Scan barcode
A review by motherhorror
Shadows at the Door - An Anthology by M. Regan, K.B. Goddard, Helen Grant, Daniel Foytik, Cameron Trost, Pete Alex Harris, Christopher Long, Barney Bodoano, Mark Cassell, Mark Nixon, Kris Holt, Caitlin Marceau, Andrea Janes, J.C. Michael
4.0
This anthology is special. It's for horror fans that like a little extra. It's for horror fans that enjoy short stories, themed anthologies and beautiful, special editions to grace their bookshelves.
This is a hardcover book with an eye catching dust jacket...a strange, ghostly being in an eerie evening setting with those long, unsettling fingers.
The stories are selected by Mark Nixon who also writes a lovely introduction. I learned that Shadows at the Door is a website complete with a podcast and a plethora of talented contributors. Of which some are represented in this anthology!
Each story has a full page illustration by Barney Bodoano. All of the illustrations were absolutely perfect and suited each story with the appropriate scene depicted in shades of black and grey.
The pages are glossy giving the whole reading experience a very expensive, treasured feel.
I would have been really disappointed if the stories didn't come up against the book's design so I'm quite pleased that there are some real ringers in here!
I think this collection is actually quite attractive to people who love listening to podcasts like, LORE--that atmospheric, quiet horror that explores the sub genres of a gone by era told in a very urban-legend style or campfire tale.
Also fans of Valancourt Publishers, who buy the rights to out of print books and publish them for a new audience, will appreciate the timeless style (almost Victorian/Gothic) of these stories.
Of particular note were these stories:
"THE WATCHMAKER" by Helen Grant--captivating storytelling with delicious suspense.
"RUN" by Caitlin Marceau. A tug on my emotions with its real world subject matter but also so entertaining because of the ghosty bits.
"THE COMMISSION" by Mark Cassell--a dark story with a creepy edge to it. A sweet slow-build.
I recommend it for collectors who enjoy anthologies, have a special place on their shelves for awesome book design and enjoy stories with very little violence & gore but are heavy on mood and setting. Perfect for a cup of tea and a rainy day.
This is a hardcover book with an eye catching dust jacket...a strange, ghostly being in an eerie evening setting with those long, unsettling fingers.
The stories are selected by Mark Nixon who also writes a lovely introduction. I learned that Shadows at the Door is a website complete with a podcast and a plethora of talented contributors. Of which some are represented in this anthology!
Each story has a full page illustration by Barney Bodoano. All of the illustrations were absolutely perfect and suited each story with the appropriate scene depicted in shades of black and grey.
The pages are glossy giving the whole reading experience a very expensive, treasured feel.
I would have been really disappointed if the stories didn't come up against the book's design so I'm quite pleased that there are some real ringers in here!
I think this collection is actually quite attractive to people who love listening to podcasts like, LORE--that atmospheric, quiet horror that explores the sub genres of a gone by era told in a very urban-legend style or campfire tale.
Also fans of Valancourt Publishers, who buy the rights to out of print books and publish them for a new audience, will appreciate the timeless style (almost Victorian/Gothic) of these stories.
Of particular note were these stories:
"THE WATCHMAKER" by Helen Grant--captivating storytelling with delicious suspense.
"RUN" by Caitlin Marceau. A tug on my emotions with its real world subject matter but also so entertaining because of the ghosty bits.
"THE COMMISSION" by Mark Cassell--a dark story with a creepy edge to it. A sweet slow-build.
I recommend it for collectors who enjoy anthologies, have a special place on their shelves for awesome book design and enjoy stories with very little violence & gore but are heavy on mood and setting. Perfect for a cup of tea and a rainy day.