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Into That Darkness Peering

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Peer into the darkness of midnight and the macabre with these 32 illustrated gothic horror poems and micro-fictions. From the dark, enchanted forest, to the furthest reaches of cosmic space; from the collective memory of myth and story, to monsters conjured from our own subconscious minds, these are the tales of the abyss. We invite you to gaze beyond the boundaries of reality and into the nightmare realms. Join us if you dare…

86 pages, Paperback

Published September 27, 2022

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5 people want to read

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A.A. Rubin

20 books5 followers

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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Readwithmadhu.
507 reviews23 followers
October 24, 2022
Gothic poems are considered to be that piece of literature which has the ability to sometimes frighten all of us, yet they are the ones which we find are worth reading in the dead of the night.

Hence, it can be easily seen that these instances of the suspenseful and spooky, which are the undertones in such poems, are found fascinating by readers.

This is especially the case when such fictitious piece of writing provides a protective barrier from any real danger that is out there.

The book, ‘Into That Darkness Peering’ therefore can be considered a collection of different poems that are packed with verses that can lead to a wide variety of interpretations.

Divided into five different parts that consist of a total of thirty two poems, each and every single verse is so wonderfully written with intricate and beautiful illustrations.

If I have to chose one, I would say that Dreams Within Dreams was a part that had the poems which especially touch a nerve. The Writer's Block and Weeping For Revenge were my favorite.

This has all the characterists that make a good book. It has feelings of mystery and suspense, grim undertones settings, and some supernatural elements as well. Hence I am going to give this book FIVE STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Profile Image for Anjali Sharma.
969 reviews59 followers
October 28, 2022
Into that Darkness Peering is a collection of 32 illustrated gothic horror poems and microfiction. The book has a wide range of writeups that vary from a gothic and horror take on nursery rhyme: "Old McDonald had a farm" to imaginative poems about destroyed cities, monsters, and werewolves.

I loved reading this book, and it is such a great book to read in the late fall season because it gives perfect spooky and horror vibes in just a few words. Trust me, the author hasn't wasted even a single word. I couldn't help but admire the writing and the rich (and perfect) vocabulary that the author used.

Reading this book was a mind-blowing visual experience, as the illustrations are amazing. I couldn't stop myself once I started reading, and I finished reading this book in one sitting. I loved the references and the inspirations behind some of the poems in this book.

It's a great book to pick when you want a well-written, quick yet enriching read that gives immaculate horror and spooky vibes.

Rating : 4.5 🌟
381 reviews8 followers
October 23, 2022
Into that darkness peering
Written by A.A Rubin
Illustrator: Marika Brousianou
Blurb:
Peer into the darkness of midnight and the macabre with these 32 illustrated gothic horror poems and micro-fictions. From the dark, enchanted forest, to the furthest reaches of cosmic space; from the collective memory of myth and story, to monsters conjured from our own subconscious minds, these are the tales of the abyss

I went into this book blind and i have to say with few chapters the micro tales and verses somehow wormed its way into my consciousness. Each page crafted so well, it was like grenades which quickly explode in front of me and led me into nightmare realm.
I quite appreciated each and every piece, some were introspective, some depicting anguish and rage while some were downright devastating. The way the author and the illustrator have captured even the bleakest of scenarios and reflected them through words and sketches are nothing short of sheer excellence.

It was perfect amalgamation of tenderly moving and darkly amusing themes capturing the polarised world we live in. As haunting as it is alluring,this book will stay in my mind for a long time.

This book is unlike any other I have ever come across. It's one of a kind I recommend this book to everyone.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
452 reviews4 followers
October 27, 2022
It's an assortment of 32 horrific sonnets and fictions through and through which really gave me goosebumps. I delighted in it a ton as it was a rollercoaster ride for me. It was a decent encounter for me for getting terrible considerations just through sonnets.
I very valued every single piece, some were reflective, a few portraying torment and fury while some were out and out wrecking. The manner in which the creator and the artist have caught even the most distressing of situations and reflected them through words and draws are completely sheer greatness.
These accounts were magnificent. Providing you with a genuine taste of what the creator brings to the table.
It is vital to comprehend that books don't simply give words or information, yet in addition an understanding encounter and the writer has obviously conveyed it. Generally speaking I enjoyed the book and the cover page is very enamoring and the writting and portrayal style is additionally very great.
Profile Image for Book Swimmers .
375 reviews13 followers
October 22, 2022
- Oh My God, What? How could a poems book be SO good? Frankly speaking, I don't know where to start this review with. But for your sake, I will tone down my excitement a bit and begin the traditional way I always do. This is a 4 parts book, each consisting of several poems in it. As the title hints, these are gothic horror poems, their length ranging vastly.

- Each poem comes with a dedicated and relatable illustration with it. The poem themselves are great, but what really gives them the spooky effect are not just these black-and-white illustrations but also the simple details that the author has maintained throughout the book.

- Some poems are truly unsettling, but isn't that the point of reading a horror poetic book? I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My only negative point is - why is it not available in paperback? I mean, to be able to hold a physical copy with those beautiful and stunning pictures would be an amazing experience!

- It is important to understand that books don't just provide words or knowledge, but also a reading experience and the author has clearly delivered it. I have never come across a book like this and that says a lot as I have read over 500 books by now.
A great, must-read book.
Profile Image for Soundarya Tiwari.
526 reviews13 followers
October 26, 2022
The book Into The Darkness Peers is really super fantastic book. If I say the word horror, everyone will start imagining the story that they have read or any film. But no one will think about poems, so author has done this different work of literary. The book has a lot of poems based on horror.

The poems are so satisfying, each line is scary and super amazing. The book has beautifull pictures which one can enjoy reading and reader can imagine everything happening in the book.

The cover of the book is designed very beautifully. The book has total five parts. Well my favourite was part 4, I really enjoyed reading it.

Thank you
Profile Image for Karen Tankersley.
176 reviews5 followers
October 27, 2022
It was ok. I thought this was going to be a combination of poems and short stories, but really it was only poems. A lot of the poems were referencing other works of art, like The Persistence of Memory or the Wizard of Oz. The illustrations were pretty cool.
Profile Image for Renee Cronley.
Author 17 books10 followers
November 9, 2022
Into that Darkness Peering by A. A. Rubin was a delightfully compact read of gothic horror poems and micro pieces brought to life with the breathtaking illustrations of Marika Brousianou.

Rubin’s pieces are alluringly simple, with their meaning brought to life with Brousianou’s stunning gothic visuals. But with the simplicity, he incorporates classic stories, Greek Mythology, and phrases from Edgar Allan Poe and weaves them into his work. It’s clever, and well done.

My favourite piece by A. A. Rubin is The Devil’s Blues. I love how this piece encapsulates the old legend of Robert Johnson, and the slight twist the makes the reader feel a twinge of sorrow.

My next favourite was The Wrath of Jupiter. The combination of this image with the myth of Zeus/Jupiter and the real-life stormy planet of Jupiter was beautiful and witty.

I also really enjoyed The Road to Hell. Together, this mini story with references to Aristophane and Charon with the art told was a gorgeous gothic tale.

Marika Brousianou’s art shines through this book. All of her illustrations are brilliant. She is truly a master of gothic visuals. The highlights for me were the cover art, The Wishing Well, a mournful woman with a forest inside her. As well as Last Request, Cat’s Got Your Tongue, and Gone, but not Forever.

This was a quick read, but I was drawn to spend extra time on each page, reading and studying the images, because the first glance was like a tiny taste test for the larger tale that unfolded in my mind after studying the page. And each new section cleansed my palate for the next clever gothic piece. It was a special literary and visual experience.
Profile Image for Joe.
23 reviews
December 15, 2022
Five Stars

One of the best books I have read this month!
Highly recommend it! I only leave positive feedback and reviews when I love the book.
Feel free to ask anything regarding this book.
A must read for sure.
I'd recommend this book to everyone who would like to read an amazing book.
The book is written in a very interesting way .
A must read for sure.
Profile Image for The Reviewera.
336 reviews19 followers
December 15, 2022
Amazingly woven like an interesting spell. I didn't think this book was going to be this good. It was , as you might expect , engaging , a total different piece of art from every aspect.
It sets a very high bar for whatever he does that comes next.
Must Read
Profile Image for A.E. Bennett.
Author 7 books91 followers
April 2, 2024
What an absolutely fantastic collection of poems and artwork. Even though I read this on an e-reader, I was completely blown away. If you are at all a fan of gothic horror, you must experience this book!
Profile Image for Lost in fiction .
514 reviews10 followers
October 23, 2022
Into that darkness peering by A.A Rubin and Marika Brousianou

I found the book to be deeply unnerving and unconventional. It explores complexities of human emotions, captures connundrum of existence, talks about heartaches, longing anguish and pain. Melancholic poetries and micro tales is full of raw provocative darkness is dedicated to every vulnerable Soul.

Each piece reflect our own experience back at us and makes us feel understood and less alone at least thats what it made me feel. Pages full of beautifully rendered pieces, an ode to broken hearts, i found it be a great read.
Throughout the book existential questions and feelings echoes through the pages with a heartfelt voice.

If you like reading dark heartbreaking prose and verse with striking language, that's equal part emotionally brutal and beautiful at the same time, then choose 'Into that darkness peering' to be your next read.
Profile Image for A.A. Rubin.
Author 20 books5 followers
October 13, 2022
This is my book, so I’m not going to speak about the writing. Read it, and decide for yourself. But, I have to comment on the beautiful illustrations by Marika Brousianou, which are beautiful and gothic. The book is work it just for her illustrations, and, hopefully, you’ll like my poetry and short fiction as well.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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