Joined in 2023 
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The Gargoyle by Bridget Collins: This one gave me the major creeps. I won't go as far as saying I didn't like it, because that makes it sound like I didn't like the story or it wasn't well written or well received. Which it was. But it really freaked me out, I could feel it getting under my skin. I had to have a pause after this one to regroup. Grab some mulled wine and a warm blanket, and get ready for a night in with some of your favourite modern gothic and horror authors. This collection of 12 Christmas stories all take place at Yuletide, or advent, but with such a uniquely dark flair that makes something absolutely captivating. It's both deliriously spooky and oddly cosy at the same time; with familiar themes but wrapped up totally differently as we explore remote highlands, dark rooms and seemingly stately homes.
A father longs to keep traditions alive but when myth mixes with reality,he will find not only himself in danger but also the son he only tried to keep safe. The Hanging of the Greens’ by Andrew Michael Hurley: YES!! This is what I came here for! The narrator’s tale is about something in his past he has never been able to forget, from a time when he was young and passionately devout. It’s a story about a broken alcoholic, the family who take him in, and how that relationship sours. It contains a wonderfully cinematic sequence in which our protagonist is shown a sequence of events he cannot change. Not only is Hurley’s story by far the best in the book, it is also an excellent distillation of the themes ever-present in his work: religion, insular communities, tradition, folklore. (It made me want to revisit his best book, Devil’s Day, which I did immediately after finishing this.) Evelyn is at the Chillingham estate to attend her sister, Susan, and Victor Chillingham's wedding. When she has an accident whilst riding a horse and is confined to a guest house, Evelyn's mother thinks that Evelyn is jealous and regrets refusing Victor's hand in marriage and for a second even Evelyn thinks the same as Victor has been nothing but attentive and kind to Evelyn even when he is about to marry Susan. Could all the talk about Victor Chillingham being a gambler be wrong? When she is seated in Victor's father's wheelchair, some secrets are uncovered but what do they mean for the Chillingham estate, and more importantly what do they mean for Evelyn? What sets this anthology apart from its predecessor, 'The Haunting Season,' is its shift towards the realm of the uncanny. While ghosts still play a role, the inclusion of stories that delve into the supernatural and the mysterious adds depth and diversity to the reading experience. This evolution enhances the overall quality of the book, making it a more compelling and engaging read. Colgando las guirnaldas de Andrew Michael Hurley. Esta es la historia de Edward Clarke, un hombre que aborrece la navidad y sus decoraciones, la razón se esconde en el momento en que conoce a Joe Gull. La premisa es interesante, pero un tanto confusa, la parte sobrenatural no logré hallarla. 3/5
I didn't understand it. Ok, that's normal. I love the author but if I cannot understand his novels how did I ever expect to understand short stories??? I will give it another go in the end. The Hanging of the Greens - 3 stars. A man comes to a church meeting seeking forgiveness, and leaves a lasting impression on a parishioner. I liked the set up for this one, it's very Christmassy and frosty. You can almost smell the resin on the wreaths. However the plot feels very disjointed and doesn't really make much sense. Longing to escape those who are hunting him,Jasper Godolphin soon finds himself trapped within the madness of his own making.
This was bad. I mean really bad. It is definitely my least favorite story in the collection. I had a feeling that Victor was being punished for something but I couldn't figure out what for? I thought they would reveal Mabel to be a selkie but was never done. Also, if anyone needed to be punished, it was Mabel. That end was so disappointing. An orphan who has been part of dark deception for years finally may have a chance to break free from her captor.You won’t find a more thrilling winter read this year, or a better line up of writers who have mastered the gothic and ghostly.’ SARA COLLINS, Costa Award-winning author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton thwaite’s tenant – this was the first point at which i was like, oh, wow, there has been no thought on the part of these authors going into the material they’re working with (Victorian Woman Disease like completely sincerely) or the discursive terrain that their setting envelops. boring attempt at so-called ‘feminism’ (isn’t it so hard to be a bourgeois victorian woman?) and a gross, thoughtless deployment of sex work. really set the tone for the rest of the anthology so maybe i’ll redact my comment about this selection having no structure to it whatsoever. also just poorly executed, as ever. Interessante per l’ambientazione e i riferimenti al mondo degli scacchi. L’idea della casa appartenuta a un grande maestro con tutti i dettagli del caso ha reso questo racconto particolare, ma la narrazione è stata piuttosto prevedibile, così come il finale. Carino, ma come prima novella poteva essere meglio.
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