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That Which Stands Outside
A new chiller from multi award winning author of over 50 novels, winner of the New York Festival Radio Award for Best Drama Special and Festival Radio Awards.That Which Stands Outside is a horror novel inspired by Nordic folklore. After Todd Kingston rescues Yrsa Helgerson from muggers one rainy London night, their resulting friendship quickly develops into a romance. When Yrsa’s mother dies, Todd accompanies her back to her childhood home, an isolated Nordic island. The reception they receive there is one of suspicion and hostility. The islanders believe Yrsa to be a child of a mythic race called the Jötnar, a claim which Yrsa dismisses as superstitious nonsense. But as the island is rocked by a series of devastating events, Todd finds himself caught up in a terrifying battle, one which possibly threatens the future of the world itself.FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
368 pages, Paperback
Published July 16, 2024
20 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Mark Morris
133 books239 followersLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Mark Morris became a full-time writer in 1988 on the Enterprise Allowance Scheme, and a year later saw the release of his first novel, Toady. He has since published a further sixteen novels, among which are Stitch, The Immaculate, The Secret of Anatomy, Fiddleback, The Deluge and four books in the popular Doctor Who range.
His short stories, novellas, articles and reviews have appeared in a wide variety of anthologies and magazines, and he is editor of the highly-acclaimed Cinema Macabre, a book of fifty horror movie essays by genre luminaries, for which he won the 2007 British Fantasy Award.
His most recently published or forthcoming work includes a novella entitled It Sustains for Earthling Publications, a Torchwood novel entitled Bay of the Dead, several Doctor Who audios for Big Finish Productions, a follow-up volume to Cinema Macabre entitled Cinema Futura and a new short story collection, Long Shadows, Nightmare Light.
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Mark Morris became a full-time writer in 1988 on the Enterprise Allowance Scheme, and a year later saw the release of his first novel, Toady. He has since published a further sixteen novels, among which are Stitch, The Immaculate, The Secret of Anatomy, Fiddleback, The Deluge and four books in the popular Doctor Who range.
His short stories, novellas, articles and reviews have appeared in a wide variety of anthologies and magazines, and he is editor of the highly-acclaimed Cinema Macabre, a book of fifty horror movie essays by genre luminaries, for which he won the 2007 British Fantasy Award.
His most recently published or forthcoming work includes a novella entitled It Sustains for Earthling Publications, a Torchwood novel entitled Bay of the Dead, several Doctor Who audios for Big Finish Productions, a follow-up volume to Cinema Macabre entitled Cinema Futura and a new short story collection, Long Shadows, Nightmare Light.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 15, 2025
The Devil's Throat...
THAT WHICH STANDS OUTSIDE
by Mark Morris
No spoilers. 3 stars. The ten year old girl knew she was dying. Her memory and fear quickly came back to her...
She was hungry and thirsty...
Her injuries caused her to hurt all over. She didn't know how long she'd been in the dark cavern...
She sensed someone nearby...
They were coming for her...
They would find her...
She had fallen into a pit called the Devil's Throat and slid further down into a labyrinth of tunnels at the bottom...
She searched the dark tunnels, looking for escape until she saw a light which she followed until she was lost...
Then she saw the short, squat shape she'd been seeing in her peripheral vision that had been following her...
This story started out so good that I couldn't put it down, but about midway through, it took a turn, which made it seem like a completely different story.
This is definitely a Norse folklore story, but I didn't care for the second half because it seemed to veer from the path it started out on, which was more intriguing.
THAT WHICH STANDS OUTSIDE
by Mark Morris
No spoilers. 3 stars. The ten year old girl knew she was dying. Her memory and fear quickly came back to her...
She was hungry and thirsty...
Her injuries caused her to hurt all over. She didn't know how long she'd been in the dark cavern...
She sensed someone nearby...
They were coming for her...
They would find her...
She had fallen into a pit called the Devil's Throat and slid further down into a labyrinth of tunnels at the bottom...
She searched the dark tunnels, looking for escape until she saw a light which she followed until she was lost...
Then she saw the short, squat shape she'd been seeing in her peripheral vision that had been following her...
This story started out so good that I couldn't put it down, but about midway through, it took a turn, which made it seem like a completely different story.
This is definitely a Norse folklore story, but I didn't care for the second half because it seemed to veer from the path it started out on, which was more intriguing.
April 6, 2025
Todd meets Yrsa when she is the victim of an attempted mugging and he is her would-be rescuer. After a whirlwind romance, he finds himself accompanying her to the small, isolated island of Eldfjallaeyja after Yrsa's mother dies. Todd is jarred to find that not only is the small community of the island aloof to him as an outsider, the inhabitants are downright hostile to prodigal daughter Yrsa. As Todd begins to face some unpleasant truths about his new girlfriend through her interactions with the people who've known her her whole life, there seems to be something stirring in the tunnels and forests of the island that may be more dangerous than any of the people around them.
That Which Stand Outside has a great title and started off pretty well (though Morris used a lot of info-dumpy passages in the beginning, which isn't really my favorite way of getting to know characters). I found some of the early scenes on the island effective and was hoping to lean into some creepy Nordic folklore (the prologue was a standout in this respect). Unfortunately, it turned into an overly long slog for me around the halfway mark, the Nordic lore went in a more fantastical direction than I had hoped, and I didn't connect to a single character in the book. Eventually, I found myself skimming the drawn-out final act to get to the conclusion. Overall, this one left me pretty disappointed and didn't live up to early hints at creepiness.
That Which Stand Outside has a great title and started off pretty well (though Morris used a lot of info-dumpy passages in the beginning, which isn't really my favorite way of getting to know characters). I found some of the early scenes on the island effective and was hoping to lean into some creepy Nordic folklore (the prologue was a standout in this respect). Unfortunately, it turned into an overly long slog for me around the halfway mark, the Nordic lore went in a more fantastical direction than I had hoped, and I didn't connect to a single character in the book. Eventually, I found myself skimming the drawn-out final act to get to the conclusion. Overall, this one left me pretty disappointed and didn't live up to early hints at creepiness.
May 19, 2024
A thoroughly entertaining horror novel from a master of the craft that has a little bit of everything. Mark Morris packs a tonne of good stuff into That Which Stands Outside. At times it’s playful, at others it’s creepy and in the end it’s ferociously exciting. The tension gradually ramps up as he teases out the mystery of what’s going on and expands the cast of believable characters for the reader to get invested in. The slow burn is skilfully done and pays off beautifully in the climax. Great stuff.
June 17, 2024
*Huge thanks to Flame Tree Press & Netgalley for the digital ARC!*
Back in 1989, Mark Morris’ debut novel, ‘Toady,’ was released heralding the arrival of a new and exciting voice. Now, some thirty-five years later, Mark is still releasing thrilling, can’t-put-down books. Recently, he’s been working more in the Dr. Who realm, but has been putting out some critically acclaimed anthologies through Flame Tree Press. When this, his debut with Flame Tree, was announced, I was very excited. I haven’t read ‘Toady,’ though it is buried somewhere on my Kindle currently, but this one sounded right up my alley and I was excited to dive in.
What I liked: The novel starts out with a bang, Todd, a down-on-his-luck actor, comes across a woman being attacked one night after leaving his job as a bartender. He intervenes, and while he saves her from worse injury, he himself gets his ass kicked, putting him in the hospital. Waking, he finds the woman there, and that she’s been coming to make sure he’s ok daily. Her name is Yrsa and quickly the two of them fall in love.
Morris sets the stage nicely with that moment bringing them together, but Todd’s feelings for her are solidified after she gets word her mother has died and she’ll need to return to a small Nordic island off the coast where she’s from. She hates the place, hates her hometown, but Todd volunteers to come and the story takes off.
Once there, it becomes apparent immediately that the townsfolk have no love towards Yrsa, no sympathy that her mother’s died and after a short time there, Todd finds out why. When Yrsa was a child, she fell into a cave on the outskirts and was missing. Almost a week later, she was found, but none of the towns people believe that the child they pulled from that hole was Yrsa.
I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not widely read on the 80’s and 90’s UK authors. I’ve read some Ramsay Campbell and more recently a lot of Adam Nevill. I’ve read Tim Lebbon’s work, and many of the ‘new’ breed of UK authors – Kevin J. Kennedy, Gemma Amor, V. Castro, David Sodergren, Phil Sloman, Dave Jeffery, David Watkins, Joseph Sale etc. etc. – and ignoring them (not maliciously) I’ve found that the UK writers coming from that time period have a very pragmatic approach to developing their story. They take their time giving us lush descriptions (read detailed not purple prose) but also have this uncanny ability to leave a drip or two of dread within every paragraph. Such is the case here. Morris sets up the bowling pins well – Yrsa tells Todd about the caves, they go there, and she shares that she saw something when she crawled through as a child. Todd then gets his brother, who has a drilling company, to come and drill through, to see what she saw – and even in that statement alone, there’s a desire to know what it is, that the reader is intrigued.
Morris continues the trend of giving us plum location and character descriptions, while teasing out this change in Yrsa. The rain comes and she dances naked outside. Strange things happen around the town and she seems to be energized. Small little figures are seen and she smirks at the notion. It all leads to the final quarter of the novel being full on bonkers. The drilling breaks through, the terror is realized and characters begin to fall like confetti.
For me, it was a tale of two parts. The first half worked wonderfully to set the stage. I felt like I was walking the streets with Todd, meeting the people and enjoying the remoteness, even if the people were not outwardly friendly to Todd. The second half was the classic horror novel. We get carnage, bloodshed and tangible chills. Morris takes this time to knock down those bowling pins he set up, hundreds of pages ago, and boy does he knock them down.
The ending was remarkable in that it gave us closure. That’s a rare thing these days in the world of expected sequels and readers want more and more. I personally, was very happy with how it was wrapped up.
What I didn’t like: While I personally loved it, in the novella age of fast releases and faster reads, I’m hopeful that the readers who love these dark, burning, quality stories find it and it explodes, because everything is fully developed. I can see this one being set aside by those readers who think a three hundred page book is too long, as this one really begins to pick up steam right around that mark.
Why you should buy this: I’m actually shocked I’m not seeing this novel all over my social media pages as it was fantastic. Morris gives us amazing characters, a phenomenal back drop and some truly wonderful lore. Todd is a character every single reader will root for, even when he seems to be completely oblivious to the dark omen he’s in a relationship with, and the action is here is masterful.
An absolutely face-smacking good time, this one had me hooked from page one and never let go. Now, I really should give ‘Toady’ a read.
Back in 1989, Mark Morris’ debut novel, ‘Toady,’ was released heralding the arrival of a new and exciting voice. Now, some thirty-five years later, Mark is still releasing thrilling, can’t-put-down books. Recently, he’s been working more in the Dr. Who realm, but has been putting out some critically acclaimed anthologies through Flame Tree Press. When this, his debut with Flame Tree, was announced, I was very excited. I haven’t read ‘Toady,’ though it is buried somewhere on my Kindle currently, but this one sounded right up my alley and I was excited to dive in.
What I liked: The novel starts out with a bang, Todd, a down-on-his-luck actor, comes across a woman being attacked one night after leaving his job as a bartender. He intervenes, and while he saves her from worse injury, he himself gets his ass kicked, putting him in the hospital. Waking, he finds the woman there, and that she’s been coming to make sure he’s ok daily. Her name is Yrsa and quickly the two of them fall in love.
Morris sets the stage nicely with that moment bringing them together, but Todd’s feelings for her are solidified after she gets word her mother has died and she’ll need to return to a small Nordic island off the coast where she’s from. She hates the place, hates her hometown, but Todd volunteers to come and the story takes off.
Once there, it becomes apparent immediately that the townsfolk have no love towards Yrsa, no sympathy that her mother’s died and after a short time there, Todd finds out why. When Yrsa was a child, she fell into a cave on the outskirts and was missing. Almost a week later, she was found, but none of the towns people believe that the child they pulled from that hole was Yrsa.
I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not widely read on the 80’s and 90’s UK authors. I’ve read some Ramsay Campbell and more recently a lot of Adam Nevill. I’ve read Tim Lebbon’s work, and many of the ‘new’ breed of UK authors – Kevin J. Kennedy, Gemma Amor, V. Castro, David Sodergren, Phil Sloman, Dave Jeffery, David Watkins, Joseph Sale etc. etc. – and ignoring them (not maliciously) I’ve found that the UK writers coming from that time period have a very pragmatic approach to developing their story. They take their time giving us lush descriptions (read detailed not purple prose) but also have this uncanny ability to leave a drip or two of dread within every paragraph. Such is the case here. Morris sets up the bowling pins well – Yrsa tells Todd about the caves, they go there, and she shares that she saw something when she crawled through as a child. Todd then gets his brother, who has a drilling company, to come and drill through, to see what she saw – and even in that statement alone, there’s a desire to know what it is, that the reader is intrigued.
Morris continues the trend of giving us plum location and character descriptions, while teasing out this change in Yrsa. The rain comes and she dances naked outside. Strange things happen around the town and she seems to be energized. Small little figures are seen and she smirks at the notion. It all leads to the final quarter of the novel being full on bonkers. The drilling breaks through, the terror is realized and characters begin to fall like confetti.
For me, it was a tale of two parts. The first half worked wonderfully to set the stage. I felt like I was walking the streets with Todd, meeting the people and enjoying the remoteness, even if the people were not outwardly friendly to Todd. The second half was the classic horror novel. We get carnage, bloodshed and tangible chills. Morris takes this time to knock down those bowling pins he set up, hundreds of pages ago, and boy does he knock them down.
The ending was remarkable in that it gave us closure. That’s a rare thing these days in the world of expected sequels and readers want more and more. I personally, was very happy with how it was wrapped up.
What I didn’t like: While I personally loved it, in the novella age of fast releases and faster reads, I’m hopeful that the readers who love these dark, burning, quality stories find it and it explodes, because everything is fully developed. I can see this one being set aside by those readers who think a three hundred page book is too long, as this one really begins to pick up steam right around that mark.
Why you should buy this: I’m actually shocked I’m not seeing this novel all over my social media pages as it was fantastic. Morris gives us amazing characters, a phenomenal back drop and some truly wonderful lore. Todd is a character every single reader will root for, even when he seems to be completely oblivious to the dark omen he’s in a relationship with, and the action is here is masterful.
An absolutely face-smacking good time, this one had me hooked from page one and never let go. Now, I really should give ‘Toady’ a read.
July 25, 2024
Review originally on JamReads
That Which Stands Outside is a highly atmospheric horror novel inspired by Nordic folklore, written by Mark Morris, and published by Flame Tree Press. On an isolated Nordic island, Todd Kingston will find himself in the middle of a battle which might decide the destiny of the world, something that he couldn't imagine when he rescued Yrga Helgerson a rainy London night.
Todd and Yrsa start a relationship after this incident; things are perfect, she might be enigmatic, but is also smart and attractive, and Todd falls in love with her. When Yrsa's mom dies, he will accompany her to the remote island of Eldfjallaeyja, discovering that Yrsa and him, by association, are not well received here, a long time superstition about an episode of Yrsa's life; but Yrsa is decided to find the answer to the mystery associated with this episode, and with the collaboration of Todd, a chain of disasters and deaths will be set in motion, forcing Todd to fight for survival.
With this premise, Morris has woven a quite classic adventure horror which touches Nordic folklore, but which feels fresh in the way of the execution. We can distinguish two clear parts in the novel: a first one where isolation and the particularities of the island are the main source of agitation, with Todd totally isolated as he doesn't speak Eldfjallaeyja's language, transmitting a sensation that all the people knows something that outsiders are unaware, quite much in the style of The Wicker Man or Midsommar; and a second one after the excavation happens, with ancient forces trying to get rid of Todd and his brother, and some touches that could remember to The Walking Dead, much faster in terms of pacing than the first part, but which couldn't be understood without all the preparation.
Delivering a highly atmospheric story, Morris also gifts us with an excellently written plot that keeps us hooked and guessing during all the reading time; and with a main character that many people can relate, as who hasn't made crazy things for love? The Nordic folklore references enhance it, putting in on a great level.
If you are a horror fan, trust me when I say you will love That Which Stands Outside; an excellent example of how to create a thrilling story, using a natural isolation component to tie together all of what makes of Eldfjallaeyja a scary place. Absolute recommend.
That Which Stands Outside is a highly atmospheric horror novel inspired by Nordic folklore, written by Mark Morris, and published by Flame Tree Press. On an isolated Nordic island, Todd Kingston will find himself in the middle of a battle which might decide the destiny of the world, something that he couldn't imagine when he rescued Yrga Helgerson a rainy London night.
Todd and Yrsa start a relationship after this incident; things are perfect, she might be enigmatic, but is also smart and attractive, and Todd falls in love with her. When Yrsa's mom dies, he will accompany her to the remote island of Eldfjallaeyja, discovering that Yrsa and him, by association, are not well received here, a long time superstition about an episode of Yrsa's life; but Yrsa is decided to find the answer to the mystery associated with this episode, and with the collaboration of Todd, a chain of disasters and deaths will be set in motion, forcing Todd to fight for survival.
With this premise, Morris has woven a quite classic adventure horror which touches Nordic folklore, but which feels fresh in the way of the execution. We can distinguish two clear parts in the novel: a first one where isolation and the particularities of the island are the main source of agitation, with Todd totally isolated as he doesn't speak Eldfjallaeyja's language, transmitting a sensation that all the people knows something that outsiders are unaware, quite much in the style of The Wicker Man or Midsommar; and a second one after the excavation happens, with ancient forces trying to get rid of Todd and his brother, and some touches that could remember to The Walking Dead, much faster in terms of pacing than the first part, but which couldn't be understood without all the preparation.
Delivering a highly atmospheric story, Morris also gifts us with an excellently written plot that keeps us hooked and guessing during all the reading time; and with a main character that many people can relate, as who hasn't made crazy things for love? The Nordic folklore references enhance it, putting in on a great level.
If you are a horror fan, trust me when I say you will love That Which Stands Outside; an excellent example of how to create a thrilling story, using a natural isolation component to tie together all of what makes of Eldfjallaeyja a scary place. Absolute recommend.
July 25, 2024
After an easy reading and quite ‘modern’ feeling start, with a lot of creeping oddities and mystery, the last third turned into a dragged out escalation of events that would have missed nothing if it had been told on a quarter of the pages. Very reminiscent of a good 70s/80s horror, that frequently held suspense up until the point where the explanations (ghosts, monsters, nefarious humans, gods, creatures, dreams…) got clearer. The ending, while logical and expected is a bit of an anticlimax. An ok vacation read.
July 18, 2024
When Todd saves Yrsa from muggers on a stormy night in London, a relationship develops. Then when Yrsa’s mother dies, she asks him if he’ll come with her back to her childhood home, a small Icelandic island called Eldfjallaeyja. They don’t receive a particularly warm welcome, the villagers are hostile and distrustful, but Yrsa brushes this off and doesn’t seem to care, much to Todd’s surprise.
While they’re there, Yrsa tells Todd about a traumatic childhood incident, when she was lost in the local caves for several days. And how since then the locals were convinced that Yrsa returned as someone different; a changeling or witch. Todd begins to understand the locals’ dislike and suspicion of him and Yrsa. But it still makes him feel nervous and uncomfortable. And then he learns about the jötnar…
Woah! It’s been a long, long while since I read a Mark
Morris book, many decades in fact. But I always rated him so I jumped at the chance to read something newer. And let me tell you, the man hasn’t lost his touch. Aside from his talent at writing horror, he genuinely has such a fantastic writing style in general, in fact the engaging narrative had me intrigued from the first few pages. Todd is a hugely likeable character and his relationship with the mysterious Yrsa makes for compelling reading from the start. Then as the story moves over to the Nordic isles there’s suddenly such a wonderfully creepy atmosphere of apprehension and dread (the Icelandic mists, freezing nights and dark forests are described so vividly) until wham, it ramps right up and before you know it you’re slap bang in the middle of a living nightmare.
That Which Stands Outside is an exceptionally fine piece of work. The characters are enthralling, the location perfect and the plot insidiously creepy and hugely atmospheric. I’ll be thinking about the island of Eldfjallaeyja for a long while yet. Brrrrrrr!
While they’re there, Yrsa tells Todd about a traumatic childhood incident, when she was lost in the local caves for several days. And how since then the locals were convinced that Yrsa returned as someone different; a changeling or witch. Todd begins to understand the locals’ dislike and suspicion of him and Yrsa. But it still makes him feel nervous and uncomfortable. And then he learns about the jötnar…
Woah! It’s been a long, long while since I read a Mark
Morris book, many decades in fact. But I always rated him so I jumped at the chance to read something newer. And let me tell you, the man hasn’t lost his touch. Aside from his talent at writing horror, he genuinely has such a fantastic writing style in general, in fact the engaging narrative had me intrigued from the first few pages. Todd is a hugely likeable character and his relationship with the mysterious Yrsa makes for compelling reading from the start. Then as the story moves over to the Nordic isles there’s suddenly such a wonderfully creepy atmosphere of apprehension and dread (the Icelandic mists, freezing nights and dark forests are described so vividly) until wham, it ramps right up and before you know it you’re slap bang in the middle of a living nightmare.
That Which Stands Outside is an exceptionally fine piece of work. The characters are enthralling, the location perfect and the plot insidiously creepy and hugely atmospheric. I’ll be thinking about the island of Eldfjallaeyja for a long while yet. Brrrrrrr!
November 23, 2024
This novel is absolutely insane, in a Nordic folklore you-think-you-know-what-you're-getting-but-mwahahah-no-you-do-not-sir kind of way.
I read so much, almost exclusively horror, that I am very rarely surprised. I'm never surprised to the extent that I was by the third act of this story. Bravo!
I read so much, almost exclusively horror, that I am very rarely surprised. I'm never surprised to the extent that I was by the third act of this story. Bravo!
August 14, 2024
Todd starts a romance with Yrsa in London. Everything is great until they visit her home Nordic island where things get very strange.
That Which Stands Outside is a great horror book based on Nordic Folklore. The folklore elements were unlike any I have read before. Despite a slow start this novel tense, claustrophobic, and creepy.
I would recommend this novel to fans of folk horror who don't mind a slow burn.
That Which Stands Outside is a great horror book based on Nordic Folklore. The folklore elements were unlike any I have read before. Despite a slow start this novel tense, claustrophobic, and creepy.
I would recommend this novel to fans of folk horror who don't mind a slow burn.
June 15, 2025
I was enjoying the story up until Todd and Yrsa arrived on the island. From there, any tension or mystery, was lost pretty much straight away. The story had a lot of potential but missed the mark for me.
Yrsa pretty much tells you what she is as soon as they arrive. There’s no big reveal or twist and it was pretty obvious Irsa had ulterior motives. I felt like the story was pretty rushed with no build up or suspense.
I didn’t really get attached to any of the characters as they weren’t very fleshed out, in my opinion. The ending was also pretty lame.
Overall, this was pretty disappointing.
Yrsa pretty much tells you what she is as soon as they arrive. There’s no big reveal or twist and it was pretty obvious Irsa had ulterior motives. I felt like the story was pretty rushed with no build up or suspense.
I didn’t really get attached to any of the characters as they weren’t very fleshed out, in my opinion. The ending was also pretty lame.
Overall, this was pretty disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2024
A very good Nordic folklore based thriller with some neat changes of direction and some refreshing character dynamics. Really enjoyed it and when it gets dark it’s get dark and chilling fast!
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
December 26, 2024
Book 5/13 of birthday haul, October 2024
I liked this. The story starts out in London, but transitions to a secluded island off of Norway. I really liked the elements of Nordic folklore in play here. The little people were a great addition. I am always fascinated with stories that take place in an isolated area so I loved the setting. There were some great characters here that I was rooting for.
I liked this. The story starts out in London, but transitions to a secluded island off of Norway. I really liked the elements of Nordic folklore in play here. The little people were a great addition. I am always fascinated with stories that take place in an isolated area so I loved the setting. There were some great characters here that I was rooting for.
May 27, 2024
That Which Stands Outside by Mark Morris it’s an epic horror story that I thoroughly enjoyed! It usually takes me half a day to read a book it took me over three days to read this one and every time I put it down I couldn’t wait to go back to it. Todd saved Ursula from a robbery that put him in the hospital. When he wakes up, the girl he saved is there they soon become friends and then so much more. soon after her mom dies and they have to go back to the little island where she grew up but when they arrive Todd is taking a back by the way the local people treat her. That night at the pub he meets Carianna who went to school with Ursula but she isn’t happy to see her either in fact she gives Todd a warning and a note with her phone number on it soon things on the island only get crazier from how his girlfriend acts to the fear he sees on the faces of the Islanders they’re even suspicious of Todd himself when people start going missing and a death occurs on the island Carrie Anna tells Todd this doesn’t happen when Ursula is gone what really starts things rolling however is when Ursula brings Todd to the cave where she went missing as a teen and explained to him what happened and tells him about the fortune of gold she seen in the cave, Todd whose family owns a construction company has everything needed to dig behind the cave wall to find the treasure, but when he calls his brother and a small crew to do the job this is when things go from bad to worse they then go from worse to catastrophic but when everything reaches devastating Todd wonders if he’ll even make it off the island at all.There is so much I am leaving out this review the book is just too long the story too complex trust me when I say this is a very talented writer and this is a very awesome monster story. If you’re a fan of monster horror then you’ll definitely love this book I believe the origin story is one from Nordic mythology and I believe the author did a wonderful job executing it. I want to thank Flame Tree for my free arc copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
December 11, 2024
Full review at Happy Goat Horror:
https://happygoathorror.com/2024/12/0...
You know, I absolutely love folk horror and I've read a fair amount of it, and I have to say this novel really did something unique with it. Unique to me, at least. I'm not very familiar with Nordic folklore, but what I'm used to in general is witches, maybe some hooved dark gods, pagan rituals...you know, your usual culty stuff.
Mark Morris takes this in an entirely different, welcome direction. And the third act is insane.
https://happygoathorror.com/2024/12/0...
You know, I absolutely love folk horror and I've read a fair amount of it, and I have to say this novel really did something unique with it. Unique to me, at least. I'm not very familiar with Nordic folklore, but what I'm used to in general is witches, maybe some hooved dark gods, pagan rituals...you know, your usual culty stuff.
Mark Morris takes this in an entirely different, welcome direction. And the third act is insane.
December 20, 2024
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.0 of 5
Todd Kingston and Yrsa Helgerson meet when Todd rescues Yrsa from a mugging one night in London. They quickly develop a strong friendship and romance.
When Yrsa's gets word that her mother has died, she has some angst about going back to her Nordic home. Todd encourages her to be there for family and offers to travel with her, providing love and support. Once they arrive on the remote Nordic island, Yrsa's home, they are met with a very icy reception.
The locals believe that Yrsa is actually a member of the race of beings called Jötnar - based on an incident when Yrsa was a child. It's nothing but superstitious nonsense as far as Yrsa is concerned, to which Todd agrees. Until ....
Strange things begin to happen on the remote island and Todd, who once fought to protect Yrsa, now fights for his life and possibly all of humankind.
Other than my recently review book, Elemental Forces, which was edited by Mark Morris, I've never read anything by this author. I'm always on the lookout for someone new to read and as I've been enjoying the horror I've read from Flame Tree Press I thought I'd try this.
I really like the slow build of tension and horror. The book initially feels a little divided between London story and 'remote island' story, but upon reflection readers will see that Morris is not only setting up the characters, but planting the small seeds that will grow into the horror later.
The characters are brilliantly created. A scene early on, when Todd is recovering in a hospital after fighting off the muggers and Yrsa shows up to thank him, really endears us to both our main characters and we absolutely believe in the goodness of both of them.
Some of the action on the island might be just a tad too slow in this slow-build-up of horror. I grew a little impatient, wanting to move the action forward. Still, my attention was definitely held throughout. It helped, for me, to have the Nordic connection as I'm quite fascinated by Nordic myths and legends.
This does make me interested in reading more of Mark Morris' work.
Looking for a good book? That Which Stands Outside by Mark Morris is a slow-building horror novel with marvelous characters and a connection to ancient Nordic lore.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Todd Kingston and Yrsa Helgerson meet when Todd rescues Yrsa from a mugging one night in London. They quickly develop a strong friendship and romance.
When Yrsa's gets word that her mother has died, she has some angst about going back to her Nordic home. Todd encourages her to be there for family and offers to travel with her, providing love and support. Once they arrive on the remote Nordic island, Yrsa's home, they are met with a very icy reception.
The locals believe that Yrsa is actually a member of the race of beings called Jötnar - based on an incident when Yrsa was a child. It's nothing but superstitious nonsense as far as Yrsa is concerned, to which Todd agrees. Until ....
Strange things begin to happen on the remote island and Todd, who once fought to protect Yrsa, now fights for his life and possibly all of humankind.
Other than my recently review book, Elemental Forces, which was edited by Mark Morris, I've never read anything by this author. I'm always on the lookout for someone new to read and as I've been enjoying the horror I've read from Flame Tree Press I thought I'd try this.
I really like the slow build of tension and horror. The book initially feels a little divided between London story and 'remote island' story, but upon reflection readers will see that Morris is not only setting up the characters, but planting the small seeds that will grow into the horror later.
The characters are brilliantly created. A scene early on, when Todd is recovering in a hospital after fighting off the muggers and Yrsa shows up to thank him, really endears us to both our main characters and we absolutely believe in the goodness of both of them.
Some of the action on the island might be just a tad too slow in this slow-build-up of horror. I grew a little impatient, wanting to move the action forward. Still, my attention was definitely held throughout. It helped, for me, to have the Nordic connection as I'm quite fascinated by Nordic myths and legends.
This does make me interested in reading more of Mark Morris' work.
Looking for a good book? That Which Stands Outside by Mark Morris is a slow-building horror novel with marvelous characters and a connection to ancient Nordic lore.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2024
Here is my review for That Which Stands Outside by Mark Morris
This was an exciting book to read from the start and I really got into it. It was imaginative and really well written using his imagination to the full. You could feel the tension and suspense oozing out of the book. Yrsa and Todd met in the most unusual way in that he tried to save her from a mugging but he ended up being beaten up instead but they still got away with Yrsa’s bag but the noise she was making attracted other people so the attackers ran off. She spoke to his dad and he was put in a private hospital and she was there when he finally woke up. They soon became friends and he accompanied her home when her mother died. They were met with suspicion and hostility by the islanders and then weird things started happening that put them squarely in the face of more hostility. This was an easy book to get into and the writing style was very good as was the descriptive text. A great horror read!
Blurb :
That Which Stands Outside is a horror novel inspired by Nordic folklore. After Todd Kingston rescues Yrsa Helgerson from muggers one rainy London night, their resulting friendship quickly develops into a romance. When Yrsa’s mother dies, Todd accompanies her back to her childhood home, an isolated Nordic island. The reception they receive there is one of suspicion and hostility. The islanders believe Yrsa to be a child of a mythic race called the Jötnar, a claim which Yrsa dismisses as superstitious nonsense. But as the island is rocked by a series of devastating events, Todd finds himself caught up in a terrifying battle, one which possibly threatens the future of the world itself.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
This was an exciting book to read from the start and I really got into it. It was imaginative and really well written using his imagination to the full. You could feel the tension and suspense oozing out of the book. Yrsa and Todd met in the most unusual way in that he tried to save her from a mugging but he ended up being beaten up instead but they still got away with Yrsa’s bag but the noise she was making attracted other people so the attackers ran off. She spoke to his dad and he was put in a private hospital and she was there when he finally woke up. They soon became friends and he accompanied her home when her mother died. They were met with suspicion and hostility by the islanders and then weird things started happening that put them squarely in the face of more hostility. This was an easy book to get into and the writing style was very good as was the descriptive text. A great horror read!
Blurb :
That Which Stands Outside is a horror novel inspired by Nordic folklore. After Todd Kingston rescues Yrsa Helgerson from muggers one rainy London night, their resulting friendship quickly develops into a romance. When Yrsa’s mother dies, Todd accompanies her back to her childhood home, an isolated Nordic island. The reception they receive there is one of suspicion and hostility. The islanders believe Yrsa to be a child of a mythic race called the Jötnar, a claim which Yrsa dismisses as superstitious nonsense. But as the island is rocked by a series of devastating events, Todd finds himself caught up in a terrifying battle, one which possibly threatens the future of the world itself.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
July 20, 2024
Title: That Which Stands Outside
Author: Mark Morris
Rating: ★★★★
That Which Stands Outside is a thrilling tale steeped in Nordic folklore.
This gripping story begins on a rainy London night when Todd Kingston rescues Yrsa Helgerson from muggers. Their blossoming friendship quickly turns into a romance, leading Todd to accompany Yrsa back to her isolated Nordic island after the death of her mother.
Upon arrival, Todd and Yrsa are met with suspicion and hostility from the islanders. They believe Yrsa is a child of the mythic race called the Jötnar, a notion Yrsa dismisses as mere superstition. But as the island faces a series of devastating events, Todd finds himself ensnared in a terrifying battle that could have dire consequences for the entire world.
Morris masterfully weaves a narrative that combines the eerie atmosphere of Nordic myths with a modern-day love story. The folklore concept is enthralling, bringing an ancient and mystical element to the tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The suspense builds steadily, with each page revealing more about the island's dark secrets and Yrsa's mysterious past.
That Which Stands Outside is not just a horror novel; it's a journey into a world where ancient legends come to life and threaten the very fabric of reality. The characters are richly developed, and the setting is so vividly described that you can almost feel the cold, misty air of the Nordic island.
This book is a must-read. Loved the folklore concept—it was thrilling and kept me on the edge of my seat!
Thank you to The Publisher Flame Tree Press & the author Mark Morris or an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
July 26, 2024
This was a brilliant read, a perfect example of isolation horror done very well indeed! I don’t want to go too much further into the plot from the above synopsis as I think this is best read with he mystery intact.
As soon as I heard about this book I knew it would be right up my street. I’m a big fan of Nordic Folklore and mythology and the whole atmosphere that comes with that. Morris did not dissapoint. The imagery created was brilliant you really feel like you are treading the paths and forests of this isolated island with is fiercly superstitious and unwelcoming residents. I felt an outcast on the characters behalfs.
This Which Stands Ouside is a relatively chunky read at 368 pages but this really does allow for the slow burn to be done properly, the mystery and suspense builds and builds with every chapter. The characters are interseting, individual and beleivable.
Every time I put this book down I was thinking about it and wanting to know what was going to happen next!
For me this was a book of two halfs, in the beginning it is an eerie and creepy mystery which then finishes as suspensful, classic horror.
I really enjoyed this book, if you like The Ritual by Adam Nevill, isolation and expadition horror or folklore horror in general this is a must read.
4.5 ⭐️’s from me!
As soon as I heard about this book I knew it would be right up my street. I’m a big fan of Nordic Folklore and mythology and the whole atmosphere that comes with that. Morris did not dissapoint. The imagery created was brilliant you really feel like you are treading the paths and forests of this isolated island with is fiercly superstitious and unwelcoming residents. I felt an outcast on the characters behalfs.
This Which Stands Ouside is a relatively chunky read at 368 pages but this really does allow for the slow burn to be done properly, the mystery and suspense builds and builds with every chapter. The characters are interseting, individual and beleivable.
Every time I put this book down I was thinking about it and wanting to know what was going to happen next!
For me this was a book of two halfs, in the beginning it is an eerie and creepy mystery which then finishes as suspensful, classic horror.
I really enjoyed this book, if you like The Ritual by Adam Nevill, isolation and expadition horror or folklore horror in general this is a must read.
4.5 ⭐️’s from me!
July 22, 2024
First of all, a bit about the story. Our main character Todd, saves Yrsa from being attacked on a stormy London night. But in doing so, Todd gets injured and is admitted to hospital. Upon waking up in his hospital bed, Todd discovers that Yrsa has been visiting him, and before too long, they fall in love.
Yrsa later finds out her mother has passed away, so she and Todd travel to the small Nordic Island where she's from. Whilst there Todd realises the islanders do not like Yrsa as they believe her to be the child of a mythical race called the Jotnar. What follows is a series of disastrous events, and Todd must find a way to battle through the devastation.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up.
So what we have here is a fast paced, thoroughly entertaining horror novel, full of myth and legend. It's tense, it's thrilling, it's gory.
It's dark and sinister, but it's also intelligent, fun and playful at times. It's certainly a page turner, with well rounded, believable characters with good depth and an exciting story line that will keep you reading late into the night.
An obvious master of his art, Mark Morris delivers an absolute classic story of the old world clashing with the new, and I read this in two sittings.
5 stars from me.
Yrsa later finds out her mother has passed away, so she and Todd travel to the small Nordic Island where she's from. Whilst there Todd realises the islanders do not like Yrsa as they believe her to be the child of a mythical race called the Jotnar. What follows is a series of disastrous events, and Todd must find a way to battle through the devastation.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up.
So what we have here is a fast paced, thoroughly entertaining horror novel, full of myth and legend. It's tense, it's thrilling, it's gory.
It's dark and sinister, but it's also intelligent, fun and playful at times. It's certainly a page turner, with well rounded, believable characters with good depth and an exciting story line that will keep you reading late into the night.
An obvious master of his art, Mark Morris delivers an absolute classic story of the old world clashing with the new, and I read this in two sittings.
5 stars from me.
July 25, 2024
I absolutely love a horror story that is based on old folklore and tradition. There is something about the roots of old folklore that makes a horror story grabs at the very tendrils of your being and add to the tension and fear of the whole time experience.
This book is excellent. It is steeped in tradition and great references, making the story one that grabs at you and you really connect with the whole of it. The characters are done brilliantly. The author has provided depth and personality to them, plus the connection between Todd and Yrsa makes it so hard to let go of the good and see the darkness for what it is.
The pace of the book and th ebbing flow allows you to swept up in the tension and excitement of it all. You definitely feel the tension building throughout the story, wondering what is happening behind the scenes of it all and what the whole of the tale means for Todd.
Overall, I was very impressed by this book and loved every page.
This book is excellent. It is steeped in tradition and great references, making the story one that grabs at you and you really connect with the whole of it. The characters are done brilliantly. The author has provided depth and personality to them, plus the connection between Todd and Yrsa makes it so hard to let go of the good and see the darkness for what it is.
The pace of the book and th ebbing flow allows you to swept up in the tension and excitement of it all. You definitely feel the tension building throughout the story, wondering what is happening behind the scenes of it all and what the whole of the tale means for Todd.
Overall, I was very impressed by this book and loved every page.
July 30, 2024
Oh dear, a bit disappointing this one. Just didn't connect with it at all, took ages to get anywhere (what others call a "slow burn") and the main character just felt a little bland so I didn't really care about him or what happened to him. The real horror doesn't arrive until the last quarter of the book and even then most of it happens off screen as the narrative focuses on characters hiding and/or running away from what's happening. I'm a big fan of ancient evil reawakening stories, especially when they're set in remote locations, but this one just didn't work for me. I usually really enjoy Mark's books but this isn't one of his best.
March 17, 2025
For some readers a thriller is measured by the amount of blood spilled and the gruesome ways in which the author contrives it to be done. For me the thrills of a thriller come from the process of finding out if the characters are to be believed and believable. This is the first type of thriller, even if it takes quite a while for the cinematic blood to flow.
I never trusted the character we're supposed to wonder if we should trust. It seemed to me that Mark Morris is a good writer, but this story definitely lacked "the skill and cleverness shown in dealing with a situation or problem" - what Miriam Webster calls "finesse".
I never trusted the character we're supposed to wonder if we should trust. It seemed to me that Mark Morris is a good writer, but this story definitely lacked "the skill and cleverness shown in dealing with a situation or problem" - what Miriam Webster calls "finesse".
May 27, 2024
Mark Morris delivers a fun, fast-paced mythical horror novel set on a small Nordic Island with That Which Stands Outside.
A compelling tale about ancient evil, vicious gnomes - known as Jotnar - and a clash of new and old worlds, it's a tense and thrilling page turner that ratchets up the tension before an action-packed final act.
Morris brings the story to life with rich, rounded characters that leap off the page.
His trademark horror is here too, with some memorable scenes including one in which some unfortunate workmen are deboned and filleted by the Jotnar.
Well worth a look.
A compelling tale about ancient evil, vicious gnomes - known as Jotnar - and a clash of new and old worlds, it's a tense and thrilling page turner that ratchets up the tension before an action-packed final act.
Morris brings the story to life with rich, rounded characters that leap off the page.
His trademark horror is here too, with some memorable scenes including one in which some unfortunate workmen are deboned and filleted by the Jotnar.
Well worth a look.
October 14, 2024
One for those who enjoy slower, more atmospheric stories of weird imagery, Morris gives you a tale of dark forces and human emotion; in a world where so much is rushed and is compressed into instant serotonin, it’s nice that That Which Stands Outside not only gets time to breathe but gets to fully wear you down with its chilling brand of halitosis. If you’d like an excuse for reckless spending, I present this novel.
January 30, 2025
An absolutely cracking novel that spends the first two-thirds of the story slowly building up the tension and terror one ideally expects from a folk-horror tale set in an isolated and forbidding community before suddenly plunging the reader into a fully apocalyptic, adrenaline-fuelled nightmare that blends creature feature, zombie horror and disaster epic together. Absolutely riveting, and definitely one of my favourite horror novels of the past few years.
November 16, 2024
This is a B-movie of a book, and I mean that in the good way. It’s a good exciting horror novel, with some solid characters, an atmospheric setting, and an ending that goes darker than I was expecting. It’s been a long long time since I read a Mark Morris book, but it might be time to dive back in.
January 5, 2025
Having realised I haven't read anywhere near as much of Mark Morris' fiction as I really should have, I decided to remedy that by reading his latest - and I'm very glad I did. A compulsively readable chunk of Nordic-themed folk-horror, ferocious and bloody and unsparing. Off I go to purchase another of his books!
September 13, 2025
Strong start and that was it. Todd has the worse self preservation instinct ever. His relationship with Yrsa felt so empty. Actually, every character felt empty and I didn’t care for any of them. The ending was also incredibly disappointing. Did this even try to really bring out Nordic lore beyond mentions of Yggdrasil and Ragnarok? Just seemed so half assed.
July 31, 2024
EXCELLENT
I give That Which Stands Outside an excellent full marks score of 5 ⭐, a good piece of writing that gave me everything I wanted in a book in bucket loads. Mark Morris is a talented writer I can’t wait to see more from.
I give That Which Stands Outside an excellent full marks score of 5 ⭐, a good piece of writing that gave me everything I wanted in a book in bucket loads. Mark Morris is a talented writer I can’t wait to see more from.
July 17, 2024
Just read it, and prepare to be very scared.
For a full review, please go to https://areviewerdarkly.blogspot.com/... and follow me on X @josenher
For a full review, please go to https://areviewerdarkly.blogspot.com/... and follow me on X @josenher
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