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Ending in Ashes
Ending in Ashes is a collection of neo-Gothic stories that explore the classic genre through a raw and salacious lens. Spanning across time, from the Salem Witch Trials to the Covid-19 pandemic, Rebecca Jones-Howe stays true to traditional Gothic themes as she boldly explores human depravity and how it relates to the experience of womanhood. A serial killer succumbs to justice in the 17th century. A reclusive village woman is institutionalized, only to find her best self in the confines of her room. A newly-married couple finds their happily-ever-after in a heart-shaped tub in the Poconos. Two trauma survivors meet in a winter village and embark on an affair that blurs reality itself. Ending in Ashes is a tome of modern horrors waiting to be uncovered, each tale functioning as a warning that some tropes truly withstand the test of time.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2023
63 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Jones-Howe
19 books39 followersRebecca Jones-Howe lives and writes in Kamloops, British Columbia. Her work has appeared in PANK, Pulp Modern and Punchnel’s among others. Her first collection of short fiction, Vile Men was published in 2015. She can be found online at rebeccajoneshowe.com.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 28, 2023
Ending in Ashes- Short Story Collection by Rebecca Jones-Howe
Normally I tend to lean towards the longer length in dark and erotic gothic stories,yet something made me decide to branch out and give it a try after reading the short excerpt and description. I must say that I am so happy that I did. While all the stories presented share the same dark theme and vividly descriptive writing style, they were all such different stories covering a wide variety of emotional topics. I didn’t find myself getting bored from one story to the next and actually had a hard time putting this book down. When I was finished with a story, I’d find myself going over it in my head while going about my day and finding more and more examples of powerful metaphors that were presented in each story that kept me coming back for more.
I also love how the author was so open and raw about her personal life and the struggles and emotions that she drew from while creating this book. Getting that insight beforehand had a powerful effect on the way each story hit m emotionally. I would say my favorites were Hostages, Honeymoon, and The Fruit of Wartime.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Normally I tend to lean towards the longer length in dark and erotic gothic stories,yet something made me decide to branch out and give it a try after reading the short excerpt and description. I must say that I am so happy that I did. While all the stories presented share the same dark theme and vividly descriptive writing style, they were all such different stories covering a wide variety of emotional topics. I didn’t find myself getting bored from one story to the next and actually had a hard time putting this book down. When I was finished with a story, I’d find myself going over it in my head while going about my day and finding more and more examples of powerful metaphors that were presented in each story that kept me coming back for more.
I also love how the author was so open and raw about her personal life and the struggles and emotions that she drew from while creating this book. Getting that insight beforehand had a powerful effect on the way each story hit m emotionally. I would say my favorites were Hostages, Honeymoon, and The Fruit of Wartime.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 8, 2023
The first short story I read by Jones-Howe was "Woman of the White Cottage" in Anomalies & Curiosities. It was a devastating story that stuck with me, and I was pleased to find it was in Ending in Ashes as well. This collection showcases Jones-Howe's ability to capture a feeling throughout decades. While gothic fiction often places itself in the past, Ending in Ashes allows it to thrive in all time periods.
Like most collections, I loved some stories more than others, but I will say that there were no stories in this collection that I didn't enjoy. They all offered something, they were all amazingly well written. It is rare to find an author who can write a seamless story in second person, "Honeymoon" was that story, a bleak, disturbing tale of a couple.
"The Walking Hours" was my favourite. It's very short, but captures so much. The ending made my stomach twist, and yet it was the only way the story could possibly end with how it was built up. I wouldn't have wanted any other ending.
Like most collections, I loved some stories more than others, but I will say that there were no stories in this collection that I didn't enjoy. They all offered something, they were all amazingly well written. It is rare to find an author who can write a seamless story in second person, "Honeymoon" was that story, a bleak, disturbing tale of a couple.
"The Walking Hours" was my favourite. It's very short, but captures so much. The ending made my stomach twist, and yet it was the only way the story could possibly end with how it was built up. I wouldn't have wanted any other ending.
August 20, 2023
Ending in Ashes is an apt name for this well-written gothic story collection.
I loved parts of the dark eroticism in these stories, though the stories’ overall grimness meant I rarely enjoyed the element for long. I think this particular flavor of darkness will work well for some readers who came more for the literary merit and feminist themes than for gothic thrills—though the collection offers that as well.
Going back in time throughout the stories exacerbated that sense of bleakness, as the female protagonists became more and more oppressed by their society and the male characters in the story.
Overall, I enjoyed this collection, but none of the stories had quite enough low-level enjoyment factor for me to rave about them as much as I did the author’s previous collection, Vile Men.
I hope to see more from Rebecca Jones-Howe sooner rather than later!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved parts of the dark eroticism in these stories, though the stories’ overall grimness meant I rarely enjoyed the element for long. I think this particular flavor of darkness will work well for some readers who came more for the literary merit and feminist themes than for gothic thrills—though the collection offers that as well.
Going back in time throughout the stories exacerbated that sense of bleakness, as the female protagonists became more and more oppressed by their society and the male characters in the story.
Overall, I enjoyed this collection, but none of the stories had quite enough low-level enjoyment factor for me to rave about them as much as I did the author’s previous collection, Vile Men.
I hope to see more from Rebecca Jones-Howe sooner rather than later!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 2, 2024
Ending in Ashes left me feeling like I've been burned up, in a good way. Definitely an outstanding collection of stories from an adept author.
May 19, 2023
Rounded up from 4 1/2 stars.
I had a couple technical issues actually receiving the ARC copy, but the book was absolutely worth the wait. Jones-Howe is a fantastic writer, and the stories in this collection prove that well.
One thing that I really appreciate about the collection is how cohesive it was. The style of one story seems to flow into the next, and there is a pervasive, haunting sense of struggle that is present throughout.
Usually for collections I like to talk about my favorite story, but I had a tough time narrowing it down to just one here. It's not a collection with weak links. "The Red House" was a favorite of mine, and I think is one of the best isolation stories that I've read pertaining to Covid. That was such a harrowing experience that we all shared during lockdown, but few authors have dared to broach the subject and this has been one of my favorite emotional depictions of that experience.
"A Lesson in Sophistication" also sticks out for the style it was written in. It felt very poetic, which was a nice contrast to the dark subject matter.
A final thing that I wanted to bring up was the introduction. I usually don't talk about introductions or forewords in my reviews. I like to go in as blind as possible to reads blind, so I've made it a personal practice to read all introductory material last, since that's how I tend to enjoy them most.
In her moving introduction to the collection, Jones-Howe opens up about some very personal topics, motherhood, lockdown, and the mental toll of rejections on a writer. She spoke about finding salvation in the acceptances for her stories and in the art of crafting her words.
Not only did that speak to me as a writer, but it hit home so hard after reading the collection. Each individual tale was so immersive, and did have that sense of urgency and realism. You can tell how important each entry into this collection was, and after reading the introduction it's easy to tell why.
There were a couple of minor things in the presentation of the collection that were not for me personally. Part of this might just be the ebook/ ARC formatting, which I know isn't always finalized. I also think that the introductory material (particularly the foreword) might not have put me in the right mindset had I read all of it first.
I also will say, this is a rather draining collection to read in one sitting. I don't want to say that it's one note, because there are so many nuances to the individual stories, but there is a point where the emotions of the entries start to blend together. If I could read this again for the first time I would spread it out, perhaps in between other books.
If you are looking for a beautiful and emotional collection that explores gothic themes in both the traditional and modern sense, then I cannot think of a book better suited to the task.
I had a couple technical issues actually receiving the ARC copy, but the book was absolutely worth the wait. Jones-Howe is a fantastic writer, and the stories in this collection prove that well.
One thing that I really appreciate about the collection is how cohesive it was. The style of one story seems to flow into the next, and there is a pervasive, haunting sense of struggle that is present throughout.
Usually for collections I like to talk about my favorite story, but I had a tough time narrowing it down to just one here. It's not a collection with weak links. "The Red House" was a favorite of mine, and I think is one of the best isolation stories that I've read pertaining to Covid. That was such a harrowing experience that we all shared during lockdown, but few authors have dared to broach the subject and this has been one of my favorite emotional depictions of that experience.
"A Lesson in Sophistication" also sticks out for the style it was written in. It felt very poetic, which was a nice contrast to the dark subject matter.
A final thing that I wanted to bring up was the introduction. I usually don't talk about introductions or forewords in my reviews. I like to go in as blind as possible to reads blind, so I've made it a personal practice to read all introductory material last, since that's how I tend to enjoy them most.
In her moving introduction to the collection, Jones-Howe opens up about some very personal topics, motherhood, lockdown, and the mental toll of rejections on a writer. She spoke about finding salvation in the acceptances for her stories and in the art of crafting her words.
Not only did that speak to me as a writer, but it hit home so hard after reading the collection. Each individual tale was so immersive, and did have that sense of urgency and realism. You can tell how important each entry into this collection was, and after reading the introduction it's easy to tell why.
There were a couple of minor things in the presentation of the collection that were not for me personally. Part of this might just be the ebook/ ARC formatting, which I know isn't always finalized. I also think that the introductory material (particularly the foreword) might not have put me in the right mindset had I read all of it first.
I also will say, this is a rather draining collection to read in one sitting. I don't want to say that it's one note, because there are so many nuances to the individual stories, but there is a point where the emotions of the entries start to blend together. If I could read this again for the first time I would spread it out, perhaps in between other books.
If you are looking for a beautiful and emotional collection that explores gothic themes in both the traditional and modern sense, then I cannot think of a book better suited to the task.
June 25, 2023
"Being a hero isn't always what they say it is."
Truth is, I haven't touched many gothic-themed stories, but have done my fair share of many horror and transgressive. This collection makes it so the accents blend seamlessly if not interchangeable. Ending in Ashes is a collection of complementary colours from a visual stand point, vintage and film, color graded style. I like how the settings loom, stalk, tower like thick denuded woods, a subtle portent of disaster from men and many things that don't feel like human but are human. It's atmospheric. It creeps. I like that some of the stories feel connected. But doesn't pull punches. It doesn't flinch, holds you for the time being like a lost traveller taking refuge to the warmth of a campfire, it's bright from where you are, but darkness is willing and waiting to snuff that light out. The writing itself is its own character. It's careful and careless at the same time and it studies human psyche and this collection does so with hope but without any remorse.
Truth is, I haven't touched many gothic-themed stories, but have done my fair share of many horror and transgressive. This collection makes it so the accents blend seamlessly if not interchangeable. Ending in Ashes is a collection of complementary colours from a visual stand point, vintage and film, color graded style. I like how the settings loom, stalk, tower like thick denuded woods, a subtle portent of disaster from men and many things that don't feel like human but are human. It's atmospheric. It creeps. I like that some of the stories feel connected. But doesn't pull punches. It doesn't flinch, holds you for the time being like a lost traveller taking refuge to the warmth of a campfire, it's bright from where you are, but darkness is willing and waiting to snuff that light out. The writing itself is its own character. It's careful and careless at the same time and it studies human psyche and this collection does so with hope but without any remorse.
July 7, 2023
I have been looking forward to this book ever since it was announced. I have had the pleasure of reading some of Rebecca's work in various Quill and Crow publications, and this collection is everything I'd hoped for and more.
The stories range from modern day to the days of the Salem witch trials and vary in theme, and I eagerly devoured every single one. It took only two days for me to finnish this book because I was eager to see what the next story held.
My absolute favorite story in this collection is "Honeymoon". I found the use of the second person perspective really added to the tension and anguish of Darlene. I don't want to spoil the story but I will say that I will be haunted by this tale for years to come.
In conclusion, I absolutely recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys gothic literature or even just truly dark stories.
The stories range from modern day to the days of the Salem witch trials and vary in theme, and I eagerly devoured every single one. It took only two days for me to finnish this book because I was eager to see what the next story held.
My absolute favorite story in this collection is "Honeymoon". I found the use of the second person perspective really added to the tension and anguish of Darlene. I don't want to spoil the story but I will say that I will be haunted by this tale for years to come.
In conclusion, I absolutely recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys gothic literature or even just truly dark stories.
June 9, 2024
I’ve been meaning to read Jones-Howe for a long time now and I’m glad I finally did as she’s really good at evoking atmosphere and constructing horrors out of quintessential female fears and experiences that are the same now as ever (be they of abandonment, abuse, loss of agency, toxic relationships, involuntary commitment and misguided treatments for (against) women).
The stories range in eras but all manage to feel current. Jones-Howe does not shy away from sex in these stories either, marrying it with the dark under-and overtones, making for a more disturbing read.
Standout-stories for me: ‘The Red House’ &
‘The Fruits of Wartime’. If you’re looking for your next modern gothic read, May I suggest that you give this one a try?
An overview will follow below (favorites have been marked with “*”)
-The Red House:*
The Annie of this story is most definitely not okay; In the midst of a pandemic she’s finally left her emotionally abusive fiancé and gone to live with her uncle and cousin. Her aunt only passed away a couple of years ago, and although Annie knew things weren’t perfect, she doesn’t know how much her own relationship had in common with that of her aunt & uncle’s. Furthermore, it would seem that her uncle’s house is haunted and a disembodied voice is urging her to leave before ‘he’ comes.
I didn’t see this ending coming, but as I read the last line I realized it couldn’t have ended in a more terrifying way and that the ending was perfect.
-Hostages:
Erin takes off to an area that offers skiing in the hopes of feeling better after going through a horrifying event where she was held hostage. -An almost dreamlike quality to this short story dealing with the after effects of trauma in the form of PTSD and alcohol abuse. It also does a great job of highlighting the strain in the form of pressure (perceived or otherwise) people put on you by worrying and hopes of things returning to normal. I can’t shake the feeling that a big part of Erin taking this disconcerting trip is to get away from the pressures of well meaning family and fiancé
-A Patient, A Guest:
A bereaved wife books a room at a hotel that used to be an asylum only to find herself equally haunted by the place’s past and her own demons. The story has a loneliness that lingers
-The Lantern:
A depressed man gets hired to patrol the coastal hiking trail and becomes acquainted with a very troubled woman. An interesting tale woven between depression, suicidal ideation and serial murder.
-A Lesson in Sophistication:
A teacher finds himself slowly getting pulled in by the teen outcast & newly arrived (former) cult-member. Tilts grooming and makes for a deeply uncomfortable read as you try to figure out who’s doing the grooming, if the narrator is to be entirely trusted. ‘Don’t stand so close to me’ as a short story
-Honeymoon:
Darlene is young, vulnerable and has her own baggage in spite of young years (e.g. a mother in a psych ward and overbearing father). All ripe for an older,married man. What follows is something akin to a dream-sequence with a sprinkling of stream of consciousness as told through a gothic heroine. Deals with toxic relationships, unhealthy power dynamics and spousal abuse.
-The Walking Hours:
A WWII soldier’s PTSD as told through the increasingly bizarre and blood thirsty sleep walking episodes of his wife. The neighbors’ baby disappears
-The Fruits of Wartime:*
Jacqueline is the only remaining servant in the manor and caring for the elderly and cognitively declining lady of the house. Jacqueline has her own secret (suffragette and stashing away money she’s found hidden in the manor) that threatens to come out when the lady’s disinherited brutish black sheep of a son-returns. Taps well into a woman’s fear of loosing her freedom (even the ones she’s never fully had) and being forced to be weighed down by him.
-Woman of the White Cottage:
Deals with the involuntary commitment of Mary and the ‘treatment’ of hysteria as well as internalized misogyny (her name is Mary; she hears everyone call her Jezebel). Rich in symbolism. Reminiscent of The Yellow Wallpaper.
-Little Black Death:
1875, a woman of the working class has lost her father to the working conditions of the local factory but has married the owner. Tensions surge as the villagers/factory workers are clamoring for better conditions or in lieu of this, an uprising and the couple actively trying for an heir but having daughters instead. They eventually have the boy they tried for, but the husband then leaves the wife and daughters with the son
-In His Hands:
Witch-burning times; Giles violates his victims in the woods and strangles them; not entirely different to his profession of hangman. Blaming the deaths on witches is also a handy excuse that keeps him in business. Then comes Dorcas; a woman he isn’t able to kill and he plays house with for some time.. until her witchy ways doesn’t agree with him. Hanging her gives him no joy or release, just a feeling of being cuckolded.
The stories range in eras but all manage to feel current. Jones-Howe does not shy away from sex in these stories either, marrying it with the dark under-and overtones, making for a more disturbing read.
Standout-stories for me: ‘The Red House’ &
‘The Fruits of Wartime’. If you’re looking for your next modern gothic read, May I suggest that you give this one a try?
An overview will follow below (favorites have been marked with “*”)
-The Red House:*
The Annie of this story is most definitely not okay; In the midst of a pandemic she’s finally left her emotionally abusive fiancé and gone to live with her uncle and cousin. Her aunt only passed away a couple of years ago, and although Annie knew things weren’t perfect, she doesn’t know how much her own relationship had in common with that of her aunt & uncle’s. Furthermore, it would seem that her uncle’s house is haunted and a disembodied voice is urging her to leave before ‘he’ comes.
I didn’t see this ending coming, but as I read the last line I realized it couldn’t have ended in a more terrifying way and that the ending was perfect.
-Hostages:
Erin takes off to an area that offers skiing in the hopes of feeling better after going through a horrifying event where she was held hostage. -An almost dreamlike quality to this short story dealing with the after effects of trauma in the form of PTSD and alcohol abuse. It also does a great job of highlighting the strain in the form of pressure (perceived or otherwise) people put on you by worrying and hopes of things returning to normal. I can’t shake the feeling that a big part of Erin taking this disconcerting trip is to get away from the pressures of well meaning family and fiancé
-A Patient, A Guest:
A bereaved wife books a room at a hotel that used to be an asylum only to find herself equally haunted by the place’s past and her own demons. The story has a loneliness that lingers
-The Lantern:
A depressed man gets hired to patrol the coastal hiking trail and becomes acquainted with a very troubled woman. An interesting tale woven between depression, suicidal ideation and serial murder.
-A Lesson in Sophistication:
A teacher finds himself slowly getting pulled in by the teen outcast & newly arrived (former) cult-member. Tilts grooming and makes for a deeply uncomfortable read as you try to figure out who’s doing the grooming, if the narrator is to be entirely trusted. ‘Don’t stand so close to me’ as a short story
-Honeymoon:
Darlene is young, vulnerable and has her own baggage in spite of young years (e.g. a mother in a psych ward and overbearing father). All ripe for an older,married man. What follows is something akin to a dream-sequence with a sprinkling of stream of consciousness as told through a gothic heroine. Deals with toxic relationships, unhealthy power dynamics and spousal abuse.
-The Walking Hours:
A WWII soldier’s PTSD as told through the increasingly bizarre and blood thirsty sleep walking episodes of his wife. The neighbors’ baby disappears
-The Fruits of Wartime:*
Jacqueline is the only remaining servant in the manor and caring for the elderly and cognitively declining lady of the house. Jacqueline has her own secret (suffragette and stashing away money she’s found hidden in the manor) that threatens to come out when the lady’s disinherited brutish black sheep of a son-returns. Taps well into a woman’s fear of loosing her freedom (even the ones she’s never fully had) and being forced to be weighed down by him.
-Woman of the White Cottage:
Deals with the involuntary commitment of Mary and the ‘treatment’ of hysteria as well as internalized misogyny (her name is Mary; she hears everyone call her Jezebel). Rich in symbolism. Reminiscent of The Yellow Wallpaper.
-Little Black Death:
1875, a woman of the working class has lost her father to the working conditions of the local factory but has married the owner. Tensions surge as the villagers/factory workers are clamoring for better conditions or in lieu of this, an uprising and the couple actively trying for an heir but having daughters instead. They eventually have the boy they tried for, but the husband then leaves the wife and daughters with the son
-In His Hands:
Witch-burning times; Giles violates his victims in the woods and strangles them; not entirely different to his profession of hangman. Blaming the deaths on witches is also a handy excuse that keeps him in business. Then comes Dorcas; a woman he isn’t able to kill and he plays house with for some time.. until her witchy ways doesn’t agree with him. Hanging her gives him no joy or release, just a feeling of being cuckolded.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2023
I loved this collection. It had me horrified, disgusted, intrigued, and totally hooked. "Honeymoon" is now on my favorites list...depraved and delicious and perfect.
Recommend this for lovers of gothic fiction.
Recommend this for lovers of gothic fiction.
August 24, 2023
First off, to the EIC of Quill & Crow Cassandra L. Thompson: Thank you for going back to Woman of the White Cottage and understanding it. There are a lot of editors who talk a big game about taking risks on stories other editors wouldn't. I'm glad you did.
Second: Short story collections get a bad rap and I wish they didn't. It's like the Rick and Morty joke, "Want to watch a 10-hour movie?" "No." // "How about 20 half-hour episodes?" "You sonofabitch, I'm in." I personally think short stories are like the egg test for a chef -- can you create a mesmerizing, self-encapsulating world with characters that are interesting and create a resolution that makes sense in under 6k? (Spoiler: RJH can.)
I'm a fan of Quill & Crow Press. I pre-ordered this title when it hit my inbox because yes, sometimes you CAN judge a book by its cover, and that's one of the things I love about them. If you're drawn to the cover, read it. It's FOR you. But better than you thought it would be, too. If you love VC Andrews, Victoria Holt, Michael McDowall, Anne Rice, Aimee Bender, Karen Russell, Emilie Autumn, Carmen Maria Machado, Isabel Yap, and all the random books in the "Ladies Running Away From Houses" genre, trust the cover. It's what you've been looking for.
As a writer, I'm jealous I didn't write this.
As a reader, I'm SO glad to have found it.
The thing I love about the gothic literature novels is that they never, as Joe Bob Briggs says, "Let the writing get in the way of a good story." (I know this author has GOT to be a Mutant. 100%) The thing is, I always wanted a book where the writing was good AND the story was captivating, too. This is that collection. I appreciated the content warnings and index of triggers. I ended up not needing to use them, but I appreciated that they were there. That's a nice touch, especially since gothic literature that takes after the 1970's heyday books often includes trigger topics, violence, and s.x, often graphically.
I appreciate that when treated by a modern author, these topics are presented in a way that give the characters of Ending In Ashes more agency and often "flip the script" so that instead of victimization for the sake of itself, these scenes allow the female protagonists to be the one whose growth is explored, not their abusers. Many of the stories don't have a "happy" ending (which I think the opening story alludes to, starting the collection on that note.) But once you reach the ends, they all feel authentic. And inevitable. And to me, that's what makes a good story.
Here's the breakdown. 11 Stories/ 179 pages -- I ripped through this in about 3-ish hours, give or take. Couldn't put it down.
THE RED HOUSE -- Starts off with a bang. One of the few Covid stories that hasn't continually referenced Covid but really dug into how it messed with people's heads. It was real, and tough, and a lot of it made me squirmy. It also let me know what to expect from the rest of the collection.
HOSTAGES: This one reminded me a bit of The Third Hotel by Laura Van Den Berg because the sense of reality felt slippery to me. The desperation of the characters was palpable. I couldn't tell if they had actually survived or not. I liked the not-knowingness.
A PATIENT, A GUEST -- This story didn't grab me as much as the others, but it wasn't a bad story by any means. This was one I wished there had been a little more of. It reminded me of a story in Poppy Z. Brite's Wormwood, in terms of storyline and prose.
THE LANTERN: This one reminded me of the stories in Fen (Daisy Johnson) and also a little bit of the film The Woman and a dash of Spider Baby. This story has a different voice than the rest of the stories, which I think was necessary to tell it.
A LESSON IN SOPHISTICATION: A little bit Carrie, a little bit kitchen magic/kitchen witch, and maybe a touch of Lolita. Hints of Midsomer or another compound-cult. Will make you want to make an apple tart, even if it might mean your ruin. That recipe should have been in the index.
HONEYMOON: Holy smokes, buckle up. In my opinion, This story is the anchor/masterpiece of the collection and why it's in the dead center of the book. It's one of the longer pieces in the collection and it's the most graphic so definitely make sure you enter it prepared. If you are a fan of Ti West X, then you'll appreciate this piece. This story is impressive as both a reader and as a writer reading it. The use of anaphora/repetition and a very clever narrative conceit work to the story's advantage. 2nd person "You" POV is one of those things that either goes totally right and it's amazing, or terribly wrong and it's a mess -- but nothing in between. It's a bold choice for the story that works. And the subject matter requires you to be all in. For me, it worked. You will not want Pepsi for a while.
THE WALKING HOURS -- I took a break before reading this because Honeymoon was so intense. I'm glad I did, because I came back to this story ready for it and it's probably my 2nd favorite in the collection. It fused the idea of a traditional vampire with (I think?) the Filipino manananggal. If you've read the short story Good Girls by Isabel Yap you'd probably like this story too. It's all that and also kind of the weirdest fusion with an I Love Lucy aesthetic...plus bood.
THE FRUITS OF WARTIME: Mix The Great Gatsby with Secretary and you'll be in the right neighborhood. The end of this one is frustrating, but authentic. I hated how true it was but that's not RJH's fault. It's what the story required and the landing line is pretty graceful for a story that's not soft at all.
WOMAN OF THE WHITE COTTAGE: This follows a great tradition of "cottage witch" and then segues into Victorian medical horror. This story reminded me a lot of Jilly Dreadful's work and Emilie Autumn's Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls. It's creepy and icky and cruel, and I'm glad I pushed through to the end (and I'm glad the EIC did too.) The landing line is MASTERFUL and exactly the kind of resolution I wanted.
LITTLE BLACK DEATH -- This one had a very Angela Carter/ Anne Rice feel to it. The prose felt like a fairy tale, but not one you've heard of, and it still felt familiar. It is a dark fairy tale and feels both timeless and timely.
IN HIS HANDS -- Similar to The VVitch and Slewfoot (kind of), this story takes the traditional "burn the witch" story and turns it on its side. Like Woman of the White Cottage, the landing line of the story is savage. What a note to end the collection on.
Thanks for reading to the end! This book belongs in your favorite dusty attic or other place that your creepy self goes to read books and be left alone.
Second: Short story collections get a bad rap and I wish they didn't. It's like the Rick and Morty joke, "Want to watch a 10-hour movie?" "No." // "How about 20 half-hour episodes?" "You sonofabitch, I'm in." I personally think short stories are like the egg test for a chef -- can you create a mesmerizing, self-encapsulating world with characters that are interesting and create a resolution that makes sense in under 6k? (Spoiler: RJH can.)
I'm a fan of Quill & Crow Press. I pre-ordered this title when it hit my inbox because yes, sometimes you CAN judge a book by its cover, and that's one of the things I love about them. If you're drawn to the cover, read it. It's FOR you. But better than you thought it would be, too. If you love VC Andrews, Victoria Holt, Michael McDowall, Anne Rice, Aimee Bender, Karen Russell, Emilie Autumn, Carmen Maria Machado, Isabel Yap, and all the random books in the "Ladies Running Away From Houses" genre, trust the cover. It's what you've been looking for.
As a writer, I'm jealous I didn't write this.
As a reader, I'm SO glad to have found it.
The thing I love about the gothic literature novels is that they never, as Joe Bob Briggs says, "Let the writing get in the way of a good story." (I know this author has GOT to be a Mutant. 100%) The thing is, I always wanted a book where the writing was good AND the story was captivating, too. This is that collection. I appreciated the content warnings and index of triggers. I ended up not needing to use them, but I appreciated that they were there. That's a nice touch, especially since gothic literature that takes after the 1970's heyday books often includes trigger topics, violence, and s.x, often graphically.
I appreciate that when treated by a modern author, these topics are presented in a way that give the characters of Ending In Ashes more agency and often "flip the script" so that instead of victimization for the sake of itself, these scenes allow the female protagonists to be the one whose growth is explored, not their abusers. Many of the stories don't have a "happy" ending (which I think the opening story alludes to, starting the collection on that note.) But once you reach the ends, they all feel authentic. And inevitable. And to me, that's what makes a good story.
Here's the breakdown. 11 Stories/ 179 pages -- I ripped through this in about 3-ish hours, give or take. Couldn't put it down.
THE RED HOUSE -- Starts off with a bang. One of the few Covid stories that hasn't continually referenced Covid but really dug into how it messed with people's heads. It was real, and tough, and a lot of it made me squirmy. It also let me know what to expect from the rest of the collection.
HOSTAGES: This one reminded me a bit of The Third Hotel by Laura Van Den Berg because the sense of reality felt slippery to me. The desperation of the characters was palpable. I couldn't tell if they had actually survived or not. I liked the not-knowingness.
A PATIENT, A GUEST -- This story didn't grab me as much as the others, but it wasn't a bad story by any means. This was one I wished there had been a little more of. It reminded me of a story in Poppy Z. Brite's Wormwood, in terms of storyline and prose.
THE LANTERN: This one reminded me of the stories in Fen (Daisy Johnson) and also a little bit of the film The Woman and a dash of Spider Baby. This story has a different voice than the rest of the stories, which I think was necessary to tell it.
A LESSON IN SOPHISTICATION: A little bit Carrie, a little bit kitchen magic/kitchen witch, and maybe a touch of Lolita. Hints of Midsomer or another compound-cult. Will make you want to make an apple tart, even if it might mean your ruin. That recipe should have been in the index.
HONEYMOON: Holy smokes, buckle up. In my opinion, This story is the anchor/masterpiece of the collection and why it's in the dead center of the book. It's one of the longer pieces in the collection and it's the most graphic so definitely make sure you enter it prepared. If you are a fan of Ti West X, then you'll appreciate this piece. This story is impressive as both a reader and as a writer reading it. The use of anaphora/repetition and a very clever narrative conceit work to the story's advantage. 2nd person "You" POV is one of those things that either goes totally right and it's amazing, or terribly wrong and it's a mess -- but nothing in between. It's a bold choice for the story that works. And the subject matter requires you to be all in. For me, it worked. You will not want Pepsi for a while.
THE WALKING HOURS -- I took a break before reading this because Honeymoon was so intense. I'm glad I did, because I came back to this story ready for it and it's probably my 2nd favorite in the collection. It fused the idea of a traditional vampire with (I think?) the Filipino manananggal. If you've read the short story Good Girls by Isabel Yap you'd probably like this story too. It's all that and also kind of the weirdest fusion with an I Love Lucy aesthetic...plus bood.
THE FRUITS OF WARTIME: Mix The Great Gatsby with Secretary and you'll be in the right neighborhood. The end of this one is frustrating, but authentic. I hated how true it was but that's not RJH's fault. It's what the story required and the landing line is pretty graceful for a story that's not soft at all.
WOMAN OF THE WHITE COTTAGE: This follows a great tradition of "cottage witch" and then segues into Victorian medical horror. This story reminded me a lot of Jilly Dreadful's work and Emilie Autumn's Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls. It's creepy and icky and cruel, and I'm glad I pushed through to the end (and I'm glad the EIC did too.) The landing line is MASTERFUL and exactly the kind of resolution I wanted.
LITTLE BLACK DEATH -- This one had a very Angela Carter/ Anne Rice feel to it. The prose felt like a fairy tale, but not one you've heard of, and it still felt familiar. It is a dark fairy tale and feels both timeless and timely.
IN HIS HANDS -- Similar to The VVitch and Slewfoot (kind of), this story takes the traditional "burn the witch" story and turns it on its side. Like Woman of the White Cottage, the landing line of the story is savage. What a note to end the collection on.
Thanks for reading to the end! This book belongs in your favorite dusty attic or other place that your creepy self goes to read books and be left alone.
September 26, 2023
This was a great collection of neo-Gothic and Gothic short stories. The prose is taut and elegant, and each story seamlessly draws the reader in. The measured pace and ever-so-slight narrative detachment work really well together to amp up the creepiness of each tale. You can feel the protagonists' mounting terror in the face of inescapable cruelty, often at the hands of those who are supposed to love or protect them. Some of my favorites from the collection include "Honeymoon" and "Woman in the White Cottage," which both gave me the surrealist vibes of Joe Koch's novella The Wingspan of Severed Hands, along with "Hostages," a heartbreaking tale of trauma recovery, and "The Red House," a chilling modern-day domestic noir.
I am giving 4 instead of 5 stars because there are a few stories that aren't as strong as the rest, but as a whole, this is an excellent collection by a skilled author.
I am giving 4 instead of 5 stars because there are a few stories that aren't as strong as the rest, but as a whole, this is an excellent collection by a skilled author.
July 21, 2024
ENDING IN ASHES is a deeply unsettling, disturbing set of short stories that are the epitome of the gothic genre. Jones-Howe is proof that you don't need a looming mansion or ghosts in the walls in order for a story to embody gothic. Liminal space and the ghosts in a person's own head are enough. Honeymoon hit me in a way that I wasn't expecting. The repetition of it, the unending cycle of abuse and pain, so indicative of reality, yet it gives me a supernatural edge that dances the line between the two expertly. And of course, like the editor's note, Woman of the White Cottage was truly horrific. Like deeply, deeply unsettling in the injustice of it all. Made all the more horrifying because even though the story itself is fiction, it's rooted in a mirror of non-fiction so real it's inescapable. If you're looking to dip your toe in the gothic pool and aren't sure where to start, start right here with ENDING IN ASHES. It's perfect.
January 14, 2024
Worst way to start a review? Saying short stories aren’t my thing. Also saying I’ve never gotten into “gothic” fiction other than… does Michael McDowell count? But, as is the case with this book. The indie community is pushing out gothic horror that I absolutely love. Saying I enjoyed Ending in Ashes is a bit of a weird thing to say; the book is for the most part devastating. There’s a sense of dread hiding in the corner of every sentence. Each story feels like its own little glimpse into a different world, world’s where foreboding hangs over each individual like a cloud ready to downpour at a moments notice. Something really special Jones-Howe did here is the time periods of the stories. Each is set in a different year, some as recent as the pandemic, some as old as the Salem witch trials. Jones-Howe manages to make each time frame feel like what you expect gothic horror to feel like. You feel like you’re walking down a concrete stair set with a candle, but you’re reading about a beach house. This is the book and authors strength, a timelessness that can raise the hairs on your neck no matter the setting. Read this in the winter, either by one of those fake fireplaces, or in a hot bubble bath. Trust. K thx.
September 12, 2023
Ending In Ashes is a triumph. Delicious, devastating, and so so moreish.
I devoured this collection, I honestly couldn't get enough! Honeymoon in particular has stuck with me. It's one of the most twisted, unhinged stories I've ever read. A part of me wanted to avert my eyes, whilst another hungrier part of me wanted more.
The eroticism is raw and unfiltered. A shock and a joy to read in equal measure.
True to the genre, the stories in Ending In Ashes legit frightened me. Why? Because the actions of the men in these stories are things that happen in real life. Men are able to commit these atrocities and walk away unscathed. Every single woman has a scary story about a man; this book is just the tip of the iceberg in that regard.
I had already read a few of the stories in Ending In Ashes, having come across them in various other Quill & Crow anthologies, as well as in their free monthly magazine, The Crow's Quill (which I also highly recommend. Free stories and poems every month? Yes please!).
All in all, a gorgeously written collection. A definite must for anyone seeking a revival of such a classic genre!
I devoured this collection, I honestly couldn't get enough! Honeymoon in particular has stuck with me. It's one of the most twisted, unhinged stories I've ever read. A part of me wanted to avert my eyes, whilst another hungrier part of me wanted more.
The eroticism is raw and unfiltered. A shock and a joy to read in equal measure.
True to the genre, the stories in Ending In Ashes legit frightened me. Why? Because the actions of the men in these stories are things that happen in real life. Men are able to commit these atrocities and walk away unscathed. Every single woman has a scary story about a man; this book is just the tip of the iceberg in that regard.
I had already read a few of the stories in Ending In Ashes, having come across them in various other Quill & Crow anthologies, as well as in their free monthly magazine, The Crow's Quill (which I also highly recommend. Free stories and poems every month? Yes please!).
All in all, a gorgeously written collection. A definite must for anyone seeking a revival of such a classic genre!
May 22, 2023
Here’s a collection by a writer who has enormous potential, as shown in some of her best stories. Unfortunately the present collection ( featuring mostly reprints) is a mixed bag of both excellent tales and of unremarkable stuff, which justifies my four-star evaluation instead of a five-star rating.
The best stories, to me, are the following.
“ Hostages” is a truly outstanding , spellbinding novelette depicting the magic story of a man and the woman suffering the tragic consequences of a robbery taking place inside a cafeteria.
“The Walking Hours” is an offbeat story portraying a married couple
( the husband a man obsessed with war memories and the wife a sleepwalker) and their difficult relationship with their neighbors.
In the cruel “ Little Black Death” a woman from a poor village marries the local squire ,gives birth to three girls and finally to the long-awaited male heir.
“ In His Hands” is a vivid piece about witchcraft and the pleasures of the flesh.
The author is an extremely gifted writer and I’m looking forward to her future, more mature work.
The best stories, to me, are the following.
“ Hostages” is a truly outstanding , spellbinding novelette depicting the magic story of a man and the woman suffering the tragic consequences of a robbery taking place inside a cafeteria.
“The Walking Hours” is an offbeat story portraying a married couple
( the husband a man obsessed with war memories and the wife a sleepwalker) and their difficult relationship with their neighbors.
In the cruel “ Little Black Death” a woman from a poor village marries the local squire ,gives birth to three girls and finally to the long-awaited male heir.
“ In His Hands” is a vivid piece about witchcraft and the pleasures of the flesh.
The author is an extremely gifted writer and I’m looking forward to her future, more mature work.
August 21, 2023
Ending in Ashes is an appropriately named collection. Gothic poetic erotica with shades of gore and horror. Rather than feeling the tickling of fear or paranoia, I tended to leave a story with a gloomy mood, let down by the perpetual failures of every lead (or the world around them). Wonderful prose and addicting telling throughout.
Most of the protagonists sounded pretty similar, and it lessened the intended impact of their woes between different narratives. As a result, I couldn't always be absorbed into the contemporary-ish ones, yet that did make the historical fiction ones stick out.
'Honeymoon' would be the lengthy standout for me for the thoughtful play with second and first person perspective. 'Little Black Death' was the shorter one that I drew me in the most.
Enjoyed this book overall due to its united feel. In that way, it reminded me more of a chapbook. Interested to read other works by Jones-Howe.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Most of the protagonists sounded pretty similar, and it lessened the intended impact of their woes between different narratives. As a result, I couldn't always be absorbed into the contemporary-ish ones, yet that did make the historical fiction ones stick out.
'Honeymoon' would be the lengthy standout for me for the thoughtful play with second and first person perspective. 'Little Black Death' was the shorter one that I drew me in the most.
Enjoyed this book overall due to its united feel. In that way, it reminded me more of a chapbook. Interested to read other works by Jones-Howe.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 2, 2023
Ending in Ashes is a delightfully haunting collection of short stories. The cover of the book is beautiful and perfectly encapsulates what you'll find within the pages.
I love how the stories spanned many different styles of the Gothic genre. The style of writing adapts perfectly for each setting and I really enjoyed the arrangement of the stories by the time period they were set in. Rebecca Jones-Howe does an incredible job of writing bite-sized tales of gothic horror that are quick to read, stick with you, and leave you with a feeling of unease.
One thing to note - if you are looking for trigger warnings for each story they are located at the back of the book (in my copy at least).
*Disclaimer: I was generously provided with an ARC from the Quill & Crow Publishing House. However, all viewpoints expressed above are my own!
I love how the stories spanned many different styles of the Gothic genre. The style of writing adapts perfectly for each setting and I really enjoyed the arrangement of the stories by the time period they were set in. Rebecca Jones-Howe does an incredible job of writing bite-sized tales of gothic horror that are quick to read, stick with you, and leave you with a feeling of unease.
One thing to note - if you are looking for trigger warnings for each story they are located at the back of the book (in my copy at least).
*Disclaimer: I was generously provided with an ARC from the Quill & Crow Publishing House. However, all viewpoints expressed above are my own!
December 26, 2023
I really enjoyed the themes and concepts discussed in this book of short stories. Rebecca is an imaginative author, and clearly works to integrate complex social realities into her writing to assure that it touches the reader in a very specific way. The technical writing components could have been a bit stronger for me, and the prose was jilted in many stories which may have been intentional but took me out of the stories a few times so I did skip the endings of a couple. Overall a strong compilation by an emerging writer that I would recommend to those that like gothic fiction
August 11, 2023
The last few years I have gotten more into the gothic theme of stories, specifically gothic horror. So when I saw this book I really wanted to give it a shot. I'm really glad I did because I really enjoyed this book. The stories were well thought out and well written and I was sucked into each one I read. Would be interested in reading more from this author in the future.
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.
September 11, 2023
I received an ARC copy of Ending In Ashes in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
I thoroughly enjoyed Ending In Ashes. Rebecca Jones-Howe skillfully builds suspense and tension while employing a minimalist writing style that I found very impressive.
The emotions and plits of her protagonists are visceral and heartbreaking, you can't help but feel as though you're in the darkness with them.
I look forward to reading more from this author! Very well done
I thoroughly enjoyed Ending In Ashes. Rebecca Jones-Howe skillfully builds suspense and tension while employing a minimalist writing style that I found very impressive.
The emotions and plits of her protagonists are visceral and heartbreaking, you can't help but feel as though you're in the darkness with them.
I look forward to reading more from this author! Very well done
August 4, 2023
Some of these stories left me unsettled in the best of ways. I really enjoyed the writing style, but I felt like some stories cut off when I needed more. I'm definitely curious about the writer now and look forward to reading some longer works.
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.
September 6, 2023
This neo-gothic story collection tackles contemporary themes in a unique and timeless way. Relentlessly chilling and claustrophobic, this book will leave you as unsettled as you would wish to be from the best gothic writing!
March 3, 2024
Packed full of classic gothic goodness, with an emphasis on 20th century historical fiction. If you're looking for horror, you may be underwhelmed, but when it comes to the gothic, Jones-Howe knew the assignment.
June 13, 2023
Highly provocative and poetic.
July 2, 2023
Readers will be hard pressed to find a more engrossing set of gothic short stories than "Ending in Ashes." With stories ranging from present day to the Salem Witch Trials, there is no shortage of variety. The central theme is women and the vile men that surround them. My personal favorites were "A Patient, A Guest" and "The Fruits of Wartime." The stories vary in length, but all pull the reader in until they end, leaving you in various stages of unease. These stories will make you uncomfortable, but in the best way!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Merged review:
Ending in Ashes is a collection of neo-Gothic stories that explore the classic genre through a raw and salacious lens. Spanning across time, from the Salem Witch Trials to the Covid-19 pandemic, Rebecca Jones-Howe stays true to traditional Gothic themes as she boldly explores human depravity and how it relates to the experience of womanhood. A serial killer succumbs to justice in the 17th century. A reclusive village woman is institutionalized, only to find her best self in the confines of her room. A newly-married couple finds their happily-ever-after in a heart-shaped tub in the Poconos. Two trauma survivors meet in a winter village and embark on an affair that blurs reality itself. Ending in Ashes is a tome of modern horrors waiting to be uncovered, each tale functioning as a warning that some tropes truly withstand the test of time.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Merged review:
Ending in Ashes is a collection of neo-Gothic stories that explore the classic genre through a raw and salacious lens. Spanning across time, from the Salem Witch Trials to the Covid-19 pandemic, Rebecca Jones-Howe stays true to traditional Gothic themes as she boldly explores human depravity and how it relates to the experience of womanhood. A serial killer succumbs to justice in the 17th century. A reclusive village woman is institutionalized, only to find her best self in the confines of her room. A newly-married couple finds their happily-ever-after in a heart-shaped tub in the Poconos. Two trauma survivors meet in a winter village and embark on an affair that blurs reality itself. Ending in Ashes is a tome of modern horrors waiting to be uncovered, each tale functioning as a warning that some tropes truly withstand the test of time.
September 30, 2024
I just wasn't a fan of this one. The author certainly has a distinct voice, but it harmed some of the stories for me, making the narrators/protagonists feel the same throughout time and place. One story took me 'til the end to realize the narrator was a male because of how similar he felt to the other stories' main characters.
I was pretty bored by the modern day stories, so I was excited to get to the ones set in the past, but only "The Walking Hours" ended up feeling authentic. The rest only used thin misogyny (in my opinion) and mentions of corsets (blah, blah, corsets bad) to try to cement a feeling of time and place. I wasn't buying it. Also, there were far too many mentions of taste and tongues and mouths and licking and teeth. It was just jarring to see it so many times (and not really as a cohesive theme).
In the end, the only stories I enjoyed were "The Red House", "A Lesson in Sophistication", "Honeymoon" (this one would make a sick short film), and "The Walking Hours". Even then, I expected the collection to be more scary overall. If you want to feel creeped out and perverted, this collection works for that, but not scared, horrified, or thrilled (at least not for me). It's billed as gothic horror, but I generally like gothic horror, and I didn't really feel a sense of gothic in this collection. Only the overt mentions of the genre in "Honeymoon".
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was pretty bored by the modern day stories, so I was excited to get to the ones set in the past, but only "The Walking Hours" ended up feeling authentic. The rest only used thin misogyny (in my opinion) and mentions of corsets (blah, blah, corsets bad) to try to cement a feeling of time and place. I wasn't buying it. Also, there were far too many mentions of taste and tongues and mouths and licking and teeth. It was just jarring to see it so many times (and not really as a cohesive theme).
In the end, the only stories I enjoyed were "The Red House", "A Lesson in Sophistication", "Honeymoon" (this one would make a sick short film), and "The Walking Hours". Even then, I expected the collection to be more scary overall. If you want to feel creeped out and perverted, this collection works for that, but not scared, horrified, or thrilled (at least not for me). It's billed as gothic horror, but I generally like gothic horror, and I didn't really feel a sense of gothic in this collection. Only the overt mentions of the genre in "Honeymoon".
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 8, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this collection of short gothic-style stories. Period stories are a place I often go to so this collection was right up my alley.
Personal favorites would have to be The Walking Hours and In His Hands.
Great book cover, also!
In addition, it is a great idea to have trigger warnings at the end of the book. Even though I don't personally use them myself, it will be highly beneficial for those that do.
My personal thanks to both the author and publisher for sending me an ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy) of this book. My rating is in no way biased and is my own personal opinion.
Highly recommended book!
Five out of five black, gothic cloaks.
Personal favorites would have to be The Walking Hours and In His Hands.
Great book cover, also!
In addition, it is a great idea to have trigger warnings at the end of the book. Even though I don't personally use them myself, it will be highly beneficial for those that do.
My personal thanks to both the author and publisher for sending me an ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy) of this book. My rating is in no way biased and is my own personal opinion.
Highly recommended book!
Five out of five black, gothic cloaks.
January 25, 2025
“No man is a good man.”
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Ending in Ashes by Rebecca Jones-Howe is a searing, epoch-spanning, neo-gothic collection that explores womanhood and depravity, fear and abuse, autonomy and violation, trauma and damage. Filled with vile men, brutal experiences, and fearless writing, the stories are as horrific and salacious as they are raw and page-turning. Favorites include: “The Fruits of Wartime (1920),” “Woman of the White Cottage (1912),” “Little Black Death (1875),” and “In His Hands (1692).”
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Ending in Ashes by Rebecca Jones-Howe is a searing, epoch-spanning, neo-gothic collection that explores womanhood and depravity, fear and abuse, autonomy and violation, trauma and damage. Filled with vile men, brutal experiences, and fearless writing, the stories are as horrific and salacious as they are raw and page-turning. Favorites include: “The Fruits of Wartime (1920),” “Woman of the White Cottage (1912),” “Little Black Death (1875),” and “In His Hands (1692).”
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