This review first appeared in Horrified magazine As a frequent visitor to the county – my wife is Cornish – I came to this new addition to the British Library’s excellent Tales of the Weird series with great excitement. However, unlike the thousands of holidaymakers who flock to the Duchy every year, I left it … Continue reading Review: “Cornish Horrors: Tales From the Land’s End”
This review first appeared in Horrified magazine in 2021. The word ‘parochial’ is almost always used pejoratively, but it needn’t be. It’s commonly used to dismiss something as being only of local concern, as if there’s a mythical ‘centre’ which is more relevant or important than the ‘local’. After all, we all live ‘local’ lives. … Continue reading Review: “Cheslyn Myre” by Dan Weatherer
This review first appeared in Horrified magazine, 2021 Freelance copywriter Fen and thriller-writer fiancé James have moved from a tiny flat in London to a new house in the open countryside of Highland Perthshire. James is busy promoting a new book, while Fen prepares for their wedding and sets up home. It should be a … Continue reading Review: ‘Too Near the Dead’ by Helen Grant
This review first appeared in Horrified magazine, 2021 Forests, as William P. Simmons writes in the appetite-whetting introduction to this absorbing anthology, are the seat of humanity’s primal fears. Literally or metaphorically, these dark liminal zones are the source of all folk tales and horror: ‘nature is horrifyingly, deliciously alive in a wild, uncompromising manner … Continue reading Review: ‘Wildwood – Tales of Terror & Transformation From the Forest’ ed. William P. Simmons
This review first appeared in Horrified magazine in 2021 First of all, that’s a great title. This debut solo collection from J.C. Michael is an intriguing mix, showing talent and ambition. Michael lists James Herbert and Clive Barker among his influences, so this collection seemed to be right up my street. How did it bear … Continue reading Review: ‘Everything’s Annoying’ by J.C. Michael
This review first appeared in Horrified magazine. I’ve no head for mathematics, but the premise of this anthology – the latest in the British Library’s Tales of the Weird series – had me excited. I looked forward to having my brain twisted into new and strange configurations by tales of unearthly geometry and sinister equations, … Continue reading Review: ‘Dangerous Dimensions: Mind-bending Tales of the Mathematical Weird’ ed. Henry Bartholomew
This review first appeared in Horrified magazine This mini-collection appears to be a sampler for a series of four Elements of Horror collections by Blakey-Novis, and each of the eight short tales within is associated with a particular element. Home shows great promise, and Blakey-Novis writes well, but several of the stories don’t quite deliver … Continue reading Review: ‘Home & Other Stories’ by P.J. Blakey-Novis
This review originally appeared in Horrified, February 2021. Graham Masterton needs little introduction to British horror fans. Although never attaining the high profile of the late James Herbert, or the notoriety of Shaun Hutson – with both of whom his work shares a level of gore – he has a similarly impressively backlist. Managing to … Continue reading Review: ‘The Children God Forgot’ by Graham Masterton
Oh, this is luscious. Produced by Phil and Sarah Stokes, the forces behind Clive Barker's official website, this huge book (350+ pages) is copiously illustrated with cover artwork, behind-the-scenes photos from the likes of Hellraiser and Nightbreed, rare promo materials and Barker's own sketches and paintings. For those Barker fans who already own Stephen Jones's … Continue reading ‘Clive Barker’s Dark Worlds’
"The veil between the worlds is thinning." Whether Hellebore editor Maria J Perez Cuervo is referring to Samhain specifically, or knows something we don't, I'm not sure. But I do know that there's no more appropriate time of year to consider the barrier between this world and others. Issue 8's tutelary spirit is William Blake … Continue reading Zine review: ‘Hellebore – The Unveiling issue’
Into the Gyre 