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Bound in Blood: Stories of Cursed Books, Damned Libraries and Unearthly Authors
A chilling anthology of over 20 stories of cursed and haunted books; featuring malevolent second-hand books, cursed novelizations, unsettling journals and the end of the world.
You find it hidden in the dark corner of the bookstore; tucked away in a box in the attic, desperate to be read; lurking on your bookshelf, never seen before. Crack the spine, feel the ancient pages. Read it aloud, if you dare.
From award-winning authors including Eric LaRocca, Charlie Higson, Kim Newman and A.G. Slatter, this anthology brings together horror’s best and brightest to delve into the pages of cursed books, Eldtritch tomes and haunted bookstores, perfect for fans of When Things Get Dark.
You find it hidden in the dark corner of the bookstore; tucked away in a box in the attic, desperate to be read; lurking on your bookshelf, never seen before. Crack the spine, feel the ancient pages. Read it aloud, if you dare.
From award-winning authors including Eric LaRocca, Charlie Higson, Kim Newman and A.G. Slatter, this anthology brings together horror’s best and brightest to delve into the pages of cursed books, Eldtritch tomes and haunted bookstores, perfect for fans of When Things Get Dark.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2024
54 people are currently reading
1066 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
September 1, 2024
Bound in Blood is a themed anthology of 19 stories, all related to cursed "books" of some kind. The types of books in the stories range from a photo album to the granddaddy of all cursed tomes, the Necronomicon itself. It's an enjoyable, if not altogether original, theme for a horror collection. Well, a sometimes-horror collection, because, despite what the title of this volume would seem to imply, there are several stories that are really fantasy or even just weird or experimental fiction, and don't touch on horror at all.
As with most anthologies, there are some winners and some losers, and in this instance, I feel like I rated more stories than I normally do as only two stars. But, there were also some enjoyable tales in here. Favorites of mine include the stories "From the Sea," by Charlie Higson, "The Man Who Collected Barker," by Kim Newman, "Cora Jarret Gets Into Trouble," by Johnny Mains (who also edited the book), and "Written On," by Ramsey Campbell. And the two real standouts, "Bell, Book and Lamp," by A.G. Slatter, and "Near Zennor," by Elizabeth Hand, made wading through the slog of some of the 2 and middling 3 star stories worth it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for a digital advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Bound in Blood will be released on September 10, 2024.
As with most anthologies, there are some winners and some losers, and in this instance, I feel like I rated more stories than I normally do as only two stars. But, there were also some enjoyable tales in here. Favorites of mine include the stories "From the Sea," by Charlie Higson, "The Man Who Collected Barker," by Kim Newman, "Cora Jarret Gets Into Trouble," by Johnny Mains (who also edited the book), and "Written On," by Ramsey Campbell. And the two real standouts, "Bell, Book and Lamp," by A.G. Slatter, and "Near Zennor," by Elizabeth Hand, made wading through the slog of some of the 2 and middling 3 star stories worth it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for a digital advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Bound in Blood will be released on September 10, 2024.
September 13, 2024
ARC for review. Published September 10, 2024.
Nineteen short stories about haunted books, stories, journals and the like. I love horror. I love books about books. What could go wrong?
A lot. Thank you, BOUND IN BLOOD for giving me nothing. I don’t think there was even one story here that I enjoyed or would recommend. So very, very disappointing, I was really looking forward to this.
Nineteen short stories about haunted books, stories, journals and the like. I love horror. I love books about books. What could go wrong?
A lot. Thank you, BOUND IN BLOOD for giving me nothing. I don’t think there was even one story here that I enjoyed or would recommend. So very, very disappointing, I was really looking forward to this.
Read
September 20, 2024First things first: I had no idea that Elizabeth Hand’s ‘Near Zennor’ – literally my favourite short story of all time – would appear in this anthology. For anyone thinking of buying Bound in Blood, Hand’s story is an absolute masterpiece that is worth the price of the book on its own. I wrote about it in my review of her collection Errantry, and there’s not much I can add to that, but again: it’s a masterpiece.
Yet its inclusion means I find Bound in Blood more difficult to review, overall, than I might otherwise. For me, ‘Near Zennor’ is such a standout it makes even the good stories here look mediocre by comparison. That’s not to say that it’s a bad collection, just your typical mixed bag. As with something like Darkness Beckons, I found this to be such a mixture of styles and subgenres of horror that I inevitably found myself skipping over some of the stories. As a result, I’m not sure I can assign a single rating to it.
With that said, Lucie McKnight Hardy’s ‘Broken Back Man’ is excellent: a barman is spooked when a customer reminds him of childhood night terrors; it’s truly atmospheric and creepy. As a non-enjoyer of cosmic horror, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Charlie Higson’s ‘From the Sea’, an ingenious and funny reinvention of Lovecraft that reminded me of Lynne Truss’s Cat Out of Hell. Other highlights were A.G. Slatter’s enjoyably gothic ‘Bell, Book and Lamp’; Robert Shearman’s odd, original ‘Beneath the Diaphragm, the Gut Itself’; and Alison Moore’s ‘The House Witch’, a typical Moore combination of mundanity and the weird.
Yet its inclusion means I find Bound in Blood more difficult to review, overall, than I might otherwise. For me, ‘Near Zennor’ is such a standout it makes even the good stories here look mediocre by comparison. That’s not to say that it’s a bad collection, just your typical mixed bag. As with something like Darkness Beckons, I found this to be such a mixture of styles and subgenres of horror that I inevitably found myself skipping over some of the stories. As a result, I’m not sure I can assign a single rating to it.
With that said, Lucie McKnight Hardy’s ‘Broken Back Man’ is excellent: a barman is spooked when a customer reminds him of childhood night terrors; it’s truly atmospheric and creepy. As a non-enjoyer of cosmic horror, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Charlie Higson’s ‘From the Sea’, an ingenious and funny reinvention of Lovecraft that reminded me of Lynne Truss’s Cat Out of Hell. Other highlights were A.G. Slatter’s enjoyably gothic ‘Bell, Book and Lamp’; Robert Shearman’s odd, original ‘Beneath the Diaphragm, the Gut Itself’; and Alison Moore’s ‘The House Witch’, a typical Moore combination of mundanity and the weird.
August 23, 2024
A collection of stories about stories, a book about books. Lurking inside these pages is a haunted, ancient text; a strange fairytale; a book that tells the future; a lost diary that brings one man’s nightmares to life; a book bound in human skin; and more.
Edited by Johnny Mains. Contributors include Charlie Higson; A.K. Benedict; Alison Moore; Eric LaRocca; Nadia Bulkin; Lucie McKnight Hardy; Priya Sharma; Isy Suttie; Kim Newman; Zin E. Rocklyn; A.G. Slatter; Amanda DeBord; Jeremy Dyson; Ramsey Campbell; Robert Shearman; Guy Adams; Elizabeth Hand; Adam Cesare; plus a story from the editor himself.
I’m always excited to read a collection of stories from authors we all know and love but sometimes those stories let you down because of high expectations. In this instance, I hadn’t heard of many of these authors which, surprisingly, enticed me because I was hoping that I could use this anthology to find new horror authors to love. I am happy to report that I found some winners. With that said, I notice that it is usually difficult to find a collection of stories—whether from the same author or in the case of this book, from a slew of authors—where the stories are consistently enjoyable throughout. There are generally clear winners and this collection was no exception. Here are a few of my personal favorites:
"From the Sea" by Charlie Higson
"Choose Your Own Adventure" by Nadia Bulkin
"The Man Who Collected Barker" by Kim Newman
“Bell, Book and Lamp” by A.G. Slatter
“Near Zennor” by Elizabeth Hand
Overall, this is a strong and intensely engaging collection of creepy stories—one of the stronger horror anthologies that I have read—and I would recommend them for a chilling autumn read.
Thank you, Titan Books! Available 09/10/2024.
Edited by Johnny Mains. Contributors include Charlie Higson; A.K. Benedict; Alison Moore; Eric LaRocca; Nadia Bulkin; Lucie McKnight Hardy; Priya Sharma; Isy Suttie; Kim Newman; Zin E. Rocklyn; A.G. Slatter; Amanda DeBord; Jeremy Dyson; Ramsey Campbell; Robert Shearman; Guy Adams; Elizabeth Hand; Adam Cesare; plus a story from the editor himself.
I’m always excited to read a collection of stories from authors we all know and love but sometimes those stories let you down because of high expectations. In this instance, I hadn’t heard of many of these authors which, surprisingly, enticed me because I was hoping that I could use this anthology to find new horror authors to love. I am happy to report that I found some winners. With that said, I notice that it is usually difficult to find a collection of stories—whether from the same author or in the case of this book, from a slew of authors—where the stories are consistently enjoyable throughout. There are generally clear winners and this collection was no exception. Here are a few of my personal favorites:
"From the Sea" by Charlie Higson
"Choose Your Own Adventure" by Nadia Bulkin
"The Man Who Collected Barker" by Kim Newman
“Bell, Book and Lamp” by A.G. Slatter
“Near Zennor” by Elizabeth Hand
Overall, this is a strong and intensely engaging collection of creepy stories—one of the stronger horror anthologies that I have read—and I would recommend them for a chilling autumn read.
Thank you, Titan Books! Available 09/10/2024.
September 17, 2024
What's better for a horror reader with a passion (not a problem) for collecting books than an anthology full of tales about said books, authors and the power of words, I wanted to nestle between these pages forever, the stories exuded a sense of familiarity that went beyond my existing admiration (not at all obsession Annie Wilkes behaviour) for the authors, the entire collection felt like a return to old school horror, not adhering to strictly horror theres a mixture of dark fantasy, lovecraftian and weird fiction which broadens its cur-sed appeal, overall this felt like a perfect book to read leading upto(during) (all year round)Halloween.
Some of my favourites:
Whatever Remains After You Leave, The House Witch, The Man Who Collected Barker, Bell, Book and Lamp, Cora Jarrett Gets Into Trouble, Pending Licensor Approval
Some of my favourites:
Whatever Remains After You Leave, The House Witch, The Man Who Collected Barker, Bell, Book and Lamp, Cora Jarrett Gets Into Trouble, Pending Licensor Approval
June 7, 2025
A collection of book related Horror stories. As with all collections there are good ones and not so good ones.
My favorite stories
Pending License Approval by Adam Cesare
Near Zellnor by Elizabeth Hand
Broken Back Man by Lucie McNight
Bloodhound by Zin E. Rocklyn
From the Sea by Charlie Higson
This collection didn't have any really bad stories. The rest were just ok or slightly boring. I found a couple of new authors I look forward to reading more from in the future.
If you enjoy Horror short stories than I think you'll enjoy this collection.
My favorite stories
Pending License Approval by Adam Cesare
Near Zellnor by Elizabeth Hand
Broken Back Man by Lucie McNight
Bloodhound by Zin E. Rocklyn
From the Sea by Charlie Higson
This collection didn't have any really bad stories. The rest were just ok or slightly boring. I found a couple of new authors I look forward to reading more from in the future.
If you enjoy Horror short stories than I think you'll enjoy this collection.
November 1, 2025
This book is one of those rare anthologies that has so many strong horror stories and is consistent!
Very enjoyable
Very enjoyable
May 12, 2025
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Thank you NewSouth Publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review
Bound in Blood is a delightfully eerie anthology that invites readers into a world where books are not just vessels of knowledge but harbingers of doom. This collection features nineteen chilling tales from acclaimed authors like Eric LaRocca, Charlie Higson, Kim Newman, and A.G. Slatter. Each story explores the sinister side of literature, from malevolent second-hand books to unsettling journals and cursed novelizations.
The anthology's strength lies in its diverse range of narratives, each delving into the dark allure of the written word. Whether it's a photo album with a haunting past or a screenplay that brings nightmares to life, the stories captivate and unsettle in equal measure.
Perfect for fans of horror and bibliophiles alike, Bound in Blood is a testament to the power of storytelling and the thin line between fiction and reality.
Bookstagram
Website
Thank you NewSouth Publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review
Bound in Blood is a delightfully eerie anthology that invites readers into a world where books are not just vessels of knowledge but harbingers of doom. This collection features nineteen chilling tales from acclaimed authors like Eric LaRocca, Charlie Higson, Kim Newman, and A.G. Slatter. Each story explores the sinister side of literature, from malevolent second-hand books to unsettling journals and cursed novelizations.
The anthology's strength lies in its diverse range of narratives, each delving into the dark allure of the written word. Whether it's a photo album with a haunting past or a screenplay that brings nightmares to life, the stories captivate and unsettle in equal measure.
Perfect for fans of horror and bibliophiles alike, Bound in Blood is a testament to the power of storytelling and the thin line between fiction and reality.
did-not-finish
September 14, 2024Picked this up as a physical ARC through my job and so far I haven’t really enjoyed a single story so I’m calling it quits to devote more time to my other reads.
March 10, 2025
Overall I thought this was a pretty good collection - not many 5/5s but most were decent. I was impressed also by the creativity and variety of the stories, considering that the prompt is fairly tightly scoped.
From the Sea by Charlie Higson - a guy who makes movie props tries to copy the necronomicon and has a breakdown. Solid start, I always like an epistolary story. 4/5
Footnotes by Ak Benedict - college student becomes a prophet and the prophecies tattoo themselves on her skin. Nicely creepy, 4/5.
The House Witch by Alison Moore - a book calls to a woman and traps her in an empty house in maybe the way her mother also disappeared years ago. A little boring, 3/5.
Whatever Remains After You Leave Me by Eric LaRocca - a guy's dead husband haunts him in photographs. There's too much going on here, what was with the itching? 2/5
Choose Your Own Adventure by Nadia Bulkin - a woman obsessed with getting told the same fortune as her husband who may be a serial killer. I didn't get the punch from this that I feel like the killer reveal should have given because the whole fortune telling thing was kind of boring. 3/5
Broken Back Man by Lucie McKnight Hardy - a guy is haunted by dreams of a paralyzed man who turns out to be himself in the future. I think this is a ripoff of the Haunting of Hill House TV show but it's still good and creepy. 4/5
The Witch's Pillow Book by Priya Sharma - a woman struggling with anger and her relationship as she gets older becomes a witch and turns people into animals. Kind of satisfying but also kind of silly, 3/5.
Book Worm by Isy Suttie - weird loner guy starts a lending library and gets consumed by it. 4/5
The Man Who Collected Barker by Kim Newman - obsessive collector gets weirder and weirder. Fun, 4/5
Bloodhound by Zin E Rocklyn - sisters who can both find things, one is a detective and the other is a book collector. I feel like this story kind of went nowhere. 3/5
Bell, Book and Lamp by AG Slatter - evil nephew gets eaten by a goddess. Very satisfying, 5/5.
Next Big Thing by Amanda DeBord - a failed author keeps growing until he's a giant who can't fit in his apartment. Very strange and didn't really work for me, 2/5.
Cora Jarrett Gets Into Trouble by Johnny Mains - woman is forced to collect books for monsters who live in her house, or maybe is schizophrenic and hallucinating. Kind of interesting and I appreciated the uniqueness of the POV voice but I wanted more explanation at the end. 3/5
The Wretched Tome by Jeremy Dyson - ghost story about a book that says when you'll die. Not bad but it was cliche, 3/5.
Written On by Ramsey Campbell - a guy buys a stolen book and the true owner haunts him. 3/5
Beneath the Diaphragm, The Gut Itself by Robert Shearman - about a world where people around puberty "give birth" to a book from our world, where it just comes to them and they write the whole thing down. Unique premise and weirdly fascinating. 5/5
Bibliette by Guy Adams - guy breaks into a bookstore and gets stuck there. Confusing, 2/5.
Near Zennor by Elizabeth Hand - after his wife's death, a guy goes exploring on the moors to replicate an otherworldly experience she had as a preteen when her friend vanished. Unsettling and captivating - I could have used a bit more explanation at the end but mostly really good. 5/5
Pending Licensor Approval by Adam Cesare - guy writing a splatterpunk horror book gets splatterpunked for breaking his NDA. Kind of silly, 2/5.
From the Sea by Charlie Higson - a guy who makes movie props tries to copy the necronomicon and has a breakdown. Solid start, I always like an epistolary story. 4/5
Footnotes by Ak Benedict - college student becomes a prophet and the prophecies tattoo themselves on her skin. Nicely creepy, 4/5.
The House Witch by Alison Moore - a book calls to a woman and traps her in an empty house in maybe the way her mother also disappeared years ago. A little boring, 3/5.
Whatever Remains After You Leave Me by Eric LaRocca - a guy's dead husband haunts him in photographs. There's too much going on here, what was with the itching? 2/5
Choose Your Own Adventure by Nadia Bulkin - a woman obsessed with getting told the same fortune as her husband who may be a serial killer. I didn't get the punch from this that I feel like the killer reveal should have given because the whole fortune telling thing was kind of boring. 3/5
Broken Back Man by Lucie McKnight Hardy - a guy is haunted by dreams of a paralyzed man who turns out to be himself in the future. I think this is a ripoff of the Haunting of Hill House TV show but it's still good and creepy. 4/5
The Witch's Pillow Book by Priya Sharma - a woman struggling with anger and her relationship as she gets older becomes a witch and turns people into animals. Kind of satisfying but also kind of silly, 3/5.
Book Worm by Isy Suttie - weird loner guy starts a lending library and gets consumed by it. 4/5
The Man Who Collected Barker by Kim Newman - obsessive collector gets weirder and weirder. Fun, 4/5
Bloodhound by Zin E Rocklyn - sisters who can both find things, one is a detective and the other is a book collector. I feel like this story kind of went nowhere. 3/5
Bell, Book and Lamp by AG Slatter - evil nephew gets eaten by a goddess. Very satisfying, 5/5.
Next Big Thing by Amanda DeBord - a failed author keeps growing until he's a giant who can't fit in his apartment. Very strange and didn't really work for me, 2/5.
Cora Jarrett Gets Into Trouble by Johnny Mains - woman is forced to collect books for monsters who live in her house, or maybe is schizophrenic and hallucinating. Kind of interesting and I appreciated the uniqueness of the POV voice but I wanted more explanation at the end. 3/5
The Wretched Tome by Jeremy Dyson - ghost story about a book that says when you'll die. Not bad but it was cliche, 3/5.
Written On by Ramsey Campbell - a guy buys a stolen book and the true owner haunts him. 3/5
Beneath the Diaphragm, The Gut Itself by Robert Shearman - about a world where people around puberty "give birth" to a book from our world, where it just comes to them and they write the whole thing down. Unique premise and weirdly fascinating. 5/5
Bibliette by Guy Adams - guy breaks into a bookstore and gets stuck there. Confusing, 2/5.
Near Zennor by Elizabeth Hand - after his wife's death, a guy goes exploring on the moors to replicate an otherworldly experience she had as a preteen when her friend vanished. Unsettling and captivating - I could have used a bit more explanation at the end but mostly really good. 5/5
Pending Licensor Approval by Adam Cesare - guy writing a splatterpunk horror book gets splatterpunked for breaking his NDA. Kind of silly, 2/5.
September 10, 2024
A HUGE thanks to @titanbooks for the ARC!
Cursed stories are the best kind of stories and make for a great playground in the realm of horror. Bound in Blood capitalizes on this sub-genre by featuring tales of wickedly cursed tales, books, and scripts. There are a wide array of stories packed in this antho, a few of my favorites being:
- From the Sea by Charlie Higson
- Whatever Remains After You Leave Me by Eric LaRocca
- Broken Back Man by Lucie McKnight Hardy
- Book Worm by Isy Suttie
- Near Zennor by Elizabeth Hand
If cursed stories sound like your jam, I def recommend picking this one up on September 10th when it releases!
Cursed stories are the best kind of stories and make for a great playground in the realm of horror. Bound in Blood capitalizes on this sub-genre by featuring tales of wickedly cursed tales, books, and scripts. There are a wide array of stories packed in this antho, a few of my favorites being:
- From the Sea by Charlie Higson
- Whatever Remains After You Leave Me by Eric LaRocca
- Broken Back Man by Lucie McKnight Hardy
- Book Worm by Isy Suttie
- Near Zennor by Elizabeth Hand
If cursed stories sound like your jam, I def recommend picking this one up on September 10th when it releases!
Want to read
September 17, 2024oh my gosh, this is SO FAR AWAY but look at those author names!!
Eric LaRocca! Elizabeth Hand! Charlie Higson! Adam Cesare!
I WANT THIS ONE!
** Update! Stopped by my local book store and I BOUGHT IT! WOOHOO! I can hardly wait to read it!
Eric LaRocca! Elizabeth Hand! Charlie Higson! Adam Cesare!
I WANT THIS ONE!
** Update! Stopped by my local book store and I BOUGHT IT! WOOHOO! I can hardly wait to read it!
August 18, 2024
Easily one of the best anthologies I've read, and the theme is pure excellence for my horror tastes!
October 16, 2024
A superb, eclectic collection of witty / unnerving stories about (among other things) a shamed fantasy writer, a "book of destiny", a search for the alleged inspiration behind the Necronomicon, a young "apprentice inscriber", an an excessively devoted Clive Barker fan and a world in which people literally birth books. Ramsey Campbell, Charlie Higson, Eric LaRocca and Lucie McKnight Hardy are among those bringing the chills, Elizabeth Hand pulls off perhaps the most nightmarish individual sequence and editor Johnny Mains' tale of an unhinged, pastry-loving avid book buyer brings much pathos- and a plot point involving the 30th Pan Book of Horror Stories. Adam Cesare's closing number is a marvellously funny / uncomfortable distillation of all those "Why do you like THIS stuff?" conversations between horror fans and prospective mates.
September 15, 2024
I just read like fifty short stories about cursed stories--when exactly is my curse going to kick in? Maybe this thing only curses people who give it a bad review on Goodreads, in which case I'm screwed because it was really good. Favorites were by Charlie Higson, Eric LaRocca, Ramsey Campbell, Nadia Bulkin, Lucie McKnight Hardy, Isy Suttie, and Johnny Mains, but really I pretty much liked them all.
September 11, 2024
A very good collection exploring the scarier side of the written word with an excellent selection of authors delivering tales scary, weird and often thoughtful at the same time. Highly recommended!
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
September 10, 2024
Full review at Happy Goat Horror:
https://happygoathorror.com/2024/09/1...
I LOVE this anthology - from the theme to the author line-up, this assortment of stories is thoroughly entertaining and creative, and it varies in style, tone, and subgenre. If I absolutely had to pick a favourite story, it would be Kim Newman's macabre offering, 'The Man Who Collected Barker' (which I think Clive Barker would absolutely love), but there isn't a single weak one in the bunch. Thoroughly fantastic.
https://happygoathorror.com/2024/09/1...
I LOVE this anthology - from the theme to the author line-up, this assortment of stories is thoroughly entertaining and creative, and it varies in style, tone, and subgenre. If I absolutely had to pick a favourite story, it would be Kim Newman's macabre offering, 'The Man Who Collected Barker' (which I think Clive Barker would absolutely love), but there isn't a single weak one in the bunch. Thoroughly fantastic.
September 2, 2024
I work in a library and I love to read so this was always going to get a pretty high rating! I've given a brief review of each story below. Highly recommend 'From the Sea', 'The Witch's Pillow Book' and 'Beneath the Diaphragm, The Gut Itself'.
1. From the Sea by Charlie Higson – love the email format – I sometimes find this falls a bit flat in horror books as the scares aren’t always as strong but it worked really well here. Fantastic! 5*
2. Footnotes by A.K. Benedict – a very cool concept, not quite as dark as I like my horror but a fun little story all the same. 4.5*
3. The House Witch by Alison Moore – not my cup of tea, I struggled to pay attention to this. 2*
4. Whatever Remains After You Leave Me by Eric LaRocca – very eerie, but not quite as horrific as LaRocca’s other works. 3*
5. Choose Your Own Adventure by Nadia Bulkin – very engaging, even if I didn’t quite understand it. 3.5*
6. Broken Back Man by Lucie McKnight Hardy – very creepy and atmospheric, the setting felt really familiar. 4*
7. The Witch’s Pillow Book by Priya Sharma – this was great, I loved the imagery 4.5*
8. Book Worm by Isy Suttie – very unusual and surprisingly sad. 4*
9. The Man Who Collected Barker by Kim Newman – short but spooky, this made my spine tingle. 4*
10. Bloodhound by Zin E. Rocklyn – eerie, and sad. I think this would have worked better if it was longer. 3*
11. Bell, Book and Lamp by A.G. Slatter – I hate rich people. This was one of the longer stories and it was very good. 4*
12. Next Big Thing by Amanda DeBord – I was really lost with this one. 1.5*
13. Cora Jarrett Gets Into Trouble by Johnny Mains – love the John Waters quote at the start. No idea what was going on but I reslly enjoyed it. 4*
14. The Wretched Tome by Jeremy Dyson – reminded me of Dickens scary stories. 3*
15. Written On by Ramsey Campbell – quite eerie and very unusual. 3.5*
16. Beneath the Diaphragm, the Gut Itself by Robert Shearman – so unique! 4.5*
17. Bibliette by Guy Adams – I thought the whole thing was so pretentious but the last line was so beautiful that it redeemed the entire thing. 4*
18. Near Zennor by Elizabeth Hand – this one really spooked me, so atmospheric. 4.5*
19. Pending Licensor Approval by Adam Cesare – it was ok, a little predictable. 3*
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
1. From the Sea by Charlie Higson – love the email format – I sometimes find this falls a bit flat in horror books as the scares aren’t always as strong but it worked really well here. Fantastic! 5*
2. Footnotes by A.K. Benedict – a very cool concept, not quite as dark as I like my horror but a fun little story all the same. 4.5*
3. The House Witch by Alison Moore – not my cup of tea, I struggled to pay attention to this. 2*
4. Whatever Remains After You Leave Me by Eric LaRocca – very eerie, but not quite as horrific as LaRocca’s other works. 3*
5. Choose Your Own Adventure by Nadia Bulkin – very engaging, even if I didn’t quite understand it. 3.5*
6. Broken Back Man by Lucie McKnight Hardy – very creepy and atmospheric, the setting felt really familiar. 4*
7. The Witch’s Pillow Book by Priya Sharma – this was great, I loved the imagery 4.5*
8. Book Worm by Isy Suttie – very unusual and surprisingly sad. 4*
9. The Man Who Collected Barker by Kim Newman – short but spooky, this made my spine tingle. 4*
10. Bloodhound by Zin E. Rocklyn – eerie, and sad. I think this would have worked better if it was longer. 3*
11. Bell, Book and Lamp by A.G. Slatter – I hate rich people. This was one of the longer stories and it was very good. 4*
12. Next Big Thing by Amanda DeBord – I was really lost with this one. 1.5*
13. Cora Jarrett Gets Into Trouble by Johnny Mains – love the John Waters quote at the start. No idea what was going on but I reslly enjoyed it. 4*
14. The Wretched Tome by Jeremy Dyson – reminded me of Dickens scary stories. 3*
15. Written On by Ramsey Campbell – quite eerie and very unusual. 3.5*
16. Beneath the Diaphragm, the Gut Itself by Robert Shearman – so unique! 4.5*
17. Bibliette by Guy Adams – I thought the whole thing was so pretentious but the last line was so beautiful that it redeemed the entire thing. 4*
18. Near Zennor by Elizabeth Hand – this one really spooked me, so atmospheric. 4.5*
19. Pending Licensor Approval by Adam Cesare – it was ok, a little predictable. 3*
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
August 29, 2024
This is a great horror anthology about stories and books. Ranging from creepy and unsettling to supernatural and witchy I definitely feel there's something for every horror reader in this. Each story sucks you in in it's own way and I was gripped through every one. I enjoyed some stories more than others but this has introduced me to so many new horror authors and I'll definitely be checking out their other work. Highly recommend.
August 21, 2024
My horror and thriller heart is definitely beyond satisfied. For someone who doesn't read horror or thrillers often, anthology is the way to go. This is one heck of a collection @johnnymains did well in compiling the best works with what the genre has to offer.
June 15, 2024
Books can be carriers of evil. There's The Book of Eibon, The Book of the Dead, The Book of the Law, and, of course, The Necronomicon.
Now we can add Titans 'Bound In Blood' to those fearful tomes.
It should be referred to as The Book, curated by the master editor Johnny Mains. Mains has shared plenty of horrors over the years, and in this book, he's given us something that will be considered one of the benchmark collections featuring cursed books, damned libraries, and unearthly authors.
Whoever finds this book in a hidden corner of a bookshop is in for one hell of a treat. For within it's covers they'll find nineteen tales of terror that all in one way or another manage to strike horror through the heart.
Four of the stories are possibly the best examples of short fiction I've read in years.
Bravo Robert Shearman, Alison Moore, Lucie McKnight Hardy, and Priya Sharma.
Discovering new authors is always a joy, and Zin E. Rocklyn and Amanda DeBord have now become writers I'll be keeping an eye out for. Their stories were fantastic.
Only two reprints feature, and both are wonderful. Elizabeth Hand's uncanny tale of loss in a beautiful Cornish location and Kim Newman's 'The Man Who Collected Barker' which is hysterically ghoulish and perfect for a Barker completist like myself.
Mains himself provides a nasty little tale that will delight readers as he revisits Effingham. The story does work without prior knowledge, but a bit of back catalogue reading would be so rewarding. I can't recommend Main's writing enough. Go pick some of his stuff up, they have the Kendall Reviews seal of approval.
In fact, that was one of the joys about 'Bound In Blood'. So strong were the stories submitted. I'll be buying further books from at least 9 of the contributors. I've never done that before. Usually, it'll be the odd one or two, so 50% is a testament to the quality.
Bound In Blood is a tome that needs to be on many a bookshelf. I'll be stunned if it doesn't win an award or two.
Now we can add Titans 'Bound In Blood' to those fearful tomes.
It should be referred to as The Book, curated by the master editor Johnny Mains. Mains has shared plenty of horrors over the years, and in this book, he's given us something that will be considered one of the benchmark collections featuring cursed books, damned libraries, and unearthly authors.
Whoever finds this book in a hidden corner of a bookshop is in for one hell of a treat. For within it's covers they'll find nineteen tales of terror that all in one way or another manage to strike horror through the heart.
Four of the stories are possibly the best examples of short fiction I've read in years.
Bravo Robert Shearman, Alison Moore, Lucie McKnight Hardy, and Priya Sharma.
Discovering new authors is always a joy, and Zin E. Rocklyn and Amanda DeBord have now become writers I'll be keeping an eye out for. Their stories were fantastic.
Only two reprints feature, and both are wonderful. Elizabeth Hand's uncanny tale of loss in a beautiful Cornish location and Kim Newman's 'The Man Who Collected Barker' which is hysterically ghoulish and perfect for a Barker completist like myself.
Mains himself provides a nasty little tale that will delight readers as he revisits Effingham. The story does work without prior knowledge, but a bit of back catalogue reading would be so rewarding. I can't recommend Main's writing enough. Go pick some of his stuff up, they have the Kendall Reviews seal of approval.
In fact, that was one of the joys about 'Bound In Blood'. So strong were the stories submitted. I'll be buying further books from at least 9 of the contributors. I've never done that before. Usually, it'll be the odd one or two, so 50% is a testament to the quality.
Bound In Blood is a tome that needs to be on many a bookshelf. I'll be stunned if it doesn't win an award or two.
August 13, 2024
This is my second horror anthology I've read from Titan, and sadly to say, also the second I've been massively disappointed by. Like Isolation, the other collection I read, I was immediately grabbed by the premise and was looking for some great stories about cursed books.
I love a good cursed book story, so I requested this advance copy from NetGalley as soon as I could. There were authors I knew and liked, as well as a number I hadn't read before. Unfortunately I felt like I slogged through, with only a few highlights that encouraged me to keep reading.
While I actively disliked most of the stories, I did enjoy these:
"From the Sea" by Charlie Higson - This story opens the book and I was so excited. It involves a horror movie props designer that gains access to a cursed book he uses for inspiration, but leads to a terrible descent into madness.
"Choose Your Own Adventure" by Nadia Bulkin - A newlywed couple come across a spiritual shop with a book that will tell your future. The new bride takes it seriously and returns multiple times hoping to change the ending.
"Broken Back Man" by Lucie McKnight Hardy - A bartender has been haunted by a recurring dream that he detailed in his diary that has gone missing.
"Beneath the Diaphragm, the Gut Itself" by Robert Sherman - This was genuinely one of the weirder tales I've read, but I was engaged and couldn't put the book down. It takes place in a world where everyone "births" a book that had been written in a different (our?), alternate world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for an advance ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
I love a good cursed book story, so I requested this advance copy from NetGalley as soon as I could. There were authors I knew and liked, as well as a number I hadn't read before. Unfortunately I felt like I slogged through, with only a few highlights that encouraged me to keep reading.
While I actively disliked most of the stories, I did enjoy these:
"From the Sea" by Charlie Higson - This story opens the book and I was so excited. It involves a horror movie props designer that gains access to a cursed book he uses for inspiration, but leads to a terrible descent into madness.
"Choose Your Own Adventure" by Nadia Bulkin - A newlywed couple come across a spiritual shop with a book that will tell your future. The new bride takes it seriously and returns multiple times hoping to change the ending.
"Broken Back Man" by Lucie McKnight Hardy - A bartender has been haunted by a recurring dream that he detailed in his diary that has gone missing.
"Beneath the Diaphragm, the Gut Itself" by Robert Sherman - This was genuinely one of the weirder tales I've read, but I was engaged and couldn't put the book down. It takes place in a world where everyone "births" a book that had been written in a different (our?), alternate world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for an advance ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2024
This is an anthology that needed to be written. Cursed books, forgotten libraries, creepy footnotes; I love to read about other people reading, especially if the atmosphere is brooding and dark.
My favorites:
Footnotes by A.K. Benedict
A feminist take on dark academia. Aisling is a lonely college student relegated to the library. Once she meets Bridgett she realizes she has a much higher purpose to serve the Goddess. Intriguing, secret library room included.
Beneath The Diaphragm, the Gut Itself by Robert Sherman
I loved this one. A weird sort of dystopian world where teens give birth to books. Status is determined based on what type of book you birth; Edgar Allan Poe classic? Amazing! Math Textbook, not so great.
My favorites:
Footnotes by A.K. Benedict
A feminist take on dark academia. Aisling is a lonely college student relegated to the library. Once she meets Bridgett she realizes she has a much higher purpose to serve the Goddess. Intriguing, secret library room included.
Beneath The Diaphragm, the Gut Itself by Robert Sherman
I loved this one. A weird sort of dystopian world where teens give birth to books. Status is determined based on what type of book you birth; Edgar Allan Poe classic? Amazing! Math Textbook, not so great.
September 17, 2024
•Bound in Blood* is a deliciously eerie collection that taps into the age-old fascination with cursed and haunted books, offering nineteen unsettling tales from some of horror’s finest writers. Edited with a keen eye for the uncanny, this anthology explores the sinister possibilities of books that trap, twist, and terrify their readers.
Each story centers on the idea of the book as an object of malevolence, whether it’s a dusty tome lurking in an attic or a novel that literally consumes its reader. The anthology takes readers through a variety of settings, from haunted bookstores to cursed libraries, with each tale weaving its own kind of terror. The strength of *Bound in Blood* lies in its diversity, as each author brings a unique voice and style, yet all contribute to the shared theme of the dangers lurking in the written word.
Standout stories include Eric LaRocca’s visceral and psychological horrors, which confront the reader with themes of obsession and dread, while Kim Newman’s tale adds a cinematic flair, blending the supernatural with pop culture in a way that’s as fun as it is frightening. A. G. Slatter’s entry, filled with gothic undertones, explores the dark pull of family legacies and the inescapable ties that bind, while Charlie Higson’s story leans into the kind of creeping suspense that lingers long after the last page is turned.
The anthology isn’t just about scares, though it offers plenty of those. It also meditates on the power of stories themselves: how they can enchant, beguile, and even curse those who engage with them. From second-hand bookshops filled with ominous volumes to cursed journals whose contents spiral into madness, *Bound in Blood* revels in the idea that books are not merely objects, but portals to something much darker.
For fans of atmospheric horror, this anthology offers a rich variety of storytelling styles—from quiet, creeping unease to outright terror. Much like the cursed books within its pages, *Bound in Blood* draws you in, leaving you unsettled and a little wary of the next book you pick up. It’s the perfect collection for fans of *When Things Get Dark* or anyone who enjoys tales of the supernatural with a literary twist.
With contributions from names like Adam Cesare, Priya Sharma, and Lucie McKnight Hardy, the anthology ensures that every story feels fresh and distinctly chilling. *Bound in Blood* is a must-read for lovers of bookish horror and those brave enough to crack the spine of a cursed book—or in this case, anthology. Just be careful where you leave it when you’re done.
Each story centers on the idea of the book as an object of malevolence, whether it’s a dusty tome lurking in an attic or a novel that literally consumes its reader. The anthology takes readers through a variety of settings, from haunted bookstores to cursed libraries, with each tale weaving its own kind of terror. The strength of *Bound in Blood* lies in its diversity, as each author brings a unique voice and style, yet all contribute to the shared theme of the dangers lurking in the written word.
Standout stories include Eric LaRocca’s visceral and psychological horrors, which confront the reader with themes of obsession and dread, while Kim Newman’s tale adds a cinematic flair, blending the supernatural with pop culture in a way that’s as fun as it is frightening. A. G. Slatter’s entry, filled with gothic undertones, explores the dark pull of family legacies and the inescapable ties that bind, while Charlie Higson’s story leans into the kind of creeping suspense that lingers long after the last page is turned.
The anthology isn’t just about scares, though it offers plenty of those. It also meditates on the power of stories themselves: how they can enchant, beguile, and even curse those who engage with them. From second-hand bookshops filled with ominous volumes to cursed journals whose contents spiral into madness, *Bound in Blood* revels in the idea that books are not merely objects, but portals to something much darker.
For fans of atmospheric horror, this anthology offers a rich variety of storytelling styles—from quiet, creeping unease to outright terror. Much like the cursed books within its pages, *Bound in Blood* draws you in, leaving you unsettled and a little wary of the next book you pick up. It’s the perfect collection for fans of *When Things Get Dark* or anyone who enjoys tales of the supernatural with a literary twist.
With contributions from names like Adam Cesare, Priya Sharma, and Lucie McKnight Hardy, the anthology ensures that every story feels fresh and distinctly chilling. *Bound in Blood* is a must-read for lovers of bookish horror and those brave enough to crack the spine of a cursed book—or in this case, anthology. Just be careful where you leave it when you’re done.
November 16, 2025
BOUND IN BLOOD is a new horror anthology, edited by supreme horror fan and anthologist Johnny Mains – who may have taken over from Stephen Jones as Peter Haining's hardest-working successor today – themed around haunted, cursed or otherwise weird books. The collection is a mixed one, with most of the stories what I'd describe as pretty good if not remarkable, with a couple of stand-outs. Charlie Higson's opener FROM THE SEA is a fun pastiche of the Lovecraftian style, updated to the present day with modern technology. There's a mix of sources at play here and it's nice tribute to have the story set in the UK's Dunwich. Following this is FOOTNOTES, an imaginative story about channelling a goddess, and Alison Moore's THE HOUSE WITCH, a slice of social realism that I found extraordinarily grim.
WHATEVER REMAINS AFTER YOU LEAVE ME didn't quite do it for me, with some horror tropes employed reasonably well, although it lacks a stronger structure overall, and the same can be said of CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE, which isn't quite what the title suggests and instead is about a book that tells the reader's future. It goes on a little long and the ending is too inconclusive. BROKEN BACK MAN is better, a fine little pub-set ghost story with a twist I guess that works well, and THE WITCH'S PILLOW BOOK is even better, a fine tale of magical abilities and revenge. The child-centred BOOK WORM isn't one I engaged with, while Kim Newman's THE MAN WHO COLLECTED BARKER, an update of a Bloch story, is fun for all the name-dropping. BLOODHOUND was a little insubstantial for my liking, but Angela Slatter's BELL, BOOK AND LAMP is a reworking of a traditional theme notable for the characterisation of its callow protagonist.
NEXT BIG THING is just odd, but somehow works, while Mains' own CORA JARRETT GETS INTO TROUBLE is a delight for those of us prone to haunting charity shops, and notable for a remarkably creepy climax. THE WRETCHED TOME is a brief but workable traditional effort, while Ramsey Campbell's WRITTEN ON is typical of its author, an examination of guilt with some spooky touches and plenty of realism. BENEATH THE DIAPHRAGM, THE GUT ITSELF has a very creative concept but loses something in the execution, while BIBLIETTE is very brief and very surreal. The final story, PENDING LICENSOR APPROVAL, makes for an interesting reflection on writing and extreme horror, and packs a smart twist ending. I didn't re-read the Hand story as I'd already encountered it in A BOOK OF HORRORS.
WHATEVER REMAINS AFTER YOU LEAVE ME didn't quite do it for me, with some horror tropes employed reasonably well, although it lacks a stronger structure overall, and the same can be said of CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE, which isn't quite what the title suggests and instead is about a book that tells the reader's future. It goes on a little long and the ending is too inconclusive. BROKEN BACK MAN is better, a fine little pub-set ghost story with a twist I guess that works well, and THE WITCH'S PILLOW BOOK is even better, a fine tale of magical abilities and revenge. The child-centred BOOK WORM isn't one I engaged with, while Kim Newman's THE MAN WHO COLLECTED BARKER, an update of a Bloch story, is fun for all the name-dropping. BLOODHOUND was a little insubstantial for my liking, but Angela Slatter's BELL, BOOK AND LAMP is a reworking of a traditional theme notable for the characterisation of its callow protagonist.
NEXT BIG THING is just odd, but somehow works, while Mains' own CORA JARRETT GETS INTO TROUBLE is a delight for those of us prone to haunting charity shops, and notable for a remarkably creepy climax. THE WRETCHED TOME is a brief but workable traditional effort, while Ramsey Campbell's WRITTEN ON is typical of its author, an examination of guilt with some spooky touches and plenty of realism. BENEATH THE DIAPHRAGM, THE GUT ITSELF has a very creative concept but loses something in the execution, while BIBLIETTE is very brief and very surreal. The final story, PENDING LICENSOR APPROVAL, makes for an interesting reflection on writing and extreme horror, and packs a smart twist ending. I didn't re-read the Hand story as I'd already encountered it in A BOOK OF HORRORS.
February 4, 2025
Rating: 2.5 stars
I’m not the biggest fan of horror, but saw this in my local bookstore and thought it sounded exciting! As someone who thoroughly enjoys psychological horror/thrillers that delve into the creepy, unexpected, and macabre, I was drawn to this concept of cursed books, damned library, and unearthly authors. Unfortunate to admit, but this anthology did not meet my expectations in the slightest. I understand that anthologies are often a mixed bag, but this one felt… not quite mixed at all.
Out of 20 stories in total, I can proudly say that I only liked five of them. Again, I want to preface that I’m not well-versed in the horror genre at all. However, many of these stories felt… experimental at most, with the eerie and uncertainty of horror not quite present UNTIL the very last page. It could be my unfamiliarity with horrors many sub genres, but I wanted to get spooked, feel uneasy for the characters and their predicaments, etc. To me, a great deal of the stories presented didn’t quite feel like they would be under the umbrella of horror at all.
Praise I will give in terms of the overall layout of this anthology series is that the formatting of each story was extremely well done! It’s honestly super refreshing to see authors, go about their own creative formulas and strategies when it comes to conveying their piece, even if it requires me to reread some stories to actually understand what is going on. Example of this in particular are lFootnotes” by A.K Benedict, “The Witches Pillow Book” by Priya Sharma, and “Cora Jarrett Gets Into Trouble” by Johnny Mains. I applaud these authors for going beyond the norm in terms of traditional structure when it comes to short stories.
Works I absolutely loved include “From The Sea” by Charlie Higson, “Whatever Remains After You Leave Me” by Eric LaRocca, “Broken Back Man” by Lucy McKnight Hardy,
Bell, Book and lamp by A.G Slatter, and lastly “Near Zennor” by Elizabeth Hand. To me, these stories all held a strong gravity to them that made me want to keep reading, even when the piece was finished. The tension, the mystery, the hopeless feeling of despair… these five pieces had it all!
I’m not the biggest fan of horror, but saw this in my local bookstore and thought it sounded exciting! As someone who thoroughly enjoys psychological horror/thrillers that delve into the creepy, unexpected, and macabre, I was drawn to this concept of cursed books, damned library, and unearthly authors. Unfortunate to admit, but this anthology did not meet my expectations in the slightest. I understand that anthologies are often a mixed bag, but this one felt… not quite mixed at all.
Out of 20 stories in total, I can proudly say that I only liked five of them. Again, I want to preface that I’m not well-versed in the horror genre at all. However, many of these stories felt… experimental at most, with the eerie and uncertainty of horror not quite present UNTIL the very last page. It could be my unfamiliarity with horrors many sub genres, but I wanted to get spooked, feel uneasy for the characters and their predicaments, etc. To me, a great deal of the stories presented didn’t quite feel like they would be under the umbrella of horror at all.
Praise I will give in terms of the overall layout of this anthology series is that the formatting of each story was extremely well done! It’s honestly super refreshing to see authors, go about their own creative formulas and strategies when it comes to conveying their piece, even if it requires me to reread some stories to actually understand what is going on. Example of this in particular are lFootnotes” by A.K Benedict, “The Witches Pillow Book” by Priya Sharma, and “Cora Jarrett Gets Into Trouble” by Johnny Mains. I applaud these authors for going beyond the norm in terms of traditional structure when it comes to short stories.
Works I absolutely loved include “From The Sea” by Charlie Higson, “Whatever Remains After You Leave Me” by Eric LaRocca, “Broken Back Man” by Lucy McKnight Hardy,
Bell, Book and lamp by A.G Slatter, and lastly “Near Zennor” by Elizabeth Hand. To me, these stories all held a strong gravity to them that made me want to keep reading, even when the piece was finished. The tension, the mystery, the hopeless feeling of despair… these five pieces had it all!
September 14, 2024
This anthology involves cursed books, Eldritch tomes, and haunted bookstores, with stories from many of the well-known names in horror. It opens with "From The Sea" by Charlie Higson, an epistolary tale told through emails and newspaper articles about a horror movie production. A brilliant but emotionally fragile set and prop designer researches the Necronomicon and finds that he understands the Old Ones and doubts the motives of people he knows. We imagine most of the events, making it feel more intense and sinister.
This sets the tone for the collection. There's always a book featured in the stories collected here, whether it's a journal kept, a book with sections written by oracles, a homemade library, or letters left behind for others to read. The narrators don't always see the menace until the twists at the end, where so many end with the potential for horror. Some of the stories involved transformation that I didn't expect, yet it felt so obvious in retrospect. Some are more sad than anything else, such as "Book Worm" by Isy Suttie. My favorite story is A.G. Slatter's "Bell, Book and Lamp," mixing horror and Regency-era family lines.
Whoever said that books couldn't harm you has never read this book, and it will make you second guess the safety of old books.
This sets the tone for the collection. There's always a book featured in the stories collected here, whether it's a journal kept, a book with sections written by oracles, a homemade library, or letters left behind for others to read. The narrators don't always see the menace until the twists at the end, where so many end with the potential for horror. Some of the stories involved transformation that I didn't expect, yet it felt so obvious in retrospect. Some are more sad than anything else, such as "Book Worm" by Isy Suttie. My favorite story is A.G. Slatter's "Bell, Book and Lamp," mixing horror and Regency-era family lines.
Whoever said that books couldn't harm you has never read this book, and it will make you second guess the safety of old books.
March 15, 2025
If you’re looking for a collection of horror stories then look no further!
Books are a massive running theme in this anthology as you can probably tell by the title. On one story, there’s a cursed book, in another there’s books made with human skin - the story that was tied to the books actually made from human skin was very shocking. The first story also comes in a different form of writing as letters. I like how the stories were intertwined but some weren’t so obvious.
My faves included After You Leave Me, Choose Your Own Adventure. Choose Your Own Adventure is a mythological- story of a nameless youth. There was a backstory, intrigue, a married couple and a book that causes misfortune.
The broken book man featuring in one of the stories freaked me out a little and I couldn’t make up my mind about him. He was one of those types of ghosts who would for help but is scary at the same time. Despite this I wouldn’t really say it was very scary like the stories in this book.
There was some stories I wasn’t too fussed about and invested in as much but they were all really well-written. Altogether it did make a great, atmospheric, spine-chilling collection of horror stories that won’t keep you up all night.
Books are a massive running theme in this anthology as you can probably tell by the title. On one story, there’s a cursed book, in another there’s books made with human skin - the story that was tied to the books actually made from human skin was very shocking. The first story also comes in a different form of writing as letters. I like how the stories were intertwined but some weren’t so obvious.
My faves included After You Leave Me, Choose Your Own Adventure. Choose Your Own Adventure is a mythological- story of a nameless youth. There was a backstory, intrigue, a married couple and a book that causes misfortune.
The broken book man featuring in one of the stories freaked me out a little and I couldn’t make up my mind about him. He was one of those types of ghosts who would for help but is scary at the same time. Despite this I wouldn’t really say it was very scary like the stories in this book.
There was some stories I wasn’t too fussed about and invested in as much but they were all really well-written. Altogether it did make a great, atmospheric, spine-chilling collection of horror stories that won’t keep you up all night.
September 9, 2024
With 19 stories in total Bound in Blood is a brilliant Horror collection. As with all anthologies each reader may find some hits and some misses but for me even the ‘misses’ were extremely good just not for me at the time.
I do think this anthology brings a lot to the table and is a great introduction to the authors who have offerings inside. While I didn’t love every single entry and most certainly liked them all and a couple of the authors who I haven’t read previously (Lucie McKnight Hardy, Alison Moore & Izy Suttie) I will definitely be looking into their work. I will say that a few were instant hits because I like the authors. I really liked The House Witch and From the Sea in terms of real standout stories but did enjoy them all.
Being a book fan, obviously, I can say I did love the theme of cursed books, ‘evil’ books, eldritch horrors and the like entertaining throughout. I will most definitely get this in physical form to take pride of place on my bookshelves.
As always thank you to Titan Books for the copy to review. My review is always honest and truthful.
I do think this anthology brings a lot to the table and is a great introduction to the authors who have offerings inside. While I didn’t love every single entry and most certainly liked them all and a couple of the authors who I haven’t read previously (Lucie McKnight Hardy, Alison Moore & Izy Suttie) I will definitely be looking into their work. I will say that a few were instant hits because I like the authors. I really liked The House Witch and From the Sea in terms of real standout stories but did enjoy them all.
Being a book fan, obviously, I can say I did love the theme of cursed books, ‘evil’ books, eldritch horrors and the like entertaining throughout. I will most definitely get this in physical form to take pride of place on my bookshelves.
As always thank you to Titan Books for the copy to review. My review is always honest and truthful.
September 21, 2024
I feel like a 3-star rating is too generous. There were some ok stories in this and I only really enjoyed 2 maybe 3. Some had the potential to be good but ig they just didn't flesh the story out enough. Others were just embarrassingly bad at least in the context that this is supposed to be horror. I have read creepypastas and 2 sentence horror tweets that gave me more chills. Many of them left me going tf just happened but not at all in a good way. The story would end so abruptly that I'm left feeling like I missed the point or some very important details. 'Footnotes' and 'the man who collected barker' were my favorites. 'Pending licensor approval' and 'bell, book and lamp' ended decently. 'Near Zennor' was interesting to read but felt like it built up to nothing. 'Bloodhound' I think was one of the worst. I still don't know wtf was going on with that one. There are several more but yeah I was just super disappointed with this collection. Which sucks cause I really like the premise.
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