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Bleached Reminders: A Gothic Anthology About Bones, Magic, and Grief
Sacrifice Rock-a place of grief, of loneliness, of tearful goodbyes as a girl lays to rest her deceased pets. But in a forest as quiet and gentle as this, is she really alone after all? Is it truly a place of goodbyes?
Bleached Reminders-left behind after death, often hated, precious memories left for those to come.
The Soul-Filled Skulls of Epsie Rees-a witch born to a coven intolerant of the magicless. But she has a secret: she can see animal ghosts living in the skulls they once inhabited. But no one believes her. Will Epsie Rees find a way to prove to the coven that she is indeed a witch? Or will she and all her animal friends face certain doom?
A collection for lovers of both animals and bones, Bleached Reminders will leave you contemplating the finality of death while also comforted by the warm love of beloved animals.
Bleached Reminders-left behind after death, often hated, precious memories left for those to come.
The Soul-Filled Skulls of Epsie Rees-a witch born to a coven intolerant of the magicless. But she has a secret: she can see animal ghosts living in the skulls they once inhabited. But no one believes her. Will Epsie Rees find a way to prove to the coven that she is indeed a witch? Or will she and all her animal friends face certain doom?
A collection for lovers of both animals and bones, Bleached Reminders will leave you contemplating the finality of death while also comforted by the warm love of beloved animals.
- GenresAnthologiesPoetry
66 pages, Paperback
Published October 20, 2023
42 people want to read
About the author
Effie Joe Stock
22 books91 followersEffie Joe Stock is the author of The Shadows of Light series, creator of the world Rasa, and head of Dragon Bone Publishing. When she’s not slaving away in front of her computer, you can find her playing music, studying psychology, theology, or philosophy, playing fantasy RPG video games, riding motorcycles, or hanging out with her farm animals. Her publishing journey only just beginning, Stock looks forward to the release of her third fantasy book along with other Dragon Bone titles.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 14, 2023
What a beautifully written piece! So soulful and original. I had a little cry, but that's okay ♥️ heart warming. I received an advance review copy for free from booksirens.com, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 22, 2023
Two beautiful short stories and one poem, and both made made me cry.
I'm very sensible when it comes to animals en general and mine in particular.
I burried two cats and a dog, the third cat went out four years ago and never came back and the pain is umbearable believe me. So, I loved this book because I felt every word of every line.
The two stories are beautifully written and deeply felt.
SACRIFICE ROCK: I loved the idea that whenever I lay out my pets bodies to earth, someone is taking care of them and they'll never feel alone until I get to see them again. It's a thought full of relief.
THE SOUL-FILLED SKULLS OF EPSIE REES was really original and I felt that somehow, there was something personal, like the author was pouring a part of herself in. The little animals' souls idea was heartwarming and gor me hooked from the first line. I enjoyed seeing Epsie Rees acting and feeling comfortable as herself when in their presence and how they accepted her because she was kind and loving and compassionate, never caring about her appearance or her how powerful she was.
Animals are blessings not all of us deserve.
Go ahead and pick up this book, between its pages, there's life after death.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 29, 2023
Being someone who is an avid animal lover, and someone who is a rescuer of animals, this books of two short stories and a poem tugged at my heart strings and made me cry.
I will say, the last story, “The Soul-Filled Skulls of Epsie Rees” was by far my favorite. Not only does it involve witches and magic, but it has a beautiful ending and is a beautiful story in general.
I enjoyed all 3, though, and can say that these are some of my favorite short stories and a favorite poem now.
I hope to see more like this from Effie Joe Stock because she did a beautiful, fantastic job writing these, and pulling at my heartstrings.
One of the easiest 5 stars I’ve given.
Thank you to BookSirens, the author, and publisher for allowing me to read and review this 🫶🏻🖤
I will say, the last story, “The Soul-Filled Skulls of Epsie Rees” was by far my favorite. Not only does it involve witches and magic, but it has a beautiful ending and is a beautiful story in general.
I enjoyed all 3, though, and can say that these are some of my favorite short stories and a favorite poem now.
I hope to see more like this from Effie Joe Stock because she did a beautiful, fantastic job writing these, and pulling at my heartstrings.
One of the easiest 5 stars I’ve given.
Thank you to BookSirens, the author, and publisher for allowing me to read and review this 🫶🏻🖤
October 24, 2023
The stories and poem in this collection are the closest to my heart and some of the peices I am most proud of. I'm not exaggerating when I say I've literally put my heart and soul into this collection. I love bones and animals and this is my perfect ode to that.
Whether you're an animal lover, someone who simply likes paranormal fantasy, or if you're looking for a slightly spooky read with tons of emotion and meaning hidden under the surface, Bleached Reminders is the perfect mini anthology for you.
I hope you enjoy it and love it as much as I 🖤
Whether you're an animal lover, someone who simply likes paranormal fantasy, or if you're looking for a slightly spooky read with tons of emotion and meaning hidden under the surface, Bleached Reminders is the perfect mini anthology for you.
I hope you enjoy it and love it as much as I 🖤
November 17, 2023
My endorsement:
‘Effie breathes life into death in a way most authors can only dream of. Her words drip with pure poetic imagery, dancing circles around the reader in ways that make this a truly magical experience.’
Reread and annotated the paperback today. It was great.
‘Effie breathes life into death in a way most authors can only dream of. Her words drip with pure poetic imagery, dancing circles around the reader in ways that make this a truly magical experience.’
Reread and annotated the paperback today. It was great.
October 16, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I absolutely loved this anthology. I wished it had been longer, because I was completely engrossed in the story. I highly recommend reading it!!
I absolutely loved this anthology. I wished it had been longer, because I was completely engrossed in the story. I highly recommend reading it!!
August 6, 2024
This was a cute little short story collection. It has great witchy vibes while also being very cozy. It’s the perfect autumn read if you want something quick, cozy, and witchy.
November 5, 2023
What a gem this book is! The stories are bittersweet and highly emotional. All of them revolve around death and ghosts, mostly of animals, with a melancholic but comforting atmosphere.
Sacrifice Rock is a story that made me cry even to the level of ugly-cry, it's a beautiful and sad story.
The titular peace is a poem which I really enjoyed despite rarely reading poetry (and though usually contemporary poetry is not my cup of tea).
The Soul-filled Skulls of Epsie Rees, the longest story in the book, is a heartwarming tale of reversed witchhunt and a witch who wants to protect animals even when they are dead. Epsie is about to go on trial for being a threat against the coven unless her abilities are shown by her 13th birthday. I really liked all the elements in the text which showed exactly the same behaviour people do when someone is strange, not fitting into their view of "normal" and I really enjoyed the descriptions of what counts normal in a coven.
All in all, the stories felt kind of cozy even with all the grief and crying. They show a world that yes, has death, grief, sadness and some cruelty, but maybe a bit less cruelty than what we see in our world; and show connection and hope.
Thank you for BookSirens and the author for providing the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Sacrifice Rock is a story that made me cry even to the level of ugly-cry, it's a beautiful and sad story.
The titular peace is a poem which I really enjoyed despite rarely reading poetry (and though usually contemporary poetry is not my cup of tea).
The Soul-filled Skulls of Epsie Rees, the longest story in the book, is a heartwarming tale of reversed witchhunt and a witch who wants to protect animals even when they are dead. Epsie is about to go on trial for being a threat against the coven unless her abilities are shown by her 13th birthday. I really liked all the elements in the text which showed exactly the same behaviour people do when someone is strange, not fitting into their view of "normal" and I really enjoyed the descriptions of what counts normal in a coven.
All in all, the stories felt kind of cozy even with all the grief and crying. They show a world that yes, has death, grief, sadness and some cruelty, but maybe a bit less cruelty than what we see in our world; and show connection and hope.
Thank you for BookSirens and the author for providing the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 31, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up! This was a sweet, easily digestible but still atmospheric read for witchy animal lovers of all ages.
I'm a sucker for ghosts and animals and anything that takes a gentle approach to mortality with themes of accepting people who are different/break tradition, so the vibes were exactly my speed.
I wish it was longer so the author could have fleshed out the secondary characters more fully and had more time to explore the worldbuilding, but like i said, the vibes were very good regardless. I was just left wanting more in a couple of spots.
Is it the most perfect, polished book ever? No. Do i wish there were a few more dots connected and threads wrapped up? A little bit, but does it have heart? Absolutely, and i think with this book that's what mattered the most to me in the end <3
(The intro story though? 5 stars. Unquestionably. One of my favorite parts of a book & i plan on buying a paperback copy just so i can read and reread it & shove it into the hands of all my friends)
I received a digital ARC of this title for free through Booksirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'm a sucker for ghosts and animals and anything that takes a gentle approach to mortality with themes of accepting people who are different/break tradition, so the vibes were exactly my speed.
I wish it was longer so the author could have fleshed out the secondary characters more fully and had more time to explore the worldbuilding, but like i said, the vibes were very good regardless. I was just left wanting more in a couple of spots.
Is it the most perfect, polished book ever? No. Do i wish there were a few more dots connected and threads wrapped up? A little bit, but does it have heart? Absolutely, and i think with this book that's what mattered the most to me in the end <3
(The intro story though? 5 stars. Unquestionably. One of my favorite parts of a book & i plan on buying a paperback copy just so i can read and reread it & shove it into the hands of all my friends)
I received a digital ARC of this title for free through Booksirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 20, 2023
This took me back to being 12 years old on my farm. The first story hit me so hard...I had expected the emotions associated with losing pets because of the premise of the anthology, but I wasn't fully prepared for how much I'd see myself in those opening pages.
Bleached Reminders is a treasure of a book. It could've just been a short story and a good one at that, but instead, the author has a unique skill-set to work outside the obvious and she setup a beautifully styled anthology that I feel was far more impactful than a singular short story would've been (even at only 66 pages). I saw myself in Sacrifice Rock, I was inspired by the poem (Bleached Reminders), and then I was pulled into the life of Espie and taken on an adventure that perfectly summed up the first two. I've read a few of Effie Joe Stock's writings now and I have to say, her talent for packing a punch in very few words astounds me. Her prose is exquisite and her poetry is powerful. I really loved reading this anthology!
As far as content goes: No cursing or romance. This is a gothic, autumnal collection so, as the blurb clearly states, there darker themes and magic contained within, but no gore or anything spooky.
Bleached Reminders is a treasure of a book. It could've just been a short story and a good one at that, but instead, the author has a unique skill-set to work outside the obvious and she setup a beautifully styled anthology that I feel was far more impactful than a singular short story would've been (even at only 66 pages). I saw myself in Sacrifice Rock, I was inspired by the poem (Bleached Reminders), and then I was pulled into the life of Espie and taken on an adventure that perfectly summed up the first two. I've read a few of Effie Joe Stock's writings now and I have to say, her talent for packing a punch in very few words astounds me. Her prose is exquisite and her poetry is powerful. I really loved reading this anthology!
As far as content goes: No cursing or romance. This is a gothic, autumnal collection so, as the blurb clearly states, there darker themes and magic contained within, but no gore or anything spooky.
December 19, 2023
5/5 ⭐
This is such a creative and cozy fantasy. I'm partial to witches & spooky things, so this was right up my alley. I've also been enjoying reading shorter works. Bleached Reminders is a peaceful, intricate, and fascinating anthology that can be devoured in one sitting. It's the perfect little book to curl up with on a winter night (such as today).
I also loved reading the acknowledgement in the back of the book and finding out how Effie Joe Stock came up with the characters in this collection of stories. I'll definitely be reading more by this author!
This is such a creative and cozy fantasy. I'm partial to witches & spooky things, so this was right up my alley. I've also been enjoying reading shorter works. Bleached Reminders is a peaceful, intricate, and fascinating anthology that can be devoured in one sitting. It's the perfect little book to curl up with on a winter night (such as today).
I also loved reading the acknowledgement in the back of the book and finding out how Effie Joe Stock came up with the characters in this collection of stories. I'll definitely be reading more by this author!
September 19, 2023
You know what they say about good books and the length of them? Yeah, this one would have even been too short with 800 pages.
I dined on exactly what my brain hungered for. It made me want to head out into the woods and dance around a fire pit. It should be read on a foggy autumn evening with a lit candle in the window sill. Nothing else would do it justice.
I dined on exactly what my brain hungered for. It made me want to head out into the woods and dance around a fire pit. It should be read on a foggy autumn evening with a lit candle in the window sill. Nothing else would do it justice.
October 21, 2023
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
This is such a clever little book and heavy with themes of grief, death, and life. Yet, there isn’t a sense of melancholy but rather of acceptance. Of calm.
The atmosphere is done great, with a sense of a deep, old wood that is simultaneously frightening and beautiful. I loved every moment spent in it.
Our main lead Epsie is a fun character and easy to relate to. You feel for her plight but also long for her to see her purpose as easily as the reader does.
A wonderful and quick read perfect for the spooky season.
This is such a clever little book and heavy with themes of grief, death, and life. Yet, there isn’t a sense of melancholy but rather of acceptance. Of calm.
The atmosphere is done great, with a sense of a deep, old wood that is simultaneously frightening and beautiful. I loved every moment spent in it.
Our main lead Epsie is a fun character and easy to relate to. You feel for her plight but also long for her to see her purpose as easily as the reader does.
A wonderful and quick read perfect for the spooky season.
March 24, 2025
I enjoyed this collection of two short stories and a poem about bones; the bleached reminders of the lives they once held. I recommend reading this book. I mostly enjoyed the perspective on treasuring remainders of our physical presence, however, it still hasn't changed how I feel about what caused the disappearance 🥲
Additionally, I don't think I really appreciated the author's persistence in being remembered after death as a consolation to the negative view/fear of death. Cause frankly, the majority won't be. But it's also possible the bones are supposed to be the remembrance memento. However, one won't be able to keep bones of dear human ones..so, it just makes you feel worse when you think of her argument that way. But anyway, on a lighter note, here is a part of the poem in the book that I enjoyed:
...Cont'd...
When all has rotted away,
Pieces of our bodies scattered away,
Bones remain _
Cleaned by nature, free of blight,
Kissed by the sun and bleached clean white.
Pure reminders
Of lives that dimmed with fight.
Gather the bones of the dead to you,
Hold them tenderly and remember their value,
And listen gently,
To what they leave in residue.
"I lived. I lived. I lived."
They cry. Their words, once adrift,
Now whisper to you,
Reminding you why you exist,
...Cont'd...
Additionally, I don't think I really appreciated the author's persistence in being remembered after death as a consolation to the negative view/fear of death. Cause frankly, the majority won't be. But it's also possible the bones are supposed to be the remembrance memento. However, one won't be able to keep bones of dear human ones..so, it just makes you feel worse when you think of her argument that way. But anyway, on a lighter note, here is a part of the poem in the book that I enjoyed:
...Cont'd...
When all has rotted away,
Pieces of our bodies scattered away,
Bones remain _
Cleaned by nature, free of blight,
Kissed by the sun and bleached clean white.
Pure reminders
Of lives that dimmed with fight.
Gather the bones of the dead to you,
Hold them tenderly and remember their value,
And listen gently,
To what they leave in residue.
"I lived. I lived. I lived."
They cry. Their words, once adrift,
Now whisper to you,
Reminding you why you exist,
...Cont'd...
November 7, 2023
I am not typically an anthology or poem reader, but as someone with a love for bones and death this was made for me. Things which many find creepy, gross, wrong, and full of sorrow our author brought into a light of beauty. Following are my thoughts/impression following reading a collection I felt very enlightening and in a way healing.
We see departed souls and their caretaker. A reminder of death turned to a reminder of life.
Our author brings humans and animals in a similar light; a world in which we see death as the cycle of life is now akin to one in which is often seen with fear and sorrow, allowing celebration remain.
Finally ending with a piece to scratch the fantasy itch while still giving a warm/freindly/comforting side to death and their bones.
I would jump on the chance to read more added to this collection.
*copy provided for free in exchange for an honest review through booksiren*
We see departed souls and their caretaker. A reminder of death turned to a reminder of life.
Our author brings humans and animals in a similar light; a world in which we see death as the cycle of life is now akin to one in which is often seen with fear and sorrow, allowing celebration remain.
Finally ending with a piece to scratch the fantasy itch while still giving a warm/freindly/comforting side to death and their bones.
I would jump on the chance to read more added to this collection.
*copy provided for free in exchange for an honest review through booksiren*
October 13, 2023
Having not read any of this authors books before, I was surprised. Not all surprises are bad. I hate to reveal things, I feel they are best to find out yourself. An other world short story is followed by one that is all poetry, very well written. The third is a perfect Halloween journey.
Read
January 3, 2024RTC! (In short, it’s equal parts wholesome, touching, and melancholic)
October 17, 2024
Sweet and spooky fantasy about death, grief, and belonging.
Effie is an amazing author and this anthology is a wonderfully spooky read. These stories and poems made me tear up with their yearning and loss. Epsie Rees is my favorite and it is a sweet, bold spooky story about a witch trying to find her own place in her coven. This anthology is perfect and captures the heart of grief and healing.
Effie is an amazing author and this anthology is a wonderfully spooky read. These stories and poems made me tear up with their yearning and loss. Epsie Rees is my favorite and it is a sweet, bold spooky story about a witch trying to find her own place in her coven. This anthology is perfect and captures the heart of grief and healing.
October 24, 2023
If you're looking for a fast spooky season read, but also on the lighter side of things, this book is for you! I just finished reading Bleached Reminders by Effie Joe Stock. It's a lovely book, and I may or may not have teared up at the end.
October 27, 2023
This was a beautifully haunting book to read the stories and poems kept me engaged and wanting more this author knows how to ensnare her readers and show them the beautiful world she sees in her own mind and takes them on a journey to a wonderful place please write more
October 24, 2023
a book worth reading
December 4, 2023
I loved reading this wonderful book by author Effie Joe Stock.
This is the first book I have read by this author but it won't be my last...
This is the first book I have read by this author but it won't be my last...
April 26, 2024
I am so glad that I read this book. It's a delightful short story and has given me a taste of the author's excellent writing skills. I now want to read more of her books!
November 10, 2025
I loved these 2 stories and poem. I would love to have more of these worlds. I purchased this in KU but I think I need a physical copy too. :) The stories are short, sweet, but also have meaning.
January 28, 2024
Distinctive.
It was refreshing to read a book like this, and I am glad that Effie Joe Stock chose not to overdo it in terms of word count. I chose to read this because it had good ratings and reviews, and because I wanted to read something different. I was happy to see that it was edited, and the text was easy to read. I did enjoy the poetry and I thought that was a clever addition to this work.
I decided not to issue this book a five-star rating because in my opinion, the prose is not amazing. For me, a five-star book is amazing, a four-star rating means I liked it. For an anthology, I think that the book is too short in terms of word count. In most cases, an anthology is a group of works from different writers combined into one book, so I thought it was strange that the author chose to title this an anthology. In my opinion, the book cover is lackluster, and hurts the marketability of this book. To be clear, this fiction would have benefited from including more short stories and/or poetry.
After thinking about it, I decided to bump up the rating to four stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It was refreshing to read a book like this, and I am glad that Effie Joe Stock chose not to overdo it in terms of word count. I chose to read this because it had good ratings and reviews, and because I wanted to read something different. I was happy to see that it was edited, and the text was easy to read. I did enjoy the poetry and I thought that was a clever addition to this work.
I decided not to issue this book a five-star rating because in my opinion, the prose is not amazing. For me, a five-star book is amazing, a four-star rating means I liked it. For an anthology, I think that the book is too short in terms of word count. In most cases, an anthology is a group of works from different writers combined into one book, so I thought it was strange that the author chose to title this an anthology. In my opinion, the book cover is lackluster, and hurts the marketability of this book. To be clear, this fiction would have benefited from including more short stories and/or poetry.
After thinking about it, I decided to bump up the rating to four stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews