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The Widows of Winding Gale
For the people on the rugged Irish island of Winding Gale, life has always been hard. Now in the wake of the second World War, the island is dying, the young taken away by death or the appeal of better lives elsewhere, leaving behind only a handful of adults.
But on the night the men of the island disappear while fishing in uncharted waters, the women are forced into a conflict with something both new and unfathomably old.
A strange greenish mist rolls in, cutting off the island from the mainland. Spiral symbols appear in the sand, fashioned from dead fish and stones. Seductive voices lure people from their homes to walk into the sea. Ancient ships materialize in the fog. And specters of the past will rise to take their vengeance in blood.
Because this is Samhain, a time when the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest, and there is something rising from the deep that will thrust the women of Winding Gale into a war against an unspeakable evil.
From Kealan Patrick Burke, the Stoker Award-winning author of Kin and Sour Candy, The Widows of Winding Gale is a nightmarish homage to the seminal work of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Hope Hodgson, Arthur Machen, and John Carpenter.
But on the night the men of the island disappear while fishing in uncharted waters, the women are forced into a conflict with something both new and unfathomably old.
A strange greenish mist rolls in, cutting off the island from the mainland. Spiral symbols appear in the sand, fashioned from dead fish and stones. Seductive voices lure people from their homes to walk into the sea. Ancient ships materialize in the fog. And specters of the past will rise to take their vengeance in blood.
Because this is Samhain, a time when the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest, and there is something rising from the deep that will thrust the women of Winding Gale into a war against an unspeakable evil.
From Kealan Patrick Burke, the Stoker Award-winning author of Kin and Sour Candy, The Widows of Winding Gale is a nightmarish homage to the seminal work of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Hope Hodgson, Arthur Machen, and John Carpenter.
Paperback
Published October 1, 2025
82 people want to read
About the author
Kealan Patrick Burke
194 books2,352 followersHailed by Booklist as “one of the most clever and original talents in contemporary horror,” Kealan Patrick Burke was born and raised in Ireland and emigrated to the United States a few weeks before 9/11.
Since then, he has written six novels, among them the popular southern gothic Kin, and over two hundred short stories and novellas, many of which are in various stages of development for film/TV.
In 2005, Burke won the Bram Stoker Award for his coming-of-age novella The Turtle Boy, the first book in the acclaimed Timmy Quinn series.
As editor, he helmed the anthologies Night Visions 12, Taverns of the Dead, and Quietly Now, a tribute anthology to one of Burke’s influences, the late Charles L. Grant.
More recently, he wrote the screenplays for Sour Candy (based on his novella), and the remake of the iconic horror film The Changeling (1980), for the original film's producer, Joel B. Michaels.
He also adapted Sour Candy as a graphic novel for John Carpenter's Night Terrors.
His most recent releases are Cottonmouth, a prequel to Kin and The Widows of Winding Gale, a maritime horror novel set in Ireland.
Kealan is represented by Valarie Phillips at Verve Talent & Literary Agency.
He lives in Ohio with a Scooby Doo lookalike rescue named Red.
Since then, he has written six novels, among them the popular southern gothic Kin, and over two hundred short stories and novellas, many of which are in various stages of development for film/TV.
In 2005, Burke won the Bram Stoker Award for his coming-of-age novella The Turtle Boy, the first book in the acclaimed Timmy Quinn series.
As editor, he helmed the anthologies Night Visions 12, Taverns of the Dead, and Quietly Now, a tribute anthology to one of Burke’s influences, the late Charles L. Grant.
More recently, he wrote the screenplays for Sour Candy (based on his novella), and the remake of the iconic horror film The Changeling (1980), for the original film's producer, Joel B. Michaels.
He also adapted Sour Candy as a graphic novel for John Carpenter's Night Terrors.
His most recent releases are Cottonmouth, a prequel to Kin and The Widows of Winding Gale, a maritime horror novel set in Ireland.
Kealan is represented by Valarie Phillips at Verve Talent & Literary Agency.
He lives in Ohio with a Scooby Doo lookalike rescue named Red.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 13, 2025
If you love sea-horror as much as I do, you will absolutely love this book! A perfect book to read on a cold October evening around Halloween, preferably with the sounds of some crashing waves in the background. Kealan Patrick Burke’s best book, and I’ve read them all.
November 23, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. The isolation, the unknown horrors that we get to bear witness to more and more as the story progresses, the palpable regret and forlornness of the characters, the visceral gore and horror of tradition and the futility of the outsider pissing against the wind...Especially when that wind is full of the haunting words and presence of the dead and an unknown aquatic/cosmic horror stalks you from the shore, enveloped in fog thick enough to get lost in for all time. There are ghosts, there are demons, there are Gods and there is a reckoning for all involved.
The book is dedicated to "John Carpenter And the folks at KAB Radio, Antonio Bay" and if you know, at a bare minimum, you'll know what kind of expectations to set for yourself before reading.
There's an introduction by Nathan Ballingrud that gives absolutely nothing away and still somehow enlightens.
Kealan Patrick Burke is an absolute beast of a writer and I cannot recommend this one enough, which brings me to the only downside: the physical copies are limited edition and not widely available but I've read there should be an ebook edition some time next year.
I hope it happens earlier. This one deserves a much wider audience.
The book is dedicated to "John Carpenter And the folks at KAB Radio, Antonio Bay" and if you know, at a bare minimum, you'll know what kind of expectations to set for yourself before reading.
There's an introduction by Nathan Ballingrud that gives absolutely nothing away and still somehow enlightens.
Kealan Patrick Burke is an absolute beast of a writer and I cannot recommend this one enough, which brings me to the only downside: the physical copies are limited edition and not widely available but I've read there should be an ebook edition some time next year.
I hope it happens earlier. This one deserves a much wider audience.
December 31, 2025
THE WIDOWS OF WINDING GALE, by Kealan Patrick Burke, was another spectacular read by an author I expect much from. From twisty, psychological novels, to more surreal tales, his books just seem to have everything I look for in a compelling story.
Winding Gale is an Irish Island that few live on anymore, due to the harsh conditions. However, those that call it home are used to hard work, and are a close-knit community. When the men fail to return from a fishing venture on All Hallow's Eve, the women know that something is terribly wrong. When the veil between worlds is at its thinnest, an eerie greenish fog rolls in . . . along with other things.
We get a good glimpse at each character's personality and spirit--whether from the things they do, or small snippets of their lives--you feel like one of the community when reading. The book pays tribute to THE FOG in the dedication, and it certainly compares to the unsettling atmosphere of that. However, this book is unique on its own. I honestly expected a heavy Lovecraftian influence as well, but found that the terrors were so much more than that. Blending folklore, mythology, and emotion, this short novel went beyond anything I'd read previously.
No spoilers here, but I do want to add that the ending felt just "perfect" for the story, and honestly I couldn't think of anything that would have made it stand out more.
Overall, just in time for the New Year, this book lands as one of my top reads of 2025! The paperback and E-book will be available in April 2026.
Highly recommended.
Winding Gale is an Irish Island that few live on anymore, due to the harsh conditions. However, those that call it home are used to hard work, and are a close-knit community. When the men fail to return from a fishing venture on All Hallow's Eve, the women know that something is terribly wrong. When the veil between worlds is at its thinnest, an eerie greenish fog rolls in . . . along with other things.
We get a good glimpse at each character's personality and spirit--whether from the things they do, or small snippets of their lives--you feel like one of the community when reading. The book pays tribute to THE FOG in the dedication, and it certainly compares to the unsettling atmosphere of that. However, this book is unique on its own. I honestly expected a heavy Lovecraftian influence as well, but found that the terrors were so much more than that. Blending folklore, mythology, and emotion, this short novel went beyond anything I'd read previously.
No spoilers here, but I do want to add that the ending felt just "perfect" for the story, and honestly I couldn't think of anything that would have made it stand out more.
Overall, just in time for the New Year, this book lands as one of my top reads of 2025! The paperback and E-book will be available in April 2026.
Highly recommended.
November 11, 2025
The Widows of Winding Gale is exceptional on many levels. First and foremost, this is a horror story. If that is not your bag you should look elsewhere. But it is also so much more. It is a clash of worlds – modernity encroaching on old world ways; the state of our lives versus our desires; the supernatural realm clashing with our terrestrial reality.
This is the story of the few remaining inhabitants of an island off the western shores of Ireland in the 1940s. Winding Gale is very reminiscent of the real Aran Islands, both in location and depiction; a fascinating place that I had the pleasure to visit many years ago. The men of Winding Gale have gone on a fishing expedition on All Hallow’s Eve, while the women remain behind. By the following morning, the men have not returned, and the women fear the worst.
In the midst of this, a side plot plays out with a representative from the mainland visiting the island with the intent of convincing the inhabitants to relocate, and presumably open up the island to modern capitalist interests. This seemed like a mechanism to introduce how the women felt about this and was otherwise a largely unnecessary component to the story, but it doesn’t burden it. It also conveniently allows for a boat to remain on the island should the women see a need to flee.
The heart of the story is the women, coping with the realization that the men have likely met their fate and will never return. For a short novella, the characterizations are deep and rich. Each woman has her own history and motivations, and each wrestles in her own way with how life has scarred her soul. This is all vividly portrayed and, in many respects, is the best part of the story. But, oh, the horror!
In the midst of fearing for their men and winter fast approaching, a dense fog has enveloped the island. This fog is a manifestation of a tear in the veil between our reality and what lies beyond. It brings with it eldritch horrors from the ocean depths, as well as bygone shipwrecks and the ghosts of their condemned seamen. But primarily for the women, it brings confrontation with their darkest fears and deepest regrets, sometimes to dire outcomes.
While the bulk of the story focuses on the women of Winding Gale, the story does not short-change the men’s fate on this All Hallow’s Eve. Here is where the eldritch horrors really come to the fore. The fate of the men is brutal and unflinching. However, amidst this chaotic horror, the men somehow have a moment to wax philosophical, suggesting the deities of the sea are taking revenge upon them for centuries of mankind’s desecration. I felt this bit of environmentalism seemed out of place not only for the scene at hand, but for the story in general. But I digress.
The Widows of Winding Gale is a wondrously atmospheric story that satisfies on many levels. I found the ending ambiguous, but in a good way. I would be interested in how others have interpreted it. The novella is dedicated to John Carpenter and the folks of Antonio Bay, so to them I say Hail! Thank you for inspiring this very talented author. I look forward to reading more from Kealan Patrick Burke.
This is the story of the few remaining inhabitants of an island off the western shores of Ireland in the 1940s. Winding Gale is very reminiscent of the real Aran Islands, both in location and depiction; a fascinating place that I had the pleasure to visit many years ago. The men of Winding Gale have gone on a fishing expedition on All Hallow’s Eve, while the women remain behind. By the following morning, the men have not returned, and the women fear the worst.
In the midst of this, a side plot plays out with a representative from the mainland visiting the island with the intent of convincing the inhabitants to relocate, and presumably open up the island to modern capitalist interests. This seemed like a mechanism to introduce how the women felt about this and was otherwise a largely unnecessary component to the story, but it doesn’t burden it. It also conveniently allows for a boat to remain on the island should the women see a need to flee.
The heart of the story is the women, coping with the realization that the men have likely met their fate and will never return. For a short novella, the characterizations are deep and rich. Each woman has her own history and motivations, and each wrestles in her own way with how life has scarred her soul. This is all vividly portrayed and, in many respects, is the best part of the story. But, oh, the horror!
In the midst of fearing for their men and winter fast approaching, a dense fog has enveloped the island. This fog is a manifestation of a tear in the veil between our reality and what lies beyond. It brings with it eldritch horrors from the ocean depths, as well as bygone shipwrecks and the ghosts of their condemned seamen. But primarily for the women, it brings confrontation with their darkest fears and deepest regrets, sometimes to dire outcomes.
While the bulk of the story focuses on the women of Winding Gale, the story does not short-change the men’s fate on this All Hallow’s Eve. Here is where the eldritch horrors really come to the fore. The fate of the men is brutal and unflinching. However, amidst this chaotic horror, the men somehow have a moment to wax philosophical, suggesting the deities of the sea are taking revenge upon them for centuries of mankind’s desecration. I felt this bit of environmentalism seemed out of place not only for the scene at hand, but for the story in general. But I digress.
The Widows of Winding Gale is a wondrously atmospheric story that satisfies on many levels. I found the ending ambiguous, but in a good way. I would be interested in how others have interpreted it. The novella is dedicated to John Carpenter and the folks of Antonio Bay, so to them I say Hail! Thank you for inspiring this very talented author. I look forward to reading more from Kealan Patrick Burke.
January 24, 2026
This was such a good read, I snagged a copy from Earthlings Publications just on that cover alone, I know crazy but its freaking beautiful.
The story inside? A beautiful horrible nightmare.
This is another book set up in one of my favorite ways, small town isolated horror, or small island in this case as the island is Winding Gale is out far from most things and those that live there are living a rough life.
Not many still live on the island, the war taking the young ones and the men that are left out fishing to survive, they find something old and leave the woman to figure out how to battle something otherworldly.
Green mists, seductive voices calling from the sea and things these women can’t begin to believe are happening while they are just trying to survive everyday life on a hard worn down island.
The fog rolls in and so does the terror..
The story inside? A beautiful horrible nightmare.
This is another book set up in one of my favorite ways, small town isolated horror, or small island in this case as the island is Winding Gale is out far from most things and those that live there are living a rough life.
Not many still live on the island, the war taking the young ones and the men that are left out fishing to survive, they find something old and leave the woman to figure out how to battle something otherworldly.
Green mists, seductive voices calling from the sea and things these women can’t begin to believe are happening while they are just trying to survive everyday life on a hard worn down island.
The fog rolls in and so does the terror..
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review Copy
THE WIDOWS OF WINDING GALE is Kealan Patrick Burke's newest novella. It is a tale of creeping dread masterfully told in the manner of stories of long ago.
It is the tale of three women married to fishermen. They live on a tiny island and have only each other for company.
KPB manages the pacing so well that you'll find yourself flipping pages even as you promised yourself you would close the book five minutes previous. Another 5 minutes can't hurt, right?
If you've read Kealan's stories before, yay! there's finally a new one! If you haven't, take the opportunity to snag them all. You can read them while you're waiting for this to be released.
There's not a bad one in the bunch. Enjoy!
THE WIDOWS OF WINDING GALE is Kealan Patrick Burke's newest novella. It is a tale of creeping dread masterfully told in the manner of stories of long ago.
It is the tale of three women married to fishermen. They live on a tiny island and have only each other for company.
KPB manages the pacing so well that you'll find yourself flipping pages even as you promised yourself you would close the book five minutes previous. Another 5 minutes can't hurt, right?
If you've read Kealan's stories before, yay! there's finally a new one! If you haven't, take the opportunity to snag them all. You can read them while you're waiting for this to be released.
There's not a bad one in the bunch. Enjoy!
September 25, 2025
This is my first KPB book, and I’ll definitely be reading more. The book is full speed from start to finish. The opening scene really sets the tone for the book and it finishes even better. A great quick spooky season read. 5⭐️
October 17, 2025
The second book I’ve read by Kealan and I loved it. A super trippy mashup of some different horror genres to create a very unique and wonderful Halloween story. Another great earthling Halloween publication. I highly recommend it.
October 17, 2025
KPB weaves a tale like no other. Full review to come!
January 8, 2026
Creepy William Hope Hodgson type of atmosphere. Great characters and page turning plot. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews