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Arkham Horror #18
Secrets in Scarlet: An Arkham Horror Anthology
A secret organization ruthlessly seeks power over supernatural terrors in this globe-trotting anthology of arcane mystery and adventure, from the bestselling world of Arkham Horror
Beyond our world lies another, one full of paranormal forces and eldritch horrors, and once that membrane has been pierced, life can never be the same again. In every corner of the globe, persons unknown are seizing objects of extreme supernatural power. They declare themselves defenders of humanity, fighting off the darkness which presses against the veil shrouding our reality from the unknowable. But do their claims of altruism ring true? And should they be permitted to wield such power? From the world of Arkham Horror comes an exciting new anthology that delves into new mysteries.
The Man in the Bubble by David Annandale
City of Waking Dreams by Davide Mana
Brother Bound by Jason Fischer
Honor Among Thieves by Carrie Harris
A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite by Steven Philip Jones
Strange Things Done by Lisa Smedman
In Art, Truth by James Fadeley
Crossing Stars by MJ Newman
The Red and the Black by Josh Reynolds
Beyond our world lies another, one full of paranormal forces and eldritch horrors, and once that membrane has been pierced, life can never be the same again. In every corner of the globe, persons unknown are seizing objects of extreme supernatural power. They declare themselves defenders of humanity, fighting off the darkness which presses against the veil shrouding our reality from the unknowable. But do their claims of altruism ring true? And should they be permitted to wield such power? From the world of Arkham Horror comes an exciting new anthology that delves into new mysteries.
The Man in the Bubble by David Annandale
City of Waking Dreams by Davide Mana
Brother Bound by Jason Fischer
Honor Among Thieves by Carrie Harris
A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite by Steven Philip Jones
Strange Things Done by Lisa Smedman
In Art, Truth by James Fadeley
Crossing Stars by MJ Newman
The Red and the Black by Josh Reynolds
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2024
18 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 1, 2023
I will start with the review but I have some problems with this books... One interesting part is that
all of these tales set in different cities, from buenos aires, to san francisco, to alaska or in turkey which remind me of eldricht horror. Instead of normal run, fights or escapades against cthulhu or any other of his fellow "siblings" here is more down to earth stuff. Like some hidden cabal or evil people doing stuff to non-evil people. Sincerely? Boring as heck. All tales have something to do with colour Red but there is a lack of connectivity between ourselves and the stories. The previous novels we would get the investigator A or B from the game. Here is just random stuff. Okay you've got a card in that deck? Now lets go tell a tale about it. Others I couldn't even find the link.
The vast majority of tales are just boring... sorry I have no word other word for it. I was really enjoying this tale called In Art, Truth by James Fadeley where we have a female curator in turkey running around trying to find something hidden in art and then ends the tale telling oh it's a important step to gender equality.. what? What about the story you were telling? The last two tales are probably the better ones from this anthology.
The problem with these tales about empowering woman is that they are not showing/telling tales of empowering woman. They are telling me THEY are empowering diminuishing everything they write. Tell me a tale of a strong woman and I will decide I enjoy it. Do not tell me I have to enjoy because she is a woman. That's the all debate about Rey & Leia (the true Leia - not the sequels stuff) or even Padme. They are strong female characters. Nobody had to tell .. oh they suffered because they are woman, look here she is battling a man and wining in strength. Look there is persecution and she squatted. No. They tell me a tale and I decide.
Are all of these writers trying to pandering the mobs? Is this a tale of lovecraftian stuff or gender equality, not equality but superiority of the female gender? You think I kid you?
The Man in the Bubble by David Annandale - Female
City of Waking Dreams by Davide Mana - Male
Brother Bound by Jason Fischer - Female
Honor Among Thieves by Carrie Harris - Female
A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite by Steven Philip Jones - Non-Binary (in the 1920 lol)
Strange Things Done by Lisa Smedman - Male
In Art, Truth by James Fadeley - Female
Crossing Stars by MJ Newman - Female
The Red and the Black by Josh Reynolds - Female
Almost all stories draw to same conclusion, if you want something done? Send a woman. All stories at some point deal with "gender equality" or some commentary on racism or how "men" look at woman. Fucking sake. Grow up. Tell a fucking tale and shut up. If you want to preach go to twitter. You can talk about this important subjects but not sound like a self important prick who wants to "I will tell those white men how evil they are". Honestly I am tempted to stop buying this books...
Then non-binary character. Well, just because I want, I don't understand the all non-binary stuff nowdays and I don't have to. What I have is to respect everyone the same, no matter how those person feel and I do. being from a language where there is no neutral gender "they" to me means either the plural of he or she (ele ou ela respectivavely) To me They will always be "Eles" or "Elas". So having a character identifiy as they is truly confusing experience to read and at times I was utterly confusing as the author was telling they as single person or multiple. How the heck do other people not find this confusing? Oh well BTW, historically a non-binary character in the 1920's? Not going to happen. Stop with revisionism.
Fuck it. I am sick of it. Tell me a fucking lovecraftian horror story. That's what you promised yet none of these stories are truly horrible. They range for mystery to dark fantasy going to occult urban stuff. But horror? No. The truly horror is this constant need to pandering to the woke mob.
all of these tales set in different cities, from buenos aires, to san francisco, to alaska or in turkey which remind me of eldricht horror. Instead of normal run, fights or escapades against cthulhu or any other of his fellow "siblings" here is more down to earth stuff. Like some hidden cabal or evil people doing stuff to non-evil people. Sincerely? Boring as heck. All tales have something to do with colour Red but there is a lack of connectivity between ourselves and the stories. The previous novels we would get the investigator A or B from the game. Here is just random stuff. Okay you've got a card in that deck? Now lets go tell a tale about it. Others I couldn't even find the link.
The vast majority of tales are just boring... sorry I have no word other word for it. I was really enjoying this tale called In Art, Truth by James Fadeley where we have a female curator in turkey running around trying to find something hidden in art and then ends the tale telling oh it's a important step to gender equality.. what? What about the story you were telling? The last two tales are probably the better ones from this anthology.
The problem with these tales about empowering woman is that they are not showing/telling tales of empowering woman. They are telling me THEY are empowering diminuishing everything they write. Tell me a tale of a strong woman and I will decide I enjoy it. Do not tell me I have to enjoy because she is a woman. That's the all debate about Rey & Leia (the true Leia - not the sequels stuff) or even Padme. They are strong female characters. Nobody had to tell .. oh they suffered because they are woman, look here she is battling a man and wining in strength. Look there is persecution and she squatted. No. They tell me a tale and I decide.
Are all of these writers trying to pandering the mobs? Is this a tale of lovecraftian stuff or gender equality, not equality but superiority of the female gender? You think I kid you?
The Man in the Bubble by David Annandale - Female
City of Waking Dreams by Davide Mana - Male
Brother Bound by Jason Fischer - Female
Honor Among Thieves by Carrie Harris - Female
A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite by Steven Philip Jones - Non-Binary (in the 1920 lol)
Strange Things Done by Lisa Smedman - Male
In Art, Truth by James Fadeley - Female
Crossing Stars by MJ Newman - Female
The Red and the Black by Josh Reynolds - Female
Almost all stories draw to same conclusion, if you want something done? Send a woman. All stories at some point deal with "gender equality" or some commentary on racism or how "men" look at woman. Fucking sake. Grow up. Tell a fucking tale and shut up. If you want to preach go to twitter. You can talk about this important subjects but not sound like a self important prick who wants to "I will tell those white men how evil they are". Honestly I am tempted to stop buying this books...
Then non-binary character. Well, just because I want, I don't understand the all non-binary stuff nowdays and I don't have to. What I have is to respect everyone the same, no matter how those person feel and I do. being from a language where there is no neutral gender "they" to me means either the plural of he or she (ele ou ela respectivavely) To me They will always be "Eles" or "Elas". So having a character identifiy as they is truly confusing experience to read and at times I was utterly confusing as the author was telling they as single person or multiple. How the heck do other people not find this confusing? Oh well BTW, historically a non-binary character in the 1920's? Not going to happen. Stop with revisionism.
Fuck it. I am sick of it. Tell me a fucking lovecraftian horror story. That's what you promised yet none of these stories are truly horrible. They range for mystery to dark fantasy going to occult urban stuff. But horror? No. The truly horror is this constant need to pandering to the woke mob.
October 1, 2022
This isn't necessarily my usual type of read but honestly with a cover like that how could I not ?
This is part of the Arkham Horror Anthology however it can be read as a stand alone , it is perfect for horrors fans. There are nine stories in total and each of them are fantastic reads , it's definitely the kind of book that you read until you're forced to have some sleep! Full of interest it keeps hold of your attention throughout in a fast pace. Paired with the depth of detail it makes for a collection of great eerie reads!
This is part of the Arkham Horror Anthology however it can be read as a stand alone , it is perfect for horrors fans. There are nine stories in total and each of them are fantastic reads , it's definitely the kind of book that you read until you're forced to have some sleep! Full of interest it keeps hold of your attention throughout in a fast pace. Paired with the depth of detail it makes for a collection of great eerie reads!
September 19, 2022
I am always excited for a chance to read an ARC of an Arkham Horror novel so when I got the chance to read Secrets in Scarlet I was very eager.
This is different from the prior novels in the line that I am familiar with as this is a collection of short stories with varying subject matter but a unifying...presence. Each of the stories features, in some way, a collective of people in red who are seeking "keys" and fighting against the eldritch and unknown. The stories are all pretty fun and I'll give a brief run-down below. Most of the stories are more noir mystery with a few horror elements peppered in, which isn't what I expected (but wasn't particularly unwelcome either)/My biggest gripe was the lack of investigators from the Arkham Files that I tend to love seeing crop up with only two stories including characters that we know and love from the properties (though I know that this includes characters that have yet to be announced as part of the Arkham Horror LLC game).
~ The Man in the Bubble - the commissioner of the secret organization The Foundation investigates the scene of some mysterious destruction and this leads to a swift search for a lost occult artifact.
~ Brother Bound - a man discovers the mysterious way his older brother is making money and gets more than he bargained for when he learns magic is real.
~ Honor Among Thieves - a pair of thieving sisters are coerced with performing one final heist before they can get out of Bueno Aires by a mysterious figure named The Sanguine Watcher.
~ A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite - Kymani Jones (a non-binary character which was awesome to see!) knows that someone MIGHT steal something specific and investigates to find it when it does go missing.
~ Strange Things Done - Rex Murphy, while taking a trip by boat up through to Alaska, starts to notice people and things going missing and can't quite explain why. (This was my absolute favorite story in the book. I loved it! So fun!)
~ In Art, Truth - a fascinating story surrounding a researcher for our clandestine band of red-wearing individuals.
~ Crossing Stars - a mysterious person tells a fantastical story and we learn a bit more about the potential truth within (this was a really fun story...probably my second favorite in the book)
~ The Red and The Black - Trish Scarborough is working to find a red book before the members of the red-wearing faction can get to it, racing through the city of Venice.
As stated about my favorites were Strange Things Done, followed by Crossing Stars, and then probably Honor Among Theives. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Arkham world or those that enjoy fun vaguely-interconnected mysteries with horror elements.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aconyte Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is different from the prior novels in the line that I am familiar with as this is a collection of short stories with varying subject matter but a unifying...presence. Each of the stories features, in some way, a collective of people in red who are seeking "keys" and fighting against the eldritch and unknown. The stories are all pretty fun and I'll give a brief run-down below. Most of the stories are more noir mystery with a few horror elements peppered in, which isn't what I expected (but wasn't particularly unwelcome either)/My biggest gripe was the lack of investigators from the Arkham Files that I tend to love seeing crop up with only two stories including characters that we know and love from the properties (though I know that this includes characters that have yet to be announced as part of the Arkham Horror LLC game).
~ The Man in the Bubble - the commissioner of the secret organization The Foundation investigates the scene of some mysterious destruction and this leads to a swift search for a lost occult artifact.
~ Brother Bound - a man discovers the mysterious way his older brother is making money and gets more than he bargained for when he learns magic is real.
~ Honor Among Thieves - a pair of thieving sisters are coerced with performing one final heist before they can get out of Bueno Aires by a mysterious figure named The Sanguine Watcher.
~ A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite - Kymani Jones (a non-binary character which was awesome to see!) knows that someone MIGHT steal something specific and investigates to find it when it does go missing.
~ Strange Things Done - Rex Murphy, while taking a trip by boat up through to Alaska, starts to notice people and things going missing and can't quite explain why. (This was my absolute favorite story in the book. I loved it! So fun!)
~ In Art, Truth - a fascinating story surrounding a researcher for our clandestine band of red-wearing individuals.
~ Crossing Stars - a mysterious person tells a fantastical story and we learn a bit more about the potential truth within (this was a really fun story...probably my second favorite in the book)
~ The Red and The Black - Trish Scarborough is working to find a red book before the members of the red-wearing faction can get to it, racing through the city of Venice.
As stated about my favorites were Strange Things Done, followed by Crossing Stars, and then probably Honor Among Theives. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Arkham world or those that enjoy fun vaguely-interconnected mysteries with horror elements.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aconyte Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2022
The book is composed of nine stories that were interesting and compelling, although I wouldnt be inclined to label them as horror, they're more dark mystery.
Each of the stories features a character in red, hence the books title. The characters are diverse, the world building fantastic and the stories fast paced and kept me entertained for several hours.
Many thanks to The Book Network for my tour spot.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.5)
Each of the stories features a character in red, hence the books title. The characters are diverse, the world building fantastic and the stories fast paced and kept me entertained for several hours.
Many thanks to The Book Network for my tour spot.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.5)
August 2, 2022
We arent in Arkham anymore.
Secrets in Scarlet was edited by Charlotte Llewelyn-Wells and is a collection of stories based in Arkham Horror LCGs upcoming expansion featuring stories from familiar faces such as Josh Reynolds and David Annandale, as well as many newcomers.
A secret organization seeks to control keys that will allow them to control a dark power, but they arent the only ones searching for them, and they may not even be the good guys. Secrets in Scarlet draws elements from pulp horror, Raymond Chandler detective stories, and grand heists to create stories that would fit perfectly being listened to from a 1920s radio drama.
Each of these stories does a great job of feeling fresh and unique to each other story in the collection and combines Lovecraft, Indiana Jones, and Oceans 11 to create a globetrotting adventure with diverse locations and an equally diverse cast.
Secrets in Scarlet was edited by Charlotte Llewelyn-Wells and is a collection of stories based in Arkham Horror LCGs upcoming expansion featuring stories from familiar faces such as Josh Reynolds and David Annandale, as well as many newcomers.
A secret organization seeks to control keys that will allow them to control a dark power, but they arent the only ones searching for them, and they may not even be the good guys. Secrets in Scarlet draws elements from pulp horror, Raymond Chandler detective stories, and grand heists to create stories that would fit perfectly being listened to from a 1920s radio drama.
Each of these stories does a great job of feeling fresh and unique to each other story in the collection and combines Lovecraft, Indiana Jones, and Oceans 11 to create a globetrotting adventure with diverse locations and an equally diverse cast.
September 27, 2022
This is the first book I have read like this, a collection of horror stories all written by different authors and linking together throughout. I really enjoyed this, trying to work out where or of we’d seen characters before,how they would link to the others and how it would all finish.
All the stories were well written, short and seem to conclude but also leave some mystery too. My favourite was Strange Things Done, set on an ocean liner and full of twists. The main character, Rex, is put into a cabin with a mysterious man and after that, nothing is the same.
A good read if you enjoy short horror stories.
All the stories were well written, short and seem to conclude but also leave some mystery too. My favourite was Strange Things Done, set on an ocean liner and full of twists. The main character, Rex, is put into a cabin with a mysterious man and after that, nothing is the same.
A good read if you enjoy short horror stories.
August 24, 2023
The best story: Strange Things Done by Lisa Smedman
March 18, 2023
Few reading experiences are as satisfying as a genuinely themed anthology, and while these nine stories could all be enjoyed in isolation there’s real value in reading them one after the other. While not narratively connected, each story explores the concept of dangerous occult artefacts and powers, the ruthless groups and individuals who seek them out, and the impact they can have on the people who come into contact with them. More than that, characters and concepts introduced in one story are referenced in others, whether that’s the ‘Foundation’ and its Commissioner Qiana Taylor or the ‘Red Coterie’, the mysterious group whose members include the Lady with the Red Parasol, the Claret Knight and the Red-Gloved Man. These powerful characters are mostly pitched as direct antagonists or mysterious, ambiguous presences, with the focus largely on ordinary people relying on skill, determination or sheer blind luck to see them through.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2023/02/...
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2023/02/...
July 27, 2022
First of all I would like to thank the Publisher for sending me the ARC.
This book deals with a collection of tales with a pinch of horror and gothic. It is part of a book series “Arkham Horror”. The stories are nine:
-The Man in the Bubble: a sort of organization tries to secure different magical and alien artifacts which could cause problems to humanity. In particular, commissioner Taylor investigates about the Prism.
-City of Waking Dreams, set in Shangai and in London. Inspector Li Flint is in search of a certain Lady with The Red Parasol, who steals art in exchange for opium.
-Brother Bound, the story of two brothers Desi and Javier. The first one is worried for the health of the second one, seen that he is working until the bone for his family. A story tied to the cut of the cane and its brutality but at the same time with violent magic.
-Honor among thieves, the story of two twin sisters Milagros and Rosa who steal to survive after the death of their parents. This time they have to steal something form the Corregidor fashion collection at the Palacio Errazuriz, but something is not like usual.
-A forty grain weight of Nephrite, Kymani Jones in search of a sky disc of forbidden colors called the Bi which brings dismay and destructions wherever it’s taken.
-Strange Things Done, Rex Murphy is a reporter who has to do a story about the poet Robert Service and for that is going to Alaska but he finds himself involved in something strange.
-In Art, Truth, tied to the muslim religion.
-Crossing stars, Haresah Izem is a warrior, a strong one. Her father taught her that power is everything. She in love with Razin, a young handsome man of her tribe. They start a mission to rule the word while something evil is waiting for them. But this is only the story in the story told by a patron to Luci Diallo at University of Barcelona. Why?
-The red and the black
My favourite are Honor among Thieves, it gave me vibes of Six of Crows. A melange of mystery, sisterhood, horror and magic; Crossing Stars, which reminded me of We Hunt the Flame, the same atmosphere. I liked also the Man in the Bubble, especially because of the presence of this sort of foundation that collects magical and odd artifacts.
In general, I recommend this book to people who like H.P. Lovecraft as author and have a taste for horror vibes.
This book deals with a collection of tales with a pinch of horror and gothic. It is part of a book series “Arkham Horror”. The stories are nine:
-The Man in the Bubble: a sort of organization tries to secure different magical and alien artifacts which could cause problems to humanity. In particular, commissioner Taylor investigates about the Prism.
-City of Waking Dreams, set in Shangai and in London. Inspector Li Flint is in search of a certain Lady with The Red Parasol, who steals art in exchange for opium.
-Brother Bound, the story of two brothers Desi and Javier. The first one is worried for the health of the second one, seen that he is working until the bone for his family. A story tied to the cut of the cane and its brutality but at the same time with violent magic.
-Honor among thieves, the story of two twin sisters Milagros and Rosa who steal to survive after the death of their parents. This time they have to steal something form the Corregidor fashion collection at the Palacio Errazuriz, but something is not like usual.
-A forty grain weight of Nephrite, Kymani Jones in search of a sky disc of forbidden colors called the Bi which brings dismay and destructions wherever it’s taken.
-Strange Things Done, Rex Murphy is a reporter who has to do a story about the poet Robert Service and for that is going to Alaska but he finds himself involved in something strange.
-In Art, Truth, tied to the muslim religion.
-Crossing stars, Haresah Izem is a warrior, a strong one. Her father taught her that power is everything. She in love with Razin, a young handsome man of her tribe. They start a mission to rule the word while something evil is waiting for them. But this is only the story in the story told by a patron to Luci Diallo at University of Barcelona. Why?
-The red and the black
My favourite are Honor among Thieves, it gave me vibes of Six of Crows. A melange of mystery, sisterhood, horror and magic; Crossing Stars, which reminded me of We Hunt the Flame, the same atmosphere. I liked also the Man in the Bubble, especially because of the presence of this sort of foundation that collects magical and odd artifacts.
In general, I recommend this book to people who like H.P. Lovecraft as author and have a taste for horror vibes.
September 27, 2022
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC of Secrets in Scarlet, coming out October 18, 2022. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Secrets in Scarlet explores life beyond our world in a collection of stories. Each chapter is a new story written by a different author. There’s a secret world, full of paranormal forces and horrors. In every crevice of the earth, lies the unknown and a group of people who are stealing objects of magical power. They call themselves defenders of humanity. Their mission is to fight off darkness. But what are their intentions? Should they gain such power?
The Man in the Bubble
The Commissioner Qiana Taylor of the secret organization the Foundation investigates some destruction. They find the Coronal Prism which is a lost artifact.
City of Walking Dreams
This story was actually broken up into smaller chapters. It follows Li Flint who is an inspector. The Foundation is also in this story. I really enjoy Chinese stories. It felt like an old detective story set in the 1950s or before. It was fast paced and well written.
Brother Bound
I love 1920s and 1930s gangster stories. Desi and Javier had an interesting dynamic as brothers. They were slightly chaotic with their choices, but I loved that they looked out for one another. There’s just something I love about gangsters avenging their families and become the boss.
Honor Among Thieves
Milagros and Rosa are twins sisters living in Buenos Aires. They have a reputation as flighty heiresses, but there’s more to them than meets the eye. They carry a darker secret that they hide from most people. I loved this story!
A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite
Set in San Francisco’s Chinatown, this story follows Kymani Jones. Kymani is in search of Bi, which is a sky disc that brings destruction. This story was a little hard to follow. It was hard to picture what Bi actually was.
Strange Things Done
Rex Murphy travels to Alaska for a story involving dog sledding and a sea voyage, but soon encounters strange occurrences. I loved this chapter! It was mysterious and dark. I couldn’t tell what was reality and what was fiction. This was my favorite story!
In Art, Truth
Ece is a researcher in the Republic of Turkey. She and her assistant Haluk uncover something big in their research, something that could put their lives in danger. This was definitely an interesting story. I enjoyed that this story explores what happens when you have power and don’t use it.
Crossing Stars
This is a story within a story. Amaranth is relaying a story about Haresah Izem she her lion Khalid to Luciana. She tells her of Haresah’s great love Razin and the power they had together. This story was wild and dark! I enjoyed the twist.
The Red and the Black
Trish Scarborough is in Venice researching the red line that stretches across history and connects the past to the present and future. She’s on the hunt for a book that is the key to solving the greatest mystery, but she has to find it before the Red Coterie finds her. I loved this story! I think it was the perfect ending to the collection.
Overall, this was a really fun, interesting read! I don’t normally read anthologies, but I really enjoyed this. The stories were very unique and different from each other. I’m not sure if there should’ve been more of a connection throughout them all. I think they all had similar themes such as power, wealth and love. However, I’m not sure how threaded together they were. I think some of the stories were more connected than others. Stranger Things Done was my favorite story. I also loved the Red and the Black because it was a mystery about a book in Venice. The mysterious and horror aspects of the book were my favorite. While I enjoyed the discourse on power dynamics, a couple of those stories were a little confusing to me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys short stories with fantastical and horror elements!
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2022 MARVEL
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
Secrets in Scarlet explores life beyond our world in a collection of stories. Each chapter is a new story written by a different author. There’s a secret world, full of paranormal forces and horrors. In every crevice of the earth, lies the unknown and a group of people who are stealing objects of magical power. They call themselves defenders of humanity. Their mission is to fight off darkness. But what are their intentions? Should they gain such power?
The Man in the Bubble
The Commissioner Qiana Taylor of the secret organization the Foundation investigates some destruction. They find the Coronal Prism which is a lost artifact.
City of Walking Dreams
This story was actually broken up into smaller chapters. It follows Li Flint who is an inspector. The Foundation is also in this story. I really enjoy Chinese stories. It felt like an old detective story set in the 1950s or before. It was fast paced and well written.
Brother Bound
I love 1920s and 1930s gangster stories. Desi and Javier had an interesting dynamic as brothers. They were slightly chaotic with their choices, but I loved that they looked out for one another. There’s just something I love about gangsters avenging their families and become the boss.
Honor Among Thieves
Milagros and Rosa are twins sisters living in Buenos Aires. They have a reputation as flighty heiresses, but there’s more to them than meets the eye. They carry a darker secret that they hide from most people. I loved this story!
A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite
Set in San Francisco’s Chinatown, this story follows Kymani Jones. Kymani is in search of Bi, which is a sky disc that brings destruction. This story was a little hard to follow. It was hard to picture what Bi actually was.
Strange Things Done
Rex Murphy travels to Alaska for a story involving dog sledding and a sea voyage, but soon encounters strange occurrences. I loved this chapter! It was mysterious and dark. I couldn’t tell what was reality and what was fiction. This was my favorite story!
In Art, Truth
Ece is a researcher in the Republic of Turkey. She and her assistant Haluk uncover something big in their research, something that could put their lives in danger. This was definitely an interesting story. I enjoyed that this story explores what happens when you have power and don’t use it.
Crossing Stars
This is a story within a story. Amaranth is relaying a story about Haresah Izem she her lion Khalid to Luciana. She tells her of Haresah’s great love Razin and the power they had together. This story was wild and dark! I enjoyed the twist.
The Red and the Black
Trish Scarborough is in Venice researching the red line that stretches across history and connects the past to the present and future. She’s on the hunt for a book that is the key to solving the greatest mystery, but she has to find it before the Red Coterie finds her. I loved this story! I think it was the perfect ending to the collection.
Overall, this was a really fun, interesting read! I don’t normally read anthologies, but I really enjoyed this. The stories were very unique and different from each other. I’m not sure if there should’ve been more of a connection throughout them all. I think they all had similar themes such as power, wealth and love. However, I’m not sure how threaded together they were. I think some of the stories were more connected than others. Stranger Things Done was my favorite story. I also loved the Red and the Black because it was a mystery about a book in Venice. The mysterious and horror aspects of the book were my favorite. While I enjoyed the discourse on power dynamics, a couple of those stories were a little confusing to me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys short stories with fantastical and horror elements!
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2022 MARVEL
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2022
First things first, I got this book from NetGalley, so thank you NetGalley and Aconyte Books for this opportunity.
My knowledge regarding Arkham Horror was quite minimal before reading this anthology. I know it was based on the Cthulhu Mythos by Lovecraft and others. I know there are quite a lot of books based on it and it has a devoted fan base. I was always a bit interested, so jumped on the wagon when I saw this on Netgalley.
This collection is a very good jumping on point for new reads, the setting is based on locations all over the world, each story has feature people in red in some form, has some very interesting characters and introduces readers to the basic premise of the world of Arkham Horror among other things.
Now on to the stories -
'The Man in the Bubble by David Annandale'
We are introduced with the Commissioner Taylor of the Foundation as they investigate and try to locate a mysterious artifact that could be very harmful in the wrong hands. An average story which serves as an introduction to the Foundation.
3.5 out of 5 stars.
'City of Waking Dreams by Davide Mana'
A story set in which Inspector Li Flint comes to Shanghai in search of the Lady with The Red Parasol. Quite an interesting story with brilliant setting, some nice characters and snappy dialogue.
4 out of 5 stars.
'Brother Bound by Jason Fischer'
The story of two brothers, who gets caught in something more than the bargained for, and learns of ancient artifacts and dark magic. This story had an enthralling beginning and some delightful background into the history of cane and sugar tread. One of the better stories in this anthology.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
'Honor Among Thieves by Carrie Harris'
Another story of siblings, twin sisters Mila and Rosa, who agrees to do a heist for the mysterious Sanguine Watcher, but things soon get out of hand quickly. Nice little story with twists and turns.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
'A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite by Steven Philip Jones'
Our main character Kymani Jones, is searching for a sky disc or Bi with mysterious powers, which was taken by a mysterious organization. A story full of twists and turns and people with unexpected motives and switching loyalties. One of the best stories in the collection, I didn't expect the small little twist in the at all.
5 out of 5 stars.
'Strange Things Done by Lisa Smedman'
Another brilliant story, set in a boat that is travelling to Alaska. The main character is a reporter who notices strange things going around him. A different kind of horror, but nonetheless a chilling experience.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
'In Art, Truth by James Fadeley'
A story set in Turkey, detailing about a female researcher who is investigating about a mysterious artist. Despite a nice setting the story is a bit too slow for my liking and nothing is really resolved in the end. One of the weaker stories.
3 out of 5 stars.
'Crossing Stars by MJ Newman'
Plotted as a story within a story, where a mysterious patron tells her new employee a story that might not be just a story. Had a nice beginning but gets pretty predictable quickly and even seemed to drag a bit despite having potential.
3.5 out of 5 stars.
'The Red and the Black by Josh Reynolds'
Set in Venice, it tales the tale of Trish Scarborough, who is seemingly working to find a red book before the members of the red coterie, or is she? Very enjoyable little story, as is to be expected from this skillful author, with a new perspective and some interesting twists.
5 out of 5 stars.
Overall, as can be expected from any anthology, this had some ups and downs. But I did enjoy reading most of it and it most certainly made me very interested in the world of Arkham Horror, where I will be sure to be a visitor again.
Cumulative score - 4 out of 5 stars.
For more reviews and stuff check out my blog -
http://ihate00critics.blogspot.com/
My knowledge regarding Arkham Horror was quite minimal before reading this anthology. I know it was based on the Cthulhu Mythos by Lovecraft and others. I know there are quite a lot of books based on it and it has a devoted fan base. I was always a bit interested, so jumped on the wagon when I saw this on Netgalley.
This collection is a very good jumping on point for new reads, the setting is based on locations all over the world, each story has feature people in red in some form, has some very interesting characters and introduces readers to the basic premise of the world of Arkham Horror among other things.
Now on to the stories -
'The Man in the Bubble by David Annandale'
We are introduced with the Commissioner Taylor of the Foundation as they investigate and try to locate a mysterious artifact that could be very harmful in the wrong hands. An average story which serves as an introduction to the Foundation.
3.5 out of 5 stars.
'City of Waking Dreams by Davide Mana'
A story set in which Inspector Li Flint comes to Shanghai in search of the Lady with The Red Parasol. Quite an interesting story with brilliant setting, some nice characters and snappy dialogue.
4 out of 5 stars.
'Brother Bound by Jason Fischer'
The story of two brothers, who gets caught in something more than the bargained for, and learns of ancient artifacts and dark magic. This story had an enthralling beginning and some delightful background into the history of cane and sugar tread. One of the better stories in this anthology.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
'Honor Among Thieves by Carrie Harris'
Another story of siblings, twin sisters Mila and Rosa, who agrees to do a heist for the mysterious Sanguine Watcher, but things soon get out of hand quickly. Nice little story with twists and turns.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
'A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite by Steven Philip Jones'
Our main character Kymani Jones, is searching for a sky disc or Bi with mysterious powers, which was taken by a mysterious organization. A story full of twists and turns and people with unexpected motives and switching loyalties. One of the best stories in the collection, I didn't expect the small little twist in the at all.
5 out of 5 stars.
'Strange Things Done by Lisa Smedman'
Another brilliant story, set in a boat that is travelling to Alaska. The main character is a reporter who notices strange things going around him. A different kind of horror, but nonetheless a chilling experience.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
'In Art, Truth by James Fadeley'
A story set in Turkey, detailing about a female researcher who is investigating about a mysterious artist. Despite a nice setting the story is a bit too slow for my liking and nothing is really resolved in the end. One of the weaker stories.
3 out of 5 stars.
'Crossing Stars by MJ Newman'
Plotted as a story within a story, where a mysterious patron tells her new employee a story that might not be just a story. Had a nice beginning but gets pretty predictable quickly and even seemed to drag a bit despite having potential.
3.5 out of 5 stars.
'The Red and the Black by Josh Reynolds'
Set in Venice, it tales the tale of Trish Scarborough, who is seemingly working to find a red book before the members of the red coterie, or is she? Very enjoyable little story, as is to be expected from this skillful author, with a new perspective and some interesting twists.
5 out of 5 stars.
Overall, as can be expected from any anthology, this had some ups and downs. But I did enjoy reading most of it and it most certainly made me very interested in the world of Arkham Horror, where I will be sure to be a visitor again.
Cumulative score - 4 out of 5 stars.
For more reviews and stuff check out my blog -
http://ihate00critics.blogspot.com/
September 30, 2022
As always I want to start by saying that I was given a copy of this to review. My review is honest and left voluntarily and avoids spoilers. #ArkhamHorror #ArkhamHorrorAnthology #AconyteBooks #Netgalley #SecretsinScarlett #LottieLlewellyn-Davies #DavideMana #DavidAnnandale #JasonFischer #CarrieHarris #StevenPhilipJones #LisaSmedman #JamesFadeley #MJNewman #JoshReynolds
I have to say that I adore both the Arkham Horror games and HP Lovecraft’s tales (but most certainly not his racist views) and that the Arkham Horror prose novels by Aconyte have easily become some of my favourite books in recent years. It was actually an Arkham Horror title that introduced me to the world of Aconyte, Josh Reynolds The Wrath of N’Kai. Secrets in Scarlet is the fourth Anthology and second to contain a link presence throughout the short stories.
Each story stands alone but has a thread connecting them. Each story involves someone, often adorned with a crimson pieces of clothing or accessory who are seizing powerful supernatural objects known as ‘keys’. These illusive people call themselves defenders of humanity, saving the world from the darkness that presses against the veil between worlds keeping us safe from the unknowable. But can these claims ring true, and even if they do should they be permitted to rule such power? Each story builds on this theme, seeing people from all walks of life and professions ending up dealing with one of these illusive Scarlet individuals.
As you can expect from Aconyte and their authors, but may not expect from an anthology, each story is brilliant. It is hard to pick a favourite but I do have to say that City of Waking Dreams, A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite and Honor Among Thieves were up there but so where all of them! I loved the collection of interesting protagonists and I am excited to see who of them make it into the new LGC campaign!
The thing I really adore about the Arkham Horror novels is how they are inclusive. As already mentioned I love Lovecraftian horror but often when re-reading his tales I am left with the uncomfortable reminder of the racism he held. While it can be argued it was ‘of the time’ it still leaves a bad taste in your mouth if you are anything like me. Thankfully Aconyte’s novels suffer no such fate. We have multicultural stories that deal with things like race and culture respectfully and that is not only a win for the future of literature be it tie in or not but also means I can enjoy the eldritch horror I adore with no bad taste in my mouth! It also means we get amazing characters like Kymani Jones who is a non-binary character and I adored their story! Rosa and Milagros (I love her!) and Inspector Li Flint among others such as Desi, Haresah and Rex! Each character is wonderful, unique and I instantly became invested in them and their lives but the best part for me was nothing felt forced in to tick a box.
In short this collection is perfection, yet again. A host of memorable tales and characters that come up against the supernatural unknown and either overcome the madness presented or perhaps succumb to it. If you love Lovecraftian Horror or the Arkham Horror games then you are sure to love this collection. Or if you are new to both things you are still sure to enjoy this collection of fantastic stories and characters.
I have to say that I adore both the Arkham Horror games and HP Lovecraft’s tales (but most certainly not his racist views) and that the Arkham Horror prose novels by Aconyte have easily become some of my favourite books in recent years. It was actually an Arkham Horror title that introduced me to the world of Aconyte, Josh Reynolds The Wrath of N’Kai. Secrets in Scarlet is the fourth Anthology and second to contain a link presence throughout the short stories.
Each story stands alone but has a thread connecting them. Each story involves someone, often adorned with a crimson pieces of clothing or accessory who are seizing powerful supernatural objects known as ‘keys’. These illusive people call themselves defenders of humanity, saving the world from the darkness that presses against the veil between worlds keeping us safe from the unknowable. But can these claims ring true, and even if they do should they be permitted to rule such power? Each story builds on this theme, seeing people from all walks of life and professions ending up dealing with one of these illusive Scarlet individuals.
As you can expect from Aconyte and their authors, but may not expect from an anthology, each story is brilliant. It is hard to pick a favourite but I do have to say that City of Waking Dreams, A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite and Honor Among Thieves were up there but so where all of them! I loved the collection of interesting protagonists and I am excited to see who of them make it into the new LGC campaign!
The thing I really adore about the Arkham Horror novels is how they are inclusive. As already mentioned I love Lovecraftian horror but often when re-reading his tales I am left with the uncomfortable reminder of the racism he held. While it can be argued it was ‘of the time’ it still leaves a bad taste in your mouth if you are anything like me. Thankfully Aconyte’s novels suffer no such fate. We have multicultural stories that deal with things like race and culture respectfully and that is not only a win for the future of literature be it tie in or not but also means I can enjoy the eldritch horror I adore with no bad taste in my mouth! It also means we get amazing characters like Kymani Jones who is a non-binary character and I adored their story! Rosa and Milagros (I love her!) and Inspector Li Flint among others such as Desi, Haresah and Rex! Each character is wonderful, unique and I instantly became invested in them and their lives but the best part for me was nothing felt forced in to tick a box.
In short this collection is perfection, yet again. A host of memorable tales and characters that come up against the supernatural unknown and either overcome the madness presented or perhaps succumb to it. If you love Lovecraftian Horror or the Arkham Horror games then you are sure to love this collection. Or if you are new to both things you are still sure to enjoy this collection of fantastic stories and characters.
February 10, 2024
Powers beyond human comprehension weave within and beyond our world, driving people to madness, solidifying into keys that might unlock humanity’s doom. Many organizations seek these keys from the shadows. But do they seek to protect the world from the dangers these artifacts present or to fuel their own power through them. Can anyone be trusted with such power? Secrets in Scarlet delves into the horrors beyond Arkham to find out.
With nine authors and nine stories, Secrets in Scarlet is decidedly different than my usual choice of material for reviews, which makes it a bit tricky to talk about as a whole. There were a few moments where I had to remind myself that anything that seemed to be building importance to a character between stories was likely pure happenstance. The Lady with the Red Parasol may have caught more writers’ attention, but that does not mean that she is any more important than any other member of the Red Coterie. It also has the effect of making both the Foundation and the Cipher Bureu feel way less important to the setting than the Coterie, given they get comparatively little attention in the book.
But, the nature of this being a collection of short stories also means that it can feel far more expansive than a novel by a single author could. The stories span the globe, as close to Arkham as New York and as far away as North Africa nearly a millennium in the past. It expands the world, making the threat seem much more real for not being centered in New England, while also making the Red Coterie feel much more dangerous. This is an organization that has roots far off into the past, that has held together and spread into every corner of the globe. An organization with members who vary from having joined to try and protect humanity to those who signed up as a means to gather more power with no regard to the human cost. It feels good for the sort of world spanning conspiracy to have several voices behind it for its big introduction.
That said, several of the stories here do feel less like horror and more like adventure stories just due to the pacing. Which feels like it is mostly down to the stories’ nature as short stories, they are limited in how long they can be and thus limited in how much time can be taken to build up an atmosphere of dread or to play with the characters’ perceptions of the reality they live in. This is not exactly to the anthology’s detriment, a variety of stories within the collection allows for a wider view on everything. It can be a bit jarring though.
Overall, Secrets in Scarlet gets a four out of five from me. I liked some stories better than others. But it did a solid job of introducing the Red Coterie and expanding the world that Arkham Horror operates within. Ultimately, I find myself hoping that the ideas introduced here will be expanded upon in future novels, perhaps including a couple of the stories included here being expanded on.
This book was provided to me through netGalley for honest review. This review and individual story reviews can be found at https://tympestbooks.wordpress.com/?s...
With nine authors and nine stories, Secrets in Scarlet is decidedly different than my usual choice of material for reviews, which makes it a bit tricky to talk about as a whole. There were a few moments where I had to remind myself that anything that seemed to be building importance to a character between stories was likely pure happenstance. The Lady with the Red Parasol may have caught more writers’ attention, but that does not mean that she is any more important than any other member of the Red Coterie. It also has the effect of making both the Foundation and the Cipher Bureu feel way less important to the setting than the Coterie, given they get comparatively little attention in the book.
But, the nature of this being a collection of short stories also means that it can feel far more expansive than a novel by a single author could. The stories span the globe, as close to Arkham as New York and as far away as North Africa nearly a millennium in the past. It expands the world, making the threat seem much more real for not being centered in New England, while also making the Red Coterie feel much more dangerous. This is an organization that has roots far off into the past, that has held together and spread into every corner of the globe. An organization with members who vary from having joined to try and protect humanity to those who signed up as a means to gather more power with no regard to the human cost. It feels good for the sort of world spanning conspiracy to have several voices behind it for its big introduction.
That said, several of the stories here do feel less like horror and more like adventure stories just due to the pacing. Which feels like it is mostly down to the stories’ nature as short stories, they are limited in how long they can be and thus limited in how much time can be taken to build up an atmosphere of dread or to play with the characters’ perceptions of the reality they live in. This is not exactly to the anthology’s detriment, a variety of stories within the collection allows for a wider view on everything. It can be a bit jarring though.
Overall, Secrets in Scarlet gets a four out of five from me. I liked some stories better than others. But it did a solid job of introducing the Red Coterie and expanding the world that Arkham Horror operates within. Ultimately, I find myself hoping that the ideas introduced here will be expanded upon in future novels, perhaps including a couple of the stories included here being expanded on.
This book was provided to me through netGalley for honest review. This review and individual story reviews can be found at https://tympestbooks.wordpress.com/?s...
September 12, 2022
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Aconyte Books for an advanced copy of this horror anthology that introduces new organizations and dark troubles for players of the Arkham Horror game system.
The world is a dark mysterious place with sects, cults, mystics, government agencies, industry trade groups and more vying for power and even more for dark materials to control creatures with dread names or even to help these creatures rule the world. The morality and goals of these groups seem as flexible and weak as the barriers between our reality and the eternal darkness. Secrets in Scarlet:An Arkham Horror Anthology, is a collection of nine stories introducing new groups, new ideas and a larger world of evil to the Arkham Horror Game System.
Leaving the borders of Massachusetts far behind the nine stories range all over the United States, even to Alaska, south of the Equator, Europe and Asia. New groups are introduced, new characters and even better new forces of evil. Some groups seem to work for the benefit of humans, investigating crimes, and having a better idea of what they are dealing with, others seem morally dubious, and magically endowed. Greed is the basis of quite a few stories, one about a creature that can rewrite it's past and change the minds of others is more of a survival story. Brave men, and even better braver women face the darkness, looking back at the abyss, sometimes suffering, sometimes becoming stronger, but always finding the world different from what they knew before.
Anthologies are tricky because sometimes a weak story can ruin the experience of reading. This book has none of these problems. The stories are all different, all good, a few Honor Among Thieves by Carrie Harris being a standout story, are excellent. I was only familiar with two authors, David Annandale and Josh Reynolds, but am now looking forward to reading more stories by these other authors, either in the Arkham Horror universe or in their own worlds. The characters are more diverse than one would expect in stories set in 1926, but that is a very good thing. And knowing how annoyed H. P. Lovecraft would be by having women and minorities in his stories, makes me smile.
A great collection not just for readers familiar with the game Arkham Horror, but for horror fans in general. People with knowledge of Lovecraft and his tales will have no problems following along, for gamers this will be great fun, and add many ideas to their own games. I have slept on many of the books by Aconyte only becoming familiar recently, and enjoy everything they do. Plus I was able to read two stories by two of my favorite writers, and that's always a good thing. A nice collection filled with eerie stories. A lot of fun.
The world is a dark mysterious place with sects, cults, mystics, government agencies, industry trade groups and more vying for power and even more for dark materials to control creatures with dread names or even to help these creatures rule the world. The morality and goals of these groups seem as flexible and weak as the barriers between our reality and the eternal darkness. Secrets in Scarlet:An Arkham Horror Anthology, is a collection of nine stories introducing new groups, new ideas and a larger world of evil to the Arkham Horror Game System.
Leaving the borders of Massachusetts far behind the nine stories range all over the United States, even to Alaska, south of the Equator, Europe and Asia. New groups are introduced, new characters and even better new forces of evil. Some groups seem to work for the benefit of humans, investigating crimes, and having a better idea of what they are dealing with, others seem morally dubious, and magically endowed. Greed is the basis of quite a few stories, one about a creature that can rewrite it's past and change the minds of others is more of a survival story. Brave men, and even better braver women face the darkness, looking back at the abyss, sometimes suffering, sometimes becoming stronger, but always finding the world different from what they knew before.
Anthologies are tricky because sometimes a weak story can ruin the experience of reading. This book has none of these problems. The stories are all different, all good, a few Honor Among Thieves by Carrie Harris being a standout story, are excellent. I was only familiar with two authors, David Annandale and Josh Reynolds, but am now looking forward to reading more stories by these other authors, either in the Arkham Horror universe or in their own worlds. The characters are more diverse than one would expect in stories set in 1926, but that is a very good thing. And knowing how annoyed H. P. Lovecraft would be by having women and minorities in his stories, makes me smile.
A great collection not just for readers familiar with the game Arkham Horror, but for horror fans in general. People with knowledge of Lovecraft and his tales will have no problems following along, for gamers this will be great fun, and add many ideas to their own games. I have slept on many of the books by Aconyte only becoming familiar recently, and enjoy everything they do. Plus I was able to read two stories by two of my favorite writers, and that's always a good thing. A nice collection filled with eerie stories. A lot of fun.
July 13, 2025
Deeply solid collection of creepy lovecraftian tales, with a focus on Arkham Horror's secretive society, the Red Coterie, a group of motley individuals who collect extremely powerful artifacts to try to prevent Outsiders from invading our dimension -- but who are anything but heroes, ranging from morally gray to deeply unpleasant.
Really fun collection; I love how this varied and included stories where Coterie members were the heroes, to ones where they were helpers, to ones where they were interfering, to others where they were outright horrific villains; some were origin stories or from their POVs, and some merely had the society's presence implied in the background of other events.
The one thing I felt was very, very weird was the choice to misgender Thorne through Smedman's "Strange Things Done." It was a gorgeous story otherwise -- I love the combination of Robert Service and the Thing, and the ambiguity of whether Thorne was the one . However, Thorne's appeared in multiple other novels AND the game and always uses they/them pronouns. I can see the argument that Rex doesn't know that, and that the narrative is from his pov even if it's third person, but the problem is that then the reader also does not know. It was especially bizarre right after a story with a non-binary protagonist! And you can frankly just... use Thorne's pronouns in the narrative portions, and it's a non-issue. Or if you're really committed to the pov, there are options! Rex could overhear others using they/them, or even be uncertain and (bluntly, which is in character as he asks blunt questions repeatedly through this and thought of Thorne as androgynous already) simply ask how to refer to them. It would even play into the themes of identity and lack of certainty if he had. Instead he, a reporter, assumed and then the narration left no room for the reader to know this if they hadn't played the Scarlet Keys campaign expansion or read Josh Reynold's Song of Carcosa. And it wasn't just the pronouns -- the text was really laden with "the guy" "the man" "the fellow" etc. It was a shame because it would have been my favorite story, but as a non-binary reader it was like being stung every few sentences when I wanted really to get into the vibes, you know?
Really fun collection; I love how this varied and included stories where Coterie members were the heroes, to ones where they were helpers, to ones where they were interfering, to others where they were outright horrific villains; some were origin stories or from their POVs, and some merely had the society's presence implied in the background of other events.
The one thing I felt was very, very weird was the choice to misgender Thorne through Smedman's "Strange Things Done." It was a gorgeous story otherwise -- I love the combination of Robert Service and the Thing, and the ambiguity of whether Thorne was the one . However, Thorne's appeared in multiple other novels AND the game and always uses they/them pronouns. I can see the argument that Rex doesn't know that, and that the narrative is from his pov even if it's third person, but the problem is that then the reader also does not know. It was especially bizarre right after a story with a non-binary protagonist! And you can frankly just... use Thorne's pronouns in the narrative portions, and it's a non-issue. Or if you're really committed to the pov, there are options! Rex could overhear others using they/them, or even be uncertain and (bluntly, which is in character as he asks blunt questions repeatedly through this and thought of Thorne as androgynous already) simply ask how to refer to them. It would even play into the themes of identity and lack of certainty if he had. Instead he, a reporter, assumed and then the narration left no room for the reader to know this if they hadn't played the Scarlet Keys campaign expansion or read Josh Reynold's Song of Carcosa. And it wasn't just the pronouns -- the text was really laden with "the guy" "the man" "the fellow" etc. It was a shame because it would have been my favorite story, but as a non-binary reader it was like being stung every few sentences when I wanted really to get into the vibes, you know?
October 26, 2022
𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Stand, Lion, and Roar.
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: Strange Things Done
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Normal
𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: Anthology
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Horror Adventure
4.5/𝟱
🌱THE EXCELLENT
~ Numerous voices, characters & threads
~ A series of short stories that build a larger story
~ Various locations & backstories, bring richness to the overall narrative
In the 1920s, across the world, antiques, hidden & cursed, are being fought over by three groups - the Outsiders, the Foundation & the Red Coterie. Although the para-dimensional entities seek to cause humanity harm, there are special ‘keys’ & red items that can be used against them to save us. But not everyone in possession of these items is noble & motivations are not clear. As the Outsiders continue to meddle with the fabric of our reality & more people become aware of their presence, we’ll see what Earth’s unlikely heroes can do - if anything.
🌵
When I first saw the title I believed this was about DC’s Arkham (🦇 & friends) - BUT, No. I was submerged in several tales of the paranormal, dangerous gifts & abilities & morally grey characters who are trying to keep the Outsiders out. I love how different voices maintained the eerie feel of the overall story. It was very well done.
✨𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱.
🌱THE MEH
~ The last story ruined the whole mood and experience 🙄
♡🌱 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲 ;)
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: Strange Things Done
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Normal
𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: Anthology
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Horror Adventure
4.5/𝟱
🌱THE EXCELLENT
~ Numerous voices, characters & threads
~ A series of short stories that build a larger story
~ Various locations & backstories, bring richness to the overall narrative
In the 1920s, across the world, antiques, hidden & cursed, are being fought over by three groups - the Outsiders, the Foundation & the Red Coterie. Although the para-dimensional entities seek to cause humanity harm, there are special ‘keys’ & red items that can be used against them to save us. But not everyone in possession of these items is noble & motivations are not clear. As the Outsiders continue to meddle with the fabric of our reality & more people become aware of their presence, we’ll see what Earth’s unlikely heroes can do - if anything.
🌵
When I first saw the title I believed this was about DC’s Arkham (🦇 & friends) - BUT, No. I was submerged in several tales of the paranormal, dangerous gifts & abilities & morally grey characters who are trying to keep the Outsiders out. I love how different voices maintained the eerie feel of the overall story. It was very well done.
✨𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱.
🌱THE MEH
~ The last story ruined the whole mood and experience 🙄
♡🌱 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲 ;)
December 31, 2022
'Secrets in Scarlet' is a collection of loosely-connected stories, set in the world of Lovecraftian horrors that is the Arkham series, but it's like no other 'Cthulu' book that I've ever read.
Every author focuses on different characters, with their own traumas and priorities, yet all linked by a mysterious cult that identifies itself with items of red about their person. Some protagonists know that magic and this underworld exist; others do not... until they are forced to recognise and respond to it. Once you've been sucked in to such a world - so to speak - there is no way out, not even with death.
The variety that this anthology framework allows was just a pleasure. I never knew what would come next, be it a detective, an assassin or a thief. As with all of the titles in this series, the authors seem to be deliberately diverging and expanding on the Lovecraftian mythology (in ways that he would most definitely not have approved of!), exploring what folk from very different walks of life would do when found in such unique circumstances.
I've no doubt that every reader would have a favourite story here, and there are certainly characters that I'd love to see again (Carrie Harris!). If a follow-up were to appear, I'd be on it as fast as a cultist on a strange red-bound tome!
Definitely recommended. One of my favourites in this series.
Every author focuses on different characters, with their own traumas and priorities, yet all linked by a mysterious cult that identifies itself with items of red about their person. Some protagonists know that magic and this underworld exist; others do not... until they are forced to recognise and respond to it. Once you've been sucked in to such a world - so to speak - there is no way out, not even with death.
The variety that this anthology framework allows was just a pleasure. I never knew what would come next, be it a detective, an assassin or a thief. As with all of the titles in this series, the authors seem to be deliberately diverging and expanding on the Lovecraftian mythology (in ways that he would most definitely not have approved of!), exploring what folk from very different walks of life would do when found in such unique circumstances.
I've no doubt that every reader would have a favourite story here, and there are certainly characters that I'd love to see again (Carrie Harris!). If a follow-up were to appear, I'd be on it as fast as a cultist on a strange red-bound tome!
Definitely recommended. One of my favourites in this series.
October 23, 2025
I was very excited about this book as I quite enjoyed the Red Coterie in the Countess Zorzi series. However, I feel like this is a little too much "occult investigator versus secret society" and not enough Cthulhu Mythos. The Red Coterie doesn't do much other than chase after objects and chide other people for investigating into things man was not meant to know. Still, I had a good deal of enjoyment from some of the stories, less so from others.
July 30, 2022
Every single Arkham Horror title is a hit for me including this one. What I really loved about this, was it is a collection of short stories. Each one pulls you into that Lovecraft, gothic, and cosmic horror atmosphere. Even if you don’t know anything about Arkham Horror, this will be a great read. I can’t wait to have all of the new Arkham horror physical copies.
January 28, 2023
This was a brilliant collection of short stories. I really enjoyed reading it and finished it in one evening as it was very hard to put down. I loved just how varied the stories were. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting as this is my first arkam horror book. But I loved it all the same. My favourite stories were in art truth by James Fadeley, crossing the stars by MJ Newman and the red and the black by Josh Reynolds. These were definitely 5 star stories for me. They were all very different in styles but worked so well together as they had a central theme. I loved the pace . They certainly had my heart racing. They wereso thrilling and exciting. You can definitely tell that something big is coming. I really recommend giving this book and series a go.
So much praise goes out to the authors and publishers for creating such a thrilling, page turning collection of stories. I will definitely be reading more books in this series.
So much praise goes out to the authors and publishers for creating such a thrilling, page turning collection of stories. I will definitely be reading more books in this series.
February 19, 2023
A very enjoyable read, fun and fast paced. The story titled "city of waking dreams" was a personal favourite and I really really hope they consider making the short story into a full length book. The character of Li Flint was extremely well written and I'd love to read more from it, it left me feeling sad that it was merely a short story.
March 13, 2023
This was a very good anthology. I don't usually like anthologies, but the arkham horror series has produced two very good ones - this one and The Devourer Below. If you liked the other books in this series, you should also like these.
November 13, 2022
I didn't read a lot of Arkham and this collection of short stories was quite entertaining and good way to learn more about this series
Not all the stories are at the same level but they're all entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
Not all the stories are at the same level but they're all entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
December 20, 2024
I thought it was quite an enjoyable read. Multiple short stories by different authors tied together with a similar theme. Though I do wish there was a conclusion that brought everything together in the end, it was more set up in a way that would lead into that.
March 27, 2025
I enjoyed this short story collection but saw little to relate to in the game or pulp cthulhu more generally. Good enough to happily read to the end, I forgot most of what was here soon after.
The longer Arkham stories have been more rewarding.
The longer Arkham stories have been more rewarding.
July 21, 2023
'I want proper Lovecraft stories!' aka 'I want racism, xenophobia and misogyny in my stories.'
These were fine. Not 'woke' (imagine being scared of 'wokeness') - just fine.
These were fine. Not 'woke' (imagine being scared of 'wokeness') - just fine.
Read
January 25, 2025A collection of short stories dealing with the international Red Coterie and various eldritch forces. Interesting encountering these members from the games and other books.
October 9, 2022
As always I want to start by saying that I was given a copy of this to review. My review is honest and left voluntarily and avoids spoilers. #ArkhamHorror #ArkhamHorrorAnthology #AconyteBooks #Netgalley #SecretsinScarlett #LottieLlewellyn-Wells #DavideMana #DavidAnnandale #JasonFischer #CarrieHarris #StevenPhilipJones #LisaSmedman #JamesFadeley #MJNewman #JoshReynolds
I have to say that I adore both the Arkham Horror games and HP Lovecraft’s tales (but most certainly not his racist views) and that the Arkham Horror prose novels by Aconyte have easily become some of my favourite books in recent years. It was actually an Arkham Horror title that introduced me to the world of Aconyte, Josh Reynolds The Wrath of N’Kai. Secrets in Scarlet is the fourth Anthology and second to contain a link presence throughout the short stories.
Each story stands alone but has a thread connecting them. Each story involves someone, often adorned with a crimson pieces of clothing or accessory who are seizing powerful supernatural objects known as ‘keys’. These illusive people call themselves defenders of humanity, saving the world from the darkness that presses against the veil between worlds keeping us safe from the unknowable. But can these claims ring true, and even if they do should they be permitted to rule such power? Each story builds on this theme, seeing people from all walks of life and professions ending up dealing with one of these illusive Scarlet individuals.
As you can expect from Aconyte and their authors, but may not expect from an anthology, each story is brilliant. It is hard to pick a favourite but I do have to say that City of Waking Dreams, A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite and Honor Among Thieves were up there but so where all of them! I loved the collection of interesting protagonists and I am excited to see who of them make it into the new LGC campaign!
The thing I really adore about the Arkham Horror novels is how they are inclusive. As already mentioned I love Lovecraftian horror but often when re-reading his tales I am left with the uncomfortable reminder of the racism he held. While it can be argued it was ‘of the time’ it still leaves a bad taste in your mouth if you are anything like me. Thankfully Aconyte’s novels suffer no such fate. We have multicultural stories that deal with things like race and culture respectfully and that is not only a win for the future of literature be it tie in or not but also means I can enjoy the eldritch horror I adore with no bad taste in my mouth! It also means we get amazing characters like Kymani Jones who is a non-binary character and I adored their story! Rosa and Milagros (I love her!) and Inspector Li Flint among others such as Desi, Haresah and Rex! Each character is wonderful, unique and I instantly became invested in them and their lives but the best part for me was nothing felt forced in to tick a box.
In short this collection is perfection, yet again. A host of memorable tales and characters that come up against the supernatural unknown and either overcome the madness presented or perhaps succumb to it. If you love Lovecraftian Horror or the Arkham Horror games then you are sure to love this collection. Or if you are new to both things you are still sure to enjoy this collection of fantastic stories and characters.
I have to say that I adore both the Arkham Horror games and HP Lovecraft’s tales (but most certainly not his racist views) and that the Arkham Horror prose novels by Aconyte have easily become some of my favourite books in recent years. It was actually an Arkham Horror title that introduced me to the world of Aconyte, Josh Reynolds The Wrath of N’Kai. Secrets in Scarlet is the fourth Anthology and second to contain a link presence throughout the short stories.
Each story stands alone but has a thread connecting them. Each story involves someone, often adorned with a crimson pieces of clothing or accessory who are seizing powerful supernatural objects known as ‘keys’. These illusive people call themselves defenders of humanity, saving the world from the darkness that presses against the veil between worlds keeping us safe from the unknowable. But can these claims ring true, and even if they do should they be permitted to rule such power? Each story builds on this theme, seeing people from all walks of life and professions ending up dealing with one of these illusive Scarlet individuals.
As you can expect from Aconyte and their authors, but may not expect from an anthology, each story is brilliant. It is hard to pick a favourite but I do have to say that City of Waking Dreams, A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite and Honor Among Thieves were up there but so where all of them! I loved the collection of interesting protagonists and I am excited to see who of them make it into the new LGC campaign!
The thing I really adore about the Arkham Horror novels is how they are inclusive. As already mentioned I love Lovecraftian horror but often when re-reading his tales I am left with the uncomfortable reminder of the racism he held. While it can be argued it was ‘of the time’ it still leaves a bad taste in your mouth if you are anything like me. Thankfully Aconyte’s novels suffer no such fate. We have multicultural stories that deal with things like race and culture respectfully and that is not only a win for the future of literature be it tie in or not but also means I can enjoy the eldritch horror I adore with no bad taste in my mouth! It also means we get amazing characters like Kymani Jones who is a non-binary character and I adored their story! Rosa and Milagros (I love her!) and Inspector Li Flint among others such as Desi, Haresah and Rex! Each character is wonderful, unique and I instantly became invested in them and their lives but the best part for me was nothing felt forced in to tick a box.
In short this collection is perfection, yet again. A host of memorable tales and characters that come up against the supernatural unknown and either overcome the madness presented or perhaps succumb to it. If you love Lovecraftian Horror or the Arkham Horror games then you are sure to love this collection. Or if you are new to both things you are still sure to enjoy this collection of fantastic stories and characters.
January 2, 2024
This is an anthology book that acts as a prequel to the Arkham horror LCG expansion: The Scarlet Keys.
As far as a tie in book goes, this is above and beyond what I expected. This one stands on its own even without the tie in. Not every story sticks the landing for me but stories like Honor Among Thieves, and Strange Things Done, standout from what you might expect from a book based on a board game. All the stories make for great world building.
Even if you aren’t into the board games but you want occults and mystery, than this is a great pick for your next read.
As far as a tie in book goes, this is above and beyond what I expected. This one stands on its own even without the tie in. Not every story sticks the landing for me but stories like Honor Among Thieves, and Strange Things Done, standout from what you might expect from a book based on a board game. All the stories make for great world building.
Even if you aren’t into the board games but you want occults and mystery, than this is a great pick for your next read.
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