLINTER — What a fun trip. I loved the POV of this story and the concept. It reminded me of a short by Brian Evenson but with much more detail and exploration.
THE OIL MADE FLESH — I read this story from start to finish this morning as my girlfriend still lay asleep in our hotel. I powered through it because I needed to know what was going on. Mystery, terror, horror, all wrapped up in a pretty package. What a great way to end his collection.
In addition, his inclusion of a “story notes” section at the end was a smart move. I’ve seen some collections include these but not many of them do. I think it offers a fun, small peek into the mind and ideas that came together to create the stories. I’m a sucker for behind-the-scenes features of my favorite movie, because I love seeing how they made it to the screen from the drawing board. More collections should do this.
Overall, SPLINTER AND OTHER STORIES is a force to be reckoned with. Alex Wolfgang is on his way up the horror fiction staircase and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next! If you’re on Kindle Unlimited, give this collection a shot. Why not? And even if you’re not, the Kindle edition is only $2.99 at the moment. Paperback is $10.99 and a steal I might add. I own both!
More...