Author: Anna Faúndez

Song of the Sparrow

Song of the Sparrow
By Lisa Ann Sandell

Very few books have stayed with me since I was a child; that lasting impact is elusive and unquantifiable. The list for me doesn’t even use one hand: The Giver, The Two Princesses of Bamarre, and Shadow Spinner have been books I’ve thought about every now and then as I’ve grown up. Some I’ve reread. Song of the Sparrow is another book my mind has drifted to over and over.

There is something about this book that captured my attention, and I distinctly remember being unable to put it down. It’s a relatively short read, even for YA.

Now, with the more discerning eye of the writer and editor, I’ve reread my childhood favorite. I’m happy to report I love Song of the Sparrow as much as I did in the past, if not more.

So what drew me to this book and hooked me? The emotions. Song of the Sparrow is filled with a level of emotional maturity I rarely see in books. Its prose is poetic and lilting, written entirely in the lyrical form. (This book is 100% responsible for my early poetry curiosity.) And Sandell delivers. She writes of friendship, growing up, infatuation, young love, family, and so much more.

Elaine of Ascolat is the main character. She is sixteen, and she has grown up in a military camp surrounded by men who love her as family. Her story, her coming of age, is beautiful, and I’m struggling to say everything I want to without extreme spoilers. Of course, with Arthurian legend, many characters are going to be familiar: Arthur (of course,) Lancelot, Gwynevere, Morgan, and Merlin are just a few. But Sandell makes them people rather than legends. OK, maybe Merlin is still just as “wizardy” and odd as he is in most legends, but everyone else is definitely their own person with their own thoughts, beliefs, and ideas! They clash, forgive, confess, and cry. The emotional vulnerability and authenticity shown in Sandell’s book, through her characters, brings them to life.

Just like The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Song of the Sparrow had an impact on how I viewed romantic relationships and what I decided I wanted for myself. The huge, dramatic love I saw in movies and in most books always had so much yelling and heartbreak and, well, drama. And it never set right with me. What I wanted—what I needed—was love born from deep friendship. Song of the Sparrow is one of the few books that showed me it was possible, that what I wanted was something worth dreaming about. As I write this review, I’m twenty-eight, and I’ve married my best friend. So really, I have two books to thank for helping make my dreams come true.

Bottom line? I am forever impressed with Song of the Sparrow, in love with its form and characters, and, if you need me, I’ll be searching for anything else Sandell has written.

~ Anna
(Entry 36)

July 4, 2023
Goodbye Lemon

Goodbye Lemon
By Adam Davies

Okay, gang. Get out your tissues and your dictionaries—as is tradition with a Davies novel.

While The Frog King and Mine All Mine are both pretty good in their own right, Goodbye Lemon stands out from this crowd of three.

Fair warning though: this book is an emotionally taxing read. It’s good! Very good. Buuut maybe don’t read it while struggling with major depression or family-related trauma. Or alcoholism. To each their own, of course, but this book is heavy. I’m glad I saved it all these years to read. My twenty-year-old self wouldn’t have been ready or had the appreciation I find myself having for Goodbye Lemon now.

Now that we have our dictionaries, let’s settle in! Goodbye Lemon is a love letter to a loss of innocence and the people who are left behind after a death. It deals very heavily with themes of grief, guilt, and blame. You, the reader, are not really here for a “good time;” there be no light-hearted fun here. Goodbye Lemon is painfully, heart-breakingly realistic, and it is not ashamed of that fact. Which is one of the reasons it’s so good. In some ways, this book felt like a memoir in its presentation and honesty.

And, just like his other novels, Davies likes to center in on one very-messed-up person and poke and prod them to see how they react and what they say. But his characters are just that: people. And that’s especially clear in Goodbye Lemon.

While mystery is a part of the story, it’s not the point. I figured pretty early on what the “big reveal” would be, but that guess didn’t take away from the story. In fact, I think it made me more curious. I wanted to know how Jack—the main character—got there; I wanted to follow his journey, his thoughts, and his actions. I wanted to see how his relationships would change. Would he sink? Or would he swim?

Overall, yes, Goodbye Lemon is absolutely worth a read. I finished it on a rainy evening while sitting quietly with my spouse, which was a good way to end this somber story with a ray of hope in its final pages.

~ Anna
(Entry 35)

May 15, 2023
The Miniaturist

The Miniaturist
By Jessie Burton

This book isn’t my usual vein of historical fiction. I’m partial to Tudor era drama whenever I delve into the genre. However, I did like The Miniaturist overall.

Its pace is slow, but the writing is solid and enjoyable. Nothing felt overly described or melodramatic. Sometimes the narrator, Nella, felt more like an observer to her own story than a character, but it wasn’t so bad that it put me off reading. I wish she’d had deeper characterization though.

More than likely, this review is going to be full of spoilers. It’s really hard to talk about this book fully without them. If you don’t want spoilers, please stop reading right now. Don’t go past this sentence.

Still here? Okay, let’s boogie.

So, first off, bury your gays, folks. And really, this is my biggest issue with The Miniaturist. Poor Johannes didn’t need to die. Not only was it wholly unnecessary to tie up loose ends in the plot, but it felt out of character for Johannes to get caught. This man was a merchant, well-versed in languages and cultures from all over the world. You’re telling me, to run away from the authorities, he packed a bag and walked out the door looking exactly like himself? And to his own boat, no less? Yeah, right. Johannes was depressed, not an idiot.

Jack was . . . weird. He went from a relatively friendly person to the most vindictive, cruel, and unhinged person at the drop of a hat. I think Burton meant to go for the “jilted lover” feel? But, uh, it didn’t work. Jack’s character just felt disjointed without any real explanation.

Loved Marin. No notes. Part of me wishes The Miniaturist was told from her POV rather than Nella’s. Regarding Marin’s fate, while it was sad and undeserved, it did feel hyper-realistic to the time, stresses, and lack of medical knowledge.

What about the Miniaturist themselves? When you really look at it, this book had very little to do with the Miniaturist, the person, at all. However, if you look at the book as a miniature of life (not a slice-of-life,) then the title makes more sense. It feels both misleading and satisfying at the same time. Intriguing, for sure.

From what I understand, the historical research was pretty good. I didn’t notice anything crazy out of place for the 17^th century. I really appreciated the Dutch glossary in the back of the book. The cost summaries were also really neat!

A final note: reread the prologue after you finish the book! It really is worth it in context.

~ Anna
(Entry 34)

April 25, 2023
The 100: Rebellion

The 100: Rebellion
By Kass Morgan

Another series down!

I had a lot more issues with The 100: Rebellion than I had with the third book, The 100: Homecoming. Some of the complaints are the same, but there are a few shiny, new ones.

First up though, I liked the cult. The cult was cool. It finally allowed Glass to have some good character growth too, so bonus! She finally learns to think for herself.

The basis of the cult wasn’t bad: harmony with nature. After the Cataclysm that destroyed most of Earth, a religion that pops up among the few survivors revering the Earth above all else makes perfect sense. And I feel, over time, the true goal of the cultists was bastardized by each leader as they became more manipulative and controlling. I wanted a whole lot more backstory on the cultists than I got, but I do feel their story followed the usual line of how cults evolve and (eventually) deteriorate.

The ending really bothered me. It felt too tied up with a pretty bow. I’m glad the characters were happy and had hope for a future, but these people have basically nothing with a whole winter ahead and they’re talking like “things will be fine.” There’s a weird disconnect between what the author tells the reader versus what the characters say.

But really, my biggest beef is with the writing. The other books had this issue too, but it was glaring in The 100: Rebellion. Seeing the passive voice in almost every sentence drove me absolutely batty. There is a time and place for the passive voice, and “all the time, everywhere” is not the correct answer. Not only did the writing kill its own tension, but it killed character growth and personality as well.

I don’t want to get too much into the characters. They don’t change much. Bellamy seems to de-age emotionally speaking, which was annoying. The plot of The 100: Rebellion followed the original book’s, The 100, way too closely in terms of Bellamy and Octavia’s relationship. Octavia kidnapped. Bellamy panics. Bellamy blames/resents Clarke. Clarke sad. It got old three books ago.

Another character, Luke, I straight up forgot was even in the “rescue party” he had so little “screen time.” He was there for the gratuitous reunion and “I choose you, but I’m my own person now” with Glass at the end. That’s literally it. Which, there’s nothing objectively wrong with that if Luke wasn’t just a cardboard cutout for Glass to hug.

I enjoyed The 100, and The 100: Day 21 was pretty good. If the series had ended there, I’d have had a better relationship with it overall.

~ Anna
(Entry 33)

April 25, 2023
The 100: Homecoming

The 100: Homecoming

By Kass Morgan

Alrighty, I just finished this one, and I’m not as impressed with it as I was The 100 or The 100: Day 21. My biggest issue was the feeling that there was no real character growth. The 100: Homecoming takes place over a greater amount of time than the first two books. I expected, with events calming down and life gaining a sense of “normal,” for characters to take that time to grow a bit. Nope.

My biggest beef with this book, however, was how Sasha was treated. Her potential to be a really good, well-rounded character was everywhere! It was totally ignored, and Sasha ended up just “some guy’s girlfriend” and a plot device. More or less. I’m trying to be non-spoiler-y here.

I also wish Clarke was more like her TV series self. Alas, she’s a lot more damsel in distress than I care for and she’s emotionally immature—which is mostly fine. She’s seventeen—but contrasted against Bellamy, it’s a bad look. I see why the TV series aged him down. His emotional immaturity in the books would make way more sense if he was also a teenager. And Octavia! She’s nowhere near the character I thought she’d be. A total 180 degree turn from what I expected. Not a bad thing, just a little disappointed.

For the story itself, I’m not quite sure what to think. The book is fast-paced, but somehow there’s a lot being said with nothing much happening the entire time. I’m also unhappy with the poorly thought out reveals. They come at times that benefit the main characters, and it happens more than once or twice. Let’s just say if Bellamy’s story were true, he’d be super dead. That can’t be a spoiler because his face is plastered on the front of the fourth (and final) book.

Overall, I feel The 100: Homecoming could have used a lot more revision before striking out into the world. YA doesn’t have to mean absurdly predictable and borderline boring stories. Curious how the next one will go.

~ Anna
(Entry 32)

March 27, 2023
The 100: Day 21

The 100: Day 21

By Kass Morgan

Wow, okay! The TV series took an absolutely huge leap from the books! That’s all I’ll say on that.

If you thought The 100 was a fast read, get ready for this one! These books have a case of the zoomies. Once again, I got through this one in about a day. This series is definitely an easy read; no dictionaries necessary.

The characters aren’t terribly deep, but they’re more or less a bunch of teenagers in survival mode—not really the ideal space for personal growth. The only part I got a little uncomfortable with was (spoiler ahead, but not a big one) Bellamy had sex with Clarke. It was established in the first book that Bellamy is between 20 and 21 years old, and Clarke is just about 17 and a half. Close to being a “legal adult” but still not one. I’m sure some would argue with me about the appropriateness of this scene, and I’m not here for that. I’m here for the basic warning and to pop in and wonder why it was “necessary” at all. So far, plot-wise, it wasn’t. Because of that, it comes off as creepy fan service.

The 100: Day 21 only covers a few days in its 311 pages. It begins on day 21 and, if I had to guess, ends on day 25 or 26. It feels like a lot happens, but if you stop to think about it not much actually does. And that’s the main issue I had with this book.

Since I read The 100 so recently, all the reiteration of the events from that book got old and took me out of the story. I think even without having read The 100 just yesterday they would’ve bothered me. Kass Morgan could have trusted her readers a bit more to actually remember the—admittedly basic—plot of her first book.

The flashbacks that I enjoyed from The 100 became tedious in The 100: Day 21. There was a tiny, tiny embed in one flashback that may or may not be important later, but the “big reveal” at the end of Day 21 probably made that moot.

Did I hate The 100: Day 21? No. Will I read it again? Probably not. Was it fun for an afternoon of light reading? Sure.

Now then, let’s see where the next book in the series takes us.

~ Anna
(Entry 31)

March 17, 2023
The 100

The 100
By Kass Morgan

I had a lot more fun with this book than I thought I would!

I did watch the full TV series (a few years ago now) before ever touching the books. But really, the TV series took a different direction than the books: another one of those “inspired by” rather than “based on” things, it feels like.

The characters are the same and their personalities aren’t too different than what I remember from the TV show. However, I get the feeling the TV show aged down the main characters, and they definitely aged up Octavia a good two or three years. Not a complaint so much as it is a confused observation. Since I know the plot of the TV series though, maybe they really did go way off later on and leave the books behind. We’ll see!

For a book that is so fast-paced, I was surprised it only got through the first few weeks of The 100 being on Earth. The book frequently does flashback sections to show the reader what life was like on the spaceships above Earth though, and it’s something I appreciated as those scenes act as character-building moments that we simply wouldn’t have if the book only stayed in the present.

Of course, because I’ve seen the TV series, I knew the “big surprises” already, so the end wasn’t a surprise for me. At the same time, I do think the end of The 100 could’ve been executed better. More hints here and there, at the very least. Until the reveal happens, there’s really no clues, and that’s just not as fun for the reader.

I’m sad the character Glass didn’t make it into the TV series, but I understand why she was cut. Overall, though, I sped through this book in the course of a day. It’s fast and fun and pretty light. Well, as light as post-apocalypse fiction can be.

~ Anna
(Entry 30)

February 27, 2023
Mine All Mine

Mine All Mine
By Adam Davies

I liked Mine All Mine way more than Davies’ The Frog King.

You’ll still need your dictionary! But your narrator will be much more likable this time. Otto, the main character and narrator, feels human. He has issues: some he ignores, some he grumbles at, and some he faces, just like a person! He mostly understands and acknowledges his flaws even if he doesn’t show the agency to do anything about them until the end. And for this particular character, it felt genuine. I really liked how the book ended too. Otto doesn’t give a clear-cut “yes” or “no” to Charlie’s question.

For the plot, I had quite a bit of fun. I haven’t read any books about art thieves or books that frame said thief as more a masked vigilante doing what’s right instead of the more villain-esque personality. Personally, I really liked the concept of this art thief not stealing for themselves but to return sacred or important objects to their country of origin. The whole book reminds me of a line from Disney’s Atlantis: The Lost Empire: “If you gave back every stolen artifact from a museum, you’d be left with an empty building.” True! Also, said by the villain! Not a great look for museums. I’m all for cultural safeguarding so people from across the world can learn and gain deeper understanding of one other. What I’m super not for is stealing priceless, significant, or religious artifacts from their peoples and displaying them behind glass. And Mine All Mine very clearly shares this opinion, which may be one reason I felt more drawn to this story.

I think the only major complaint I have about Mine All Mine is the “big reveal” for a particular character’s identity was way too obvious. Even from Step One. However, if you didn’t catch on, the author did leave you a nice cheese trail to follow. That said, there was one reveal that totally caught me off-guard, and I loved every second of it! The betrayal was something else. It hurt.

Anyway, if you like modern stories with some good old-fashioned spy and mystery work, this book is probably for you. I’d say Mine All Mine is rooted in its characters, which makes the plot happening outside more compelling. It’s relatively fast-paced, and there’s a lot of drugs, guns, and general violence. One thing this story is not is upbeat! It’s emotional and grittier than I expected, but it’s a good read. Have fun!

~ Anna
(Entry 29)

February 22, 2023
7 Reasons Readers Love Scary Stories

Article written by Rayne Hall in celebration of The Haunted Train: Creepy Tales from the Railways

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In real life, we seek to avoid fear, worry, panic, and terror. Yet in book form, they grant delicious thrills, and we choose to spend our time with the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Shirley Jackson, Stephen King, or Anne Rice.

As an author and reader of Gothic tales, I’ve identified seven psychological reasons why we’re drawn to scary tales:

1. ESCAPISM

Exciting stories distract us from the unpleasantness of real life. While reading, we become so absorbed that we forget about our everyday worries and looming threats. More than most other genres, Horror fiction offers excitement.

2. PERSPECTIVE

The suffering of fiction characters makes our own troubles seem less severe. Problems which normally drive us crazy—the arthritic twinge in a knee and the leaking roof suddenly seem minor inconveniences after we’ve spent time with characters who’ve had their legs ripped off and survived a snowstorm without shelter.

3. ADRENALINE RUSH

In dangerous situations, the brain releases a cocktail of adrenaline and other chemicals into the bloodstream to give us the stamina and courage needed to face the threat. These chemicals induce a high—a mild one for some people, a powerful surge for others. Horror fiction provides the same thrill as real danger, but in complete safety. The pleasure is similar to that of bungee-jumping, and it can be addictive.

4. EDUCATION

Horror stories teach valuable lessons about good and evil, about ethical conflicts and moral risks, about unseen dangers and disguised threats. Sharing the fictional characters’ adventures, we readers learn from their experiences, without making their mistakes and taking their risks. This is especially useful in stories for children—it gives kids the chance to learn without getting into danger—and for teenagers who may not heed parental warnings but like a scary story.

5. REASSURANCE

Many Horror stories—although not all—show that in the end, good triumphs over evil. Humans need that reassurance. In this respect, Horror stories are for adults what fairy tales are for children.

6. PERSONAL GROWTH

Story events put the fictional character’s strengths, resolution, ethics and courage to the test. As the character grows through experience, so does the reader. Dark stories invite readers to ask themselves what they would have done in the same situation, to compare the character’s courage with their own, to probe their consciences and explore their own ethics.

7. CONTROL

By reading, we gain control over our fears, at least temporarily. Whatever scares us, we can face this danger in fiction, reading as much or as little as we like, and are able to close the book when we’ve had enough. This sense of control can be empowering, especially for people who suffer from phobias and irrational fears.

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WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What kind of horror fiction do you enjoy—creepy ghost stories, shocking tales of violence, extreme splatterpunk, disturbing fantasy yarns, or suspenseful Gothic tales? What draws you personally to Horror? Which of those seven reasons apply to you? Can you think of others?

Share your thoughts in the Comments below.

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Want to read some creepy stories but don’t know where to start? Find out if The Haunted Train: Creepy Tales from the Railways is the right fit for you by visiting Anna Faúndez’s book review. Or visit her blog to find new great books to read!

7 Reasons Readers Love Scary Stories was written in celebration of Rayne Hall’s upcoming short story collection featuring trains!

About the book The Haunted Train: Creepy Tales from the Railways

Come on board for a Gothic journey in a funicular railway in Victorian England, a freight train in the Carpathian mountains, a high tech sky train in Bangkok, an underground railway in Tokyo. Visit stations which lure with the promise of safe shelter but harbour unexpected dangers. Meet the people who work on the tracks—stationmasters, porters, signal-men—and those who travel—commuters, tourists, dead bodies, murderers, and ghosts.
In this volume, editor Rayne Hall has collected twenty of the finest—and creepiest—railway tales. The book features the works of established writers, classic authors and fresh voices. Some stories are spooky, some downright scary, while others pose a puzzling mystery.
Are you prepared to come on board this train? Already, the steam engine is huffing in impatience. Listen to the chuff-chuff-chuff from the locomotive and tarattata-tarattata of the giant wheels. Press your face against the dust-streaked window, inhale the smells of coal smoke and old textiles, watch the landscape whoosh past as you leave the familiar behind and journey into the unknown.
But be careful: you can’t know the train’s real destination, nor your fellow travellers’ intentions. Once you’ve closed that door behind you and the wheels start rolling, you may not be able to get out.

The ebook is available for pre-order from Amazon at the special offer price of 99 cents until 31 January 2023.
(After that date, the price will go up.)
The paperback edition will be available soon.

『••✎••』

About Rayne Hall

Rayne Hall writes fantasy, horror, and non-fiction, and is the author of over 100 books. Her horror stories are more atmospheric than violent, and more creepy than gory, and often leans towards the Gothic, e.g The Bride’s Curse: Bulgarian Gothic Ghost and Horror Stories.
She is also the acclaimed editor of Gothic, Fantasy and Horror anthologies (e.g. Among the Headstones: Creepy Tales from the Graveyard, and Fiends: Ten Tales of Demons), and author of the bestselling Writer’s Craft series for advanced-level writers (including Writing Gothic Fiction, Writing Dark Stories, Writing Scary Scenes, Writing About Magic, Horror Writing Prompts, Writing About Villains, Writing Short Stories.)
Born and raised in Germany, Rayne Hall has lived in China, Mongolia, Nepal and Britain. Now she resides in a village Bulgaria. The country’s ancient Roman ruins and the deserted houses from Bulgaria’s communist period provide inspiration for creepy ghost and horror stories.
Her lucky black cat, Sulu, adopted from the cat rescue shelter, often accompanies her when she explores spooky derelict buildings. He delights in walking across shattered roof tiles, balancing on charred rafters and sniffing at long-abandoned hearths.
Rayne has worked as an investigative journalist, development aid worker, museum guide, apple picker, tarot reader, adult education teacher, belly dancer, magazine editor, publishing manager and more, and now writes full time.
Visit her on her website, her Facebook author page, on Mastodon (new) or Instagram (new), Subscribe to her newsletter here.

January 27, 2023
The Haunted Train

The Haunted Train: Creepy Tales from the Railways
Edited by Rayne Hall

First off, I love that the editor left each story it its original American or British English! I really feel that adds to a reader’s impressions, perceptions, and assumptions when consuming literature. I was also very happy to see a decent selection of stories from a variety of writers with different genders, heritages, and landscapes to take inspiration from.

I’ve done my best to avoid a terrible amount of spoilers for every single story, but for some it was unavoidable. So please, read at your own spoiler-y risk.

Now then, all aboard!

“Beware of Tuesdays”
By Frederick Langridge

I love the mundane, going to work every day, atmosphere. It’s not even a particularly scary story. You make an assumption, just like the narrator does, and you go about your life. But then the phenomena keeps happening, and there’s no history of the incident in the story, and I began to wonder, “What if . . .” And sure enough. The ending paragraph got an audible “oof” and cringe out of me. I’m not typically verbally emotive while reading, so that’s a good mark for the story in my opinion.

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“The Drowned Subway”
By Clint Spivey

I didn’t really like two disaster stories in a row. The little boy had far less to do with the story other than seemingly conjuring the other ghosts, which was a letdown because the child was obviously dead and the reader never learns the why. Since the narrator isn’t part of the disaster, why them? What was the point of them seeing these ghosts who stare with jealousy at the living? I had another issue too: I’m assuming this author is a native English speaker, so I’m a bit confused about some of the language and sentence choices. The story uses a huge amount of fragments, and some longer sentences I had to read twice or thrice to understand. The confusion was enough to diminish my enjoyment of the story, and I didn’t find it creepy since there were no real consequences to emotionally attach to.

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“Lost in the Fog”
By JD Beresford

Written by a long dead author, this tale was less creepy and more thought-provoking. I liked the train as a ferry into the unknown. All the mist and fog made it seem as though the narrator really had entered a different world and the lone man at the station stood as a sentinel of sorts to warn them away from exploring the strange new place, that was just off-center from reality, further. The story served as warnings against the familiar: what are people capable of when pushed? What happens when want overcomes the niceties of our lives and morphs into “take” instead?

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“Why Are Trains Always Late?”
By Nikki Tait

Weird little story. I’d have liked it more with some kind of subtle hint to the narrators more sinister intentions. As it is, the story’s end felt too abrupt, much like a passing train, sure, but since the narrator radiated no signs of malice, it felt unearned.

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“A Journey”
By Edith Wharton

Loved this one! Again, not really creepy, but there’s an incredibly good sense of space and character. I’ve never dealt with the narrators woes personally, but I feel I have a good grasp on how she felt about her duties, obligations, guilt, and wants. The idea of being stuck, trapped, with someone you love who’s a hollow of themselves is terrifying in its own right. This story is an emotional train ride! My only (non) issue is the ending, really. I simply wasn’t a fan. But it doesn’t detract from the rest.

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“11^th Hour Ghost Train to Siam”
By Morgan A. Pryce

A good story. Clearly written recently as it mentions the COVID-19 pandemic; though, I suppose, it could be something straight from fiction. The story starts off at a good pace, and the writing is sound and enjoyable. While I figured out what was going on pretty quick, I still read to the end looking for some closure and possible surprises.

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“Funicular Fare”
By Rayne Hall

Great addition! I adored how minor decisions made by many people culminated in disaster for everyone in the car. I liked the werewolf’s system of control and how, after the change, he went from concern to damage control to survival and back again as his humanity returned. I didn’t even realize this one was written by the editor of the collection until I got to the author bio at the end of the story.

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“Wolf Station”
By Andrew M Seddon

This was an interesting read. I’m still trying to figure out if the train’s fireman was one of the werewolves too or if he’d been attacked and bitten and also barely made it back to the train. Either way, I was happy with the suspense and the ending. Although I wouldn’t complain about a part two for this one! Maybe an “us versus them” story if the fireman actually was turned. Imagine the tension on the train ride home.

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“Gallows Curve”
By Petina Strohmer

This is my favorite story. It is so emotionally poignant, and the grief is palpable. The writer does a wonderful job making you feel for the narrator. As usual, when I read stories where a child dies, I think of the quote, “No parent should have to bury their child,” and it makes this story hurt even more. I can’t imagine the grief. The flow of the story is perfect, and I honestly didn’t expect the ending even though in hindsight it seemed obvious. That’s the mark of an engaging story when I’m too busy reading to analyze!

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“The Four-Fifteen Express”
By Amelia Edwards

This was a fun little mystery. The story doesn’t really try and hide that a man had died, but I didn’t expect the twist, so that was nice to experience! I did feel this story was too drawn out; it definitely could have been shorter with no loss of content or tension.

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“Bon Appetit”
By Pia Manning

This story . . . is freaking weird with no explanations, and I’m oddly okay with that. Sasquatch, hilariously, I can make sense of. Random soul-eating train? Not so much. But I loved the idea. The author totally missed an opportunity not naming the story “Dead On Arrival” though. No, I don’t think it would be too on the nose.

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“Better Late than Never”
By Zoe Tasia

Honestly, this was super cute for a ghost story. Bittersweet. Somehow, I didn’t see the twist coming, so I had a nice “awe” moment. This story started off a bit slow, but it’s worth sticking with.

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“The Coffin Express”
By RJ Meldrum

OH, BIG YIKES! My first thought was the coffins were carrying bodies of those dead from plague or something similar. What it actually was didn’t even cross my mind, and I can’t think of many other things more horrifying. I wish this one was longer. I needed a lot more!

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“Unleashed at the Terminal”
By Krystal Garrett

This wasn’t the best story in the collection. It was kind of your usual poltergeist. I’d have liked more detail in the backstory to make me care more about the woman and Thomas.

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“Between the Ties”
By Joseph S. Walker

Uh, what? I’m a little confused on the editing of this one. I can’t tell if it was on purpose or not, to be honest, but there were some POV issues I noticed that jarred me out of the story. And it wasn’t part of dialogue—you can forgive a lot if it’s between quotation marks. I liked the story, but I ended it a little frustrated because of the technical things.

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“The Man with the Watches”
By Arthur Conan Doyle

As usual, I struggled through Doyle’s writing. It’s not bad, but for some reason, this guy puts me to sleep. I feel like it’s the language mixed with dragging story; one day I’ll figure it out. But even then, I find it weird as an avid reader who’s read lots of classics in so many genres and not dozed off. Sorry, Doyle. Better luck next time with me.

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“Blood Lake Train”
By Cage Dunn

Another big yikes. I loved the narrator’s descent into madness. I’m pretty sure his wife committed suicide by stepping in front of the train, and all the other people who died to it were accidents. However, in his grief, the engineer blamed the train, because how could he ever blame his beloved wife? Or I’m reading way too much into it and we had a jealous, murder-y train on the loose. But I like my interpretation better.

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“Seven Stations in Tokyo”
By Michele Cacano

WELL THAT WAS SAD! I’m a little confused about how Tim died; I guess he was trying to help someone and fell on the tracks and got hit? Or electrocuted? I don’t know, but the ending was bittersweet and just a little hopeful, which I liked. It felt human.

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“Out of Order”
By Karen Heard

Yay, I guessed this one! My first thought was culling a disease everyone on the train had been exposed to. The vampirism was a fun twist though. Where’d it come from? Who knows. Or maybe werewolves. Though probably not. Even if this one left me a little confused, I still enjoyed the tension and enclosed space the narrator was forced into. It’s difficult to write a story with so little space for a character to exist in.

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“The Signal-Man”
By Charles Dickens

Ah, yes, Dickens. I won’t get into how I feel about Charles Dickens as a person, but, as usual, his writing is fun to read for me. The random rhymes and twisty lines of dialogue are almost lyrical in some places; it’s not something one associates with trains though. However, it could be said the rhythm of the piece denotes trains. Story-wise, I like how eerie it was. There was no blood and gore—which wouldn’t bother me either way—but the atmosphere creates the tension. The dialogue sustains it.

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The Haunted Train: Creepy Tales from the Railways definitely had some gems hidden in its pages. My personal favorites were “Beware of Tuesdays” and “Gallows Curve.” I loved the unknown in “Beware of Tuesdays.” I’m usually a fan of the mundane being twisted on its head, and the reasoning was sound. Well, sound enough for a ghost story. “Gallows Curve” definitely wins my top spot for this entire collection. It’s emotionally grounded, and so, so sad. The premise alone is enough to have you sit in horror for a little bit, and the story simply drags that out and makes you care. Which, of course, makes it worse. The author gave us all that and also created a memorable environment!

Overall, I liked this collection of stories quite a bit. More than I expected to, actually, since I’ve never been big on reading short stories. But after reading some of these, I’ll be thinking about them instead of happily saying “train!” and counting the railcars next time I’m stopped at the railroad tracks.

Curious why people seem to love creepy stories so much? Check out what Rayne Hall herself has to say by visiting 7 Reasons Readers Love Scary Stories.

~ Anna
(Entry 28)

-ˏˋAbout the book The Haunted Train: Creepy Tales from the Railwaysˊˎ

Come on board for a Gothic journey in a funicular railway in Victorian England, a freight train in the Carpathian mountains, a high tech sky train in Bangkok, an underground railway in Tokyo. Visit stations which lure with the promise of safe shelter but harbour unexpected dangers. Meet the people who work on the tracks—stationmasters, porters, signal-men—and those who travel—commuters, tourists, dead bodies, murderers, and ghosts.
In this volume, editor Rayne Hall has collected twenty of the finest—and creepiest—railway tales. The book features the works of established writers, classic authors and fresh voices. Some stories are spooky, some downright scary, while others pose a puzzling mystery.
Are you prepared to come on board this train? Already, the steam engine is huffing in impatience. Listen to the chuff-chuff-chuff from the locomotive and tarattata-tarattata of the giant wheels. Press your face against the dust-streaked window, inhale the smells of coal smoke and old textiles, watch the landscape whoosh past as you leave the familiar behind and journey into the unknown.
But be careful: you can’t know the train’s real destination, nor your fellow travellers’ intentions. Once you’ve closed that door behind you and the wheels start rolling, you may not be able to get out.

The ebook is available for pre-order from Amazon at the special offer price of 99 cents until 31 January 2023.
(After that date, the price will go up.)
The paperback edition will be available soon.

January 27, 2023