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Tales from Brackish Harbor: An Anthology of Eldritch Horror
Welcome to Brackish Harbor. Settled in the 1920s on an island in the Atlantic Ocean, it was once a booming fishing town that attracted tourists who longed for quiet retreat. It soon became a beautiful escape, and for those who lived there, it was a community. A promise. A home. Until...
Mysteriously, the fishing industry that sustained the small village dried up, and over time, tourists lost interest. Many loyal villagers relocated. But most were forced to remain, scraping by amidst the dilapidated buildings, docked fishing boats, and vestiges of better days. Whispers of curses, strange experiments, and otherworldly creatures floated about the harbor. So many rumors, so many untold stories. Here are the ones that managed to be told.
Mysteriously, the fishing industry that sustained the small village dried up, and over time, tourists lost interest. Many loyal villagers relocated. But most were forced to remain, scraping by amidst the dilapidated buildings, docked fishing boats, and vestiges of better days. Whispers of curses, strange experiments, and otherworldly creatures floated about the harbor. So many rumors, so many untold stories. Here are the ones that managed to be told.
- GenresHorror
217 pages, Paperback
Published August 13, 2022
6 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra L. Thompson
28 books298 followersGothic horror lover Cassandra L. Thompson has been creating stories since she got her grubby little hands around a pen. When she is not busy managing a house full of feral children (human and canine) with her beloved husband, you can find her wandering around cemeteries, taking pictures of abandoned things, or in the library researching her latest obsession. She has a B.A. in History and an MLIS, but she ignores her degrees to focus on writing and running Quill & Crow Publishing House, both of which require copious amounts of coffee and Crows.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 10, 2022
Brackish Harbor. A village draped in deep blankets of mist and dark secrets. Is the enveloping misfortune simply the result of Mother Nature's wrath? Or have the old gods abandoned this place and its denizens?
Quill & Crow’s upcoming anthology is filled with riveting short tales of cosmic horror, each with glimpses into the vast and dark unknown. While the stories stand beautifully on their own, they also form a cohesive narrative revealing a once prosperous town that now lies in utter ruin. Ramshackle homes dressed in peeling paint and bathed in gray, briny sea air invading every crevice, shorelines choked with detritus and seaweed, every aspect of Brackish Harbor is conveyed in such wondrous detail.
I’ve always had an affinity for psychological fiction, and the pages throughout this book are dripping with sentiments of the inevitability, madness, and dread I crave. There’s nothing more horrific than the incomprehensible, and Tales from Brackish Harbor presents this in spades. Each author tells their story with such stunning prose, smoothly dropping readers into a moment in time, divulging pieces of history in the most haunting ways. Tempting sirens, monstrous leviathans, fervent zealots and more, this anthology boasts many aspects that make cosmic horror so intriguing. Sights, smells, sounds, the canvases are exquisitely painted.
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Brackish Harbor, unspeakable horrors aside. If you’re looking to spiral into the darkest recesses of the mind, I highly recommend getting lost along its murky avenues.
Tales from Brackish Harbor will be available August 13th, so make sure you pick up your copy!
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I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Quill & Crow’s upcoming anthology is filled with riveting short tales of cosmic horror, each with glimpses into the vast and dark unknown. While the stories stand beautifully on their own, they also form a cohesive narrative revealing a once prosperous town that now lies in utter ruin. Ramshackle homes dressed in peeling paint and bathed in gray, briny sea air invading every crevice, shorelines choked with detritus and seaweed, every aspect of Brackish Harbor is conveyed in such wondrous detail.
I’ve always had an affinity for psychological fiction, and the pages throughout this book are dripping with sentiments of the inevitability, madness, and dread I crave. There’s nothing more horrific than the incomprehensible, and Tales from Brackish Harbor presents this in spades. Each author tells their story with such stunning prose, smoothly dropping readers into a moment in time, divulging pieces of history in the most haunting ways. Tempting sirens, monstrous leviathans, fervent zealots and more, this anthology boasts many aspects that make cosmic horror so intriguing. Sights, smells, sounds, the canvases are exquisitely painted.
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Brackish Harbor, unspeakable horrors aside. If you’re looking to spiral into the darkest recesses of the mind, I highly recommend getting lost along its murky avenues.
Tales from Brackish Harbor will be available August 13th, so make sure you pick up your copy!
––
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 26, 2022
I received an Advance Reader’s Copy and I am so thankful I did. I received no compensation and my thoughts are my own.
Brackish Harbor tells the tales of a fishing community, founded in the 1920s. Now, the fishing is dried up, tourism is all but gone, and we are left to wonder what happened. In this anthology, the community begins to tell its tale and secrets are uncovered.
The continuity in this anthology is amazing. Multiple short stories from diverse authors, produces something bigger than the individual parts. The stories are excellent, delivering exciting and compelling Cosmic Horror. Like the other anthologies from Quill and Crow, this one delivers, checking all the boxes.
Every story was excellent, and the collection is amazing. The quality of the writing along with the plot lines draws the reader forward. It is hard to put down. It proves to be yet another in a line of great anthologies.
Brackish Harbor tells the tales of a fishing community, founded in the 1920s. Now, the fishing is dried up, tourism is all but gone, and we are left to wonder what happened. In this anthology, the community begins to tell its tale and secrets are uncovered.
The continuity in this anthology is amazing. Multiple short stories from diverse authors, produces something bigger than the individual parts. The stories are excellent, delivering exciting and compelling Cosmic Horror. Like the other anthologies from Quill and Crow, this one delivers, checking all the boxes.
Every story was excellent, and the collection is amazing. The quality of the writing along with the plot lines draws the reader forward. It is hard to put down. It proves to be yet another in a line of great anthologies.
August 13, 2022
Tales from Brackish Harbor will transport you to a mysterious island with horrific secrets lurking beneath the waves. Each story in this anthology was spectacularly creepy and filled with wonderful prose.
I loved how this anthology gave little snapshots of the fictional setting Brackish Harbor over time while blending cosmic and gothic horror. Even with a different author for each tale, the stories all went together really well. They all brilliantly gave off a similar atmosphere of a decaying and gloomy island. The stories often reminded me of the show Midnight Mass.
I was provided with an ARC by the publisher. These opinions are my own.
I loved how this anthology gave little snapshots of the fictional setting Brackish Harbor over time while blending cosmic and gothic horror. Even with a different author for each tale, the stories all went together really well. They all brilliantly gave off a similar atmosphere of a decaying and gloomy island. The stories often reminded me of the show Midnight Mass.
I was provided with an ARC by the publisher. These opinions are my own.
July 28, 2022
This was such a brilliant idea for an anthology – a collection of stories combining Quill & Crow’s trademark gothic style with Eldritch horror, all centred around the mysterious fictional town of Brackish Harbour. And the selected authors really rose to the occasion, each with a standalone tale and a unique take on the concept. One of the highlights for me was ‘Lure’ by Amanda Casile, a Wicker Man-style horror in which a man drags his family to the remote island he has purchased on the cheap, and realises with creeping dread that he has made a terrible mistake.
But the writing is strong throughout, and the collection as a whole is remarkably cohesive. Images recur of wizened fishermen, lonely salt-battered travellers, swirling sea fog, crashing waves, slimy rocks, the tentacles of sea monsters, the scent of brine and rotting fish… and the eerie, relentless clank of boat halyards, like tolling bells of doom.
As William Bartlett puts it in the book’s introduction, ‘What makes cosmic horror so frightening is the mystery and ambiguity of the creatures that exist outside our realm of understanding.’ An abandoned seaport is the perfect place to explore this idea, and Brackish Harbour will leave you with a satisfying and unshakeable sense of dread.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.
But the writing is strong throughout, and the collection as a whole is remarkably cohesive. Images recur of wizened fishermen, lonely salt-battered travellers, swirling sea fog, crashing waves, slimy rocks, the tentacles of sea monsters, the scent of brine and rotting fish… and the eerie, relentless clank of boat halyards, like tolling bells of doom.
As William Bartlett puts it in the book’s introduction, ‘What makes cosmic horror so frightening is the mystery and ambiguity of the creatures that exist outside our realm of understanding.’ An abandoned seaport is the perfect place to explore this idea, and Brackish Harbour will leave you with a satisfying and unshakeable sense of dread.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2022
This is the fourth anthology from Quill and Crow Publishing that I have read, and I have yet to be disappointed. This one in particular channels the vein of cosmic horror with a definite Lovecraftian feel. From the forward: "What makes cosmic horror so frightening is the mystery and ambiguity of the creatures that exist outside the realm of our understanding, that are never fully revealed".
The story takes place in Brackish Harbor. An island in the Atlantic Ocean that was founded, sometime in the 1920's by a scientist seeking immortality. What was once a bustling fishing town it has long since dried up. Why? What is happening on the remote island that would cause tourists and fisherman to stop coming to it? While there are those who are so loyal to the island that they choose to stay, many have left or have gone missing. Are the rumors of otherworldly creatures and peculiar experiments responsible for the islands fate?
I have to admit, I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology. The second I was notified that Cassandra Thompson had a new anthology ready on Booksirens, I immediately grabbed it! I was intrigued by the Lovecraftian aspect of it. My husband is always trying to get me to read Lovecraft and now I just might. There was not one of the twelve stories in the book that I disliked. Well written, entertaining, with vivid descriptions and ambiguous monsters, this book is definitely worth picking up. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.
The story takes place in Brackish Harbor. An island in the Atlantic Ocean that was founded, sometime in the 1920's by a scientist seeking immortality. What was once a bustling fishing town it has long since dried up. Why? What is happening on the remote island that would cause tourists and fisherman to stop coming to it? While there are those who are so loyal to the island that they choose to stay, many have left or have gone missing. Are the rumors of otherworldly creatures and peculiar experiments responsible for the islands fate?
I have to admit, I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology. The second I was notified that Cassandra Thompson had a new anthology ready on Booksirens, I immediately grabbed it! I was intrigued by the Lovecraftian aspect of it. My husband is always trying to get me to read Lovecraft and now I just might. There was not one of the twelve stories in the book that I disliked. Well written, entertaining, with vivid descriptions and ambiguous monsters, this book is definitely worth picking up. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.
August 2, 2022
The smell of the salty sea, the decay of fish, with a hint of terror are in the air.
If you make it to Brackish Harbor, you probably won’t be leaving. Not because you wanted to stay but because there is something fishy in the air. Pun intended. Another fantastic anthology from Quill&Crow Publishing House. Twelve tales all located on the island of Brackish Harbor, each uniquely its own. Monsters, sea creatures, terror, haunting, love and of course some dread. Everyone of these salty sea stories kept me reading. They were eerie and interesting and made me want more. This anthology greatly held my attention, as I wanted to see how the next story would relate to the island. Fantastic end of summer read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If you make it to Brackish Harbor, you probably won’t be leaving. Not because you wanted to stay but because there is something fishy in the air. Pun intended. Another fantastic anthology from Quill&Crow Publishing House. Twelve tales all located on the island of Brackish Harbor, each uniquely its own. Monsters, sea creatures, terror, haunting, love and of course some dread. Everyone of these salty sea stories kept me reading. They were eerie and interesting and made me want more. This anthology greatly held my attention, as I wanted to see how the next story would relate to the island. Fantastic end of summer read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 26, 2022
Another triumph for Quill & Crow! This anthology is everything I'd hoped it would be, it far surpassed my initial expectations.
Tales from Brackish Harbor is a gorgeous collection of short stories, exploring the enigmatic and overlooked genre of eldritch/cosmic horror. This anthology is a perfect ode to the stories that came before it, and an absolute must-read for any fans of H.P. Lovecraft.
The island of Brackish Harbor holds many secrets; its murky waves bring worth many questions that remain unanswered. The stories within Tales from Brackish Harbor are but a few of them.
As with every Quill & Crow anthology that comes out, I find it harder and harder to pick a favourite story from the bunch. The quality and depth of all these stories just blew me away. However, I will say that I adored Salt & Fog by R. Thursday. This particular story has an essence to it that I can't really put into words, but I just loved it.
For a fresh take on eldritch horror, I really can't recommend Tales from Brackish Harbor enough!
Tales from Brackish Harbor is a gorgeous collection of short stories, exploring the enigmatic and overlooked genre of eldritch/cosmic horror. This anthology is a perfect ode to the stories that came before it, and an absolute must-read for any fans of H.P. Lovecraft.
The island of Brackish Harbor holds many secrets; its murky waves bring worth many questions that remain unanswered. The stories within Tales from Brackish Harbor are but a few of them.
As with every Quill & Crow anthology that comes out, I find it harder and harder to pick a favourite story from the bunch. The quality and depth of all these stories just blew me away. However, I will say that I adored Salt & Fog by R. Thursday. This particular story has an essence to it that I can't really put into words, but I just loved it.
For a fresh take on eldritch horror, I really can't recommend Tales from Brackish Harbor enough!
August 27, 2022
Just finished this anthology and hooboy do I have a hankering for more. I'm going to be as unbiased as I can, being one of the authors in this anthology.
I've always had a taste for the eldritch and cosmic horrors, and each and every story here captured the dread and the fear, the insignificance of man, and more. I fell in love with the idea of the central theme being not just eldritch horror but a shared location, the village of Brackish Harbor.
Each story added to the village in a meaningful way and fleshed out this little seaside locale. From the spray of the salty sea to the vivid descriptions of the scents and stenches, each author painted a vivid picture.
Sometimes too vivid, in a good way. If you like cosmic and eldritch horror, if you like taking a look into what else is out there, this is a collection for you.
I've always had a taste for the eldritch and cosmic horrors, and each and every story here captured the dread and the fear, the insignificance of man, and more. I fell in love with the idea of the central theme being not just eldritch horror but a shared location, the village of Brackish Harbor.
Each story added to the village in a meaningful way and fleshed out this little seaside locale. From the spray of the salty sea to the vivid descriptions of the scents and stenches, each author painted a vivid picture.
Sometimes too vivid, in a good way. If you like cosmic and eldritch horror, if you like taking a look into what else is out there, this is a collection for you.
October 16, 2022
I found the mood of this collection really striking, with Brackish Harbor itself evoking a strong sense of place which really helped to build a strong atmosphere in many of the stories. I enjoyed the different directions the stories took, especially the ones which told more personal (inward looking) narratives such as R. Thursday's story, but there are plenty of different slants in this collection for different tastes. My favorites were by R. Thursday, Amanda Blake, Matthew Siadek, and Teagan Sturmer (I really enjoyed the references to the narrator's struggles in an academic world), but as I mentioned, the differences in the stories mean that it'd be easy for another person to like four completely different stories.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 3, 2024
3.5 The best thing about this book for me is the project itself. Bringing people together with a similar interest to make art together. Why is this not a more common practice? In this case cosmic horror is the theme and the a old harbor town the place. Perfect choice. Dreadful, expressive.
The thing that bothered me a bit and what is the problem with different stories about the same place, is that there's missing some kind of connection between stories. It would be great if that was more prominent than only each one doing their own thing in a isolated place. That may work for smaller stories, but in this case that is for me the biggest missing link.
Otherwise, more if these initiatives, please!
The thing that bothered me a bit and what is the problem with different stories about the same place, is that there's missing some kind of connection between stories. It would be great if that was more prominent than only each one doing their own thing in a isolated place. That may work for smaller stories, but in this case that is for me the biggest missing link.
Otherwise, more if these initiatives, please!
August 4, 2022
Every anthology that Quill & Crow publishes keeps getting better and better. And Brackish Harbor is their best one to date.
Maybe it's because the theme is eldritch horror and the stories are very reminiscent of an HP Lovectaft tale. Whatever it is this book is definitely a must read for any fan of good horror.
My two favorite stories in this anthology are From Below by R.B. Thorne and Blood Upon Blood by Mary Tait.
Both of them could fit very nicely in the Cthulhu mythos.
Every Quill & Crow book is flawlessly done and Brackish Harbor is the best of them.
Maybe it's because the theme is eldritch horror and the stories are very reminiscent of an HP Lovectaft tale. Whatever it is this book is definitely a must read for any fan of good horror.
My two favorite stories in this anthology are From Below by R.B. Thorne and Blood Upon Blood by Mary Tait.
Both of them could fit very nicely in the Cthulhu mythos.
Every Quill & Crow book is flawlessly done and Brackish Harbor is the best of them.
August 2, 2022
Not the stories you expect to find. Just when you think you understand what is going on, an unexpected twist will change everything you're thinking. The authors do a phenomenal job of painting a beautifully detailed picture through pages of rich descriptive text. Quill and crow publishing has yet to disappoint. Another winner in Tales from Brackish Harbour.
August 11, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love the stories every one of them is creepy then the other but yet you can tell it takes its time to be Gothic horror types. I give it 5 stars because I love that the authors took their time to really think through the story
I love the stories every one of them is creepy then the other but yet you can tell it takes its time to be Gothic horror types. I give it 5 stars because I love that the authors took their time to really think through the story
August 14, 2022
From plumbing the depths of human grief and desire, to the primal terror of facing the unknown monsters of the deep, this anthology has something for most like-minded readers. Each unique perspective on the community of Brackish Harbor added another layer to a rich and vivid tapestry.
August 15, 2022
Each chapter had just enough details to make you feel as if you were at Brackish Harbor.
Some chapters were predictable while others had twists I didn’t see coming.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Some chapters were predictable while others had twists I didn’t see coming.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 1, 2022
The first half was fabulous, and then the second half felt like it needed some editing and tightening up. The stories were still interesting and I love the concept of a bunch of weird stories about a certain location, like building a world that didn't exist before.
dnf
October 18, 2023DNF 49%
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews