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Bedlam Trances
From author Nicholas James Wagner (Razor Country) comes Bedlam Trances, nine unsettling meditations on crime and horror. In "Crown of Switchblades," Irish gangsters involved in a turf war run afoul of a cult. "The Tragic Events Befalling Lizaveta" follows a 15th century inquisitor as he researches the disappearance of monks from a German monastery. And in “Ceremony,” a private detective tracks a missing acquaintance to a mysterious art commune. This collection of menacing tales examines morally gray characters as they navigate cruel, unforgiving scenarios.
- GenresHorror
165 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2024
2 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas James Wagner
8 books2 followersNicholas James Wagner is a writer and independent filmmaker from Virginia. His notable works include the short story collections Bedlam Trances and Razor Country, as well as the novellas Tout, A Ruin of Mercies and Her Soft Hours. He wrote and directed the films Shelter for the Bloodstained Soul and The Holy Sound. His stories have also appeared on The No Sleep Podcast and in publications such as Frontier Tales Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 20, 2024
This is an anthology which blends crime and horror into more than the sums of those two things.
These stories all feature crimes and criminals and one thing I really enjoyed were the various time periods in which they were set. There are tales in here from the 15th century into more modern times. Even one set in the future. This added a great variety to the book.
But, of course, I came for the horror and these stories certainly do not disappoint in that regard. With all manner of mobsters, gangs, thieves, and reprobates, each one turns itself into the horrific. Some are subtle and some are in your face.
This book explores the gritty world of crime. Even though most of the characters are morally questionable, they're written as human beings and you'll find yourself rooting for them despite their chosen professions.
I recommend this anthology if you like crime and/or horror.
I received a copy of this book from the author. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
These stories all feature crimes and criminals and one thing I really enjoyed were the various time periods in which they were set. There are tales in here from the 15th century into more modern times. Even one set in the future. This added a great variety to the book.
But, of course, I came for the horror and these stories certainly do not disappoint in that regard. With all manner of mobsters, gangs, thieves, and reprobates, each one turns itself into the horrific. Some are subtle and some are in your face.
This book explores the gritty world of crime. Even though most of the characters are morally questionable, they're written as human beings and you'll find yourself rooting for them despite their chosen professions.
I recommend this anthology if you like crime and/or horror.
I received a copy of this book from the author. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
October 21, 2024
A nine story collection that blends crime thrillers with horror fiction. Largely told through the eyes of bad people doing bad things, BEDLAM TRANCES maps an interesting course between justified comeuppance and unjust gains.
My favourite stories pitted the protagonists against cults: in HECATO'S DREAM, a Roman bandit must make amends for filching an offering that wasn't his to take. An Irish gangster makes an enemy of the devotees of an unknowable god in CROWN OF SWITCHBLADES. And THE TRAGIC EVENTS BEFALLING LIZAVETA follow the Inquisition in a 15th century town where pagan beliefs have usurped the church.
I think if you're more into gangland/organised crime settings than I am, this could be an easy 5-star read for you. This collection plays with the that gritty underbelly of society, adding in religious, cosmic and otherworldly elements.
My favourite stories pitted the protagonists against cults: in HECATO'S DREAM, a Roman bandit must make amends for filching an offering that wasn't his to take. An Irish gangster makes an enemy of the devotees of an unknowable god in CROWN OF SWITCHBLADES. And THE TRAGIC EVENTS BEFALLING LIZAVETA follow the Inquisition in a 15th century town where pagan beliefs have usurped the church.
I think if you're more into gangland/organised crime settings than I am, this could be an easy 5-star read for you. This collection plays with the that gritty underbelly of society, adding in religious, cosmic and otherworldly elements.
July 4, 2025
This isn't quite a 3 star for me but I didn't think it deserved a 2 star rating. I wish I could enthuse about this collection more but it just boiled down to it not quite being my cup of tea. I'm a very character obsessed reader and I found there was a lack of internal monologue in general (for me, at least), and this isn't the author's fault at all but a lot of this collection is very crime/gang focused, and that just unfortunately happens to be one of the worst genres for me.
However, I generally thought the pacing was great and the author puts you in several different time periods and paints them very vividly, which I really enjoyed. If you're someone that enjoys a heavy crime emphasis that bleeds into other genres, I think you might like this.
However, I generally thought the pacing was great and the author puts you in several different time periods and paints them very vividly, which I really enjoyed. If you're someone that enjoys a heavy crime emphasis that bleeds into other genres, I think you might like this.
September 30, 2024
Bedlam Trances by Nicholas Wagner is familiar territory to the blog. It involves graphic horror in many different forms. Most of the stories focus on manipulation and control. One party uses violence and threats in their greatest extremes to control another. There is a feel of unease in each story as the truly violent means are executed and characters are left with broken lives, minds, hearts, and souls.
“Crown of Switchblades”-This story combines crime thriller with psychological horror and does both genres rather well. A criminal gang is caught up in a war between their employer and another upstart. What starts out as a crime spree of violence, public property damage, drunkenness, and debauchery becomes much darker as they run into a strange, morbid, and terrifying cult.
“Crown of Switchblades” runs on two tracks and because of that the tone is drastically different. The first part is a black comedy along the lines of the Italian Job, Lock, Shock, and Two Smoking Barrels, or any Quentin Tarantino film. It consists of seedy characters having clandestine meetings, bodies tumbling out of cars, and plenty of f bombs shouted by no-hopers. It’s a grim but weirdly comic situation as the gang, particularly the main protagonist, Doss hit spots like pubs and football clubs as though they were just having a Lad’s Night Out rather than breaking the law on behalf of their leader.
The story then takes a severe turn into something else as Doss and his cronies end up farther away from their city environment into a rural area dotted with abandoned buildings and metal sculptures called the pipe men. They then encounter the people behind the pipe men, a cult who is looking for someone called “The Prophet.”
Once Doss encounters the cult, he is put in a situation in which he is not prepared. Before he and his friends were able to face these conflicts. They can deal with crime bosses, drug deals, and the occasional violent act. But this cult isn’t like that, they have darker purposes. They have no motives and they don’t care who fits their vision. They want to fulfill it and they draw Doss in a way that is incredibly bone chilling and ominous.
““The Tragic Events Befalling Lizaveta”-The darkness that these stories encounter carries over into the Medieval Era as Oresetes, a monk investigates some strange happenings in a monastery after a novitiate turns up dead.
The murder mystery is effective as Oresetes and his superior, Wittelsbach investigate the murder and the various leads. The setting of the monastery is deceptively described in the first page which features children playing. It gives the impression of a good kind giving place which welcomes all. But the more that the protagonists visit the cold austere stone walls and the monks keeping secrets, the more an ugly side resonates.
Things become more apparent when they enter an area called “The Hurting Place.” In a few pages, the secrets are revealed in a bloody violent confrontation. It shows the ancient outdoor Pagan subconscious inside the Gothic indoor Christian surface. It says that inside many law-abiding seemingly upright pillars of the community hides souls that seethe with wrath, sexuality, violence, anger, and hypocrisy.
“Notes from the Yucatan”-This is a very short story which makes the most of its setting to show the eerie sense of dread when one is out on an unfamiliar landscape and how it mirrors the dark souls that inhabit it. The Narrator is searching for a man named Sir Reginald with the help of a guide, Bartholomew.
The setting has many descriptions of sinister trees, ruins, particularly pyramids, and harsh rain. It seems like the end of the world where someone is listening to every sound and seeing every shape and is in fear of what could be out there, whether it is animal or human. Whatever it is, it is coming for you. Worst of all, the body could be thrown somewhere and never be found.
The fear and paranoia in the setting is mirrored in the behavior of the characters that surround it. It is like an Edgar Allen Poe story in which the Reader explores the Narrator’s fractured psyche and we see the violence in the main character is just as prominent as it is without. If anything it was even greater within the Narrator. He is not acting out of any motive or or reason. He is violent for violence’s sake, almost like a force of nature around him.
“Hecato’s Dream”-This story takes us to the decline of the Roman Empire.Two guards, Hecato and Rufus chase after an assassin and come face to face with their own mortality.
This is set towards the end of an era and that is felt throughout the story. There are discussions about Gauls, invading armies, cults springing up, and lawlessness. The Empire that maintained such a wide control over various nations is on its way out the door. With that decline became a decline of structure, rules, regulations, defense things people like Hecato and Rufus were familiar with but had long taken for granted.
Now during these times, bloody crimes occur but not in a way that feels justifiable or understandable, not for any specific reason. It is because there is no structure and the one that remains is so fatigued by the forces outside that they don’t care about the struggles within. If there are no laws, no one can be punished. If no one can be punished, there is no fear of being caught. Hecato and Rufus’ world is crumbling so they are taking what they can. They know that their time is short, just like that of the Empire and the only thing that they have left is their own violent avaricious angry urges that need to be satisfied. Once those are spent, they truly meet their ends in an afterlife in which they know but can’t accept that an inevitable end is coming.
“Ceremony”- This story covers similar ground with “Crown of Switchblades” in which a seemingly badass group is undone by a supernatural presence and all of their braggadocio becomes a joke, whereas “Crown of Switchblades” excels in a shift in tone. “Ceremony” excels in dark comedy dialogue. Declyn, an investigator, is looking into the rock group “The Raging Bastards. His lover, Misty, who is involved with not only him but the three guys in the group is his main contact. Declan’s time with the Raging Bastards begins with plenty of sex, drugs, and rock and roll and ends with blood, guts, and terror, especially after Misty disappears.
The key advantage is the dialogue. Many characters dance around the truth with plenty of strong language, sexual overtones, and violent metaphors. Many of the phrases like when Bastards member, La Roe sarcastically describes the group as “tree huggers preaching peace and love” brings ironic smirks. Other comments like “If I had your eyes, I’d drive us off a cliff” carry an edge of suspense undertones hidden inside the dark comedy overtones.
One of the more interesting aspects of the dialogue is the amount of foreshadowing. After the story is over, it’s worth going back and putting together the tantalizing clues that the characters dance around. The constant references to blood, animals, violence, and aggressiveness spill some of the tea before the entire kettle is knocked over. There are also warnings when people tell Declan that he should stay away and that he doesn’t want to know what Misty and the Bastards are up to. It’s one of those stories that lays the plot in front of you so when you go back and reread it, you think, “Of course, it was there all along!”
The violence is graphic but detached in a way that makes it more grotesque or comic than scary. The moment when Declan reaches the truth is dripped in irony and gore. The final line is blunt in violence that comes out of nowhere leaving Readers to sort out the aftermath.
“Crown of Switchblades”-This story combines crime thriller with psychological horror and does both genres rather well. A criminal gang is caught up in a war between their employer and another upstart. What starts out as a crime spree of violence, public property damage, drunkenness, and debauchery becomes much darker as they run into a strange, morbid, and terrifying cult.
“Crown of Switchblades” runs on two tracks and because of that the tone is drastically different. The first part is a black comedy along the lines of the Italian Job, Lock, Shock, and Two Smoking Barrels, or any Quentin Tarantino film. It consists of seedy characters having clandestine meetings, bodies tumbling out of cars, and plenty of f bombs shouted by no-hopers. It’s a grim but weirdly comic situation as the gang, particularly the main protagonist, Doss hit spots like pubs and football clubs as though they were just having a Lad’s Night Out rather than breaking the law on behalf of their leader.
The story then takes a severe turn into something else as Doss and his cronies end up farther away from their city environment into a rural area dotted with abandoned buildings and metal sculptures called the pipe men. They then encounter the people behind the pipe men, a cult who is looking for someone called “The Prophet.”
Once Doss encounters the cult, he is put in a situation in which he is not prepared. Before he and his friends were able to face these conflicts. They can deal with crime bosses, drug deals, and the occasional violent act. But this cult isn’t like that, they have darker purposes. They have no motives and they don’t care who fits their vision. They want to fulfill it and they draw Doss in a way that is incredibly bone chilling and ominous.
““The Tragic Events Befalling Lizaveta”-The darkness that these stories encounter carries over into the Medieval Era as Oresetes, a monk investigates some strange happenings in a monastery after a novitiate turns up dead.
The murder mystery is effective as Oresetes and his superior, Wittelsbach investigate the murder and the various leads. The setting of the monastery is deceptively described in the first page which features children playing. It gives the impression of a good kind giving place which welcomes all. But the more that the protagonists visit the cold austere stone walls and the monks keeping secrets, the more an ugly side resonates.
Things become more apparent when they enter an area called “The Hurting Place.” In a few pages, the secrets are revealed in a bloody violent confrontation. It shows the ancient outdoor Pagan subconscious inside the Gothic indoor Christian surface. It says that inside many law-abiding seemingly upright pillars of the community hides souls that seethe with wrath, sexuality, violence, anger, and hypocrisy.
“Notes from the Yucatan”-This is a very short story which makes the most of its setting to show the eerie sense of dread when one is out on an unfamiliar landscape and how it mirrors the dark souls that inhabit it. The Narrator is searching for a man named Sir Reginald with the help of a guide, Bartholomew.
The setting has many descriptions of sinister trees, ruins, particularly pyramids, and harsh rain. It seems like the end of the world where someone is listening to every sound and seeing every shape and is in fear of what could be out there, whether it is animal or human. Whatever it is, it is coming for you. Worst of all, the body could be thrown somewhere and never be found.
The fear and paranoia in the setting is mirrored in the behavior of the characters that surround it. It is like an Edgar Allen Poe story in which the Reader explores the Narrator’s fractured psyche and we see the violence in the main character is just as prominent as it is without. If anything it was even greater within the Narrator. He is not acting out of any motive or or reason. He is violent for violence’s sake, almost like a force of nature around him.
“Hecato’s Dream”-This story takes us to the decline of the Roman Empire.Two guards, Hecato and Rufus chase after an assassin and come face to face with their own mortality.
This is set towards the end of an era and that is felt throughout the story. There are discussions about Gauls, invading armies, cults springing up, and lawlessness. The Empire that maintained such a wide control over various nations is on its way out the door. With that decline became a decline of structure, rules, regulations, defense things people like Hecato and Rufus were familiar with but had long taken for granted.
Now during these times, bloody crimes occur but not in a way that feels justifiable or understandable, not for any specific reason. It is because there is no structure and the one that remains is so fatigued by the forces outside that they don’t care about the struggles within. If there are no laws, no one can be punished. If no one can be punished, there is no fear of being caught. Hecato and Rufus’ world is crumbling so they are taking what they can. They know that their time is short, just like that of the Empire and the only thing that they have left is their own violent avaricious angry urges that need to be satisfied. Once those are spent, they truly meet their ends in an afterlife in which they know but can’t accept that an inevitable end is coming.
“Ceremony”- This story covers similar ground with “Crown of Switchblades” in which a seemingly badass group is undone by a supernatural presence and all of their braggadocio becomes a joke, whereas “Crown of Switchblades” excels in a shift in tone. “Ceremony” excels in dark comedy dialogue. Declyn, an investigator, is looking into the rock group “The Raging Bastards. His lover, Misty, who is involved with not only him but the three guys in the group is his main contact. Declan’s time with the Raging Bastards begins with plenty of sex, drugs, and rock and roll and ends with blood, guts, and terror, especially after Misty disappears.
The key advantage is the dialogue. Many characters dance around the truth with plenty of strong language, sexual overtones, and violent metaphors. Many of the phrases like when Bastards member, La Roe sarcastically describes the group as “tree huggers preaching peace and love” brings ironic smirks. Other comments like “If I had your eyes, I’d drive us off a cliff” carry an edge of suspense undertones hidden inside the dark comedy overtones.
One of the more interesting aspects of the dialogue is the amount of foreshadowing. After the story is over, it’s worth going back and putting together the tantalizing clues that the characters dance around. The constant references to blood, animals, violence, and aggressiveness spill some of the tea before the entire kettle is knocked over. There are also warnings when people tell Declan that he should stay away and that he doesn’t want to know what Misty and the Bastards are up to. It’s one of those stories that lays the plot in front of you so when you go back and reread it, you think, “Of course, it was there all along!”
The violence is graphic but detached in a way that makes it more grotesque or comic than scary. The moment when Declan reaches the truth is dripped in irony and gore. The final line is blunt in violence that comes out of nowhere leaving Readers to sort out the aftermath.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2024
2.5 stars rounded up.
Bedlam Trances by Nicholas Wagner is a collection of short horror stories that centre around criminality and brutality. One of the most horrifying parts of some of these stories was the fact that these brutal situations and bad events are often real life experiences, a true reflection of the horror of societies. Featuring some supernatural and spooky events, the best kind of stuff!
Personally, and overall, I did not love this collection of stories. The first story you encounter 'Crown of Switchblades' unfortunately set the tone for me as a reader. I was very confused during a lot of this tale as we were thrown into this world, with no clear or descriptive introductions. Many names and locations, too many in my opinion, were mentioned from the get go and this often left me re-reading sections to try and fully understand scenarios. This was also one of the longest stories in this collection and unfortunately it was not a strong start for me. I do hope that this was just a personal experience and that many others enjoyed this tale of gangland crime and cults!
Many of the shorter tales I genuinely enjoyed a lot more. They were fast paced, unsettling and brutal! The author had a wonderful range throughout this collection, with many stories set in several different time periods, past, present and future! This was a wonderful thing to experience as a reader, as you never knew were you were going to find yourself next. I chose to read Bedlam Trances while travelling and as a collection of short stories, it was the perfect travel companion.
The author also had a way with words, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves into whatever decade or era they found themselves in. The brutality and graphic scenes were also done brilliantly! As a gore fanatic, I was loving the more violently detailed scenes. My favourite story from this collection is 'The Tragic Event's Befalling Lizaveta' as the scenes involving the violence inflicted by the pagans were incredibly written in my opinion, especially the decapitation scene! That was *chefs kiss* for a horror and gore girlie like myself.
Overall, this collection of stories was just not for me. I personally think it was the heavy emphasis on crime in a lot of the stories that resulted in me not being able to fully enjoy it as those themes are often not my cup of tea. The author does have an incredible way with words however and has built vivid, vast landscapes and scenarios throughout this book that many readers will love. If you're a fan of brutality, crime and horror, I do recommend you to check out Bedlam Trances. This work was not for me, but I do look forward to reading other works by this author.
Thank you so much to Henry Roi PR for an ARC of Bedlam Trances in exchange for an honest review.
Bedlam Trances by Nicholas Wagner is a collection of short horror stories that centre around criminality and brutality. One of the most horrifying parts of some of these stories was the fact that these brutal situations and bad events are often real life experiences, a true reflection of the horror of societies. Featuring some supernatural and spooky events, the best kind of stuff!
Personally, and overall, I did not love this collection of stories. The first story you encounter 'Crown of Switchblades' unfortunately set the tone for me as a reader. I was very confused during a lot of this tale as we were thrown into this world, with no clear or descriptive introductions. Many names and locations, too many in my opinion, were mentioned from the get go and this often left me re-reading sections to try and fully understand scenarios. This was also one of the longest stories in this collection and unfortunately it was not a strong start for me. I do hope that this was just a personal experience and that many others enjoyed this tale of gangland crime and cults!
Many of the shorter tales I genuinely enjoyed a lot more. They were fast paced, unsettling and brutal! The author had a wonderful range throughout this collection, with many stories set in several different time periods, past, present and future! This was a wonderful thing to experience as a reader, as you never knew were you were going to find yourself next. I chose to read Bedlam Trances while travelling and as a collection of short stories, it was the perfect travel companion.
The author also had a way with words, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves into whatever decade or era they found themselves in. The brutality and graphic scenes were also done brilliantly! As a gore fanatic, I was loving the more violently detailed scenes. My favourite story from this collection is 'The Tragic Event's Befalling Lizaveta' as the scenes involving the violence inflicted by the pagans were incredibly written in my opinion, especially the decapitation scene! That was *chefs kiss* for a horror and gore girlie like myself.
Overall, this collection of stories was just not for me. I personally think it was the heavy emphasis on crime in a lot of the stories that resulted in me not being able to fully enjoy it as those themes are often not my cup of tea. The author does have an incredible way with words however and has built vivid, vast landscapes and scenarios throughout this book that many readers will love. If you're a fan of brutality, crime and horror, I do recommend you to check out Bedlam Trances. This work was not for me, but I do look forward to reading other works by this author.
Thank you so much to Henry Roi PR for an ARC of Bedlam Trances in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2024
An intriguing collection of 9 unique short stories which combine elements of crime and horror (of the haunting magical-realism sort). A good pick for the Halloween season :)
What I really enjoyed about the stories was that each of them had a totally different setting, spanning from medieval villages, through modern-day Ireland to ‘Chrysalis Daze’ which is set in the future (and more). The ideas behind most stories were very original and interestingly executed. I particularly enjoyed ‘Notes From The Yucatan’, which had a very cool plot twist and an eerie ending mixed with a healthy dose of the supernatural and mystery. This story was definitely my favourite.
The only thing that bugged me in some of the stories (not all of them though) was that they seemed a bit cursory. They seemed rushed. All stories were very action-packed and kept the tension and fast tempo, which was very good (!), but in my opinion adding a bit more depth to the characters and a bit more detail to the events would not hurt the overall impression. I’d add a bit more mood-setting sentences and bits on the characters’ thoughts and emotions to make the reader feel more emotionally engaged in the story … I think this would make the readers care about the doomed characters more and thus make the bloodshed and other horrors… more frightening.
The best thing about the stories overall though, in my opinion, were the really well-crafted endings: a bit ambiguous, striking, terrifying but also satisfying in some weird twisted way. There were some very powerful one-liners there, spooky and thought-provoking…
What I really enjoyed about the stories was that each of them had a totally different setting, spanning from medieval villages, through modern-day Ireland to ‘Chrysalis Daze’ which is set in the future (and more). The ideas behind most stories were very original and interestingly executed. I particularly enjoyed ‘Notes From The Yucatan’, which had a very cool plot twist and an eerie ending mixed with a healthy dose of the supernatural and mystery. This story was definitely my favourite.
The only thing that bugged me in some of the stories (not all of them though) was that they seemed a bit cursory. They seemed rushed. All stories were very action-packed and kept the tension and fast tempo, which was very good (!), but in my opinion adding a bit more depth to the characters and a bit more detail to the events would not hurt the overall impression. I’d add a bit more mood-setting sentences and bits on the characters’ thoughts and emotions to make the reader feel more emotionally engaged in the story … I think this would make the readers care about the doomed characters more and thus make the bloodshed and other horrors… more frightening.
The best thing about the stories overall though, in my opinion, were the really well-crafted endings: a bit ambiguous, striking, terrifying but also satisfying in some weird twisted way. There were some very powerful one-liners there, spooky and thought-provoking…
October 28, 2024
Nine stories spread across 128 pages makes this a quick read. Tales of horror and crime which focus on unsettling situations and bad people doing bad things.
There's a range from criminal gangs & cults, wartime horror, western & historical settings including one set during the Roman empire.
My favourite was 'Ceremony' which features an investigator & a missing acquaintance, witty banter, a rock group and a twist ending. The usual drugs & rock n roll turn out to be something much more terrifying.
Opening story 'Crown of Switchblades' is one of the longest and another highlight. Set in Ireland and more crime oriented with gang warfare it takes a darker turn with a mysterious cult.
Stories both violent & visceral, mysterious & foreboding, and horror of a more psychological nature all feature in this collection. There's no shortage of imagination.
On the downside, several of the stories are so short that it doesn't give time to get to know the characters. They're more plot than character based and it can feel that you've come in partway through a longer tale.
As with all short story collections everyone will have different favourites and if you like horror/crime stories there will be something here to entertain you.
Thank you Henry Roi PR for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
There's a range from criminal gangs & cults, wartime horror, western & historical settings including one set during the Roman empire.
My favourite was 'Ceremony' which features an investigator & a missing acquaintance, witty banter, a rock group and a twist ending. The usual drugs & rock n roll turn out to be something much more terrifying.
Opening story 'Crown of Switchblades' is one of the longest and another highlight. Set in Ireland and more crime oriented with gang warfare it takes a darker turn with a mysterious cult.
Stories both violent & visceral, mysterious & foreboding, and horror of a more psychological nature all feature in this collection. There's no shortage of imagination.
On the downside, several of the stories are so short that it doesn't give time to get to know the characters. They're more plot than character based and it can feel that you've come in partway through a longer tale.
As with all short story collections everyone will have different favourites and if you like horror/crime stories there will be something here to entertain you.
Thank you Henry Roi PR for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
October 29, 2024
Featuring nine tales of the horror and thriller genre from author Nicholas Wagner (Razor Country), Bedlam Trances is like an unfamiliar box of chocolates with no menu. You simply don't know what you're going to get! From the 15th century to the Roman Empire, modern Ireland to the future, there isn't a time period the author shies away from.
As for characters, while these share similarities, such as being of a morally grey persuasion, they differ in every other way. In Crown of Switchblades, Irish gangsters try to evade a cult, disappearing German monks are the subjects of The Tragic Events Befalling Lizaveta, and in Ceremony, a PI ends up at an art commune whilst trailing a colleague.
From the extremely short and feeling a little rushed to the much longer short story, the tales here are of all lengths, so are ideal for picking up when you have a spare few minutes, during work breaks and in bed. They are on the creepy, unsettling side, though, so you might end up sleeping with the light on!
As for characters, while these share similarities, such as being of a morally grey persuasion, they differ in every other way. In Crown of Switchblades, Irish gangsters try to evade a cult, disappearing German monks are the subjects of The Tragic Events Befalling Lizaveta, and in Ceremony, a PI ends up at an art commune whilst trailing a colleague.
From the extremely short and feeling a little rushed to the much longer short story, the tales here are of all lengths, so are ideal for picking up when you have a spare few minutes, during work breaks and in bed. They are on the creepy, unsettling side, though, so you might end up sleeping with the light on!
October 25, 2024
"Bedlam Trances" is an absolute standout in the horror genre—Nicholas Wagner has delivered a collection that left me thoroughly unnerved. As someone who loves dark fiction, I found each story to be a perfectly crafted piece of atmospheric horror, each one pulling me into its own shadowy world.
From the gritty underworld of Crown of Switchblades with its cults to the chilling medieval inquiry of The Tragic Events Befalling Lizaveta, every tale feels like a journey into the macabre and the mysterious. Wagner’s ability to bring morally ambiguous characters to life, placing them in harrowing, morally twisted situations, is masterful. The narrative of Ceremony stands out as one of my favorites—Wagner captures the ominous quiet of the art commune so vividly that I felt like I was walking those unsettling halls myself.
It’s not just about horror; it’s about the psychology of fear and the thin line between reality and the supernatural. Five stars all the way.
From the gritty underworld of Crown of Switchblades with its cults to the chilling medieval inquiry of The Tragic Events Befalling Lizaveta, every tale feels like a journey into the macabre and the mysterious. Wagner’s ability to bring morally ambiguous characters to life, placing them in harrowing, morally twisted situations, is masterful. The narrative of Ceremony stands out as one of my favorites—Wagner captures the ominous quiet of the art commune so vividly that I felt like I was walking those unsettling halls myself.
It’s not just about horror; it’s about the psychology of fear and the thin line between reality and the supernatural. Five stars all the way.
October 24, 2024
Bedlam Trances — by Nicholas Wagner
Bad people do bad things. A statement that is apropos to this anthology. Nine stories giving us horror, crime, cults, gruesome violence…oh so much violence, and more.
There is a depth to each story that I can’t quite put into words. They bring out a feeling in you that doesn’t happen often in books. For me, the writing style felt mature, and intelligent, all while giving me the crime horror I came for. It felt like I was reading an old classic (think Dante or Hemingway) but rewritten in a gruesome way. I freaking LOVED IT!
My thanks to the author Nicholas Wagner, and Black Tide Book Tours for the opportunity to read this! I’ll be recommending this one for sure!
Bad people do bad things. A statement that is apropos to this anthology. Nine stories giving us horror, crime, cults, gruesome violence…oh so much violence, and more.
There is a depth to each story that I can’t quite put into words. They bring out a feeling in you that doesn’t happen often in books. For me, the writing style felt mature, and intelligent, all while giving me the crime horror I came for. It felt like I was reading an old classic (think Dante or Hemingway) but rewritten in a gruesome way. I freaking LOVED IT!
My thanks to the author Nicholas Wagner, and Black Tide Book Tours for the opportunity to read this! I’ll be recommending this one for sure!
July 4, 2025
Crime is one of my very least favourite genres (I don't know wtf my problem is but as soon as I encounter it, I think oh nooooooo, and the genre has been known to just put me to sleep). I wish I could say I loved this collection but the stories are generally very crime heavy. However, the pacing and action is great, and the author is creative with settings and time periods, and the way horror is infused. If you don't share my ridiculous and unwarranted displeasure of crime, you'll likely enjoy this much more than I did!
October 25, 2024
This collection blew me away! Nicholas Wagner’s Bedlam Trances is the kind of book that grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go. Each story is unique, yet they all have this creeping, unsettling atmosphere that’s absolutely brilliant. Crown of Switchblades was an incredible start, with its gritty portrayal of Irish gangsters and a mysterious cult—it set the tone perfectly. Every story was unique and creative. A masterpiece!
October 23, 2024
Love it! This is an absolute standout! This book is a series of dark stories that pull you into unsettling worlds with morally ambiguous characters. Each story, from the gritty streets filled with Irish gangsters to the corridors of a 15th-century monastery, is well-written and unique. I couldn't put it down. It’s a brilliant exploration of horror and crime. 5 stars!
October 26, 2024
This collection of short stories is one of the most unsettling I have ever read! Spanning locations, styles and time frames, you are never quite sure where, or when, you might be transported to next!
Full of nasty characters and deadly deeds, each story is a short, sharp shock to the system - perfect for spooky season!
Thanks to the author and Black Tide Book Tours for the eARC of this book.
Full of nasty characters and deadly deeds, each story is a short, sharp shock to the system - perfect for spooky season!
Thanks to the author and Black Tide Book Tours for the eARC of this book.
October 29, 2024
"Bedlam Trances" by Nicholas Wagner is hauntingly good. Each story is like stepping into a shadowed corner of the human psyche, where moral lines blur and danger lurks. Nicholas Wagner’s writing has this raw edge that pulls you into places you almost want to look away from—but can’t.
October 29, 2024
Nicholas Wagner takes you through a series of mind-bending stories that feel like they’re plucked right from the depths of human fear. Each tale explores something raw and unnerving. If you’re someone who loves complex characters and eerie mysteries, this book is a must-read!
October 29, 2024
Wagner’s collection digs into psychological horror with finesse. The blend of crime and supernatural elements creates a distinct atmosphere in each story, leaving you with just enough dread and curiosity to want more. It's intense and imaginative!
November 1, 2024
This book has 9 stories,
so there is something for everyone that like horror and crime! Getting lost in the stories is very easy. They are satisfying and leave you wanting more at the same time. Highly recommend this book.
so there is something for everyone that like horror and crime! Getting lost in the stories is very easy. They are satisfying and leave you wanting more at the same time. Highly recommend this book.
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