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Those We Left Behind and Other Sacrifices
A bedtime story has unspeakable consequences. A walk in the woods introduces a father to his daughter’s horrifying new friends. A bit of trash in the shower drain leads to a surreal fight for survival. In this collection that ranges from magical fantasy to blood-spattered horror, Brandon Applegate guides you on a journey through the darkest, most tragic corners of his imagination. From the surface of Mars to the supposed safety of a child's bedroom, his stories will remind you that “it’s not a sacrifice if it doesn’t hurt.”
164 pages, ebook
Published November 23, 2021
94 people are currently reading
513 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Applegate
10 books31 followersBrandon Applegate lives and writes in an overbaked suburban hellscape near Austin, TX with his wife and two kids who have, so far, failed to eat him. He spends his scant spare time exploring his passions for spooky stories, naps, and very good chairs. He's the editor-in-chief of Hungry Shadow Press and author of the short fiction collection Those We Left Behind and Other Sacrifices, along with many other stories, a few of which have been published, and others he hoards greedily beneath his floorboards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 2, 2023
Wow, what a great collection to start out the year!! This collection of stories features twisted fairytales, dark fantasy, folktales, scifi-horror, and more. It’s got gore, made me teary eyed, and had a few genuinely creepy moments. Highly recommend!!
April 20, 2023
An enjoyable collection of short horror stories.
'I am tethered by a speck of dust. It is a speck whittled away from a rock which was part of the original matter that exploded from the instantaneous point of perfect, unstable near-nothing that preceded our universe’s creation.'
For the most part, This was a reasonably good collection of short stories, which tackle many different themes and occasionally cross into other genres.
My only real issue with this book was that there was only one real stand-out piece and it happened to be the penultimate and shortest of the bunch, titled 'The Creature'. This was the only story which managed to engage my emotions and move me in any kind of way. Quite an achievement for just a few pages of writing.
'A hole in the universe in the shape of a girl through which I could see the paper on which we all are drawn, the pen strokes crawling up her form like scratches on an old film.'
This may be worth you checking out.
'I am tethered by a speck of dust. It is a speck whittled away from a rock which was part of the original matter that exploded from the instantaneous point of perfect, unstable near-nothing that preceded our universe’s creation.'
For the most part, This was a reasonably good collection of short stories, which tackle many different themes and occasionally cross into other genres.
My only real issue with this book was that there was only one real stand-out piece and it happened to be the penultimate and shortest of the bunch, titled 'The Creature'. This was the only story which managed to engage my emotions and move me in any kind of way. Quite an achievement for just a few pages of writing.
'A hole in the universe in the shape of a girl through which I could see the paper on which we all are drawn, the pen strokes crawling up her form like scratches on an old film.'
This may be worth you checking out.
October 30, 2021
Brandon Applegate found me, alone and arrogant in the woods, and taught me that horror really can bite.
He honored me by inviting me to beta read Those We Left Behind and give a bit of humble insight on the way to publication. I was treated to worlds of horrific sorcery, where things devour you in dreams and emerge into the waking world to gorge themselves on everything you love, and where embittered children conspire with evil fey to inflict unimaginable horrors upon hapless parents. Open and you will lose your way in oppressive forests of beauty and terror, in choking dreams, in wretched worlds where "family" means inescapable peril.
And if you're sure you're the same person after you come out, then you'll be left with the most frightening question of all - are *you* the monster?
He honored me by inviting me to beta read Those We Left Behind and give a bit of humble insight on the way to publication. I was treated to worlds of horrific sorcery, where things devour you in dreams and emerge into the waking world to gorge themselves on everything you love, and where embittered children conspire with evil fey to inflict unimaginable horrors upon hapless parents. Open and you will lose your way in oppressive forests of beauty and terror, in choking dreams, in wretched worlds where "family" means inescapable peril.
And if you're sure you're the same person after you come out, then you'll be left with the most frightening question of all - are *you* the monster?
January 19, 2022
Sometimes you find yourself lucky enough to stumble upon the book you need. This is one of those instances.
Bought on impulse, I had a creeping suspicion that I’d enjoy Applegate’s writing as soon as I read his intro. Some authors just *get* you, or maybe you get them, or maybe you subconsciously use them as a mirror to whatever is riding you. For me, it was when he mentioned lingering in the extra stuff (introductions) and not knowing what to do with one’s child (I recently had my first kid). Whatever it is, I’m so happy I crossed paths with this book. Seems to me that a lot of the writing within these pages is so fine that it could fit in with what Undertow Press is putting out there (they’re one of my fav go-to’s for more cerebral reads and all things weird). Be forewarned: These stories all pack an emotional punch and will linger with you.
-Short overview of the stories below for those of you who are curious (although you could/should just get a copy of this book instead of reading any further :-)
- and, unlike what I usually do with the “*”-marking the stories that stuck with me, we’re not going to do that today as I’ve enjoyed every single one immensely.
-Bedtime Story:
“It’s not a sacrifice if it doesn’t hurt”.
Danny’s grandpa, like many grandparents, tells him a bedtime story that is really just a thinly veiled story about himself. Ultimately a story about regret, loss and the things one might be willing to sacrifice to be with the one you love. Elegantly walked the line between deeprooted sadness and horror. It’s the regret and sense of emptiness that will stay with me.
-The Paper On Which We All Are Drawn:
On one hand: A man haunted by the memory of an image in a book he wasn’t allowed to read as a child (but of course did), and, on the other: A man exhibiting OCD-esque traits, a man who’s under a lot of strain from those daily stressors most of us know to one extent or other (child rearing, depression, the general feeling of not being/doing enough, it all adds up).
-Sometimes we long for nothingness, and as Applegate elegantly puts it: “even nothing is something”. A fine example of a haunting meets existential horror.
-Tea Party:
Albert, keen to better his relationship with his daughter (Maddie) has agreed to accompany her to a tea party in the forest that she is having with imaginary friends. Maddie, on the other hand, is an unhappy child who blames her father for her mother being gone and dreams of running away with the fairies. On first viewing a not-so imaginary friend tale, but one that taps into a common fatherly fear of not measuring up.
-The Last Days Of The Old Man:
Clay works for old man Merle, a bookstore owner. Clay knows that Merle used to have aspirations of becoming an author and has semi-jokingly been asking to read his stuff for a long time. To his surprise, Merle finally agrees. Clay reads what he thinks is a strange fantasy story about a man who protects a special “library” against evil forces & who cannot leave the place alive. Very soon, a stranger appears at the counter asking for said book.
-An interesting short fantasy which I wouldn’t mind reading more of. I suspect it would make an interesting novel/la.
-Roots Run Deep:
Harland is visited by a man from OSHA after the Delta Crew mysteriously went missing after blasting a mine. The weird thing? The mine has roots that shouldn’t be growing this deep & the only trace left after the missing crew is a continuous singing. Wondering if a song can haunt you? Have an affinity for anything triffidlike? A bittersweet love story? -then you might enjoy this, too.
-The Goat Man:
Cycles are hard to break; be they of violence, drug abuse or otherwise.
-The town has its own boogeyman/Bloody Mary-creature (The titular Goat Man) who haunts a bridge & will come for you if you drive your car there and honk 3 times.
Matt is a young man staying out late to avoid his violent father. With nothing better to do, he decides to tempt fate by testing out this town lore; something he’ll come to regret deeply.
-A Little Break:
“There’s something frightening about a father. Children know on some primal level that Daddy might sooner eat or abandon them than stay and raise them”.
Will is a loving father who is planning to enjoy a little time on his own to recharge while his family visits his MIL. He was never close to his father, Art, and having some free time unfortunately brings some old demons home. The extent of his relationship with his father after the age of 7 was a short stay after an argument with his mom. It didn’t take him long to return home, though, as Art was up to something weird in that cellar of his..
-Reads like both a possession tale and paternal fears.
-Elevator:
Flash fiction which takes place in an elevator. Takes some talent to build the type of suspense which makes you want to tap your fingers on the table and hold your breath across 2 pages.
-In The Trees:
Daniel is a boy who befriends the trees of the forest by his house and longs to be like them. One night sees his abusive drunk father chasing him into the forest and being confronted with a special type of justice.
This story reminded me of old fairy tales I grew up with. Although it comes with its own type of sadness, this also strikes me as one of the most uplifting stories in this collection.
-The Open Mouth:
A father gets up at night to comfort his baby daughter. A near-hallucinatory story about blood/lifesucking that any sleep deprived parent can relate to.
-You Will Be The One To Find This:
Tim’s mother has just been buried and he’s going through her hoarded things when he finds a mason jar that she obviously left him. The mason jar takes him back to a specific event from his childhood.
-A bit of witchery, a bit of conch and a whole lot of sacrifice for those you love. Loved this enthralling story, although it left me a little bit sad. I’m very lucky to still have both my parents around.
-And The Revel Went Whirlingly On:
Another piece of impressive flash writing. A group of rich people are having a dinner party and pretty much toasting the times/circumstances they are living through while the “riff-raff” are dying from a highly infective agent. Enter a very mysterious dinner guest.
-Drain:
“The thing that finally made him put a bullet in her skull while she slept was the snoring”.
You won’t be viewing clumps of hair in the drain the same way after this. Reminded me of Ellison at his best (think ‘Croatoan’).
-The Black Wood:
Merek’s son (Rowan) was lured into the forest by a voice calling his name and what seems to be sentient trees. Merek visits the town cunning man in the hopes of learning something that can bring his son back. Think Ents & Gandalf, but a twist that is difficult to see coming (I sure didn’t).
-The Creature:
The horrors of self identity meets forbidden knowledge of a book in this story where a man is looking at a creature through the glass. A creature that looks like (maybe even is) him.
Not unlike what I imagine a new take (and pov) of Jekyl & Mr. Hyde could look like.
-Those We Left Behind:
The eponymous story of the collection and a stellar way to end it. The story follows Marcus, a recently arrived settler on Mars. Some people have mysteriously gone missing & Marcus is quite literally finding himself haunted by his past; it’s looking in at him from the outside. Couldn’t help but think about some the Dr Who episodes I’ve enjoyed the most & The Thing.
Bought on impulse, I had a creeping suspicion that I’d enjoy Applegate’s writing as soon as I read his intro. Some authors just *get* you, or maybe you get them, or maybe you subconsciously use them as a mirror to whatever is riding you. For me, it was when he mentioned lingering in the extra stuff (introductions) and not knowing what to do with one’s child (I recently had my first kid). Whatever it is, I’m so happy I crossed paths with this book. Seems to me that a lot of the writing within these pages is so fine that it could fit in with what Undertow Press is putting out there (they’re one of my fav go-to’s for more cerebral reads and all things weird). Be forewarned: These stories all pack an emotional punch and will linger with you.
-Short overview of the stories below for those of you who are curious (although you could/should just get a copy of this book instead of reading any further :-)
- and, unlike what I usually do with the “*”-marking the stories that stuck with me, we’re not going to do that today as I’ve enjoyed every single one immensely.
-Bedtime Story:
“It’s not a sacrifice if it doesn’t hurt”.
Danny’s grandpa, like many grandparents, tells him a bedtime story that is really just a thinly veiled story about himself. Ultimately a story about regret, loss and the things one might be willing to sacrifice to be with the one you love. Elegantly walked the line between deeprooted sadness and horror. It’s the regret and sense of emptiness that will stay with me.
-The Paper On Which We All Are Drawn:
On one hand: A man haunted by the memory of an image in a book he wasn’t allowed to read as a child (but of course did), and, on the other: A man exhibiting OCD-esque traits, a man who’s under a lot of strain from those daily stressors most of us know to one extent or other (child rearing, depression, the general feeling of not being/doing enough, it all adds up).
-Sometimes we long for nothingness, and as Applegate elegantly puts it: “even nothing is something”. A fine example of a haunting meets existential horror.
-Tea Party:
Albert, keen to better his relationship with his daughter (Maddie) has agreed to accompany her to a tea party in the forest that she is having with imaginary friends. Maddie, on the other hand, is an unhappy child who blames her father for her mother being gone and dreams of running away with the fairies. On first viewing a not-so imaginary friend tale, but one that taps into a common fatherly fear of not measuring up.
-The Last Days Of The Old Man:
Clay works for old man Merle, a bookstore owner. Clay knows that Merle used to have aspirations of becoming an author and has semi-jokingly been asking to read his stuff for a long time. To his surprise, Merle finally agrees. Clay reads what he thinks is a strange fantasy story about a man who protects a special “library” against evil forces & who cannot leave the place alive. Very soon, a stranger appears at the counter asking for said book.
-An interesting short fantasy which I wouldn’t mind reading more of. I suspect it would make an interesting novel/la.
-Roots Run Deep:
Harland is visited by a man from OSHA after the Delta Crew mysteriously went missing after blasting a mine. The weird thing? The mine has roots that shouldn’t be growing this deep & the only trace left after the missing crew is a continuous singing. Wondering if a song can haunt you? Have an affinity for anything triffidlike? A bittersweet love story? -then you might enjoy this, too.
-The Goat Man:
Cycles are hard to break; be they of violence, drug abuse or otherwise.
-The town has its own boogeyman/Bloody Mary-creature (The titular Goat Man) who haunts a bridge & will come for you if you drive your car there and honk 3 times.
Matt is a young man staying out late to avoid his violent father. With nothing better to do, he decides to tempt fate by testing out this town lore; something he’ll come to regret deeply.
-A Little Break:
“There’s something frightening about a father. Children know on some primal level that Daddy might sooner eat or abandon them than stay and raise them”.
Will is a loving father who is planning to enjoy a little time on his own to recharge while his family visits his MIL. He was never close to his father, Art, and having some free time unfortunately brings some old demons home. The extent of his relationship with his father after the age of 7 was a short stay after an argument with his mom. It didn’t take him long to return home, though, as Art was up to something weird in that cellar of his..
-Reads like both a possession tale and paternal fears.
-Elevator:
Flash fiction which takes place in an elevator. Takes some talent to build the type of suspense which makes you want to tap your fingers on the table and hold your breath across 2 pages.
-In The Trees:
Daniel is a boy who befriends the trees of the forest by his house and longs to be like them. One night sees his abusive drunk father chasing him into the forest and being confronted with a special type of justice.
This story reminded me of old fairy tales I grew up with. Although it comes with its own type of sadness, this also strikes me as one of the most uplifting stories in this collection.
-The Open Mouth:
A father gets up at night to comfort his baby daughter. A near-hallucinatory story about blood/lifesucking that any sleep deprived parent can relate to.
-You Will Be The One To Find This:
Tim’s mother has just been buried and he’s going through her hoarded things when he finds a mason jar that she obviously left him. The mason jar takes him back to a specific event from his childhood.
-A bit of witchery, a bit of conch and a whole lot of sacrifice for those you love. Loved this enthralling story, although it left me a little bit sad. I’m very lucky to still have both my parents around.
-And The Revel Went Whirlingly On:
Another piece of impressive flash writing. A group of rich people are having a dinner party and pretty much toasting the times/circumstances they are living through while the “riff-raff” are dying from a highly infective agent. Enter a very mysterious dinner guest.
-Drain:
“The thing that finally made him put a bullet in her skull while she slept was the snoring”.
You won’t be viewing clumps of hair in the drain the same way after this. Reminded me of Ellison at his best (think ‘Croatoan’).
-The Black Wood:
Merek’s son (Rowan) was lured into the forest by a voice calling his name and what seems to be sentient trees. Merek visits the town cunning man in the hopes of learning something that can bring his son back. Think Ents & Gandalf, but a twist that is difficult to see coming (I sure didn’t).
-The Creature:
The horrors of self identity meets forbidden knowledge of a book in this story where a man is looking at a creature through the glass. A creature that looks like (maybe even is) him.
Not unlike what I imagine a new take (and pov) of Jekyl & Mr. Hyde could look like.
-Those We Left Behind:
The eponymous story of the collection and a stellar way to end it. The story follows Marcus, a recently arrived settler on Mars. Some people have mysteriously gone missing & Marcus is quite literally finding himself haunted by his past; it’s looking in at him from the outside. Couldn’t help but think about some the Dr Who episodes I’ve enjoyed the most & The Thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2023
so enjoyable i rlly liked the wild mix of stories from magic to horror to slightly funny to just gross
January 8, 2025
A fantastic collection of stories. I'm so glad my friend Sheena recommended it to me.
May 8, 2022
Short story collections are a great way to get to know an author, so pick up a copy of Those We Left Behind and Other Sacrifices, and come get to know Brandon Applegate.
Presentation done well is always worth noting, and it's one of the first thing that may catch the readers eye with this collection. The cover is nothing less than stunning, and the author's penchant for combining art with prose continues inside the covers. Each story has a small black and white illustration, a single item that represents the words within and almost functions as a totem. In addition to the stories, Applegate also includes content warnings, story notes (a personal favorite of mine in collections), and even a section of reading recommendations.
Applegate does a good job arranging the stories collected here, mixing length, subject matter, and tone to create an everchanging landscape that will keep the reader turning the pages. There's a solid mix of reprinted and original material, so even readers familiar with Applegate's writing will find plenty to keep them engaged.
Presentation done well is always worth noting, and it's one of the first thing that may catch the readers eye with this collection. The cover is nothing less than stunning, and the author's penchant for combining art with prose continues inside the covers. Each story has a small black and white illustration, a single item that represents the words within and almost functions as a totem. In addition to the stories, Applegate also includes content warnings, story notes (a personal favorite of mine in collections), and even a section of reading recommendations.
Applegate does a good job arranging the stories collected here, mixing length, subject matter, and tone to create an everchanging landscape that will keep the reader turning the pages. There's a solid mix of reprinted and original material, so even readers familiar with Applegate's writing will find plenty to keep them engaged.
October 19, 2021
You’ll be thinking of these stories long after you’ve stopped reading. A collection of stories that will unsettle and horrify you, and move you as well. Even in tales with otherworldly creatures and hauntings, the monsters always seem to be the ones closest to the story's protagonist. Life is the same way oftentimes. A killer debut horror collection, and one I highly recommend!
January 20, 2022
I love stories that manage to be emotional and utterly horrifying at the same time, and several of these genuinely gave me chills. I'm still thinking about them even though I finished reading the collection a while ago.
July 31, 2022
This was a delightful little gem. A collection of short stories and flash fiction, this was one of the best written and best balanced collections I have read in a long time.
My partner and I have developed a little tradition where each year we hand each other 5 books we have read that we think the other should read. This was one that my partner handed to me. I knew next to nothing of the author, but the cover looked really cool so I was intrigued.
What we have is a brilliant collection of creepy and sad little stories. Brandon Applegate has a masterful way of building atmosphere in a very short space of time. He plays with ambiguity, with tropes and expectations. He understands the real history of fairies (see Tea Party - probably my favourite in the collection, but there are no weak stories here). All the emotional levers are pulled in all the most sensitive ways.
This is dark, brutal but strangely sympathetic stuff. A name to watch for the future!
My partner and I have developed a little tradition where each year we hand each other 5 books we have read that we think the other should read. This was one that my partner handed to me. I knew next to nothing of the author, but the cover looked really cool so I was intrigued.
What we have is a brilliant collection of creepy and sad little stories. Brandon Applegate has a masterful way of building atmosphere in a very short space of time. He plays with ambiguity, with tropes and expectations. He understands the real history of fairies (see Tea Party - probably my favourite in the collection, but there are no weak stories here). All the emotional levers are pulled in all the most sensitive ways.
This is dark, brutal but strangely sympathetic stuff. A name to watch for the future!
March 4, 2022
Brandon has crafted a collection of stories that are terribly beautiful. Even the shortest of them, even the pulpiest, have personal relationships and emotion and heart at their core. There is longing and fear, regret and deep twisted love. Before there are monsters, there are people, and this is critically important.
The writing is crisp and poetic. My favorite, for being a gruesome and sorrow-drenched mind-bender, is The Goat Man. I loved The Open Mouth, because I've been there. There is tender, awful magic in You Will Be The One To Find This.
The writing is crisp and poetic. My favorite, for being a gruesome and sorrow-drenched mind-bender, is The Goat Man. I loved The Open Mouth, because I've been there. There is tender, awful magic in You Will Be The One To Find This.
April 23, 2023
3.75
Averaged all of my ratings of the stories to get 3.75. There's a lot of variety to the stories. Not all of them are horror, but most tend to lean that way, so I think if you're looking to be creeped out, at least one of these will do that for you. As someone who grew up reading creepypasta on my phone at 2 in the morning, it kind of reminded me of that experience. Every now and then you find a few gems that really get you. It's the same with this collection of stories.
There are 16 stories so I'm going to skip giving individual reviews for them and just give my ratings for each story.
Bedtime Story - 2.5
The Paper On Which We All Are Drawn - 4
Tea Party - 4
The Last Days of The Old Man - 3.25
Roots Run Deep - 5
The Goat Man - 3.5
A Little Break - 2
Elevator - 3
In The Trees - 4
The Open Mouth - 4.5
You Will Be The One To Find This - 5
And The Revel Went Whirlingly On - 2
Drain - 3.75
The Black Wood - 5
The Creature - 5
Those We Left Behind - 3
I made my kindle notes and highlights available for this one, so feel free to check those out to get a feel for the vibes of this collection.
Averaged all of my ratings of the stories to get 3.75. There's a lot of variety to the stories. Not all of them are horror, but most tend to lean that way, so I think if you're looking to be creeped out, at least one of these will do that for you. As someone who grew up reading creepypasta on my phone at 2 in the morning, it kind of reminded me of that experience. Every now and then you find a few gems that really get you. It's the same with this collection of stories.
There are 16 stories so I'm going to skip giving individual reviews for them and just give my ratings for each story.
Bedtime Story - 2.5
The Paper On Which We All Are Drawn - 4
Tea Party - 4
The Last Days of The Old Man - 3.25
Roots Run Deep - 5
The Goat Man - 3.5
A Little Break - 2
Elevator - 3
In The Trees - 4
The Open Mouth - 4.5
You Will Be The One To Find This - 5
And The Revel Went Whirlingly On - 2
Drain - 3.75
The Black Wood - 5
The Creature - 5
Those We Left Behind - 3
I made my kindle notes and highlights available for this one, so feel free to check those out to get a feel for the vibes of this collection.
January 24, 2023
This was a really good collection of short stories.
December 28, 2021
John Carpenter, well known for his own contributions to the horror genre in film, once said, "There are two different stories in horror: internal and external. In external horror films, the evil comes from the outside, the other tribe, this thing in the darkness that we don't understand. Internal is the human heart." In this collection of stories, Brandon Applegate delivers both and many of them are stories that are layered with elements of each. Applegate's stories are layered with a familiarity that makes them all the more impactful and telling - the grandfather telling a bedtime story, the small town legend, attending a daughter's tea party, the pesky clog in a drain - all stuff of normality and life. Yet, it is through that normality that he twists our expectations like a knife to startle, to surprise, and, yes, on occasion, even to seemingly wound us as readers. Applegate gives us the normal and transfigures it through the power of words and our own imaginations into the monstrous, the horrifying, the grotesque while keeping it above all else human. Even the cover invokes the horror and the emotion of finding that which seemed lost... and begs us to consider is the finding better or worse if it does not absolve our guilt or restore what was lost in the end.
There's elements of this book that will recall through fond homage other stories. A bit of The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe surfaced in my mind as I read "And The Revel Went Whirlingly On." There's a bit of The Princess Bride in "Bedtime Story." Brothers Grimm is an acknowledged bit of inspiration for "In the Trees." Yet, make no mistake - Mister Applegate is not going to let us off with retreading what we know - this is no collection of stories aping the horror of the mundane. This is the horror of the human condition - often write large. Are there ghosts and goblins, ghoulies and goat men? Certainly, but there's also the fears of a father, the pain of regret that haunts and torments, the son sorting through memories of lost parents, the father trying to protect his family from himself. Reader, we would be safer from some things if Applegate only confronted us with the demon and the darkness that is out there, but he expertly weaves in the internal darkness that can haunt, can torment, can make us second guess.
In this collection, I can fairly well guarantee at least a few stories will leave you wanting more and others will leave you at a level of discomfort that only the horror genre can deliver. I found myself wanting to revisit again the worlds found in "The Last Days of the Old Man," which practically begs to be adapted to the screen in some manner. Meanwhile, "Tea Party" recalled to mind all those times my own children "spoke" to imaginary friends or said those creepy little things that only the very young seem to say. This is the power of Applegate's collection - it zings and hums along in a way that one could easily lose oneself and read it straight through, yet its stories are varied enough with a pulsating humanity that one might revisit individual stories and discover something new.
It should also be noted that Applegate is a "reader writer" in that his book is literary and connected to the realities of our time. He includes a list of other writers one should read and, given the strength of such recommendation, I readily jotted down names and works. Likewise, he also knows we live in a time of difficulty and challenges and includes, in the back of the work, a list of content warnings. While some debate the import of these warnings, I find myself thinking how important they can be for works of collected short fiction - while one may want to avoid certain elements in some stories, to miss out on this whole collection would be a shame, so such warnings make perfect and fair sense. Applegate's love of the genre and those who, like him, forge it and keep it going is apparent in these elements of the work.
I began this review by using the words of John Carpenter, and I will close it with a quote from Harlan Ellison who once said, “The only thing worth writing about is people. People. Human beings. Men and women whose individuality must be created, line by line, insight by insight. If you do not do it, the story is a failure. [...] There is no nobler chore in the universe than holding up the mirror of reality and turning it slightly, so we have a new and different perception of the commonplace, the everyday, the 'normal', the obvious. People are reflected in the glass. The fantasy situation into which you thrust them is the mirror itself. And what we are shown should illuminate and alter our perception of the world around us. Failing that, you have failed totally.” Applegate did not just give us one mirror in this collection, but rather gave us sixteen, and these mirrors are varied, but each are polished, shining, and tinted in such a way that they show us not only gives us one new view of our world, but perhaps more importantly, a new view of ourselves as parents, as children, as carriers of hope and regret, sadness and joy, pain and pleasure, as we all walk on a world in need of such reflection. Brandon Applegate may be a newer author on the scene for many of us, but the voice he presents can be varied, can invoke horror while giving us glimmers of science fiction or fantasy as well, and above all else maintains the things that makes these stories so reflective and powerful - a sense of humanity in balance with the unknown.
In short, this is a collection to read - find your favorites - even if it is all of them.
There's elements of this book that will recall through fond homage other stories. A bit of The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe surfaced in my mind as I read "And The Revel Went Whirlingly On." There's a bit of The Princess Bride in "Bedtime Story." Brothers Grimm is an acknowledged bit of inspiration for "In the Trees." Yet, make no mistake - Mister Applegate is not going to let us off with retreading what we know - this is no collection of stories aping the horror of the mundane. This is the horror of the human condition - often write large. Are there ghosts and goblins, ghoulies and goat men? Certainly, but there's also the fears of a father, the pain of regret that haunts and torments, the son sorting through memories of lost parents, the father trying to protect his family from himself. Reader, we would be safer from some things if Applegate only confronted us with the demon and the darkness that is out there, but he expertly weaves in the internal darkness that can haunt, can torment, can make us second guess.
In this collection, I can fairly well guarantee at least a few stories will leave you wanting more and others will leave you at a level of discomfort that only the horror genre can deliver. I found myself wanting to revisit again the worlds found in "The Last Days of the Old Man," which practically begs to be adapted to the screen in some manner. Meanwhile, "Tea Party" recalled to mind all those times my own children "spoke" to imaginary friends or said those creepy little things that only the very young seem to say. This is the power of Applegate's collection - it zings and hums along in a way that one could easily lose oneself and read it straight through, yet its stories are varied enough with a pulsating humanity that one might revisit individual stories and discover something new.
It should also be noted that Applegate is a "reader writer" in that his book is literary and connected to the realities of our time. He includes a list of other writers one should read and, given the strength of such recommendation, I readily jotted down names and works. Likewise, he also knows we live in a time of difficulty and challenges and includes, in the back of the work, a list of content warnings. While some debate the import of these warnings, I find myself thinking how important they can be for works of collected short fiction - while one may want to avoid certain elements in some stories, to miss out on this whole collection would be a shame, so such warnings make perfect and fair sense. Applegate's love of the genre and those who, like him, forge it and keep it going is apparent in these elements of the work.
I began this review by using the words of John Carpenter, and I will close it with a quote from Harlan Ellison who once said, “The only thing worth writing about is people. People. Human beings. Men and women whose individuality must be created, line by line, insight by insight. If you do not do it, the story is a failure. [...] There is no nobler chore in the universe than holding up the mirror of reality and turning it slightly, so we have a new and different perception of the commonplace, the everyday, the 'normal', the obvious. People are reflected in the glass. The fantasy situation into which you thrust them is the mirror itself. And what we are shown should illuminate and alter our perception of the world around us. Failing that, you have failed totally.” Applegate did not just give us one mirror in this collection, but rather gave us sixteen, and these mirrors are varied, but each are polished, shining, and tinted in such a way that they show us not only gives us one new view of our world, but perhaps more importantly, a new view of ourselves as parents, as children, as carriers of hope and regret, sadness and joy, pain and pleasure, as we all walk on a world in need of such reflection. Brandon Applegate may be a newer author on the scene for many of us, but the voice he presents can be varied, can invoke horror while giving us glimmers of science fiction or fantasy as well, and above all else maintains the things that makes these stories so reflective and powerful - a sense of humanity in balance with the unknown.
In short, this is a collection to read - find your favorites - even if it is all of them.
January 10, 2022
Solid collection. 3.5/5. The last story also called Those We Left Behind was by far my favorite. Also recommend Roots Run Deep, Tea Party, & The Goat Man. I'll be keeping my eye on BA in the future.
December 9, 2021
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I love a good variety in short collections and Brandon really nailed it with his debut. Ranging from horror, fantasy and even sci-fi, you can definitely find a story that will appeal and resonate with you.
Here are some of my favorites, although each story was unique and interesting:
Bedtime Story: Holy shit, that was such a great beginning to the collection. A grandpa tells his grandson a bedtime story that seems a little all too real and horrifying. The gradual dread that seeped from him was awesome and the descriptions were nail-biting tense.
Tea Party: it started off pretty innocently but then as you read on, it gets creepier and creepier. I kept thinking of Huldufolk, Iceland's Hidden Faefolk when the fairies appeared and believe me, you don't want to mess with them.
The Last Days of the Old Man: this read like an awesome beginning to a Young Adult Urban Fantasy and I'm actually kind of frustrated that Brandon hasn't continued with it because I believe this story has potential. It was exciting, the characters were endearing and the stakes were clear.
The Open Mouth: that was such a deliciously creepy story. Anything with babies in horror stories are. The ending made me cringe in terror.
You Will Be The One to Find This: god, this story wrecked me. It was heartbreaking but oh so good. I really related to the mother and her past and usually I don't like flashbacks but it really worked in this story.
Those We Left Behind: like the first story, this was such a good one to end the collection. Being on an unknown planet is terrifying enough but when you start to see things aren't supposed to be there? Nope nope nope nope!!
Brandon's writing style was unique and immersive enough that I had to stay up one night to finish the collection because I just HAD to read one more story, sleep be damned!
I highly recommend this collection for any lovers of horror and I honestly can't wait to read more stuff from Brandon.
I love a good variety in short collections and Brandon really nailed it with his debut. Ranging from horror, fantasy and even sci-fi, you can definitely find a story that will appeal and resonate with you.
Here are some of my favorites, although each story was unique and interesting:
Bedtime Story: Holy shit, that was such a great beginning to the collection. A grandpa tells his grandson a bedtime story that seems a little all too real and horrifying. The gradual dread that seeped from him was awesome and the descriptions were nail-biting tense.
Tea Party: it started off pretty innocently but then as you read on, it gets creepier and creepier. I kept thinking of Huldufolk, Iceland's Hidden Faefolk when the fairies appeared and believe me, you don't want to mess with them.
The Last Days of the Old Man: this read like an awesome beginning to a Young Adult Urban Fantasy and I'm actually kind of frustrated that Brandon hasn't continued with it because I believe this story has potential. It was exciting, the characters were endearing and the stakes were clear.
The Open Mouth: that was such a deliciously creepy story. Anything with babies in horror stories are. The ending made me cringe in terror.
You Will Be The One to Find This: god, this story wrecked me. It was heartbreaking but oh so good. I really related to the mother and her past and usually I don't like flashbacks but it really worked in this story.
Those We Left Behind: like the first story, this was such a good one to end the collection. Being on an unknown planet is terrifying enough but when you start to see things aren't supposed to be there? Nope nope nope nope!!
Brandon's writing style was unique and immersive enough that I had to stay up one night to finish the collection because I just HAD to read one more story, sleep be damned!
I highly recommend this collection for any lovers of horror and I honestly can't wait to read more stuff from Brandon.
March 14, 2022
Brandon Applegate's debut short story collection brims with uncanny childhood fears and unexplained anticipation of all things dark & weird. I really enjoy a collection whose theme is so strong; with each story, you knew just what the author wanted to talk about and the messages he wanted to impart to their audiences.
I also loved how he handled tropes & cliches. All of the stories we read and write today are full of things that have been said in the past, and Applegate delivers short and precise fiction by flipping the premise. I have some particular favourites in this collection like "Bedtime Story," "Tea Party," "In The Trees," and "Those We Left Behind" as the author is a master at writing horror featuring children and creepy settings. Especially about his last story, "Those We Left Behind" that gives its title to the whole anthology, I loved how it echoed my favourite Bradbury fiction. It's lyrical, creepy and deeply humane.
I would have liked to see more stories similar to the ones I really loved but on the other hand, this was just a taste of what Brandon Applegate can offer us! He has managed to deliver stories that act as snippets to twisted worlds that could be ours and this is the reason why I'm keeping my eyes on his work.
I also loved how he handled tropes & cliches. All of the stories we read and write today are full of things that have been said in the past, and Applegate delivers short and precise fiction by flipping the premise. I have some particular favourites in this collection like "Bedtime Story," "Tea Party," "In The Trees," and "Those We Left Behind" as the author is a master at writing horror featuring children and creepy settings. Especially about his last story, "Those We Left Behind" that gives its title to the whole anthology, I loved how it echoed my favourite Bradbury fiction. It's lyrical, creepy and deeply humane.
I would have liked to see more stories similar to the ones I really loved but on the other hand, this was just a taste of what Brandon Applegate can offer us! He has managed to deliver stories that act as snippets to twisted worlds that could be ours and this is the reason why I'm keeping my eyes on his work.
October 20, 2021
I absolutely tore through this book. Applegate blurs the line between the familiar and the frightening with masterful skill. He will lull you into warmth and comfort with one hand and unbolt doors that hold true terrors with the other. By embracing a vulnerability which threads through us all, Applegate’s stories cut deep, maintaining a relatability even when they cross over into the surreal. Full of lush imagery and compelling characters, this book is impossible to put down. Best read over a weekend—you don’t need any more reasons to resent having to go to work!
January 16, 2022
Those We Left Behind and Other Sacrifices is an incredible debut collection. Brandon Applegate has set a very high bar. It’s dark and scary, gruesome and brutal, but the core of every story is a wide spectrum of emotion and heart. Brandon writes characters you know, and then doesn’t pull away when the bad things happen. It’s incredible how he can make you fall in love and then break your heart in only a few pages. My personal favorite story of the bunch is You Will Be The One To Find This, but there’s not a bad story in the bunch. I can’t recommend it enough.
September 21, 2022
Domestic-based horror with tremendous heart and plenty of scares with images stolen from your nightmares. This collection of spectacular short stories slice to the bone and offer up the tasty meat of their author's imagination. A word feast of immense enjoyment, fantastical nightmares, and genuine frights. This book is wonderful in its ability to press specifically on the pressure points of innate human fears while being immediately interesting, accessible, and full of heart and imagination. Read it in a day, seriously cannot recommend this collection enough.
May 7, 2022
I do love some sad horror, and this collection brings it in wet shovelfuls. Applegate visits a variety of genres, from Sci-Fi to pulp to western, and lends his patient, contemplative, earnest voice to all. There are monsters and some gore, but mostly it's the melancholy that pervades: grief, disappointment in one's self and others, forgiveness, and the many ways one can die emotionally before one's body gives out. Outstanding, sure to be one of my faves for the year.
January 11, 2022
This collection is fantastic! Definitely one of the best books I have read. Brandon selected terrifying stories with creative plots, diverse characters, and a horrifying event in each of them. I can't recommend this book enough, it certainly shows the power of short stories, and how with few words you can tell a story that will stay in your mind for days.
March 27, 2022
While the title of this book comes from its closing story, it fits the collection as a whole. Nearly every character here is haunted by loss and grief. Whether we're dealing with carnivorous plants, shapeshifting Martians or medieval warlocks, Applegate manages to find the very human heart at the center of each of these stories. I look forward to seeing what he does next.
July 29, 2022
This is fantastic
I loved every single one of these stories. I cannot wait to get more of Mr. Applegates work. These stories are beautifully written, scary, and bingeable. I particularly enjoyed the story titled "The Elevator". In a little over one page it achieves horror perfection.
I loved every single one of these stories. I cannot wait to get more of Mr. Applegates work. These stories are beautifully written, scary, and bingeable. I particularly enjoyed the story titled "The Elevator". In a little over one page it achieves horror perfection.
April 5, 2025
Most of the stories were a little to short and alot of them jumped around in time which made it a little confusing with how shprt the stories where the stand out where bed time story, the black wood which is more of a dark fantasy then a horror story and those we left behind overall quite a bit of misses but some great stand outs 3.3
November 7, 2021
I enjoyed every story in this book. My favorites were Elevator and The Big Mouth. I felt the need to go slow and savor each story. I'm already impatiently waiting for whatever he writes next. Very highly recommended.
September 6, 2022
WHAT AN AUDACIOUS DEBUT! Mr. Applegate paints the horrors of fatherhood in a way that will rip out your heart again and again. Personal favorites include The Goat Man, Tea Party, Elevator, and The Black Wood.
January 25, 2022
Clever stories
Loved this collection. Fresh ideas and an interesting variety of plots and themes. Found them very creepy. I definitely recommend.
Loved this collection. Fresh ideas and an interesting variety of plots and themes. Found them very creepy. I definitely recommend.
January 31, 2022
One of the first Novellas I've liked in a long time, every story was great. Even the short ones are very entertaining, looking forward to Brandon's next work
February 11, 2022
I love the variety in stories, and how much some of them legitimately made my skin crawl!! Such great reading.
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