What do you think?
Rate this book
Hollow Skulls and Other Stories
Dark clouds choke the daylight, signaling the return of hungry monsters intent on devouring the world. A father, raised on stories about an ancient evil that targets newborns, is accosted by uncertainty and paranoia over the birth of his new son. A church's search for truth reveals a dark secret behind the object of their worship. A young husband strives for closure amid an aswang invasion, and the brutal murder of his wife.
Samuel Marzioli's debut collection Hollow Skulls and Other Stories illuminates the logic within madness, the order behind chaos, and the hope beyond despair in thirteen tales that bridge the gap between darkness and the light.
Samuel Marzioli's debut collection Hollow Skulls and Other Stories illuminates the logic within madness, the order behind chaos, and the hope beyond despair in thirteen tales that bridge the gap between darkness and the light.
- GenresHorror
188 pages, Paperback
Published January 8, 2021
39 people want to read
About the author
Samuel Marzioli
36 books21 followersSamuel Marzioli is a Filipino-American author of dark fiction. His work has appeared in numerous publications and podcasts, including the Best of Apex Magazine, InterGalactic Medicine Show, Shock Totem, Pseudopod, and LeVar Burton Reads. His chapbook "Symphony of the Night" was published by Aurelia Leo, and his debut collection, "Hollow Skulls and Other Stories" was released by JournalStone Publishing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 1, 2021
Samuel Marzioli has delivered a beautifully poetic collection of horror shorts with ‘Hollow Skulls and Other Stories’, a varied yet consistently excellent set of thirteen tales, including;
• A grieving father whose daughter has gone missing, and the seemingly impossible explanation which is slowly driving him into madness
• A young couple who brings home their new-born son, who one of them suspects may not be entirely human
• A girl with a shocking power over life and death, and the surrogate father determined to help her master her gift
• A congregation’s prayers to God that are being heard by something altogether more sinister
• A young love, fondly remembered, that has sinister consequences when the former couple meet again years later to share a tale of a disturbing figure only they seem able to see
• A small village haunted by violent visitations by long-dead loved ones, and one man's wish to see his recently departed wife which may just come true
From the hauntingly nightmarish opening story (‘A Pocket of Madness’) to the melancholy cautionary tale of the closing short (‘Pagpag’) each and every story in ‘Hollow Skulls and Other Stories’ offers something different to what came before it, without sacrificing anything in terms of quality. Each one of the thirteen stories is effective and memorable in its own right, without a weak link in the entire collection.
Some stories are truly shocking. The premise of the title story (‘Hollow Skulls’) has a killer set-up, where a new father believes his new-born son may be a demonic imposter, is incredibly tense, knowing the possible outcomes that such a story might deliver, and while it’s ending is surprising it is, if anything, all the more affecting for the unexpected direction Marzioli ultimately takes it. The stories do lean toward the literary, with a heavy focus on character and stunningly vivid prose, but it does nothing to blunt the more horrific elements on display.
One of my favourite stories, ‘She Who Would Rip the Sky Asunder’ has a lighter tone, which makes the shocking opening and graphic descriptions effectively jarring when they do come. ‘The Last Great Failing of the Light’ has an epic scope and has strong elements of fantasy, but uses these tools to tell a downbeat horror tale with a foreboding sense of inevitability. There is some fun to be had too. ‘Behind the Walls’ is an entertaining creature-feature and ‘Multo’ and ‘Sleeping Cupid Wakes’ are both more straightforward horror fare with big scare factors and (particularly in the latter’s case) fantastic monsters that will stick in your memory.
‘Hollow Skulls and Other Stories’ is a rare collection where each short is distinctive and unique, while also managing to deliver a high quality and striking story each and every time. Its an incredible piece of work and one that makes me excited to read whatever Marzioli has in store for us next.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter - @RickReadsHorror
• A grieving father whose daughter has gone missing, and the seemingly impossible explanation which is slowly driving him into madness
• A young couple who brings home their new-born son, who one of them suspects may not be entirely human
• A girl with a shocking power over life and death, and the surrogate father determined to help her master her gift
• A congregation’s prayers to God that are being heard by something altogether more sinister
• A young love, fondly remembered, that has sinister consequences when the former couple meet again years later to share a tale of a disturbing figure only they seem able to see
• A small village haunted by violent visitations by long-dead loved ones, and one man's wish to see his recently departed wife which may just come true
From the hauntingly nightmarish opening story (‘A Pocket of Madness’) to the melancholy cautionary tale of the closing short (‘Pagpag’) each and every story in ‘Hollow Skulls and Other Stories’ offers something different to what came before it, without sacrificing anything in terms of quality. Each one of the thirteen stories is effective and memorable in its own right, without a weak link in the entire collection.
Some stories are truly shocking. The premise of the title story (‘Hollow Skulls’) has a killer set-up, where a new father believes his new-born son may be a demonic imposter, is incredibly tense, knowing the possible outcomes that such a story might deliver, and while it’s ending is surprising it is, if anything, all the more affecting for the unexpected direction Marzioli ultimately takes it. The stories do lean toward the literary, with a heavy focus on character and stunningly vivid prose, but it does nothing to blunt the more horrific elements on display.
One of my favourite stories, ‘She Who Would Rip the Sky Asunder’ has a lighter tone, which makes the shocking opening and graphic descriptions effectively jarring when they do come. ‘The Last Great Failing of the Light’ has an epic scope and has strong elements of fantasy, but uses these tools to tell a downbeat horror tale with a foreboding sense of inevitability. There is some fun to be had too. ‘Behind the Walls’ is an entertaining creature-feature and ‘Multo’ and ‘Sleeping Cupid Wakes’ are both more straightforward horror fare with big scare factors and (particularly in the latter’s case) fantastic monsters that will stick in your memory.
‘Hollow Skulls and Other Stories’ is a rare collection where each short is distinctive and unique, while also managing to deliver a high quality and striking story each and every time. Its an incredible piece of work and one that makes me excited to read whatever Marzioli has in store for us next.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter - @RickReadsHorror
February 21, 2021
Marzioli's collection is SOLID. It's well-written, has interesting twists and turns, and is high quality work. The stories are equally grim and clever, and cover everything from religion to children. He manages to show violence while also showing humanity. It isn't a quick read because I wanted to think about each story after I was finished. If you're looking for thoughtful horror that isn't straight gore, I'd recommend this collection. I quite enjoyed it.
January 8, 2021
Samuel Marzioli’s collection of horror short stories, Hollow Skulls and Other Stories (released Jan. 8, I was lucky to get an eARC to review), is gripping, terrifying, and frequently unsettling like a sliver of ice buried deep in my spine. From the first page, his command of language, and the way he used words and construction to linger and create a discordant tone set the stage for the horror he was writing and made me dread (in a good way) the stories to come.
More than anything, each story had a moment, a line, a word somewhere in the beginning before everything went wrong that lingered in my mind. A dissonance that I knew would resolve the harmonic tension… but rather than bringing the song to a pleasing harmony it always paid off with a growing sense of dread, and eventually the realization that the thing I feared was inevitable and terrible.
The first story, “A Pocket of Madness” was one the strongest tales and it, along with “Hollow Skulls” presented Marzioli deftly presented protagonists on the fraying edge of sanity. Both left me wondering whether the world they experienced was “real” or a creation of their unsettled psyche. In “Hollow Skulls” in particular, the terror of seeing what was coming but desperately wishing for something else to come to pass gripped me from the beginning. Together, these stories stood out as worth the price of admission.
“Penelope’s Song” takes on the point of view of a woman with developmental issues who lives in a group home. He give her a voice (a thing that is somewhat ironic given the story) and uses the story to hold a mirror to how our society treats the infirm.
“So Praise Him” carries revivalist Christianity to it’s unnerving final conclusion and does so in a way that neither feels dismissive nor exploitative of the faith it uses as a base.
This is a collection with bone-chilling reads. Marzioli uses the genre as a knife to cut deeply into, among other topics, parenthood, mental health, religion and group-worship-dynamics, the treatment of the mentally vulnerable. It’s absolutely a collection worth picking up.
More than anything, each story had a moment, a line, a word somewhere in the beginning before everything went wrong that lingered in my mind. A dissonance that I knew would resolve the harmonic tension… but rather than bringing the song to a pleasing harmony it always paid off with a growing sense of dread, and eventually the realization that the thing I feared was inevitable and terrible.
The first story, “A Pocket of Madness” was one the strongest tales and it, along with “Hollow Skulls” presented Marzioli deftly presented protagonists on the fraying edge of sanity. Both left me wondering whether the world they experienced was “real” or a creation of their unsettled psyche. In “Hollow Skulls” in particular, the terror of seeing what was coming but desperately wishing for something else to come to pass gripped me from the beginning. Together, these stories stood out as worth the price of admission.
“Penelope’s Song” takes on the point of view of a woman with developmental issues who lives in a group home. He give her a voice (a thing that is somewhat ironic given the story) and uses the story to hold a mirror to how our society treats the infirm.
“So Praise Him” carries revivalist Christianity to it’s unnerving final conclusion and does so in a way that neither feels dismissive nor exploitative of the faith it uses as a base.
This is a collection with bone-chilling reads. Marzioli uses the genre as a knife to cut deeply into, among other topics, parenthood, mental health, religion and group-worship-dynamics, the treatment of the mentally vulnerable. It’s absolutely a collection worth picking up.
January 8, 2021
A terrifically-written collection of tales, each one unique and ranging from thought-provoking to just plain spooky. With his relatable stable of characters and illustrative style of writing, Marzioli makes it all too easy to transport yourself into the mind of the protagonist.
March 27, 2021
I'll admit that horror and dark fiction are not generally my bag, but for a genre outside of my comfort zone I truly enjoyed this. The stories are engaging and spooky, and some are downright creepy - I for one will never think of Cupid the same way...
January 6, 2021
(This review originally appeared at History That Never Was.)
Hollow Skulls and Other Stories by Samuel Marzioli is a collection of thirteen horror and otherwise dark short stories. The majority of the stories are previously published stories, while a few are new to this collection.
One of Marzioli’s greatest strengths, showcased in this collection, is a sense of creeping dread that pervades his writing. These stories are all creepy, and many of them will haunt you after you’ve read them. My particular favorites of the collection were “She Who Would Rip the Sky Asunder,” in which the narrator tries to help his girlfriend’s daughter deal with her unusual power, and “Penelope’s Song,” in which a young woman living in a group home tries to protect herself and the other residents from monsters, despite being unable to communicate what is going on to her caretakers or fellow residents.
The stories in this collection are not for the faint of heart, and horrible things happen to people regardless of gender or age. Though the violence is often not explicitly described, women, children, and animals are all harmed within these stories. However, if you want to experience the creeping dread of Marzioli’s writing, this collection is a fantastic place to start.
The author provided me with an advance copy of this book for review consideration.
Hollow Skulls and Other Stories by Samuel Marzioli is a collection of thirteen horror and otherwise dark short stories. The majority of the stories are previously published stories, while a few are new to this collection.
One of Marzioli’s greatest strengths, showcased in this collection, is a sense of creeping dread that pervades his writing. These stories are all creepy, and many of them will haunt you after you’ve read them. My particular favorites of the collection were “She Who Would Rip the Sky Asunder,” in which the narrator tries to help his girlfriend’s daughter deal with her unusual power, and “Penelope’s Song,” in which a young woman living in a group home tries to protect herself and the other residents from monsters, despite being unable to communicate what is going on to her caretakers or fellow residents.
The stories in this collection are not for the faint of heart, and horrible things happen to people regardless of gender or age. Though the violence is often not explicitly described, women, children, and animals are all harmed within these stories. However, if you want to experience the creeping dread of Marzioli’s writing, this collection is a fantastic place to start.
The author provided me with an advance copy of this book for review consideration.
March 30, 2021
Horror isn’t my preferred genre but Marzioli’s stories are creatively creepy in all the right ways. I loved the stories infused with Filipino folklore and the stories that made you wonder what was real and what was imagined (the title story does this especially well). The stories are tied together by themes including the nature of darkness, the ties that bind us to childhood, coming-of-age and fatherhood all of which give the stories a surprising depth beyond pure horror.
April 9, 2021
Marzioli’s writing is impeccable craftsmanship reminiscent of Matheson, Hill and even Bachman. Each tale contains its own dark surprise, not unlike a box of horror filled chocolates. Highly recommend!
February 19, 2021
This is an Impressive collection of scary short stories written by an imaginative and creative author. They were all unsettling and disturbing in their own way, perfectly creepy and really fun to read, truly representing great horror. Each story in the collection was unique and some of my favorites were (just to name a few): “Multo”, “Pagpag”, “She Who Would Rip the Sky Asunder”, and “Sleeping Cupid Wakes”. I really enjoyed the imagery and descriptive writing that allowed me to visualize the story as I read; it allowed me to be immersed in the storytelling which is what I want as a reader and because it’s horror, it definitely made me think twice about turning my lights out for bed. I think what also impressed me is that the author, who is part Filipino, also included a couple of stories (“Multo” and “Pagpag”) that are based on Filipino horror. When you think about Asian horror, you don’t typically think of the Philippines, so it’s very rare to come across horror stories that include creepy folklore from this country. I would love to see more from this writer (novel length perhaps). Overall, this is a page turner and I highly recommend this collection.
July 28, 2021
This is not my usual genre, but Marzioli is so talented as quickly hooking the reader with these short stories and keeping you guessing and intrigued and wanting to find the answers with every one. Each one different enough that it never feels repetitive, but all with his talent for finding the creepy unknown and digging into the mind of the primary focus character and the reader. It was a great read and I'm so glad I pushed my usual picks to include this.
May 12, 2021
Captivating and suspenseful, Marzioli weaves his stories with a spider-like skill that leaves your skin crawling. I found myself immersed in each and every page. I would like to say I devoured the book, but really, Hollow Skulls and Other Stories devoured me.
January 22, 2022
What a brilliant collection of short stories this is. I finished reading "Hollow Skulls and Other Stories" a few months ago and its impact still lingers.
Thanks to his unique strengths as a wordsmith, which includes finding inspiration in his Filipino heritage (explicitly for the tales “Multo” and “Pagpag”), Samuel Marzioli manages to push the boundaries of horror literature a little further than most. He does so effectively, creatively, and fearlessly, in tales that often speak of grief, madness, family conflicts, and childhood and generational trauma.
Make no mistake, fellow readers: This is no easy reading. Some of the tales gathered here are quite harrowing indeed, and leave a mark, right from the get go actually, with the disturbing “A Pocket of Madness”. In fact, I often found myself forced to put the book down after reaching a story’s conclusion, quite simply to recover, but also to let its tales' grimly unsettling impact sink deeper, as was the case for the epic yet quietly poetic "The Last Great Failing of the Light".
This is where the strength of Mr. Marzioli’s work lies, I believe: Twisting familiar horror tropes and situations into deliciously disorienting and refreshingly unnerving, at times shocking, forms. I'm no babe in the woods when it comes to horror, but this didn't prepare for some of the stories in this collection, which can be nasty and disturbing, deeply so, in ways that are difficult to describe.
Favorite tales: “Hollow Skulls” and the little masterpiece that is “She Who Would Rip The Sky Asunder”.
Thanks to his unique strengths as a wordsmith, which includes finding inspiration in his Filipino heritage (explicitly for the tales “Multo” and “Pagpag”), Samuel Marzioli manages to push the boundaries of horror literature a little further than most. He does so effectively, creatively, and fearlessly, in tales that often speak of grief, madness, family conflicts, and childhood and generational trauma.
Make no mistake, fellow readers: This is no easy reading. Some of the tales gathered here are quite harrowing indeed, and leave a mark, right from the get go actually, with the disturbing “A Pocket of Madness”. In fact, I often found myself forced to put the book down after reaching a story’s conclusion, quite simply to recover, but also to let its tales' grimly unsettling impact sink deeper, as was the case for the epic yet quietly poetic "The Last Great Failing of the Light".
This is where the strength of Mr. Marzioli’s work lies, I believe: Twisting familiar horror tropes and situations into deliciously disorienting and refreshingly unnerving, at times shocking, forms. I'm no babe in the woods when it comes to horror, but this didn't prepare for some of the stories in this collection, which can be nasty and disturbing, deeply so, in ways that are difficult to describe.
Favorite tales: “Hollow Skulls” and the little masterpiece that is “She Who Would Rip The Sky Asunder”.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews