What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ghost Moth
The Ghost Moth; a tragic tale of the Spirit versus the Flesh.
(Given 5 stars by Readers' Favorite, it is also a recent Book Excellence Awards Finalist)
As Joe reads an old folk tale and is drawn into a world of religious fanatics, witches, angels and she-devils, he begins to wonder if it is possible that a five hundred year old tragic love story of a young monk and his lover could be impacting on his family in the present day?
A story about the desires of the sexes and the doctrines of religion, with hints at the supernatural and beautiful and atmospheric imagery, this controversial, adult, speculative, spiritual and philosophical tale will intrigue, entertain and keep you guessing in equal measure up until the last page.
(Warning to sensitive readers; the story is an adult one and so deals with adult themes. It contains what some might find to be controversial views on both religion and sex, as well as mild sex scenes.)
(Given 5 stars by Readers' Favorite, it is also a recent Book Excellence Awards Finalist)
As Joe reads an old folk tale and is drawn into a world of religious fanatics, witches, angels and she-devils, he begins to wonder if it is possible that a five hundred year old tragic love story of a young monk and his lover could be impacting on his family in the present day?
A story about the desires of the sexes and the doctrines of religion, with hints at the supernatural and beautiful and atmospheric imagery, this controversial, adult, speculative, spiritual and philosophical tale will intrigue, entertain and keep you guessing in equal measure up until the last page.
(Warning to sensitive readers; the story is an adult one and so deals with adult themes. It contains what some might find to be controversial views on both religion and sex, as well as mild sex scenes.)
- GenresFiction
321 pages, ebook
Published July 25, 2020
32 people are currently reading
5777 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Garland
8 books226 followersI didn't start out in a career in writing; I qualified as a Chartered Civil Engineer. In this capacity I worked for several years on projects in the UK, the Far East and Africa. During this period I won the Institution of Civil Engineers 'Miller Prize' for a paper on tunnelling. Perhaps my first foray in to writing? It was a pretty dry technical piece. However my experience in tunnelling has given me an exciting idea for a story which I hope will be a lot more fun than my engineering paper and I have just recently made a start on this. Changing times resulted in a change in direction and after qualifying as an Associate Member of both the British Institute of Professional Photography and the Royal Photographic Society, started my own stock photograph library (the first in N.E.England) and wrote for the trade press. The Internet was new in those days and not very reliable. So an unexpected break in my Internet connection fortuitously presented the time to make a start on a long cherished project of a series of novella length stories, and the first story of The Red Grouse Tales, was drafted. Three more 'tales' followed and I published The Red Grouse Tales in 2016. Since then I have completed a further three novellas and a novel and started winning awards for my writing. Right now I am trying to complete a second batch of 'tales' and am part way through writing a trilogy.
Find more information on my website http://www.lesliegarland.com
And please follow me on:-
Amazon; https://author.amazon.com/profile
Twitter; https://twitter.com/LeslieWPGarland
FaceBook; https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
and Bookbub; https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lesli...
so as to catch the 'new' when it happens and not learn of it afterwards!
Find more information on my website http://www.lesliegarland.com
And please follow me on:-
Amazon; https://author.amazon.com/profile
Twitter; https://twitter.com/LeslieWPGarland
FaceBook; https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
and Bookbub; https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lesli...
so as to catch the 'new' when it happens and not learn of it afterwards!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 24, 2025
This story of The Ghost Moth came together as a result of my musing on:- religious fanaticism, ‘me too’, and the idea of a location being cursed as the result of something having happened there in the past. Yes, a strange mix, but I hope it makes for an interesting tale.
History is all too easily forgotten. So I thought it would be as well to remind ourselves that Christianity used to be just as misogynist, intolerant and barbaric as anything we read about in our newspapers these days. For a religion which is supposed to be about love and tolerance one does have to wonder where this came from. Of course religion and sex always seem to have been at loggerheads, but why? Possibly it had / has something to do with the fact that men were / are primarily instrumental in creating religion, whereas women were / are more concerned with creating offspring. Saint Paul observed in Galatians 5.17, ‘For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.’ So are the innate differences between male and female those which drive the differences between spiritual desires, or perhaps we should say religious doctrine, and sexual desires? And how did these become as extreme as they did? In order to dig into possible causes, I necessarily had to look at the lives and writings of some of the early saints so as to, I hope, shed some light on this.
Back in those very early days and the later days of yore, women’s rights were all but non-existent and religious misogynists could brand a woman as a she-devil or witch and hence condemn her as such just because ….. well, was any real hard evidence actually necessary? And it stuck me that the ‘me-too’ movement was in great danger of doing exactly the same to men these days, with a woman throwing out an unsubstantiated accusation, which all have to take on trust, about a supposed event which took place years previously and which she had said nothing about at the time. Yes, we know men exploit women, but women also exploit men and this appears to have been forgotten. The exploitation may take a different form, but it is exploitation nonetheless and this of course feeds back into the conflict between the Flesh and the Spirit, and so I wanted to include this in my story.
Although the tale was going to be a work of fiction and as I always feel that the best fiction is based on reality - we all know the saying ‘truth is stranger than fiction’! - I wanted to base as much of it as possible on ‘things real.’ The description of the present day ruins of Blackacres Monastery is loosely based on those of a monastery here in Northumberland. The ‘stone road’ leading from it and general description of the countryside are all based on local reality. A family visit to a wooden sculpture of a giant head which one can go into, coupled with some truly bizarre looking trees (the image used for the cover was taken in North Yorkshire) resulted in both gradually morphing in my imagination into the tree in this story. And yes, Ghost Moths (Hepialus humuli) do exist, and with a name like that I couldn’t miss using one as an avatar in the story and so its name as the title of this tale.
I have sought to ensure that the bibliographical and historical elements are correct and offer my apologies if anything mentioned is incorrect. Whereas I realise that the views expressed on both religion and sex might be considered by some as controversial, I have endeavoured to be as even-handed as possible. However, the quotations cited are very real and hence referenced, and so I hope there is no controversy about who said or wrote what!
Although perhaps we might like to wish that the day might come when ‘the flesh ceaseth to lust against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh’ this seems unlikely, because, as Saint Paul said nearly two thousand years ago, ‘these are contrary one to the other,’ as of course are the innate desires which drive both male and female.
I hope you enjoy my tale.
History is all too easily forgotten. So I thought it would be as well to remind ourselves that Christianity used to be just as misogynist, intolerant and barbaric as anything we read about in our newspapers these days. For a religion which is supposed to be about love and tolerance one does have to wonder where this came from. Of course religion and sex always seem to have been at loggerheads, but why? Possibly it had / has something to do with the fact that men were / are primarily instrumental in creating religion, whereas women were / are more concerned with creating offspring. Saint Paul observed in Galatians 5.17, ‘For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.’ So are the innate differences between male and female those which drive the differences between spiritual desires, or perhaps we should say religious doctrine, and sexual desires? And how did these become as extreme as they did? In order to dig into possible causes, I necessarily had to look at the lives and writings of some of the early saints so as to, I hope, shed some light on this.
Back in those very early days and the later days of yore, women’s rights were all but non-existent and religious misogynists could brand a woman as a she-devil or witch and hence condemn her as such just because ….. well, was any real hard evidence actually necessary? And it stuck me that the ‘me-too’ movement was in great danger of doing exactly the same to men these days, with a woman throwing out an unsubstantiated accusation, which all have to take on trust, about a supposed event which took place years previously and which she had said nothing about at the time. Yes, we know men exploit women, but women also exploit men and this appears to have been forgotten. The exploitation may take a different form, but it is exploitation nonetheless and this of course feeds back into the conflict between the Flesh and the Spirit, and so I wanted to include this in my story.
Although the tale was going to be a work of fiction and as I always feel that the best fiction is based on reality - we all know the saying ‘truth is stranger than fiction’! - I wanted to base as much of it as possible on ‘things real.’ The description of the present day ruins of Blackacres Monastery is loosely based on those of a monastery here in Northumberland. The ‘stone road’ leading from it and general description of the countryside are all based on local reality. A family visit to a wooden sculpture of a giant head which one can go into, coupled with some truly bizarre looking trees (the image used for the cover was taken in North Yorkshire) resulted in both gradually morphing in my imagination into the tree in this story. And yes, Ghost Moths (Hepialus humuli) do exist, and with a name like that I couldn’t miss using one as an avatar in the story and so its name as the title of this tale.
I have sought to ensure that the bibliographical and historical elements are correct and offer my apologies if anything mentioned is incorrect. Whereas I realise that the views expressed on both religion and sex might be considered by some as controversial, I have endeavoured to be as even-handed as possible. However, the quotations cited are very real and hence referenced, and so I hope there is no controversy about who said or wrote what!
Although perhaps we might like to wish that the day might come when ‘the flesh ceaseth to lust against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh’ this seems unlikely, because, as Saint Paul said nearly two thousand years ago, ‘these are contrary one to the other,’ as of course are the innate desires which drive both male and female.
I hope you enjoy my tale.
August 6, 2020
Another tale from life about life. About a thin line between rationality and madness in an exceptional piece of literature. From history to real-life experience of the story to very deep and explosive questions to the most frequently asked life expectancies. Questions about the relationship between religiosity and secularism, and also different point of views. Humanity in the stake and all of a sudden, angels and demons are taking the place of us. Enslaved in fear at one side, and being set free but without a feeling of consequences on the other, these two extremities are entangled into the story and some threads of doubt are uncovered in times of difficult decisions and magic "hallucinations".
The grim tree, beautiful but mortally dangerous moths, the great depression and reminiscence of the former love in bloom; not in Shakespearian way; and tragedy of two men from different times who met on the same circumstances. All packed in a fast-paced, action-filled story by the pen of life collected by Mr Garland.
I recommend this book for all truth-between-pages readers who are not afraid of being exposed to raw feelings and acts of the characters inside.
The grim tree, beautiful but mortally dangerous moths, the great depression and reminiscence of the former love in bloom; not in Shakespearian way; and tragedy of two men from different times who met on the same circumstances. All packed in a fast-paced, action-filled story by the pen of life collected by Mr Garland.
I recommend this book for all truth-between-pages readers who are not afraid of being exposed to raw feelings and acts of the characters inside.
August 8, 2020
‘Was it Eve who tempted Adam, or was it Adam who was tempted by Eve?’
British author Leslie WP Garland has served successful as a civil engineer in the UK, the Far East and Africa, and as a photographer, and now he turns to writing stories he groups into various books as The Red Grouse Tales. THE GHOST MOTH is one of these stories. Leslie lives in Northumberland, England.
Reading the Foreword we discover the background and meaning of the name for this fine series – The Red Grouse Tales: ‘Quite how we’d got into this story telling thing is something that eludes me now, but somehow we had; the “we” being a group of us who had met usually, though not exclusively, at “The Red Grouse Inn” on the first Thursday evening of each month. “The Red Grouse” was an old coaching inn run by a charming landlady called Jenny. She had been married once upon a time, but things hadn’t worked out and after her divorce she’d ended up buying the inn. It had a warm, cosy, homely feel to it - red carpets, dark oak wood panelling, benches with cushions and heavily varnished tables - and if you liked sitting round one of these tables and having a few pints of Jenny’s excellent real ale and a chat on an evening, then this was the place for you! Then, on one such evening, one of our company told a story. It came completely out of the blue, with no prior discussion or anything to suggest it would happen. What I do recall is that that first story, whichever one it was, had us all entranced, so much so that at the following meeting a story was almost expected and thereafter we started to look forward to those Thursday evenings not just for the social chit-chat, but for the story that we would hear that evening. Due to the spontaneous and informal nature of the story telling it never occurred to me, or anyone else for that matter, to take notes or write anything down and it was only afterwards that it struck me that those tales might be worth saving for posterity, if that doesn’t sound too pompous! Hence, because this was done very much “after the event”, the result is that what follows is from my memory of what was said, and I fully realise that this may have failed me on some of the details and so offer my apologies to both the original tellers of these tales and you the reader, if this is the case.’ A fine taste of the author’s prose, this.
And who could resist an invitation such as this – the opening door to explore the marvelous stories Leslie shares. THE GHOST MOTH,in the year 1535, relates the adventures of novice–brothers Adam Callow, Rodiron McBane and Brother La Roche et al in the Black Acres Monastery and the religious restrictions placed on them and how they fared with monastic life – a richly colorful excursions into sexual proclivities, forbidden arenas, and isolates of the supernatural/paranormal forays.
Exceptionally fine writing and weaving of a story within a story - a fine invitation to follow these Red Grouse Tales!
British author Leslie WP Garland has served successful as a civil engineer in the UK, the Far East and Africa, and as a photographer, and now he turns to writing stories he groups into various books as The Red Grouse Tales. THE GHOST MOTH is one of these stories. Leslie lives in Northumberland, England.
Reading the Foreword we discover the background and meaning of the name for this fine series – The Red Grouse Tales: ‘Quite how we’d got into this story telling thing is something that eludes me now, but somehow we had; the “we” being a group of us who had met usually, though not exclusively, at “The Red Grouse Inn” on the first Thursday evening of each month. “The Red Grouse” was an old coaching inn run by a charming landlady called Jenny. She had been married once upon a time, but things hadn’t worked out and after her divorce she’d ended up buying the inn. It had a warm, cosy, homely feel to it - red carpets, dark oak wood panelling, benches with cushions and heavily varnished tables - and if you liked sitting round one of these tables and having a few pints of Jenny’s excellent real ale and a chat on an evening, then this was the place for you! Then, on one such evening, one of our company told a story. It came completely out of the blue, with no prior discussion or anything to suggest it would happen. What I do recall is that that first story, whichever one it was, had us all entranced, so much so that at the following meeting a story was almost expected and thereafter we started to look forward to those Thursday evenings not just for the social chit-chat, but for the story that we would hear that evening. Due to the spontaneous and informal nature of the story telling it never occurred to me, or anyone else for that matter, to take notes or write anything down and it was only afterwards that it struck me that those tales might be worth saving for posterity, if that doesn’t sound too pompous! Hence, because this was done very much “after the event”, the result is that what follows is from my memory of what was said, and I fully realise that this may have failed me on some of the details and so offer my apologies to both the original tellers of these tales and you the reader, if this is the case.’ A fine taste of the author’s prose, this.
And who could resist an invitation such as this – the opening door to explore the marvelous stories Leslie shares. THE GHOST MOTH,in the year 1535, relates the adventures of novice–brothers Adam Callow, Rodiron McBane and Brother La Roche et al in the Black Acres Monastery and the religious restrictions placed on them and how they fared with monastic life – a richly colorful excursions into sexual proclivities, forbidden arenas, and isolates of the supernatural/paranormal forays.
Exceptionally fine writing and weaving of a story within a story - a fine invitation to follow these Red Grouse Tales!
August 15, 2020
Leslie Garland writes stories that capture the imagination and challenge long-held beliefs. In his most recent story, “The Ghost Moth”, religious beliefs, sexual temptation, and locational evil are explored. A young man, Adam Callow, was delivered by his parents to the monastery of St.s Paul and Augustine, the Black Acres Monastery. The zealous Prior Obscurant lectures his flock on the dangers of temptation and women, directing most of his remarks to the novice-brothers, including Adam Callow. Why did the early Church have such disdain for women when Jesus was born of a woman? Adam begins questioning the teachings of the monastery.
The person telling Adam’s story also begins to relate the odd series of events that happened in his life. As he read the story of Adam, he decided to visit the location of this monastery. Once there, he became aware of the foreboding surroundings. Is this location evil? Does a place absorb evil and become tainted forever? Would an evil location affect someone hundreds of years later?
This tale takes a hard look at the religious attitudes held in the 1500’s. Since some teachings haven’t changed with the times, there is spill over into the teachings of the Catholic Church today. These doubts and questions will cause you to examine what you believe too. And as to whether a place can retain evil? Well, that is up to you and what you think after reading this wonderful story.
The person telling Adam’s story also begins to relate the odd series of events that happened in his life. As he read the story of Adam, he decided to visit the location of this monastery. Once there, he became aware of the foreboding surroundings. Is this location evil? Does a place absorb evil and become tainted forever? Would an evil location affect someone hundreds of years later?
This tale takes a hard look at the religious attitudes held in the 1500’s. Since some teachings haven’t changed with the times, there is spill over into the teachings of the Catholic Church today. These doubts and questions will cause you to examine what you believe too. And as to whether a place can retain evil? Well, that is up to you and what you think after reading this wonderful story.
August 9, 2020
I have read and immensely enjoyed this author's short stories, so was looking forward to reading this, expecting another unsettling tale combined with a little philosophy on the nature of who we are. This book combines a story about a young novice monk, enduring an oppressive monastic regime, whilst being tempted by the pleasures of sex with a beautiful woman. Running alongside it is a tale of a young family where there are clear marital issues, but after a day out involving a spooky cave, something else may be at work in their family.
I had hoped for more of the modern story as this is where the supernatural comes in and I do think that a lot more could have been made of this, particularly at the end. However, the majority of the book is set in the 1500's, telling the monk's story. There is a lot of philosophical content, including looking for reasons why some of the church fathers were so mysogynistic. The female characters are more incidental in both narratives: we see no real evidence of who they are or what they think. Perhaps this is the point - they represent angels or harlots and nothing inbetween (rather as they were represented in the church fathers' writings). In the end, they remain a mystery. Ultimately, this book got me thinking, even if I didn't agree with any of the ideas on the nature of women.
I had hoped for more of the modern story as this is where the supernatural comes in and I do think that a lot more could have been made of this, particularly at the end. However, the majority of the book is set in the 1500's, telling the monk's story. There is a lot of philosophical content, including looking for reasons why some of the church fathers were so mysogynistic. The female characters are more incidental in both narratives: we see no real evidence of who they are or what they think. Perhaps this is the point - they represent angels or harlots and nothing inbetween (rather as they were represented in the church fathers' writings). In the end, they remain a mystery. Ultimately, this book got me thinking, even if I didn't agree with any of the ideas on the nature of women.
August 25, 2020
[English review + Reseña en Español]
The Phantom Moth: A Tragic Tale of Spirit Against Flesh (a Red Grouse Tale), by Leslie Garland
Amazon Services LLC 2020
321 pages.
Genre / Themes: Fiction / Magic Realism; Horror; Religion; Sexism
The owner of certain book begins to believe that what is described in it may have a great deal of truth, and that it is somehow permeating into his own present. In the story, a young man enters the Black Acres Monastery of Saints Paul and Augustine to become a monk, by choice of his parents, and in the hope of ensuring both his education and his future. The prior, a man with a somewhat partial faith and an inclination to interpret the scriptures in his own way, intends to achieve at all costs that those who live under his care and guidance become "the 144,000" who will inherit the Kingdom of God. Novice Adam Callow must learn that the truth is not univocal, that neither love nor the devil are as they are painted, and that the prevailing misogyny in the Monastery has little to do with the will of God.
Emerging from one of many chats between comrades at The Red Grouse inn, The Ghost Moth is a horror story set in the mid-16th century. Its goal, according to the author, is simply "to entertain", and he succeeds in spades. During young Callow's stay at the Black Acres Monastery, he will have very interesting talks with Brother La Roche and Novice Michael Venn about celibacy, love, sin, sexism and bigotry. In addition, he must come face to face with the maximum risk that a man could take in his place: the possible perdition for his soul in the eternal fire of hell.
Framed by the darkness of the time, the story delves into very important issues while developing the story of a man's personal fears. Without great fuss nor out of place special effects, the author manages to model an interesting, coherent, very well told, human novel that is, at the same time, terrifying on two fronts: that of temporary but repetitive human cruelty and that of everlasting evil. This book is a gem that reflects the fears of a clean and innocent young man who is ultimately a simple human, forced into chastity by a promise made without choice or conviction. A very well written book that I highly recommend to the lovers of good narrative, philosophical / theological discussions between common people and a horror well-set in the so-called “The Century of Colonies”.
-------
The Ghost Moth: a tragic tale of the Spirit versus the Flesh (a Red Grouse Tale), por Leslie Garland
Amazon Services LLC 2020
321 páginas.
Género / Temas: Ficción / Realismo Mágico; Horror; Religión; Sexismo
El propietario de cierto libro comienza a creer que lo que en él se describe puede tener gran parte de verdad, y que de algún modo está colándose en su propio presente. En la historia, un joven ingresa al Monasterio de Acres Negros de los Santos Pablo y Agustín para convertirse en monje, por decisión de sus padres, y con la esperanza de asegurar tanto su educación como su futuro. El prior, un hombre con una fe algo parcial y una inclinación a interpretar muy a su modo las escrituras, pretende lograr a toda costa que quienes viven bajo su cuidado y guía se conviertan en "los 144,000" que heredarán el Reino de Dios. El novicio Adam Callow deberá aprender que la verdad no es unívoca, que ni el amor ni el diablo son como los pintan, y que la misoginia imperante en el Monasterio poco tiene que ver con la voluntad de Dios.
Surgida de una de muchas charlas entre camaradas en la hostería The Red Grouse, The Ghost Moth es una historia de terror ambientada a mediados del siglo XVI. Su objetivo, según el autor, es simplemente "entretener", y lo logra con creces. Durante la estadía del joven Callow en el Monasterio de Black Acres, tendrá pláticas interesantísimas con el hermano La Roche y el novicio Michael Venn sobre el celibato, el amor, el pecado, el sexismo y el fanatismo. Además, deberá enfrentarse cara a cara con el máximo riesgo que podría correr un hombre en su lugar: la posible perdición de su alma en el fuego eterno del infierno.
Enmarcado por la oscuridad de la época, el relato profundiza en temas muy importantes a la vez que desarrolla la historia de los miedos personales de un hombre. Sin grandes aspavientos ni efectos especiales fuera de lugar, el autor logra modelar una novela interesante, coherente, muy bien contada, humana y al mismo tiempo terrorífica a dos frentes: el de la temporal pero repetitiva crueldad humana y el de la maldad sempiterna. Este libro es una joya que refleja los temores de un joven limpio e inocente, pero humano a fin de cuentas, obligado a la castidad por una promesa contraída sin opción ni convicción. Un libro muy bien escrito que recomiendo ampliamente a los amantes de la buena narrativa, las discusiones filosóficas/teológicas entre personas comunes y un horror bien ambientado en el llamado “Siglo de las Colonias”.
The Phantom Moth: A Tragic Tale of Spirit Against Flesh (a Red Grouse Tale), by Leslie Garland
Amazon Services LLC 2020
321 pages.
Genre / Themes: Fiction / Magic Realism; Horror; Religion; Sexism
The owner of certain book begins to believe that what is described in it may have a great deal of truth, and that it is somehow permeating into his own present. In the story, a young man enters the Black Acres Monastery of Saints Paul and Augustine to become a monk, by choice of his parents, and in the hope of ensuring both his education and his future. The prior, a man with a somewhat partial faith and an inclination to interpret the scriptures in his own way, intends to achieve at all costs that those who live under his care and guidance become "the 144,000" who will inherit the Kingdom of God. Novice Adam Callow must learn that the truth is not univocal, that neither love nor the devil are as they are painted, and that the prevailing misogyny in the Monastery has little to do with the will of God.
Emerging from one of many chats between comrades at The Red Grouse inn, The Ghost Moth is a horror story set in the mid-16th century. Its goal, according to the author, is simply "to entertain", and he succeeds in spades. During young Callow's stay at the Black Acres Monastery, he will have very interesting talks with Brother La Roche and Novice Michael Venn about celibacy, love, sin, sexism and bigotry. In addition, he must come face to face with the maximum risk that a man could take in his place: the possible perdition for his soul in the eternal fire of hell.
Framed by the darkness of the time, the story delves into very important issues while developing the story of a man's personal fears. Without great fuss nor out of place special effects, the author manages to model an interesting, coherent, very well told, human novel that is, at the same time, terrifying on two fronts: that of temporary but repetitive human cruelty and that of everlasting evil. This book is a gem that reflects the fears of a clean and innocent young man who is ultimately a simple human, forced into chastity by a promise made without choice or conviction. A very well written book that I highly recommend to the lovers of good narrative, philosophical / theological discussions between common people and a horror well-set in the so-called “The Century of Colonies”.
-------
The Ghost Moth: a tragic tale of the Spirit versus the Flesh (a Red Grouse Tale), por Leslie Garland
Amazon Services LLC 2020
321 páginas.
Género / Temas: Ficción / Realismo Mágico; Horror; Religión; Sexismo
El propietario de cierto libro comienza a creer que lo que en él se describe puede tener gran parte de verdad, y que de algún modo está colándose en su propio presente. En la historia, un joven ingresa al Monasterio de Acres Negros de los Santos Pablo y Agustín para convertirse en monje, por decisión de sus padres, y con la esperanza de asegurar tanto su educación como su futuro. El prior, un hombre con una fe algo parcial y una inclinación a interpretar muy a su modo las escrituras, pretende lograr a toda costa que quienes viven bajo su cuidado y guía se conviertan en "los 144,000" que heredarán el Reino de Dios. El novicio Adam Callow deberá aprender que la verdad no es unívoca, que ni el amor ni el diablo son como los pintan, y que la misoginia imperante en el Monasterio poco tiene que ver con la voluntad de Dios.
Surgida de una de muchas charlas entre camaradas en la hostería The Red Grouse, The Ghost Moth es una historia de terror ambientada a mediados del siglo XVI. Su objetivo, según el autor, es simplemente "entretener", y lo logra con creces. Durante la estadía del joven Callow en el Monasterio de Black Acres, tendrá pláticas interesantísimas con el hermano La Roche y el novicio Michael Venn sobre el celibato, el amor, el pecado, el sexismo y el fanatismo. Además, deberá enfrentarse cara a cara con el máximo riesgo que podría correr un hombre en su lugar: la posible perdición de su alma en el fuego eterno del infierno.
Enmarcado por la oscuridad de la época, el relato profundiza en temas muy importantes a la vez que desarrolla la historia de los miedos personales de un hombre. Sin grandes aspavientos ni efectos especiales fuera de lugar, el autor logra modelar una novela interesante, coherente, muy bien contada, humana y al mismo tiempo terrorífica a dos frentes: el de la temporal pero repetitiva crueldad humana y el de la maldad sempiterna. Este libro es una joya que refleja los temores de un joven limpio e inocente, pero humano a fin de cuentas, obligado a la castidad por una promesa contraída sin opción ni convicción. Un libro muy bien escrito que recomiendo ampliamente a los amantes de la buena narrativa, las discusiones filosóficas/teológicas entre personas comunes y un horror bien ambientado en el llamado “Siglo de las Colonias”.
July 25, 2020
‘Was it Eve who tempted Adam, or was it Adam who was tempted by Eve?’
British author Leslie WP Garland has served successful as a civil engineer in the UK, the Far East and Africa, and as a photographer, and now he turns to writing stories he groups into various books as The Red Grouse Tales. THE GHOST MOTH is one of these stories. Leslie lives in Northumberland, England.
Reading the Foreword we discover the background and meaning of the name for this fine series – The Red Grouse Tales: ‘Quite how we’d got into this story telling thing is something that eludes me now, but somehow we had; the “we” being a group of us who had met usually, though not exclusively, at “The Red Grouse Inn” on the first Thursday evening of each month. “The Red Grouse” was an old coaching inn run by a charming landlady called Jenny. She had been married once upon a time, but things hadn’t worked out and after her divorce she’d ended up buying the inn. It had a warm, cosy, homely feel to it - red carpets, dark oak wood panelling, benches with cushions and heavily varnished tables - and if you liked sitting round one of these tables and having a few pints of Jenny’s excellent real ale and a chat on an evening, then this was the place for you! Then, on one such evening, one of our company told a story. It came completely out of the blue, with no prior discussion or anything to suggest it would happen. What I do recall is that that first story, whichever one it was, had us all entranced, so much so that at the following meeting a story was almost expected and thereafter we started to look forward to those Thursday evenings not just for the social chit-chat, but for the story that we would hear that evening. Due to the spontaneous and informal nature of the story telling it never occurred to me, or anyone else for that matter, to take notes or write anything down and it was only afterwards that it struck me that those tales might be worth saving for posterity, if that doesn’t sound too pompous! Hence, because this was done very much “after the event”, the result is that what follows is from my memory of what was said, and I fully realise that this may have failed me on some of the details and so offer my apologies to both the original tellers of these tales and you the reader, if this is the case.’ A fine taste of the author’s prose, this.
And who could resist an invitation such as this – the opening door to explore the marvelous stories Leslie shares. THE GHOST MOTH,in the year 1535, relates the adventures of novice–brothers Adam Callow, Rodiron McBane and Brother La Roche et al in the Black Acres Monastery and the religious restrictions placed on them and how they fared with monastic life – a richly colorful excursions into sexual proclivities, forbidden arenas, and isolates of the supernatural/paranormal forays. Exceptionally fine writing and weaving of a story within a story - a fine invitation to follow these Red Grouse Tales!
British author Leslie WP Garland has served successful as a civil engineer in the UK, the Far East and Africa, and as a photographer, and now he turns to writing stories he groups into various books as The Red Grouse Tales. THE GHOST MOTH is one of these stories. Leslie lives in Northumberland, England.
Reading the Foreword we discover the background and meaning of the name for this fine series – The Red Grouse Tales: ‘Quite how we’d got into this story telling thing is something that eludes me now, but somehow we had; the “we” being a group of us who had met usually, though not exclusively, at “The Red Grouse Inn” on the first Thursday evening of each month. “The Red Grouse” was an old coaching inn run by a charming landlady called Jenny. She had been married once upon a time, but things hadn’t worked out and after her divorce she’d ended up buying the inn. It had a warm, cosy, homely feel to it - red carpets, dark oak wood panelling, benches with cushions and heavily varnished tables - and if you liked sitting round one of these tables and having a few pints of Jenny’s excellent real ale and a chat on an evening, then this was the place for you! Then, on one such evening, one of our company told a story. It came completely out of the blue, with no prior discussion or anything to suggest it would happen. What I do recall is that that first story, whichever one it was, had us all entranced, so much so that at the following meeting a story was almost expected and thereafter we started to look forward to those Thursday evenings not just for the social chit-chat, but for the story that we would hear that evening. Due to the spontaneous and informal nature of the story telling it never occurred to me, or anyone else for that matter, to take notes or write anything down and it was only afterwards that it struck me that those tales might be worth saving for posterity, if that doesn’t sound too pompous! Hence, because this was done very much “after the event”, the result is that what follows is from my memory of what was said, and I fully realise that this may have failed me on some of the details and so offer my apologies to both the original tellers of these tales and you the reader, if this is the case.’ A fine taste of the author’s prose, this.
And who could resist an invitation such as this – the opening door to explore the marvelous stories Leslie shares. THE GHOST MOTH,in the year 1535, relates the adventures of novice–brothers Adam Callow, Rodiron McBane and Brother La Roche et al in the Black Acres Monastery and the religious restrictions placed on them and how they fared with monastic life – a richly colorful excursions into sexual proclivities, forbidden arenas, and isolates of the supernatural/paranormal forays. Exceptionally fine writing and weaving of a story within a story - a fine invitation to follow these Red Grouse Tales!
July 7, 2025
The Ghost Moth is a haunting and evocative dive into the liminal space between the sacred and the profane, where ancient secrets pulse just beneath the surface of the modern world.
From the opening pages, Leslie Garland weaves an atmospheric, richly layered narrative that blurs the boundaries between folklore and reality. As Joe uncovers the tragic tale of a young monk and his forbidden love, readers are pulled into a shadowy realm populated by witches, she-devils, religious zealots, and celestial beings. Garland doesn't just tell a story, he conjures one.
What stands out most is how The Ghost Moth challenges its readers. It's speculative and spiritual, yes, but also deeply philosophical. It probes uncomfortable questions about faith, desire, morality, and the enduring echo of love across centuries. The writing is elegant and often poetic, painting scenes with a dreamlike quality that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.
While the book does explore adult and controversial themes, religion, sexuality, and spiritual conflict, it does so with maturity and thoughtfulness. It's not shock for shock’s sake; it’s commentary with purpose. For readers open to layered narratives and big questions, this novel is a rewarding and unforgettable experience.
In short: The Ghost Moth is bold, intelligent, and beautifully strange. If you like your fiction with depth, mystery, and a philosophical edge, don’t miss this one.
From the opening pages, Leslie Garland weaves an atmospheric, richly layered narrative that blurs the boundaries between folklore and reality. As Joe uncovers the tragic tale of a young monk and his forbidden love, readers are pulled into a shadowy realm populated by witches, she-devils, religious zealots, and celestial beings. Garland doesn't just tell a story, he conjures one.
What stands out most is how The Ghost Moth challenges its readers. It's speculative and spiritual, yes, but also deeply philosophical. It probes uncomfortable questions about faith, desire, morality, and the enduring echo of love across centuries. The writing is elegant and often poetic, painting scenes with a dreamlike quality that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.
While the book does explore adult and controversial themes, religion, sexuality, and spiritual conflict, it does so with maturity and thoughtfulness. It's not shock for shock’s sake; it’s commentary with purpose. For readers open to layered narratives and big questions, this novel is a rewarding and unforgettable experience.
In short: The Ghost Moth is bold, intelligent, and beautifully strange. If you like your fiction with depth, mystery, and a philosophical edge, don’t miss this one.
August 5, 2020
Another tale from life about life. About a thin line between rationality and madness in an exceptional piece of literature. From history to real-life experience of the story to very deep and explosive questions to the most frequently asked life expectancies. Questions about the relationship between religiosity and secularism, and also different point of views. Humanity in the stake and all of a sudden, angels and demons are taking the place of us. Enslaved in fear at one side, and being set free but without a feeling of consequences on the other, these two extremities are entangled into the story and some threads of doubt are uncovered in times of difficult decisions and magic "hallucinations".
The grim tree, beautiful but mortally dangerous moths, the great depression and reminiscence of the former love in bloom; not in Shakespearian way; and tragedy of two men from different times who met on the same circumstances. All packed in a fast-paced, action-filled story by the pen of life collected by Mr Garland.
I recommend this book for all truth-between-pages readers who are not afraid of being exposed to raw feelings and acts of the characters inside.
The grim tree, beautiful but mortally dangerous moths, the great depression and reminiscence of the former love in bloom; not in Shakespearian way; and tragedy of two men from different times who met on the same circumstances. All packed in a fast-paced, action-filled story by the pen of life collected by Mr Garland.
I recommend this book for all truth-between-pages readers who are not afraid of being exposed to raw feelings and acts of the characters inside.
March 11, 2022
3.5, rounded up to 4 stars
This book was such an interesting read. Once I got into the story, I enjoyed reading it. The characters were very unique and intriguing.
I did find the book difficult to get into because of how detailed the book was. Although, once I got into the rhythm of reading it, I got the hang of it. This book was told in the perspective of Joe, who is telling his own story alongside telling the reader the old folk tale. I thought it was good how the author integrated the old folk tale into the present day story.
I thought Joe was a good character to tell the story, the way it was written was very unique. I also liked how Joe’s story, I was eager to find out what had happened to him and his family. The old folk tale was full of religion, philosophy and beliefs. It was interesting to follow the characters of this story and see some of the decisions they make. I did find the old folk tale was discussed the most in this book with the present day story being kept in the background.
As I said before, it did take me a while to get into this book so it did take me a while to read it. It is definitely worth reading because it discusses some interesting topics. The writing style of the author is very descriptive and very through. Once I got into the routine of the book, it was relatively easy to follow. I did find myself wanting to read more and more to find out what happens in both stories. The ending was very unpredictable.
This was a good book and I recommend to those who enjoy religion, history and philosophy. Or to those who want to get into those topics, the book definitely made me think.
This book was such an interesting read. Once I got into the story, I enjoyed reading it. The characters were very unique and intriguing.
I did find the book difficult to get into because of how detailed the book was. Although, once I got into the rhythm of reading it, I got the hang of it. This book was told in the perspective of Joe, who is telling his own story alongside telling the reader the old folk tale. I thought it was good how the author integrated the old folk tale into the present day story.
I thought Joe was a good character to tell the story, the way it was written was very unique. I also liked how Joe’s story, I was eager to find out what had happened to him and his family. The old folk tale was full of religion, philosophy and beliefs. It was interesting to follow the characters of this story and see some of the decisions they make. I did find the old folk tale was discussed the most in this book with the present day story being kept in the background.
As I said before, it did take me a while to get into this book so it did take me a while to read it. It is definitely worth reading because it discusses some interesting topics. The writing style of the author is very descriptive and very through. Once I got into the routine of the book, it was relatively easy to follow. I did find myself wanting to read more and more to find out what happens in both stories. The ending was very unpredictable.
This was a good book and I recommend to those who enjoy religion, history and philosophy. Or to those who want to get into those topics, the book definitely made me think.
February 22, 2022
I read and reviewed ‘The Red Grouse Tales: The Little Dog and other stories’ a while back and I really enjoyed it. So, when the author contacted me and gave me the opportunity to check this one out as well I very happily accepted.
Like the other Red Grouse stories the book begins with a group of friends sitting around a table sharing weird and wonderful stories. The story being told this time around is set in the 1500s, which I found quite interesting. However, because there were two stories being told parallel to each other things did get a bit confusing and I had to reread certain parts.
Overall I found this one was far too religious for me, a little too preachy. The story encourages you to think about your own beliefs - which is perfectly fine but I felt there was a bit too much of it in this story and it got a bit annoying.
There is no doubt that the author is a great writer with a very creative and active imagination, but I don’t think that this is one of his best works.
3 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I would like to thank the author for providing me with a review copy of this book for free.
Like the other Red Grouse stories the book begins with a group of friends sitting around a table sharing weird and wonderful stories. The story being told this time around is set in the 1500s, which I found quite interesting. However, because there were two stories being told parallel to each other things did get a bit confusing and I had to reread certain parts.
Overall I found this one was far too religious for me, a little too preachy. The story encourages you to think about your own beliefs - which is perfectly fine but I felt there was a bit too much of it in this story and it got a bit annoying.
There is no doubt that the author is a great writer with a very creative and active imagination, but I don’t think that this is one of his best works.
3 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I would like to thank the author for providing me with a review copy of this book for free.
August 18, 2020
Leslie Garland has a very creative mind. He writes in a way a lot of early 20th-century writers did: with a lot of detail. I think the style, and this manuscript could be curated a bit more for flow, as the story can feel a bit bulky at points. Not due to content, but because it is just a ton of information. With that being said, it IS a good story. It just takes a bit more time to get through.
This story is an old idea retold in a unique way. I like the creativity that Garland has, and it’s clear he has a lot of passion. I also think he manages to make you think about your beliefs. Not enough to question them, but enough to critically think about the world and how faith is used by people (for both good and evil). We follow a monk and journey with him through archaic ideals, temptation, and warped perspective of his fellow humans. This book is clearly an exercise in critical thinking on beliefs disguised as fiction. Great job, Garland!
This story is an old idea retold in a unique way. I like the creativity that Garland has, and it’s clear he has a lot of passion. I also think he manages to make you think about your beliefs. Not enough to question them, but enough to critically think about the world and how faith is used by people (for both good and evil). We follow a monk and journey with him through archaic ideals, temptation, and warped perspective of his fellow humans. This book is clearly an exercise in critical thinking on beliefs disguised as fiction. Great job, Garland!
May 20, 2024
The Ghost Moth by Leslie Garland 6/5
This story defies genre definition
Unusual and fascinating, this story defies genre definition. It has Christian themes and the main story is set in a monastic community in the 1500s just before the Dissolution of the monasteries. Part of the story is also set in the present and much of the tale discusses the Christian teachings about chastity versus marriage. It is in no way “preachy” or condemning. The Author skilfully argues all points; the gospels, St Paul, the Founding Fathers, the misinterpretation of parts of the Bible by misogynists as well as comparing the latter’s hypocrisy to modern day misandrists. It is very cleverly and skilfully written and this is a book I will definitely re-read. It’s not a comfortable tale and deals with the horrors of monastery discipline, torture and burning at the stake, as well as suicide. It is, however, a compelling read that will stimulate anyone’s thinking!
This story defies genre definition
Unusual and fascinating, this story defies genre definition. It has Christian themes and the main story is set in a monastic community in the 1500s just before the Dissolution of the monasteries. Part of the story is also set in the present and much of the tale discusses the Christian teachings about chastity versus marriage. It is in no way “preachy” or condemning. The Author skilfully argues all points; the gospels, St Paul, the Founding Fathers, the misinterpretation of parts of the Bible by misogynists as well as comparing the latter’s hypocrisy to modern day misandrists. It is very cleverly and skilfully written and this is a book I will definitely re-read. It’s not a comfortable tale and deals with the horrors of monastery discipline, torture and burning at the stake, as well as suicide. It is, however, a compelling read that will stimulate anyone’s thinking!
February 15, 2023
The Ghost Moth by Leslie Garland is a captivating novel that explores various themes such as religion, love, lust, and piety. The story follows the life of novice Adam Callow, who joins the Black Acres Monastery of Saints Paul and Augustine to become a monk, by choice of his parents. The prior of the monastery interprets scriptures in his own way, intending to ensure that those under his care become "the 144,000" who will inherit the Kingdom of God. In the dark times of the mid-16th century, the story raises important issues while developing the fears of a young man. The author manages to create an interesting, coherent, and very well-told human novel that is both terrifying and fascinating. The ending is surprising and fitting for the story. The Ghost Moth is a must-read for fans of Christian and horror fiction alike.
July 7, 2025
The Ghost Moth is haunting in the best way... layered, lyrical, and thought-provoking. It blends faith, flesh, and folklore with a subtle tension that lingers long after the final page. The prose is atmospheric, the themes daring, and the questions it raises are timeless. A bold, meditative tale that’s not afraid to challenge both heart and mind.
December 20, 2021
This novel is told in a unique way - I particularly enjoyed like the imagination the author has. I also think he manages to make you think about your beliefs. Not enough to question them, but enough to critically think about the world and how faith is used by people (for both good and evil).
May 18, 2022
This is my second visit to "The Red Grouse", but my fifth story. "The Ghost Moth" was an enjoyable read that felt a lot darker than the previous tales. It's also thought-provoking. It's easy to see that Leslie Garland's confidence has grown with each addition to this series, and, in a strange way, it feels like I've grown as a reader, too. Keep telling your tales, Mr. Garland.
My thanks to the author. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
My thanks to the author. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
April 10, 2024
Please someone help me -
While reading about the novice monk Adam falling in love with the girl called Eve, I cannot shake off the feeling that I already know this story from somewhere else. Was it a different book? Or maybe a movie based on this book? I cannot find anything with a similar plot, but it feels like a story déjà vu... And it drives me nuts! Anyone knows what book/movie could be similar to this one???? Please help!
As for the book itself - interesting idea of these two stories intertwined, but to be honest the descriptions of Adam's considerations at certain moment got very repetitive and sooooo lengthy I was skipping some pages. Not what I do if I like a book.
While reading about the novice monk Adam falling in love with the girl called Eve, I cannot shake off the feeling that I already know this story from somewhere else. Was it a different book? Or maybe a movie based on this book? I cannot find anything with a similar plot, but it feels like a story déjà vu... And it drives me nuts! Anyone knows what book/movie could be similar to this one???? Please help!
As for the book itself - interesting idea of these two stories intertwined, but to be honest the descriptions of Adam's considerations at certain moment got very repetitive and sooooo lengthy I was skipping some pages. Not what I do if I like a book.
April 30, 2021
3.5 I think. Maybe.
Honestly I am still not sure what I think of this book overall. The story within a story narrative was interesting. The glimpse of history of religion and the fear and control it exerted in the early days was interesting. Not new, but interesting. It never answers the question of if Heaven and Hell are real places or just places in each of us, though it is very heavily suggested which the author or the person she heard the story from believed. And that's good. It is, after all, to each person to figure out what they believe. And I did very much enjoy trying to see how this story of naïve novice-monk Adam Callow and his personal dilemmas played in to what the narrator was experiencing himself. For me, I think the problem was that it just seemed to end so abruptly regarding that. After what seemed like a deep dive into this person and a build up of what was going on in the life of the person relating the story and trying to figure out the correlation, the sudden halt was jarring and frankly underwhelming.
Honestly I am still not sure what I think of this book overall. The story within a story narrative was interesting. The glimpse of history of religion and the fear and control it exerted in the early days was interesting. Not new, but interesting. It never answers the question of if Heaven and Hell are real places or just places in each of us, though it is very heavily suggested which the author or the person she heard the story from believed. And that's good. It is, after all, to each person to figure out what they believe. And I did very much enjoy trying to see how this story of naïve novice-monk Adam Callow and his personal dilemmas played in to what the narrator was experiencing himself. For me, I think the problem was that it just seemed to end so abruptly regarding that. After what seemed like a deep dive into this person and a build up of what was going on in the life of the person relating the story and trying to figure out the correlation, the sudden halt was jarring and frankly underwhelming.
November 26, 2020
This is the first book I read from this author and let me tell you that I loved it! Such a good book with great characters that keeps you obsessed with every page since the first one. The ending of this book.. come on! I just didn´t expect it! Can´t wait to read other books from this great writer! Amazing job! a must-read!. A fantastic book that has it all!
I happily endorse this story to any and all who are looking for a fiction enjoyable read and a completely different experience than anyone could imagine on their own. A great book to capture your imagination and keep you on the edge of your seat. Exceptionally fine writing and weaving of a story within a story I recommend this book for all truth-between-pages readers who are not afraid of being exposed to raw feelings and acts of the characters inside.
I happily endorse this story to any and all who are looking for a fiction enjoyable read and a completely different experience than anyone could imagine on their own. A great book to capture your imagination and keep you on the edge of your seat. Exceptionally fine writing and weaving of a story within a story I recommend this book for all truth-between-pages readers who are not afraid of being exposed to raw feelings and acts of the characters inside.
September 20, 2024
I got halfway through and just couldn't keep going. From the very first page the author broke the cardinal rule of "show don't tell" which kept me from being fully immersed in the story. There were a few pockets here and there of plot but it was sandwiched in between long drawn out discussions which were just BORING. I felt like I was reading someone's dissertation disguised as a fiction novel. The author loves his vocabulary words and long paragraphs that either repeat what was just in the paragraph before or say really nothing at all. This book desperately needs an editor. He may be a good writer but he's a bad storyteller.
May 9, 2022
I was intrigued by the title, but the book wasn’t what I expected. It was both different and better. There was a supernatural element in THE GHOST MOTH, but Garland introduced it slowly, at first with subtle hints, and never bluntly. The main characters, ranging from admirable to pathetic to despicable, were well written and believable. THE GHOST MOTH was thoughtfully written, and should be read the same way.
August 26, 2021
I certainly don't understand people's confusion about this book. I felt like I was getting a bit hammered by the expositional content regarding the primary societal message. It is a tale within a modest tale within a minor tale, a style I usually adore, but I found this book a bit repetitive and therefore too long for the thinness of the secondary and tertiary story.
October 2, 2022
Boring
I tried to get into this book but it was so badly written, that it was impostor find any redeeming qualities. So many, many spelling mistakes, out of context words. Maybe a better proofreader is needed. Overall one of the worst books that I’ve read, recently
I tried to get into this book but it was so badly written, that it was impostor find any redeeming qualities. So many, many spelling mistakes, out of context words. Maybe a better proofreader is needed. Overall one of the worst books that I’ve read, recently
September 4, 2020
Another great one by Leslie Garland. As I read this book I felt like I was in a great conversation with a good friend.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews