Malice Through the Looking Glass: Tales of Terror and Twisted Fate

The Gothic Chills Collection #2

by Jay Raven

Classic horror reborn — stories of obsession, betrayal, and the punishing price of desire.

Venture through the mist to a world where witches whisper in candlelight, ghosts scheme in the dark, and fate’s cruellest tricks are yet to be played.

Inside this collection you’ll find:
A blacksmith drawn into a deadly bargain beyond mortal understanding.
A Napoleonic soldier hunting the friend who has become a werewolf.
An inventor whose greatest achievement becomes his nemesis.
A trapped genie plotting escape from his cursed prison.
A woman whose dreams of past lives turn horrifyingly real
and many more characters staring into the darkness.

Catch these twelve shiver-inducing tales — old and new — showcasing Jay Raven’s signature blend of gothic atmosphere, supernatural menace, and slyly ironic twists.

Perfect for readers who enjoy Tales of the Unexpected, vintage ghost stories, and the grand tradition of British horror.

Some stories in this collection previously appeared in a limited private sampler edition for newsletter readers. This volume is the complete, definitive version.

95 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2025

About the author

Jay Raven writes gothic horror with bite.

From vampire-hunting thrillers steeped in danger to witch-burning sagas laced with suspicion and sin, his stories are packed with action, dark twists, and tormented heroes who battle evil with blade, bullet, and black humour.

A lifelong fan of classic horror cinema and vintage pulp fiction, Jay resurrects the spirit of old-school monsters and cursed magic for a modern audience. Think Van Helsing meets The Crucible—with a body count and a heart.

When not dreaming up fresh nightmares, he lives in a creaking old house on the edge of 500 acres of bat-haunted woodland—perfect for conjuring shadows, whispers, and things best left buried.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

I found this book to be engaging, particularly with its creative use of classic villains in an anthology format, offering an alternative perspective. Trial by Water proved unsettling, inducing nightmares. Generally, I have an aversion to rats, which consistently evoke a sense of unease. Overall, the book was decent.

Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review

[Suzanne Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witches. Vampires. Werewolves. And more. There's something for everyone in Book Two of the masterfully crafted Gothic Chills Collection by talented author Jay Raven. Each story gets five stars from me.

1. Malice Through the Looking Glass: Jennifer Hollsworth has no idea what lurks on the other side of the mirror. But she’ll soon find out in this spine-tingling tale of a malevolent genie that will stop at nothing to escape his prison.
2. Trial by Water: Professor Thaddeus Grey and Dr. Douglas Fenwick embark on an experiment that has unexpected consequences. This is a truly horrifying tale of what can happen when one species proclaims itself superior to another based on prejudice and contempt instead of fact and knowledge.
3. Strings: A clever twist on the story of Pinocchio and his maker, infused with themes of love, loyalty, and death.
4. Let There Be Light: The author’s imagination goes into overdrive in this intriguing story about a scholar who redeems himself in the eyes of the church when he invents a special weapon. A great mix of magic and paranormal drama.
5. Stab in the Dark: When Mesmerist David Michaels puts distraught Jackie in trance to get to the root of her nightmares, he learns the hard way that the past is sometimes best left buried. Fans of Jack the Ripper will appreciate this gruesome tale.
6. Salvation: A compassionate woman chooses to give an undeserving boy a second chance at life, and in doing so, teaches an angel a valuable lesson. This one is the least bloody and most spiritual of the collection, but it still held my interest.
7. Death Duties: A local blacksmith is tasked with sharpening the Reaper’s scythe in the midst of a decimating plague. His reward isn't what he thought it would be. Grim and creepy.
8. Weapons of Mass Destruction: Twelve beautiful girls prepare to be sacrificed at the behest of a high ranking religious leader in an agonizing and perverse way. But their situation may not be as hopeless as it seems. This story has an ending that will definitely get under the reader’s skin.
9. The Clockmaker's Daughter: The clockmaker's daughter brutally murdered her father without hesitation or provocation. The crime seems to be a senseless one, and the arresting detective is desperate to find out why. When she turns his gun on herself to take her own life, he has his answer. This is a perfect read for those who like a story with an unpredictable sci-fi vibe.
10. Blood Money: Yuri betrays his friend Sebastian for thirty pieces of silver. A paltry amount, but when the two of them face off and Sebastian’s secret is brought to life, it becomes clear that in this instance, silver is more precious than gold. This story is chock full of supernatural suspense.
11. Bitter Harvest: Smugglers escape punishment from the law by pretending to be simpletons. But the price of freedom is high. A haunting tale that won't soon be forgotten.
12. A Clash of Wands: Isodora and Francine are estranged sisters, who also happen to be witches. When two greedy noblemen pit them against one another in order to seize control of the ailing king's throne, they get more than they bargained for. The fascinating storyline makes this a real page turner.

[Terry Herres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malice through the looking glass stories:

Malice through the looking glass: ⅘, interesting premise, solid ending, paranormal horror

Trial by water: 5/5 great pacing, good suspense, strong character development, psychological horror

Strings: ⅖ no credit for the reuse of other IP, the premise is decent, but even for a short story it felt rushed, could use some reworking and a page or two more. Dark Horror

Let there be Light: ⅘ some ip creep from underworld, but interesting story, good twist, solid psychological dread component. Paranormal Horror

Stab in the Dark: 5/5 really good story, strong twist, good execution, no notes. Psychological Horror

Salvation: ⅗ decent story but doesn't really fit the vibe of this compilation. Religious commentary?

Death duties: ⅗ decent story, cute idea but no real climactic plot. Paranormal suspense

Weapons of Mass Destruction: 5/5 started out with a concerning tone but had a very satisfying ending. Paranormal horror

The clockmakers daughter: ⅘ great premise, but a the twist was pretty obvious about halfway in. Psychological Horror

Blood Money: ⅘ good emotional connection and description, not the most satisfying ending. Paranormal Horror

Bitter Harvest: 5/5 one of the best stories herein contained. From setup to finish, good suspense action and double climax. Psychological Horror

A Clash of Wands: 5/5 solid political intrigue with dark fantasy themes. Also a top 3 story in this compilation. Dark Fantasy

Overall, this collection is very strong and I would highly recommend it to fans of traditional or modern horror as it spans both gaps. Only two stories were below the mark but the rest ranged from great to phenomenal. 4.5/5, would reread and would recommend.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Susan Freestone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't get a lot of reading time at this time of year but this was the perfect read, not only was it very well written but I found it really easy to be led into every one of the twelve tales and I have to say the endings will leave you thinking...

I know it's a short read, but it doesn't feel like it there is so much packed in, supernatural menace, and slyly ironic twists, dark fantasy, gothic horror.
I really loved this book and the writing style of this author.
I can definitely recommend this and this author.

[IV]

✨️ ARC review ✨️

I received an e-ARC for free. I am leaving a review voluntarily, and it is my honest opinion.

DNF at 12%

First story wasn’t bad, although a bit predictable. Second one contained animal death/cruelty with no prior content warning I could find which unfortunately makes this an instant DNF for me. Therefore, I can't speak on the rest of the collection.

[TheSugaredBookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a nice little collection of twisty spooky tales! I really enjoyed reading it. All are different and all end in a way that keeps you thinking about them. Vampires, werewolves, witches and more! Each story moves quickly but is still detailed. You will finish reading and still want more!

[Irv Kleinman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Each story is set in a different time and place, but all have one thing in common: they are written by a master. I enjoyed them all, and I promise you will too.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bronte Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A decent collection of stories by a competent author. They cover a range of styles and are reasonably original. Definitely worth a read and I'll be looking out for other work by this writer

[Liz Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve spooky fun stories that kept me guessing to the end. A medley of magic and mystery. Definitely recommend reading.

[Nic Vine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another splendid collection of spooky, weird and satisfying short stories from Jay Raven. From the evil genie through an anxious angel to doubly wicked witches, these stories are all richly dressed and beautifully twisted.