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In Dark Places
A collection of thirteen chilling short stories.
Wander through the nightmare landscape of the Storyteller's mind: get lost in dark woods that will swallow your soul, enter a suburban house where a creature seeks revenge, flee through a maze of never-ending corridors, and watch as the end of the world approaches.
These tales have been waiting for the right time to be told. That time is now.
Do you dare to enter?
Wander through the nightmare landscape of the Storyteller's mind: get lost in dark woods that will swallow your soul, enter a suburban house where a creature seeks revenge, flee through a maze of never-ending corridors, and watch as the end of the world approaches.
These tales have been waiting for the right time to be told. That time is now.
Do you dare to enter?
- GenresShort Stories
197 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 2, 2022
This collection of 13 short stories (coincidence?) is perfect for reading in short bursts and is one I highly recommend.
With fewer words to play with in short stories the task on the writer to be original, to create characters you can immediately engage with and then to surprise you is even harder in my opinion. Each of these stories did just that!
I loved how each was so unique. Often starting with a warm feeling where I immediately felt safe and secure and then bam like sunset the twisty darkness hit me.
I had so many favourites in this collection, I think A Pact with the Devil was my stand out but I also loved the stories written by the author's son. Immortal Tunes was absolutely stunning. I can't wait to see more.
With fewer words to play with in short stories the task on the writer to be original, to create characters you can immediately engage with and then to surprise you is even harder in my opinion. Each of these stories did just that!
I loved how each was so unique. Often starting with a warm feeling where I immediately felt safe and secure and then bam like sunset the twisty darkness hit me.
I had so many favourites in this collection, I think A Pact with the Devil was my stand out but I also loved the stories written by the author's son. Immortal Tunes was absolutely stunning. I can't wait to see more.
January 29, 2023
In Dark Places, the most recent proposal from Helen Pryke - a very skilful author I admire also from her previous books, is a collection of really chilling short stories. The book also contains two short stories written by Helen’s son, Francesco, who has made quite a good debut here.
In her book, as Helen puts it, she was “exploring how dark her imagination could go” and believe me, the authors of those stories really take you into some very dark corners of human mind. The stories present a variety of characters and settings, some of them with very incredible or even futuristic imagery. Some of the stories brought to my mind the best traditions of Gothic literature, with the final one – The Madness, where the reader is given pretty good goosebumps! All in all, it is a collection of very well told stories and you can sense how comfortable Helen feels in that genre. I totally recommend it to everyone who loves to be told such creepy, eerie stories!
In her book, as Helen puts it, she was “exploring how dark her imagination could go” and believe me, the authors of those stories really take you into some very dark corners of human mind. The stories present a variety of characters and settings, some of them with very incredible or even futuristic imagery. Some of the stories brought to my mind the best traditions of Gothic literature, with the final one – The Madness, where the reader is given pretty good goosebumps! All in all, it is a collection of very well told stories and you can sense how comfortable Helen feels in that genre. I totally recommend it to everyone who loves to be told such creepy, eerie stories!
January 29, 2023
In Dark Places by Helen Pryke
This book is a wonderful collection of short horror stories.
Each story was creepy in its own way and I particularly enjoyed the final story. Many themes explore the human nightmares and common fears.
The stories are engaging and wonderfully written to create deep characters and scary environments.
I especially enjoyed the short stories as I could finish a story and then start another the next evening.
This book is a wonderful collection of short horror stories.
Each story was creepy in its own way and I particularly enjoyed the final story. Many themes explore the human nightmares and common fears.
The stories are engaging and wonderfully written to create deep characters and scary environments.
I especially enjoyed the short stories as I could finish a story and then start another the next evening.
November 30, 2022
I've read Helen's other books and thoroughly enjoyed them but this is the first Tim's she has ventured into dark short stories. What a success! I've not read this type of short story before so Helen's collection was a new experience. She draws you in and spits you out with a deeper understanding of darkness!
Great for these cold long winter nights!!
Great for these cold long winter nights!!
December 5, 2022
Ever let your mind wonder to those dark places deep in the back of your mind? This author did. And what a fantastic collection of refreshing and original short stories that are chilling, suspenseful and fun to read. 13 stories of what ifs and imagine if. Something for everyone dystopian, blood pumping, mind racing and a touch of nasty that will give you goosebumps. The madness is my favourite.
December 26, 2022
In Dark Places is a delicious departure from author Helen Pryke’s established genres of women’s fiction and suspense. The author has let her imagination run wild, resulting in such disturbing stories as The Mirror of Nightmares, which details an horrific discovery in a summer house, and A Pact with the Devil, a story of eternal love - with a twist.
The author also includes two stories written by her son, and if they are anything to go by, he has a fine talent, no doubt inspired by his accomplished mother.
Well worth a read if you’re up for a good scare over the holidays!
The author also includes two stories written by her son, and if they are anything to go by, he has a fine talent, no doubt inspired by his accomplished mother.
Well worth a read if you’re up for a good scare over the holidays!
November 30, 2022
Really good catchy read. Short stories with a punch. My favourite story had a Narnian approach with a mysterious Mirror.
Each story had me gripped. The way the Author explained how she came to think of the ideas behind the stories gave me an insight into her vision. Brilliant, more please.
Each story had me gripped. The way the Author explained how she came to think of the ideas behind the stories gave me an insight into her vision. Brilliant, more please.
December 1, 2022
A collection of fabulously chilling and well written short stories. Some are scarily possible, others more fantastic and some are real horror stories. My favourites were Our Thoughts Are Free, The Madness, and The Nest.
November 29, 2022
In Dark Places is a book with 13 short stories to read.
I enjoyed all the stories and The Sightless and The Storyteller were my favourites.
These are well written and some are more scary than others.
I read these all in one go but they are great stories to dip in and out off.
I enjoyed all the stories and The Sightless and The Storyteller were my favourites.
These are well written and some are more scary than others.
I read these all in one go but they are great stories to dip in and out off.
December 8, 2022
Great reading at a cold afternoon snuggled up on the sofa. With a nice cup of coffee.
Those stories are not for the faint of heart!
Those stories are not for the faint of heart!
December 9, 2022
This collection of short stories is beautifully written and deliciously chilling.
The inclusion of two stories written by the author’s son are worthy of a writer of many years experience.
I think we may have discovered a future best-selling dystopian novelist!
There is one story in the collection that I personally found challenging to agree with, and in all honesty, I almost put the book down at that point, but had I done so I would have missed out on reading the rest of these wonderful stories, and let’s face it, life would be boring if we all had the same thoughts, opinions and ideas…
Highly recommended for lovers of horror (not gory) , dystopian tales - which I am - and worthy of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The inclusion of two stories written by the author’s son are worthy of a writer of many years experience.
I think we may have discovered a future best-selling dystopian novelist!
There is one story in the collection that I personally found challenging to agree with, and in all honesty, I almost put the book down at that point, but had I done so I would have missed out on reading the rest of these wonderful stories, and let’s face it, life would be boring if we all had the same thoughts, opinions and ideas…
Highly recommended for lovers of horror (not gory) , dystopian tales - which I am - and worthy of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 1, 2022
A different genre from this writer (along with two from her son - watch out Helen!) and all as short stories which usually doesn't suit me however being in a "down" from reading this week, they were ideal to read - sometime just one but usually 2-3. There were two which really stood out for me but as there are different dark stories- spooky, scary, dystopian, thought provoking and downright chilling - there is something for everyone in this book. Loved reading them all.
Thanks to the author for the ARC to review.
Thanks to the author for the ARC to review.
November 29, 2022
Coffee time reading, but not at bedtime.
I have only ever read a book of short stories that have been children’s stories. So when I saw that one of my favourite authors had written a book of short stories, I was thrilled.
And that’s just what this book is....Thrilling.
Even though these are short stories, the author is still able to draw you in and have you gripped from the first word to the last.
I have only ever read a book of short stories that have been children’s stories. So when I saw that one of my favourite authors had written a book of short stories, I was thrilled.
And that’s just what this book is....Thrilling.
Even though these are short stories, the author is still able to draw you in and have you gripped from the first word to the last.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews