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We Live Inside Your Eyes
In the ruins of an old parking garage, there is an effigy lashed to a pillar. To anyone else, the remains of the woman with the goat skull head is a warning. To a lonely young boy looking for escape, it is a god of salvation. At its feet lay tattered old notebooks, scattered stories, tales of strange encounters, of broken people and monstrous things, and of corrupt hearts and evil minds. In order to complete his transfiguration, the boy must read these stories, but he has no idea the fate that awaits him. WE LIVE INSIDE YOUR EYES is the much anticipated new collection from Bram Stoker Award-winning horror author Kealan Patrick Burke, featuring previously uncollected stories and two brand new tales written especially for this collection, the short story "You Have Nothing to Fear From Me", and the novelette "The House on Abigail Lane." With an introduction and story notes by the author.
189 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2019
56 people are currently reading
1508 people want to read
About the author
Kealan Patrick Burke
194 books2,329 followersHailed by Booklist as “one of the most clever and original talents in contemporary horror,” Kealan Patrick Burke was born and raised in Ireland and emigrated to the United States a few weeks before 9/11.
Since then, he has written six novels, among them the popular southern gothic Kin, and over two hundred short stories and novellas, many of which are in various stages of development for film/TV.
A five-time nominee, Burke won the Bram Stoker Award in 2005 for his coming-of-age novella The Turtle Boy, the first book in the acclaimed Timmy Quinn series.
As editor, he helmed the anthologies Night Visions 12, Taverns of the Dead, and Quietly Now, a tribute anthology to one of Burke’s influences, the late Charles L. Grant.
More recently, he wrote the screenplays for Sour Candy (based on his novella), and the remake of the iconic horror film The Changeling (1980), for producer Joel B. Michaels.
He also adapted Sour Candy as a graphic novel for John Carpenter's Night Terrors.
His most recent release is Cottonmouth, a prequel to Kin. The Widows of Winding Gale, a maritime horror novel set in Ireland, is due for release in October as a signed limited edition from Earthling Publications.
Kealan is represented by Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House.
He lives in Ohio with a Scooby Doo lookalike rescue named Red.
Since then, he has written six novels, among them the popular southern gothic Kin, and over two hundred short stories and novellas, many of which are in various stages of development for film/TV.
A five-time nominee, Burke won the Bram Stoker Award in 2005 for his coming-of-age novella The Turtle Boy, the first book in the acclaimed Timmy Quinn series.
As editor, he helmed the anthologies Night Visions 12, Taverns of the Dead, and Quietly Now, a tribute anthology to one of Burke’s influences, the late Charles L. Grant.
More recently, he wrote the screenplays for Sour Candy (based on his novella), and the remake of the iconic horror film The Changeling (1980), for producer Joel B. Michaels.
He also adapted Sour Candy as a graphic novel for John Carpenter's Night Terrors.
His most recent release is Cottonmouth, a prequel to Kin. The Widows of Winding Gale, a maritime horror novel set in Ireland, is due for release in October as a signed limited edition from Earthling Publications.
Kealan is represented by Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House.
He lives in Ohio with a Scooby Doo lookalike rescue named Red.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
May 9, 2019
Anyone who knows me at all knows that I'm buying any new Kealan Patrick Burke release immediately. They also know that I'm going to bump that book up on my impossibly huge TBR, because I know it's going to be worth it. So I got this one in my hands and I was ready to rumble.
This collection is essentially stories within a story, and I love that. Burke sets the scene in the beginning that is actually taken from his childhood (Story notes are included in the back of the book, folks! You read that right. Burke knows his fans, and he knows we love story notes.) Once the stage is set the reader falls into a series of stories that are left beneath an effigy in an old abandoned parking garage. We as the reader sort of read over the shoulder of the young boy who reads notebook after notebook of disturbing accounts and occurrences. Are these confessions, or merely offerings? Or both?
I found this collection to be a bit of a departure for Burke, and I loved that. That isn't to say that I don't like his earlier work, obviously, but I appreciate how he is exploring where his writing can go. I mean, there's a poem in this collection, and a damn good one too. This feels to me like Burke stepping a bit out of his comfort zone, and I'm here for it. Anyone who has read the majority of his published work would never expect a poem.
Usually when I review short story collections and anthologies this would be the part where I would give a short list of which stories I liked best. I'm not going to do that with this book though. I'm realizing that it's a bit tiring to rehash things, and I feel that anyone who is reading this before picking up the book should go into knowing as little as possible. And if you are a fan of Burke, you certainly don't need me to convince you to read this. I've said little that isn't available on the back cover of the book, and I think that's best. The reader is meant to imagine all of these stories left piled in desperation, and there are some truly creepy tales here. What I really love about this collection is that there are no real answers or explanations. Burke creates this world, and then leaves the reader to decide what ultimately is happening. It gives the reader a delicious feeling of unease, like the decaying world the boy lives in that is never really explained. Burke gives us this world and then lets our imaginations run wild.
If you love horror it's likely that you've already picked this one up for yourself. And it's likely that you intend to read it soon. Don't wait too long for this one. The Sunflower God is waiting.
This collection is essentially stories within a story, and I love that. Burke sets the scene in the beginning that is actually taken from his childhood (Story notes are included in the back of the book, folks! You read that right. Burke knows his fans, and he knows we love story notes.) Once the stage is set the reader falls into a series of stories that are left beneath an effigy in an old abandoned parking garage. We as the reader sort of read over the shoulder of the young boy who reads notebook after notebook of disturbing accounts and occurrences. Are these confessions, or merely offerings? Or both?
I found this collection to be a bit of a departure for Burke, and I loved that. That isn't to say that I don't like his earlier work, obviously, but I appreciate how he is exploring where his writing can go. I mean, there's a poem in this collection, and a damn good one too. This feels to me like Burke stepping a bit out of his comfort zone, and I'm here for it. Anyone who has read the majority of his published work would never expect a poem.
Usually when I review short story collections and anthologies this would be the part where I would give a short list of which stories I liked best. I'm not going to do that with this book though. I'm realizing that it's a bit tiring to rehash things, and I feel that anyone who is reading this before picking up the book should go into knowing as little as possible. And if you are a fan of Burke, you certainly don't need me to convince you to read this. I've said little that isn't available on the back cover of the book, and I think that's best. The reader is meant to imagine all of these stories left piled in desperation, and there are some truly creepy tales here. What I really love about this collection is that there are no real answers or explanations. Burke creates this world, and then leaves the reader to decide what ultimately is happening. It gives the reader a delicious feeling of unease, like the decaying world the boy lives in that is never really explained. Burke gives us this world and then lets our imaginations run wild.
If you love horror it's likely that you've already picked this one up for yourself. And it's likely that you intend to read it soon. Don't wait too long for this one. The Sunflower God is waiting.
July 18, 2025
Such a wonderful collection of short horror stories that I’m glad I picked up after reading The House On Abigail Lane at the end of last year. This story was also included in this collection, but I skipped past that one because it’s still quite fresh in my mind. 🌻💀🖤
The We Live Behind Your Eyes story segments both open and close the collection. It opens with a young boy, Charlie, finding a series of stories behind an effigy that he is shown by a mysterious girl who he seems to have become rather fixated on.
This frames the tales to come really well, as we as readers read them along with him.
Kealan Patrick Burke never fails to impress me with his horror writing. His style is both fast paced but filled with so many intricate details and descriptions to fully immerse the reader.
A great example is Traveler, a grizzly tale of a man’s revenge on the supposed killer of his wife. Good short horror stories always have a satisfying conclusion, often with a well executed twist.
Down Here With Us is a change from Burke’s usual writing style, this time the story is more fantasy based. It reads like his own mini Game Of Thrones or Lord Of The Rings with mention of elves and dwarves scattered amongst his usual building of suspense and dread that something horrifying is coming...
We Live Behind Your Eyes is truly a mixed bag that highlights Burke’s impressive skills, even including some poetry. I am never left feeling disappointed by his stories and am always hungry for more horror goodness. He is an immense talent.
The We Live Behind Your Eyes story segments both open and close the collection. It opens with a young boy, Charlie, finding a series of stories behind an effigy that he is shown by a mysterious girl who he seems to have become rather fixated on.
This frames the tales to come really well, as we as readers read them along with him.
Kealan Patrick Burke never fails to impress me with his horror writing. His style is both fast paced but filled with so many intricate details and descriptions to fully immerse the reader.
A great example is Traveler, a grizzly tale of a man’s revenge on the supposed killer of his wife. Good short horror stories always have a satisfying conclusion, often with a well executed twist.
Down Here With Us is a change from Burke’s usual writing style, this time the story is more fantasy based. It reads like his own mini Game Of Thrones or Lord Of The Rings with mention of elves and dwarves scattered amongst his usual building of suspense and dread that something horrifying is coming...
We Live Behind Your Eyes is truly a mixed bag that highlights Burke’s impressive skills, even including some poetry. I am never left feeling disappointed by his stories and am always hungry for more horror goodness. He is an immense talent.
May 10, 2022
Since discovering Kealan Patrick Burke through the bookstagram community, I’ve been consistently amazed at how talented he is. A couple of his novellas were the very first purchases I made “thanks to bookstagram”, and since reading those, I haven’t stopped buying. Kealan’s voice is singularly enthralling, with this really amazing creep factor that I just can’t get enough of. His writing is eloquent, atmospheric, and consistently compelling – qualities I value very much in my reading, and will cause me to continue auto-buying everything he puts out.
I think my favorite part of the book is that this collection of short stories (and one poem!) are part of a larger whole. A boy stumbles upon these stories in a creepy old place, and begins reading them one by one, as we the readers do, too. It was such a cool way of framing the collection, and one that I find isn’t used super often in what I’ve recently read.
Another really great thing about this collection is that it features “Story Notes” at the back of the book. These notes are from the author himself, giving us a peek into what went into the creation or inspiration of each story here. I love reading about what inspired something, or random little trivia bits about the things I love, so this was awesome! I really wish more authors included stuff like this, ’cause as a reader, it’s like a little treat at the end of the book. 🙂
We Live Inside Your Eyes contains 13 stories altogether, with 2 of them having been written specifically for the collection. I gave pretty much every story here 5 stars, as per usual – I just really, really love everything Kealan writes, okay!? I did have a couple stand out favorites though, so I’ll briefly recap (no spoilers!) my thoughts on those on my blog: https://letsgetgalactic.com/2019/07/0...
Whether you’re a longtime fan of Kealan Patrick Burke or just hearing about him for the first time, this would be a great place to start with his books. It’s got a little bit of everything horror-wise, AND did I mention that he designed the cover himself? He has a company that designs them, and his work has been popping up a lot in the horror community! Like I said, crazy talented!
Don’t miss this one! I’d also highly recommend basically anything else he’s written; my first book by him was Sour Candy, so if you’re into creepy kid stories, check that one out, too!
I think my favorite part of the book is that this collection of short stories (and one poem!) are part of a larger whole. A boy stumbles upon these stories in a creepy old place, and begins reading them one by one, as we the readers do, too. It was such a cool way of framing the collection, and one that I find isn’t used super often in what I’ve recently read.
Another really great thing about this collection is that it features “Story Notes” at the back of the book. These notes are from the author himself, giving us a peek into what went into the creation or inspiration of each story here. I love reading about what inspired something, or random little trivia bits about the things I love, so this was awesome! I really wish more authors included stuff like this, ’cause as a reader, it’s like a little treat at the end of the book. 🙂
We Live Inside Your Eyes contains 13 stories altogether, with 2 of them having been written specifically for the collection. I gave pretty much every story here 5 stars, as per usual – I just really, really love everything Kealan writes, okay!? I did have a couple stand out favorites though, so I’ll briefly recap (no spoilers!) my thoughts on those on my blog: https://letsgetgalactic.com/2019/07/0...
Whether you’re a longtime fan of Kealan Patrick Burke or just hearing about him for the first time, this would be a great place to start with his books. It’s got a little bit of everything horror-wise, AND did I mention that he designed the cover himself? He has a company that designs them, and his work has been popping up a lot in the horror community! Like I said, crazy talented!
Don’t miss this one! I’d also highly recommend basically anything else he’s written; my first book by him was Sour Candy, so if you’re into creepy kid stories, check that one out, too!
October 19, 2019
Spooktober read #6!
Do you ever finish a horror short, shudder and mutter to yourself a slightly freaked out “Coooooool!”? If you haven’t, perhaps you just haven’t gotten around to reading Mr. Burke’s work. I’ve had that experience both with the novella “Sour Candy” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and the novel “KIN” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) – and I felt very confident that his newest collection would hit the same spot.
The stories about a man seeking redemption for an old mistake, a Halloween office party gone weird, a London Blitz with scarier things than bombs and a very strange haunted house were my favorites. I found myself squirming as I read, impressed by how he infuses new life into classic horror tropes, and just unsettled by the atmospheres he summons. Burke is such a careful writer: each word is obviously chosen with purpose, and the resulting stories will send shivers down your spine.
I definitely need to add more of Mr. Burke’s books to my shelves! Highly recommended!
Do you ever finish a horror short, shudder and mutter to yourself a slightly freaked out “Coooooool!”? If you haven’t, perhaps you just haven’t gotten around to reading Mr. Burke’s work. I’ve had that experience both with the novella “Sour Candy” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and the novel “KIN” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) – and I felt very confident that his newest collection would hit the same spot.
The stories about a man seeking redemption for an old mistake, a Halloween office party gone weird, a London Blitz with scarier things than bombs and a very strange haunted house were my favorites. I found myself squirming as I read, impressed by how he infuses new life into classic horror tropes, and just unsettled by the atmospheres he summons. Burke is such a careful writer: each word is obviously chosen with purpose, and the resulting stories will send shivers down your spine.
I definitely need to add more of Mr. Burke’s books to my shelves! Highly recommended!
April 4, 2021
I absolutely loved everything about this collection of short stories, from start to finish! I knew I had to read it immediately after reading the novella The House on Abigail Lane which is in this collection but also published on its own. I loved it so much that I figured if the other stories in this collection were even only half as good that it would be a winner. And pretty much EVERY story was on the same brilliant level with only one or two that I didn’t fall completely in love with and it’s difficult for me to pick a favourite story out of the bunch, each of them was unique and captivating and horrifying in its own way. I can’t stress enough how good this collection is, it is a must read for any horror fan!
June 15, 2020
Πρώτη φορά διάβασα βιβλίο του Burke τον Νοέμριο του 2019, δηλαδή από την στιγμή που γράφω αυτές τις γραμμές έχουν περάσει σχεδόν εφτά μήνες . Έκτοτε έχω διαβάσει συνολικά έξι βιβλία του. Αριθμός που, σχετικά με το σύνολο των βιβλίων που διαβάζω μέσα σ' ένα χρόνο (40-50), είναι αρκετά μεγάλος, και δείχνει πόσο με έχει ενθουσιάσει η γραφή του. Πολυσχιδής, μπορεί να γράψει με εξαιρετική άνεση ιστορίες με βάθος και ζωντανούς χαρακτήρες, αλλά και μυθιστορήματα που μπορεί να λατρέψει το κοινό της πιο συμβατικής, κινηματογραφικών επιδιώξεων, λογοτεχνίας τρόμου και αγωνίας. Ο Burke είναι ένα από τα πολλά κρυμμένα, στο ευρύ αναγνωστικό κοινό, διαμάντια ενός κύκλου συγγραφέων που ολοένα μεγαλώνει και στο μέλλον, είμαι σίγουρος, θα φέρει την αναγέννηση στην λογοτεχνία τρόμου.
To We Live Inside... είναι η τρίτη συλλογή ιστοριών που διαβάζω από τον Burker. Η προσέγγισή του εδώ είναι λίγο πιο μακριά από τον ξεκάθαρο τρόμο που με έχει συνηθίσει. Με την αυτοπεποίθηση που του έχει δώσει η αποδοχή του κοινού αλλά και των ομότεχνών του, διατηρεί την χαρακτηριστική γραφή του (ένα κράμα ελαφρού σαρκασμού και διεισδυτικότητας στον ψυχισμό των ηρώων του) με την οποία μπολιάζει τον τρόμο, αλλά τολμά. Κάλα κάνει όποιος τολμά, αλλά δεν μου αρέσουν οι αλλαγές αν δεν εξυπηρετούν την διήγηση. Εδώ ο Burke φαίνεται να θέλει να αποδείξει πως μπορεί να γράψει και τρόμο για το κοινό των New York Times. Δεν αλλάζει την γραφή του -αυτή από μόνη της θα έπρεπε να αρκεί για να αποσπάσει επαίνους από τον ευρύ Τύπο, αλλά ο κόσμος είναι άδικος-, αλλά την θεματολογία του. Ο τρόμος του φεύγει από τις καλώς εννοούμενες συμβάσεις του είδους, γίνεται πιο γενικός, καμιά φορά και αλληγορικός.
Το βιβλίο αποτέλεσε μια απλά συμπαθητική, στο σύνολό του, συλλογή, έχοντας πάντα κατά νου πόσο εξαιρετικός είναι ο Burke. Τότε γιατί τέσσερα αστέρια; Για την τελευταία ιστορία, η οποία είναι ο λόγος για τον οποίο διαβάζω: αυθεντική, με μια φωνή ανατριχιαστικά παραπλανητική, να ισορροπεί μεταξύ δημοσιογραφικής αποτίμησης και προσωπικής εξιστόρησης, και με μια ιδεά φρέσκια αλλά την ίδια στιγμή να τιμά μεγάλες παραδόσεις του είδους, είναι ό,τι καλύτερο έχω διαβάσει τους τελευταίους μήνες.
To We Live Inside... είναι η τρίτη συλλογή ιστοριών που διαβάζω από τον Burker. Η προσέγγισή του εδώ είναι λίγο πιο μακριά από τον ξεκάθαρο τρόμο που με έχει συνηθίσει. Με την αυτοπεποίθηση που του έχει δώσει η αποδοχή του κοινού αλλά και των ομότεχνών του, διατηρεί την χαρακτηριστική γραφή του (ένα κράμα ελαφρού σαρκασμού και διεισδυτικότητας στον ψυχισμό των ηρώων του) με την οποία μπολιάζει τον τρόμο, αλλά τολμά. Κάλα κάνει όποιος τολμά, αλλά δεν μου αρέσουν οι αλλαγές αν δεν εξυπηρετούν την διήγηση. Εδώ ο Burke φαίνεται να θέλει να αποδείξει πως μπορεί να γράψει και τρόμο για το κοινό των New York Times. Δεν αλλάζει την γραφή του -αυτή από μόνη της θα έπρεπε να αρκεί για να αποσπάσει επαίνους από τον ευρύ Τύπο, αλλά ο κόσμος είναι άδικος-, αλλά την θεματολογία του. Ο τρόμος του φεύγει από τις καλώς εννοούμενες συμβάσεις του είδους, γίνεται πιο γενικός, καμιά φορά και αλληγορικός.
Το βιβλίο αποτέλεσε μια απλά συμπαθητική, στο σύνολό του, συλλογή, έχοντας πάντα κατά νου πόσο εξαιρετικός είναι ο Burke. Τότε γιατί τέσσερα αστέρια; Για την τελευταία ιστορία, η οποία είναι ο λόγος για τον οποίο διαβάζω: αυθεντική, με μια φωνή ανατριχιαστικά παραπλανητική, να ισορροπεί μεταξύ δημοσιογραφικής αποτίμησης και προσωπικής εξιστόρησης, και με μια ιδεά φρέσκια αλλά την ίδια στιγμή να τιμά μεγάλες παραδόσεις του είδους, είναι ό,τι καλύτερο έχω διαβάσει τους τελευταίους μήνες.
May 9, 2019
This is a writer at the top of his game right here. Every single story in this book was pure enjoyment. Enjoyment, that is , if you love being scared, made uncomfortable, or forced to examine your own faults, phobias, and inner demons. This book will do that, and entertain at the same time, accomplishing all of it with some of the finest writing around. True horrors lie within folks. Loved it! 😉
March 27, 2020
this collection of short stories is great. Every time i read KPB, i wonder why i haven't read more or wait so long to read the next one. He never fails to wow me.
June 27, 2023
Kealan Patrick Burke delivers another masterful horror collection, this one containing a little piece of everything, short stories, poetry, short dialogue and finished off with an amazing novella. Burke covers the many nuances of horror in that wonderfully concise manner we've become accustomed to from him. Grief, anger, fear, brutality... There's nothing he shies away from detailing. The ugliest of emotions and the worst of humanity, and yet he always delivers it in such a beautiful, thought-provoking way.
The final piece he offers up in this collection, The House on Abigail Lane, has just launched itself very close to the top of my list. The format works perfectly for the story, expelling the history of the house and the misfortunes that befell many who entered.
In particular, the section that included Doug Lowell's account of the house was utterly spine-chilling, and contained some of the most unsettling scenes I've ever read, and I'm a pretty avid horror reader! That story is one that I know will stay with me for a long time and it's a testament to Burke's gift as a writer. I wish him all the success in the world because there are very few writers with an ability as natural as his, the flair he has for storytelling rarely matched.
Anyway, in case you hadn't guessed, I highly, HIGHLY recommend this collection. Phenomenal stuff!
The final piece he offers up in this collection, The House on Abigail Lane, has just launched itself very close to the top of my list. The format works perfectly for the story, expelling the history of the house and the misfortunes that befell many who entered.
In particular, the section that included Doug Lowell's account of the house was utterly spine-chilling, and contained some of the most unsettling scenes I've ever read, and I'm a pretty avid horror reader! That story is one that I know will stay with me for a long time and it's a testament to Burke's gift as a writer. I wish him all the success in the world because there are very few writers with an ability as natural as his, the flair he has for storytelling rarely matched.
Anyway, in case you hadn't guessed, I highly, HIGHLY recommend this collection. Phenomenal stuff!
August 20, 2019
Fantasy used to be a main category, and Science-Fiction and Horror fell under it. However, in this book, Horror is the main category with Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Literary, and even Poetry shivering under its umbrella.
The short stories, poetry, and novella are bookend-ed by the tale of a boy who reads through the stories that were written by different people: young, old, male, female. There are no repeated themes here except, perhaps, that life is hell for these characters unless they are willing to compromise, compartmentalize, or escape.
The short stories, poetry, and novella are bookend-ed by the tale of a boy who reads through the stories that were written by different people: young, old, male, female. There are no repeated themes here except, perhaps, that life is hell for these characters unless they are willing to compromise, compartmentalize, or escape.
May 17, 2019
Short story collections aren’t really my bag. I struggle with them. Always have. Not sure why. Of course, there are a few (very few) authors that I will go out of my way to read anything and everything that they put out there, short story collections included. KPB is at the top of the list.
WE LIVE INSIDE YOUR EYES (1) - Wishes are wet sticks that will never start a fire.4*
THE LAND OF SUNSHINE – The heart that gets lost and found again 4*
TRAVELER - Vengeance matters. It’s sometimes all we have left. 3*
THE MANNEQUIN CHALLENGE – Party foul of the first magnitude. 5*
GO WARILY AFTER DARK – They came at midnight. 4*
DOWN HERE WITH US – Out for a stroll in the garden of Hell. 3*
SANCTUARY – The nightmares stay downstairs. 4.5*
A WICKED THIRST – Uncorking a nice, coppery Chardonnay 5*.
THE NO ONE: A RHYME – Super short and Creepy 3*
YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR FROM ME – Mother knows best. 4.5*
THE MONSTER UNDER THE BED – Go ahead and look. It’s under there. 3.5*
THE HOUSE ON ABIGAIL LANE – Clowns and lighthouses and sunflowers…oh my. 4*
WE LIVE INSIDE YOUR EYES (II) – Spread the word. 4*
I have nothing but good things to say about Kealan Patrick Burke’s work. The dude is so damn good. I eagerly await whatever he has in the hopper, which I believe is the prequel to Sour Candy titled “WARD”. Can’t wait.
WE LIVE INSIDE YOUR EYES (1) - Wishes are wet sticks that will never start a fire.4*
THE LAND OF SUNSHINE – The heart that gets lost and found again 4*
TRAVELER - Vengeance matters. It’s sometimes all we have left. 3*
THE MANNEQUIN CHALLENGE – Party foul of the first magnitude. 5*
GO WARILY AFTER DARK – They came at midnight. 4*
DOWN HERE WITH US – Out for a stroll in the garden of Hell. 3*
SANCTUARY – The nightmares stay downstairs. 4.5*
A WICKED THIRST – Uncorking a nice, coppery Chardonnay 5*.
THE NO ONE: A RHYME – Super short and Creepy 3*
YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR FROM ME – Mother knows best. 4.5*
THE MONSTER UNDER THE BED – Go ahead and look. It’s under there. 3.5*
THE HOUSE ON ABIGAIL LANE – Clowns and lighthouses and sunflowers…oh my. 4*
WE LIVE INSIDE YOUR EYES (II) – Spread the word. 4*
I have nothing but good things to say about Kealan Patrick Burke’s work. The dude is so damn good. I eagerly await whatever he has in the hopper, which I believe is the prequel to Sour Candy titled “WARD”. Can’t wait.
Want to read
May 23, 2019Don't judge me.
But this is so freaking good so far and I no longer want to read it on my Kobo so I shelled out more money to get it on paperback... So I can read it physically. It's that good.
But this is so freaking good so far and I no longer want to read it on my Kobo so I shelled out more money to get it on paperback... So I can read it physically. It's that good.
February 26, 2021
I always have a bit of a hard time rating and reviewing short story collections (for obvious reasons), but I’ll give it the old college try.
First off, bonus points right out of the gate for the two parter that bookends the collection and acts as a really cool framing device for all the stories (similar to what Clive Barker does in Books of Blood). I love when authors do this, and it’s surprising how infrequently this method is utilized.
Secondly, I’m impressed with the variety of stories in here. Burke hits on a wide range of topics and styles. Here is an author who seems to be willing to step outside his comfort zone, and I respect and appreciate that.
OK ... now on to the meat and potatoes. Most of the stories in here were good or at least decent. Two completely fell flat for me: The No One: A Rhyme, and The Monster Under The Bed. But there were three that I found truly exceptional: Traveler (gruesome and disturbing), A Wicked Thirst (one of the best stories about the horrors of alcoholism I’ve ever read), and the centerpiece novella, The House on Abigail Lane (a bizarre, super creepy, wildly original haunted house tale with some really unsettling imagery).
The verdict: I dug it!
4/5 stars
First off, bonus points right out of the gate for the two parter that bookends the collection and acts as a really cool framing device for all the stories (similar to what Clive Barker does in Books of Blood). I love when authors do this, and it’s surprising how infrequently this method is utilized.
Secondly, I’m impressed with the variety of stories in here. Burke hits on a wide range of topics and styles. Here is an author who seems to be willing to step outside his comfort zone, and I respect and appreciate that.
OK ... now on to the meat and potatoes. Most of the stories in here were good or at least decent. Two completely fell flat for me: The No One: A Rhyme, and The Monster Under The Bed. But there were three that I found truly exceptional: Traveler (gruesome and disturbing), A Wicked Thirst (one of the best stories about the horrors of alcoholism I’ve ever read), and the centerpiece novella, The House on Abigail Lane (a bizarre, super creepy, wildly original haunted house tale with some really unsettling imagery).
The verdict: I dug it!
4/5 stars
November 14, 2019
“Outside there is nothing, Outside’s already gone, Inside I am waiting, Inside I am wrong…”
We Live Inside Your Eyes is the terrifying collection of stories from all kinds of horror by Kealan Patrick Burke. Featured are 13 tales which are designed to disturb the reader and they do just that. What I like about these stories is that they touch on kinds of horror which stem from within. The human monster is one scary prospect and these stories explore that and much more.
Some of my favourites were:
The Land Of Sunshine
Traveler
Go Warily After Dark
Down Here With Us
Sanctuary
A Wicked Thirst
You Have Nothing To Fear From Me
The House On Abigail Lane
I might as well have listed them all because there was not one story I didn’t like or feel unnerved by. They have been written in such a way which speaks volumes when it comes to challenging the reader to see how much the horror can affect them. Thats what I like about stories like these. My only regret is that I didn’t read this sooner, I haven’t read a book by this author in quite some time and Ive already got another lined up for next month.
A must read for all horror fans
We Live Inside Your Eyes is the terrifying collection of stories from all kinds of horror by Kealan Patrick Burke. Featured are 13 tales which are designed to disturb the reader and they do just that. What I like about these stories is that they touch on kinds of horror which stem from within. The human monster is one scary prospect and these stories explore that and much more.
Some of my favourites were:
The Land Of Sunshine
Traveler
Go Warily After Dark
Down Here With Us
Sanctuary
A Wicked Thirst
You Have Nothing To Fear From Me
The House On Abigail Lane
I might as well have listed them all because there was not one story I didn’t like or feel unnerved by. They have been written in such a way which speaks volumes when it comes to challenging the reader to see how much the horror can affect them. Thats what I like about stories like these. My only regret is that I didn’t read this sooner, I haven’t read a book by this author in quite some time and Ive already got another lined up for next month.
A must read for all horror fans
December 26, 2020
I just love this guy’s short stories. He is a true master of atmosphere. I usually trot out the clichéd review of short story collections, you know, the one in which you talk about the two or three great stories, the two or three good ones, and the many not so good ones that were added just to fill the page requirement. The stories in ‘We Live Inside Your Eyes’ are all of the first category— brilliant!
August 9, 2019
This was a really uneven collection that was kind of bookended by a metastory, like Clive Barker's Books of Blood, where each story in the book is supposed to be in a notebook lying around this woman with an animal skull head tied up in a parking garage or something. The first few stories I didn't like very much, then they started getting better, and by the end I was loving them. This might say more about me than the quality of the stories, haha. There were a couple of stories that were just sad, dreary, gray stories without much happening, which seems to be a thing in modern horror, but there were others that were just fantastic. "The House on Abigail Lane" was absolutely stellar, and maybe the best short story (though it's not very short) I've read this year. It has a very detached kind of narrative, like an academic literature review sort of voice, just describing the increasingly weird events that have happened at this house over many years. Wow wow wow this story kicked ass.
I'll probably read more books by this author, this was my first, sort of an Instagram group read along.
I'll probably read more books by this author, this was my first, sort of an Instagram group read along.
February 21, 2022
A majority of these stories had really cool concepts. These great ideas that were unfortunately not communicated as effectively as I'd personally like. Everyone is looking for a different experience when they read, and unfortunately I do not care for a lot of 'fluff' writing. I need straight, to the point writing. Conceptually, The Land of Sunshine and You Have Nothing to Fear From Me, were well done. I got lost in The Land of Sunshine with all the details put on about the background and the scenery.
Then there were some that either had way too many elaborations on everything but the story, or they didn't linger after I read them. Sanctuary could have been, I think, a mind blowing story. Unfortunately I lost all the horror pieces with all the things that didn't really matter. Having said that, I think it is important to note that I love Anne Rice. I love her stories. I just hated how she spent five pages describing a leaf falling from a free. Because I'm not an avid reader, perhaps that style just doesn't work for me.
What I CAN tell you is... after reading The Mannequin Challenge, I stared at the final few lines and said (out loud mind you) 'What the fuck...' about four times. I absolutely LOVED that story. I also really enjoyed our intro and outro about the boy who reads the stories. I think it is a really cool concept to have an overall 'goal' or 'point' behind an anthology. I thought that was a nice touch.
I would read a million page book about The House on Abigail Lane. That was HANDS DOWN the star of the show for this anthology. I loved everything about that story and I was left wanting even more experiences. That would have been a phenomenal stand alone novel.
So collectively as a collection, I'd give the book a 3/5. I think the writing is beautiful more often than not. Style wise, I just prefer a faster pace story. Would definitely recommend people checking this out and gauging it on their own. Some people really enjoy detailed scenes and I think if you are one of those, you'd enjoy these collection.
Then there were some that either had way too many elaborations on everything but the story, or they didn't linger after I read them. Sanctuary could have been, I think, a mind blowing story. Unfortunately I lost all the horror pieces with all the things that didn't really matter. Having said that, I think it is important to note that I love Anne Rice. I love her stories. I just hated how she spent five pages describing a leaf falling from a free. Because I'm not an avid reader, perhaps that style just doesn't work for me.
What I CAN tell you is... after reading The Mannequin Challenge, I stared at the final few lines and said (out loud mind you) 'What the fuck...' about four times. I absolutely LOVED that story. I also really enjoyed our intro and outro about the boy who reads the stories. I think it is a really cool concept to have an overall 'goal' or 'point' behind an anthology. I thought that was a nice touch.
I would read a million page book about The House on Abigail Lane. That was HANDS DOWN the star of the show for this anthology. I loved everything about that story and I was left wanting even more experiences. That would have been a phenomenal stand alone novel.
So collectively as a collection, I'd give the book a 3/5. I think the writing is beautiful more often than not. Style wise, I just prefer a faster pace story. Would definitely recommend people checking this out and gauging it on their own. Some people really enjoy detailed scenes and I think if you are one of those, you'd enjoy these collection.
February 21, 2020
This very eclectic mix from a solid author was (overall) quite enjoyable although I confess to "not getting" the implied theme of the title story nor seeing any thread that ran through all of them. In my reading, each story was stand-alone and most were excellent--and sufficiently creepy to keep my attention.
"Traveler" was excellent with a nice ending. "The Mannequin Challenge" was very cool and exceptionally weird. "Go Warily After Dark" was a bit of a historical fiction piece with another nice ending. "Down Here With Us" was unusual. "Sanctuary" was thoroughly interesting with sort of an O'Henry ending I enjoyed. "A Wicked Thirst" was a visit down a road from my youth and struck home. "You Have Nothing to Fear From Me" was horror in the Jason Mraz way of "all men are pigs and all women are saints" that I'm beginning to believe is closer to the truth than I like to admit. "The Monster Under the Bed" was unusual in that it was completely dialogue--but well done. "The House on Abigail Lane" was very good--sort of a Creepshow feel to it that's always nice.
Not my favorite Burke book of short stories, but good enough that I'm glad I read it. Only two stories missed the mark for me: the title tale (which I didn't understand) and the first story ("The Land of Sunshine" that had a horrible "look how pretty I can write" vibe to it and smacked of an over-indulgence in Roget's Thesaurus.
Oh, and "The No One: A Rhyme" sucked. It was Mother Goose and Doctor Seuss.
"Traveler" was excellent with a nice ending. "The Mannequin Challenge" was very cool and exceptionally weird. "Go Warily After Dark" was a bit of a historical fiction piece with another nice ending. "Down Here With Us" was unusual. "Sanctuary" was thoroughly interesting with sort of an O'Henry ending I enjoyed. "A Wicked Thirst" was a visit down a road from my youth and struck home. "You Have Nothing to Fear From Me" was horror in the Jason Mraz way of "all men are pigs and all women are saints" that I'm beginning to believe is closer to the truth than I like to admit. "The Monster Under the Bed" was unusual in that it was completely dialogue--but well done. "The House on Abigail Lane" was very good--sort of a Creepshow feel to it that's always nice.
Not my favorite Burke book of short stories, but good enough that I'm glad I read it. Only two stories missed the mark for me: the title tale (which I didn't understand) and the first story ("The Land of Sunshine" that had a horrible "look how pretty I can write" vibe to it and smacked of an over-indulgence in Roget's Thesaurus.
Oh, and "The No One: A Rhyme" sucked. It was Mother Goose and Doctor Seuss.
July 15, 2019
Y'all already know I'm a huge fan, so I had to have this. This is a great collection of stories in stories and my favorite part (besides the last few chapters) is how he came to write each story at the end of the book. If you've never read Kealan Patrick Burke, this would be a great place to start. Highly recommend by me :)
July 10, 2019
The frame stories “We Live Inside Your Eyes (I & II)” are definitely weird, but the opener doesn’t flow into the first collected story well. I’m not sure why a young boy from an apocalyptic world blooming with mildew would be interested in an introspective story about midlife marital doubts and anxiety. This collection evokes thoughts of Barker, but doesn’t quite grab his glee.
May 21, 2023
KPB is my jam but this one was a bit of a mixed bag. The last story, The House on Abigail Lane, was a particular miss and it was the longest. Overall though, pretty good and I really enjoyed the intro/outro of this one.
August 13, 2020
I love Kealan Patrick Burke. I feel like that is redundant for me to even say at this point. Every new collection of short stories, novella, anything surprises me all over again by this man's sheer amount of talent. Even when he writes of the darkest depths of grief, depression, heinous crimes, his prose is poetic yet reads so effortless. I'm not a writer so for all I know he painstakingly obsesses over each word but to the reader, each word is exactly as it should be and is beautiful.
This collection is special in that it contains a sort or prologue and epilogue that connects each stand alone story to a larger narrative. We Live Inside Your Eyes (1) is a unique and unexpected way to start the collection. This short six page story brings a cohesiveness to all the others and paints a bigger picture, a story unto itself. And of course We Live Inside Your Eyes (2) is the perfect blend of closure and horror of destructions yet to come.
All of the stories in this collection are dark (of course they are, Burke wrote them after all) but through the bleak, hellish landscape Burke so perfectly paints into being, there's something hiding in the mist, hiding in the smoke of these ruined cities and ruined souls. What is that just lurking below the surface? Stories, as horrific and bloody as they were, had a vein of hopefulness running through them. Some were infused with just the right amount of glimmering hope to assure the reader not everything is overly bleak and depressing. Or maybe I'm just getting sentimental and want to see sparks and flashes of good. But do not be fooled, these are not sweet nor inspiring little stories. In true Burke fashion, they are full of creeping dread, a touch of gore, and horrible atrocities committed by supernatural and human monsters alike. I think sweet and inspiring stories would be scarier coming from Burke!
If you've read anything by Burke, you know he is simply the master, and I mean MASTER, of the twist ending. Although "twist" makes what he does sound hokey or like he tries too hard to create a surprise. His endings are unexpected yet fit perfectly with the story already written. I know the story isn't going to end the way it seems yet I can never predict the outcome and am constantly blown away by it.
I will forever love how he includes his Story Notes with each collection. It brings a personal touch and authenticity to his writing. He writes from his real life and isn't churning out stories just to make a buck.
In one story he writes "Not everything gets to end." And I feel this about Kealan Patrick Burke and his writing. The day he writes his last story will be a somber day indeed!
This collection is special in that it contains a sort or prologue and epilogue that connects each stand alone story to a larger narrative. We Live Inside Your Eyes (1) is a unique and unexpected way to start the collection. This short six page story brings a cohesiveness to all the others and paints a bigger picture, a story unto itself. And of course We Live Inside Your Eyes (2) is the perfect blend of closure and horror of destructions yet to come.
All of the stories in this collection are dark (of course they are, Burke wrote them after all) but through the bleak, hellish landscape Burke so perfectly paints into being, there's something hiding in the mist, hiding in the smoke of these ruined cities and ruined souls. What is that just lurking below the surface? Stories, as horrific and bloody as they were, had a vein of hopefulness running through them. Some were infused with just the right amount of glimmering hope to assure the reader not everything is overly bleak and depressing. Or maybe I'm just getting sentimental and want to see sparks and flashes of good. But do not be fooled, these are not sweet nor inspiring little stories. In true Burke fashion, they are full of creeping dread, a touch of gore, and horrible atrocities committed by supernatural and human monsters alike. I think sweet and inspiring stories would be scarier coming from Burke!
If you've read anything by Burke, you know he is simply the master, and I mean MASTER, of the twist ending. Although "twist" makes what he does sound hokey or like he tries too hard to create a surprise. His endings are unexpected yet fit perfectly with the story already written. I know the story isn't going to end the way it seems yet I can never predict the outcome and am constantly blown away by it.
I will forever love how he includes his Story Notes with each collection. It brings a personal touch and authenticity to his writing. He writes from his real life and isn't churning out stories just to make a buck.
In one story he writes "Not everything gets to end." And I feel this about Kealan Patrick Burke and his writing. The day he writes his last story will be a somber day indeed!
August 11, 2019
Another solid collection of short stories from Kealan Patrick Burke!
June 6, 2024
I've read a few of Burke's collections now and can definitely say that I'm a fan. This was an enjoyable read and I liked all of the stories. My favorites were "Traveler" and "The House on Abigail Lane".
September 24, 2024
This collection is highlighted both in length and quality by The House on Abigail Lane. It’s not quite as good as I remember it, but still a solid story and the detached, stoic narration works.
The other stories are a bit of a mixed bag. Lots of purple prose, but you have to admire just how prolific the author is.
The other stories are a bit of a mixed bag. Lots of purple prose, but you have to admire just how prolific the author is.
July 21, 2020
I thought this was just alright - although I skipped the included novella, since i just bought a standalone copy of it. But I definitely feel the need to add that I really like KPB's work but often don't really enjoy short story collections a whole ton. If you are someone who loves them, don't hesitate to try this one out!
I think my favorite story in this collection was "The Mannequin Challenge". I felt like it was a kind of take on the idea of who you are is how you act when no one is looking. Real creepy!
I think my favorite story in this collection was "The Mannequin Challenge". I felt like it was a kind of take on the idea of who you are is how you act when no one is looking. Real creepy!
August 30, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 on the strength of two of the stories, A Wicked Thirst and The House on Abigail Lane. Not every story worked for me here, but he can definitely set a very specific kind of grimly hopeless tone, that's for sure. While the specific details of the two aforementioned stories will definitely stick with me, the others kind of blended into a general feeling of gloom and decay that will also loom in my brain for awhile.
March 24, 2021
3.5 stars.
We Live Inside Your Eyes is a fantastic collection of weird, creepy, macabre horror stories. As with every anthology, I preferred some stories above the others. While individually, no story was below a 3-star for me, some shined above the rest.
Traveler, A Wicked Thirst and The House On Abigail Lane were my personal favorites. Though, I couldn't help but wish The House On Abigail Lane was its own feature length novel.
We Live Inside Your Eyes is a fantastic collection of weird, creepy, macabre horror stories. As with every anthology, I preferred some stories above the others. While individually, no story was below a 3-star for me, some shined above the rest.
Traveler, A Wicked Thirst and The House On Abigail Lane were my personal favorites. Though, I couldn't help but wish The House On Abigail Lane was its own feature length novel.
May 2, 2020
Every story here is top notch, and woven together with a delightfully creepy through line that brings to mind some of the best horror anthology movies. Burke has such a talent of balancing gallows humor with a constant sense of dread, and all the while maintaining breakneck pacing. I’m constantly in awe of his talent, and this may be his best showcase yet!
May 10, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis
In the ruins of an old parking garage, there is an effigy lashed to a pillar. To anyone else, the remains of the woman with the goat skull head is a warning. To a lonely young boy looking for escape, it is a god of salvation. At its feet lay tattered old notebooks, scattered stories, tales of strange encounters, of broken people and monstrous things, and of corrupt hearts and evil minds. In order to complete his transfiguration, the boy must read these stories, but he has no idea the fate that awaits him.
WE LIVE INSIDE YOUR EYES is the much anticipated new collection from Bram Stoker Award-winning horror author Kealan Patrick Burke, featuring previously uncollected stories and two brand new tales written especially for this collection, the short story “You Have Nothing to Fear From Me”, and the novelette “The House on Abigail Lane.” With an introduction and story notes by the author.
Review
Let it be said that anytime Kealan Patrick Burke releases a new work, whether it be a novella, a collection of stories, or a grocery list with a bloody thumbprint on it, it is a must have in my home. I will rush to pre-order the e-book and paperback, chew on my nails to the roots and beyond until release day, and use the bloody stumps that are left to hold onto my Kindle and devour as many of the words he has put to page as possible. All the while I wait for the dead tree version to be delivered by the kind people of the Amazon Fleet and wait with baited breath for the package to hit the front porch.
ANYWHO…
We Live Behind Your Eyes is a collection of stories inside of a grander story, a story in which we see a clear beginning and end, but the main focus is the set of stories our protagonist happens upon beneath an effigy in an abandoned (and as you can imagine, dimly lit) parking garage.
Quite a few of the stories gave the same sort of bite I have become accustomed to when it comes to KPB’s writing. Engrossing story-telling that hits the mark at each corner, delivering a slow burn that ignites with fiery rage in its culmination. The prose just oozes out of the page like candle wax, hardening on my fingertips and clinging to the skin until it is scrubbed away. Not only that, but some are downright horrifying. We are talking Peekers level here, y’all..
Every. Single. Story. Hits. The. Mark. He even throws in a poem, you guys. COME ON. On top of that, Burke throws in a novelette for kicks; one which I think is a perfect match for King fans.
I’m not going to give a synopsis on each story because you really need to dive in and read them yourself. I can only say that I enjoyed each and every one, like I pretty much do with anything the author puts out.
If you are like me and can’t not buy everything KPB delivers, you know you are buying this book (or have probably already purchased it). If you haven’t taken a chance on him, I would encourage you to check out Sour Candy or Blanky before giving this one a go. It is a bit of a doozy.
Synopsis
In the ruins of an old parking garage, there is an effigy lashed to a pillar. To anyone else, the remains of the woman with the goat skull head is a warning. To a lonely young boy looking for escape, it is a god of salvation. At its feet lay tattered old notebooks, scattered stories, tales of strange encounters, of broken people and monstrous things, and of corrupt hearts and evil minds. In order to complete his transfiguration, the boy must read these stories, but he has no idea the fate that awaits him.
WE LIVE INSIDE YOUR EYES is the much anticipated new collection from Bram Stoker Award-winning horror author Kealan Patrick Burke, featuring previously uncollected stories and two brand new tales written especially for this collection, the short story “You Have Nothing to Fear From Me”, and the novelette “The House on Abigail Lane.” With an introduction and story notes by the author.
Review
Let it be said that anytime Kealan Patrick Burke releases a new work, whether it be a novella, a collection of stories, or a grocery list with a bloody thumbprint on it, it is a must have in my home. I will rush to pre-order the e-book and paperback, chew on my nails to the roots and beyond until release day, and use the bloody stumps that are left to hold onto my Kindle and devour as many of the words he has put to page as possible. All the while I wait for the dead tree version to be delivered by the kind people of the Amazon Fleet and wait with baited breath for the package to hit the front porch.
ANYWHO…
We Live Behind Your Eyes is a collection of stories inside of a grander story, a story in which we see a clear beginning and end, but the main focus is the set of stories our protagonist happens upon beneath an effigy in an abandoned (and as you can imagine, dimly lit) parking garage.
Quite a few of the stories gave the same sort of bite I have become accustomed to when it comes to KPB’s writing. Engrossing story-telling that hits the mark at each corner, delivering a slow burn that ignites with fiery rage in its culmination. The prose just oozes out of the page like candle wax, hardening on my fingertips and clinging to the skin until it is scrubbed away. Not only that, but some are downright horrifying. We are talking Peekers level here, y’all..
Every. Single. Story. Hits. The. Mark. He even throws in a poem, you guys. COME ON. On top of that, Burke throws in a novelette for kicks; one which I think is a perfect match for King fans.
I’m not going to give a synopsis on each story because you really need to dive in and read them yourself. I can only say that I enjoyed each and every one, like I pretty much do with anything the author puts out.
If you are like me and can’t not buy everything KPB delivers, you know you are buying this book (or have probably already purchased it). If you haven’t taken a chance on him, I would encourage you to check out Sour Candy or Blanky before giving this one a go. It is a bit of a doozy.
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