What do you think?
Rate this book
What Draws Us Near
Why do we want what we should not have? Or worse yet, why are we captivated by what we know to be dangerous? Is it a self-destructive impulse that comes from inside of us? Or does something darker from outside pull us in?
From the images contained on a mysterious videotape, or the figures depicted in a medieval mural, to a conversation that might have been, or the last words a benefactor wants to hear on their deathbed. Each one of these stories explores what draws us near.
You should stop reading, but you know you won’t.
From the images contained on a mysterious videotape, or the figures depicted in a medieval mural, to a conversation that might have been, or the last words a benefactor wants to hear on their deathbed. Each one of these stories explores what draws us near.
You should stop reading, but you know you won’t.
- GenresHorror
400 pages, Paperback
First published May 23, 2023
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 16, 2024
Every short story anthology is going to have hits and misses. It's near impossible to find a dozen authors in the same general genre that appeal to everyone. This book had a higher batting average than I expected, and a few home runs.
It's the first anthology published by Little Ghosts Books, maybe even their first publication. Fifteen accomplished authors contributed pieces that range from historical fiction and fantasy to body horror, supernatural and plain creepy.
There were three standouts for me:
Rewind by Erica McKeen is a story of madness told in a unique way, reminiscent of some classic Japanese horror -- the repetitive phrases used by the narrator add an element of dread to the story, even before the true nature of the horror is revealed.
Marin: A Good Place to Live by Susie Moloney is a twist on the haunted-house in a small town theme that has some surprises and a Twilight Zone feel to it.
Garden of Guiding Eyes and Grabbing Bones by Ai Jiang, which is a kind of fable about the last lonely member of a family trying to escape some kind of curse.
Overall it's a fantastic achievement for Little Ghosts -- the store is a must-visit when I'm in the neighbourhood, and it is no small feat to start a publishing company from scratch. I'll also be seeking out more from these three and several of the other authors in the anthology.
Support your independent bookstores!
It's the first anthology published by Little Ghosts Books, maybe even their first publication. Fifteen accomplished authors contributed pieces that range from historical fiction and fantasy to body horror, supernatural and plain creepy.
There were three standouts for me:
Rewind by Erica McKeen is a story of madness told in a unique way, reminiscent of some classic Japanese horror -- the repetitive phrases used by the narrator add an element of dread to the story, even before the true nature of the horror is revealed.
Marin: A Good Place to Live by Susie Moloney is a twist on the haunted-house in a small town theme that has some surprises and a Twilight Zone feel to it.
Garden of Guiding Eyes and Grabbing Bones by Ai Jiang, which is a kind of fable about the last lonely member of a family trying to escape some kind of curse.
Overall it's a fantastic achievement for Little Ghosts -- the store is a must-visit when I'm in the neighbourhood, and it is no small feat to start a publishing company from scratch. I'll also be seeking out more from these three and several of the other authors in the anthology.
Support your independent bookstores!
January 13, 2024
The best is saved for last in this anthology. I quite enjoyed Eric LaRocca’s The Sacring. It deals with the Codex Gigas (sometimes called the Devil’s Bible). The legends surrounding this book are horrific and LaRocca’s story is similarly horrific.
October 19, 2024
This was a really great and diverse collection of stories.
As with any collection, there were a couple that personally didn’t land, BUT there were far more that I loved and that send me searching out their authors.
Highly recommend it!
As with any collection, there were a couple that personally didn’t land, BUT there were far more that I loved and that send me searching out their authors.
Highly recommend it!
June 15, 2023
I love anthologies with a broad theme because it leads to such a nice variety of stories and this is an excellent example of that. I particularly enjoyed Rewind by Erica McKeen, and I'm off to check out more of her work!
January 31, 2025
this was an incredibly enjoyable time. i’ve had the honour of visiting little ghost a handful of times, and i can officially say that their publishings are as strong as the rest of their catalogue!!
my favs from this collection, because they deserve a highlight:
- exit greeting by chadwick ginther
- matryoshka by david demchuk
- katalog by helen marshall
- garden of guiding eyes and grabbing bones by ai jiang
- rewind by erica mckeen
- the sacring by eric larocca
my favs from this collection, because they deserve a highlight:
- exit greeting by chadwick ginther
- matryoshka by david demchuk
- katalog by helen marshall
- garden of guiding eyes and grabbing bones by ai jiang
- rewind by erica mckeen
- the sacring by eric larocca
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews