When Neighbors Feud: For the Sake of Brigid weaves a witch's spell of revenge into one of comeuppance and triumph

 

 

For the Sake of Brigid

Nora B. Peevy

Unveiling Nightmares, 2024

Ebook, 54 ppg.

ISBN: 979-8893795394 (Paperback)

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For the Sake of Brigid is a story of a neighborly spat unlike any other I have ever read. When it comes to two women who have their own particular preference of animals – Norah with her bees and Lydia with her horses – the war is on, with the poor horses being a part of the sacrifice! These feuding neighbors can’t seem to forgive and forget, but since it was the bees and horses that were the unfortunate victims, there is no forgiving or forgetting.

 

And little do they know that the same applies to the goddess, Brigid.

 

I absolutely LOVED how the stories of the Old Ways are woven into this story. They come alive in this story just as they are alive all around us.

 

Another thing I really liked about this story was how positively Norah’s witchcraft practice is portrayed, although there are moments of dark magic practiced. Yes, the part with the blood and chopping off the finger made me squirm, but I was very pleased to see the accuracy, consistency and true-to-lifeness of witchcraft portrayed in this story. There are so many stories out there where witches are portrayed in a negative light, complete with stereotypes and misconceptions. You won’t find any of that here!

 

But the darker side of what happens when you mess with a witch is shown in this story, too. The gore! The horror! This extreme horror story was brutal and relentless. It is not a story for the faint of heart. It is so well-written and well-told. The moral of this story? Don’t fuck with a witch!

 

The ending of this story was VERY satisfying and I really enjoyed reading it. It is a story that will long stay with me and it has certainly given me a new sense of appreciation for bees.

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Short fiction with humorous and unexpected twists: Only Animals is a collection of entertaining speculative stories

 

Only Animals

Chelsea Sutton

Wrong Publishing, 2024

Ebook, 44 ppg.

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Only Animals by Chelsea Sutton is an eclectic and creative collection of stories that I truly enjoyed reading. These stories left me thinking outside the box and had me delve into a series of imagery and symbolism to grasp their meanings.

 

"Fish Bowl: a play" was a very interesting and very curious story. It has that whole "turning of the tables" feel to it. As was "The Fold." I loved the open ending of "The Stargazer" because it left much to the reader's imagination.

 

"There Is No Baby In This Story" said so much with so little. I loved how Auggie stayed resolute in her decision not to give in to her mother's expectations. In fact, Auggie was such a lovable character in this story! I kinda knew what her mother meant about finally understanding the value of the unpleasant highchair one day, but for Auggie, it was just a thing that was too uncomfortable for her to sit in or enjoy as a baby. Yet instead of getting rid of it after it comes into her possession, she honors her mother's feelings for it in such a beautiful way.

 

The title story was an excellent read. It says so much about how we handle grief. Grief is different for everyone, but some people think it must be the same for everyone everywhere. I like how the daughter finds someone to connect with in the grief support group and the discussions they have. And I absolutely LOVED the ending of this story, how it all comes together.

 

Only Animals is a collection of stories that takes the reader beyond a normal reading experience. It pulls the reader into a world where everything is upside down and inside out. It offers readers bits and pieces of truth and meaning, holding its breath as it waits for the reader to finally gasp with understanding. That understanding shines this story collection in a brand-new light, one in which this reader was grateful to have the chance of experiencing.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Danger lurks in them there mountains: Shadows of Appalachia is a collection of haunting, spooky stories

 

 

Shadows of Appalachia

D.L. Winchester

Undertaker Books, 2024

Ebook, 50 ppg.

ASIN: B0CK9JNF6Q

ISBN: 9798865850434

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In the mood for some down-home, bare bones and spinetingling tales sure to please? Then check out the short story collection by D.L. Winchester, Shadows of Appalachia. This chapbook of stories provides good scares, thought-provoking stories, and lasting impressions of life in the great beyond you won’t want to miss. I read every story in this book and loved them all!

 

You don’t need to be familiar with the Appalachian lifestyle, folklore or habits in order to “get” what’s going on in these stories, but it does help. I was never exposed to anyone from that area in the past, but I have met some folks from there, though they don’t really share much about the history. Even so, I have read of such things, so it helped me to understand some things about the goings-on in the characters’ lives.

 

But this is not to say these stories are for readers familiar with such things. No, a lot of the stories are relatable to other people and places – parents, teenagers, veterans and the like. There’s a lot in these stories that really pulled me in and tugged at my heartstrings. But there was also scary stuff in these stories, too. So scary that I almost stopped reading! They were a good read for scary stories and I enjoyed them a lot.

 

The “Wolf Creek” story was eerie. Not because of what happens in it (though that is definitely eerie!) but because I read this story as an author. I created a fictional town for my middle grade paranormal mystery series, though the state it is in is real. I could totally understand the character’s consternation and shock at what he discovered in Wolf Creek, in the story. And I started to get goosebumps. I wonder if that has ever happened to an author? That would be so bizarre! And “slender man in a black suit” REALLY gave me chills! EEK! (If you know, you know.) This is my favorite line from that story: “"Some are limited to what others can dream up, ideas like heaven, hell or purgatory. But rare ones, artists, writers, and the like, are able to find a home beyond what others can create." (Page 48) This author can dream.

 

Shadows of Appalachia is a short collection of stories that will entertain while also chilling readers to the bone. In a mix of stories spanning old tales, family regrets and haunts from the past, this book will leave readers satisfied by well-told stories and hungry for more tales from this author. I look forward to reading more of his work.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.