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Dark Tide Mysteries and Thrillers #4
Halloween Beyond: Piercing the Veil
When the Halloween Beyond stores appear across America, they intertwine the lives of three visitors in a web of mystery and magic.
THE TALKING-BOARD by Lisa Morton: Can ancient magic exist in the modern world?
When Kayla’s sister Hailey went missing in the nearby Ghost Woods on Halloween night, the last person to see her was the solitary, elderly Brigid. Kayla, who has long suspected Brigid of being involved with Hailey’s disappearance, dreads the first anniversary of her sister’s vanishing even as her best friend Sophie urges her to put the past behind her.
Halloween nears and Kayla pays a visit to the pop-up Halloween Beyond store, where an enigmatic clerk named Maeve convinces her to buy a talking-board. Kayla begins receiving messages which claim to be from Hailey, but is it actually something more sinister calling out from beyond the veil?
Brigid—who may be a witch—offers to lead Kayla into the Ghost Woods on Halloween in search of answers. Kayla discovers dark truths about herself as she and Brigid confront the terrifying supernatural forces that claimed Hailey.
NEW BLOOD by Lucy A. Snyder:Maddie is keen for Halloween, but when she moves to a strange coastal town, a Devils’ Night party forces her to face eldritch dangers that threaten her entire family.
A GENTLEMAN’S SUIT by Kate Maruyama: Halloween Beyond is magic. The store’s inscrutable clerk finds Lex exactly the right costume which somehow makes people see the nonbinary Lex for who they really are.
It’s Lex’s last Halloween at home before college, and it had better be good. When Lex’s father, Beto, known locally as the King of Halloween adds an enormous animatronic Death on a boat to the collection in his elaborate front yard haunt, Halloween night takes a deadly turn.
Lex is having trouble letting go of old friendships, of home, of Halloween itself, but they now face the hardest kind of letting go.
This anthology is perfect for fans of Halloween stories, supernatural, horror anthologies, classic horror, Mystery and suspense, the occult, magic, strong female protagonists, and thrillers.
THE TALKING-BOARD by Lisa Morton: Can ancient magic exist in the modern world?
When Kayla’s sister Hailey went missing in the nearby Ghost Woods on Halloween night, the last person to see her was the solitary, elderly Brigid. Kayla, who has long suspected Brigid of being involved with Hailey’s disappearance, dreads the first anniversary of her sister’s vanishing even as her best friend Sophie urges her to put the past behind her.
Halloween nears and Kayla pays a visit to the pop-up Halloween Beyond store, where an enigmatic clerk named Maeve convinces her to buy a talking-board. Kayla begins receiving messages which claim to be from Hailey, but is it actually something more sinister calling out from beyond the veil?
Brigid—who may be a witch—offers to lead Kayla into the Ghost Woods on Halloween in search of answers. Kayla discovers dark truths about herself as she and Brigid confront the terrifying supernatural forces that claimed Hailey.
NEW BLOOD by Lucy A. Snyder:Maddie is keen for Halloween, but when she moves to a strange coastal town, a Devils’ Night party forces her to face eldritch dangers that threaten her entire family.
A GENTLEMAN’S SUIT by Kate Maruyama: Halloween Beyond is magic. The store’s inscrutable clerk finds Lex exactly the right costume which somehow makes people see the nonbinary Lex for who they really are.
It’s Lex’s last Halloween at home before college, and it had better be good. When Lex’s father, Beto, known locally as the King of Halloween adds an enormous animatronic Death on a boat to the collection in his elaborate front yard haunt, Halloween night takes a deadly turn.
Lex is having trouble letting go of old friendships, of home, of Halloween itself, but they now face the hardest kind of letting go.
This anthology is perfect for fans of Halloween stories, supernatural, horror anthologies, classic horror, Mystery and suspense, the occult, magic, strong female protagonists, and thrillers.
175 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2022
30 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Morton
274 books252 followersLisa Morton is a screenwriter, author of horror fiction, and Halloween expert. She is a winner of both the Black Quill and Bram Stoker Awards, and her short stories have appeared in more than 50 books and magazines. Her first novel, THE CASTLE OF LOS ANGELES, was released by Gray Friar Press in 2010, and her first collection, MONSTERS OF L.A., was published by Bad Moon Books in October 2011. She is a native and lifelong resident of Southern California, and currently resides in the San Fernando Valley.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 18, 2022
The Dark Tide books always feature one common element among the individual stories. In this case it's the mysterious Halloween Beyond store and Maeve, a Halloween Beyond employee with ulterior motives. Both the store and the employee play piviotal roles in all three stories.
All three stories feature strong lead characters and focus on empowerment. All three are youthful and developing, two females and one non-binary gender.
The opening story "The Talking-Board" by Lisa Morton deals with ancient magic existing in the modern world, and a young woman's quest to locate her younger sister who disappeared one year ago on Halloween night. Morton adds a mysterious predecessor to the Ouija board, an odd Halloween-themed store, fairies, a ghost woods, Irish folklore and witchcraft for a thoroughly engaging and surprisingly uplifting tale.
There's a reference to Lovecraftian themes (Dagon, Innsmouth, etc) in "New Blood" by Lucy Synder, a captivating story of an exclusive Halloween party for middle-school students in a strange coastal town.
The strongest story in this trio and my favorite is "A Gentleman's Suit" by Kate Maruyama. As it begins it appears to be a silly story with Lex's father, known as the King of Halloween, splurging on animatronic lawn decorations for Trick Or Treat night. But from there the story quickly evolves to a powerful tale of pre-college Lex coming into their own, establishing their identity, and counciling and consoling others who took different paths. The ending is particularly moving.
All three stories feature strong lead characters and focus on empowerment. All three are youthful and developing, two females and one non-binary gender.
The opening story "The Talking-Board" by Lisa Morton deals with ancient magic existing in the modern world, and a young woman's quest to locate her younger sister who disappeared one year ago on Halloween night. Morton adds a mysterious predecessor to the Ouija board, an odd Halloween-themed store, fairies, a ghost woods, Irish folklore and witchcraft for a thoroughly engaging and surprisingly uplifting tale.
There's a reference to Lovecraftian themes (Dagon, Innsmouth, etc) in "New Blood" by Lucy Synder, a captivating story of an exclusive Halloween party for middle-school students in a strange coastal town.
The strongest story in this trio and my favorite is "A Gentleman's Suit" by Kate Maruyama. As it begins it appears to be a silly story with Lex's father, known as the King of Halloween, splurging on animatronic lawn decorations for Trick Or Treat night. But from there the story quickly evolves to a powerful tale of pre-college Lex coming into their own, establishing their identity, and counciling and consoling others who took different paths. The ending is particularly moving.
October 21, 2022
I was given an advance reader copy for an honest review.
4.5/5 stars
Three stories centered around a store called Halloween Beyond and it's mysterious clerk, Maeve.
The Talking Board by Lisa Morton - 4/5
Kayla is heading to a party with her friends and stops by Halloween Beyond for a costume but comes home with an old item called the talking board. Playing with it at the party, an unexpected guest from beyond appears to communicate.
New Blood by Lucy A. Snyder
5/5
Maddie and her family move to new place after her step dad's new job. The new job gives Maddie an elite status in town and she's not sure as to why until she was one of the select few chosen for the annual company party.
A Gentleman's Suit by Kate Maruyama
4.5/5
Lex and her dad, the king of Halloween, go shopping for decorations. She never expected the chain of events that take place after leaving the shop.
A great seasonal selection of stories and an interesting concept of the stories centering around one shop.
4.5/5 stars
Three stories centered around a store called Halloween Beyond and it's mysterious clerk, Maeve.
The Talking Board by Lisa Morton - 4/5
Kayla is heading to a party with her friends and stops by Halloween Beyond for a costume but comes home with an old item called the talking board. Playing with it at the party, an unexpected guest from beyond appears to communicate.
New Blood by Lucy A. Snyder
5/5
Maddie and her family move to new place after her step dad's new job. The new job gives Maddie an elite status in town and she's not sure as to why until she was one of the select few chosen for the annual company party.
A Gentleman's Suit by Kate Maruyama
4.5/5
Lex and her dad, the king of Halloween, go shopping for decorations. She never expected the chain of events that take place after leaving the shop.
A great seasonal selection of stories and an interesting concept of the stories centering around one shop.
Read
October 19, 2022If you despise Halloween, then I don't think this themed collection is for you. However, for those of us born with Samhain embedded in our very Souls, then HALLOWEEN BEYOND is right up our alley...paved street....parking lot. For you see, in this collection, one doesn't have to hunt for Halloween: its hunts for us. In the form of an off-brand "chain" seasonal pop-up store, seemingly compact size but of enormous infinity in the interior, HALLOWEEN BEYOND carries exactly what you need on Halloween...whether you realize it or not...whether you want it or not..whether it's safe...or not.
October 22, 2022
3 short stories that all involve a mysterious Halloween store called Halloween Beyond. I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Since it's a collection of stories, I've decided to provide each of them with their own rating below:
The Talking Board by Lisa Morton – 4 stars
Given that these are all short stories I feel like I can’t say much without spoilers—I will just say that I really enjoyed the transition of where the story was taken. Was instantly drawn in and thoroughly enjoyed the journey.
New Blood by Lucy A. Snyder – 3 stars
This story felt a little short, and like it could have stood to have been a bit more fleshed out than it was, but was still a lot of fun to read.
A Gentleman’s Suit by Kate Marumaya – 3.5 stars
Got drawn into this one pretty quickly, and enjoyed the development and conclusion of this as well. Another fun short story.
All in all really enjoyed all the stories in this book, and thought that the common thread between all the stories and that they were all somewhat loosely tied together was a lot of fun. Definitely recommend this one! A great quick Halloween read 😊
Favourite of the bunch: The Talking Board
Since average rating is 3.5, rounded up to 4 for my overall rating.
The Talking Board by Lisa Morton – 4 stars
Given that these are all short stories I feel like I can’t say much without spoilers—I will just say that I really enjoyed the transition of where the story was taken. Was instantly drawn in and thoroughly enjoyed the journey.
New Blood by Lucy A. Snyder – 3 stars
This story felt a little short, and like it could have stood to have been a bit more fleshed out than it was, but was still a lot of fun to read.
A Gentleman’s Suit by Kate Marumaya – 3.5 stars
Got drawn into this one pretty quickly, and enjoyed the development and conclusion of this as well. Another fun short story.
All in all really enjoyed all the stories in this book, and thought that the common thread between all the stories and that they were all somewhat loosely tied together was a lot of fun. Definitely recommend this one! A great quick Halloween read 😊
Favourite of the bunch: The Talking Board
Since average rating is 3.5, rounded up to 4 for my overall rating.
November 2, 2022
Three spooky novellas, connected to a Halloween Beyond store that has more going on than just retail. Pick this book up just in time for All Hallow’s Eve!
My favourite novellas were:
The Talking-Board by Lisa Morton: Choosing an old talking-board as well as a costume at her local Halloween Beyond store, Jess brings it to a party. The eerie story that develops from there is a dark fantasy about loss, magic, sacrifice and reunion. I felt the ending was bittersweet.
New Blood by Lucy A. Snyder: A sinister stepfather moves his family to a little town. His stepdaughter Maddie gets selected for an exclusive Halloween party and finds the perfect outfit at Halloween Beyond. The ulterior motives of the adults in this Cosmic tale were terrifying.
I found “A Gentleman’s Suit” interesting, but a bit dry compared to the first two novellas.
Feedback: In “The Talking-Board” I noticed some of the names seem to shift, for example Katt is sometimes “Kitt”.
Thank you to the authors & Crystal Lake Publishing for a copy!
My favourite novellas were:
The Talking-Board by Lisa Morton: Choosing an old talking-board as well as a costume at her local Halloween Beyond store, Jess brings it to a party. The eerie story that develops from there is a dark fantasy about loss, magic, sacrifice and reunion. I felt the ending was bittersweet.
New Blood by Lucy A. Snyder: A sinister stepfather moves his family to a little town. His stepdaughter Maddie gets selected for an exclusive Halloween party and finds the perfect outfit at Halloween Beyond. The ulterior motives of the adults in this Cosmic tale were terrifying.
I found “A Gentleman’s Suit” interesting, but a bit dry compared to the first two novellas.
Feedback: In “The Talking-Board” I noticed some of the names seem to shift, for example Katt is sometimes “Kitt”.
Thank you to the authors & Crystal Lake Publishing for a copy!
November 15, 2022
Definitely Beyond Halloween
All three stories are amazing! The surrounding theme of these stories has to do with a very supernatural and mysterious store called Halloween Beyond. Each story involves characters that have had their life changed as a result from the interaction of this so called store.
Very clever and all three stories draw you in.
This series is definitely a keeper!!
All three stories are amazing! The surrounding theme of these stories has to do with a very supernatural and mysterious store called Halloween Beyond. Each story involves characters that have had their life changed as a result from the interaction of this so called store.
Very clever and all three stories draw you in.
This series is definitely a keeper!!
November 21, 2022
I am thoroughly impressed with this collection of Halloween tales from three very wonderful writers. The theme was carried well between the stories while each one had its own unique voice and pizazz. My favorite story (it’s hard to choose) was A Gentleman’s Suit. So good! Thanks to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2022
An engaging read!
Just finished Maruyama’s novella and loved it. What a story! Wow. Still thinking about the spiritual elements and the connection between this world and beyond. The character Death was so inventive. I was entertained by the way Maruyama created Death’s change. Very well done.
Just finished Maruyama’s novella and loved it. What a story! Wow. Still thinking about the spiritual elements and the connection between this world and beyond. The character Death was so inventive. I was entertained by the way Maruyama created Death’s change. Very well done.
November 1, 2022
An entertaining collection of three Halloween tales tied together by the mysterious Maeve at the new Halloween shop in town-Halloween Beyond. Each story has a creative plot and interesting characters. I'd love to check out more from all three of these authors!
October 21, 2022
I have thoroughly enjoyed this entire series, and this is no exception. All the stories were well written and above all, creepy.
From the great cover to the end of the book it was a page turner.
From the great cover to the end of the book it was a page turner.
October 21, 2022
Magical is the one word that comes to mind after reading Halloween Beyond: Piercing the Veil, which features three different novellas from Lisa Morton, Lucy A. Snyder, and Kate Maruyama. Besides having overlapping characters and places, the main thing I loved about these stories is the complete spirit of magic that was interwoven throughout these three stories. Usually, when you read a Halloween story, it is steeped in horrific moments of blood and gore. These stories had certain spooky/creepy vibe, but the thread of magic was what made this read so special for me. This Halloween bundle of stories combined fantasy and sci-fi elements to extract the spirit of Halloween at the best time. Believe in the magic of Halloween, believe that there are other realms beyond the regular world in which we live, and cherish the bonds between friendship and family. Pick up Piercing the Veil and let the spirit of Halloween reach out and touch you in the best way.
I received an ARC from @crystallakepub in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC from @crystallakepub in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2022
Release date October 21st, right in time for Halloween. I was fortunate to receive an ARC and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Nostalgic Halloween vibes are abound in these three stories, all of them made me reminisce fondly of the Halloween nights of my youth, as well an adult touch of horror. A great mash up to be sure. Keep this one in mind folks, if you love all things Halloween
October 2, 2023
I've heard of the small horror publisher, Crystal Lake Publishing, but not their Dark Tide series featuring mystery, thriller, and horror stories. Upon seeing Halloween expert and horror writer, Lisa Morton featured (as well as two other award-winning authors), I had high expectations. Unlike other volumes filled with short stories, Halloween Beyond includes three novellas. The stories intertwine, all featuring the titular seasonal store and its mysterious clerk, Maeve.
In Lisa Morton's "The Talking Board," Kayla's sister disappeared in the Ghost Woods last Halloween. The last person to see her was the elderly Brigid who's an alleged witch. When Kayla buys a talking-board from Halloween Beyond, it sends her messages claiming to be from Hailey. Or is it something else calling from beyond the veil? Morton's concept felt like a celebration of Halloween ranging from the contemporary and commercial to the folkloric and ancient. While the title makes you think it'll be the standard Ouija board plot, Morton surprises. As for critiques, it felt like parts of the story could've been fleshed out more through another draft. Otherwise, "The Talking Board" was my kind of Halloween story.
In "New Blood" by Lucy A. Snyder, Maddie moves to a new town where she's chosen to attend a Devils' Night party, forcing her to face cosmic dangers that threaten her family. Even though I'm not one for Lovecraftian horror or cults, I liked the concept and atmosphere. Snyder's writing is sharp and the ending felt resolved, though it suggests Maddie's story will continue.
In Kate Maruyama's "A Gentleman's Suit," it's Lex's last Halloween at home while they prepare to let go of home and a lost friendship. Lex and their father visit Halloween Beyond where Lex finds a costume which makes people see them as their nonbinary self. Their father, known as the King of Halloween, purchases an animatronic Death on a boat for their front yard haunt which takes a deadly turn. This was the first time I encountered a nonbinary character in a horror story and I enjoyed the representation. Maruyama's choice of first person narration allows for more emotional depth. I liked how the story felt more understated and poignant while also playful. Out of the three stories, this was my favorite.
As a whole, this novella collection was a Halloween delight. I liked how the authors tied in the popup store and branched off into unexpected directions. If you're looking for some well-written and fun stories, check out Halloween Beyond.
In Lisa Morton's "The Talking Board," Kayla's sister disappeared in the Ghost Woods last Halloween. The last person to see her was the elderly Brigid who's an alleged witch. When Kayla buys a talking-board from Halloween Beyond, it sends her messages claiming to be from Hailey. Or is it something else calling from beyond the veil? Morton's concept felt like a celebration of Halloween ranging from the contemporary and commercial to the folkloric and ancient. While the title makes you think it'll be the standard Ouija board plot, Morton surprises. As for critiques, it felt like parts of the story could've been fleshed out more through another draft. Otherwise, "The Talking Board" was my kind of Halloween story.
In "New Blood" by Lucy A. Snyder, Maddie moves to a new town where she's chosen to attend a Devils' Night party, forcing her to face cosmic dangers that threaten her family. Even though I'm not one for Lovecraftian horror or cults, I liked the concept and atmosphere. Snyder's writing is sharp and the ending felt resolved, though it suggests Maddie's story will continue.
In Kate Maruyama's "A Gentleman's Suit," it's Lex's last Halloween at home while they prepare to let go of home and a lost friendship. Lex and their father visit Halloween Beyond where Lex finds a costume which makes people see them as their nonbinary self. Their father, known as the King of Halloween, purchases an animatronic Death on a boat for their front yard haunt which takes a deadly turn. This was the first time I encountered a nonbinary character in a horror story and I enjoyed the representation. Maruyama's choice of first person narration allows for more emotional depth. I liked how the story felt more understated and poignant while also playful. Out of the three stories, this was my favorite.
As a whole, this novella collection was a Halloween delight. I liked how the authors tied in the popup store and branched off into unexpected directions. If you're looking for some well-written and fun stories, check out Halloween Beyond.
October 11, 2023
Halloween Beyond: Piercing the Veil is an excellent selection of three seasonal novellas, all connected by an enchanting Halloween pop-up store evocatively named Halloween Beyond and the roots of Samhain. On reflection, the two-part title is very revealing. This volume is one of the best Halloween themed books I have read in the past few years. All three writers are quite skillful in their depiction with shadow, suggestion, and atmosphere. Within each tale there is love, loss, and pathos accompanying fear and wonder.
Lisa Morton's "The Talking-Board" displays a deep knowledge of Halloween lore in a tale of a young woman's confrontation with the first anniversary of the disappearance of her sister turning mystery and ghostliness to revelations of witchery and the fae. "New Blood" by Lucy A. Snyder aptly weaves a tale of brooding menace in an out of the way town with very familiar vibes, which evolves into a seemingly, at first, odd mixture of Lovecraft and Faerie. Kate Maruyama's "A Gentleman's Suit" is the most introspective of the stories, marrying friendship, loss, becoming oneself, and destiny in a framework that is creepy, humorous, tender, and mysterious.
All of these stories are very good and the binding Halloween Beyond store with its marvels and ever-present Maeve in her varying aspects offer an intriguing backdrop. I would love to see more of Halloween Beyond and its secrets.
Lisa Morton's "The Talking-Board" displays a deep knowledge of Halloween lore in a tale of a young woman's confrontation with the first anniversary of the disappearance of her sister turning mystery and ghostliness to revelations of witchery and the fae. "New Blood" by Lucy A. Snyder aptly weaves a tale of brooding menace in an out of the way town with very familiar vibes, which evolves into a seemingly, at first, odd mixture of Lovecraft and Faerie. Kate Maruyama's "A Gentleman's Suit" is the most introspective of the stories, marrying friendship, loss, becoming oneself, and destiny in a framework that is creepy, humorous, tender, and mysterious.
All of these stories are very good and the binding Halloween Beyond store with its marvels and ever-present Maeve in her varying aspects offer an intriguing backdrop. I would love to see more of Halloween Beyond and its secrets.
October 26, 2023
Nice little collection of three long short stories that are in some way related to a Halloween pop-up store called Halloween Beyond. Each entry is solid and fun, well worth the read.
November 6, 2025
Loved the first two stories, then the woke BS came in the last one.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews