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The Widows of Winding Gale
THE NEW NOVEL FROM THE BRAM STOKER AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF
SOUR CANDY
"A lonely island, a fog rolling in, missing fishermen, and a hideous evil emerges from the sea...THE WIDOWS OF WINDING GALE is pitch-perfect, spine-tingling horror. Burke gives a masterclass in isolation and dread, so chilling that the author should take a bow at the end." — Christopher Golden, NY Times bestselling author of THE NIGHT BIRDS and ALL HALLOWS
"Atmospheric and intelligent, WINDING GALE mines the classic haunting story and invents something new. It's a joy to read," - Sarah Langan, bestselling author of GOOD NEIGHBORS and A BETTER WORLD
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 of Winding Gale are forced into a conflict with something both new and unfathomably old.
A strange greenish mist rolls in, cutting the island off 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 few of them may survive.
From Kealan Patrick Burke, the Bram 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.
MORE PRAISE FOR THE WIDOWS OF WINDING GALE
"a terrifying aquatic hellscape, an insane mashup of monsters and folklore and the occult, with a black, briny beating heart bursting with vengeance and death. A cold, wet, tentacled nightmare that will haunt you." — Philip Fracassi, author of BOYS IN THE VALLEY and THE AUTUMN SPRINGS RETIREMENT HOME MASSACRE
“...one of the best horror stories I've read in a long time. It is many kinds of horror story at a ghost story, a sea monster story, a town under siege story, a story about grief and thwarted dreams, a story about profound isolation. You're in for a treat.” — Nathan Ballingrud, author of CATHEDRAL OF THE DAMNED
"... a remarkable achievement. A modern folk-horror tale steeped in myth and saltwater, carried by the fierce emotional core of the women who anchor its story...one of Burke’s most haunting works to date." - THE FANDOMENTALS
"A lonely island, a fog rolling in, missing fishermen, and a hideous evil emerges from the sea...THE WIDOWS OF WINDING GALE is pitch-perfect, spine-tingling horror. Burke gives a masterclass in isolation and dread, so chilling that the author should take a bow at the end." — Christopher Golden, NY Times bestselling author of THE NIGHT BIRDS and ALL HALLOWS
"Atmospheric and intelligent, WINDING GALE mines the classic haunting story and invents something new. It's a joy to read," - Sarah Langan, bestselling author of GOOD NEIGHBORS and A BETTER WORLD
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 of Winding Gale are forced into a conflict with something both new and unfathomably old.
A strange greenish mist rolls in, cutting the island off 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 few of them may survive.
From Kealan Patrick Burke, the Bram 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.
MORE PRAISE FOR THE WIDOWS OF WINDING GALE
"a terrifying aquatic hellscape, an insane mashup of monsters and folklore and the occult, with a black, briny beating heart bursting with vengeance and death. A cold, wet, tentacled nightmare that will haunt you." — Philip Fracassi, author of BOYS IN THE VALLEY and THE AUTUMN SPRINGS RETIREMENT HOME MASSACRE
“...one of the best horror stories I've read in a long time. It is many kinds of horror story at a ghost story, a sea monster story, a town under siege story, a story about grief and thwarted dreams, a story about profound isolation. You're in for a treat.” — Nathan Ballingrud, author of CATHEDRAL OF THE DAMNED
"... a remarkable achievement. A modern folk-horror tale steeped in myth and saltwater, carried by the fierce emotional core of the women who anchor its story...one of Burke’s most haunting works to date." - THE FANDOMENTALS
162 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 10, 2026
About the author
Kealan Patrick Burke
198 books2,402 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
June 17, 2026
Title/Author: Kealan Patrick Burke (otherwise known as KPB)
Format Read: Digital on Hoopla (but now I really want to listen to the audiobook)
Pub date: October 1st, 2025
Publisher: Indie/Earthling Publications
Page Count: 162
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/979829554...
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
- Island/small community (rural isolation)
- Strong women protagonists
- Creature-Feature/Monsters from the Ocean
- Folklore/Occult/Rituals
- Ireland setting-foggy, seaside, cold, bleak atmosphere
- Strong, quality storytelling
__
Minor complaints:
- Zero complaints. Even though this book is under 200 pages-this is Kealan's gift. His wheelhouse is the ability to tell a well-crafted story that feels fully formed and whole in very little time. No words wasted. Shorter fiction (for me, personally) is able to hold that line of tension and horror through the whole story without relenting--more bang for your buck, in my opinion.
Final recommendation: The Widows of Winding Gale is my favorite Kealan Patrick Burke book. For those familiar with his work, this statement alone is enough said. For those who haven't read his work, now is the time and this is the perfect introduction.
Post WWII, an isolated community on the Irish island of Winding Gale is in a state of crisis. The young people were either taken in the war or have moved away. The women of the island, still grieving the loss of their sons and daughters are now faced with the knowledge that the menfolk are lost at sea.
Samhain approaches and there is a strange fog settling in, bringing with it all manner of horrors.
I absolutely love the setup and the care and attention KPB gives to each character. He writes the women especially well, their resourcefulness and bravery made me emotionally invest so hard.
And of course, the supernatural threat closing in around the island is so terrifying! The setting is immersive, so I felt like I was there, watching events play out in cinematic detail. One scene in particular, the first time a monster displays its power on an unsuspecting male victim, was particularly detailed and delicious.
Do not miss this one! I am eager to see what horrors KPB has in store after this--he is definitely honing his craft over time--getting sharper and more terrifying with each release.
Comps: Horror readers need to be reading the dual threats:
David Sodergren-Scotland
and KPB- Ireland
These two authors DO NOT MISS. Kealan Patrick Burke is one of THE most consistently solid storytellers in the genre and I am thankful that he has remained independent and in full control of his backlist titles and new releases. There is a quality in his work that I believe is throughly maintained by his ability to remain indie. The same can be said of Sodergren which is why I am comping this book to Sodergren's work. Any Horror library needs a section dedicated to their books.
Format Read: Digital on Hoopla (but now I really want to listen to the audiobook)
Pub date: October 1st, 2025
Publisher: Indie/Earthling Publications
Page Count: 162
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/979829554...
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
- Island/small community (rural isolation)
- Strong women protagonists
- Creature-Feature/Monsters from the Ocean
- Folklore/Occult/Rituals
- Ireland setting-foggy, seaside, cold, bleak atmosphere
- Strong, quality storytelling
__
Minor complaints:
- Zero complaints. Even though this book is under 200 pages-this is Kealan's gift. His wheelhouse is the ability to tell a well-crafted story that feels fully formed and whole in very little time. No words wasted. Shorter fiction (for me, personally) is able to hold that line of tension and horror through the whole story without relenting--more bang for your buck, in my opinion.
Final recommendation: The Widows of Winding Gale is my favorite Kealan Patrick Burke book. For those familiar with his work, this statement alone is enough said. For those who haven't read his work, now is the time and this is the perfect introduction.
Post WWII, an isolated community on the Irish island of Winding Gale is in a state of crisis. The young people were either taken in the war or have moved away. The women of the island, still grieving the loss of their sons and daughters are now faced with the knowledge that the menfolk are lost at sea.
Samhain approaches and there is a strange fog settling in, bringing with it all manner of horrors.
I absolutely love the setup and the care and attention KPB gives to each character. He writes the women especially well, their resourcefulness and bravery made me emotionally invest so hard.
And of course, the supernatural threat closing in around the island is so terrifying! The setting is immersive, so I felt like I was there, watching events play out in cinematic detail. One scene in particular, the first time a monster displays its power on an unsuspecting male victim, was particularly detailed and delicious.
Do not miss this one! I am eager to see what horrors KPB has in store after this--he is definitely honing his craft over time--getting sharper and more terrifying with each release.
Comps: Horror readers need to be reading the dual threats:
David Sodergren-Scotland
and KPB- Ireland
These two authors DO NOT MISS. Kealan Patrick Burke is one of THE most consistently solid storytellers in the genre and I am thankful that he has remained independent and in full control of his backlist titles and new releases. There is a quality in his work that I believe is throughly maintained by his ability to remain indie. The same can be said of Sodergren which is why I am comping this book to Sodergren's work. Any Horror library needs a section dedicated to their books.
July 21, 2026
As I am a huge fan of Kealan Patrick Burke, I pre-ordered this novel as soon as I heard about it. Unfortunately my review schedule has been full and it took me until now to actually read it. Because I'm a dumbass.
A novel like this, fast paced and filled with everything this reader loves in a horror book, should never be left on the shelf, even an electronic one. Seriously, look at this shit: Sea monsters? Got 'em! Folk horror? Got it! A touch of cosmic horror? Got that too! Wrap all this up in some creepy-ass fog on an isolated island...I mean, what more could a horror lover want in a novel? Nothing. No notes.
The Widows of Winding Gale is a quick, fun and gory ride and you should buy your ticket right now.
*Bought with my hard-earned cash.
A novel like this, fast paced and filled with everything this reader loves in a horror book, should never be left on the shelf, even an electronic one. Seriously, look at this shit: Sea monsters? Got 'em! Folk horror? Got it! A touch of cosmic horror? Got that too! Wrap all this up in some creepy-ass fog on an isolated island...I mean, what more could a horror lover want in a novel? Nothing. No notes.
The Widows of Winding Gale is a quick, fun and gory ride and you should buy your ticket right now.
*Bought with my hard-earned cash.
July 7, 2026
4.25/4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Paperback format 📚
When the fog rolls in during Halloween Night on the island of Winding Gale, things get very grim and eerie.
This was a creepy tale of when the deep comes calling, and a small island community isn’t sure what’s causing this oppressive fog, mayhem and deaths!
Definitely check this out if you love sea horror!
Paperback format 📚
When the fog rolls in during Halloween Night on the island of Winding Gale, things get very grim and eerie.
This was a creepy tale of when the deep comes calling, and a small island community isn’t sure what’s causing this oppressive fog, mayhem and deaths!
Definitely check this out if you love sea horror!
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.
April 17, 2026
I can always count on Kealan Patrick Burke to pull me out of a reading slump. When I opened The Widows of Winding Gale, it lifted me out of the slumpiest slump I've ever slumped before.
I loved everything about this book, from the isolated island setting to the 1940s time period and the impending spookiness of Halloween. Most of all, I loved the characters. A small group of tenacious women and their husbands who have endured the hardships of living on the island with only occasional deliveries of goods from the mainland. The men of the island are currently off on the fishing boat. This is not an unusual part of island life, except that this time they have gone out farther than they have ever been, and they have caught more than fish. There is something in their net that is beyond belief, and there is something in the sea that wants revenge. As the women await their husbands' return long past the time they were expected back, the fog rolls in, bringing something sinister that the women will have to face on their own.
Fast-paced and expertly written in such a way that I could picture the island, smell the sea, and feel the terror. I was so heavily invested in this eerie and heartbreaking tale that it was as if I experienced every dashed hope and tragedy that ever befell the current and past inhabitants of the island.
I loved everything about this book, from the isolated island setting to the 1940s time period and the impending spookiness of Halloween. Most of all, I loved the characters. A small group of tenacious women and their husbands who have endured the hardships of living on the island with only occasional deliveries of goods from the mainland. The men of the island are currently off on the fishing boat. This is not an unusual part of island life, except that this time they have gone out farther than they have ever been, and they have caught more than fish. There is something in their net that is beyond belief, and there is something in the sea that wants revenge. As the women await their husbands' return long past the time they were expected back, the fog rolls in, bringing something sinister that the women will have to face on their own.
Fast-paced and expertly written in such a way that I could picture the island, smell the sea, and feel the terror. I was so heavily invested in this eerie and heartbreaking tale that it was as if I experienced every dashed hope and tragedy that ever befell the current and past inhabitants of the island.
March 17, 2026
“She’s come for us.”
Five incredibly easy stars for THE WIDOWS OF WINDING GALE. Kealan is a dear favorite of mine, so I always know his stories will be a hit, but even I couldn’t have predicted just how much I’d adore this story. In my opinion, this is his greatest work yet.
Set on a small Irish island in the 40s, the book follows a group of strong, stoic women whose husbands have gone missing, leaving them to face the horrors of one very strange Samhain alone. Equal parts bone-chilling and heartbreaking, this story was all I could think about until I had the chance to finish it. I suspect it will stay heavy on my mind for some time to come, too.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect for me to encourage you to spend your St. Patrick’s Day evening (or week, or month) celebrating by diving into this lush, claustrophobic tale from an absolutely wonderful Irish writer. It’s out now in paperback and ebook, and an audiobook narrated by KPB himself is coming soon, so definitely grab yourself a copy! 💚
March 16, 2026
This was good - but it was also a huge letdown; let me explain.
I'm a huge KPB fan. He's one of my favorite modern horror authors. So naturally, I went into this with quite high expectations. A foggy, atmospheric, sea-based horror novel set on Halloween??? Sign me up!!!
Unfortunately, I didn't come out loving this nearly as much as I thought I would. But before I get into what I didn't like let me start with the positives.
I loved the setting and the concept to this one. A small group of people living on an island are menaced by some monstrous entity. The isolated location, some of the action involving the monster/villain, and the overall ideas here are really fantastic.
For the bad, and this is where it really let me down, is in the set up and character work. This puzzled me a bit because KPB normally does great characterization that allows you to get attached to them and become immersed in the story. I never felt that with this one. Furthermore, it seems like he didn't put as much effort into the general writing of this as he has in past books. I just never felt truly immersed into the story which was a disappointment for me. I also think the overall execution of the concept was just a bit lacking. This is a book that feels like it needed to be a little bit longer and more fleshed out. I know KPB is capable of great stuff but I get the feeling this story would have benefited from another rewrite.
Overall - I enjoyed this. I thought it was good. But not great. Maybe I just went in with too high of expectations, I don't know. It just didn't live up to what I know KPB can do and has done with past books such as Kin and Guests.
But I still love his work and will continue to read whatever he publishes in the future.
3⭐
I'm a huge KPB fan. He's one of my favorite modern horror authors. So naturally, I went into this with quite high expectations. A foggy, atmospheric, sea-based horror novel set on Halloween??? Sign me up!!!
Unfortunately, I didn't come out loving this nearly as much as I thought I would. But before I get into what I didn't like let me start with the positives.
I loved the setting and the concept to this one. A small group of people living on an island are menaced by some monstrous entity. The isolated location, some of the action involving the monster/villain, and the overall ideas here are really fantastic.
For the bad, and this is where it really let me down, is in the set up and character work. This puzzled me a bit because KPB normally does great characterization that allows you to get attached to them and become immersed in the story. I never felt that with this one. Furthermore, it seems like he didn't put as much effort into the general writing of this as he has in past books. I just never felt truly immersed into the story which was a disappointment for me. I also think the overall execution of the concept was just a bit lacking. This is a book that feels like it needed to be a little bit longer and more fleshed out. I know KPB is capable of great stuff but I get the feeling this story would have benefited from another rewrite.
Overall - I enjoyed this. I thought it was good. But not great. Maybe I just went in with too high of expectations, I don't know. It just didn't live up to what I know KPB can do and has done with past books such as Kin and Guests.
But I still love his work and will continue to read whatever he publishes in the future.
3⭐
May 7, 2026
Great audiobook. Highly recommended.
July 14, 2026
This slender book was packed with horror from start to the ending I didn't see coming. There were some Lovecraftian notes, but the story was original. Writing top-notch, almost literary, not a sentence redundant.
Highly recommended, I will surely follow this author.
Highly recommended, I will surely follow this author.
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.
March 29, 2026
“‘You sent me to Hell to keep the devils from finding you, but worse things know the way.’”
Never disappointed by Kealan. I adored this book. It’s got fairytale/folklore vibes. This is one you could finish in a day, or in one sitting if you’re not a slow reader like me. It’s also got everything you could want. The random witty comedy added was a nice touch from all the seriousness in the rest of the book. Not only that but we’ve got vessels and water, two of my favourite things.
Never disappointed by Kealan. I adored this book. It’s got fairytale/folklore vibes. This is one you could finish in a day, or in one sitting if you’re not a slow reader like me. It’s also got everything you could want. The random witty comedy added was a nice touch from all the seriousness in the rest of the book. Not only that but we’ve got vessels and water, two of my favourite things.
August 14, 2026
"Nobody's ever at peace, not truly. You know that better than anyone. We tell ourselves we are, but our best days are just pleasant dreams between periods of troubled sleep."
Post WWII, the island of Winding Gale is dying as many people either died in the war or moved away for a better life. One night, the men of the island disappear while fishing in uncharted waters, leaving behind the remaining women to fight the supernatural that rolled out of the mist.
This novella had it all - a bleak atmosphere, badass Irish women, ghost ships, sea creatures, eerie voices calling out, strange symbols appearing on doors, unspeakable evil. What more could you ask for?
I loved the women of the island. The way they stood their ground and chose to stay loyal to their land despite the lack of resources. The way they looked after one another when there was no one else. The way they fought with such bravery. KPB took his time putting a lot of attention and care into his characters as there was quite a bit of backstory to them.
Not only was the island eerie and the monsters terrifying, but the story was also heartbreaking. I found myself fully immersed from start to finish. KPB knows how to write a damn good story.
Post WWII, the island of Winding Gale is dying as many people either died in the war or moved away for a better life. One night, the men of the island disappear while fishing in uncharted waters, leaving behind the remaining women to fight the supernatural that rolled out of the mist.
This novella had it all - a bleak atmosphere, badass Irish women, ghost ships, sea creatures, eerie voices calling out, strange symbols appearing on doors, unspeakable evil. What more could you ask for?
I loved the women of the island. The way they stood their ground and chose to stay loyal to their land despite the lack of resources. The way they looked after one another when there was no one else. The way they fought with such bravery. KPB took his time putting a lot of attention and care into his characters as there was quite a bit of backstory to them.
Not only was the island eerie and the monsters terrifying, but the story was also heartbreaking. I found myself fully immersed from start to finish. KPB knows how to write a damn good story.
Read
August 19, 2026With atmosphere as thick and inhabited as the green-hued fog that settles around the few desolate residents of the novella, The Widows of Winding Gale by the excellent Kealan Patrick Burke is the perfect seaside read! On the eve of All Hallows, the widows of a desolate island off the coast of Ireland carve their turnips, rebuff a land speculator, and worry about their fishermen husbands who should have already returned from their latest expedition. Life on the island is hard as the stone shaped by the unyielding sea, sharp as the shells crushed beneath their feet, yet nothing prepared the tough souls of Winding Gale for the horrors that slip through the thinned veil. The narrative is told from multiple, easily followed perspectives. I’ve read several books by this author, and all were excellent, but this is my favorite to date. So, are you longing for an Eldritch sea goddess with mind control, a hunger for vengeance, and equally creepy kin? Of course you are!
Fans of the television series “The Living and the Dead” will greatly enjoy the folk horror and speculative elements.
Fans of the television series “The Living and the Dead” will greatly enjoy the folk horror and speculative elements.
August 22, 2026
"Nobody's ever at peace, not truly. You know that better than anyone. We tell ourselves we are, but our best days are just pleasant dreams between periods of troubled sleep."
This is a great story and beautifully written.
Set close to All Hallow’s Eve, the tale starts with the claustrophobia of being stuck in an inescapable situation: in this case a ship, and then, an island.
Setting: The picture of desolation and slow decay for the island of Winding Gale was beautifully done, of not only the village, but also of the villagers:
“.. the small, stunted lighthouse atop Friar's Point no longer cast its beam out to sea, having been decommissioned after World War I in favor of outposts to the east and west. It stood dark atop its limestone base, the royal blue stripe across its middle faded to gray, the light a blind eye obscured by faded glass. Once, a man named Cillian Hume had tended that light. It had been his calling, his love, and when that light was quenched, so too was his spirit. He died of a heart attack a few weeks after the decommis-sioning, his body interred in the graveyard on the hill overlooking the village.”
Characters: The characters are unique in this wind-swept island, and their struggles, though many and varied, are their own. The prose is beautiful in the expression of it, and we see not only the pain, but also the companionship such a life might have.
“He had held her while she'd wept in frustration and unhappiness because he had arms and could do so. He'd sat with her and listened to her diatribes and nodded in all the right places because he had a head and could do so. But his brain heard only the howl of unpredictable storms.”
Writing and tone: Burke’s writing is wonderfully atmospheric, and there is something about maritime horror that feels particularly effective to me.
I liked the authentic turnip touch. I loved the love story nestled in all of that ruination.
"You were my pleasant dream. And I hope, for a while, I was yours."
June 4, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars
The Widows of Winding Gale by Kealan Patrick Burke was everything I want from folk horror. Creepy, atmospheric, emotional, and deeply unsettling in a way that gets under your skin and refuses to leave. From the very first pages, I felt like I had stepped onto this isolated Irish island wrapped in fog, grief, secrets, and something ancient watching from just beyond the shoreline.
The vibes were absolutely immaculate. Think cold ocean winds, strange symbols, ghostly whispers, creeping dread, and that constant feeling that something is terribly wrong. This book doesn’t rely on nonstop action to create tension. Instead, it slowly tightens around you until you’re completely trapped in its eerie atmosphere.
What I loved most was how character-driven the story felt. The women of Winding Gale aren’t just fighting a supernatural threat. They’re carrying loss, loneliness, resilience, and generations of pain on their shoulders. Their struggles felt real, which made the horror hit even harder.
Kealan Patrick Burke has a gift for creating dread. Every chapter felt soaked in folklore, mystery, and that delicious sense of doom that folk horror fans live for. The setting almost became a character itself, and the blend of isolation, vengeance, and the thin boundary between the living and the dead was executed beautifully.
As a fun side note, I’m currently watching Widows Bay on Apple TV, and this book gave me very similar vibes. Both have that eerie coastal atmosphere, isolated community feel, lingering mysteries, and the sense that something ancient and unsettling is lurking just beneath the surface. If you’re enjoying one, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy the other.
If you love moody folk horror, haunted coastal settings, ancient evils, ghostly folklore, and stories that feel like a nightmare drifting in on the tide, put this one on your TBR immediately.
A haunting, atmospheric, and unforgettable folk horror novel that completely consumed me. 🖤🌊👻📚
The Widows of Winding Gale by Kealan Patrick Burke was everything I want from folk horror. Creepy, atmospheric, emotional, and deeply unsettling in a way that gets under your skin and refuses to leave. From the very first pages, I felt like I had stepped onto this isolated Irish island wrapped in fog, grief, secrets, and something ancient watching from just beyond the shoreline.
The vibes were absolutely immaculate. Think cold ocean winds, strange symbols, ghostly whispers, creeping dread, and that constant feeling that something is terribly wrong. This book doesn’t rely on nonstop action to create tension. Instead, it slowly tightens around you until you’re completely trapped in its eerie atmosphere.
What I loved most was how character-driven the story felt. The women of Winding Gale aren’t just fighting a supernatural threat. They’re carrying loss, loneliness, resilience, and generations of pain on their shoulders. Their struggles felt real, which made the horror hit even harder.
Kealan Patrick Burke has a gift for creating dread. Every chapter felt soaked in folklore, mystery, and that delicious sense of doom that folk horror fans live for. The setting almost became a character itself, and the blend of isolation, vengeance, and the thin boundary between the living and the dead was executed beautifully.
As a fun side note, I’m currently watching Widows Bay on Apple TV, and this book gave me very similar vibes. Both have that eerie coastal atmosphere, isolated community feel, lingering mysteries, and the sense that something ancient and unsettling is lurking just beneath the surface. If you’re enjoying one, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy the other.
If you love moody folk horror, haunted coastal settings, ancient evils, ghostly folklore, and stories that feel like a nightmare drifting in on the tide, put this one on your TBR immediately.
A haunting, atmospheric, and unforgettable folk horror novel that completely consumed me. 🖤🌊👻📚
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.
May 31, 2026
Kealan Patrick Burke is now in the top 10 of authors I like to read. This book is a short novel about the people, mostly the women, of a tiny island and the strange occurrences that happen shortly after the end of WW 2. A strange mist rolls over the island and strange things start to happen.
The able bodied men go fishing one day and while they are gone a fog, a strange greenish mist, envelops first then in their boat, and then the island where the women and the older men wait for the fishermens return.
The only problem is that there is something in the fog, and under the water, that lies in wait for the men. The start of the book tells the story of what happens to the men in the boat, while the majority of the book is what happens to the women on the island. What does happen to both groups would be spoilers so I'll leave that to the reader. Just know that Burke writes true horror. It isn't splatter by any means but he can be very descriptive.
The Widows of Winding Gale is a terrific little novel of the supernatural. There are monsters of the deep and ghosts galore. I highly recommend this to Burke fans but especially to horror fans that have NOT read Kealan Patrick Burke before. He is a great voice in the horror genre working today. He deserves to be read!
The able bodied men go fishing one day and while they are gone a fog, a strange greenish mist, envelops first then in their boat, and then the island where the women and the older men wait for the fishermens return.
The only problem is that there is something in the fog, and under the water, that lies in wait for the men. The start of the book tells the story of what happens to the men in the boat, while the majority of the book is what happens to the women on the island. What does happen to both groups would be spoilers so I'll leave that to the reader. Just know that Burke writes true horror. It isn't splatter by any means but he can be very descriptive.
The Widows of Winding Gale is a terrific little novel of the supernatural. There are monsters of the deep and ghosts galore. I highly recommend this to Burke fans but especially to horror fans that have NOT read Kealan Patrick Burke before. He is a great voice in the horror genre working today. He deserves to be read!
April 13, 2026
This is perhaps one of Kealan Patrick Burke's most beautiful, haunting, and twisted stories. It could also be his best.
The story is set in 1941, but it feels much older than that. It takes place in part on the ocean, but mostly on an island off the coast of Ireland. A place that is caught in the tension between progress and tradition, modernity and community. The island is among the last places on earth where Gaelic is the primary language and even that is eroding. The mainlanders want Winding Gale to join the rest of the world and the people of the island know that means a tank named Progress will just crush their island under its treads.
There's also another struggle claiming the island. One much more dangerous and insatiable.
Both of these conflicts come to a head on Halloween--the Feast of Samhain.
I absolutely loved this story. To say it has everything I want in a story is no exaggeration. Gore that makes you want to squeeze your eyes shut and heart that will squeeze a tear from one. I'd be lying if I said I didn't experience both.
It's a story about home and belonging. About finding your place and trying all you can to hold on to it.
The story is set in 1941, but it feels much older than that. It takes place in part on the ocean, but mostly on an island off the coast of Ireland. A place that is caught in the tension between progress and tradition, modernity and community. The island is among the last places on earth where Gaelic is the primary language and even that is eroding. The mainlanders want Winding Gale to join the rest of the world and the people of the island know that means a tank named Progress will just crush their island under its treads.
There's also another struggle claiming the island. One much more dangerous and insatiable.
Both of these conflicts come to a head on Halloween--the Feast of Samhain.
I absolutely loved this story. To say it has everything I want in a story is no exaggeration. Gore that makes you want to squeeze your eyes shut and heart that will squeeze a tear from one. I'd be lying if I said I didn't experience both.
It's a story about home and belonging. About finding your place and trying all you can to hold on to it.
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!
April 13, 2026
A great, atmospheric tale of horror that blends genres effortlessly and gives an amazing bang for the buck. A ghost story, a story of isolation, a sea monster tale, with an ever-so-slight semi-sci-fi smattering that kept me awake most of the night turning pages.
Burke never fails to leave a mark. This one was outside the realm of the settings he normally dwells in, but it was all I could hope for in a fantastic read.
Little note that might help if you're OCD like I am and you notice a few dates/holidays in the book that look off:
While All Hallows' Day (All Saints Day) IS on November 1st, Gaelic All Hallows' Day was originally Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of harvest and start of winter (Oct 31–Nov 1), and it's celebrated beginning at sunset on October 31st.
So when the book calls October 30th All Hallows' Eve and October 31st All Hallows' Day, it is correct.
Burke never fails to leave a mark. This one was outside the realm of the settings he normally dwells in, but it was all I could hope for in a fantastic read.
Little note that might help if you're OCD like I am and you notice a few dates/holidays in the book that look off:
While All Hallows' Day (All Saints Day) IS on November 1st, Gaelic All Hallows' Day was originally Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of harvest and start of winter (Oct 31–Nov 1), and it's celebrated beginning at sunset on October 31st.
So when the book calls October 30th All Hallows' Eve and October 31st All Hallows' Day, it is correct.
May 10, 2026
Widows was a haunting tale of isolation and sea monsters, anchored by the strong, stoic women of Winding Gale, a small isolated island off the coast of Ireland. All Hallow’s Eve: their husbands are lost at sea, and the fog is rolling in…
I loved the writing, how the dread slowly builds as the Widows discover that things are not quite right. KPB’s prose is always so accessible and engaging, and he has a strong command of characters. Some beautiful descriptions as well. You’ll get lost in the atmosphere of this novel. Without spoiling, there were unexpected moments that made me gasp and I love the way this ended. Shiver-inducing!
I loved the writing, how the dread slowly builds as the Widows discover that things are not quite right. KPB’s prose is always so accessible and engaging, and he has a strong command of characters. Some beautiful descriptions as well. You’ll get lost in the atmosphere of this novel. Without spoiling, there were unexpected moments that made me gasp and I love the way this ended. Shiver-inducing!
May 2, 2026
"You sent me to hell to keep the devils from finding you, but worse things know the way."
On the isolated island of Winding Gale, the women stay home, the men go out to sea...
Only this time, the men don't make it back. The only thing returning is the fog and the evil that resides within.
It's the perfect Lovecraftian sea-horror! I read it in one sitting. The atmospheric tone of this story will have you lost in the same thick fog that plagues the people of Winding Gale - the only difference - you won't want to leave.
"... the devil is on the island."
On the isolated island of Winding Gale, the women stay home, the men go out to sea...
Only this time, the men don't make it back. The only thing returning is the fog and the evil that resides within.
It's the perfect Lovecraftian sea-horror! I read it in one sitting. The atmospheric tone of this story will have you lost in the same thick fog that plagues the people of Winding Gale - the only difference - you won't want to leave.
"... the devil is on the island."
March 22, 2026
I’ve been a fan of Kealan Patrick Burke for a long time, and Sour Candy has been my favorite book of his that entire time. But now, The Widows of Winding Gale has taken that spot. This book…this book has so much depth and feeling to it, and it all comes to us in an atmospheric, gloomy, creepy sea story, full of gore and grief. You can feel the sea air, the fog, the salt, the water seeping into your skin and settling in your soul as you read. And if you can get through it without shedding a tear, you’re a stronger woman than I. I love horror of all kinds, but horror that makes me feel this deeply will always be my favorite.
August 23, 2026
On a small Irish island, the women are waiting for their men to come back from fishing. Life post WW2 had reduced the island inhabitants to very few, and we get to know them, some of them good people, some not, some who had grown deep roots in the island and some who can't wait get away from it.
My favorite character was the sea creature. The author has managed to draw a sympathetic portrait despite the horror scenes and while at first I hated what it did, later on I saw it with different eyes. Sometimes stories are like Rorschach tests asking you what you see, a butterfly or a weapon, a bird or a face...
What I saw was the sea, demanding retribution for all the damage we humans have done to it. And I couldn't help but think she was right.
P.S. I finally got to meet Red Henry and he was lovely.
My favorite character was the sea creature. The author has managed to draw a sympathetic portrait despite the horror scenes and while at first I hated what it did, later on I saw it with different eyes. Sometimes stories are like Rorschach tests asking you what you see, a butterfly or a weapon, a bird or a face...
What I saw was the sea, demanding retribution for all the damage we humans have done to it. And I couldn't help but think she was right.
P.S. I finally got to meet Red Henry and he was lovely.
August 23, 2026
The Widows of Winding Gale — fierce, haunted, drenched in cold and wet revenge. A compelling story that has me under its spell, beautiful in its composition, character development, and history, unforgiving and uncompromising in its horror.
My sincere appreciation for the nod to John Carpenter’s film.
My sincere appreciation for the nod to John Carpenter’s film.
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.
March 29, 2026
There are many reasons why you should get your hands on a copy of The Widows of Winding Gale. First off, Kealan Patrick Burke is an amazing writer, and this story is another gem on a long list of recommended reads by the author.
More reasons:
-Badass Irish women
-Atmospheric—the sense of isolation, disorientation and dread is palpable
-Memorable moments and characters
-Originality and authenticity
I’d consider this another entry into the collection of “horror with heart” and highly recommend! If you can get your hands on the limited edition from Earthling Pub, do it. But also, have you seen that new cover on the wide release? You’ll probably need both.
More reasons:
-Badass Irish women
-Atmospheric—the sense of isolation, disorientation and dread is palpable
-Memorable moments and characters
-Originality and authenticity
I’d consider this another entry into the collection of “horror with heart” and highly recommend! If you can get your hands on the limited edition from Earthling Pub, do it. But also, have you seen that new cover on the wide release? You’ll probably need both.
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