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The Ancestors
Dead.
Some evils are so great that they transcend death. In Brandon Massey's "The Patriarch," a young writer travels to the hushed backwoods of Mississippi, where dangerous secrets surface as a generations-old feud comes to bone-chilling new life. . .
Buried.
The souls of the mistreated always find a way to be heard. In L.A. Banks's "Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep," violent visions haunt a man--until he's handed an opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and prevent unspeakable acts from occurring once again. . .
Forgotten.
When horrors are covered up and lost, our ancestors must find a way--even in death--to tell their tales. In Tananarive Due's "Ghost Summer," ancestors haunt the nights of two children. And when a grisly discovery is made, these ancestors will make their mark on both the dead and the living. . .
Some evils are so great that they transcend death. In Brandon Massey's "The Patriarch," a young writer travels to the hushed backwoods of Mississippi, where dangerous secrets surface as a generations-old feud comes to bone-chilling new life. . .
Buried.
The souls of the mistreated always find a way to be heard. In L.A. Banks's "Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep," violent visions haunt a man--until he's handed an opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and prevent unspeakable acts from occurring once again. . .
Forgotten.
When horrors are covered up and lost, our ancestors must find a way--even in death--to tell their tales. In Tananarive Due's "Ghost Summer," ancestors haunt the nights of two children. And when a grisly discovery is made, these ancestors will make their mark on both the dead and the living. . .
312 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2008
69 people are currently reading
1099 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Massey
56 books851 followersHere’s a little about me, Brandon Massey. (“Massey” is not pronounced “macy,” by the way. Think of “mass” instead.)
I was born June 9, 1973, in Waukegan, Illinois. I grew up in Zion, a suburb north of Chicago.
I originally self-published Thunderland, my first novel, in 1999. After managing to sell a few thousand copies on my own, Kensington Publishing Corp. in New York offered me a two-book contract, and published a new, revised edition of Thunderland in December 2002.
Since then, I’ve published up to three books a year, ranging from thriller novels such as The Other Brother, to short story collections such as Twisted Tales, and anthologies such as Dark Dreams.
My newest suspense thriller, Covenant, was published in November 2010.
I’ve got plenty more stories in the works that I’ll publish in the coming years.
I live with my family near Atlanta, GA.
I was born June 9, 1973, in Waukegan, Illinois. I grew up in Zion, a suburb north of Chicago.
I originally self-published Thunderland, my first novel, in 1999. After managing to sell a few thousand copies on my own, Kensington Publishing Corp. in New York offered me a two-book contract, and published a new, revised edition of Thunderland in December 2002.
Since then, I’ve published up to three books a year, ranging from thriller novels such as The Other Brother, to short story collections such as Twisted Tales, and anthologies such as Dark Dreams.
My newest suspense thriller, Covenant, was published in November 2010.
I’ve got plenty more stories in the works that I’ll publish in the coming years.
I live with my family near Atlanta, GA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
June 20, 2020
The Ancestors is a collection of 3 short stories that are themed with connecting with one's ancestry. It falls in the horror genre because these aren't just genealogy searches going on, they're more of the supernatural nature. The stories are complex, deep, creepy, and engaging. I listened to the audio version which had a separate narrator for each story.
I came for Tananarive Due but stayed for 2 new-to-me writers that I'm equally excited about. Check it out.
1-Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep by L.A. Banks, Narrated by Jd Jackson
2-The Patriarch by Brandon Massey, Narrated by Ty Jones
3-Ghost Summer by Tananarive Due, Narrated by Robin Miles
I came for Tananarive Due but stayed for 2 new-to-me writers that I'm equally excited about. Check it out.
1-Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep by L.A. Banks, Narrated by Jd Jackson
2-The Patriarch by Brandon Massey, Narrated by Ty Jones
3-Ghost Summer by Tananarive Due, Narrated by Robin Miles
July 10, 2021
All 3 stories were great. The narrators did a great job.
December 11, 2011
The Ancestors is a trio of short stories all revolving around the theme of ancestry. The fist story by LA Banks, Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep is the story of a man who seems to be traumatized by what he's seen in war, but we come to find out that the war he's been involved in is one of the supernatural nature and that he is the protector of the woman who is the granddaughter of a spiritual elder who has given him shelter and board in return for work at his antiques store. The young man is taught spiritual warfare from the elder and discover his true mission in this life as well as his past lives. This story had a great premise and would have probably made a great novel, but the beginning was long and involved and the ending felt rushed. This did not have the pacing of a short story and the epilogue felt like a deus ex machina in order to wrap up loose ends. I would love to have read the filled in story of how they got to that point.
The second story by Brandon Massey, The Patriarch, was great. A mystery writer from the city of Atlanta goes to visit his ancestral home in the backwoods of Mississippi with his girlfriend. He feels that there are unanswered questions about his past that he must find before he can move to the next step of his relationship and ask her to marry him. Once they journey to the "homeland" his great aunt relates to him their family history, but leaves out the story about an ancestor who could be his twin. While there he feels s if he's being called to the woods, where he meets this mysterious ancestor and finds out the truth about who he is. I thought the pacing and foreshadowing in this story was excellent, it kept me on my toes and wanting to read more. This is the first work I've read from Brandon Massey, but I downloaded two of his novels and can't wait to read them if they're anything like this.
The last story by Tananarive Due (one of my favorite authors), Ghost Summer, tells the story of a twelve year old boy who goes to visit his father's parents in the South because of his previous experiences of seeing ghosts on their land. In the midst of his ghost hunt he finds out about his parents impending divorce, as well as the existence of an unmarked burial ground. He searches with his younger sister to find the ghosts that live on this land and ends up getting more than he bargained for when he becomes a part of the ghost story. This was a riveting tale and the story of the mass graves and particularly the ghosts that the boy learns about was moving and did not end in an expected way. I really enjoyed this story and it solidified why Tananarive Due is one of my favorite authors.
The second story by Brandon Massey, The Patriarch, was great. A mystery writer from the city of Atlanta goes to visit his ancestral home in the backwoods of Mississippi with his girlfriend. He feels that there are unanswered questions about his past that he must find before he can move to the next step of his relationship and ask her to marry him. Once they journey to the "homeland" his great aunt relates to him their family history, but leaves out the story about an ancestor who could be his twin. While there he feels s if he's being called to the woods, where he meets this mysterious ancestor and finds out the truth about who he is. I thought the pacing and foreshadowing in this story was excellent, it kept me on my toes and wanting to read more. This is the first work I've read from Brandon Massey, but I downloaded two of his novels and can't wait to read them if they're anything like this.
The last story by Tananarive Due (one of my favorite authors), Ghost Summer, tells the story of a twelve year old boy who goes to visit his father's parents in the South because of his previous experiences of seeing ghosts on their land. In the midst of his ghost hunt he finds out about his parents impending divorce, as well as the existence of an unmarked burial ground. He searches with his younger sister to find the ghosts that live on this land and ends up getting more than he bargained for when he becomes a part of the ghost story. This was a riveting tale and the story of the mass graves and particularly the ghosts that the boy learns about was moving and did not end in an expected way. I really enjoyed this story and it solidified why Tananarive Due is one of my favorite authors.
September 14, 2011
I loved all three stories, but the first was my favorite. Time travel and demons are always a good read. The second one was about vampires so you know i loved that, and the third touched on racisim, and a girl like me loves a good ghost story. Overall these were great stories, and i would recommend them to anyone who loves to read horror novels, or short stories.
August 8, 2022
Ev’ry Shut Eye Ain’t Sleep L.A. Banks
February 16, 2009
The Ancestors is a collection of three lengthy short stories. L.A. Banks' is an urban dark fantasy that's mostly set up and exposition for the last five pages where the trouble starts. It ends with a tacked on epilogue. Brandon Massey's short story about a writer looking into his family roots, and discovering the family secret is predictable.
Tananarive Due's short story about a boy and his sister going visiting his grandparents' town where there are ghosts every summer is brilliant and packs a huge punch. It's one of my favorites of Due's work. Everything worked from me, from his parents' estrangement, the ghostbusting in the living room and desire to put ghost footage on YouTube, and the history of the three missing boys in the 1900s. Due's story stayed with me long after I stopped reading.
Tananarive Due's short story about a boy and his sister going visiting his grandparents' town where there are ghosts every summer is brilliant and packs a huge punch. It's one of my favorites of Due's work. Everything worked from me, from his parents' estrangement, the ghostbusting in the living room and desire to put ghost footage on YouTube, and the history of the three missing boys in the 1900s. Due's story stayed with me long after I stopped reading.
December 30, 2009
Tananarive Due is one of the best horror writers out there, and her story, "Ghost Summer," is absolutely brilliant.
Unfortunately for this collection, and literature in general, L.A. Banks has got to be one of the worst writers who has ever been published. I really don't understand her appeal. I read Minion years ago and have been infuriated at her very existence ever since. Her short story, "The Sentinel," simply makes no sense. I couldn't even begin to describe it because it ultimately isn't about anything.
Breathe ... breathe ...
Brandon Massey's story, "The Patriarch," is OK. But neither he nor Banks is in Due's league. Hers is the only story that is really worth reading.
Unfortunately for this collection, and literature in general, L.A. Banks has got to be one of the worst writers who has ever been published. I really don't understand her appeal. I read Minion years ago and have been infuriated at her very existence ever since. Her short story, "The Sentinel," simply makes no sense. I couldn't even begin to describe it because it ultimately isn't about anything.
Breathe ... breathe ...
Brandon Massey's story, "The Patriarch," is OK. But neither he nor Banks is in Due's league. Hers is the only story that is really worth reading.
October 12, 2024
Missed the mark
The Ancestors is a collection of 3 short horror stories. For me, the stories felt more like they were of the supernatural realm. The stories all revolve around the theme of Ancestry.
The first story by L.A. Banks was brutal to read and get through. Normally I bail on a story like this that I lost interest in. It was like one long run on sentence.
The second selection by Brandon Massey picked up the pace a bit. Massey is one of my favorite horror writers. His piece was better but predictable.
The book closes out with Tananarive Due's selection which was by far the best. Due is one of the best horror writers out there. Her piece in this book was good not great.
The Ancestors is a collection of 3 short horror stories. For me, the stories felt more like they were of the supernatural realm. The stories all revolve around the theme of Ancestry.
The first story by L.A. Banks was brutal to read and get through. Normally I bail on a story like this that I lost interest in. It was like one long run on sentence.
The second selection by Brandon Massey picked up the pace a bit. Massey is one of my favorite horror writers. His piece was better but predictable.
The book closes out with Tananarive Due's selection which was by far the best. Due is one of the best horror writers out there. Her piece in this book was good not great.
May 18, 2021
Loved this anthology. Three stories which were completely engrossing.
July 6, 2009
Finally finished this book. Took me waaay too long because, frankly I lost interest. I did not care for the first LA banks story, Brandon Massey's picked up the pace a little better but was VERY predictable. Now Tananavarie Due was great but she always is.
May 26, 2011
I enjoyed all three stories in the book and found myself wishing each story was a novel Both Brandon and Tananerive Due are such great writers and i enjoy their insights into the African American experience.
November 3, 2022
This my first time reading anything by any of these authors, which is a terrible oversight on my part.
L.A. Banks's story "Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep" is about a homeless veteran who has a spiritual connection to a young lawyer and her mysterious grandfather who owns a junk shop. The story took a supernatural turn I did not expect. Brandon Massey's story "The Patriarch" really drew me in, with amazing descriptions of people, locations, the sounds of Mississippi, the feel and excitement of discovering your family's history, but again with a big twist. I didn't know how some aspects, like recent home invasions, would tie into the story's conclusion. But Mr. Massey did an excellent job and if he has or would write stories about the lives of the secondary characters, I'd read them. The last story "Ghost Summer" by Tananarive Due was the perfect cherry on top. She delved into the trauma of so many issues, divorce, racial violence, sharecropping, crippling poverty but also the innocence of childhood.
This is anthology was a great introduction to these authors. Rest in Power L.A. Banks.
L.A. Banks's story "Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep" is about a homeless veteran who has a spiritual connection to a young lawyer and her mysterious grandfather who owns a junk shop. The story took a supernatural turn I did not expect. Brandon Massey's story "The Patriarch" really drew me in, with amazing descriptions of people, locations, the sounds of Mississippi, the feel and excitement of discovering your family's history, but again with a big twist. I didn't know how some aspects, like recent home invasions, would tie into the story's conclusion. But Mr. Massey did an excellent job and if he has or would write stories about the lives of the secondary characters, I'd read them. The last story "Ghost Summer" by Tananarive Due was the perfect cherry on top. She delved into the trauma of so many issues, divorce, racial violence, sharecropping, crippling poverty but also the innocence of childhood.
This is anthology was a great introduction to these authors. Rest in Power L.A. Banks.
February 24, 2025
Read this for a book club that has been on a short story kick. I’m not typically a fan of short stories as I usually feel like I’m left wanting more. This was only 3 short stories, though, so they were a little longer than a big collection. Each story dealt with ancestry and kind of fell into the horror genre. Initially, I felt like this wasn’t my cup of tea, but the stories were well-written and I ended up enjoying them. 3.5-3.75 stars.
January 7, 2022
Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep: 4 stars
The Patriarch: 3 stars
Ghost Summer: 4 stars
The Patriarch: 3 stars
Ghost Summer: 4 stars
July 9, 2009
A collection of three ghost stories based on African American history and folklore.
By far my favorite in this collection was Tananrive Due's "Ghost Summer." I would give it 4 stars on its own. In this story, a boy on the edge of adolescence spends the summer at his grandparents' house chasing ghosts and trying to solve an old, sad mystery while at the same time trying to cope with the news of his parents' impending divorce.
The first story (L.A. Banks' Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep) started off well with an interesting premise of a young veteran who is a Sentinel against the "shades." Unfortunately, the story becomes somewhat disjointed and ends abruptly. This might have been better as a short novel instead.
I didn't get far enough into Brandon Massey's The Patriarch because I disliked the main character - a man who simply couldn't form a commitment until he discovered his family's past.
Borrow it from a library just for the Due story.
By far my favorite in this collection was Tananrive Due's "Ghost Summer." I would give it 4 stars on its own. In this story, a boy on the edge of adolescence spends the summer at his grandparents' house chasing ghosts and trying to solve an old, sad mystery while at the same time trying to cope with the news of his parents' impending divorce.
The first story (L.A. Banks' Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep) started off well with an interesting premise of a young veteran who is a Sentinel against the "shades." Unfortunately, the story becomes somewhat disjointed and ends abruptly. This might have been better as a short novel instead.
I didn't get far enough into Brandon Massey's The Patriarch because I disliked the main character - a man who simply couldn't form a commitment until he discovered his family's past.
Borrow it from a library just for the Due story.
August 16, 2016
As much as it pains me to say this, I felt that the two stories written by Banks and Massey were weak. It felt as if their entries were shorten from longer stories. The last story by Due was the highlight of the entire anthology.
April 12, 2022
I enjoyed this, especially Ghost Summer
October 14, 2012
Horror literature. The tales are rich, and chilling and the writing is terrific. I want more!
April 28, 2013
Three short stories...last one was my favorite.
October 8, 2016
Three short stories perfect for the Halloween season. I preferred the stories by Brandon Massey and Tananarive Due over L.A. Banks' but this is a solid collection nonetheless.
January 20, 2020
Love it!
Do you believe ghosts are real? Do you hear unexplained bumps in the night? With these stories, you will! Loved this anthology by some of my favorite authors!!
Do you believe ghosts are real? Do you hear unexplained bumps in the night? With these stories, you will! Loved this anthology by some of my favorite authors!!
March 29, 2019
The Ancestors is a collection of short thrillers, all by African American authors. What attracted me to the book, besides one of my favorite thriller writers Tananarive Due, was the stories are longer than your typical ‘short story’. There are 3 stories, all about ghosts, goblins, family, and about a hundred pages long. My theory was, the authors would use the longer format for character and plot development. This worked well in 2 out of 3 stories.
L. A. Banks, in ‘Ev’ry Shut Eye Ain’t Sleep’ writes about a young man that has to confront his violent past to conquer his present. It’s somewhat of a good old fashioned star-crossed lovers story with a supernatural twist. This plot reminds my of a popular meme on IG: ‘The prayers of your Grandmother still protect you...”. If that’s true in real life, it’s probably best not to throw away all her stuff! I enjoyed the dialogue between the characters, though, it rolled on way too long in the beginning and the ending was rushed. This could’ve easily been a better full length book.
Brandon Massey is a new writer to me and I have to admit, I was underwhelmed, in this format. ‘The Patriarch’ is the story of a young writer that heads down south, with his girlfriend, to learn about his family’s history. The family has owned over 300 acres for many years and he starts to explore the land and finds the families oldest living patriarch. That’s it. 100 pages of that. Written well, believable characters, witty banter, colorful, lavish descriptions...but, boring. I never felt the same excitement as the main character to find the family secret. I think the more interesting story is how the family manages the truth, how or will his life change now that he knows? Unfortunately for us, the author ends the story before we get that story. Too bad.
Finally, we have Due’s entry, Ghost Summer. This was my favorite of the 3. Set in the south near the Florida/Georgia line, the story’s main character is a young pre-teen that fancy’s himself a ghost hunter. In a summer of his parents marital upheaval, he travels to his grandparents home with his younger sister and father, intending to seek out ghosts. He immediate finds what he’s looking for. The story winds up being a very interesting one, diving into the south’s history of discrimination and violence against African Americans. It’s a ghost story, a history retelling and all at once a young man’s coming of age story, one summer at as grandmas house. The story is immediately captivating and doesn’t lag at all. I would love to revisit these characters in a longer format to see what happens next.
I’ve been experiencing a bit if a love affair with short stories in the last several months. To me, reading a short story should be like eating desert first at dinner time, just the best part of a book, no meal first, no cognac chaser. Ten to one you’re on the edge of your seat in 3 pages. In most cases, you’re done in 10 pages. I’m sad to say not all of these stories were that satisfying, even allowing for the longer format. I did enjoy the writing and would encourage you to explore this book and longer reads by these authors. Overall, #GoodBook
Book 8 of 36.
L. A. Banks, in ‘Ev’ry Shut Eye Ain’t Sleep’ writes about a young man that has to confront his violent past to conquer his present. It’s somewhat of a good old fashioned star-crossed lovers story with a supernatural twist. This plot reminds my of a popular meme on IG: ‘The prayers of your Grandmother still protect you...”. If that’s true in real life, it’s probably best not to throw away all her stuff! I enjoyed the dialogue between the characters, though, it rolled on way too long in the beginning and the ending was rushed. This could’ve easily been a better full length book.
Brandon Massey is a new writer to me and I have to admit, I was underwhelmed, in this format. ‘The Patriarch’ is the story of a young writer that heads down south, with his girlfriend, to learn about his family’s history. The family has owned over 300 acres for many years and he starts to explore the land and finds the families oldest living patriarch. That’s it. 100 pages of that. Written well, believable characters, witty banter, colorful, lavish descriptions...but, boring. I never felt the same excitement as the main character to find the family secret. I think the more interesting story is how the family manages the truth, how or will his life change now that he knows? Unfortunately for us, the author ends the story before we get that story. Too bad.
Finally, we have Due’s entry, Ghost Summer. This was my favorite of the 3. Set in the south near the Florida/Georgia line, the story’s main character is a young pre-teen that fancy’s himself a ghost hunter. In a summer of his parents marital upheaval, he travels to his grandparents home with his younger sister and father, intending to seek out ghosts. He immediate finds what he’s looking for. The story winds up being a very interesting one, diving into the south’s history of discrimination and violence against African Americans. It’s a ghost story, a history retelling and all at once a young man’s coming of age story, one summer at as grandmas house. The story is immediately captivating and doesn’t lag at all. I would love to revisit these characters in a longer format to see what happens next.
I’ve been experiencing a bit if a love affair with short stories in the last several months. To me, reading a short story should be like eating desert first at dinner time, just the best part of a book, no meal first, no cognac chaser. Ten to one you’re on the edge of your seat in 3 pages. In most cases, you’re done in 10 pages. I’m sad to say not all of these stories were that satisfying, even allowing for the longer format. I did enjoy the writing and would encourage you to explore this book and longer reads by these authors. Overall, #GoodBook
Book 8 of 36.
March 14, 2022
4 spine tingly stars.
I rarely read short stories, but if handled the way these three authors handled them, I clearly need to read more. I picked up this collection of short stories for two reasons; 1) Tananrive Due (nuff said!) and 2) Brandon Massey. I've not read any Massey before, but my book club raves about him! What better way to discover a new author, than a short story? I was NOT disappointed.
'Every Shut Eye Ain't Sleep', from new to me author, LA Banks, begins this trio. I had a harder time with this short story. Short stories are difficult, you have limited space to get story progression and pacing right. I think this author is a NOVELIST. I was immediately drawn in to the premise of her story, and her exposition was everything I wanted. But the story was really exposition heavy, which in a novel having time to flesh it all out, is never a bad thing. It seemed as if she realized she had a word limit and at her last 1000 words, she panicked and rushed to an abrupt ending. I was saddened by this, pacing was all off. I would love to read a full novel of this story, or any of her stories. Her writing is beautiful and I will look more into her works.
The Patriarch is Brandon Massey's offering and I loved it! Here we have a story all about ancestry and honoring and understanding roots. Without giving anything away, the twist was unexpected and I grinned when the chosen occult was revealed. It was really good y'all. One of those reading moments when you say aloud, "Yes, cuz of course he is!" Love! Pacing, clearly something I'm sensitive to, Massey understands. I was riveted! Between the characters relationships to lil crumbs Massey dropped, I couldn't stop reading. Read this story in one sitting. I must get my hands on more Massey!
Ghost Summer from Tananarive Due is a perfect ghost story. Look! Ms. Due has quickly risen to one of my top 10 authors! Something I LOVE about her storytelling, her characters. They live! I'm usually very sensitive to young children and the supernatural. I am sensitive to exposing innocence to such darkness, but Due is masterful in her characterization. A lot is going on for Davie, the 12 yr old protagonist of this story, and Due handles it with love and tenderness. There were moments in this story where my spine tingled, and deliciously fun reaction to a ghost story. Following Davie and his sister on their Scooby Doo mystery was thrilling and led to a place I was NOT expecting! A great read. I will read ANYTHING Due pens! I trust her, she's amazing!
I rarely read short stories, but if handled the way these three authors handled them, I clearly need to read more. I picked up this collection of short stories for two reasons; 1) Tananrive Due (nuff said!) and 2) Brandon Massey. I've not read any Massey before, but my book club raves about him! What better way to discover a new author, than a short story? I was NOT disappointed.
'Every Shut Eye Ain't Sleep', from new to me author, LA Banks, begins this trio. I had a harder time with this short story. Short stories are difficult, you have limited space to get story progression and pacing right. I think this author is a NOVELIST. I was immediately drawn in to the premise of her story, and her exposition was everything I wanted. But the story was really exposition heavy, which in a novel having time to flesh it all out, is never a bad thing. It seemed as if she realized she had a word limit and at her last 1000 words, she panicked and rushed to an abrupt ending. I was saddened by this, pacing was all off. I would love to read a full novel of this story, or any of her stories. Her writing is beautiful and I will look more into her works.
The Patriarch is Brandon Massey's offering and I loved it! Here we have a story all about ancestry and honoring and understanding roots. Without giving anything away, the twist was unexpected and I grinned when the chosen occult was revealed. It was really good y'all. One of those reading moments when you say aloud, "Yes, cuz of course he is!" Love! Pacing, clearly something I'm sensitive to, Massey understands. I was riveted! Between the characters relationships to lil crumbs Massey dropped, I couldn't stop reading. Read this story in one sitting. I must get my hands on more Massey!
Ghost Summer from Tananarive Due is a perfect ghost story. Look! Ms. Due has quickly risen to one of my top 10 authors! Something I LOVE about her storytelling, her characters. They live! I'm usually very sensitive to young children and the supernatural. I am sensitive to exposing innocence to such darkness, but Due is masterful in her characterization. A lot is going on for Davie, the 12 yr old protagonist of this story, and Due handles it with love and tenderness. There were moments in this story where my spine tingled, and deliciously fun reaction to a ghost story. Following Davie and his sister on their Scooby Doo mystery was thrilling and led to a place I was NOT expecting! A great read. I will read ANYTHING Due pens! I trust her, she's amazing!
September 30, 2025
Brandon Massey returns to form with The Ancestors, a supernatural thriller that digs into the unsettling connections between the living and the legacies they inherit. This book is a good, solid genre effort—a satisfying read that is entertaining and skillfully executed, earning a respectable four-star rating.
The Premise: Unearthing the Past
The novel centers on a protagonist who returns to their family's ancestral land or home, often driven by necessity or a vague sense of calling. What starts as a simple rediscovery of roots quickly spirals into a confrontation with a dark, historical secret. Massey expertly uses this framework to explore how the trauma and injustices faced by past generations can physically manifest and demand redress from their descendants. The narrative is taut and focused on unearthing painful, hidden truths.
Strengths: Atmosphere and Pacing
The atmosphere is a strong point. Massey builds a palpable sense of isolation and dread around the setting, whether it's an old house or a small, secretive town. The pacing is effective, providing enough scares and tense moments to keep the pages turning rapidly. The plot is well-constructed, offering an engaging mystery that blends historical research with genuine supernatural horror. The commitment to demonstrating the power of ancestral connection elevates the story beyond a standard ghost tale.
Why 4 Stars: A Solid, Engaging Read
While The Ancestors is unquestionably a good book—a definitive "ok book" in the best sense of a reliable genre piece—it doesn't quite break new ground when compared to Massey's more emotionally complex works. The central mystery and its supernatural solution follow a somewhat familiar structure, meaning that devoted horror readers might anticipate some of the twists. It provides exactly what is promised: a compelling story, believable characters, and some chilling moments, but it lacks the singular, unforgettable edge that pushes a book into the five-star category.
Conclusion and Recommendation
The Ancestors is a testament to Brandon Massey's reliable skill as a horror novelist. It's a highly recommended read for those looking for a well-paced, atmospheric story that effectively merges family history, mystery, and the supernatural. If you're a fan of Massey's work or enjoy tales where the past refuses to stay buried, this book is a great choice for a suspenseful afternoon.
The Premise: Unearthing the Past
The novel centers on a protagonist who returns to their family's ancestral land or home, often driven by necessity or a vague sense of calling. What starts as a simple rediscovery of roots quickly spirals into a confrontation with a dark, historical secret. Massey expertly uses this framework to explore how the trauma and injustices faced by past generations can physically manifest and demand redress from their descendants. The narrative is taut and focused on unearthing painful, hidden truths.
Strengths: Atmosphere and Pacing
The atmosphere is a strong point. Massey builds a palpable sense of isolation and dread around the setting, whether it's an old house or a small, secretive town. The pacing is effective, providing enough scares and tense moments to keep the pages turning rapidly. The plot is well-constructed, offering an engaging mystery that blends historical research with genuine supernatural horror. The commitment to demonstrating the power of ancestral connection elevates the story beyond a standard ghost tale.
Why 4 Stars: A Solid, Engaging Read
While The Ancestors is unquestionably a good book—a definitive "ok book" in the best sense of a reliable genre piece—it doesn't quite break new ground when compared to Massey's more emotionally complex works. The central mystery and its supernatural solution follow a somewhat familiar structure, meaning that devoted horror readers might anticipate some of the twists. It provides exactly what is promised: a compelling story, believable characters, and some chilling moments, but it lacks the singular, unforgettable edge that pushes a book into the five-star category.
Conclusion and Recommendation
The Ancestors is a testament to Brandon Massey's reliable skill as a horror novelist. It's a highly recommended read for those looking for a well-paced, atmospheric story that effectively merges family history, mystery, and the supernatural. If you're a fan of Massey's work or enjoy tales where the past refuses to stay buried, this book is a great choice for a suspenseful afternoon.
June 11, 2020
An overall disappointing collection with a few things to enjoy. There were some themes in this story that I think are problematic in the sense that they are harmful (i.e. the source of morality/ right and wrong). 3.5/5 Stars
Read my full review on my blog!
1. Ev’ry Shut Eye Ain’t Sleep by L.A. Banks ★★★☆☆ 1/2
Banks died of Cancer in 2011. She was a writer of a range of genres beyond dark fantasy and horror. Many of her works are YA or urban fantasy which isn’t my usual preference. I hope I enjoy this story. Even if I don’t, I suspect it is more to do with my own preferences, and I’m glad of the opportunity to experience her work.
This story wasn’t as bad as many reviewers made it out to be. In fact, I thought it was interesting and well written. The urban fantasy side of Banks was recognizable, but overall I thought it was a more on the paranormal side. I think my biggest issue with this story is the take away, the main moral of it all. The concept of our ancestors paving the way for us and even being integral to our own continued success and well being is a endearing thought. In many ways, we should respect what our family has done to help us achieve a better life. This basic concept makes its a good fit for this collection.
The issue stems from the Christianity centered themes that define this story. It is very much a Christian story. It was so extreme, it reminded me of reading the Left Behind books when I was still a christian. Christianity isn’t inherently a turn off. I enjoy Maya Angelou’s works even though her life is built around Christianity. The issue is with the concepts this book pushes. It is about the stories idea of morality and ethics. Essentially, every religion offers a form of goodness that our narrator sees in the form of light. It didn’t have to be just Churches, other religious individuals shared this trait. This may seem like an honorable note, but really it has a horrid implication.
It is as if without religion, there is no goodness to be had in a person. A person must focus all their attention on some god or institution if they have any hope to evade the darkness that seeks them. This story is fiction, and I admire it for how it is told. Nevertheless, the ideas within it are not new, nor are they fictional. Plenty of people believe this. It isn’t just ostracizing to a-nonreligous person; it’s fundamentally insulting to what it means to be human.
The story has other issue. It tries to assign evil to taboo words or curses. Basically, they try and assign arbitrary harm to things religious people don’t like to try and turn a fundamentally amoral issue good and evil. I don’t know if Banks was just translating an important piece of African american history or if she was modern day C.S. Lewis. She wrote urban fantasy on vampires which makes me think it’s just this story, but who knows. This is a good work of fiction in my opinion. It’s where fiction overlaps with society that I have a problem with it. 3.5/5 stars, rounding down.
2. The Patriarch by Brandon Massey ★★★☆☆
Massey is a horror thriller writer who lives near Atlanta, Georgia. Wikipedia says his work often involves contemporary African-American life with elements of horror and the supernatural. This sounds more interesting to me than the first story.
This story is only an hour (sped up), and I’m half way through it. It’s okay. I actually enjoyed Bank’s writing more. It may be because hers was more fantasy or paranormal even from the start, but I think her style was more appealing to me too. I’ll save my overall thoughts post completion.
I didn’t hate this, but I don’t think I am a fan of Massey’s writing. It feels kind of amateur. I’m not sure if I’m knowledgeable enough to make that judgement, but it’s the impression I get nonetheless. The story was okay. It reminded me a lot of Fledgling by Octavia Butler. It was published a year after it, so I don’t know how much influence it might have had in it. Although, part of me wondered if they were set in the same world. General plot points may be spoiled moving forward in this paragraph. It’s the same concept: vampires feed on humans, but they are also a separate species. With the help of Vampires, humans can live longer like in Fledgling. There are vampires who don’t like humans just like the other. There is one subtle difference in how humans are tied to vampires in this story versus that.
Overall, I appreciated the similarity. It wasn’t enough to save the story. It was fine. I liked it, but if I had to choose again, I’d go for something better. 3/5 stars.
3. Ghost Summer by Tananarive Due ★★★★☆
Due is the only author I’ve read, and most reviews suggests this story is the best among them. She is an author and lecturer of black horror and afrofuturism. I really enjoyed the Good House and look forward to this one.
I don’t have a lot to say about this story which is odd because it’s also my favorite. The story was good. I enjoyed it. I wish the other stories were as well written as this one. Due is great at creating an dark tone and atmosphere coupled with characters that feel real. I enjoyed the family dynamic of this story; I felt it gave this story more layers of ancestor allegories than the other two which were much more heavy handed. The ancestors in this story aren’t even strictly the family that are the center of the story. That said, the bond this family has is still its own form type of ancestry.
My biggest problem with this story was that the plot didn’t resonate with me as much as I liked. It was well written and immersive. It was even interesting; I suppose I just came in expecting it to pack a bigger punch emotionally. 4/5 Stars.
Concluding thoughts
I didn’t hate this book. In fact, my expectations were circumvented in each story. I think the biggest surprise was the Banks’ story and my enjoyment of her writing. Then there was Massey who I thought I would like more. Then it ends on a good note, if not a great one with a story that is at least well crafted in prose and characters if not as much in plot. I will definitely be giving Due more of my time. As far as Banks, I will give her books another look over, but I still am not sure if they’re my cup of tea. The average rating was 3.5/5 stars (rounding down).
Read my full review on my blog!
1. Ev’ry Shut Eye Ain’t Sleep by L.A. Banks ★★★☆☆ 1/2
Banks died of Cancer in 2011. She was a writer of a range of genres beyond dark fantasy and horror. Many of her works are YA or urban fantasy which isn’t my usual preference. I hope I enjoy this story. Even if I don’t, I suspect it is more to do with my own preferences, and I’m glad of the opportunity to experience her work.
This story wasn’t as bad as many reviewers made it out to be. In fact, I thought it was interesting and well written. The urban fantasy side of Banks was recognizable, but overall I thought it was a more on the paranormal side. I think my biggest issue with this story is the take away, the main moral of it all. The concept of our ancestors paving the way for us and even being integral to our own continued success and well being is a endearing thought. In many ways, we should respect what our family has done to help us achieve a better life. This basic concept makes its a good fit for this collection.
The issue stems from the Christianity centered themes that define this story. It is very much a Christian story. It was so extreme, it reminded me of reading the Left Behind books when I was still a christian. Christianity isn’t inherently a turn off. I enjoy Maya Angelou’s works even though her life is built around Christianity. The issue is with the concepts this book pushes. It is about the stories idea of morality and ethics. Essentially, every religion offers a form of goodness that our narrator sees in the form of light. It didn’t have to be just Churches, other religious individuals shared this trait. This may seem like an honorable note, but really it has a horrid implication.
It is as if without religion, there is no goodness to be had in a person. A person must focus all their attention on some god or institution if they have any hope to evade the darkness that seeks them. This story is fiction, and I admire it for how it is told. Nevertheless, the ideas within it are not new, nor are they fictional. Plenty of people believe this. It isn’t just ostracizing to a-nonreligous person; it’s fundamentally insulting to what it means to be human.
The story has other issue. It tries to assign evil to taboo words or curses. Basically, they try and assign arbitrary harm to things religious people don’t like to try and turn a fundamentally amoral issue good and evil. I don’t know if Banks was just translating an important piece of African american history or if she was modern day C.S. Lewis. She wrote urban fantasy on vampires which makes me think it’s just this story, but who knows. This is a good work of fiction in my opinion. It’s where fiction overlaps with society that I have a problem with it. 3.5/5 stars, rounding down.
2. The Patriarch by Brandon Massey ★★★☆☆
Massey is a horror thriller writer who lives near Atlanta, Georgia. Wikipedia says his work often involves contemporary African-American life with elements of horror and the supernatural. This sounds more interesting to me than the first story.
This story is only an hour (sped up), and I’m half way through it. It’s okay. I actually enjoyed Bank’s writing more. It may be because hers was more fantasy or paranormal even from the start, but I think her style was more appealing to me too. I’ll save my overall thoughts post completion.
I didn’t hate this, but I don’t think I am a fan of Massey’s writing. It feels kind of amateur. I’m not sure if I’m knowledgeable enough to make that judgement, but it’s the impression I get nonetheless. The story was okay. It reminded me a lot of Fledgling by Octavia Butler. It was published a year after it, so I don’t know how much influence it might have had in it. Although, part of me wondered if they were set in the same world. General plot points may be spoiled moving forward in this paragraph. It’s the same concept: vampires feed on humans, but they are also a separate species. With the help of Vampires, humans can live longer like in Fledgling. There are vampires who don’t like humans just like the other. There is one subtle difference in how humans are tied to vampires in this story versus that.
Overall, I appreciated the similarity. It wasn’t enough to save the story. It was fine. I liked it, but if I had to choose again, I’d go for something better. 3/5 stars.
3. Ghost Summer by Tananarive Due ★★★★☆
Due is the only author I’ve read, and most reviews suggests this story is the best among them. She is an author and lecturer of black horror and afrofuturism. I really enjoyed the Good House and look forward to this one.
I don’t have a lot to say about this story which is odd because it’s also my favorite. The story was good. I enjoyed it. I wish the other stories were as well written as this one. Due is great at creating an dark tone and atmosphere coupled with characters that feel real. I enjoyed the family dynamic of this story; I felt it gave this story more layers of ancestor allegories than the other two which were much more heavy handed. The ancestors in this story aren’t even strictly the family that are the center of the story. That said, the bond this family has is still its own form type of ancestry.
My biggest problem with this story was that the plot didn’t resonate with me as much as I liked. It was well written and immersive. It was even interesting; I suppose I just came in expecting it to pack a bigger punch emotionally. 4/5 Stars.
Concluding thoughts
I didn’t hate this book. In fact, my expectations were circumvented in each story. I think the biggest surprise was the Banks’ story and my enjoyment of her writing. Then there was Massey who I thought I would like more. Then it ends on a good note, if not a great one with a story that is at least well crafted in prose and characters if not as much in plot. I will definitely be giving Due more of my time. As far as Banks, I will give her books another look over, but I still am not sure if they’re my cup of tea. The average rating was 3.5/5 stars (rounding down).
January 13, 2020
I ended up reading this book because of Tananarive Due and boy was "Ghost Summer" worth it! Everything that must be in a good mystery story was there.
Then there is "Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep" by LA Banks. It is generally a good story, albeit the granddaughter is a bit oversimplified character. And I will pretend the last chapter is simply not there. Such mistakes can kill whole books, so use that eraser proudly, dear writer.
Which leaves us with the complete trainwreck of "The Patriarch", which reads like a teenager dreaming of ways to get good and powerful and lots of sex without putting in too much effort. Even the MOST logical and kind of hinted intrigue over the patriarch's actual role in the family did not materialize in the end. There was absolutely nothing interesting in this story. Just skip it.
In short: do not bother. Pick up a book by Tananarive Due. :)
Then there is "Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep" by LA Banks. It is generally a good story, albeit the granddaughter is a bit oversimplified character. And I will pretend the last chapter is simply not there. Such mistakes can kill whole books, so use that eraser proudly, dear writer.
Which leaves us with the complete trainwreck of "The Patriarch", which reads like a teenager dreaming of ways to get good and powerful and lots of sex without putting in too much effort. Even the MOST logical and kind of hinted intrigue over the patriarch's actual role in the family did not materialize in the end. There was absolutely nothing interesting in this story. Just skip it.
In short: do not bother. Pick up a book by Tananarive Due. :)
December 26, 2020
I listened to the audiobook...
I'm not a fan of LA Banks so I skipped Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep. It's too bad because I love J. D. Jackson's voice.
The Patriarch by Brandon Massey, narrated Tye Jones was a good story. I really enjoy Massey's writing style even though this book was somewhat predictable and not much of a twist. But it was good for a short story. A man travels to a small town to learn more about his family history. He learns more than he bargained for with a family secret that wasn't quite a secret.
Ghost Summer by Tananarive Due narrated by Robin Miles. Miles gave the story a great tone I'm sure Due was going for. Due is one of my favorite mystery/ thriller writers. But honestly I was expecting more. There was such a buildup and the ending was very anticlimactic.
I'm not a fan of LA Banks so I skipped Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep. It's too bad because I love J. D. Jackson's voice.
The Patriarch by Brandon Massey, narrated Tye Jones was a good story. I really enjoy Massey's writing style even though this book was somewhat predictable and not much of a twist. But it was good for a short story. A man travels to a small town to learn more about his family history. He learns more than he bargained for with a family secret that wasn't quite a secret.
Ghost Summer by Tananarive Due narrated by Robin Miles. Miles gave the story a great tone I'm sure Due was going for. Due is one of my favorite mystery/ thriller writers. But honestly I was expecting more. There was such a buildup and the ending was very anticlimactic.
October 7, 2021
Overall anthology - 3 1/2 Stars
The Ghost Summer - Tananrive Due - 4 Stars - The idea that ghosts only show themselves in summer, after dark, to all the children before puberty in this small Florida community is an interesting and fascinating concept.
The Patriarch - Brandon Massey - 3 Stars - Fast moving narrative with a twist the author bills from the beginning.
Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep - L.A. Banks - 2 1/2 Stars - The concept was interesting but the story was a slog to get through.
The Ghost Summer - Tananrive Due - 4 Stars - The idea that ghosts only show themselves in summer, after dark, to all the children before puberty in this small Florida community is an interesting and fascinating concept.
The Patriarch - Brandon Massey - 3 Stars - Fast moving narrative with a twist the author bills from the beginning.
Ev'ry Shut Eye Ain't Sleep - L.A. Banks - 2 1/2 Stars - The concept was interesting but the story was a slog to get through.
July 30, 2022
I loved Massey and Due’s novellas, they were deeply suspenseful and propulsive, and just such rich storytelling and vibrant characters. I slogged through the Banks novella, which is the first, so I didn’t think I’d make it through the book, but I’m very very glad I did. But Banks story was not without its bright parts, as there was beautiful dialogue and some good mystery to it, and I thought that it complemented the other stories really well and each story was a great meditation on “ancestors”.
October 19, 2024
These are the ghost stories that you don't mind listening to because it's a kind of justice at the end. I did like the first story better because it makes me wonder about the people who are on the streets who are suffering from a mental illness. 🤔 What are their thoughts like? Are ancestors visiting their minds?
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