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Left Hand Path: 13 More Tales of Black Magick
Do you remember the first time, you heard something go bump in the night? Or when you first played with the Ouija board and it moved on its own? What about the last time a movie or book scared you so badly, that you had to turn on all of your lights and make sure your feet were not hanging over the edge? If any of this rings true, something probably caused you to find this book. Within this book, the author of 12 Hymns of Misery, Invisible, Yuri and Wagon Buddy returns to ensure you will be looking behind you frequently while reading. Left Hand 13 More Tales of Black Magick collects all new tales filled with depravity and retribution. Brimming with horror, thrills and creepy chills, the reader is sure to find the hairs standing up on the back of their necks and the occult themes causing them to question the true nature of the lights flickering. When all is said and done, when you finally finish reading this batch of stories, you will have found that at some point, you locked the doors, checked under the bed, and made sure all of the closet doors are closed. You have been warned. Author Bio Steve Stred is an up-an-coming Dark Horror author. Steve is the author of the novel Invisible, the novellas Wagon Buddy, Yuri and the 816 Chronicles and two collections of short stories; 12 Hymns of Misery and Left Hand 13 More Tales of Black Magick. His most recent release is the dark poetry collection Dim the Sun. Steve also has a number of works on the go and enjoys all things horror, occult, supernatural and paranormal. Steve Stred is based in Edmonton, AB, Canada and lives with his wife, his son and their dog OJ.
- GenresHorror
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 16, 2018
10 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Steve Stred
88 books671 followersAn award-winning author, Steve Stred lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with his wife and son.
Known for his novels, ‘Mastodon,’ ‘Churn the Soil,’ and his series ‘Father of Lies’ where he joined a cult on the dark web for four years, his work has been described as haunting, bleak and is frequently set in the woods near where he grew up. He’s been fortunate to appear in numerous anthologies with some truly amazing authors.
His novel ‘Mastodon’ will be translated into Czech and Italian over the next few years.
His novel 'Churn the Soil' won the Best Horror Novel award in the 2024 Indieverse Awards.
His novel 'Mastodon' and his novella' Sacrament' were both nominated for Splatterpunk Awards.
He is represented by Kodie Van Dusen at The Rights Factory and Alec Frankel at Independent Artist Group.
Outside of writing, Steve received his Bachelor Degree in Kinesiology from the University of the Fraser Valley in 2008, and became a Certified Canadian Pedorthist in 2013.
Known for his novels, ‘Mastodon,’ ‘Churn the Soil,’ and his series ‘Father of Lies’ where he joined a cult on the dark web for four years, his work has been described as haunting, bleak and is frequently set in the woods near where he grew up. He’s been fortunate to appear in numerous anthologies with some truly amazing authors.
His novel ‘Mastodon’ will be translated into Czech and Italian over the next few years.
His novel 'Churn the Soil' won the Best Horror Novel award in the 2024 Indieverse Awards.
His novel 'Mastodon' and his novella' Sacrament' were both nominated for Splatterpunk Awards.
He is represented by Kodie Van Dusen at The Rights Factory and Alec Frankel at Independent Artist Group.
Outside of writing, Steve received his Bachelor Degree in Kinesiology from the University of the Fraser Valley in 2008, and became a Certified Canadian Pedorthist in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 21, 2018
This collection of 13 tales is definitely a walk on the dark side. My favorite is The Witch, a story about three sisters who live in three huts set into a hillside, out past the edge of town. They witnessed their parents being tried for witchcraft and subsequently hung. The villagers suspect witchcraft every time the crops fail or a small animal goes missing. The eldest sister is bitter and angry, the middle sister is cautious, and the youngest is curious. She disguises herself and while she is wandering the town she meets a young bard and changes everyone’s path.
The other story that stands out for me is Wardrobe Malfunction. A young man inherits his grandfather’s house and the story of what happens when he tries on grandpa’s jackets. Oh boy.
I highly recommend Left Hand Path! Thank you Steve Stred for sending me a copy of your book in exchange for an honest review.
The other story that stands out for me is Wardrobe Malfunction. A young man inherits his grandfather’s house and the story of what happens when he tries on grandpa’s jackets. Oh boy.
I highly recommend Left Hand Path! Thank you Steve Stred for sending me a copy of your book in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2019
I really enjoyed this collection of 13 dark tales from Steve Stred! There is one story in particular, "The Witch," that I could have read an entire series about because I think it has the potential to be its own universe! So many of the short stories presented are like that, but The Witch was my absolute favorite. Many of the stories ended with me being like, "What?!" There are no happy endings (well, aside from the first story called "To the Moon - Joy." But then the shadow story that accompanied it, "To the Moon - Sadness" brutally crushed all things joyful in its predecessor! But if you like your dark horror stories with a touch of daunting bleakness, then these are the stories for you.
4 stars to this collection and thanks to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review!
4 stars to this collection and thanks to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review!
March 9, 2019
My first stroll through Stredsville was the excellent novella, Wagon Buddy, about an imaginary friend with gory intentions. Left Hand Path had been on my TBR pile for a while so I thought it was about time I got on this. The collection contains 13 short stories, all of which I enjoyed very much.
I’ll admit I was left with a feeling of ‘where’s the horror?’ after the opening To the Moon – Joy, in which a young boy dreams of travelling to the moon. Backed by his parents encouragement he finally makes it there. It was a great little story, but horror? No, not at all.
However, the next story, To the Moon – Sadness, abated my fears that this wasn’t going to be a nasty, gore-soaked affair. This is ‘Moon pt 2 where the same boy dreams of travelling to the moon, but things don’t quite work out the same this time around. Talk about drawing you in only to slam you in the face!
A post-apocalyptic world is the backdrop for Why do Babies Cry? where the horrors awaiting a group of survivors are fully realised. Is it really safe out there?
The Witch is next up, involving a, erm, witch. Set in the middle ages when witchcraft was all the rage, this longer story details the events around a village where things have taken on quite the occult twist. Three sisters live in wooden huts in the woods beyond the village and before long one of them falls in love with the local bard. Things go downhill for those who try to deal with the witches, as you can probably imagine.
Set during the plague, Tossers is the story of a man working to clear and burn the dead who’ve fallen foul to this mass disease. The setting here was grimly realistic and made me feel a little filthy at the depressive squalor described. There’s no real plot to this one, but the atmosphere created is top-notch.
Head Case has its feet (or head, I suppose) deeply rooted in the bizarro realm of fiction. A man who narrowly escapes death wishes he hadn’t, as life now is not what he could ever have imagined. Although a little ridiculous, this story was also pretty shocking.
And just when you thought things couldn’t get any darker, Wardrobe Malfunction pops along to rightly screw with your head. A man inherits his grandfather’s house and possessions. Missing him dearly, he begins to see visions of what his grandfather was actually like. By wearing various jackets from Gramps’ past, the man sees previous events in all their grisly details. The ending to this one is downright bleak and definitely a ‘noooooo’ moment.
I loved The Call in which a family reunion goes wrong. The family are forced inside the house when all the animals from the forest congregate threateningly around them. But these animals are blood-hungry and seemingly under the power of some malevolent force. The tension in this story was great and the whole situation incredibly unnerving.
My absolute favourite in this collection was James. James is just an old widower dude who hasn’t been able to sleep since his wife’s death. Another of the longer tales, the story describes the monotony of James’ life expertly. Although his life is very boring, the story never gets bogged down in this boredom. And then things get weird. This story was extremely gripping; when weird thing after weird thing happens, there seems like no possible conclusion to tie things all together. But, of course, the revelation plays out, and with shocking consequences. Great stuff!
The next three stories, Thunder Storm, Isaac, and 17 Hours act as a kind of trilogy. I don’t want to say too much about them because it may give things away, but I really liked the way they… In fact no, I’m stopping there. Just read them yourself.
Things wrap up with a poem, Under Moon, the Huntress. I have to admit I’ve never been a fan of poetry, and although this was in keeping with the darkness throughout the book, it didn’t do much for me. But that’s my problem and this in no way takes away my enjoyment of this collection.
A gripping and sometimes shocking collection of excellent stories, fans of horror should certainly be checking this one out, especially if you like your stories ending on a downer.
I’ll admit I was left with a feeling of ‘where’s the horror?’ after the opening To the Moon – Joy, in which a young boy dreams of travelling to the moon. Backed by his parents encouragement he finally makes it there. It was a great little story, but horror? No, not at all.
However, the next story, To the Moon – Sadness, abated my fears that this wasn’t going to be a nasty, gore-soaked affair. This is ‘Moon pt 2 where the same boy dreams of travelling to the moon, but things don’t quite work out the same this time around. Talk about drawing you in only to slam you in the face!
A post-apocalyptic world is the backdrop for Why do Babies Cry? where the horrors awaiting a group of survivors are fully realised. Is it really safe out there?
The Witch is next up, involving a, erm, witch. Set in the middle ages when witchcraft was all the rage, this longer story details the events around a village where things have taken on quite the occult twist. Three sisters live in wooden huts in the woods beyond the village and before long one of them falls in love with the local bard. Things go downhill for those who try to deal with the witches, as you can probably imagine.
Set during the plague, Tossers is the story of a man working to clear and burn the dead who’ve fallen foul to this mass disease. The setting here was grimly realistic and made me feel a little filthy at the depressive squalor described. There’s no real plot to this one, but the atmosphere created is top-notch.
Head Case has its feet (or head, I suppose) deeply rooted in the bizarro realm of fiction. A man who narrowly escapes death wishes he hadn’t, as life now is not what he could ever have imagined. Although a little ridiculous, this story was also pretty shocking.
And just when you thought things couldn’t get any darker, Wardrobe Malfunction pops along to rightly screw with your head. A man inherits his grandfather’s house and possessions. Missing him dearly, he begins to see visions of what his grandfather was actually like. By wearing various jackets from Gramps’ past, the man sees previous events in all their grisly details. The ending to this one is downright bleak and definitely a ‘noooooo’ moment.
I loved The Call in which a family reunion goes wrong. The family are forced inside the house when all the animals from the forest congregate threateningly around them. But these animals are blood-hungry and seemingly under the power of some malevolent force. The tension in this story was great and the whole situation incredibly unnerving.
My absolute favourite in this collection was James. James is just an old widower dude who hasn’t been able to sleep since his wife’s death. Another of the longer tales, the story describes the monotony of James’ life expertly. Although his life is very boring, the story never gets bogged down in this boredom. And then things get weird. This story was extremely gripping; when weird thing after weird thing happens, there seems like no possible conclusion to tie things all together. But, of course, the revelation plays out, and with shocking consequences. Great stuff!
The next three stories, Thunder Storm, Isaac, and 17 Hours act as a kind of trilogy. I don’t want to say too much about them because it may give things away, but I really liked the way they… In fact no, I’m stopping there. Just read them yourself.
Things wrap up with a poem, Under Moon, the Huntress. I have to admit I’ve never been a fan of poetry, and although this was in keeping with the darkness throughout the book, it didn’t do much for me. But that’s my problem and this in no way takes away my enjoyment of this collection.
A gripping and sometimes shocking collection of excellent stories, fans of horror should certainly be checking this one out, especially if you like your stories ending on a downer.
January 28, 2019
This is a great collection full of grim horror and imagination that ended being a perfect read for a batch of snowy, gloomy days. Some of the dialogue was a bit stilted and awkward, and in a couple stories (including my favorite, The Witch) anachronistic. This didn't take me out of the stories too much or too often, and the unique ideas and imagery more than made up for the occasional awkwardness. Having read Stred's upcoming novella he is an author showing tremendous growth, and I can't wait to read more of his work and follow his ongoing evolution!
October 14, 2020
I’m always excited to read Steve Stred stories, he’s just so talented and when I realized I hadn’t read this collection of short stories? I had to immediately! I’m not going to to go through each story I’m sure there is a reviewer out there that has so please read that review just know some were longer, some shorter and the shorter ones excluding 17 Hours felt some what unfinished and I wanted more! Witches is a shining star and a story I reviewed and raved about in Of Witches also by Mr. Stred is probably one of my favorite stories. Head Case was terrifying and so creepy.. I think it gave me nightmares. I always recommend you reading everything you can get your hands on by Steve Stred, you won’t be disappointed and you can’t read better stories that are easy on the blood and gore and plays more on your emotions. ‘Tis the season for horror stories, get going! Enjoy!
October 15, 2018
Imaginative and original stories!
Before I proceed with my review, I want to give fellow grammar/spelling Nazis a heads up. This anthology of short stories DOES, in fact, need some heavy editing. It MIGHT make your eyelid tic maddeningly, and it might even make you want to just put it away before you give it a chance.
Don't. I implore you, GIVE it a chance. Try your best to ignore all the errors, like I did. Because the stories that comes flowing out of Mr. Stred's head (case... hah!) is worth it! His stories are imaginative, original, fun, and just plain fascinating in how they all flow out. Some are better than others, granted, but they all have a touch of Stred-voice splattered all over them. And I find that I thorougly enjoy the Stred-voice, to the point that I want to read even more works by him (hopefully heavily edited, hah!). I want to see what more he can throw out from that brain of his, and I want to see how they all work out. Because with Stred, you never really know what path he directs his stories, and you hope it stays in the left hand path because damn, there's nothing more fun than taking the path "less traveled", as Robert Frost would say.
Go on. Give it a try. I dare you.
Before I proceed with my review, I want to give fellow grammar/spelling Nazis a heads up. This anthology of short stories DOES, in fact, need some heavy editing. It MIGHT make your eyelid tic maddeningly, and it might even make you want to just put it away before you give it a chance.
Don't. I implore you, GIVE it a chance. Try your best to ignore all the errors, like I did. Because the stories that comes flowing out of Mr. Stred's head (case... hah!) is worth it! His stories are imaginative, original, fun, and just plain fascinating in how they all flow out. Some are better than others, granted, but they all have a touch of Stred-voice splattered all over them. And I find that I thorougly enjoy the Stred-voice, to the point that I want to read even more works by him (hopefully heavily edited, hah!). I want to see what more he can throw out from that brain of his, and I want to see how they all work out. Because with Stred, you never really know what path he directs his stories, and you hope it stays in the left hand path because damn, there's nothing more fun than taking the path "less traveled", as Robert Frost would say.
Go on. Give it a try. I dare you.
November 23, 2018
I was lucky enough to win this in a giveaway and to my shame it's taking me ages to finally get round to it! But now that I have, I'm so glad. There's a lot to love about this collection. It's dark, fun and full of surprises.
I really liked how these stories all start off really normal, beginning with everyday situations we all find ourselves, but then of course it quickly descends into horror and mayhem. There's no chance to stop reading these gripping, fast paced stories. There's a great range of styles, subject matter and genres within, all untied by an underlying current of horror. They're so original you never know which direction Steve Stred is going to take you in.
Stand out stories for me in this collection include; The Witch a great tale of powerful women being in total control. Wardrobe malfunction was brilliant, that story just keeps getting darker and darker! Tossers and Thunderstorm are also up there, I loved the mysterious ending of the latter. Head Case really stood out for me too and shows that technological advances aren't always to our advantage.
Stred also offers up fascinating author notes alongside his tales, explaining how he came up with the original ideas
This is a really good collection of tales and can't wait to see what he writes next!
I really liked how these stories all start off really normal, beginning with everyday situations we all find ourselves, but then of course it quickly descends into horror and mayhem. There's no chance to stop reading these gripping, fast paced stories. There's a great range of styles, subject matter and genres within, all untied by an underlying current of horror. They're so original you never know which direction Steve Stred is going to take you in.
Stand out stories for me in this collection include; The Witch a great tale of powerful women being in total control. Wardrobe malfunction was brilliant, that story just keeps getting darker and darker! Tossers and Thunderstorm are also up there, I loved the mysterious ending of the latter. Head Case really stood out for me too and shows that technological advances aren't always to our advantage.
Stred also offers up fascinating author notes alongside his tales, explaining how he came up with the original ideas
This is a really good collection of tales and can't wait to see what he writes next!
August 27, 2018
Oh my, what a ride. Again, I am unable to say which of the stories was my favorite, as I was enchanted by all of them. The two different tellings of To The Moon were fantastic, I'm really glad you decided to do that story both ways. I think Why Do Babies Cry? would make an excellent full-length story. I really enjoy post-apocalyptic and dystopian stories. Tossers as well I think could have been good a full-length. Just such an interesting story there. Head Case immediately made me think of Futurama and I love that you referenced that in the author's notes lol Wardrobe Malfunction was definitely one of the top stories for me. Soooo creepy and it really makes you consider what lengths you would go to to protect your family.
17 Hours. The Creator. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I actually squealed a little bit. Jane is by far my absolute favorite of all Steve's books and when I read that line I got sooooo excited. I feel like The Creator has an insane backstory, and I really hope we get to see more of it.
17 Hours. The Creator. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I actually squealed a little bit. Jane is by far my absolute favorite of all Steve's books and when I read that line I got sooooo excited. I feel like The Creator has an insane backstory, and I really hope we get to see more of it.
July 18, 2018
Some stories are worth reading
Many have grammatical errors, are in need of editing and proofreading and some have nothing to do with black magic. Luckily it is free. I would recommend if there is nothing else better available. AGL
Many have grammatical errors, are in need of editing and proofreading and some have nothing to do with black magic. Luckily it is free. I would recommend if there is nothing else better available. AGL
May 31, 2019
I loved these stories. Steve writes horror in a way in which, I see myself there, vividly. Sometimes books can be seen as if in a dream, but with his writing, I'm right there in the moment. Look forward to anything this dude writes.
did-not-finish
November 16, 2021I received an e-copy of this book from the author as part of a giveaway. I only read two stories. They contained many grammatical errors and the writing wasn't great.
October 4, 2022
Really entertaining book, well written and full of tension. I liked how the author took some maybe not-so-original topics and built something new on them, letting the reader being stunned. Good job!
June 13, 2021
Starting this collection, it was a little disconcerting to find myself reading what appeared to be a happy story. From Steve Stred? That wasn't what I'd expected! But all made sense soon enough.
As ever with a varied assortment of stories, some appealed more than others. That sort of thing is simply a matter of individual taste. Personally, I especially appreciated the creepiness of Isaac and Thunderstorm, and the nightmarish figure of the tall man in his expensive suit, and I loved the bonkers idea behind Wardrobe Malfunction.
The real stand-out for me was Tossers, with a horror that felt almost uncomfortably real given the ongoing pandemic, although the occasional anachronistic detail did jar: I found it hard to imagine anybody in 17th-century England referring to a 'pep talk' or advising somebody to sterilize a wound, for instance.
A minor gripe: I was mildly disappointed at how little black magic appeared in the collection, which would be a ridiculous criticism were it not for the promise inherent in the subtitle.
All in all, however, this is another enjoyable set of tales from the prolific Mr Stred. And as a bonus, the author's notes appended to each story add extra depth and interest.
As ever with a varied assortment of stories, some appealed more than others. That sort of thing is simply a matter of individual taste. Personally, I especially appreciated the creepiness of Isaac and Thunderstorm, and the nightmarish figure of the tall man in his expensive suit, and I loved the bonkers idea behind Wardrobe Malfunction.
The real stand-out for me was Tossers, with a horror that felt almost uncomfortably real given the ongoing pandemic, although the occasional anachronistic detail did jar: I found it hard to imagine anybody in 17th-century England referring to a 'pep talk' or advising somebody to sterilize a wound, for instance.
A minor gripe: I was mildly disappointed at how little black magic appeared in the collection, which would be a ridiculous criticism were it not for the promise inherent in the subtitle.
All in all, however, this is another enjoyable set of tales from the prolific Mr Stred. And as a bonus, the author's notes appended to each story add extra depth and interest.
May 5, 2024
Yet another collection of creepy short stories from Steve Stred.
Wardrobe Malfunction, an interesting take of finding out your grandparents are serial killers.
The Call….since it’s in the same universe as Edge of the Woods from Frostbitten….does that mean it’s ALSO connected to Mastodon? If so you better bring Invisible back into print!
January 6, 2020
Thirteen stories that again show us a sample of Steve Stred’s unique writing style! He has addressed some very unusual threads here, giving us a window into his world! Tossers-what does one do during the plague as one waits to catch it? Head Case-a head survives, but what happens to it when everyone that person knows has died? My favorite, Wardrobe Malfunction-Grandson thinks he knows his Grandparents until he tries on various jackets worn by his Grandfather! This has been in my TBR pile for awhile and am glad I finally open its cover!
August 8, 2022
Good and eerie
Great stories (even a poem!) The author's stories, no matter how otherworldly they get, there is always realism. People make foolish choices with grave results, and there is no hero to save the day and make everything better with the wave of a wand.
Great stories (even a poem!) The author's stories, no matter how otherworldly they get, there is always realism. People make foolish choices with grave results, and there is no hero to save the day and make everything better with the wave of a wand.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews