The Winter Spirits:Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights
by Bridget Collins; Imogen Hermes Gowar; Natasha Pulley; Jess Kidd; Andrew Michael Hurley; Elizabeth Macneal; Laura Purcell; Kiran Millwood Hargrave; Stuart Turton; Catriona Ward; Laura Shepherd-Robinson; Susan Stokes-Chapman
ISBN 9781408727584
Here is a collection of Christmas stories with a twist, solidly in the holiday ghost story tradition. And what a fabulous collection it is! Usually in any short story collection there is at least one story that I am not that thrilled about. Not so here. Each story was wonderful in its own chilling way. These are not holly jolly Christmas stories, There is a sense of menace and creepiness to all of them. One story was like Bluebeard with a twist and another reminded me in a vague way of The Lottery. Settings range from old country houses to remote island villas to a small house next to a church in a seaside village and more. The writing is superb. In her story, The Gargoyle, Bridget Collins describes 'window boxes foaming with lobelia.' What a perfect description! All the stories take place at Advent, Christmas, or New Year's Eve. This is my first time reading most of these authors, but I would happily read more of their work based on this collection. I was a little sorry when I got to the end--glad to have had the reading experience, but bummed that it was over. Definitely 5 stars! And isn't the cover image great?! I've just noticed they changed the cover from 'frosty nights' to 'festive nights.' My copy had the former.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a digital ARC.
8 comments:
I don’t think too many parents will be reading this to the kids as a bedtime story! And, yes, the cover is terrific.
Definitely not for the kids! :-)
I've been looking for some Halloween type books to read. Glad you enjoyed it so much.
Weird Women and Weird Women 2 are also great!
I just love the cover and the inside sounds very good!
All the best Jan
I don't know what it is, but that cover just makes me smile :-) Happy weekend, Jan!
I'm also going to go look this one up too. Thanks again Shari.
It occurs to me that maybe the frosty/festive issue is a difference in publication location. Either way, it's a great collection!
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