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The Crow's Gift and Other Tales
When seeking gifts from others, the greatest gift is often a connection. A lonely fourth grader finds an unlikely friendship with a murder of crows. A college student tries, against all odds, to meet her favorite author. A commuter sees a stranger every day on her way to work. And a man who lives alone in the woods seeks a connection with anyone, so long as they’re another body to hold.
The greatest gifts, however, don’t always mean the greatest rewards. The fourth grader learns that a crow’s idea of loyalty may challenge her own. The college student learns that in a battle between herself and fate, neither may be the victor. The commuter never learns her new friend’s name, which may be a gift in itself. The man in the woods sees any connection as a reward - though not necessarily for those he seeks.
Connections with others help keep us afloat, in varying degrees and at varying costs. As the man in the woods so aptly says, “We all want closeness and companionship. Some of us just gain that by burying people in the floorboards.”
The greatest gifts, however, don’t always mean the greatest rewards. The fourth grader learns that a crow’s idea of loyalty may challenge her own. The college student learns that in a battle between herself and fate, neither may be the victor. The commuter never learns her new friend’s name, which may be a gift in itself. The man in the woods sees any connection as a reward - though not necessarily for those he seeks.
Connections with others help keep us afloat, in varying degrees and at varying costs. As the man in the woods so aptly says, “We all want closeness and companionship. Some of us just gain that by burying people in the floorboards.”
72 pages, Paperback
Published September 5, 2017
1 person is currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Sonora Taylor
35 books159 followersSonora Taylor is the award-winning author of Little Paranoias: Stories, Without Condition, The Crow’s Gift and Other Tales, Please Give, and Wither and Other Stories. Her short stories have appeared in multiple publications, including Camden Park Press’s Quoth the Raven, Kandisha Press’s Women of Horror Vol. 2: Graveyard Smash, The Sirens Call, Frozen Wavelets, Mercurial Stories, Tales to Terrify, and the Ladies of Horror fiction podcast. Her latest book, Seeing Things, is now available on Amazon. She lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 16, 2019
I was able to gobble up these stories in the span of a day. Great, quick reads. Reminded me of my car rides up north (MN). I mostly know where we're going, but the scenery is fantastic. My favorite from this collection was I LOVE YOUR WORK - a story where a fan, against all odds, meets her favorite author and becomes a major part of the author's next story.
I have this at 3.5 stars only because the final story does something I don't like, but rounding up because I like the author's stuff. This is my first read of her's, but it won't be my last.
I have this at 3.5 stars only because the final story does something I don't like, but rounding up because I like the author's stuff. This is my first read of her's, but it won't be my last.
October 21, 2019
Honestly, I cannot wait to keep reading books by this author. She is quickly becoming a favorite!
August 19, 2019
Sonora Taylor’s short anthology The Crow’s Gift and Other Tales contains four brief tales of horror. I really loved her unusual serial killer tale Without Condition, so I had to give this collection a read!
In The Crow’s Gift, Tabitha is being bullied by schoolmate Simon. She’s also starting to make friends with a crow she calls Timothy, who brings her pretty pebbles in return for the crackers she feeds him and his friends. This one is simple, to the point, and delightful.
I Love Your Work sees Ann trying desperately to see her favorite author, Samuel Miller, at a book signing–but it seems like the universe itself is trying to keep her from getting there as one thing goes wrong after another! This is an entertaining little story that is simple-but-fun.
The protagonist of I Never Knew Your Name sees a certain stranger every day on their way to work, and for some reason these two just seem to click and always say hello. Then children start to go missing, and things get weird. This one’s a little surreal, and I might have liked just a little more information, but it’s intriguing as it is.
In All the Pieces Coming Together, Taylor returns to the world of serial killers. A fledgling serial killer picks up a woman at the bar, but finds he’s actually quite attracted to her. He decides to enjoy the night with her before killing her, but things don’t quite go according to plan.
That last story was my favorite–Taylor seems to be particularly good at presenting serial killers in new and unusual ways! This collection is a very brief read, but definitely enjoyable.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/08/s...
In The Crow’s Gift, Tabitha is being bullied by schoolmate Simon. She’s also starting to make friends with a crow she calls Timothy, who brings her pretty pebbles in return for the crackers she feeds him and his friends. This one is simple, to the point, and delightful.
I Love Your Work sees Ann trying desperately to see her favorite author, Samuel Miller, at a book signing–but it seems like the universe itself is trying to keep her from getting there as one thing goes wrong after another! This is an entertaining little story that is simple-but-fun.
The protagonist of I Never Knew Your Name sees a certain stranger every day on their way to work, and for some reason these two just seem to click and always say hello. Then children start to go missing, and things get weird. This one’s a little surreal, and I might have liked just a little more information, but it’s intriguing as it is.
In All the Pieces Coming Together, Taylor returns to the world of serial killers. A fledgling serial killer picks up a woman at the bar, but finds he’s actually quite attracted to her. He decides to enjoy the night with her before killing her, but things don’t quite go according to plan.
That last story was my favorite–Taylor seems to be particularly good at presenting serial killers in new and unusual ways! This collection is a very brief read, but definitely enjoyable.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/08/s...
September 8, 2022
Taylor remains great at creating a strong atmosphere and her stories are always a treat. This collection holds its own against previous Taylor work I’ve had the pleasure of reading.
The absolute standouts for me would be the eponymous story of the lot, The Crow’s gift, and the quirky dark tale ‘I Love Your Work’ (which will have me side-eyeing any author who seems to want to meet me).
The stories, a short overview:
-The Crow’s Gift:*
Tabitha is a lonely kid who’s being bullied by the school jerk. Befriending a murder of crows gives her a much needed bright spot. A story about an eye for an eye. Be kind to birds, people.
-I Love Your Work:*
Ann is a fan of an author and seizes the opportunity to see him in person at a book signing, although it seems like the universe has other plans for her. Sometimes we’d be wise to listen to the universe, though. Puts new meaning into when authors say that they couldn’t do what they do without their fans.
-I Never Knew Your Name:
A stream of consciousness-esque flash piece dealing with the protagonist’s exchange of friendly hellos with a stranger and the news about missing children. Thoroughly ambiguous
-All the Pieces Coming Together:
A killer on the prowl for his next victim picks up the wrong person in this story.
The absolute standouts for me would be the eponymous story of the lot, The Crow’s gift, and the quirky dark tale ‘I Love Your Work’ (which will have me side-eyeing any author who seems to want to meet me).
The stories, a short overview:
-The Crow’s Gift:*
Tabitha is a lonely kid who’s being bullied by the school jerk. Befriending a murder of crows gives her a much needed bright spot. A story about an eye for an eye. Be kind to birds, people.
-I Love Your Work:*
Ann is a fan of an author and seizes the opportunity to see him in person at a book signing, although it seems like the universe has other plans for her. Sometimes we’d be wise to listen to the universe, though. Puts new meaning into when authors say that they couldn’t do what they do without their fans.
-I Never Knew Your Name:
A stream of consciousness-esque flash piece dealing with the protagonist’s exchange of friendly hellos with a stranger and the news about missing children. Thoroughly ambiguous
-All the Pieces Coming Together:
A killer on the prowl for his next victim picks up the wrong person in this story.
September 25, 2017
I really enjoyed all of the stories, but particularly "I Love Your Work." The author does a great job of taking seemingly innocuous situations and turning them on their head. It was creepy, but not disgusting. Just enough to give you a chill and leave you wondering. Looking forward to reading more of your work, Sonora!
September 4, 2019
Review coming this week...
May 6, 2020
Another very strong collection of dark fiction from Sonora Taylor.
I think the titular "Crow's Gift" was the story that stuck with me most (having not gotten to the reviewing of the book straight away). What I liked best about the book, and this applies to every story in the collection, is that it was easy to fall into.
If what you're seeking in a title is escapism, this may be the one for you to pick up.
I think the titular "Crow's Gift" was the story that stuck with me most (having not gotten to the reviewing of the book straight away). What I liked best about the book, and this applies to every story in the collection, is that it was easy to fall into.
If what you're seeking in a title is escapism, this may be the one for you to pick up.
January 19, 2022
Loved these stories!!
June 24, 2025
Five stars for the title story. Two to three stars for the other two.
December 2, 2021
"Classic Creepy" for the 21st century. Refreshingly unsettling.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews