If you’re a fan of short stories – then you’ll need this one on that TBR.
Thank you Titan Books for the gifted copy!
BOUND IN BLOOD: STORIES OF CURSED BOOKS, DAMNED LIBRARIES, AND UNEARTHLY HORROS – Johnny Mains (Released September 10th, 2024)
Book Description:
A chilling anthology of over 20 stories of cursed and haunted books; featuring malevolent second-hand books, cursed novelizations, unsettling journals and the end of the world.
You find it hidden in the dark corner of the bookstore; tucked away in a box in the attic, desperate to be read; lurking on your bookshelf, never seen before. Crack the spine, feel the ancient pages. Read it aloud, if you dare.
From award-winning authors including Eric LaRocca, Charlie Higson, Kim Newman and A.G. Slatter, this anthology brings together horror’s best and brightest to delve into the pages of cursed books, Eldtritch tomes and haunted bookstores, perfect for fans of When Things Get Dark.
My Thoughts: 4/5 stars
Do you like short stories? Do you like horror? Do you like books about books? If you said to any, then this should be on your TBR! In this anthology, we get haunted and cursed books in the form of journals, photo albums, cursed books, and even all the way up to the Necronomican itself.
As with all anthologies, there are always going to be some standouts and some that are lackluster – which varies from reader to reader, of course. I recognized some authors, but the majority were new to me authors, which made this more exciting going in. I feel expectations can be set far too high when you know and love all of the authors involved, so I was excited to be introduced to some new ones under the horror umbrella!
I’d say while most are horror, I think a couple wander off into more science fiction/fantasy, some speculative fiction, but the overwhelming majority are horror in some way! I think my three standouts were “Bell, Book and Lamp,” by A.G. Slatter, “The Man Who Collected Barker” by Kim Newman, and “Near Zennor,” by Elizabeth Hand.
Loved the variety – in the stories, the tones, the subgenres, the styles. While it’s not a new theme to horror, I think these were all done very well, and we’re unique in their own ways. Some made me think, “How do they come up with this stuff??” Which is never a bad thing in this genre!
Jessicamap Reviews 