These Dark Things: Twelve New Gothic Tales

by Jaclyn Baer, Erica-Lynn Huberty

Rooted in the violence and loss of the French Revolution, Gothic stories have long given voice to our innermost fears, vulnerabilities, and feelings of Otherness. This collection of new Gothic tales transports readers from the classic gloomy English manor and the haunted Southern plantation, to the mountains of Mexico, an eerie European monastery, and dark worlds previously unchartered. Briar Press presents twelve Gothic short stories from exciting new voices in the genre. Sometimes weird, often terrifying, this collection channels all these dark things… Edited by Jaclyn Baer and Erica-Lynn Huberty.

Genres: Horror, Gothic, Short Stories, Anthologies

272 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2024

Reviews

[Bianca Rose (Belladonnabooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Dark Things is a wonderful gothic collection of stories that will make you check twice in the shadows.

Each story is unique in its own right yet share the same sense of eeriness and creeping dread. They all play with well known gothic tropes and are incredibly atmospheric.

Thank you to the Briar Press for gifting me a copy of this wonderful book!
Note: although I was gifted this book I was under no obligation to post a review.

[Jennifer Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this anthology! As its subtitle suggests, this upmarket collection broadens the definition of what a gothic story can be. Yes, there are deliciously chilling stories set in the more traditional places—an old graveyard in Dublin, a crumbling manor house in the English countryside—but there are also tales that take place in New Orleans, in a small Appalachian town, and even in Texas’s Big Bend National Park.

The range of topics is modern, interesting, and satisfying too—ghosts figure for sure, but so do murderous wives and mothers, unsettling scarecrows, animate statues, and cursed people with disfigurements and strange bodily developments. Everything from body horror to domestic, racial, and transgender violence is explored, and all in language that is carefully crafted and quite literary. All these authors are skilled, and the ones who aren’t as established are certainly promising.

Three stories resonated especially with me: “Appalachian Gothic” by Felicia Burgett, “Smoke and Mirrors” by Emily Amber Faust, and “Her Loving Touch” by C.R. Camarillo.

I loved Burgett’s specificity, uniqueness of detail, and haunting ambiguity, all of which made her story feel original and fresh even as it uses the “scary locals” trope.

The moments of gothic imagery and lyricism in Faust’s story create an effective and powerful antithesis to the realistic, heartbreaking details of domestic violence and a broken family court system. The gaslighting and disorientation the main character suffers from also reminded me a bit of “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, itself a classic of short gothic prose.

Camarillo’s smooth, minimal, yet evocative style creates an intriguing take on the old “deal with the devil” archetype, and I was impressed at the way the author continually develops his characters, subverting my expectations all the way to the end, which is tough to do in short fiction.

I highly recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys quiet or psychological horror written in gorgeous, atmospheric language. I was sorry when I reached the end, and I’m excited to read more titles from Briar Press New York.

[Bill Witmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Stepping back in time with eerie gothic horrorscapes. Atmospherically Edgar Allen Poe-esque.
I was especially fond of the first story The Frost.

[Winterdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: I am one of the authors; 'The Other' is my story. So I'll except it from my review. ;)

An interesting variety of takes on Gothic revival, ranging from mildly disturbing to full-on body horror and even cosmic terror. Poe, Shelley and Lovecraft are celebrating in their graves. :)

All stories chilled my spine, and the best ones clutched at my windpipe too. My favourites were Smoke and Mirrors, The Bones of Ambrose Plantation and The Cuckoo's Wings.

[Katie-bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic collection of stories! Each was uniquely its own and there was something for anyone with a love for the horrific, terrifying, mysterious or twisted. I couldn't tear myself from the pages. As an avid reader and editor I couldn't help but admire the talent reflected on these pages. I was gifted These Dark Things by Briar Press but with no obligation to write a review, however now I plan on buying more of their collections! A must read!!! Thank you!!!

[Erica-Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I am one of the editors of this collection. And I am THRILLED to see these 12 completely new Gothic short stories in print. The stories are all written by contemporary, living authors who all have a different take on classic Gothic themes. At turns haunting, creepy, unsettling, heartbreaking and unique, this is really a fantastic sampling of New Gothic.

[Michael M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of dark stories - some classic gothic tales to some more modern takes on the theme - a fun read!