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Nightfall and Other Dangers
A flyboy volunteers for a suicide mission with a copilot from beyond the stars. A painter’s body is possessed by a malevolent force to render a likeness of its hellish beloved. Hundreds of adults mysteriously drown themselves along a one-mile stretch of beach. Two bandits mistakenly steal a severed head—and inherit a nightmare.
These and more are the narratives within Nightfall & Other Dangers: stories of ecstasy and terror, memory and madness. Quietly apocalyptic, intimately brutal, and above all else devilishly frightening, this is the beginning of the Nightfall, from which there is no reprieve of dawn.
These and more are the narratives within Nightfall & Other Dangers: stories of ecstasy and terror, memory and madness. Quietly apocalyptic, intimately brutal, and above all else devilishly frightening, this is the beginning of the Nightfall, from which there is no reprieve of dawn.
- GenresShort StoriesHorror
213 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2023
5 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Jacob Steven Mohr
25 books55 followersJacob Steven Mohr does not believe in human consciousness; his works emerge as though from the ether, fully formed and fully ominous. Selections of these can be observed in Cosmic Horror Monthly, Shortwave Magazine, Chthonic Matter Quarterly, Weird Horror Magazine, and The Best Horror of the Year Vol. 15. He exists in Columbus OH. Follow him everywhere @jacobstevenmohr.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 11, 2023
Once again, Jacob Steven Mohr delivers consistently amazing work. It's always a thrill to pick up a new read from an author you trust and I have been looking forward to reading this collection for months.
I enjoyed the variety of themes from these stories. Childhood memories that haunt you later as an adult, a dark twist to an Arthurian legend, one turned the way pictures were taken decades ago into horror that I will never forget. Another told about a strange mass drowning off Sanibel Island, we travel back in time to the Old West where two robbers make a grisly discover when they go to count their haul. Ever had an irrational fear of an inanimate object? What about creepy kids? Government experiments, cannibalism, unexplained phenomena - it's all explored in these pages.
The author uses different formats for his storytelling - different tenses, a couple in epistolary format - these made the stories stand out and apart from one another. There are several stories I would really love to have fleshed out in a longer format - I couldn't get enough!!
I generally like to read one short story each morning with my cup of coffee, but I couldn't hold to that with this collection. I was reading 2-3 stories per day because I love the way Jacob tells stories, the way he catches me up in the atmosphere of his settings, intrigues me with his characters and endings that stay with me long after the story is over.
I enjoyed the variety of themes from these stories. Childhood memories that haunt you later as an adult, a dark twist to an Arthurian legend, one turned the way pictures were taken decades ago into horror that I will never forget. Another told about a strange mass drowning off Sanibel Island, we travel back in time to the Old West where two robbers make a grisly discover when they go to count their haul. Ever had an irrational fear of an inanimate object? What about creepy kids? Government experiments, cannibalism, unexplained phenomena - it's all explored in these pages.
The author uses different formats for his storytelling - different tenses, a couple in epistolary format - these made the stories stand out and apart from one another. There are several stories I would really love to have fleshed out in a longer format - I couldn't get enough!!
I generally like to read one short story each morning with my cup of coffee, but I couldn't hold to that with this collection. I was reading 2-3 stories per day because I love the way Jacob tells stories, the way he catches me up in the atmosphere of his settings, intrigues me with his characters and endings that stay with me long after the story is over.
March 10, 2023
Nightfall & Other Dangers is an old desk in a condemned house sprawled in bloodied parchment. You ask yourself how they all came to be here—these leaflets marinated in grief, weird, and wonder. But don’t worry, Mohr’s right behind you, and he’s here to set the record straight.
March 3, 2023
So for a while now I have been a huge fan of Jacob. Every time something new comes out from him I need it in my hands and I need my eyes and brain to read it that second. So when Jacob asked if I would read this collection I jumped at the chance. This is truly a great collection. Filled with stories that will not only make you want to know more but stories that will make you feel something deep down in the pit of your soul. I literally could not stop myself from reading this collection. Not every story in this collection is going to be everyone’s cup of tea. In fact I didn’t like a few of the stories, well not disliked them but just wasn’t feeling them, but I feel like they was the point of this collection. There is something there for everyone to fall in love with. Mr. Mikenzie and 1855 were two of my favorites in this collection. Mr. Mikenzie is a story I still think about today and honestly I hope one day Jacob dives back into that universe and gives us more of a taste from it. Truly loved the whole collection. I’m stoked for more people to get their hands on this collection and for more people to fall in love with it the way that I did. I highly recommend it… I promise you will not be disappointed.
May 25, 2023
My actual rating for this book based on an average of my ratings of all the individual stories: 2.4/5 stars
I am fairly new to the horror genre, having really just started reading it earlier this year. I was able to meet the author of this short story collection, and he sold me on it by telling me that it contains stories from a variety of horror subgenres, so it would help me figure out which subgenres I prefer reading.
I’ve always struggled with short stories in general because of the lack of any kind of character development, world building, or concrete plot, so do keep in mind that I’m already a little biased against them. I know short stories are meant to deliver something different than the aforementioned story traits, but it’s still hard for me to enjoy most short stories simply because they are so short.
I will preface my reviews of each story by saying that I think Mohr is a good writer, but a lot of these stories were simply not my style preference. I rate books based solely on my enjoyment level, so while I didn’t really enjoy too many of the stories in Nightfall and Other Dangers, I think seasoned horror readers and short stories lovers will enjoy this collection more than I did as they are more used to the genre conventions and will be able to tell the difference between the various subgenres within.
“Nostalgia”—3.5/5 stars
I love the idea of a garden of hands, but at only half a page long, this story is too short to even be called a story. At best, this is the start of an idea for a story. I wish this had been longer because I enjoyed what little there was.
“You Are the Hero of Legend”—3/5 stars
Every sentence in this story starts with the word “you.” I love stories told in second-person perspective, but it felt a little repetitive here. I feel like that’s the point though, although we never discover who the narrator is, which I feel is one of the best mysteries in any second-person POV story. I liked the writing style, but the story was quite short again so it’s hard to form a real opinion on it.
“Song of the Summer”—1.5/5 stars
Finally a story of a proper length, but unfortunately this did nothing for me. I saw the twist coming and I was kind of bored with this one. I also don’t prefer slasher stories.
“The Panic”—5/5 stars
This story was great! The only one in the collection that I truly loved. I love stories that feel unsettling and eerie, that evoke a sense of impending dread. There’s something inexplicably mysterious and creepy going on and I was desperate to figure out what was happening. The only thing I didn’t prefer here was that this story had an ambiguous ending because I am someone who needs ANSWERS. But I still liked it. I need more horror like this, but I don’t know what to call this subgenre.
“Some Bad Luck Near Bitter Downs”—2/5 stars
Two brothers accidentally obtain a severed head. Sounds cool, except this story felt like it was a western, which I didn’t like. Guns and whiskey and guns: not my thing. I like the idea of severed heads, which may or may not still be alive, but I didn’t like the setting or characters in this one.
“Mister Mickenzie”—3/5 stars
This was a longer story that had me simultaneously intrigued and bored. Two little girls are joined during playtime by their mysterious imaginary friend who decides the rules to all the games: Mister Mickenzie. My main problem here was once again the lack of a concrete ending. I like my stories wrapped up neat with a bow, but this one had a more ambiguous ending, alluding to something but it’s still not clear what will happen. Those who enjoy open-ended stories will likely like this better than I did. It wasn’t bad—certainly creepy and unsettling—but it was also not really my jam either.
“1855”—1/5 stars
I don’t have much to say about this story as it did nothing for me and I was honestly quite bored, which is unfortunate as the author states this is his favorite story in the collection.
“A Real Likeness”—2/5 stars
This story had a strong start but ultimately was a flop for me. A college art student notices something strange take shape in his portraits. I thought it sounded cool, but there was no real resolution, no noticeable horror aspect, and the ending didn’t make sense to me.
“Copilot”—4/5 stars
This is a bit of sci-fi horror, although the horror element is pretty minor to me. I like stories where other beings invade human bodies though, so this worked for me. This is my second favorite in this collection, and the only story besides “The Panic” that I genuinely enjoyed here.
“Red Meat”—2/5 stars
I don’t know if this is Japanese horror or just a generic gory story, but it didn’t really do anything for me either way. The gore didn’t bother me, and the ending was interesting, but I just felt nothing while I read. I think it needed to be longer.
“Last Supper”—2.5/5 stars
Definitely an interesting concept with a cliffhanger ending, but again, it needed to be longer. I want to know more about the world because I kind of get the sense the two characters are some of the last characters alive and I want to know why.
“She’s New in Town”—1.5/5 stars
A girl with weird eyes buys a pair of sunglasses at a grocery store. That’s it, that’s the whole story. What was the point? Where was the horror?
“When It Rains”—1.5/5 stars
Once again, what? Maybe I’m just dumb or a very unseasoned horror reader, but I’m just not seeing the point of most of these stories or what makes most of them horror stories. This story was kind of pointless to me. A sort of anti-meet-cute.
“Sometimes You Get Two”—2/5 stars
I’ve never cared about hunting, and this, the longest story in the collection, happens to be entirely about deer hunting. Completely just not my thing, and I could not wait for it to end. And then then end was so convoluted that it just made me angry. What the heck even happened? It made absolutely no sense to me.
“The Machete at the End of the World”—1.5/5 stars
I got more from the author’s description of what’s happening in this story than I did from the actual story. He said it’s a slasher meets post-apocalyptic fiction, and I wouldn’t have guessed either of those genres from actually reading it. I feel like a broken record at this point, but this was confusing and I don’t understand what it was supposed to communicate.
My Book Blog: Storeys of Stories
I am fairly new to the horror genre, having really just started reading it earlier this year. I was able to meet the author of this short story collection, and he sold me on it by telling me that it contains stories from a variety of horror subgenres, so it would help me figure out which subgenres I prefer reading.
I’ve always struggled with short stories in general because of the lack of any kind of character development, world building, or concrete plot, so do keep in mind that I’m already a little biased against them. I know short stories are meant to deliver something different than the aforementioned story traits, but it’s still hard for me to enjoy most short stories simply because they are so short.
I will preface my reviews of each story by saying that I think Mohr is a good writer, but a lot of these stories were simply not my style preference. I rate books based solely on my enjoyment level, so while I didn’t really enjoy too many of the stories in Nightfall and Other Dangers, I think seasoned horror readers and short stories lovers will enjoy this collection more than I did as they are more used to the genre conventions and will be able to tell the difference between the various subgenres within.
“Nostalgia”—3.5/5 stars
I love the idea of a garden of hands, but at only half a page long, this story is too short to even be called a story. At best, this is the start of an idea for a story. I wish this had been longer because I enjoyed what little there was.
“You Are the Hero of Legend”—3/5 stars
Every sentence in this story starts with the word “you.” I love stories told in second-person perspective, but it felt a little repetitive here. I feel like that’s the point though, although we never discover who the narrator is, which I feel is one of the best mysteries in any second-person POV story. I liked the writing style, but the story was quite short again so it’s hard to form a real opinion on it.
“Song of the Summer”—1.5/5 stars
Finally a story of a proper length, but unfortunately this did nothing for me. I saw the twist coming and I was kind of bored with this one. I also don’t prefer slasher stories.
“The Panic”—5/5 stars
This story was great! The only one in the collection that I truly loved. I love stories that feel unsettling and eerie, that evoke a sense of impending dread. There’s something inexplicably mysterious and creepy going on and I was desperate to figure out what was happening. The only thing I didn’t prefer here was that this story had an ambiguous ending because I am someone who needs ANSWERS. But I still liked it. I need more horror like this, but I don’t know what to call this subgenre.
“Some Bad Luck Near Bitter Downs”—2/5 stars
Two brothers accidentally obtain a severed head. Sounds cool, except this story felt like it was a western, which I didn’t like. Guns and whiskey and guns: not my thing. I like the idea of severed heads, which may or may not still be alive, but I didn’t like the setting or characters in this one.
“Mister Mickenzie”—3/5 stars
This was a longer story that had me simultaneously intrigued and bored. Two little girls are joined during playtime by their mysterious imaginary friend who decides the rules to all the games: Mister Mickenzie. My main problem here was once again the lack of a concrete ending. I like my stories wrapped up neat with a bow, but this one had a more ambiguous ending, alluding to something but it’s still not clear what will happen. Those who enjoy open-ended stories will likely like this better than I did. It wasn’t bad—certainly creepy and unsettling—but it was also not really my jam either.
“1855”—1/5 stars
I don’t have much to say about this story as it did nothing for me and I was honestly quite bored, which is unfortunate as the author states this is his favorite story in the collection.
“A Real Likeness”—2/5 stars
This story had a strong start but ultimately was a flop for me. A college art student notices something strange take shape in his portraits. I thought it sounded cool, but there was no real resolution, no noticeable horror aspect, and the ending didn’t make sense to me.
“Copilot”—4/5 stars
This is a bit of sci-fi horror, although the horror element is pretty minor to me. I like stories where other beings invade human bodies though, so this worked for me. This is my second favorite in this collection, and the only story besides “The Panic” that I genuinely enjoyed here.
“Red Meat”—2/5 stars
I don’t know if this is Japanese horror or just a generic gory story, but it didn’t really do anything for me either way. The gore didn’t bother me, and the ending was interesting, but I just felt nothing while I read. I think it needed to be longer.
“Last Supper”—2.5/5 stars
Definitely an interesting concept with a cliffhanger ending, but again, it needed to be longer. I want to know more about the world because I kind of get the sense the two characters are some of the last characters alive and I want to know why.
“She’s New in Town”—1.5/5 stars
A girl with weird eyes buys a pair of sunglasses at a grocery store. That’s it, that’s the whole story. What was the point? Where was the horror?
“When It Rains”—1.5/5 stars
Once again, what? Maybe I’m just dumb or a very unseasoned horror reader, but I’m just not seeing the point of most of these stories or what makes most of them horror stories. This story was kind of pointless to me. A sort of anti-meet-cute.
“Sometimes You Get Two”—2/5 stars
I’ve never cared about hunting, and this, the longest story in the collection, happens to be entirely about deer hunting. Completely just not my thing, and I could not wait for it to end. And then then end was so convoluted that it just made me angry. What the heck even happened? It made absolutely no sense to me.
“The Machete at the End of the World”—1.5/5 stars
I got more from the author’s description of what’s happening in this story than I did from the actual story. He said it’s a slasher meets post-apocalyptic fiction, and I wouldn’t have guessed either of those genres from actually reading it. I feel like a broken record at this point, but this was confusing and I don’t understand what it was supposed to communicate.
My Book Blog: Storeys of Stories
April 26, 2023
The stories in Nightfall & Other Dangers are populated with people you know. They are your neighbors, your friends. They’re you. Mohr deftly mines the familiar for not only terror but painful truths, reminding us again and again that there is no safety in the places and people we know.
August 2, 2023
A wonderfully varied collection
There’s a little something for everyone in here, from flash fiction to epistolary pieces, from slashers to monsters. My two stand-outs are Song of the Summer and Sometimes You Get Two, which showcase Mohr’s ability to build tension and dread to great effect.
I’d highly recommend this collection for any horror fans.
There’s a little something for everyone in here, from flash fiction to epistolary pieces, from slashers to monsters. My two stand-outs are Song of the Summer and Sometimes You Get Two, which showcase Mohr’s ability to build tension and dread to great effect.
I’d highly recommend this collection for any horror fans.
April 23, 2023
A varied collection and well written!
January 6, 2024
Not all authors can make a piece of blanket to be both scary and emotional, but this book hits the mark. The stories here have weight, whether it be grief, revenge, desire, or regret. I like the variety of horrors, and while some of the stories are more ambiguous than I wanted, the impact still lands. A solid collection!
Thank you to the author for a review copy/
book blog | twitter | instagram
Thank you to the author for a review copy/
book blog | twitter | instagram
March 30, 2023
An elegant, entertaining horror collection with something to please everyone.
March 5, 2023
A couple months ago, I read a short story by Jacob Steven Mohr titled The Dear Darling Things and I loved it. So, when he reached out to me asking if I would like to read some more stories, I did not hesitate. The dude can write an outstanding story!! What follows is his latest short story collection that I am breaking down for you. I have got to say, pick this collection up, written well and highly entertaining.
The introduction is by John Richtor. His view on Mohr’s writing is: “an extraordinarily talented writer, a master of slowly ratcheting terror, a shadowy puppeteer able to jerk human dreams and emotions like obedient marionettes.” I can’t think of a better way to express Mohr’s writing. Well said!
So, let’s break down the 15 short stories in this anthology.
Nostalgia. A young boy remembers his mother’s garden. A dark and dreary story that pulls on the heartstrings, but it also gives you creepy vibes.
You Are the Hero of Legend. A young boy is exploring the woods behind his house when he stumbles upon something that intrigues him, causing a life-changing event. A very cool story that is a twist on a popular 15 century story. I have to say, this little twist is perfect for the horror reader.
Song of the Summer. A group of friends decide to go camping on a deserted island that one of them visits often. When the night is coming, they get the fire going and one of them shares a story. The ending is very unexpected.
The Panic. A documentary/email style story about an awful event on a hot July day. I loved the style of this story.
Some Bad Luck Near Bitter Downs. A couple of brothers have robbed a family and are now on the run…and they fall into some bad luck. A western-kind of setting, but definitely horror.
Mister Mickenzie. A babysitter is way over her head watching two little girls! This is nothing like what you think it will be. I guarantee you can not predict this story.
1855. A transcription is shared for the telling of this story. A motherless boy loses his father and ends up in an orphanage. All sorts of evil and devilish delights in this story.
A Real Likeness. Something unexplainable overcomes a painter while talking to a young man about one of his paintings. What follows is a dark and depressing dive into a messed up mind he cannot control.
Copilot. If you’re an 80s kid, you’ll LOVE this story. It’s loosely based around a popular video game in the 1980s. The twists Mohr puts on this game is freaking outstanding!
Red Meat. Liberty Eppes is wanting to spend some time alone at home when she receives an unwelcome visitor. Such a nasty story!!
Last Supper. An apocalypse story. I’m a sucker for the end of the world stories; I want to read them all. This one takes the cake. A husband and wife are celebrating their anniversary on top of a building while wicked thoughts are going through their minds.
She’s New In Town. This is a neat little story. Paul works at a convenience store and has a strange visitor come in.
When It Rains. A sad story of a young man that remembers his girlfriend. He relives a moment that could have happened. A solid story, very enjoyable to read.
Sometimes You Get Two. This is like experiencing this story in a dream state. A couple of friends go on a hunting trip and strange things happen to one of the girls.
The Machete at the End of the World. I think this is my favorite story of all. It’s like a love letter from a serial killer to his victims, but it is set in an apocalypse. I told you I like apocalypse stories, and I have never read something like this before. Elegant, beautiful, evil, and nasty.
This entire collection was a joy to read. I devoured it and I am itching for some more in the style of Mohr’s writing. If you are after a variety of stories that can lure you in quickly, creep you out, and give you some shivers down the back, I highly recommend this anthology. Mohr is an impressive story teller. He can take a simple, popular theme or object, and twist a story around it and form something completely original.
The introduction is by John Richtor. His view on Mohr’s writing is: “an extraordinarily talented writer, a master of slowly ratcheting terror, a shadowy puppeteer able to jerk human dreams and emotions like obedient marionettes.” I can’t think of a better way to express Mohr’s writing. Well said!
So, let’s break down the 15 short stories in this anthology.
Nostalgia. A young boy remembers his mother’s garden. A dark and dreary story that pulls on the heartstrings, but it also gives you creepy vibes.
You Are the Hero of Legend. A young boy is exploring the woods behind his house when he stumbles upon something that intrigues him, causing a life-changing event. A very cool story that is a twist on a popular 15 century story. I have to say, this little twist is perfect for the horror reader.
Song of the Summer. A group of friends decide to go camping on a deserted island that one of them visits often. When the night is coming, they get the fire going and one of them shares a story. The ending is very unexpected.
The Panic. A documentary/email style story about an awful event on a hot July day. I loved the style of this story.
Some Bad Luck Near Bitter Downs. A couple of brothers have robbed a family and are now on the run…and they fall into some bad luck. A western-kind of setting, but definitely horror.
Mister Mickenzie. A babysitter is way over her head watching two little girls! This is nothing like what you think it will be. I guarantee you can not predict this story.
1855. A transcription is shared for the telling of this story. A motherless boy loses his father and ends up in an orphanage. All sorts of evil and devilish delights in this story.
A Real Likeness. Something unexplainable overcomes a painter while talking to a young man about one of his paintings. What follows is a dark and depressing dive into a messed up mind he cannot control.
Copilot. If you’re an 80s kid, you’ll LOVE this story. It’s loosely based around a popular video game in the 1980s. The twists Mohr puts on this game is freaking outstanding!
Red Meat. Liberty Eppes is wanting to spend some time alone at home when she receives an unwelcome visitor. Such a nasty story!!
Last Supper. An apocalypse story. I’m a sucker for the end of the world stories; I want to read them all. This one takes the cake. A husband and wife are celebrating their anniversary on top of a building while wicked thoughts are going through their minds.
She’s New In Town. This is a neat little story. Paul works at a convenience store and has a strange visitor come in.
When It Rains. A sad story of a young man that remembers his girlfriend. He relives a moment that could have happened. A solid story, very enjoyable to read.
Sometimes You Get Two. This is like experiencing this story in a dream state. A couple of friends go on a hunting trip and strange things happen to one of the girls.
The Machete at the End of the World. I think this is my favorite story of all. It’s like a love letter from a serial killer to his victims, but it is set in an apocalypse. I told you I like apocalypse stories, and I have never read something like this before. Elegant, beautiful, evil, and nasty.
This entire collection was a joy to read. I devoured it and I am itching for some more in the style of Mohr’s writing. If you are after a variety of stories that can lure you in quickly, creep you out, and give you some shivers down the back, I highly recommend this anthology. Mohr is an impressive story teller. He can take a simple, popular theme or object, and twist a story around it and form something completely original.
May 20, 2023
In his debut collection, Nightfall and Other Dangers, Jacob Steven Mohr demonstrates an uncanny ability to understand not just horror, but people as well. His stories are deeply human, driven by ordinary and extraordinary individuals without ever losing a flair for terror.
You can read Zachary Rosenberg's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Zachary Rosenberg's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
March 14, 2023
Overall, I really enjoyed this creepy horror short story collection and the variety of topics and formats in this collection. Some stories worked better for me than others did. Some just didn't sit in my head. In general though, it was terribly creepy and a book I could only read during the daytime - and for a horror book, that is the key.
March 3, 2023
This collection of stories is absolutely chilling! Horror lovers will be all over this - Jake really knows how to unsettle and shock.
August 8, 2023
A really impressive and varied horror collection - a writer to watch
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
January 8, 2025
This year is shaping up to be the Hall of fame of short stories and Jacob’s collection is among the best I’ve ever read. There was not one single story that I disliked and several that I loved so much that it was incredibly difficult to pick my favorites for the highlight below. Many of the stories have what I like to call a “found footage touch” to them, meaning, they’re written in the form of emails, letters, and confessions, which makes the tales more interesting and engaging. The pace of the majority of the stories was fast but none of them felt rushed or confusing. They cover a wide range of times and places; from the Old Wild West to a 19th-century boy’s home, a small town in the early 2000s, and a contemporary house in the suburbs.
The best way for me to explain how much I enjoyed this collection is to describe the context in which I read it. I started this book at 9 p.m, intending to read only a story or two before going to bed but it did not happen. Instead, I was blessed with the best kind of reading experience, the one where you become so transfixed by the stories that you can’t put the book down. These tales gripped me so hard that I forgot about sleep entirely, I just kept reading and reading and reading until it was almost 2 a.m. and the book was finished. This collection gave me the thrill of being 12 years old and staying up way past my bedtime because I was too caught up in the joy of reading. I highly recommend this to both horror and short story fans alike.
Nostalgia - This is the shortest story in the collection, not even half a page long, and yet I adore it so much that it’s hard to put into words.
The Panic - Think found footage excellence, but instead of footage, it’s emails. I love stories that are told through different pieces of media, i.e.: e-mails, letters, “audio transcriptions,” documents, news clippings, pictures, etc. The Panic has all of those and it’s about a conspiracy theory, so it’s no surprise that this was my favorite story in the collection (1855 is a very close second though).
Mister Mackenzie - If you liked the story of the “babysitter who finds a clown statue in the kid’s room and the parents tell her to flee with the children because they have no statue,” you’ll love this. It’s told in the first person by an unreliable narrator and you can’t help but believe their narrative. This also further solidified my view that children are terrifying and that we should all be a bit wearier of seemingly innocent childhood “games.”
1855 - Here we have a tale of suspicious fires, possession, and an orphaned child told through a (desperate)letter. The best endorsement (and spoiler-free description)I can give is that this story actually had me scared of, not only, going to sleep but of my own bedclothes. It’s a remarkable thing when an author is able to take a symbol of comfort and safety; the sheets that we pull over our heads to protect ourselves from the dark and what hides there, and make that symbol become the source of the fear.
The best way for me to explain how much I enjoyed this collection is to describe the context in which I read it. I started this book at 9 p.m, intending to read only a story or two before going to bed but it did not happen. Instead, I was blessed with the best kind of reading experience, the one where you become so transfixed by the stories that you can’t put the book down. These tales gripped me so hard that I forgot about sleep entirely, I just kept reading and reading and reading until it was almost 2 a.m. and the book was finished. This collection gave me the thrill of being 12 years old and staying up way past my bedtime because I was too caught up in the joy of reading. I highly recommend this to both horror and short story fans alike.
Nostalgia - This is the shortest story in the collection, not even half a page long, and yet I adore it so much that it’s hard to put into words.
The Panic - Think found footage excellence, but instead of footage, it’s emails. I love stories that are told through different pieces of media, i.e.: e-mails, letters, “audio transcriptions,” documents, news clippings, pictures, etc. The Panic has all of those and it’s about a conspiracy theory, so it’s no surprise that this was my favorite story in the collection (1855 is a very close second though).
Mister Mackenzie - If you liked the story of the “babysitter who finds a clown statue in the kid’s room and the parents tell her to flee with the children because they have no statue,” you’ll love this. It’s told in the first person by an unreliable narrator and you can’t help but believe their narrative. This also further solidified my view that children are terrifying and that we should all be a bit wearier of seemingly innocent childhood “games.”
1855 - Here we have a tale of suspicious fires, possession, and an orphaned child told through a (desperate)letter. The best endorsement (and spoiler-free description)I can give is that this story actually had me scared of, not only, going to sleep but of my own bedclothes. It’s a remarkable thing when an author is able to take a symbol of comfort and safety; the sheets that we pull over our heads to protect ourselves from the dark and what hides there, and make that symbol become the source of the fear.
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