The Language of Knives: Stories

by Haralambi Markov, Ann VanderMeer (Introduction)

Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Anthologies

216 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2026

Reviews

[The Reading Frog (semi ia 3-6 August) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Haralambi Markov, RDS Publishing | Mythic Delirium Books LLC & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review

Average rating: ~4.2/5 ⭐
Re-readability: Yes, some of them.
CW: Sorry for the tenthousand content warnings. This collection can get quite heavy. Check the content warnings if you need them.
Explicit | arousal non-concordance, blood, body horror, death, flaying, gore, (physical) abuse, sexual harassment, violence, vomit, wound description
Moderate | child abuse, corpse description, depersonalization, description of dead animals, dissociation, drowning, dubious consent, grief, homophobia, internalised victim blaming, manipulation, medical setting/situation, neglect, parental death, (past) death of a fetus, recovering repressed memories of abuse, regurgitation, sexual content, some kink d/s dynamic
Mild | cancer, cannibalism, delerium, exploitation, mention of suicide by overdose, non-graphic cannibalism, predatory/exploitative romantic partner, questioning of reality, suicidal ideation
My chosen soundtrack(s): The Taste Of Blood - SQÜRL

I should fear you. All the tales I’ve read and heard about you tell me to. Fear the monster! And it’s like—you’re not a hideous beast. There’s such beauty to your nature. There’s a sense of freedom. It’s as if we call you a monster, because we envy you

Representation
╰┈➤ Queer characters
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Many, if not all, stories include queer/gay MCs and SCs
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Bi/Pan side character
╰┈➤ Multiple MLM dynamics
╰┈➤ Some of the stories are queernormative, others include homophobia
╰┈➤ Disability rep
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Multiple characters experience a 'sickbed', arthritis is mentioned, as well as chronic pain
╰┈➤ Diverse cast of characters
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Bulgarian, Korean, Puerto Rican, Scandinavian
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ There might be more that I'm forgetting
╰┈➤ Slavic/Bulgarian folklore


Themes
Autonomy or the lack thereof, capitalism, caretaking, commodification of tragedy, communing with the dead, death, definition of monster/evil depending on the perspective, family bonds, flaunting wealth, grief, humanity's destruction of our earth, intergenerational trauma and legacy/curses, nature fights back, otherness, queerness, revenge, sensationalism, "who are you when you are not performing?"


Tropes/What to expect
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Who is really the monster?
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Something is wrong with the forest
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Unhinged female 'monsters'
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Haunted and sentient houses
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Transhumanism
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Revenge
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Gods, religion and the divine
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Queer-centric


What I liked/loved
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ The cover!!! I need that as an art print for my home!
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Beautiful lyrical prose, but sometimes blunt and hard-hitting when it needed to be, using a simple "Why did they hurt me?" instead of poetic spiels about abuse. I love writing that is blunt about that sort of cruelty.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Markov starts some chapters with the most unhinged out-of-pocket openers. At the start of multiple stories, I felt weirded out by the concepts or believed there would be no way for it to hit personally, only to suddenly go: "Hm, idk why this weird monster fucker plotline suddenly perfectly encapsulates feeling like you're drowning in the overwhelming emotions residing in oneself and to feel seperated and rejected when the one sharing your bed isn't as affected as you are. Desperate for some sort of proof that you can affect them at least a fraction of the amount that they affect you." Like, how did we get here???
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I don't know, but Markov manages to surprise me time after time with their ability to make me connect with subjects I never thought I'd connect to. I love this author for weirding me the fuck out yet reeling me in every time.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ In the individual rating segment, I will quote the openers of these stories to hopefully intrigue you as much as they intrigued me. Not all of them are as unhinged, but we have a good mix here.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ I wasn't quite familiar with Slavic folklore, but I love learning about it. I had a few Wikipedia tabs open while reading.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ A big selling point for me was the uniqueness of these stories. Of course, some are based on folklore I'm not familiar with, but there were some very unique takes on concepts generally known and loved. Like apocalypses, communicating with the dead, curses, and probably more that I can't remember right now.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ As some of my friends here might know, I LOVE botanical horror. Which is why I got really excited while reading The Town the Forest Ate.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Discourse on humanity's destruction of our earth
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Discourse on commodification of trauma/tragedy and sensationalism
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Big focus on family dynamics in all their different forms. It includes parental figures to love and parental figures to hate.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ What can I say, I love duality.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Focus on caretaking, caregivers, lack of care, receiving care, most of the time in a familial context.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ I truly love Queer horror for the way it explores feeling monstrous or being deemed monstrous as well as being othered.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ There is some aspect of body-horror in this collection that mirrors the feeling of something being inherently rotten or wrong within oneself. A feeling many queer individuals, including myself, have experienced before.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ As someone who is chronically ill/disabled, Convalescence really hit me on a personal level. The MC dealt with other personal matters that I could really relate to, which is why it was one of my favourite stories in this collection. I would pick up a novel following this character if it existed. Truly an amazing read.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Horror in this collection isn't only serving some scary purpose; it's a device through which Markov explores mental health, generational trauma, and human relationships in general. It falls in that Netflix's 'Haunting of Hill house'-esque category. Which is a type of horror I really enjoy.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ The Drowning Line reminded me of The Lady of the Lake from 'The Haunting of Bly Manor'. So if you love that concept, check this out. I do highly recommend checking the content warnings for that specific chapter, though.
‎ ‎ ✧ Probably no one besides me cares about this, but there was unexpected transhumanism in one of the chapters. Which is a theme I LOVE to read about.
‎ ‎ ✧ Not all, but many of the stories are queer normative. And many, if not all, stories featured queer characters. Which is a breath of fresh air.



What I didn't like/felt lacklustre about
‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ Like I mentioned above, some chapters had some out-of-pocket content that kind of weirded me out or was sometimes off-putting.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ This happened specifically with The Drowning Line. One of my annotations of it was as follows: "Is it considered incest if the ghost of the man who started your bloodline jerks you off? Idk, but I really don't like it. 😭".
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ It also happened with Holding Hands with Monsters: " I felt so connected to this story, and then this sentence happened 😭 : "My jaw flexes open, and my throat expands and squeezes the body the way my anus did whenever he changed sizes mid-thrust." " Which is a crazy sentence, but that story somehow ended up as one of my favourites after finishing it, so I guess I got over it, especially since the payoff was quite good on average. But do keep this in mind while reading.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ I felt like some of the sexual content solely served as shock value or maybe I'm just a prude, who knows.



Individual ratings
Stories that left a lasting impact on me, or that I would re-read, are italicised. I also included the chapter openers, sometimes shortened for the sake of conciseness.

Nine Tongues Tell of | ★★★★

"Before we begin with the important questions, I think the first thing our listeners would like to know is: how does it feel to fly?" [There's an echo and multiple growls synchronise into a wave of vibrations. The choir speaks as one with a rumble.]
"You always dream of flying, don't you? (...)"

The Town the Forest Ate | ★★★★.75

"The forest called to him! The forest called to him!" Lublyana repeats over and over. (...) Control over our parents wanes quick as their minds are consumed by whatever ailment turns their joints to bark and their flesh to sprouts.

When Raspberries Bloom in August | ★★★.5

"Varadin Karamazov found the raspberry blooms one late afternoon in August–a whole month after the last bush had been picked clean and every berry had been boiled into jam."

The Mall on the Hill by the Horizon | ★★★.75

When he told his family he'd drive to the mall, his mother wept openly. His father paled; he prided himself on not crying. Not when the Mall first appeared thirty years ago, not when so many had driven out, not when his own parents left him one Saturday afternoon with a babysitter for a drive and never returned.

Convalescence | ★★★★★

She comes at night, his great aunt, not as she was when she died, but as a young girl. (...) That's how he knows he's delirious and the course of antibiotics has done nothing more than kiss the infection in his leg better and hope for the best.

The Drowning Line | ★★★★.75

It's the cell phone duct-taped around my left bicep that wakes me up. Not the late October noises in the deep night, nor the ice-cold water that cleaves my body in half at the abdomen. It's the desperate ringing, muted under layers of plastic to keep it dry, and the death-rattle vibration that bruises my skin.

Swallow | ★★★★.25

Throat open, head tilted back to align gullet with gut in a sharp vertical, you swallow your father's ring at the last stroke of midnight.

Holding Hands with Monsters | ★★★★★

I learn early that some children are born to be stalked in the dark. (...) I fear him as he makes his entrance from below the bed. (...)
Don't look at him as he leans over and smacks in your ear, waiting patiently.
This is how you survive the night.
This is how you survive the monster in the dark.
Something I've had to do for years now.

The Midnight Feast |★★★★.25

It was a time for hauntings; close to midnight in early November. A time the House on the Hill anticipated. (...) It had been meant as a home once, but had lost all its hospitality. (...) Gabriel loved the house exactly for its refusal to be loved.

The Language of Knives | ★★★⯪

A long, silent day awaits you and your daughter as you prepare to cut your husband's body. You remove organs from flesh, flesh from bones, bones from tendons–all ingredients for the cake you're making, the heavy price of admission for an afterlife you pay your gods; a proper send-off for the greatest of all warriors to walk the lands.

Bones Are Stones for Building | ★★★★.25

Inside the stasis gel, I awaken to Mother's incoherent ravings corrupting my circuits; heart detonating in exponential elevation.

Spring Is Violence, Spring Seeks Blood | ★★★.75

Spring, who still had a name of his own and did not yet know he was selected to die, was dyeing the high priestesses' clothes purple when the sinkhole opened, heralding the end of winter. (...) "The Dark One is hungry,"

Baba Yaga Helps Build a House | ★★★.75

It's four o'clock in the morning when Baba Yaga kicks her grandson awake. He groans in surprise and rolls onto his other side, which earns him another kick to his legs. (...) If only she gave him a bed, then he'll rise with much less irritation. He should have been used to waking at all hours by now, but he is not a witch. Sleep matters to him still.

Conclusion/Notes
Anthologies and collections are always hard to review and rate since some chapters resonate deeply while others don't have that same impact. But I do highly recommend The Language Of Knives.

This collection is original, creative, diverse and highly relatable regardless of its weird-lit-esque concepts.

At its core, this anthology tells stories about complex family dynamics, generational trauma, family legacies and curses, otherness, queerness, humanity's destruction of Earth and nature, grief, and Slavic folklore.

Read this if you like queer-centred horror and weird-lit as a way to explore human relations and personal introspection!


⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

I feel guilt. I feel inhuman. I feel like a monster.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆


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[Chelsea Conradt]

Markov's precise prose paints a viscerally beautiful horror journey in this stunning collection.

[Manuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Language of Knives is one of beauty, loss, and redemption. It is a language that knows neither borders nor barriers. Most of all, it is a language the author commands.
In Haralambi Markov’s debut collection, the author takes us on a journey through their Bulgarian homelands.
We meet monsters from Slavic mythology, and characters that are just like us - human, and dressed in every colour of the rainbow. In those vast lands of poetic language, they encounter everyday obstacles in a way that is unique to those that are brave enough to face their individuality, and those that merely adhere to the rules of a patriarchal society will fall from grace, for the true power belongs to those who dare to be different.
This is a collection for people who enjoy learning about those that want to find hope and justice amidst the horrors of the mundane world we live in - if you, too, believe that old myths can show us who we are and what we must do to save the world we live in, this one’s for you.

1. Nine Tongues Tell of - Conversations with a Hala: This is an empowering story about feminism that is enhanced by how well this is executed stylistically.
2. The Town the Forest Ate: The collection moves into eco horror here - it quickly becomes clear that Haralambi is on a mission to hold a mirror to the world, and I’m here for it.
3. When Raspberries Bloom in August - Infused with fairy tale themes, this short narrative deals not only with the dark territory of “healthfluencers” and addiction.
4. The Mall on the Hill by the Horizon - Yes, children desire what is forbidden. However, this is so much more than a story about our younger years - it also warns us of how we’re speeding towards consumerism.
5. Convalescence - Climate change, the way we treat our elders, hints of animal rights - all of that packed into slow-paced prose that at the same time manages to keep you reading like a thriller.
6. The Drowning Line - I’ve never read eco-horror that was this sensual before. At the same time, this is about ancestral lines, forgiveness, and the fragility of life.
7. Swallow - Second person narratives are difficult to pull off for every author, but Haralambi Markov proves their command of the delicacy of language in this one.
8. Holding Hands with Monsters - The monsters of our childhood haunt us evermore, and this short story, as many others in this collection, shows that we aren’t going to be here forever. One thing is certain, however - Markov’s stories will.
9. The Midnight Feast - This novella should be read by a crackling fire when winter is knocking on our door. It reminded me of Shirley Jackson - not just because of the house personified, but because of the prose that manages a waltz between horror and fairy tale.
10. The Language of Knives - The titular story is one of the strongest in this already bold collection. Despite its brevity, it cuts deep into themes of generational trauma. There are echoes of Poe and Lovecraft in this one - without the problematic themes both of them are known for, and with beauty in its place.
11. Bones are Stones for Building - The eco horror that Haralambi Markov is so adept at meets science fiction and the grotesque. Past meets present, and old meets new in a showdown that ends in rebirth.
12. Spring Is Violence, Spring Seeks Blood - Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”, but, once more, as eco-horror. This might be one of my all-time favourite short stories. It is about the pain we inflict on nature, and it gave me hope that somehow, somewhere, Mother Nature hasn’t given up the fight for survival just yet.
13. Baba Yaga Helps Build a House - We all know that magic comes at a price, and Baba Yaga, one of the most diverse and powerful beings in mythology, wants more than just your soul - she wants your shame. A new myth is born out of fairy tales, and with this story, Haralambi Markov proves that their stories will live on, hauntingly ever after.

5/5 stars

[C_menasian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t read a ton of short story collections but the cover of this was so gorgeous I thought I’d give it a try. I am so glad I picked this one up, it was the perfect blend of body horror, grief and loss themed stories and weird concepts that just seemed to work every time. The way this author described all the horror aspects and every word created such a beautiful picture in my head. I am definitely sat for any other projects they have in the future because I’m officially a fan.

Nine tongues tell of- 5⭐️
- the writing in this is so beautiful, something I am looking forward to seeing more of in the rest of the stories. An exploration of grief and loss through interactions between a women and a monster. The story instantly grabs the reader and doesn’t let go until the last line.
The Town The Forest Ate- 3⭐️
- The body horror and gore descriptions were really good in this one, it felt like a fairytale style of story but much darker.
When Raspberries bloom in August- 4⭐️
- Weird nature body horror story of my dreams. It was both gross and beautiful, the writing making a vivid picture in my brain that I didn’t know if I actually wanted to see.
The Mall on The Hill by The Horizon- 4⭐️
- The writing in these stories is so descriptive and poetic in a way that doesn’t take away from what the author is trying to convey. This story is all about a journey and a pull to go to the mall and while it doesn’t sound like much the writing weaves a want and desire that the reader can really feel.
Convalescence- 2.5 ⭐️
- While the actually story wasn’t my fav the writing was still so descriptive and the body horror made my skin crawl in all the best ways.
The Drowning Line- 5 ⭐️
- A story of haunting and generational trauma, a beautiful tale of how far we go to break the cycle and the sacrifices we make to try to build a better life for our children.
Swallow- 2⭐️
- interesting idea on how mediums work but overall not a story that really connected with me, writing was still gorgeous.
Holding Hands with Monsters- 5⭐️
- Yea yea yea, this is exactly my type of freak. The writing was absolutely perfect and the author described transformation so good, I want a full length novel right now.
The Midnight Feast- 3⭐️
- I liked seeing how the author would write something a little longer, getting more of a plot and more pages to really dive into an idea. I appreciate the fact that they continuously keep the reader on their toes and I truly could never guess what was about to happen.
The Language of Knives- 5⭐️
- Who knew that cutting apart a corpse could be so beautiful. I actually almost started crying just from this short story, it was so beautiful and well written I could feel the loss and grief in every word.
Bones are Stones for Building- 2⭐️
- This had an interesting premise and idea but unfortunately just wasn’t executed in a way that connected with me. This is definitely the first story that I struggled a bit to get through.
Spring is Violence, Spring Seeks Blood- 3⭐️
- I really liked all the descriptions in this one, the author really shines in how they can write such vivid body horror and describe things that really paint the scene in the readers head. I think this is one that needed more pages to really get me wrapped up into it.
Baba Yaga Helps Build a House- 4⭐️
- This was the perfect story to round out this collection. It was the blend of a lot of the themes we saw in the other stories, trauma, loss and grief while mixing in all the gross horror stuff that I can’t get enough of.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an ARC reader on NetGalley, cross posted my review on Goodreads.

Wow. If I'm being honest, I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did, considering it is a collection of non-related short stories, and not a full story novel. Every time I finished a story, from the third story onwards, I would think to myself; "Wow, that has to be my favourite so far.", and I would have to keep correcting myself and saying it over and over again as I read each story afterwards. I actually thought about Convalescence enough that themes of it ended up appearing in my dreams, which I can confidently say is the first time that has happened to me.

I loved reading When Raspberries Bloom In August and Baba Yaga Helps Build A House. I think its more of a personal preference that I love when a group of characters are driven to the point of insanity by an inanimate object, especially when it's more of an infection style of mental corruption. This also bleeds into me really liking the inanimate object with mild sentience in BYHBAH, which gives the story free points in my eyes. The stories were great, and mixed with two of my favourite things, I would rate both stories 4.5 stars or higher if they were their own short story.

I enjoyed The Drowning Line, Swallow, and The Language Of Knives as well, all of which mixed the horror aspect with the ideas of family and community pretty well. They weren't my favourite stories of the bunch, but I did really enjoy the horror aspects, and every story kind of reminds me of The Twilight Zone, where you get shown something strange or horrific, and the ending moral is 'that would be fucked up if it was real, huh?'.

I didn't really care for Nine Tongues Tell Of, The Town The Forest Ate, The Midnight Feast, and Bones Are Stones For Building. The first two didn't really pull me in, and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get stuck into the stories because of them, but was thankfully proven wrong. The first two just felt kind of empty to me. The last two were good stories, and I could connect and understand certain aspects, but I don't really like them, whether it's the setting of the story or the characters in it, I'm not sure.

Holding Hands With Monsters and Spring Is Violence. I'm not sure how to explain my feeling for these two. I don't hate them, and I don't exceptionally love them. I think out of all the stories, these two are the ones that actually ended up creeping me out a little. They were both great reads, and while I enjoyed both of them, I feel like they were both missing something; but if the intention was to mostly just freak out the reader, it definitely worked on me.

[Wolfie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable and immersive collection of short stories! While a couple didn’t really land for me, the majority of the stories were engaging, vivid and compelling to read. Some of my favorite stories were “The Mall on the Hill”, “Swallow”, and “Baba Yaga Helps Build a House”.

What worked for me:
The strongest aspect of this collection was definitely its atmosphere. The prose is often visceral and haunting, with horror elements that are genuinely unsettling. There were moments (yeah, I’m looking at you “The Midnight Feast”) that made me recoil - deeply disturbing, but also so well executed. I will say though - not for the faint of heart!

I also really appreciated the way Slavic mythology was woven throughout. Other than Baba Yaga, I’m not very familiar with Slavic folklore, so it was interesting to learn and see how those influences presented themselves in these stories. It gives the collection a distinct identity that helps it stand out from other folklore-inspired pieces.

Finally, I found the themes of queerness and outsiderhood very compelling, perhaps because they’re themes that I strongly identify with. While queerness wasn’t necessarily the centerpoint of the stories, it often shaped how characters moved through the world (as it does in real life) - as outsiders searched for meaning, belonging, or transformation; especially through supernatural or mystical experiences. Other recurring themes included desire, inheritance, and family.

What didn’t work for me:
As mentioned, a few stories didn’t fully click for me. However, that’s likely just personal preference and often will be the case with short story collections!

One thing I noticed as I continued through the book was that the stories had a fairly consistent pacing and structure to them. While this helped to make the book feel cohesive, it also meant that after a while I started to anticipate the rhythm of each story, which sometimes lessened the surprise or impact it had on me.

I would recommend this book to: readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric and sometimes disturbing horror stories, especially those interested in folklore-inspired and queer-leaning fiction.

Content Warnings: disturbing imagery, body horror, gore, violence, death, sex, genitalia, cannibalism

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

[Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and RDS publishing for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and subjective.

3.5, rounded up to 4 for Goodreads. It's nice to read about folklore and mythos that I don't know much of. That does mean that I have trouble pinning down the exact being that's referenced in each story, other than the spelled out ones like the Baba Yaga.

There are 13 stories in this collection, and like all collections, my enjoyment varied. The author explored the queer experiences of being a outcast, and how each protagonist finds their salvation in the weird and supernatural. They definitely understood how it feels to have their queerness be simultaneously too visible and completely invisible to the society as a whole. Being queer myself, this emotion is all too familiar to me, and perhaps that makes me biased!

My individual ratings for each story are as such:
Nine Tongues Tell Of - 3/5
The Town the Forest Ate - 3/5
When Raspberries Bloom in August - 4/5
The Mall on the Hill by the Horizon - 4/5
Convalescence - 3.5/5
The Drowning Line - 4/5
Swallow - 4.5/5
Holding Hands with Monsters - 4.5/5
The Midnight Feast - 1/5
The Language of Knives - 5/5
Bones Are Stones for Building - 5/5
Spring Is Violence, Spring Seeks Blood - 4/5
Baba Yaga Helps Build a House - 1/5

The stories that I had high ratings on are the one that really dive into the queer themes, while the one with a 1 are... not to my taste. They feel thematically different from what I've come to expect from the collection, and I suppose I just didn't appreciate the whiplash.

This is overall a very strong collection, but I'll also point out that the theme does repeat itself a lot, and if I weren't the exact target audience of it, might come off as 'author only knows how to write One Thing'. I can tell that it's something the author feels very deeply for, and I appreciate it and am curious to see where they go from here.

[monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

if you’re looking for a queer book with slavic mythology, this one’s for you. i’ve been trying to find books like that, and that’s why i requested this one, and it definitely delivered in that regard.

i will start by saying, i generally really loved the atmosphere of these short stories - sometimes they gripped me more and sometimes less, but that’s bound to happen. however, as some stories felt complete, standing strong on their own, others just seemed not fleshed out enough (for example, “When Raspberries Bloom in August” or “Swallow”). “The Midnight Feast,” the longest one, had amazing set up and atmosphere and i felt truly immersed, but it completely lost me at the end with how rushed and inconsequential it felt. this one, as well as a few other stories left me with a strong “so what?” feeling.

that being said, it’s really well written and the atmosphere is spot on (do check trigger warnings before reading, though, as some stories are pretty gruesome), and i loved the ideas behind all the stories - some just needed more depth, in my opinion. but i really enjoyed the slavic mythology aspect, and how it worked for the horror genre. it was curious to see some of the characters and beliefs, and it’s definitely not something you encounter often.

thank you NetGalley and RDS Publishing for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the folklore-heavy atmosphere of this collection. Markov’s takes on Slavic mythology are incredibly vivid, especially the interpretation of Baba Yaga, which was a standout highlight for me since I have recently learned about it. The short stories are dark, creative, and I got to know tales and legends I was not familiar with and I really loved that.

However, while I loved the majority of the pieces, it started to feel a bit repetitive by the end and reading similar structural patterns took away a little bit of the magic for me.

But, overall even if the pacing didn't quite hold up for me throughout, it was a enjoyable read and made me really curious about the parts of the mythology i didn't know and I think that's a great feat for a author to achieve.

Thank you to Netgalley and RDS Publishing for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to an e-ARC for review.

Very interesting stories with unique concepts that I haven’t actually heard of before. The thing with short stories is they often leave me wanting more, which is a good and a bad thing. A lot of the stories ended at a point where I would loved to have seen just a bit more, but ending at that particular time leaves the reader feeling the suspense and the compulsion to guess what happens next.

Just a heads up that some of the stories are straight up disgusting and horrifying with a LOT of trigger material. Please check trigger warnings and make sure you’re in an okay headspace before reading this. I don’t have any straight up triggers but I do get disturbed pretty easily and some of these stories are rough. The author definitely doesn’t take any liberties and does a great job at writing true horror.

[Kai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every collection of stories is a mixed bag. I feel like this collection definitely had some bangers, but for the most part the stories were kinda mid.
My favorite of the stories was The Drowning Line. It was a very refreshing story as I was making my way through the collection that made me think some of these could be very good.
There were, regrettably, not many stories in here that I actually enjoyed, but the few that were good were worth slogging through the rest for.
Of the stories I did not like, it isn't so much that they were bad so much as I didn't like them. The writing is done well and the themes are easy to follow without being overly simplistic. I do think the writing itself is good and because of that this will probably hit for many people. It just wasn't the vibe for me most of the time.
(I received a free copy for review)

[Y.N.]

Thank you to Netgalley and RDS Publishing for the eARC

3,5/5 rounded up.

Thematically rich collection of short stories, fueled by fairy tales and folklore and the desire to look at family, desire and belonging, as well as inheritance. Vey ry influenced by horror, with an abundance of darker tales, with a few more hopeful ones, all told with a nice voice, Obviously all the stories have a similar feel, since they have overreaching themes. It means that some of the stories felt too similar and blended together a bit by the end.

I have to admit I had a hard time to really connect to the stories, the characters. It kept feeling a bit removed. I don't know why. Despite that, I am glad to have read these very queer, very reflectives tales.

[Alyssa Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Certain stories captured my attention, others didn't. I enjoyed "Nine Tongues Tell Of", "The Town the Forest Ate", "When Raspberries Bloom in August", "The Mall on the Hill by the Horizon", "Convalescence", "The Midnight Feast", and "Bones are Stones for Buildings". I felt these had strong development and imagery and fit my standard for horror/thrillers. A few of the stories that didn't resonate with me had a more contemporary setting which is not typically my favorite. Overall, I found this to be a highly enjoyable collection and think there's something here for every reader of the genre to enjoy, particularly if you enjoy body horror!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Zoey M · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with most short story collections, I enjoyed some of the stories in this collection and did not enjoy others. I preferred the stories that leaned towards more of a hopeful tone, as I found a few of the stories to be a little too dark for me. I usually enjoy macabre stories and novels, but reading these thirteen back-to-back was overwhelming. The stories are well written, although a few of them had very similar narrative voices, and there were a few that blend together by the end.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should preface this with the fact that I don't like this type of short story; a half formed, ephemeral collection of pitches. They've always rubbed me the wrong way, and it's not always clear whether a short story is going to trend that way until I've reached the unfulfilling end. Ultimately, I was swayed by the cover and a promise of body horror mixed with queer yearning. I'm a simple creature.

This collection of short stories reads like there's a procession of strangers ready to offload their trauma onto you just enough to unburden themselves, and then ghost you before you can ask any questions.

To be fair they're at least interesting strangers, but I've never been fond of edging or being teased. The sudden unresolved/unexplored endings feel like being offered a treat and then having my hand slapped away when I reach for it. It feels like betrayal. The author has done a solid job of establishing a sense of discomfort that coats the entirety of every story. They're written in such a prosaic manner, rather than a sense of creeping dread, there's a heavy blanket of all-consuming disquiet that feels a bit suffocating.

This set of stories is a great example of why I don't generally read short story collections, but it would be wrong to fault it for being true to what it is. If you like short, thought provoking, creepy spit-balling idea sessions you'll love it.

Thank you for the opportunity for an early copy through NetGalley.

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this arc.

The Language of Knives is a haunting, dark and thought provoking collection of short stories. Each tale has its own unique vibe, blending dark themes with beautifully crafted prose. Each story is has it's own folk inspiration, themes and horror. I connected with some better than others, but they all made me reflect. Definitely check trigger warnings as there is sexual content, body horror, cursing and physical abuse. I don't know that I would say I enjoyed these stories, however, I do feel that I benefit from reading them. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys horror, specifically body horror, dark and vibey stories.

[Lili Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of stories that tug at the emotions and sometimes roll the gut response. I don't know enough about Slavic mythology, but I enjoyed these short stories for the horrors they held. Lots of body horror, plenty of splashes of modern times. The Mall On The Hill By The Horizon was probably my favorite. Just give it a read!
Thank-you, RDS Publishing and Haralambi Markov, for this complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This collection of short stories is a treat for those who like body horror that goes off the beaten path. I liked many of the short stories and a few of them will be bouncing around in my mind for years. I did feel like some of the stories could have done with a resolution. There's a difference between an open ending and turning the page only to be surprised that the next story has started.

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting collection of horror short stories. Great botanical horror and body horror. Stories were all very unique and vivid. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

ARC Netgalley Review

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave me major whiplash. Some stories like “When Raspberries Bloom in August” and “The Mall on the Hill” stuck with me more than others. the combination of Slavic folklore, queer representation, and body horror was like a special treat made just for me. This author’s writing is absolutely beautifullllll, but some pieces in this collection missed the mark for me entirely. For example, “The Midnight Feast” was just wild. I know it’s horror and its meant to be, but I found it extremely hard to follow at times.

I am very excited to read more from this author in the future and can’t wait to see what they write next!! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. ❤️❤️

[Ms Noob · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok just not for me it seems.

[Alex Sarll]

Gruesome, carnal stories by a non-binary Bulgarian; fair to assume the plan for this collection does not involve a glowing review from the Mail. Truth be told, in places it was even a bit much for me, though I realise that in being drawn to a book by the title The Language Of Knives, and then complaining about the amount of flaying, I am being one of those cats who wants precisely six and a half pets and kicks off at the seventh. Also on me are the times I didn't have the background; a couple of stories recontextualise creatures of Slavic myth, but it was never my strong suit so I didn't necessarily recognise them. Baba Yaga, who with her resentful gay grandson stars in the last and longest story, sure. But in the opener, not only did I not know the Hala, a monster talked into doing a podcast – I initially assumed Varna was a made-up place, perhaps on another world, and turns out that's Bulgaria's third biggest city. Elsewhere, towns are swallowed by vegetation, distant shining malls lure doomed questers, and bodies are always more fragile and permeable than we might like. The unhappy legacies of both communism and capitalism linger, protagonists often stuck with supernatural horrors, or even viewing them as a welcome change, simply because their lives have so few options. There are definite hints of Clive Barker, and if Markov hasn't always been well-served by editors who've let through a lot of homophones plus occasional sentences which land awkwardly in English, they're still doing wonders for someone working in a second language; yes, the stories tend intense, but there's technique and variation in the paths taken to get there, not the easy excesses of splatterpunk.

(Edelweiss ARC)

[Y.N.]

Thank you to Netgalley and RDS Publishing for the eARC

3,5/5 rounded up.

Thematically rich collection of short stories, fueled by fairy tales and folklore and the desire to look at family, desire and belonging, as well as inheritance. Vey ry influenced by horror, with an abundance of darker tales, with a few more hopeful ones, all told with a nice voice, Obviously all the stories have a similar feel, since they have overreaching themes. It means that some of the stories felt too similar and blended together a bit by the end.

I have to admit I had a hard time to really connect to the stories, the characters. It kept feeling a bit removed. I don't know why. Despite that, I am glad to have read these very queer, very reflectives tales.