If you’re a long-time reader here, you’re probably surprised to see a horror title here – even if it is #spookymonth. However, I decided to branch out and thought that a book of short stories would be a good way to start. Not to mention, I was told they weren’t “too spooky.” Of course, that is subjective. Some of them got me a little more than I would have liked. But there is just no way to figure that out ahead of time!
About the Book
Decisions are doorways, whether every day or fundamental, all lead somewhere… But some choices reach a strange domain, a dark junction on the boundary between possession and loss, good and evil, life and death… A place where what should not be somehow becomes what is.
Enter here for tales from that realm:
Mother’s Mercy — A story of sacrifice where a woman yearning for a child finds an elderly mother paying a terrible price.
The Angel’s Gate — The devout faith of a young seminarian propels him beyond conventional belief towards wonders, horrors, and a new way to be of service.
Chicken House, Alaska — Grief and courage drive a silent, solitary child into the unknowable to protect everything she loves.
Figure Eight — Hope twists into despair as an ex-convict enduring the bleak captivity of addiction considers a potentially deadly shot at freedom.
Swole — A gym rat seeking physical perfection wonders how much pain his gains will finally demand…
This collection features the return of Detective Andy Lorimar (One Night Only) in the standalone novella Oubliette.
My Thoughts
I’m not really sure what happened to me. I once said in an interview that if I could meet anyone, it would be Edgar Allan Poe. Granted, I was more a fan of his Gothic unrequited love poetry. But, still, I didn’t mind his other stories. Now, I’m generally a big ol’ scaredy cat.
But I did enjoy my foray into horror. The author didn’t quite convert me, but he did convince me that my total ban should be reconsidered – which is high praise for his writing. I also don’t think I had any nightmares. I’m not sure if that’s praise in his book, but it’s praise in my anxiety-addled, scaredy-cat little brain. I enjoyed many of the stories – shoutouts specifically to “Mother’s Mercy” and “Dissolution.” “The Soldier’s Daughter” terrified me in a slow burn, lingering way, as did the titular “The Angel’s Gate.” My favorite, which I thought I might not like from the description, was “Swole.” It was a great story and explored so much of the human condition. The description made me thing it would be about a “meathead” gym guy, and I thought I wouldn’t be able to connect with him. But his desperation, his willingness to try things most wouldn’t, his getting wrapped up in something over his head – they were all incredibly relatable.
I’m so grateful to the author and LBT for including me in this read-along! I’ll definitely keep an eye out for more of his writing and see if I think my scared little heart can handle it!
Who’s It For?
If you love creepy books that just might keep you up at night and definitely leave you pondering long after you close the last page, this is definitely a book for you. The short story format leaves a punchy impact. While it might feel short and sweet, the elements linger, sneaking up when you least expect them. The stories are different but similar, exploring the human condition in different ways – which keeps me terrified in a whole different way. I honestly don’t know any horror comps. My last horror experience was Edgar Allan Poe in school, but this does remind me a little of Supernatural in some places. And, if you liked Ritchie’s first novel, you’ll probably enjoy this as well!
Content Warnings: Murder, Violence, Death, Religious Overtones, Suicidal Ideation, Supernatural/Fearful Situations, Child Harm/Abuse, Addiction, Internalized Fatphobia, Adult Situations, Adult Language, and Probably More. This is not guaranteed to be a full account of all topics that may be triggering to all individuals.
Question of the Day
Do you read horror/thrillers? Do you prefer one over the other?
Answer of the Day
I LOVE thrillers, but there is something about calling it horror that terrifies me. I don’t prefer gore, body horror, or violence for violence’s sake. And there is a line of terror that I just can’t handle. The reason I generally stick to thrillers is that you can’t quite tell until you’re over it – and the nightmares are already in the brain at that point.
About the Author
G.P. Ritchie enjoyed a misspent childhood hanging around shady libraries and falling into the company of the wrong sorts of books and comics. He gained a life-long ambition to write… but ended up working in software development instead. He blogs at nightsborder-dot-com, but rather unwisely, has never spent time as a cryptozoologist, ninja, or any of that other exciting stuff sensible authors do before writing one of these descriptions.
His tastes in fiction skew towards the creepy: crime, horror, dark fantasy, with all of these represented in his work. Prior to publishing fiction in book form, he crowbarred some material onto radio and stage.
He lives in Edinburgh with his wife and son.
Links
Amazon US: https://a.co/d/a7jmC9s
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3WsMTth
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215081046-the-angel-s-gate
Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.