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Danse Macabre
The dead beckon and the little girl obeys. Night after night she answers the graveyard’s call, though she dreads her encounters with the creature that dwells there.
But she’ll soon come to learn that memories are much more dangerous than monsters…
Librarian's note: Alternate cover edition of ASIN B016FRZ7KE.
But she’ll soon come to learn that memories are much more dangerous than monsters…
Librarian's note: Alternate cover edition of ASIN B016FRZ7KE.
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First published October 9, 2015
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About the author
Laura M. Hughes
5 books265 followersLaura was born and raised beneath the grey skies of northern England, where she currently lives with her partner and two fluffy cats. She writes LitRPG under the pen name Demi Harper; her first novel, GOD OF GNOMES, was released in September 2019.
Her short stories have been included in anthologies such as LOST LORE, ART OF WAR and HEROES WANTED (winner of the 2019 r/Fantasy Stabby Award for Best Anthology). Laura is also the founder of The Fantasy Hive, and has contributed non-fiction articles to fantasy sites Tor.com and Fantasy-Faction.
Her short stories have been included in anthologies such as LOST LORE, ART OF WAR and HEROES WANTED (winner of the 2019 r/Fantasy Stabby Award for Best Anthology). Laura is also the founder of The Fantasy Hive, and has contributed non-fiction articles to fantasy sites Tor.com and Fantasy-Faction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
May 11, 2025
This is a gothic horror novella at 25,000ish words many modern writers would call it a long short story and Michael Moorcock would call it a book.
The primary strength of Danse Macabre (the 7th book of that title thrown up by Goodreads search) is the prose. The descriptions and atmosphere are excellent. Not perfect - to my taste Hughes often uses one more adjective than needed - but really very good.
The period and location are rather tough to pin down and quite possibly it flits across centuries and continents. At first the story is rather confusing and you have to bear with it across some rather swift scene changes, but once you get the hang of the thing it becomes fun.
There are twists, there is satisfying murder, there are moments of sadness.
I'm rounding this up to 5*. I'm a proseophile. If you like novellas you should like this one. Hughes should write a book. And remove 3 adjectives a page.
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The primary strength of Danse Macabre (the 7th book of that title thrown up by Goodreads search) is the prose. The descriptions and atmosphere are excellent. Not perfect - to my taste Hughes often uses one more adjective than needed - but really very good.
The period and location are rather tough to pin down and quite possibly it flits across centuries and continents. At first the story is rather confusing and you have to bear with it across some rather swift scene changes, but once you get the hang of the thing it becomes fun.
There are twists, there is satisfying murder, there are moments of sadness.
I'm rounding this up to 5*. I'm a proseophile. If you like novellas you should like this one. Hughes should write a book. And remove 3 adjectives a page.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
April 2, 2017
"All angels are men, all men are crows, and all crows are liars."
Danse Macabre is Laura M Hughes's debut outing and at only 56 pages I was able to read this novella in about an hour. It follows a seemingly innocent and shy young girl called Blue who has to complete a mission given to her by a disfigured being claiming to be an angel. This shadowy fiend haunts a graveyard and states that Blue has to murder ten sinners and upon completion, her deceased mother and sister can escape purgatory and ascend unto Heaven.
It had a really intriguing beginning with a young boy telling a tale around a crowded bonfire regarding an apparently evil old man who dwelt in the neighbourhood and a couple of events that happened in this gentleman's immoral past. Blue remained lurking and listening in the shadows whilst this was taking place and then her story really begins. After this, the narrative follows Blue's actions and reveals important sections of her haunting past. Within a chapter, it would sometimes change between past events to present happenings to actions at a different place in the present and at certain points, I did feel slightly disorientated. I kept with it because I have seen nothing but good reviews for this book and fortunately it all worked out for the better with the different threads of the story all combining together quite nicely. I am unaware what era this is meant to be set within but not knowing doesn't affect the story. Whilst reading, I imagined it taking place in the early 1900's in an outback village somewhere. Hughes's writing is masterly, with lovely poetic prose and an utterly captivating and suspenseful ending where all is wrapped up nicely. The descriptions of some events throughout the narrative (such as certain deaths) are not that detailed or thorough but this allowed me to imagine the action for myself instead of being told exactly what was taking place and for me, that is quite a refreshing way to read sometimes. There are not too many characters either and the players who are involved are not too complex due to the length of the book, however; I liked following Blue's thoughts and antics and I enjoyed it when crow and snail turned up at certain occasions before one of Blue's victims were disposed of. This is a pretty good debut outing full of wonderful imagery, a great amount of tension of the macabre variety and in my mind, it definitely seems to have a dark fairy tale feel to it. Laura was giving this book away free on Amazon when I purchased it which was a bonus but even at full price it is under £1.00 and it can also be read on Kindle Unlimited so it is 100% worth checking out.
Thanks for reading - James
www.youandibooks.wordpress.com
Danse Macabre is Laura M Hughes's debut outing and at only 56 pages I was able to read this novella in about an hour. It follows a seemingly innocent and shy young girl called Blue who has to complete a mission given to her by a disfigured being claiming to be an angel. This shadowy fiend haunts a graveyard and states that Blue has to murder ten sinners and upon completion, her deceased mother and sister can escape purgatory and ascend unto Heaven.
It had a really intriguing beginning with a young boy telling a tale around a crowded bonfire regarding an apparently evil old man who dwelt in the neighbourhood and a couple of events that happened in this gentleman's immoral past. Blue remained lurking and listening in the shadows whilst this was taking place and then her story really begins. After this, the narrative follows Blue's actions and reveals important sections of her haunting past. Within a chapter, it would sometimes change between past events to present happenings to actions at a different place in the present and at certain points, I did feel slightly disorientated. I kept with it because I have seen nothing but good reviews for this book and fortunately it all worked out for the better with the different threads of the story all combining together quite nicely. I am unaware what era this is meant to be set within but not knowing doesn't affect the story. Whilst reading, I imagined it taking place in the early 1900's in an outback village somewhere. Hughes's writing is masterly, with lovely poetic prose and an utterly captivating and suspenseful ending where all is wrapped up nicely. The descriptions of some events throughout the narrative (such as certain deaths) are not that detailed or thorough but this allowed me to imagine the action for myself instead of being told exactly what was taking place and for me, that is quite a refreshing way to read sometimes. There are not too many characters either and the players who are involved are not too complex due to the length of the book, however; I liked following Blue's thoughts and antics and I enjoyed it when crow and snail turned up at certain occasions before one of Blue's victims were disposed of. This is a pretty good debut outing full of wonderful imagery, a great amount of tension of the macabre variety and in my mind, it definitely seems to have a dark fairy tale feel to it. Laura was giving this book away free on Amazon when I purchased it which was a bonus but even at full price it is under £1.00 and it can also be read on Kindle Unlimited so it is 100% worth checking out.
Thanks for reading - James
www.youandibooks.wordpress.com
September 25, 2017
Mini review
Just within an hour, you can experience a great enchanting and haunting tale.
To sum up this little gothic horror novelette in one word, it’s truly macabre. If you know me by now, you will know that I rated my novellas quite critically, in fact, there are only three novellas that I’ve read up to this day which received a 4 or higher rating from me. Those novellas are Secret History, Emperor’s Soul and Edgedancer, all written by Brandon Sanderson, Laura's little story is the newest addition to that list.
I will not talk about the plot at all, this book is short enough already, you can read it in an hour. All you have to know is that for its short length, Laura has managed to tell an evocative story with her wonderful prose. She really has a way with words, every setting and the plot she weaved felt vivid and memorable.
By the end of this little story, the first thing that came to my mind is that Laura Hughes seriously need to write more books; this is a wonderful novella that I'll recommend to everyone who's looking for a great short horror read.
You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest
Just within an hour, you can experience a great enchanting and haunting tale.
To sum up this little gothic horror novelette in one word, it’s truly macabre. If you know me by now, you will know that I rated my novellas quite critically, in fact, there are only three novellas that I’ve read up to this day which received a 4 or higher rating from me. Those novellas are Secret History, Emperor’s Soul and Edgedancer, all written by Brandon Sanderson, Laura's little story is the newest addition to that list.
I will not talk about the plot at all, this book is short enough already, you can read it in an hour. All you have to know is that for its short length, Laura has managed to tell an evocative story with her wonderful prose. She really has a way with words, every setting and the plot she weaved felt vivid and memorable.
“Words have power. Words hold painful truths and delicious lies. Just one word can stir up a hundred memories and a thousand feelings so that you can be hurt by a word or killed by a sentence.”
By the end of this little story, the first thing that came to my mind is that Laura Hughes seriously need to write more books; this is a wonderful novella that I'll recommend to everyone who's looking for a great short horror read.
You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest
February 28, 2017
Hughes' little novelette is the short story of the year.
“Blue always preferred numbers to words. Words have power. Words hold painful truths and delicious lies. Just one word can stir up a hundred memories and a thousand feelings so that you can be hurt by a word or killed by a sentence.”
Laura is a virtuosa of prose. Dancing between beautifully written allegories and masterfully placed expositions, she has written an ostensibly "non sequitured" story with vivid imagery and even pace. Danse Macabre is a fast, one-hour read, and the paperback costs only four pounds, so do yourself a favor and buy it now.
You can find more of my reviews over at http://BookNest.eu/
“Blue always preferred numbers to words. Words have power. Words hold painful truths and delicious lies. Just one word can stir up a hundred memories and a thousand feelings so that you can be hurt by a word or killed by a sentence.”
Laura is a virtuosa of prose. Dancing between beautifully written allegories and masterfully placed expositions, she has written an ostensibly "non sequitured" story with vivid imagery and even pace. Danse Macabre is a fast, one-hour read, and the paperback costs only four pounds, so do yourself a favor and buy it now.
You can find more of my reviews over at http://BookNest.eu/
November 12, 2017
Dark, haunting and clever. An emotional roller coaster that will leave you guessing, wondering and feeling for the a main character caught in a horrifying string of events that end with a satisfying if not tragic ending.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
November 1, 2018
I quite enjoyed that little novelette!
It was darker than expected, though not scary. It had quite some good unpredictable twists and kept the reader in the dark about what was going on for quite a while!
I especially enjoyed the mix of what felt like a bit of Poe, with a young childs POV, a dash of bloody murder, a bit of deceit and some lore to spice it up!
Definitely worth a look for a quick "story snack" between the big books! I'll definitely keep an eye out for more works of Laura Hughes!
It was darker than expected, though not scary. It had quite some good unpredictable twists and kept the reader in the dark about what was going on for quite a while!
I especially enjoyed the mix of what felt like a bit of Poe, with a young childs POV, a dash of bloody murder, a bit of deceit and some lore to spice it up!
Definitely worth a look for a quick "story snack" between the big books! I'll definitely keep an eye out for more works of Laura Hughes!
November 13, 2017
3.5*'s.
Ms Hughes has excellent prose which really added a dark subtext to this interesting horror novelette. She is able to simultaneously depict the scene, characters and action into one fluid motion with nothing superfluous added.
The plot itself was easy to figure out and she flipped through events near the end in a furious fashion where she could have developed things more. I do hope she writes something longer and more developed in the future.
Ms Hughes has excellent prose which really added a dark subtext to this interesting horror novelette. She is able to simultaneously depict the scene, characters and action into one fluid motion with nothing superfluous added.
The plot itself was easy to figure out and she flipped through events near the end in a furious fashion where she could have developed things more. I do hope she writes something longer and more developed in the future.
May 25, 2018
Deliciously creepy novella. Review to follow.
November 15, 2017
I would have never heard of this novel without being familiar with fantasy-faction and Laura. Danse Macabre feels more like a horror story than a fantasy, which is not exactly my cup of tea. I usually feel that horror elements in horror stories are used for no good reason, but only for the sake of horror itself (maybe that's the whole idea? ). That's me anyway.
From the very beginning you can feel the how creepy and bleak the world is. Other readers might like it but I didn't like the horror atmosphere in this novella. I must admit that I'm not not fond of that writing-style, and I didn't feel the plot was tight enough. I forced myself a few times to keep reading and I'm glad I did.
There are few things that I did like that I liked in this novella. Laura pulled nice plot-twists, Snail and Crow are interesting characters, and the second half was better than the first one, especially the ending.
I'm not exactly the target audience for this story, so don't be discouraged by my review if you're into horror stories.
“All angels are men, all men are crows, and all crows are liars.”
3.25/5
From the very beginning you can feel the how creepy and bleak the world is. Other readers might like it but I didn't like the horror atmosphere in this novella. I must admit that I'm not not fond of that writing-style, and I didn't feel the plot was tight enough. I forced myself a few times to keep reading and I'm glad I did.
There are few things that I did like that I liked in this novella. Laura pulled nice plot-twists, Snail and Crow are interesting characters, and the second half was better than the first one, especially the ending.
I'm not exactly the target audience for this story, so don't be discouraged by my review if you're into horror stories.
“All angels are men, all men are crows, and all crows are liars.”
3.25/5
March 13, 2017
Blue always preferred numbers to words. Words have power. Words hold painful truths and delicious lies. Just one word can stir up a hundred memories and a thousand feelings so that you can be hurt by a word or killed by a sentence.
3.5 stars. At only 56 pages this novella definitely had a bigger impact on me that most short stories I read. The language was beautiful and the story reminded me a bit of Neil Gaiman. If you are a fan of his, then try this.
May 5, 2017
I know the author of this book, so my review may be biased. This is a novella Laura wrote. It took me a bit of time to get into the story. In the beginning I was mostly just confused and wasn't sure what was going on. I persisted and I'm glad I did, because after a while things became clearer. The story is quite creepy, I enjoyed reading about this creepy atmosphere. After things became clearer I enjoyed the story a whole lot more. I liked the way the chapters were done, counting down from ten. it was cleverly done. Overall it's a nice story that I enjoyed reading.
October 18, 2019
‘Blue, still kneeling, turns her head slowly to the left. Mere inches from her face, a great pair of spider-egg eyes gleam dangerously in the moonlight. He crouches beside her, head tilted to one side, staring at her from atop the other grave, as always.’
~
Danse Macabre by Laura M. Hughes is a little gothic horror novella that I quickly devoured within just over an hour and half. I was so compelled and drawn into this story that it left me contemplating over it hours after finishing, which is a great testament to how this book really impacted me.
Very briefly the story follows a young protagonist called Blue, who throughout the novella is slowly coming to terms with all the tragedy that has befallen her. Blue is a character that is not portrayed as wholly good nor wholly evil, she is just a girl who has to suffer the consequences of her actions. You see the graveyard calls to her, and when it does she is compelled to obey the commands of the entity that dwells there. To break free from it’s torturous stifling grip she must uncover the truth and find her way towards peace.
Firstly, let me start off by saying how much I loved Hughes’ narrative style. I have previously read a short story by her, so I knew that she could deliver eloquent prose. What pleasantly surprised me in Danse Macabre was the way Hughes built up such an unsettling atmosphere. Each scene was filled with dark and gothic elements. From the setting of a seedy street, to the chilling graveyard, and even in the cryptic characters of the Crow and the Snail; we get a sense of horror that’s about to unfold. I’m a huge fan of Neil Gaiman, who I feel is an author who really nails this kind of eerie atmosphere perfectly, and I’d happily say that Hughes was very reminiscent of Gaiman.
~
‘The fire, the screams, the dancing shadows - she knows that this is somehow right; there should be fire, to hold back the darkness, to warm the innocent, to burn the evil.’
~
I definitely feel that on Halloween or just deep in the middle of winter is the perfect time to read this. I read this on a gloomy rainy afternoon, and it was pure bliss. Let me make a suggestion; grab yourself a hot chocolate, throw in some marshmallows, why not, you deserve a treat, get yourself a cosy blanket and curl up near a fire. Then pick up Danse Macabre and loose yourself into a delightfully sinister tale.
~
‘All angels are men, all men are crows, and all crows are liars.’
~
Danse Macabre by Laura M. Hughes is a little gothic horror novella that I quickly devoured within just over an hour and half. I was so compelled and drawn into this story that it left me contemplating over it hours after finishing, which is a great testament to how this book really impacted me.
Very briefly the story follows a young protagonist called Blue, who throughout the novella is slowly coming to terms with all the tragedy that has befallen her. Blue is a character that is not portrayed as wholly good nor wholly evil, she is just a girl who has to suffer the consequences of her actions. You see the graveyard calls to her, and when it does she is compelled to obey the commands of the entity that dwells there. To break free from it’s torturous stifling grip she must uncover the truth and find her way towards peace.
Firstly, let me start off by saying how much I loved Hughes’ narrative style. I have previously read a short story by her, so I knew that she could deliver eloquent prose. What pleasantly surprised me in Danse Macabre was the way Hughes built up such an unsettling atmosphere. Each scene was filled with dark and gothic elements. From the setting of a seedy street, to the chilling graveyard, and even in the cryptic characters of the Crow and the Snail; we get a sense of horror that’s about to unfold. I’m a huge fan of Neil Gaiman, who I feel is an author who really nails this kind of eerie atmosphere perfectly, and I’d happily say that Hughes was very reminiscent of Gaiman.
~
‘The fire, the screams, the dancing shadows - she knows that this is somehow right; there should be fire, to hold back the darkness, to warm the innocent, to burn the evil.’
~
I definitely feel that on Halloween or just deep in the middle of winter is the perfect time to read this. I read this on a gloomy rainy afternoon, and it was pure bliss. Let me make a suggestion; grab yourself a hot chocolate, throw in some marshmallows, why not, you deserve a treat, get yourself a cosy blanket and curl up near a fire. Then pick up Danse Macabre and loose yourself into a delightfully sinister tale.
~
‘All angels are men, all men are crows, and all crows are liars.’
September 17, 2016
A short, dark story of redemption and fall. Some beautiful imagery and a delicate touch with emotions. The story is carries you along in the mind of a small girl, lost amongst sorrow and loneliness.
July 7, 2017
Fina mala pricica za koju priznajem da nisam iz prve pohvatao sta se desava (citanje na javnom mesto oce to tako). Vrlo lepo odradjena atmosfera puna nelagodnosti plus fin tvist na kraju. Jedino sto nema puno likova ali dobro na 60tak strana i ne mozemo ocekiveti preveliku razradu.
U svakom slucaju cu baciti i na druga pisanja ove spisateljice.
U svakom slucaju cu baciti i na druga pisanja ove spisateljice.
March 9, 2017
Review TBC.
October 9, 2016
I had no idea what to expect from this novella, but a couple of other reviews convinced me to give it a shot. I'm really glad I did. Hughes sets a striking, unsettling tone and mood immediately, sucking us into... somewhere cool. And terrible. Could be somewhere in the recent past of a city/village in Great Britain, could be colonial America. Could be now, could be a hundred years ago. We just don't know. And that's part of the fun - and weirdness - of this tale. The characters are immediately memorable and beyond interesting, with a strange young protagonist and bizarre, unforgettable antagonist. Then there are the main character's amazingly conceived "sidekicks," Crow and Snail. Yeah, it's like that. This is definitely horror, with a touch of fantasy, but it's also a fable, and a psychological thriller. But no mish-mash here. Hughes balances them brilliantly, with a clear, powerful voice and style. This is a delightful, flesh-tingling, quick and quirky read, folks. Pass on it at your own peril.
April 10, 2017
The hunter’s moon glowers down. The little girl walks along the path. Her shadow stretches long behind her, and it is filled with death.
This is quite the allegorical novella, haunting and macabre, with mournful imagery throughout. I'm sure different readers will see individual aspects as more profound or more compelling. I found deeply rooted childhood teachings and thoughts of Heaven and Hell and imagery that can linger with us as we age. We may not believe, that is true, but sometimes we are trapped in the moral and spiritual cages of religious inculcation. Mamma was there, and the crow and the snail were powerful concepts of good and evil on young but weighted shoulders.
His voice was that of the Serpent, and her mamma had always told her to beware those who used too many words. Words are liars.
As soon as she reaches the door she sees Snail. He has left a glistening trail across the glass and come to a halt in the middle of the ‘o’ in ‘Closed’. He sits there, level with Blue’s eyes, as though silently challenging her intent.
Behind her Crow caws suddenly; Snail’s eyes withdraw inside his shell with a fearful jerk.
Blue is a tricky character as the primary eyes of the story~ young, shadowed, sad, compelling, bereft of an actual voice throughout. Her companions are a snail, a crow. A milky, spider-eyed guardian of the paupers graveyard commanding this child, Blue, to make reparation for her family so they are not condemned to purgatory for her sins; or her lack of guidance on how to enforce his demanded 10 commandments. His expected 10 lives.
“This game must be played. If not by you then by another little girl, one who cares about her family and cannot bear to let them suffer. “And let us not forget: to sin against your fellow man is to sin against Heaven, against seraphim such as myself. It is because of malefactors like you that we are reduced to this--” he straightened and gestured at his scorched clothes, “—and so it is your duty to make things right."
The chapters work backwards, ending on 1. It's a clever way to meld the past with the present. In reality it's still flashbacks connected to a contemporary event, and it still concludes as any story would, but I thought it clever the way the author added another layer of suspense to the whole.
The ending was slightly rush-rush, my only complaint in an otherwise excellent story. Danse Macabre is a darkly compelling novella for fantasy, spec-fic and horror lovers.
This is quite the allegorical novella, haunting and macabre, with mournful imagery throughout. I'm sure different readers will see individual aspects as more profound or more compelling. I found deeply rooted childhood teachings and thoughts of Heaven and Hell and imagery that can linger with us as we age. We may not believe, that is true, but sometimes we are trapped in the moral and spiritual cages of religious inculcation. Mamma was there, and the crow and the snail were powerful concepts of good and evil on young but weighted shoulders.
His voice was that of the Serpent, and her mamma had always told her to beware those who used too many words. Words are liars.
As soon as she reaches the door she sees Snail. He has left a glistening trail across the glass and come to a halt in the middle of the ‘o’ in ‘Closed’. He sits there, level with Blue’s eyes, as though silently challenging her intent.
Behind her Crow caws suddenly; Snail’s eyes withdraw inside his shell with a fearful jerk.
Blue is a tricky character as the primary eyes of the story~ young, shadowed, sad, compelling, bereft of an actual voice throughout. Her companions are a snail, a crow. A milky, spider-eyed guardian of the paupers graveyard commanding this child, Blue, to make reparation for her family so they are not condemned to purgatory for her sins; or her lack of guidance on how to enforce his demanded 10 commandments. His expected 10 lives.
“This game must be played. If not by you then by another little girl, one who cares about her family and cannot bear to let them suffer. “And let us not forget: to sin against your fellow man is to sin against Heaven, against seraphim such as myself. It is because of malefactors like you that we are reduced to this--” he straightened and gestured at his scorched clothes, “—and so it is your duty to make things right."
The chapters work backwards, ending on 1. It's a clever way to meld the past with the present. In reality it's still flashbacks connected to a contemporary event, and it still concludes as any story would, but I thought it clever the way the author added another layer of suspense to the whole.
The ending was slightly rush-rush, my only complaint in an otherwise excellent story. Danse Macabre is a darkly compelling novella for fantasy, spec-fic and horror lovers.
October 30, 2018
Words have power. Words hold painful truths and delicious lies.
Well, this was a pleasant surprise. I learned of this horror novella earlier today and decided to pick it up as a Halloween treat for myself. I literally read this in one sitting and it has completely blown me away. Danse Macabre is a haunting, somber and tragic tale that is so much more than a typical horror story with its tendrils deeply steeped in the realm of psychological thrillers. There's a profound sense of mystery that keeps you hooked and also remains well after you finish the final sentences, leaving you to contemplate the meanings hidden within.
Hughes' prose is beautifully poetic and flows so wonderfully, it made this impossible to put down. Although the story is a short novella, I was surprisingly invested in the characters I was introduced to and was extremely satisfied with its ending.
I usually include some sort of short summary, but I don't think anything I write will give this story the justice it deserves - you'll just have to read it for yourself!
Well, this was a pleasant surprise. I learned of this horror novella earlier today and decided to pick it up as a Halloween treat for myself. I literally read this in one sitting and it has completely blown me away. Danse Macabre is a haunting, somber and tragic tale that is so much more than a typical horror story with its tendrils deeply steeped in the realm of psychological thrillers. There's a profound sense of mystery that keeps you hooked and also remains well after you finish the final sentences, leaving you to contemplate the meanings hidden within.
Hughes' prose is beautifully poetic and flows so wonderfully, it made this impossible to put down. Although the story is a short novella, I was surprisingly invested in the characters I was introduced to and was extremely satisfied with its ending.
I usually include some sort of short summary, but I don't think anything I write will give this story the justice it deserves - you'll just have to read it for yourself!
February 6, 2017
What is the novelette about? Blue is a 10 year old girl who visits the graveyard every day as her twin, older sister and mother have been laid to rest there. During one of the visits, there is a very ragged looking man standing on her sister’s grave. He offers Blue a deal to redeem the sins of her dead family members or their souls will forever be stuck in between Heaven and Hell.
“And let us not forget: to sin against your fellow man is to sin against Heaven, against seraphim such as myself. It is because of malefactors like you that we are reduced to this-” he straightened and gestured at his scorched clothes, “- and so it is your duty to make things right.”
To save her families souls, Blue must commit 10 acts for the man, one for each of her years. And so the countdown from 10 will begin… I really enjoyed the addition of Snail and Crow who appeared every time Blue was committing one of those acts. They were like the yin and yang of Blue’s subconscious, the angel and devil sitting on her shoulders.
She knows vaguely that this is right; that there should be fire to hold back the darkness, to warm the innocent, to burn the evil.
To give you an idea of the themes in this short read, Laura M Hughes addresses the very human weakness that is blind faith. Not by any means am I saying I don’t understand why Blue accepted the deal. I do. Everyone would do everything to save their loved ones. Also, we are dealing with a child’s mind here… and, personally, I believe that brainwashing kids with religion from early age should be banned. I digress… Back to the book…
The story is truly dark… there’s death, bloody consequences, murder and gruesome scenes. There is a subtle religious theme around sins and Ten Commandments. Is Blue avenging the innocents, is she wreaking revenge? Is she getting involved with something that little girls should never be involved with? Is Blue the victim or a hero?
You will find out everything there is to know about the why’s and the how’s and who’s… There will be no question, reasoning, logic lost in between the 56 Kindle pages of a story. Buckle up and be prepared for an hour of Hell on Earth!
This is all I can say about the story without ruining it for you with spoilers. ‘Memories are deadlier than monsters‘ is a very accurate summary for Danse Macabre. The overall writing truly created and set the scene in which Blue seems to ‘operate’. The only confusion I felt was around the time the story was happening- 19th century, 20th? There, thereabouts anyway. Also, I had trouble immediately getting into what was a memory and what was present- probably just my own lack of attention, however, memory bits formatted in Italics would have been awesome. Lastly, to those who have read the book and understand what I’m trying to say- I was a bit unhappy with the ending. I can see why one of the ‘items’ didn’t work on the man but that the second item did, seemed a bit far-fetched. It’s unique but unbelievable. And yet, they’re all tiny grievances. The never-ending fight in between good and evil, the questions of morals and wrong and right were brilliantly executed by Hughes in Danse Macabre and I really enjoyed this read. 4 stars.
I found out about this intriguing little story when Drew reviewed it on The Tattooed Book Geek and I immediately went to download my copy. This book truly is death dancing!
Blue always preferred numbers to words. Words have power. Words hold painful truths and delicious lies. Just one word can stir up a hundred memories and a thousand feelings so that you can be hurt by a word or killed by a sentence.
“And let us not forget: to sin against your fellow man is to sin against Heaven, against seraphim such as myself. It is because of malefactors like you that we are reduced to this-” he straightened and gestured at his scorched clothes, “- and so it is your duty to make things right.”
To save her families souls, Blue must commit 10 acts for the man, one for each of her years. And so the countdown from 10 will begin… I really enjoyed the addition of Snail and Crow who appeared every time Blue was committing one of those acts. They were like the yin and yang of Blue’s subconscious, the angel and devil sitting on her shoulders.
She knows vaguely that this is right; that there should be fire to hold back the darkness, to warm the innocent, to burn the evil.
To give you an idea of the themes in this short read, Laura M Hughes addresses the very human weakness that is blind faith. Not by any means am I saying I don’t understand why Blue accepted the deal. I do. Everyone would do everything to save their loved ones. Also, we are dealing with a child’s mind here… and, personally, I believe that brainwashing kids with religion from early age should be banned. I digress… Back to the book…
The story is truly dark… there’s death, bloody consequences, murder and gruesome scenes. There is a subtle religious theme around sins and Ten Commandments. Is Blue avenging the innocents, is she wreaking revenge? Is she getting involved with something that little girls should never be involved with? Is Blue the victim or a hero?
You will find out everything there is to know about the why’s and the how’s and who’s… There will be no question, reasoning, logic lost in between the 56 Kindle pages of a story. Buckle up and be prepared for an hour of Hell on Earth!
This is all I can say about the story without ruining it for you with spoilers. ‘Memories are deadlier than monsters‘ is a very accurate summary for Danse Macabre. The overall writing truly created and set the scene in which Blue seems to ‘operate’. The only confusion I felt was around the time the story was happening- 19th century, 20th? There, thereabouts anyway. Also, I had trouble immediately getting into what was a memory and what was present- probably just my own lack of attention, however, memory bits formatted in Italics would have been awesome. Lastly, to those who have read the book and understand what I’m trying to say- I was a bit unhappy with the ending. I can see why one of the ‘items’ didn’t work on the man but that the second item did, seemed a bit far-fetched. It’s unique but unbelievable. And yet, they’re all tiny grievances. The never-ending fight in between good and evil, the questions of morals and wrong and right were brilliantly executed by Hughes in Danse Macabre and I really enjoyed this read. 4 stars.
I found out about this intriguing little story when Drew reviewed it on The Tattooed Book Geek and I immediately went to download my copy. This book truly is death dancing!
Blue always preferred numbers to words. Words have power. Words hold painful truths and delicious lies. Just one word can stir up a hundred memories and a thousand feelings so that you can be hurt by a word or killed by a sentence.
January 2, 2017
As always my full review can also be found on my blog: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
This is a stunning read, in just 56 pages Hughes crafts a fully fledged story with a captivating main character in Blue and a fitting if somewhat tragic ending. Being a novella you know that words and space are to a premium and Hughes utilizes these perfectly, giving you a tale that keeps you intrigued, guessing and mesmerised. It's dark and ominous with an underlying tone of tragedy throughout.
In short, Blue is a young girl, tormented by memories, each night she visits the village cemetery and the graves of her lost loved ones. Each time, there is a man waiting for her there, Blue strikes a bargain with him and thus her tale of revenge and redemption is set.
Blue as I mentioned is a captivating character, the struggles she faces, the actions she must take and the consequences of those actions are all gripping. Even without a single line of dialogue she's a character that you really feel for. As the story progresses we see some flashbacks of Blue's, these help you as the reader feel drawn to her even more as you experience events that she has had to go through in her past.
Along with Blue there's also a few other characters, Snail and Crow are by Blue's side for her story, her sidekicks, offering advice and acting as her conscious. There's also the man who haunts Blue, he comes across as sinister and menacing and when his true intentions are revealed late on takes on a nightmarish aspect to.
The world building is also top quality, it's only a novella so we aren't given detailed and multi layered areas full of history and lore but what we are given works really well. While we don't actually know when or where the story takes place Hughes creates a vividly dark setting for her tale that fits the tone perfectly.
The book starts at chapter 10 and ends with chapter 1, this may seem strange at first, it did to me but it ties in well to the story and as you progress you will have an "ah" moment when you realise why the chapters are labelled in reverse.
Hughes writing is also praiseworthy, weaving together elements of fantasy, horror, ghost stories and thriller her style is dark and creepy yet she never goes overboard with the descriptions or gore for the horror elements, sometimes we don't need gallons of blood with viscera spraying everywhere and that old saying "less is more" is apt for Danse Macabre. Sometimes it's what you're not shown rather than what you are that allows you as the reader to imagine the scenes in your head as you read them. This means that those of you who would normally shy away from the genre can easily give this a go and treat yourself to this read.
Hughes has a way with words that borders on the poetic, she manages to create vivid imagery and emotion for her main character in Blue.
I don't read many novella's but this is the best one I have read, Danse Macabre outstanding, it is an atmospheric, haunting and evocative read that I highly recommend.
This is a stunning read, in just 56 pages Hughes crafts a fully fledged story with a captivating main character in Blue and a fitting if somewhat tragic ending. Being a novella you know that words and space are to a premium and Hughes utilizes these perfectly, giving you a tale that keeps you intrigued, guessing and mesmerised. It's dark and ominous with an underlying tone of tragedy throughout.
In short, Blue is a young girl, tormented by memories, each night she visits the village cemetery and the graves of her lost loved ones. Each time, there is a man waiting for her there, Blue strikes a bargain with him and thus her tale of revenge and redemption is set.
Blue as I mentioned is a captivating character, the struggles she faces, the actions she must take and the consequences of those actions are all gripping. Even without a single line of dialogue she's a character that you really feel for. As the story progresses we see some flashbacks of Blue's, these help you as the reader feel drawn to her even more as you experience events that she has had to go through in her past.
Along with Blue there's also a few other characters, Snail and Crow are by Blue's side for her story, her sidekicks, offering advice and acting as her conscious. There's also the man who haunts Blue, he comes across as sinister and menacing and when his true intentions are revealed late on takes on a nightmarish aspect to.
The world building is also top quality, it's only a novella so we aren't given detailed and multi layered areas full of history and lore but what we are given works really well. While we don't actually know when or where the story takes place Hughes creates a vividly dark setting for her tale that fits the tone perfectly.
The book starts at chapter 10 and ends with chapter 1, this may seem strange at first, it did to me but it ties in well to the story and as you progress you will have an "ah" moment when you realise why the chapters are labelled in reverse.
Hughes writing is also praiseworthy, weaving together elements of fantasy, horror, ghost stories and thriller her style is dark and creepy yet she never goes overboard with the descriptions or gore for the horror elements, sometimes we don't need gallons of blood with viscera spraying everywhere and that old saying "less is more" is apt for Danse Macabre. Sometimes it's what you're not shown rather than what you are that allows you as the reader to imagine the scenes in your head as you read them. This means that those of you who would normally shy away from the genre can easily give this a go and treat yourself to this read.
Hughes has a way with words that borders on the poetic, she manages to create vivid imagery and emotion for her main character in Blue.
I don't read many novella's but this is the best one I have read, Danse Macabre outstanding, it is an atmospheric, haunting and evocative read that I highly recommend.
April 1, 2018
A shy young girl called Blue and an increasingly creepy angel draw this story into places one wouldn't normally dare to tread.
A clever plot, strong characterisation and beautiful prose lift this short story above most others in the genre.
One of the best reads I've had in a while.
A clever plot, strong characterisation and beautiful prose lift this short story above most others in the genre.
One of the best reads I've had in a while.
October 11, 2017
I'm not a great re-reader of books, but there are some whose very individual style and premise merit a revisit. This elegant, charming, cryptic little novella will not cost more than an hour or so of your time. Yet it will amply repay the investment with beautiful prose and an absorbing story.
Original review follows - and I still stand by every word.
I was first aware of Laura M Hughes as an entrant in a short story competition on Thatthornguy where I thought her 300 word piece of flash fiction on Life and Death was particularly noteworthy - a humorous lively style in a dark context.
I hadn't realised until today that Hughes had written a somewhat longer piece, this 56 page novelette, which I bought and devoured in a small hours of the morning of bedtime reading. This piece more than fulfils the promise of glimpse afforded by the competition with high quality writing and lots of points where I stopped to make a note.
For example in the line - "She placed a sensible hand on her right hip and tilted her head, just like mama did." - I loved the way adding the word "sensible" economically created a perfect image of the young girl's stance.
I have always thought the mark of true quality (genius if you like) in any endeavour is the economy of effort to achieve an outcome. The two deft touches on a football with which a striker scores an outstanding goal, the simple lines with which an artist conjures a perfect image, and the clean simple use of language - not complex words, not convoluted sentences - but ordinary words each skillfully placed to punch above its weight.
Thinking of this I had a slight meta-moment when I read the line "His voice was that of the Serpent, and her mamma had always told her to beware those who used too many words."
Another line that tickled me "The other girl subsided, grumbling something about how, when God created the world, he should have made sure there were enough decent dresses to go around."
Certainly Hughes does not use too many words, but this is still an ingenious and captivating piece. A young girl in a graveyard is haunted by a demanding apparition and - in strange ways - counselled by a snail and a crow as she sets about a quest. The first chapter number you see is number 10 - which might make you wonder if you have missed something. However, it is all part of a captivating story - in some ways a series of vignettes - in which we follow the girl Blue through dark memories and darker challenges.
Even now, re-reading bits of it, I am struck by the careful structure that lies beneath an ethereal tale, like the outline of furniture beneath a ghostly sheet. For example in a foreshadowed reference to oranges that goes on to haunt the story. There are others, cruel jibes with which fate taunts the protagonists, but to mention more would be to throw in some spoilers and this is a well written story that I would not wish to spoil for anyone.
Original review follows - and I still stand by every word.
I was first aware of Laura M Hughes as an entrant in a short story competition on Thatthornguy where I thought her 300 word piece of flash fiction on Life and Death was particularly noteworthy - a humorous lively style in a dark context.
I hadn't realised until today that Hughes had written a somewhat longer piece, this 56 page novelette, which I bought and devoured in a small hours of the morning of bedtime reading. This piece more than fulfils the promise of glimpse afforded by the competition with high quality writing and lots of points where I stopped to make a note.
For example in the line - "She placed a sensible hand on her right hip and tilted her head, just like mama did." - I loved the way adding the word "sensible" economically created a perfect image of the young girl's stance.
I have always thought the mark of true quality (genius if you like) in any endeavour is the economy of effort to achieve an outcome. The two deft touches on a football with which a striker scores an outstanding goal, the simple lines with which an artist conjures a perfect image, and the clean simple use of language - not complex words, not convoluted sentences - but ordinary words each skillfully placed to punch above its weight.
Thinking of this I had a slight meta-moment when I read the line "His voice was that of the Serpent, and her mamma had always told her to beware those who used too many words."
Another line that tickled me "The other girl subsided, grumbling something about how, when God created the world, he should have made sure there were enough decent dresses to go around."
Certainly Hughes does not use too many words, but this is still an ingenious and captivating piece. A young girl in a graveyard is haunted by a demanding apparition and - in strange ways - counselled by a snail and a crow as she sets about a quest. The first chapter number you see is number 10 - which might make you wonder if you have missed something. However, it is all part of a captivating story - in some ways a series of vignettes - in which we follow the girl Blue through dark memories and darker challenges.
Even now, re-reading bits of it, I am struck by the careful structure that lies beneath an ethereal tale, like the outline of furniture beneath a ghostly sheet. For example in a foreshadowed reference to oranges that goes on to haunt the story. There are others, cruel jibes with which fate taunts the protagonists, but to mention more would be to throw in some spoilers and this is a well written story that I would not wish to spoil for anyone.
April 2, 2018
Danse Macabre by Laura M. Hughes is a little ripper of a book. It’s subject matter is bleak, bleak, bleak, but it is brightened in dazzling fashion by some of the most lovely prose I’ve come across in some time. I’ve read this little book twice, most recently some months back on a cold, grim Sunday in front of a roaring fire, and you know what: that is the very place one should take in this book. Not in front of my fire, obviously, but a fire, somewhere.
Danse Macabre has a definite creepy, skin crawly feeling to it, with Blue always making me think of ‘that’ girl from The Ring. She’s got baggage, like ‘that’ girl, and she means to do something about it, something mean! There is a seed of creeping unease through the book, that eventually blooms like a great, big, black rose.
It’s a quick read, full of lyrical prose and vivid imagery. Hughes has created a little ripper with Danse Macabre. She even manages to make a snail a compelling character, I mean, that’s a talent!
Get yer eyeballs into it, in front of a fire. Not my fire.
Danse Macabre has a definite creepy, skin crawly feeling to it, with Blue always making me think of ‘that’ girl from The Ring. She’s got baggage, like ‘that’ girl, and she means to do something about it, something mean! There is a seed of creeping unease through the book, that eventually blooms like a great, big, black rose.
It’s a quick read, full of lyrical prose and vivid imagery. Hughes has created a little ripper with Danse Macabre. She even manages to make a snail a compelling character, I mean, that’s a talent!
Get yer eyeballs into it, in front of a fire. Not my fire.
October 7, 2017
A stunning story, one that managed to carry a creepiness and tension that sat like a weight on my chest the entire time I was reading. Full review (hopefully) to come.
January 16, 2017
I adored this sublimely eerie tale! The novella was fantastically dark and atmospheric. Danse Macabre was very well-written and exceptionally captivating. I thought the unique way in which the story was structured worked really well. The protagonist, a young girl named Blue is an unforgettable character. There is so much worth mentioning in this story, but, I feel potential readers would benefit from diving in knowing as little as possible. I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys horror or dark fantasy.
December 11, 2016
This book was eerily delightful and delightfully eerie. The author does a remarkable job of capturing our attention and creating a creepy atmosphere with excellent prose in a mere 50-ish pages. Danse Macabre is a great read, and I look forward to more books(short or long) from this author in the, hopefully, not-too-distant future!
July 28, 2016
I really enjoyed it! A bit confusing in the beginning but everything is becoming more clear a few chapters in. About halfway trough I thought I had it all figured out but in the end it was different from what I thought... I am looking forward to reading more by this author!
December 24, 2016
So deliciously dark and yet full of heart. I was transfixed from start to finish. Laura M. Hughes is an author whose work should be read by all.
November 3, 2016
This was a quick read, and I have to say I really enjoyed it. At times, I was a little confused and had to reread the passage I'd just read, but the writing was compelling enough that I couldn't put it down. Hughes plays with time skips and alternates between past and present tense, and the effect is is surprisingly immersive. I found myself slowly understanding more of the story as it progressed. All in all, I'd highly recommend this as a quick read for someone looking for something gripping and dark.
October 9, 2017
Very well-constructed and written novella. I loved the atmosphere of the piece and the character of Blue - I bought into her arc completely and found its resolution quite satisfying. There were also more than a few turns of phrase and flourishes that made me take moment and appreciate the writing. I hope we get a full-length novel out of Ms. Hughes soon!
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