Night Life: A Folk Horror Poetry Collection

by Alba V. Sarria

“Let me give you a tour...”

Tucked away in the mountains lays a small town where old gods, demons, and creatures with long forgotten names live frighteningly—and hopelessly— entangled with the humans who call it home. Quick, take the clawed hand of your guide, slip into the skins of the town’s inhabitants, and let this eerie collection of folk horror poetry ensnare you in the tales of the town, and awaken you to the coming rapture of the world.


Containing new and previously published poetry, multi-award winning poet Alba Sarria debuts a narrative folk horror collection spoken through the unusual eyes of 2nd and 1st person. This is a read for a lone dark night.

Genres: Poetry, Horror, Ebooks

89 pages, Paperback

Published October 11, 2023

Reviews

[Sophie Bowns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.

It was a very quick read, but an excellent one at that. The writer had a great writing style- I am impressed.

[Hayley Anderton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strange, haunting and oddly beautiful in places! Not my usual sort of book but it blends two things I love - horror and poetry. I’ve definitely never read anything like it!

[Régine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t say I understood everything but what I did was terrifying and enticing at the same time 😇 4.5

[Sophia Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's my official blurb for NIGHT LIFE! I adored this book. Thanks for the chance to read it, Alba!

"Haunting, intricate, and steeped in rich folklore. Sarria weaves an intoxicating fever dream of a tale that will leave you hungry for more."

[Vesper Doom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal collection of poems.

I offered to blurb this and was blown away by all the little threads that wove together. And by how brutal and haunting and beautiful it was.

10/10 Corn Maiden can come for me anytime

[Nathaniel]

This is an author I'll be returning to. This was a vivid experience.

[Megan Diedericks · Rating 5 out of 5]

• “That's another thing they don't tell you
life and death spring from the same thing:
Cold.” (from Thunder Comes Knocking) •

This book is impossible to put down; it's probably genuinely haunted... (In a good way!)

Night Life: A Folk Horror Poetry Collection by Alba V. Sarria is easily one of the most creative poetry collections I've ever read!

The poetry is bone-chilling and insanely descriptive—it WILL feel like you are caught up in some sort of ritual.

I loved the second-person narrated poems, as those were the ones that drew me in the most.

I had so many favorite lines that I couldn't even begin to possibly quote them all, but some of my favorite poems are: Grant Me the Gift to Unsee, The Motel on Briery Branch, and This is What the Trumpets Sound Like at the End of Everything

Long story short, read Night Life —it's more than worth it!!!

• “Sometimes it's best
they not know you
See.” (from The Gun Chest) •

[Louis C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was sent an advanced reading copy so here we gooo

I really enjoyed this mix of poetry and horror, two genres I'm slowly diving more into this year, so a combination of both felt too good to leave. Ever since I finished it, I haven't really stopped thinking about it, the vibes were all there, so it's a perfect quick read for this month! The little drawings really added an extra kick to the copy, and the way the poems are designed and placed was also another interesting touch. It could be gorey during some times, while other parts felt more emotional, plus the use of second person from time to time was really interesting to experience, and so in the end I felt like it was a nice balance of spookiness and feelings. Naturally, some poems felt stronger than others but in the end, I was here for the wild ride, start to finish.

[Alice Lorentino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so eerie and thought-provoking!
These poems painted vivid, fascinating images in my mind, and I absolutely love it.
My favorites were, in no particular order:
Elk Grove Village
The Hike that Breeds Desire (and the one connected to it, This is What the Trumpets Sound Like at The End of Everything)
ReCreation (and its companion story, Date Night)
Thunder Comes Knocking
Spoken Through the Drippy Backroom Faucet
The Motel on Briary Branch
Accidental Arrangement
The Hour of the Bees
Equinox
The Marchers
and finally, Sea Hearted.
Sharp, strange, and deeply intriguing, these wildly unique poems will haunt you long after you finish- I know I'll want to keep thinking about them for a good long while, wondering about their vivid world. Seriously, this collection was unlike anything I've ever read and I loved it!

[Despoina Kemeridou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great dark, folk horror poetry!

I had the stupid idea to start reading this book in the middle of the night with all the lights out. BIG MISTAKE.

The poems were mostly creepy and horrifying, and I couldn't sleep because I was too scared. There's something special about this collection and the way the poems were written--they're sure to bring a chill down your spine.

My favorite poems were "Moing'iima", "They Speak Through the Trees", "Spoken Through the Drippy Backroom Faucet", and "This is What the Trumpets Sound Like at the End of Everything".

Favorite lines;
Rust and moths cling
to the torn edges of your dress.
The streep lamps flicker:
Yellow white yellow white yellow-
light stings my sleepless eyes
as I wait draped
in cast iron and fox fur
for your nightly return."

***

"At night they come chanting
Come see,
Come See.
Their feet leave frost
crack cement
sog leaves
kill fleas.

Come see,
Come see."

I highly recommend this collection to lovers of poetry and folk horror. It was really enjoyable!

[Elou Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was sent an early copy for blurbing purposes.

My official, very profesh blurb was as follows: "Reading NIGHT LIFE is like stepping into another world. Equal parts stunning and haunting, Sarria's poetry lingers long after you've finished reading. If you only pick up one collection this Autumn, make sure it's NIGHT LIFE."

I stand by it. This collection is a stunner. Initially, I read it in a single sitting. I've read it more than once, and I will read it again and again. Alba Sarria is very much in my list of favourite contemporary poets.

[Amy B Garratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars ✨ An eerie strange collection of previously published poetry, combined into an anthology of folk horror tales and gothic creepiness. I particularly enjoyed the sections ‘Marked’ and ‘Awaken’, and the illustrations for each chapter. Some of the poetry at the beginning was a little more complex to grasp (without additional context of the folk tales implied), but overall a very good read for the spooky season.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up a copy of Night Life on a whim during a recent sale and found myself captivated by a dark and disturbing yet strangely beautiful collection that had overtones of folklore blended with horror in a most effective and unusual way. It is not like anything I've read before but I find some of the imagery and phrases have wormed their way into my mind and I find myself thinking about them unexpectedly. Truly a unique and memorable read.

[J.E. Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

had so much fun reading this, the concept is so so cool and the execution of it was on par. the attention to detail in curating the atmosphere and experience was very impressive

really enjoyed the illustrations too and the cover being on canvas is !!!!

[Laura Gibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

"All the while the little girls will whisper, witless blind witnesses "is that my lung? Is that your liver?" And my beloved—my beloved will tred and tear flesh from bone, precariously burying their tiny teeth for tasteful tea leaves."

I love some stomach-churning spooky poems.

[K.C. Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoopy Appalachian poetry? Yes, please! Some of these images are really going to stick with me. At times, I wasn’t *entirely* sure what was happening, but for the most part that fit the vibes.

[Kienn Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful writing, folk horror and poetry. gender and monsters and a deep sinking feeling full of rust and decay

[Jamie Burns · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me. My first time trying to read horror poetry and I just didn’t get it. Probably says more about me than the book.

[Christine Thomas]

Content Warnings:
Animal Death
Gore

Words that may bother some readers:
G
God (not religious) - 3 times
God (religious) - 1 time
H
Hell - 1 time

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two things I love, poetry and horror! An enticing read and would recommend!