K.O. Munley

3.5 Stars

As my first foray into the stories of [a:Clive Barker 10366 Clive Barker https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1430330407p2/10366.jpg], I wasn't sure what to expect, but I really enjoyed this book. [b:Mister B. Gone 1011632 Mister B. Gone Clive Barker https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429998358l/1011632.SX50.jpg 2851045], by the very nature of its narrator, makes you question whether what you're reading is entirely true. It's certainly not the first book to make use of the unreliable narrator—or is he?—but I loved how Barker uses it to both keep us on guard and pull us in to the narrative. Mr. B, as his friends call him, manages to be both a little threatening and charismatic enough that you'll find yourself rooting for him, though you know you probably shouldn't...there are hints and burnt edges around the corners of his story that imply that maybe you really shouldn't. A quick and engaging read, Mister B. Gone has whet my pallet for more Clive Barker.

I always find writing these reviews to be the most difficult. Here's the lowdown: I liked this story and I liked the characters. I wish there was more story here. The pacing and the writing are both tight. I do plan to read more of the Murderbot Diaries, but I'm not jumping to dive in to another immediately. I enjoyed this one and I'll be back for more...in a little bit, probably when I need a palate cleanser from a longer novel.

I love a good short fiction collection and Howls from the Dark Ages didn't disappoint. Editors [a:P.L. McMillan 14159052 P.L. McMillan https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1606412560p2/14159052.jpg] and [a:Solomon Forse 21229584 Solomon Forse https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1648544619p2/21229584.jpg] have done a brilliant job pulling together a wonderfully diverse range of voices and narrative styles in this beautiful, haunting, and sometimes downright harrowing collection of medieval horror fiction.I'm hesitant to list favorites because I enjoyed so many of these stories, but [a: Cody Goodfellow 18841 Cody Goodfellow https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1334864585p2/18841.jpg]'s “The Mouth of Hell”, [a:Michelle Tang 7555434 Michelle Tang https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1561144561p2/7555434.jpg]'s “A Dowry for Your Hand”, [a:Ethan Yoder 22022465 Ethan Yoder https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s “Deus Vult”, [a: C.B. Jones 21671365 C.B. Jones https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1626718027p2/21671365.jpg]' “The Forgotten Valley”, and [a: Brian Evenson 48355 Brian Evenson https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1237495626p2/48355.jpg]'s “The Fourth Scene” really stood out for me.At times thrilling, haunting, gruesome, and heart-wrenching, I loved my tour through these dark medieval tales. This anthology is well worth a read and I've now got a list of new-to-me storytellers to keep an eager eye out for.

Absolutely captivating from beginning to end. The narrative weaves through different perspectives across time to pull together not just a sense of the survivors but the world that has been made around them and through which they must navigate. I really enjoyed this one. The audiobook version is expertly acted and highly recommended.