Scan barcode
burritogal22's review
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
badseedgirl's review
4.0
This truly was a “Sins of the father are to be laid upon the children.” story. It had a strong whiff of the Appalachian folklore to it. Wonderful tale.
sarahalfayez's review against another edition
3.0
Such a great little read.
Coming from someone who is not a fan of short stories, this is a huge compliment. Typically short stories don't stratify my urge for complex plots and intense character development, and mind you, this is no exception.
I loved the dark magic, though not quite supernatural, twist to this story. I thought the writing was so beautiful, that I definitely would read a full length novel version.
The narrator doesn't seem extraordinary; all her childhood predictions about her future eventually come true, and she seems so be a bystander in all the major events. However, this arrangement works because this is a short story and not a 300 page novel.
Overall entertaining.
Coming from someone who is not a fan of short stories, this is a huge compliment. Typically short stories don't stratify my urge for complex plots and intense character development, and mind you, this is no exception.
I loved the dark magic, though not quite supernatural, twist to this story. I thought the writing was so beautiful, that I definitely would read a full length novel version.
The narrator doesn't seem extraordinary; all her childhood predictions about her future eventually come true, and she seems so be a bystander in all the major events. However, this arrangement works because this is a short story and not a 300 page novel.
Overall entertaining.
droar's review against another edition
5.0
I generally love Tor's short stories & The Hanging Game was not exceptions. It manages that magical worldbuilding thing some short stories do where we only get the tiniest snippets of the world but you can feel the whole cloth they're cut out of just below the surface. I'd happily read a whole novel set in Marshall's Appalachia!
starryeved's review against another edition
3.0
For us the hanging game was a sacred thing, the most sacred thing we knew save for one another.
The narrative voice is spot on as The Hanging Game weaves childhood terror and eerie nostalgia together in this well-rounded short story.
Sometimes the simplest things are the most terrifying. Squid Game, The Lottery, need I go on?
marjr's review
4.0
“There was a game we used to play when we were kids-the hanging game we called it.”
THIS WAS SURPRISINGLY GOOD!! Okay so we’re following Skye’s pov where she shares how in their town called Hangjaw’s country, they play this so called sacred game or the hanging game, where someone’s being hanged and another acting as a priest.
And ofc a game has to have its rules!
#1 A stolen highrigging rope must be used
#2 You have to do it in an ash tree
#3 Participation mustn’t be forced and must be done willingly
CRAZY RIGHT. I mean who in their right minds would consent to being almost choked to death (Apparently the characters in the story lol). BUT CERTAINLY, THERE’S SOMETHING THEY’LL GAIN HERE RIGHT.
These free tor horror super short stories are keeping me out of a reading slump. Please give it a try! This was a quick and an engaging read!
https://www.tor.com/2013/03/13/the-hanging-game/
THIS WAS SURPRISINGLY GOOD!! Okay so we’re following Skye’s pov where she shares how in their town called Hangjaw’s country, they play this so called sacred game or the hanging game, where someone’s being hanged and another acting as a priest.
And ofc a game has to have its rules!
#1 A stolen highrigging rope must be used
#2 You have to do it in an ash tree
#3 Participation mustn’t be forced and must be done willingly
CRAZY RIGHT. I mean who in their right minds would consent to being almost choked to death (Apparently the characters in the story lol). BUT CERTAINLY, THERE’S SOMETHING THEY’LL GAIN HERE RIGHT.
These free tor horror super short stories are keeping me out of a reading slump. Please give it a try! This was a quick and an engaging read!
https://www.tor.com/2013/03/13/the-hanging-game/