The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights

by Bridget Collins, Imogen Hermes Gowar, Natasha Pulley

From the creators of The Haunting Season comes a dazzling collection of never-before-seen ghostly tales.

The tradition of a haunted tale at Christmas has flourished across the centuries. These twelve stories, authored by some of today's most loved and lauded writers of historical and gothic fiction, are all centered on Christmas or Advent, boldly and playfully re-imagining a beloved tradition for a modern audience. Taking you from a haunted Tuscan villa to a remote Scottish island with a dark secret, these stories are your ultimate companion for frosty nights.

Featuring new and original stories from Bridget Collins, Imogen Hermes Gowar, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Andrew Michael Hurley, Jess Kidd, Natasha Pulley, Elizabeth Macneal, Laura Purcell, Susan Stokes Chapman, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Stuart Turton, and Catriona Ward.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Christmas, Fiction, Gothic, Fantasy, Anthologies

372 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 19, 2023

About the author

Bridget Collins has works written under the name B.R Collins.

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE WINTER SPIRITS is a follow up to 2021's THE HAUNTING SEASON, with more spooky Gothic tales for the holidays. Again, the collection was good overall, with some I enjoyed more than others:

•  Host by Kiran Millwood Hargrave: 4 Stars (séance gone wrong — or right?)
•  Inferno by Laura Shepherd-Robinson: 4 Stars (Dante-inspired tale)
•  The Old Play by Andrew Michael Hurley: 2 Stars (son visits his father performing in an annual play)
•  A Double Thread by Imogen Hermes Gowar: 3 Stars (mean girl needs a new gown for a Christmas ball)

•  The Salt Miracles by Natasha Pulley: 4.5 Stars (missing pilgrims on an eerie remote island)
•  Banished by Elizabeth Macneal: 4 Stars (woman called to banish a vengeful spirit)
•  The Gargoyle by Bridget Collins: 3 Stars (writer's block in a creepy town)
•  The Master of the House by Stuart Turton: 4.25 Stars (father searches for his missing son)

•  Ada Lark by Jess Kidd: 2 Stars (child forced to work for a phony medium)
•  Jenkin by Catriona Ward: 4.25 Stars (mysterious lie-detecting cat)
•  Widow's Walk by Susan Stokes-Chapman: 4 Stars (widow makes sought-after fans for a Christmas ball)
•  Carol of the Bells and Chains by Laura Purcell: 4 Stars (Krampus legend)

Twelve spooky stories for 12 nights of Christmas — averaged out to 3.58 stars, rounded up! ♥

[Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5) Much better than its predecessor, 2021’s The Haunting Season – if not entirely free of its flaws. This time, there are some new contributors and four more stories, but still no credited editor; this means the issues of the first book are somewhat repeated. Every story here has a historical setting, with most attempting to conjure up the atmosphere of a traditional Victorian ghost story. There is, again, a tendency towards clunky moralising which often makes it easy to guess where a story is going from the very start. But it seems the slightly more specific brief – the tales here focus on ‘Christmas or Advent’ rather than just ‘winter’ – has helped bring out a bit more originality.

At least the contributors seem to be having fun with it this time: Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s ‘Inferno’, Imogen Hermes Gowar’s ‘A Double Thread’ and Susan Stokes-Chapman’s ‘Widow’s Walk’ are all enjoyable, despite following similar lines. ‘The Gargoyle’ by Bridget Collins treads familiar ground too, but it’s beautifully crafted and pretty satisfying; I’d read it again. Stuart Turton’s ‘The Master of the House’ manages a surprisingly compelling fairytale-like narrative. In ‘Carol of the Bells and Chains’, Laura Purcell really commits to the theme by adding Krampus into the mix – of all the stories, this one feels the most like Christmas horror.

For me, three stories stood out, and in each case it’s their unpredictability that makes them notable. Andrew Michael Hurley impresses again with his Aickmanesque ‘The Old Play’: it plunges the reader straight into a disconcertingly off-kilter community in which the titular play, a sinister parable, must be performed every year. Catriona Ward’s ‘Jenkin’ is refreshingly weird, following a young woman who sees a strange half-human creature every time she tells a lie. (It also has a great title + first line combo.) Natasha Pulley’s ‘The Salt Miracles’ is as lovely as it is horrible, and feels the most complete, its effectiveness a product of the author’s gorgeous writing and knack for a heart-wrenching detail rather than any cheap thrills.

[Katie Lumsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection! My favourite stories were: The Salt Miracles and Ada Lark.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection! There were a couple I didn't care for, but most were entertaining takes on Gothic historical horror. I particularly liked The Salt Miracles, The Master of the House, and Inferno

[Charlotte May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will review each story as I go -

The Host by Kiran Millwood Hargrave ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5

Really interesting premise let down by the ending.
Edith and Ezra lost their 7 year old daughter to illness. Edith gets in contact with a woman who can converse with the dead. They plan to find a vessel or host for their daughter Eleanor to inhabit. They choose a poor young girl - Mary, take her away from her brother, but it doesn’t go smoothly. I was thoroughly invested, but the ending felt rushed and I wasn’t really sure what happened. there was a fire, and then Ezra becomes evil? Or something. I dunno, just didn’t hit for me unfortunately.

Inferno by Laura Shepherd-Robinson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now this was right up my street! A man visits an island in Italy to see an old friend. But when he arrives his friend is nowhere to be seen, only the old man who looks after the land and the mysterious and beautiful mistress.
At first he loves the seclusion and the food. But soon he grows suspicious - why would his friend leave him for so long and what is that horrible painting of people suffering, hanging on the wall? I do love a good old fashioned punishment story, with the creep factor thrown in.

The Old Play by Andrew Michael Hurley ⭐️⭐️

I didn’t really feel like this accomplished much. A man performs in The Old Play every Christmas time, even though he drinks to forget the horrors of the war. But this year something seems different, the actors are more in character than ever and the committee have created a surprise ending, wanting to see his reaction. I could have done with more, like why did this happen, does it always happen after a time?

A Double Thread by Imogen Hermes Gowar ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ooh this was a good one! A woman is forced to leave London and move to Penzance to avoid the scandal of the criminal trial her husband is currently on. She receives a local girl as her ladies maid, Nora Landry. Nora is quiet and assuming, but skilled and works extremely hard. Her mistress however is rude, ungrateful and just generally a shitty person. But ultimately what happens to Nora will come back to bite her. Treat others as you’d wish to be treated kids.

The Salt Miracles by Natasha Pulley - ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A good job at creating unease and even fear, but I could have done with better explanation. A priest visits an island in the middle of the ocean where 2 pilgrims have gone missing. When he meets the 3 remaining pilgrims, he soon learns there is more to this island than meets the eye. Like I said great premise but I’d love to know where the creature came from. What started this miracles and then turning to salt thing?

Banished by Elizabeth Macneal - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Based on a true story. A rich and powerful man is haunted by the ghost of his wife. But why is she suddenly causing a stir now when she died 15 years ago? A woman is invited to banish the ghost - but as she gets to hear Lady Grange’s side of the story, she realises the Lord has lied to her. He isn’t as innocent as he claims. How can she bring the truth to light and make him atone for his sins?

The Gargoyle by Bridget Collins - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I enjoyed this one, though it seemed to finish quite abruptly. Ash is an author, but her publisher doesn’t seem to think her most recent work is up to scratch. So he sends her for some time away in Lye, a break to reset her mind. But while there she feels unsettled and on edge. What is that scrabbling noise? She loses time and is no closer to amending her book. Why is her attention constantly drawn to the church? It was an interesting premise but like I said as soon as we see the gargoyle the book just ends.

The Master of the House by Stuart Turton - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Loved this one! Such an interesting concept. A man who ignores the wellbeing of his son awakes on Christmas Eve to find “the master of the house” has lured his son away from him forever. Unless he can follow him, find his son and bring him home. I throughly enjoyed the idea that bad parents can lose their children due to neglect. And when he meets a woman who has lived in this other world he finds another purpose.

Ada Lark by Jess Kidd ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Started off interesting but quickly peetered off into nothing. The ending wasn’t particularly clear or satisfying. Ada works for Madam Bellrose a medium who claims she can converse with the dead, when it fact it is all a trick and Ada is the main secret. When they visit Lady Bentham whose daughter passed away aged 8, Ada feels a real connection and that she deserves more than their trickery. She forms a bond with both the ghost girl and also her mother. I just didn’t fully understand it all. The fog, the ghost, Ada. Just all a bit vague.

Jenkin by Catriona Ward ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Another great premise! Maggie has always seen Jenkin, a strange creature that only she can see whenever she lies. After her mother’s death, she feels responsible for her younger sister Vera. As outside forces try to come between her and her sister, Maggie realises what her sister is truly capable of and wants to protect her in any way. But at what cost?

Widows Walk by Susan Stokes-Chapman ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Honoria lives alone, creating beautiful fans for her shop to sell to her rich patrons. The gossips say her philandering husband ran off with another woman leaving her to fend for herself. When she is commissioned for her most exquisite fan yet, she puts all her time into it, and gets all the best materials. Is it just sleep deprivation or are those noises she hears when she walks through the widows graveyard at night real? I loved the final reveal that she murdered her cheating husband and was using his bones and skin to create the fan for the woman he cheated with. Before she then dies too, to be buried in the widows walk. A perfectly spooky read.

Carol of the Bells and Chains - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I am a big Laura Purcell fan, and this story did not disappoint. A governess looking after four spoiled, badly behaved children seeks to frighten them into submission by telling the story of Krampus, a monster who takes naughty children away. My only gripe is that I would have liked more. This short story felt shorter than all the others. I would have liked more reveals about the governess’ past. But overall, another hit.

[Rebecca Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

After reading The Haunting Season: Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights, I was excited to read this follow up collection. Like the previous volume, this is a collection of ghostly, gothic tales from some well known authors. This has all the same authors as well as four additional authors, including one of my favourite authors, Catriona Ward.

Each story in between 30-40 pages, so can be enjoyed in one sitting. I enjoyed reading a story each day. This is a perfect book to read around Christmas time. I felt the stories in this collection had a more Christmassy theme than the previous volume, there was even a Krampus story, which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Of the twelve stories in this collection, there was not one that I didn't like. It is hard for me to pick a favourite, there was such a good variety to the stories. I think I may have enjoyed this collection even more than The Haunting Season: Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights. I hope they make another one for next Christmas!

[Melanie THEE Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shout-out to me, a self proclaimed ✨scaredy cat✨ for completing this anthology 😭 Some of the stories were bittersweet, some were heartbreaking and some were downright terrifying but they were all gorgeously well-written.

[Adrienne L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another superior volume of festive themed horror tales, following The Haunting Season, and featuring works by the same authors from that previous volume, while adding some new names. All of the stories here take place in the late 19th or early part of the 20th centuries, and the writers do a terrific job capturing the essence of the excellent ghost stories many readers know and love from Victorian and Edwardian eras, while still reflecting some modern touches and themes. This was an almost uniformly enjoyable collection for me, with only one story falling below a four star rating. The real stand-out, five star reads for me, though, were "Host" by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, "The Salt Miracles" by Natasha Pulley, and "Carol of the Bells and Chains" by Laura Purcell, the latter being a terrific Krampus tale. If a subsequent volume comes out later this year, I will definitely be picking it up in time for the holiday season.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I wasn't really a fan of this collection. Most of the stories didn't evoke any seasonal atmosphere, and they weren't all that ghostly. Favourites were the Laura Purcell (unsurprisingly, as The Silent Companions is still one of the spookiest books I've read) Jess Kidd and the Elizabeth Macneal stories. Breakdown of each story and my thoughts below:

Host by Kiran Millwood Hargrave - 3 stars. A Victorian seance turns into a hunt for a child to replace a beloved daughter, but risks opening the door to the dead. A suitably spooky little story with intriguing characters to kick off the collection, but it didn't really capture that Victorian winter atmosphere as much as I wanted.

Inferno by Laura Shepherd-Robinson - 2 stars. A man flees to an Italian villa, but uncovers connections to Dante that force him to acknowledge his sins. Nice concept but I just found myself bored.

The Old Play by Andrew Michael Hurley - 3 stars. A yearly traditional play takes a sinister, and paranormal, turn. I felt the atmosphere in this one, but wish it was longer. Gave me Rivers of London vibes.

A Double Thread by Imogen Hermes Gowar - 3 stars. A woman employs a shy maid to make a crimson Christmas gown, but her pride results in tragic ends. A deeply unlikable character, this could have done with being longer as it feels as insubstantial as the protagonist.

The Salt Miracles by Natasha Pulley - 2 stars. A man is sent to a remote island to investigate a number of mysterious disappearances. I found this one very lacking in everything, but I was unsurprised as I haven't really taken to Natasha Pulley's writing in the past.

Banished by Elizabeth Macneal - 4 stars. A woman who can commune with the dead is hired by a man desperately trying to get rid of his dead wife's spirit. Spooky, Christmassy and with a compelling storyline and characters. Favourite so far.

The Gargoyle by Bridget Collins - 2 stars. A woman is sent by her literary agent to a remote cottage to help finish her latest novel. This one was just boring, with an illogical plot that didn't really go anywhere.

The Master of the House by Stuart Turton - 3.5 stars. A father who doesn't care for his young son must face the devil himself if he wants to save him. An interesting story that took some odd turns but ultimately I found this one quite compelling and I enjoyed the themes.

Ada Lark by Jess Kidd - 4 stars. A young girl who works for a charlatan medium meets a real ghost at the house of a grieving Lady. Another atmospheric and Christmassy story, the characters are well thought out and interesting. Jess Kidd never lets me down.

Jenkin by Catriona Ward - 2 stars. Sisters are forced to live with their estranged aunt after their mother dies. Another one not to my taste, boring, not sure on what the point was. It certainly wasn't spooky or really related to winter.

Widow's Walk by Susan Stokes-Chapman - 3 stars. A woman makes a very special fan for a local woman, and the materials may not necessarily be what you'd normally use... Hints of winter, this had potential to be creepy but it kind of petered out as the story progressed. Could have done with a big reveal.

Carol of the Bells and Chains by Laura Purcell - 4 stars. A nanny tells her, predominantly abhorrent, charges the story of Krampus but things take a sinister turn when the real Krampus turns up to claim the children. Really liked this one, and thought it was suitably creepy and full of tension and menace.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Winter Spirits is the inevitable follow-up to the surprisingly successful The Haunting Season, which became the first short story collection to hit the Sunday Times bestseller list since records began. This collection is more substantial than its predecessor, with twelve short stories rather than eight, which means that it retains all the authors from the original line-up (Bridget Collins, Natasha Pulley, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Elizabeth Macneal, Imogen Hermes Gowar, Jess Kidd, Laura Purcell and Andrew Michael Hurley) and adds four more (Susan Stokes Chapman, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Stuart Turton and Catriona Ward). It's also slightly more thematically focused, with all the stories based around Christmas or Advent, though I continue to be baffled by the lack of editorial control on these collections - the first suffered from a glut of stories about Victorian mental health and motherhood, and while this one is more varied, it's a shame to see all the writers, once again, choose modern historical settings, which made the stories feel overly traditional to me. On the other hand, this is probably the point, as this is clearly intended as a cozy ghostly gift collection rather than being aimed at dedicated horror fans.

Most of the stories fit very much into this mould. All (except Ward's baffling 'Jenkin') are well-executed but too morally tidy and bland for me. Millwood Hargrave's 'Host', about Victorian spiritualism, stands out from this crowd by giving us a nicely unsettling, open ending. Collins's 'The Gargoyle', featuring a supernatural amanuensis, is also more promising, although like her story in The Haunting Season, it feels like it finishes just as it starts to get interesting. Turton's 'The Master of the House' works because it's so stripped back, feeling almost fable-like as a father pursues his son through the house of the devil. Purcell, whom I find disappointing as a novelist, once again proves that she's great at writing short stories that tread the line between fun and scary; I liked her contribution to The Haunting Season a lot, and this one, 'Carol of the Bells and Chains', makes good use of the Krampus legend.

I've saved the best till last! Natasha Pulley always delivers: her brilliant 'The Salt Miracles', set on a fictional version of St Kilda, is as imaginative and haunting as all her writing. It's hard not to read it as a bit of a 'this is how it's done': Pulley's time period (which we can pin down to 1903-4) doesn't feel like a moody backdrop, but is integral to the selfhood of her central character, a priest who's wrestling with what Weber would call the 'disenchantment' of modernity in the face of the horrors of the Boer War and a new wave of Sherlock Holmes stories that preach logic over belief. Advent is also not just when the story happens to be set, but crucial to the mystery at its centre. Worth the price of the book alone.

3.5 stars. I received a free proof copy of this collection from the publisher for review.

[Holden Wunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was so much enjoyable about this little collection and I happened to coincidentally start it so reading one story each day counted me down to Christmas perfectly. Instead of doing a full review I’m going to just give a little blurb about each story as there were some AMAZING ones that were worth it alone to read this and some that were meh. I pray none of the authours read this.

The Host by Kiran Hargrave: A lovely opening to the ghost stories and a unique story. I was enamored with the idea and morality presented and the ending was definitely a choice (not in a bad way). 3.5 ⭐️

Inferno by Laura Shepherd-Robinson: The technical writing here had me questioning what I was going to get in the full book. I absolutely loved the premise of this story and unfortunately my likes ended there. 2 ⭐️

The Old Play by Andrew Michael Hurley: I wanted so much more from this story that it had my imagination running the entire time while reading. I loved that aspect of it but it didn’t hit for me and I found I liked all the ideas I had in my head of what I thought would happen more than the actual story. 2 ⭐️

A Double Thread by Imogen Hermes Gowar: THIS is what I was looking for when picking up a novel like this. There will always be a hit or miss among a myriad but oh lord this one had me struck. You know it’s good when you are looking up the authour and seeing what else they’ve written. Obsessed. 5 ⭐️

The Salt Miracles by Natasha Pulley: This was a unique story and I really appreciated that. It didn’t absolutely blow my mind but I wouldn’t skip this by any means. I was actually more interested that I wish it could’ve been longer and explored more and that would’ve helped even more. 3 ⭐️

Banished by Elizabeth Macneal: Absolutely thrilling. Horrifying. Too realistic while also extremely satisfying. This one is based on a true story then turned into a ghost story about revenge and is every woman’s worst nightmare. I also looked up this authour and cannot wait to read another by her. 5 ⭐️

The Gargoyle by Bridget Collins: I’m a fan of Collins and this was a big let down and unfortunately my least favourite of the entire compilation. The writing was drab, the same plotline that’s been done since the beginning of writing and I was bored and annoyed by this inclusion. 1 ⭐️

The Master of the House by Stuart Turton: Turton is the reason I bought this book to read so the hopes were high but he did let me down before with his second book so I was tentative. But this was IT. The story was so unique. So chilling. Gruesome. Horrifying. While also hauntingly beautiful. This alone made the series worth it for me. 5 ⭐️

Ada Lark by Jess Kid: I’ve never read anything by Kid before but that will change after this. It was a familiar story made new with a beautiful ending and a lot of stunning closure. The writing was beautiful. 4 ⭐️

Jenkin by Catriona Ward: If youre catching the theme, the strongest stories were at the end and Jenkin was no different. It was a cool manifestation of inner demons and reminded me a bit of The Haunting of Bly Manor. Stunningly written and unique. 4 ⭐️

Widows Walk by Susan Stokes-Chapman: This was a unique read as the way it was written, you know what’s coming the whole time but the story is better for it. It’s a lovely experience to see the future while reading and holding your breathe watching it unfold right before your eyes. I loved the experience of reading this story. 4 ⭐️

Carol of the Bells and Chain by Laura Purcell: Purcell is the other authour that drew me to this series and love this Krampus story was left to close out the book. Her writing is so haunting and her technique is always top notch. Absolutely loved. 4.5 ⭐️

[Aleshanee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich lese Kurzgeschichten bzw. Anthologien ja eher selten, witzigerweise aber hauptsächlich tatsächlich im Genre Grusel und Horror. Hier hat mich vor allem die Geschichte von Laura Purcell interessiert - von der Autorin hab ich in letzter Zeit einiges gelesen und alle Bücher bisher haben mich sehr begeistert! Da das Buch auch noch zwei andere Bloggerinnen lesen wollten, haben wir direkt eine Leserunde daraus gemacht - so konnten wir uns direkt zu den einzelnen Geschichten austauschen :) Wenn ihr reinschauen wollte, gerne *hier* - natürlich mit immens vielen Spoilern!

Es ist immer schwer, in Kurzgeschichten auf den wenigen Seiten Atmosphäre aufzubauen oder gar Grusel,

✼✼✼✼✼✼✼✼✼✼✼✼✼

Der steinerne Dämon von Bridget Collins
★★★
Ash kehrt nach vielen Jahren nach Lye zurück, doch entgegen den sommerlichen Erinnerungen ist es im Dezember eine eher frostige Wiederkehr. Die Auszeit hier wurde ihr von ihrem Literaturagenten regelrecht aufgedrängt, da sie das Manuskript für ihr zweites Buch dringend nochmal überarbeiten soll. Ash weiß selbst, dass die Geschichte absolut untauglich ist, aber sie kann sich kaum dazu aufraffen, sie zu überarbeiten und verliert sich etwas im Alkohol und der Flucht nach draußen in die Kälte, um sich abzulenken. Der nahe Friedhof kommt ihr unheimlich vor und auch die nächtlichen Geräusche machen ihr höllische Angst.

Der Schreibstil war sehr angenehm und gerade die winterliche Atmosphäre dadurch spürbar. Der schaurige Aspekt blieb für mich leider auf der Strecke, der hätte noch mehr ausgearbeitet gehört, denn wirklich gegruselt hat es mich nicht. Vor allem das Ende, das an sich eine interessante Idee war, wurde durch einen Kniff zu kurz abgehandelt.


Das alte Theaterstück von Andrew Michael Hurley
★★★
Es ist Ende Dezember und Morgan kommt zu spät zum Theater. Seine schlechte Laune steigert sich noch, als er erfährt, dass seine Frau ihren gemeinsamen Sohn Bobby beim Theater abgegeben hat - eher als Strafe für ihn selbst als für seinen Sohn, der sich auf das Theaterstück freut. Morgan hingegen trinkt schon eine Weile viel zu viel und die Konflikte zu Hause haben dem Jungen Bobby doch sehr zugesetzt, wodurch er auch schon einige Schwierigkeiten in seiner Schule hatte.
Das Theater wurde durch die bedrohliche Lage im Krieg geschlossen, 1946 aber wieder in Betrieb genommen, um traditionell zu Silvester das "alte Stück" aufzuführen. Doch Morgan möchte nicht, dass sein Sohn dabei zusieht. Dass plötzlich auch noch Änderungen für das Stück angekündigt werden, macht ihn nervös.

Gut zu lesen, wenn auch hier wieder ungewöhnlich viel Alkohol erwähnt wird ... als würden sie damals von früh bis spät Whiskey und Brandy trinken? Jedenfalls war es eine interessante Geschichte, die mit dem Theaterstück eine immer mysteriösere Stimmung erzeugt hat und ein bitteres Ende bereit hält.
Das Stück selbst ist recht kurz, hat aber eine gesellschaftskritische Note, die fast ein bisschen untergegangen ist.


Ada Lark von Jess Kidd
★★★★
1863 - Ada Lark ist etwa 8 Jahre alt und eine Waise. Seit sie denken kann ist sie in den Diensten von Madam Bellerose, bei der sie nach unschönen Erinnerungen an das Waisenhaus den magischen Zauber von Tricks und Illusionen lernt. Ein besonders aussichtsreicher Auftrag für eine Seance hält dann aber einige Überraschungen bereit, die die Zukunft für alle heller - oder dunkler gestalten wird.

Hier war von Anfang an schöne Atmosphäre mit den sehr typischen Elementen des Waisenkindes, der alten, ausbeuterischen Schrulle und dem Thema der Geisterbeschwörung. Ich fand den Schreibstil äußerst anschaulich, so dass ich gut in diese Stimmung eintauchen konnte. Zwischendurch gab es ein paar kleine Unstimmigkeiten - und auch hier war das Ende zu abrupt bzw. wurde gerade das Finale wieder abgeschnitten und mit dem Danach ausgeblendet. Etwas schade, da hatte ich mir noch etwas Besonderes erhofft.


Jenkin von Catriona Ward
★★★★
Jenkin wird als ein etwas merkwürdiges Wesen vorgestellt, als eine Art Mischung aus Katze und Fischotter, der in den Schatten huscht und immer nur auftaucht, wenn Maggie (21) unaufrichtig ist. Nach dem Tod ihrer Mutter räumen sie und ihre Schwester Vera Ende November das Haus aus - danach soll es nach New York gehen, um ein eigenständiges Leben zu führen. Doch dann meldet sich ihre Tante Ellis, die sie bei sich in Maine aufnehmen kann und weckt damit alte Geheimnisse, die ungeahnte Folgen haben.

Der Erzählstil hier war nicht so atmosphärisch, aber die Handlung an sich hatte schon ihren Reiz. Der mysteriöse Jenkins, der eine besondere Rolle in Maggies Leben spielt, ein rätselhaftes Ereignis aus der Vergangenheit und die Schwierigkeit, sich mit der intoleranten Gesellschaft auseinander zu setzen, dazu die mit Konflikten belastete Situation zwischen den Schwestern, das ergab schon eine gewisse Art von Spannung und hat mir gefallen.


Der Witwenweg von Susan Stokes-Chapman
★★★★★
Für Honoria Joseph beginnt das betriebsame Weihnachtsgeschäft, denn ihre wunderschön gefertigten Fächer werden dringend für den bevorstehenden Weihnachtsball benötigt. Sie ist Witwe und auf ihrem Weg nach Hause erfahren wir auch, was es mit dem ominösen Witwenweg auf sich hat - aber der Fokus liegt erstmal auf der besonderen Kunst ihrer Fächer, mit der sie schon eine gewisse Berühmtheit erlangt hat. Ein exklusiver Auftrag liegt noch vor ihr, dem sie Zuhause extra viel Zeit und Mühe widmet.

Diese Geschichte hat mir bisher am besten gefallen. Die Atmosphäre war von Anfang an spürbar, die damalige Zeit wurde sehr anschaulich inszeniert, die Kunst des Fächermachens, die winterliche Stimmung, und eine einsame Frau, die schauerliche Momente erlebt. Die Idee dahinter fand ich super und auch die beunruhigende Entwicklung, die mir immer mehr Gewissheit gegeben hat, was dahintersteckt.


Das Lied von Glocken und Ketten von Laura Purcell
★★★★
Abigail ist eine verarmte Edeldame und als Gouvernante tätig. Damit ist sie den Adelsfamilien nicht ebenbürtig, aber auch nicht den Dienstboten zugehörig und fängt sich dort immer wieder feindselige Blicke ein. Aber dennoch ist sie dankbar für das Dach über dem Kopf und warme Speisen, denn der Winter und Weihnachten stehen vor der Tür. Die Kinder des Haushalts sind allerdings recht widerspenstig und ihr gegenüber spöttisch und verzogen, bis auf die stille Florence, die selbst voller Trauer und Leid ist.
Die Stimmung von Weihnachten und vor allem von Nikolaus, der die artigen Kinder belohnt, kommt Abigail gerade recht – denn schließlich hat der Schutzheilige auch einen Begleiter, der böse Kinder bestraft…

Auf diese Geschichte war ich wegen der Autorin besonders neugierig und ich fand die Idee auch wirklich gut! Abigail, die die menschliche Seite verkörpert, die nicht geliebt und übersehen wird - in einem Haushalt mit verwöhnten Kindern, die eine kleine Strafe durchaus verdient hätten. Aber oft ist alles nicht so wie es scheint und das Böse rächt sich immer auf seine eigene Art und Weise.
Ebenfalls eine tolle Erzählung, wenn ich sie auch einen kleinen Tick schwächer fand als den Witwenweg.

✼✼✼✼✼✼✼✼✼✼✼✼✼

Ich fand diese Sammlung an schaurigen Geschichten für den Winter gut ausgewählt. Verschiedene Hintergründe und Ideen, alle angesiedelt im historischen England in der frostigen Zeit vor oder um Weihnachten. Bei manchen hätte ich mir etwas mehr Hintergründe gewünscht, was durchaus trotz der Kürze möglich gewesen wäre, wenn der Fokus etwas verschoben worden wäre. Überraschendes war nicht viel dabei, aber einige haben wirklich einen großartigen Erzählstil und die winterliche Stimmung super getroffen - auch einige unheimliche Momente gab es, auch wenn ich die gerne öfter gehabt hätte.

Am schwächsten war für mich Das Theaterstück - und am eindrucksvollsten Der Witwenweg.
Den Schreibstil von der Atmosphäre her fand ich bei Der steinerne Dämon und Ada Lark am besten, die Idee dahinter war bei Jenkin und Das Lied der Glocken und Ketten für mich am berührenden.

Weltenwanderer

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pleasant surprise. My book club picked this one for Christmas and I’m so glad I read it. All of the stories were cleverly told.

[Vix (Goddess of Gore) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this collection of Victorian styled Christmas ghost stories. Every single one of the authors nailed the theme and having previously read The Haunting Season, this one was so much better. I recommend this completely for around December and January time for the full effect

[Alyssa W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for a book like this for so long!!! Such looking to no avail. I am so excited. I have wanted a collection of winter/ advent ghost stories. It’s one my fav traditions forChristmas Eve. Hurry hurry hurry!

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Overall Rating: 4/5**

A follow-up to a similar collection The Haunting Season: Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights, which I have to say I enjoyed less compared to this one. There are a total of 12 short stories filled with festive gothic horror, some of which I liked more than others:

Host
4/5
A chilling tale about how grief can cause one to go to extreme measures just to alleviate their torment, costing them their conscience in the process. Although not the most original idea - a séance to bring back a loved one gone horribly wrong - I quite enjoyed this one.

Inferno
4.5/5
Based off Danté's Inferno, this was a sinister little story about a man’s sins finally catching up to him and how he paid the ultimate price for them. I really liked this one in part because of how complete it was. We get a well thought-out plot, pretty nuanced characters, and vivid imagery with good attention to detail all in under 50 pages. As far as short stories go, I really can’t complain.

The Old Play
2.5/5
Intriguing, but ultimately fell slightly flat for me. The ending was a bit of stretch as well, and unfortunately I was left with more questions than answers.

A Double Thread
3/5
Really enjoyed the prose in this one, it was pretty elegant and the imagery was well done - especially the descriptions of the sea as crumpled silk. However this was not very frightening or chilling, and I mostly just felt annoyed at how much of a narcissistic, self-absorbed little twit the main character was, to be honest. The ending was also pretty predictable.

The Salt Miracles
4.5/5
I was actually really surprised at how much I enjoyed this eerie little tale - the story was original, the setting was fantastic and we get twists and turns, which to be fair can be hard to do in a short story.

Banished
4/5
Not so much spooky as lamentable, this was a revenge story of a wife horribly wronged by her husband. The fact that it was based on true events makes it all the more tragic, and one can really grasp just how little power women held over anything in those days.
**TW for animal cruelty and abusive relationships

The Gargoyle
4/5
A writer ends up in a desolate, dreary town to get over a frustrating creative block, but quickly discovers she is being watched by a stony, malevolent guest. Although a little predictable, the vividly unsettling descriptions and great characterisation more than made up for it.

The Master of the House
5/5
This was a fantastic short story. More dark fantasy than pure horror, it kind of gave me A Christmas Carol vibes, but bleaker and more devastating. Really teaches a valuable lesson to treasure what’s in front of you before it’s too late. My favourite in this whole collection for sure!

Ada Lark
2.5/5
Another twist on the classic Victorian séance story, one that I can’t help but find less engaging compared to the first short story Host. Parts of the narrative were slightly confusing and the language felt oddly forced? As if the author was trying to emulate Edwardian speech but just came across as sounding unnatural.

Jenkin
4.5/5
A creepy little story (somewhat) on the topic of possession but with an interesting twist. I really enjoyed the originality of this one; I haven’t read something quite like this before. The characters were also nuanced and well-developed, and I really couldn’t help but feel sorry for our protagonist.

Widow’s Walk
4.5/5
A tale of deceit, murder and retribution, I’d say this was probably the most gruesome and macabre of all the short stories in this collection. I really enjoyed it despite the slight predictability; the author really managed to capture the intricate details of fan-making in Victorian times which I particularly loved.

Carol of the Bells and Chains
4/5
A governess tries to put her misbehaving charges in line with the horrifying legend of Krampus, but it turns out he had an entirely different prey in mind instead. As with Purcell’s other works, this was spooky and atmospheric, and I really liked how the protagonist’s real character is gradually revealed over the course of the tale. I think I would’ve liked just a little more backstory regarding the aforementioned protagonist, but as this is only 40 pages or so I admit I am just being a little greedy.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

It just wouldn't be Christmas without a nice spooky tale and this collection of 12 tales are perfectly creepy for the season.

There's a really nice mix from some well known authors with standout stories including a Scottish Island with secrets, the legendary Krampus and a haunted villa.

Like most collections, some stood our more than others - but there's definitely something for everyone.

[Geertje · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good!

Story 1: 'Host' by Kiran Millwood Hargrave - 4.5/5 stars.
Properly creepy and very well written. I'll have to reread that ending again for sure! A good way to start this collection. I only wish it had been longer.

Story 2: 'Inferno' by Laura Shepherd-Robinson - 4/5 stars.
Unlike 'Host', I could tell where this one was going, but that didn't lessen the fun. Bad men getting their comeuppance is always a joy to read about, and this story is no different. I also very much enjoyed that this is one of the few stories that didn't take place in England.

Story 3: 'The Old Play' by Andrew Michael Hurley. 3.5/5 stars.
I think this is very well written, and absolute kudos for all the text of the play that manages to rhyme without ever sounding silly, but I'm not quite sure I understand this one (and it's hard when you have to compete with these other writers; otherwise, I'd probs have given it 4 stars rounded up). Points for originality, though!

Story 4: 'A Double Thread' by Imogen Hermes Gowar. 4/5 stars.
Hermes Gowar is one of my favourite authors, which is pretty amazing for someone who only has one novel out (and a few short stories). Her writing is just so well done, her characters so deliciously well-drawn and flawed, her research immaculate. 'A Double Thread' is a really well-done traditional ghost story; definitely a ghostly tale for a frosty night!

Story 5: 'The Salt Miracles' by Natasha Pulley. 5/5 stars.
My fellow Goodreads reviewers have already singled out this story as one of the best in this collection, and I wholeheartedly agree with them. Spooky, intriguing, wonderfully written (plenty of homour, too, which I always appreciate); an absolute winner! This one also makes effective use of the Christmas/advent theme. Pulley should write a short story collection someday; she'd absolutely excel at it.

Story 6: 'Banished' by Elizabeth Macneal. 3.5/5 stars. A fun ghost story, and very cool that it's based on real events. It's well written, too. However, compared to the other stories in this collection, and Macneal's story in the previous anthology (which was one of my favourites out of that collection), this could have been better, hence 3.5 stars.

Story 7: 'The Gargoyle' by Bridget Collins. 4.5/5 stars.
I love dark stories about tormented writers. This is a classic ghost story, yes, but it also feels fresh and fun. Plus, I love lesbians. Duh.

Story 8: 'The Master of the House' by Stuart Turton. 3/5 stars
This feels the most (traditionally) Christmassy out of all the stories, a kind of A Christmas Carol, but then with malevolent entities. The concept is interesting and there's nothing wrong with the writing, but it somehow just didn't quite come together for me.

Story 9: 'Ada Lark' by Jess Kidd. 4.5/5 stars.
I love everything Kidd has ever written, and this short story is no exception. Sure, I've a soft spot for Victorian orphans forced to help evil older mediums trick people, but even if I didn't, there's no denying this story was well-written and fun. I only wish the ending had been little less rushed, but it's still a winner for me!"

Story 10: 'Jenkin' by Catriona Ward. 5/5 stars
Lots of people have said this story is just very strange and doesn't fit in with the rest. Personally, I thought it was brilliant. I am, of course, a little biased - I love stories about sisters and lesbians - but I really do think it's very strong. It reads like something Shirley Jackson might have written (minus the overt lesbianism), and that is always high praise.

Story 11: 'Widow's Walk' by Susan Stokes-Chapman. 4/5 stars
I love supporting women's rights, but I also love supporting women's wrongs (and how wrong was Honoria here really?). Sure, I could see where this story was going from the first few pages, but that didn't spoil the fun.

Story 12: 'Carol of the Bells and Chains' by Laura Purcell. 4.5/5 stars
What a banger to end this collection with! I'm glad the English-speaking world has discovered the tale of Krampus; I love my Christmas with a side of horror. Excellent use of the Christmas/advent theme. Purcell is a brilliant short-story writer, which she proves here once again: well-written and suspenseful, with an ending that had me reeling. I hope Purcell will one day publish a short-story collection, because that would be an insta-buy for me.

[Nhitlebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 - I didn’t get that scared reading this anthology, but this was still a great winter read with solid storytelling.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a very engaging and creepy set of tales, perfect for a cold winters eve, and a worthy follow up to The Haunting Season! With a few absolute standouts, my individual story ratings as follows:

Host - Kiran Millwood Hargrave - 4
Inferno - Laura Shepherd-Robinson - 5
The Old Play - Andrew Michael Hurley - 3
A Double Thread - Imogen Hermes Gowar - 4
The Salt Miracles - Natasha Pulley - 5
Banished - Elizabeth Macneal - 5
The Gargoyle - Bridget Collins - 4
The Master of the House - Stuart Turton - 5
Ada Lark - Jess Kidd - 3
Jenkin - Catriona Ward - 3
Widow's Walk - Susan Stokes-Chapman - 4
Carol of the Bells and Chains - Laura Purcell - 4

[Charlotte Coyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Heather Coffee_Kindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I know it's not winter, but do you know what, the weather was so autumnal there for a while it felt like it nearly was, so why not.

This is a collection of 12 short stories (most around 1 hour listen) centred around Christmas and advent, by some of the best historical and gothic fiction writers:

• Host by Kiran Millwood Hargrave: 4.5 Stars
• Inferno by Laura Shepherd-Robinson: 4 Stars
• The Old Play by Andrew Michael Hurley: 2.5 Stars
• A Double Thread by Imogen Hermes Gowar: 3 Stars
• The Salt Miracles by Natasha Pulley: 4 Stars
• Banished by Elizabeth Macneal: 4.5 Stars
• The Gargoyle by Bridget Collins: 4 Stars
• The Master of the House by Stuart Turton: 3.5 Stars
• Ada Lark by Jess Kidd: 3.5 Stars
• Jenkin by Catriona Ward: 4.5 Stars
• Widow's Walk by Susan Stokes-Chapman: 3.5 Stars
• Carol of the Bells and Chains by Laura Purcell: 4.5 Stars

On the whole this has been a great listen, with some stories being more spine tingling and engaging for me than others and the narrators where good too, which always helps.

Even with the lower starred stories, that is based on spookiness, rather than quality of writing , as all the stories are well crafted, we just all have our own tastes and ideas of what is scary or suspenseful.

I think this would be a brilliant listen around the festive period for fans of all things ghostly and gothic.

What I've enjoyed about this is getting a taste for the authors style and not only enjoyed the stories from authors I already love, but have now found some new authors to add to my list, what a great introduction, in time for spooky season.

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[Gina House · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5🌟 I was so close to giving this a 5🌟 review! This book was wonderfully chilling, creepy and spooky in the best way! I loved The Haunting Season from last year and I think I enjoyed this collection even more!

Sadly, I was disappointed by the last story by one of my favorite authors, Laura Purcell. I think her story would have been much better added to the beginning of the collection instead of at the very end. I had worked up such a high expectation for her selection that it just fell flat for me and it shouldn't have. It was very well written, as always, but I closed the book feeling let down.

My favorite stories from the book include: Host, The Salt Miracles, Ada Lark, and Widow's Walk.

If the arrangement of the stories had been slightly different, it would have received my highest star rating. But, overall, I was extremely delighted reading this collection of ghostly short stories and I'm crossing my fingers that there's a third book to come!

If you've read this book, please comment with your favorite of the included short stories. I would love to know!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The winter spirits is a collection of 12 short gothic ghost stories from a collection of well-known authors of historical fiction that we know on love. These are creepy tales of old, great for cosy nights in. Each ghost story has a supernatural element and a twist.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from these creepy gothic tales. But these are such an enjoyable read and in parts a spine tingling. I would recommend.
Thanks Little brown for a copy of this book.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have made notes of each story as I read them with an average score of 4/5. I particularly enjoyed The Master of The House- Stuart Turton’s, The Salt Miracles- Natasha Pulley and Carol of the Bells and Chains- Laura Purcell. These gave me a sense of haunting unease though only Purcell gave me a feel for the season.
It only for these three stories I would buy the anthology again, however it does point the reader to authors they may enjoy.

[Nina The Wandering Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved having this anthology to accompany my bitterly cold, snowy month of January!

Favorite Stories:

Host by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Inferno by Laura Shepard-Robinson
The Old Play by Andrew Michael Hurley
The Double Thread by Imogen Hermes Gowar
The Salt Miracles by Natasha Pulley
Carol of the Bells and Chains by Laura Purcell

[AlenGarou · Rating 5 out of 5]

5-

Non appena ho visto questa uscita sapevo che aveva il mio nome sopra.
E ne sono rimasta più che soddisfatta, dato che mi è piaciuta di più del suo predecessore: “Natale con i Fantasmi”.
Ok, è inutile negarlo: di spirito natalizio ce n’è ben poco (e forse è per questo che l’adoro), ma è innegabile la qualità delle novelle. Dalla scelta degli autori al vibes gotico, ognuna di esse porta qualcosa nel piatto e il tutto risulta come un cenone natalizio gourmet. E non solo, questa volta invece di otto racconti ne abbiamo ben dodici, tra cui uno di Stuart Turton. Cioè…
Inutile dire che se mi pubblicano un’opera del genere a ogni inverno, sarò una bambina povera ma molto felice.
Dato che mi è difficile scegliere una Top3, passiamo a una Top5.
Sicuramente “I miracoli del sale” della Pulley, che mi ha tenuta incollata alle pagine e il tutto era così religioso e creepy che merita un applauso; “Bandita” della Macneal ha una marcia in più perché è basata su una storia vera e ti fa salire lo schifo quanto l’ansia per la malcapitata di turno; “Il Signore della Casa” di Turton è un viaggio psicodelico nelle difficoltà di un padre vedovo con dei plot twist da paura e una morale sul fondo; “La Vecchia Recita” di Hurley perché si sa che a lui piacciono le cose con una tradizione profonda e parecchio strane e infatti anche questa novella è strana forte e chiudiamo in bellezza con “Carola dei campanacci e delle catene” della Purcell che anche se sul finale mi è scivolata merita un applauso perché finalmente mi ha dato il contentino con il Krampus. Grazie Purcell, l’ho apprezzato.
Anche le altre novelle non sono affatto male, ma le ho trovate abbastanza classiche o prevedibili.
Ciò non toglie che si vede la qualità e il tutto ha portato a una raccolta che non può mancare nelle vostre librerie, soprattutto se vi piace il genere.
E ora non mi rimane altro che aspettare una nuova uscita, cercando di non guardare l’orologio.
(a seguire una spiegazione delle novelle con possibili spoiler)


Ospite: 4

La raccolta si apre con una tematica piuttosto classica, ovvero: “spendiamo tutto il nostro patrimonio per convincere una medium a riportare indietro nostra figlia morta senza pensare alle conseguenze e ai crimini che dobbiamo commettere”. Sappiamo già come vanno queste cose, ma dato che siamo brutte persone ci godiamo il viaggio. La novella in sé è scritta bene e manifesta le atmosfere gotiche e decadenti che traspirano tra le righe. Anche la caratterizzazione dei personaggi è on point, persino quella di Violet che ha un ruolo marginale, e si comprendono i diversi stati d’animo e le ambizioni di ognuno. Tuttavia non le ho dato un voto più alto perché l’inizio è confuso e il continuo cambio di pov non aiuta a rendere la lettura più lineare. Anzi… Il finale ha ovviamente un plot twist altrettanto classico ma gradito e nell’insieme direi che è stata una buona apertura.

Inferno: 4-

Anche la seconda novella si è rivelata un po’ confusa, sebbene ne abbia apprezzato il concept. Sì, il titolo si riferisce all’Inferno dantesco, in questo caso immortalato in un immenso quadro dipinto da uno degli antenati di Luciana Mondragone, proprietaria di Villa Principe. Nonché padrona di casa di Jasper, tizio in fuga dal suo passato e ricercato. Anche se nascondersi sulle rive del Lago di Garda vuol dire riccanza. Sebbene lo stile non fosse malvagio e il mistero si sviluppasse a poco a poco, ammetto di aver trovato questa novella un po’ monotona (per non dire noiosa). La tensione si sviluppa man mano che la storia si evolve, ma non mi ha convinta del tutto, sebbene i vari riferimenti religiosi e danteschi fosse intriganti. Non male, ma poteva essere meglio.

La Vecchia Recita: 4.5

Hurley usa spesso il tema delle tradizioni e in questo caso l’ha fatto in modo abbastanza creepy. Recita natalizia: che cosa può andare storto? Tutto, considerando che per la comunità è una rappresentazione di importanza estrema e la Commissione non accetta errori, oltre al fatto che gli attori quasi vivono e si trasformano nei loro personaggi. Seguiremo le disavventure di Morgan, che nella Vecchia Recita interpreta il Mendicante, nonché uno dei ruoli chiave. Ruolo che lui ha ereditato dal padre ma che non vuole trasmettere al figlio Bobby: anzi, gli ha sempre vietato di assistere alla recita a causa di come viene trattato e insultato dal pubblico. Ma quest’anno sarà diverso dato che sua madre lo scarica al teatro a pochi minuti dall’inizio. E, volente o no, Morgan sarà inerme mentre la Commissione acconsentirà al desiderio del piccolo e lo farà salire sul palco, con conseguenze inaspettate. Sebbene la Vecchia recita sembri innocente a una prima occhiata, la storia avrà un’escalation fin troppo veloce. Ho apprezzato il cliffhanger finale e sebbene il concept fosse molto semplice è stata comunque una lettura interessante.

A doppio filo: 4

Altra novella dal concept semplice e prevedibile, ha guadagnato punti per l’esecuzione e la caratterizzazione dei personaggi. Possiamo dire che la protagonista della vicenda sia Nora Landry, sebbene il tutto venga narrato dal punto di vista della borghese più saccente e infame dell’opera. Dopo che il marito viene perseguito a causa di un grave scandalo, la suddetta viene ospitata dalla zia (persona amabile e affabile con la servitù) e si ritrova senza cameriera personale. La zia allora la introduce a Nora Landry, la sarta più formidabile del paese. L’unico inconveniente è che come Nora sia brava a cucire, è un disastro in tutto il resto, in particolare nelle interazioni sociali. Verrà quindi obbligata a confezionare uno degli abiti da sera più belli del circondario, per poi essere bullizzata male e… e questa storia insegna che anche se sei un borghese ricco e rinomato, se sei una persona di cacca, meriti una fine altrettanto di cacca. It’s Karma, Bitch.

I miracoli del sale: 5

La prima novella che mi ha letteralmente stregata. Ambientata a St. Hilda, isola sperduta nell’oceano e avvolta nel mistero, la vicenda narra di un prete mandato a indagare dopo che numerosi pellegrini hanno gridato al miracolo. E già qui possiamo dire che l’idea di base è intrigante e fa salire le aspettative. Aggiungiamoci pure che la colonia che popolava l’isola è scomparsa misteriosamente secoli addietro lasciando dietro di sé solo ruderi e pecore che pascolano vicino la costa e abbiamo fatto bingo! Per non parlare del sale. Sale che si trova ovunque nell’isola. Il colpo di grazia? Si basa sulla punizione di Ruth. Collegate voi i fili. Insomma, la narrazione è on point, tanto che non riuscivo a staccarmi dalle pagine e man mano che la vicenda proseguiva la tensione aumentava fino a un fantastico plot twist. Ambientazione e atmosfere sono rese in modo perfetto e l’ansia che ti fa salire condisce il tutto rendendo questa novella uno dei motivi per cui bisogna leggere questa antologia.

Bandita: 5

Sebbene abbia una tematica ricorrente in questa raccolta (vivi che devono vedersela con spiriti incazzati), ha una profondità incredibile e, se contiamo che si basa su fatti realmente accaduti, lo squallore che proverete durante la lettura è più che giustificato. Ho apprezzato molto la protagonista, che viene invitata da Lord Grange a esorcizzare lo spirito della moglie che sta tentando di ucciderlo essendo stata una donna cattiva e violenta in vita così come nella morte. Tuttavia, man mano che l’indagine proseguirà, la nostra eroina capirà che Lord Grange non gliel’ha raccontata giusta. Ho apprezzato molto il senso di inquietudine che permeava le pagine, il malessere e l’ossessione della mentalità patriarcale, la storia di Rachel e le note dell’autrice alla fine hanno chiuso il cerchio in modo perfetto. Allo stesso livello de I miracoli del sale.

Il Gargoyle: 3.5

Sebbene non sia una novella malvagia, l’ho trovata la più debole della cucciolata. L’idea di base in sé era molto interessante, dato che si concentra su un’autrice col blocco dello scrittore che si ritira in solitaria nella speranza di poter finire per tempo il suo nuovo romanzo (che non ha nemmeno iniziato) e quale posto migliore di una vista con cimitero per ritrovare l’ispirazione? Aggiungiamoci pure la figura inquietante di un gargoyle che fa quello che i gargoyle sanno fare meglio e… insomma, inutile dire che mi aspettavo qualcosina di più. Anche il finale è stato prevedibile, ma a livello di scrittura ci sta.

Il signore della Casa: 5-

Sono una brutta persona e devo ancora leggere “Le sette morti di Evelyn Hardcastle”, ma da quello che ho capito questa novella ha degli elementi simili. Per non dire che è la versione paterna de “Il Canto di Natale”, con tanto di “fantasmi” e “balzi temporali”. Racconta la storia di un titolare di un famoso studio legare, vedovo e con un figlio piccolo a carico con il quale non riesce a rapportarsi, avendo lui stesso avuto un padre anaffettivo. Quando il figlio gli parlerà del Signore della Casa lui non ci crederà nemmeno quando le varie governanti si licenzieranno consigliandogli di chiamare un esorcista e non cambierà idea nemmeno all’ultimatum del piccolo, che lo avvertirà che il Signore lo porterà via con sé se lui non si presenterà nella sua camera la sera di Natale. Lo farà? Ovviamente no e ne pagherà le conseguenze. Quello che accade dopo è letteralmente un trip di acidi con plot twist e cliffhanger piuttosto interessanti. Mi è piaciuta la complessità dell’opera e la morale che c’è dietro, anche se a volte l’ho trovata piuttosto caotica.

Ada Beffa: 4

Quando i bambini sono più intelligenti degli adulti e portano la situazione a loro vantaggio. Ada Beffa è un’orfana che lavora per una famosa medium che tanto medium non è, dato che i famosi trucchi da salotto sono proprio opera di Ada, costretta a rimanere nascosta dentro il tavolo. Quando la sua padrona verrà assoldata da una ricca vedova per contattare la figlia morta anni prima, Ada si ritroverà in mezzo a un vero e proprio imbroglio, tanto che la donna sarà troppo impegnata a contare mentalmente i soldi che far caso a quello che accade attorno alla piccola, con conseguenze inaspettate (o quasi). Sebbene il concept classico, mi è piaciuta l’esecuzione e lo stile irriverente dell’autrice ha reso la lettura scorrevole. Non è un’opera originale, ma si fa apprezzare.

Jenkin: 4

Le bugie hanno il naso lungo, le gambe corte e un essere demoniaco che segue il malcapitato fino a prenderne le sembianze. Sono queste le premesse di Jenkin, che all’inizio sembra una creatura tanto caruccia uscita da un anime. Maggie se lo porta appresso fin dall’infanzia, ma quando la madre morirà, lasciando da sole lei e la sorella Vera, la situazione inizierà a peggiorare rapidamente. Rimaste da sole, le due sorelle non hanno più nessuno che si metta in mezzo ai loro litigi e quando verranno ospitate da una parente della madre, vecchi segreti inizieranno a tornare in superficie. Segreti alquanto macabri, che metteranno Maggie in una brutta posizione e offriranno a Jenkin un pasto ben più che sostanzioso. L’idea in sé è stata originale e molto intrigante, per non parlare del finale carico di ansia alla Hitchcock, ma l’esecuzione in sé non mi ha fatto impazzire. Nell’insieme si è rivelata una novella interessante.

Widow’s Walk: 4

Anche in questo caso troviamo una novella dallo stile e l’esecuzione notevole, ma la base prevedibile e il finale frettoloso. La storia ha come protagonista Honoria, proprietaria di un negozio di ventagli e rinomata intagliatrice d’avorio; così famosa che ha acquisito la cittadinanza inglese sul merito più che per matrimonio. E a proposito di matrimonio: i suoi compaesani la compatiscono per la scomparsa del marito, probabilmente scappato con l’amante. Ma lei non ha tempo di preoccuparsene, dato che deve finire di creare un ventaglio su commissione; il migliore che abbia mai realizzato. L’unico problema è che l’avorio è sempre più difficile da reperire e ha deciso di “barare” utilizzando un altro tipo di osso. C’è però un inghippo: man mano che il tempo passa, un’ombra si farà sempre più vicina a lei, spaventandola ogni notte e inseguendola attraverso il Vicolo delle Vedove sul tragitto per tornare a casa dopo il lavoro. Vi lascio immaginare il resto. Per quanto la conclusione sia soddisfacente a livello di spiegazioni, è abbastanza palese fin dall’inizio come la storia si evolverà, ma nel complesso è stata una lettura gradevole.

Carola dei campanacci e delle catene: 5-

Ripetetelo dopo di me: nelle antologie a tema inverno/natale abbiamo bisogno di più Krampus! Grazie. Insomma, la Purcell si è meritata i miei applausi perché ho goduto come un riccio quando ho capito dove la storia voleva andare a parare, anche se il finale non mi ha soddisfatta del tutto. La signorina Scott è la protagonista di questo racconto, nonché istitutrice per una ricca famiglia. Tra lei e il resto della servitù non scorre buon sangue, dato che molti stravedono per i pargoli di casa che sono l’uno più viziato dell’altro e meritano tanti di quelli sculaccioni che basta e avanza, ma lei ha sempre avuto pietà di Florence, la pecora nera del gregge e l’unica dei bambini a essere timida ed educata. Cosa inventarsi per mandare messaggi subliminali ai marmocchi indisciplinati? Ebbene sì, la storia del Krampus è partita come ammonimento che però si è rivelato fin troppo reale. Sebbene mi aspettassi più sangue alla fine, si è rivelata la degna conclusione di questa splendida antologia.

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follow up to "The Haunting Season", very similar spooky tales. Some better than others, particularly liked the Laura Purcell re-telling of the Krampus legend.

[ThatBookish_deviant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed RTC.

[Ruthy lavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like watching several ‘so bad they’re amazing’ Hammer house of horror films! ☺️
Old fashioned ghost story telling, perfect for cosy reading on a cold winters night.
Some stories are better than others, but overall the content is worthy of 4 stars 🌟