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The Broken Darkness
are to enter the pages where ghosts, demons, monsters, other realities lurk…
In her debut collection, Theresa Braun explores the inner workings of the human heart and what it is we most desire—forgiveness, acceptance, love, fame, or merely to escape who we really are. Whether we are battling ghosts, demons, mythical monsters, the past, or other dimensions, we are really facing the deepest parts of ourselves. These thirteen tales of horror and dark fantasy may appear to be a matter of good versus evil, but they are all a reflection of the hidden corners of the soul that are often shades of broken darkness. The characters in these stories must face their inner and outer terrors, or else suffer the consequences.
In her debut collection, Theresa Braun explores the inner workings of the human heart and what it is we most desire—forgiveness, acceptance, love, fame, or merely to escape who we really are. Whether we are battling ghosts, demons, mythical monsters, the past, or other dimensions, we are really facing the deepest parts of ourselves. These thirteen tales of horror and dark fantasy may appear to be a matter of good versus evil, but they are all a reflection of the hidden corners of the soul that are often shades of broken darkness. The characters in these stories must face their inner and outer terrors, or else suffer the consequences.
294 pages, ebook
Published February 13, 2023
About the author
Theresa Braun
24 books240 followersHmmm. What's this? Looks like Ms. Braun left her computer on and her Goodreads bio open.
This should be fun.
What can we say about Theresa? I mean other than the fact that she's weirdly obsessed with smiley faces :-). Like, seriously obsessed >:-*. It's kinda scary :-O.
I think she thinks she's from Renaissance England or Venice or something. I never could figure out which one it was. (She's really bad at doing accents.)
She likes romance novels and crime TV, which are pretty much the same thing when you think about it. Ha! Am I right?
She has a hell of a singing voice. Seriously. It's, like, seventh circle of hell bad.
She likes editing. A lot. Just wait till she get's aload a this.
Cats. Shoes. Chips and salsa. In that order.
Yeah, that last part didn't make sense to me either.
This should be fun.
What can we say about Theresa? I mean other than the fact that she's weirdly obsessed with smiley faces :-). Like, seriously obsessed >:-*. It's kinda scary :-O.
I think she thinks she's from Renaissance England or Venice or something. I never could figure out which one it was. (She's really bad at doing accents.)
She likes romance novels and crime TV, which are pretty much the same thing when you think about it. Ha! Am I right?
She has a hell of a singing voice. Seriously. It's, like, seventh circle of hell bad.
She likes editing. A lot. Just wait till she get's aload a this.
Cats. Shoes. Chips and salsa. In that order.
Yeah, that last part didn't make sense to me either.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
February 2, 2023
3.5 Stars
This anthology contains 13 horror/paranormal short stories. Like most collections of short stories, some stories are going to be better than others. There were four stories that I absolutely enjoyed, while the rest were either too predictable or lacked depth.
Overall, it was still a fun and enjoyable read. If you're a fan of horror or paranormal stories, this is worth checking out.
1. Dead Over Heels ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The story starts with Veronica getting ready for her first date with Sebastian. Knowing Veronica is a paranormal enthusiast, Sebastian chose a restaurant known for having paranormal activities. While on their date, something unexpected happened. They brushed it off and never talked about it again. Until a few months later when curiosity got the better of them. They decided to return to the same restaurant hoping for a repeat. This time around, their lives will be changed forever.
2. Collecting Empties ⭐⭐.5
A super short story about a woman and her one-night stand with Mr. Blue Eyes.
There's nothing else I can say without spoiling it.
3. The Celestial Assignment ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
It's about an angel getting his wings. His latest assignment- becoming Celeste's guardian angel.
Another good one. After decades of watching Celeste, he finally sees the error of his ways.
4. Guilty As Cell ⭐⭐⭐
This one gave me One Missed Call vibes.
5. Lost Time ⭐⭐.5
Another super short read.
This one is about a driver who randomly stumbled upon a creepy dark figure on the side of the road.
6. Heathen ⭐⭐.5
Devlin had gotten in trouble at his previous school for Satanism. Tired of his antics, his mother sent him to the Academy of Holy Angels. News of his Satanism made its way through the school. A group of students caught wind of the news and decided to take matters into their own hands.
7. Stillborn ⭐⭐⭐.5
Sylvia, a new nurse, had caught the eye of Dr. Reynolds. After only working for a few weeks, Dr. Reynolds chose Sylvia to become his primary assistant for all his deliveries. While running errands for him, she discovered his sickening side activities.
I like the little surprise at the end.
8. Legend Trippers ⭐⭐⭐
It's about the legend of The Goat Man. A creature that lures people to their death by calling them to the train tracks.
9. Dying For An invitation ⭐⭐⭐⭐
From a young age, Dacie had always felt a presence around her. When she was young, this presence would comfort and even play with her. Fast forward to almost twenty years later. After a death in the family, she once again finds herself being comforted by this presence. Was it a ghost? Or was it something more sinister biding its time?
10. Homecoming ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It's about a couple who traveled to Ireland for vacation. What they didn't know was the ashrai folklore was real.
11. Stay Tuned ⭐⭐.5
Ironically, I completely tuned out the second half of the story.
From what I gathered, there's a team of videographers dishing out their version of vigilante justice.
12. While My Guitar Gently Weeps ⭐⭐⭐
Another quick read. This time it's about a guy who unknowingly entered a haunted bar. Not long after getting his drink, he managed to connect with a stranger. They got to talking and ended up with a bargain. A dangerous bargain.
13. Heirloom ⭐⭐⭐.5
A magical ring. An heirloom mirror. A portal that transports to different dimensions/past lives?
I like the idea and concept but I had some issues with the flow and clarity of the story. It was a bit confusing.
***I would like to thank NetGalley, Theresa Braun, and Gorgon Blood Press for graciously sending me a copy of the novel to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.**
This anthology contains 13 horror/paranormal short stories. Like most collections of short stories, some stories are going to be better than others. There were four stories that I absolutely enjoyed, while the rest were either too predictable or lacked depth.
Overall, it was still a fun and enjoyable read. If you're a fan of horror or paranormal stories, this is worth checking out.
1. Dead Over Heels ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The story starts with Veronica getting ready for her first date with Sebastian. Knowing Veronica is a paranormal enthusiast, Sebastian chose a restaurant known for having paranormal activities. While on their date, something unexpected happened. They brushed it off and never talked about it again. Until a few months later when curiosity got the better of them. They decided to return to the same restaurant hoping for a repeat. This time around, their lives will be changed forever.
2. Collecting Empties ⭐⭐.5
A super short story about a woman and her one-night stand with Mr. Blue Eyes.
There's nothing else I can say without spoiling it.
3. The Celestial Assignment ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
It's about an angel getting his wings. His latest assignment- becoming Celeste's guardian angel.
Another good one. After decades of watching Celeste, he finally sees the error of his ways.
4. Guilty As Cell ⭐⭐⭐
This one gave me One Missed Call vibes.
5. Lost Time ⭐⭐.5
Another super short read.
This one is about a driver who randomly stumbled upon a creepy dark figure on the side of the road.
6. Heathen ⭐⭐.5
Devlin had gotten in trouble at his previous school for Satanism. Tired of his antics, his mother sent him to the Academy of Holy Angels. News of his Satanism made its way through the school. A group of students caught wind of the news and decided to take matters into their own hands.
7. Stillborn ⭐⭐⭐.5
Sylvia, a new nurse, had caught the eye of Dr. Reynolds. After only working for a few weeks, Dr. Reynolds chose Sylvia to become his primary assistant for all his deliveries. While running errands for him, she discovered his sickening side activities.
I like the little surprise at the end.
8. Legend Trippers ⭐⭐⭐
It's about the legend of The Goat Man. A creature that lures people to their death by calling them to the train tracks.
9. Dying For An invitation ⭐⭐⭐⭐
From a young age, Dacie had always felt a presence around her. When she was young, this presence would comfort and even play with her. Fast forward to almost twenty years later. After a death in the family, she once again finds herself being comforted by this presence. Was it a ghost? Or was it something more sinister biding its time?
10. Homecoming ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It's about a couple who traveled to Ireland for vacation. What they didn't know was the ashrai folklore was real.
11. Stay Tuned ⭐⭐.5
Ironically, I completely tuned out the second half of the story.
From what I gathered, there's a team of videographers dishing out their version of vigilante justice.
12. While My Guitar Gently Weeps ⭐⭐⭐
Another quick read. This time it's about a guy who unknowingly entered a haunted bar. Not long after getting his drink, he managed to connect with a stranger. They got to talking and ended up with a bargain. A dangerous bargain.
13. Heirloom ⭐⭐⭐.5
A magical ring. An heirloom mirror. A portal that transports to different dimensions/past lives?
I like the idea and concept but I had some issues with the flow and clarity of the story. It was a bit confusing.
***I would like to thank NetGalley, Theresa Braun, and Gorgon Blood Press for graciously sending me a copy of the novel to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.**
Want to read
July 19, 2023Well, I may have missed reading this for a bloody Valentine, but it's just in time for my Summer Screams journey.
Original:
ARC received!! Thank you, Theresa! I'm so excited to dive into this collection. The cover is gorgeous. Seems like the perfect Valentine's Day read to me!!
Original:
ARC received!! Thank you, Theresa! I'm so excited to dive into this collection. The cover is gorgeous. Seems like the perfect Valentine's Day read to me!!
February 13, 2023
I LOVE this creepalicious cover that hints at the darkness inside of The Broken Darkness by Theresa Braun, a collection of thirteen short stories that dive into the deepest depths of the human soul. Come on, join along. Maybe YOU have something you would like to share. LOL
A couple of my favorites, Dead Over Heels and Collecting Empties. Collecting Empties was super short and packed with fatal goodies. Doesn’t say anything about me…does it? LOL Lost Time had my brow crinkling, hmmmm.
Besides ghosts, demons and mythical monsters, we have pinatas, birthday cakes, mirrors, vigilante justice, and so much more.
I highlighted a lot of notes in my ereader, but I think its too much to share. After all, these are short stories. I do love it when I can read a story while standing in line somewhere, or just want to finish a story in…a moment. I love looking into the hearts and minds of characters, finding what drives people to do what they do. I want to hear about their terrors, their darkness, their fantasies, their wants and desires. I want to be looking over my shoulder. I want to be quaking in my shoes at every bump or creak in the night. I want goosebumps rising up and down my spine.
I feel there is something for everyone to in The Broken Darkness by Theresa Braun.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Broken Darkness by Theresa Braun.
A couple of my favorites, Dead Over Heels and Collecting Empties. Collecting Empties was super short and packed with fatal goodies. Doesn’t say anything about me…does it? LOL Lost Time had my brow crinkling, hmmmm.
Besides ghosts, demons and mythical monsters, we have pinatas, birthday cakes, mirrors, vigilante justice, and so much more.
I highlighted a lot of notes in my ereader, but I think its too much to share. After all, these are short stories. I do love it when I can read a story while standing in line somewhere, or just want to finish a story in…a moment. I love looking into the hearts and minds of characters, finding what drives people to do what they do. I want to hear about their terrors, their darkness, their fantasies, their wants and desires. I want to be looking over my shoulder. I want to be quaking in my shoes at every bump or creak in the night. I want goosebumps rising up and down my spine.
I feel there is something for everyone to in The Broken Darkness by Theresa Braun.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Broken Darkness by Theresa Braun.
February 18, 2023
The Broken Darkness ♦ Theresa Braun | Review
There are thirteen (13) short horror/paranormal stories in this book. Some stories are going to be better than others, just like in most collections of short stories. The remaining stories were either excessively anticipated or without substance, except for five (5) that I thoroughly loved.
The first time I came across Theresa Braun, was through another anthology, which I reviewed last year: Emporium of Superstition - An Old Wives' Tale Anthology.
The Broken Darkness ♦ Theresa Braun
Opinion
Braun is fantastic at drawing a reader in and offering surprising turns as well as such intriguing and addictive stories, even though I did not like every story the same. Each narrative, the settings, the language, and the characters were extraordinary, even though some were weird!
Here is a small summary of all 13 short stories with my star rating for each of them:
Dead Over Heels: ★★★★★ - Two persons get on their first date and something unexpected occurred during their stay at a haunted restaurant. They dismissed it and didn't bring it up again. Up until a few months later. Their curiosity dragged them to the same restaurant in an effort to get a repeat. But their lives will be altered forever this time.
Collecting Empties: ★★★✩✩ - On my Kindle Paperwhite with font size 2, this story is just 4 pages short, and it is kinda weird and one of the stories I did not enjoy as much as others.
The Celestial Assignment: ★★★✩✩ - This one only got 3 stars, because I just like stories about angels. The story centers on an angel gaining wings. And he recently received the mission to become Celeste's guardian angel.
Guilty As Cell: ★★★✩✩ - This story left my slightly confused and I still don't know what to do with it. But it wasn't bad at all.
Lost Time: ★★★✩✩ - In this very short story, a car driver unintentionally ran into a sinister, shadowy figure along the side of the road. Kind of weird, but still good.
Heathen: ★★★★★ - Because of his Satanism, Devlin had run into difficulty at his former school. His mother sent him to the Academy of Holy Angels because she was sick of his shenanigans. His Satanism became known throughout the school. After hearing the news, several students made the decision to act alone. (As a member of The Satanic Temple I had to like it a lot, even though my satanism is different.)
Stillborn: ★★★★✩ - This short story comes with an unexpected but lovely twist at the end. More would just spoil everyone.
Legend Trippers: ★★★★✩ - This story deals with The Goat Man mythology. A creature that calls individuals to the train tracks and then leads them to their ultimate demise. It almost received 5 stars from me.
Dying For An Invitation: ★★★★★ - This was brilliant. Dacie had experienced a presence around her ever since she was a young child. When she was a child, this presence would reassure her and even engage in play. Let's go back in time to almost 20 years later. She once more discovers herself being comforted by this presence following a death in the family. Was it a specter? Or was there something more evil waiting in the wings?
Homecoming: ★★★★★ - It concerns a couple that went on holiday to Ireland. They were unaware that the Ashrai myth was true. This story made me to find out more about this mythology and travel to Ireland yesterday.
Stay Tuned: ★★★✩✩ - This is the only short story which I enjoyed the least. It hardly got 3 stars. Something, I can't really name it, was off about it.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps: ★★★★★ - Another brief reading. This time, the story concerns a man who unintentionally went into a spooky bar. He was able to make a connection with a random stranger within minutes of having his drink. After some discussion, a deal was reached. a perilous transaction. Oh, if this isn't the devil within?
Heirloom: ★★★✩✩ - Although I enjoyed the concept, I found the story's flow and understanding to be a little off. It was a little disturbing. But I've never been a big fan of transportation into other dimensions through special/magical objects.
Conclusion
What a wonderful and short read! It didn't let me down, and I didn't realize I would enjoy a horror anthology! Nasty little tales that created complex people, some of whom suffer horrible fates. This was a fantastic read thanks to the variety of narrative lengths.
I received an advance review copy through BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This review was first published at The Art of Reading .
There are thirteen (13) short horror/paranormal stories in this book. Some stories are going to be better than others, just like in most collections of short stories. The remaining stories were either excessively anticipated or without substance, except for five (5) that I thoroughly loved.
The first time I came across Theresa Braun, was through another anthology, which I reviewed last year: Emporium of Superstition - An Old Wives' Tale Anthology.
The Broken Darkness ♦ Theresa Braun
Opinion
Braun is fantastic at drawing a reader in and offering surprising turns as well as such intriguing and addictive stories, even though I did not like every story the same. Each narrative, the settings, the language, and the characters were extraordinary, even though some were weird!
Here is a small summary of all 13 short stories with my star rating for each of them:
Dead Over Heels: ★★★★★ - Two persons get on their first date and something unexpected occurred during their stay at a haunted restaurant. They dismissed it and didn't bring it up again. Up until a few months later. Their curiosity dragged them to the same restaurant in an effort to get a repeat. But their lives will be altered forever this time.
Collecting Empties: ★★★✩✩ - On my Kindle Paperwhite with font size 2, this story is just 4 pages short, and it is kinda weird and one of the stories I did not enjoy as much as others.
The Celestial Assignment: ★★★✩✩ - This one only got 3 stars, because I just like stories about angels. The story centers on an angel gaining wings. And he recently received the mission to become Celeste's guardian angel.
Guilty As Cell: ★★★✩✩ - This story left my slightly confused and I still don't know what to do with it. But it wasn't bad at all.
Lost Time: ★★★✩✩ - In this very short story, a car driver unintentionally ran into a sinister, shadowy figure along the side of the road. Kind of weird, but still good.
Heathen: ★★★★★ - Because of his Satanism, Devlin had run into difficulty at his former school. His mother sent him to the Academy of Holy Angels because she was sick of his shenanigans. His Satanism became known throughout the school. After hearing the news, several students made the decision to act alone. (As a member of The Satanic Temple I had to like it a lot, even though my satanism is different.)
Stillborn: ★★★★✩ - This short story comes with an unexpected but lovely twist at the end. More would just spoil everyone.
Legend Trippers: ★★★★✩ - This story deals with The Goat Man mythology. A creature that calls individuals to the train tracks and then leads them to their ultimate demise. It almost received 5 stars from me.
Dying For An Invitation: ★★★★★ - This was brilliant. Dacie had experienced a presence around her ever since she was a young child. When she was a child, this presence would reassure her and even engage in play. Let's go back in time to almost 20 years later. She once more discovers herself being comforted by this presence following a death in the family. Was it a specter? Or was there something more evil waiting in the wings?
Homecoming: ★★★★★ - It concerns a couple that went on holiday to Ireland. They were unaware that the Ashrai myth was true. This story made me to find out more about this mythology and travel to Ireland yesterday.
Stay Tuned: ★★★✩✩ - This is the only short story which I enjoyed the least. It hardly got 3 stars. Something, I can't really name it, was off about it.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps: ★★★★★ - Another brief reading. This time, the story concerns a man who unintentionally went into a spooky bar. He was able to make a connection with a random stranger within minutes of having his drink. After some discussion, a deal was reached. a perilous transaction. Oh, if this isn't the devil within?
Heirloom: ★★★✩✩ - Although I enjoyed the concept, I found the story's flow and understanding to be a little off. It was a little disturbing. But I've never been a big fan of transportation into other dimensions through special/magical objects.
Conclusion
What a wonderful and short read! It didn't let me down, and I didn't realize I would enjoy a horror anthology! Nasty little tales that created complex people, some of whom suffer horrible fates. This was a fantastic read thanks to the variety of narrative lengths.
I received an advance review copy through BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This review was first published at The Art of Reading .
December 27, 2022
Absolutely one of my favorite collections I’ve read. Braun is wonderful at luring a reader in and providing unexpected twists and such cool and addicting stories! I loved each story, the atmospheres, the dialogue, and the characters!
March 6, 2023
Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!
Theresa Braun's The Broken Darkness is a chilling collection of horror stories that all center around what it means to be a human and deal with all the many emotions that come with that. I don't think I expected this collection to be quite as dark as it was, but I found that to be a pleasant surprise and enjoyed seeing the different levels Braun managed to take each of these stories. Before jumping into this review, I'd like to note that there are a lot of content warnings for these stories, so just be aware going into it that there are some intense topics.
There are thirteen stories (coincidence? I'm thinking not!) in this collection, each containing a general horror vibe, while some had more paranormal elements in them than others, as well. Braun includes a really strong variety of stories ranging from hauntings and the aforementioned paranormal elements, to the deranged actions of some individuals, to the influence of some folkloric and mythic elements that took things to new levels.
A few of my favorites were:
"Dead Over Heels": This story follows Veronica and Sebastian as they meet for a first date, hit it off, and then notice something a bit peculiar happen while on their first date. They move on from this first happening, but as their relationship progresses they decide to figure out just what happened on that first date... and it's definitely not something they ever could have expected. This was a great introduction to the collection as a whole. It wasn't too intense (well, maybe a little at the end!) and laid just enough foundation to really lure me in to wanting to read the rest of the collection.
"Collecting Empties": I really can't say much about this story of a drunken night because it was so short that just about anything would give away too much. I loved how much Braun was able to pack into this short delight of a story and appreciated how much it kept me entertained. It's the short stories like this that often make me really appreciate when authors are able to craft something compelling and succinct.
"Stillborn": This one is probably not for the faint of heart, but I really liked this crazy and shocking story. We follow a nurse, Sylvia, as she begins working for a doctor who has a terrifying side hustle that makes Sylvia realize she is in way over her head. This was a rollercoaster from start to finish and definitely left me feeling uneasy–which is exactly what I want from a horror story!
"Stay Tuned": This one hooked me from the start. We follow a group of 'vigilantes' of sorts who take a lot of matters into their own hands... with methods that probably aren't exactly ones most people would condone. There were some huge twists and shocking moments in this one that left me completely unsure how to feel. I didn't find the latter half quite as compelling as the beginning when we are still getting to know these vigilantes and what they do, but overall I really enjoyed this particular story.
Overall, I found this to be a very solid collection of stories. As with any anthology, there were certainly stories I enjoyed more than others, and I found just a few that didn't quite live up to the others. There were some with abrupt endings that fit well with the story and left you with an open ending that works well with horror, whereas others felt a bit too abrupt and I felt like there was too many things left unsaid or almost as if the story wasn't as complete as it could have been. However, even if I didn't think a story quite hit the mark in a way I expected it to, I still found myself captivating by at least one aspect in each story and I really liked the different ideas Braun played with throughout this collection. I've given The Broken Darkness four bloody stars!
*I received a copy of The Broken Darkness courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Theresa Braun's The Broken Darkness is a chilling collection of horror stories that all center around what it means to be a human and deal with all the many emotions that come with that. I don't think I expected this collection to be quite as dark as it was, but I found that to be a pleasant surprise and enjoyed seeing the different levels Braun managed to take each of these stories. Before jumping into this review, I'd like to note that there are a lot of content warnings for these stories, so just be aware going into it that there are some intense topics.
There are thirteen stories (coincidence? I'm thinking not!) in this collection, each containing a general horror vibe, while some had more paranormal elements in them than others, as well. Braun includes a really strong variety of stories ranging from hauntings and the aforementioned paranormal elements, to the deranged actions of some individuals, to the influence of some folkloric and mythic elements that took things to new levels.
A few of my favorites were:
"Dead Over Heels": This story follows Veronica and Sebastian as they meet for a first date, hit it off, and then notice something a bit peculiar happen while on their first date. They move on from this first happening, but as their relationship progresses they decide to figure out just what happened on that first date... and it's definitely not something they ever could have expected. This was a great introduction to the collection as a whole. It wasn't too intense (well, maybe a little at the end!) and laid just enough foundation to really lure me in to wanting to read the rest of the collection.
"Collecting Empties": I really can't say much about this story of a drunken night because it was so short that just about anything would give away too much. I loved how much Braun was able to pack into this short delight of a story and appreciated how much it kept me entertained. It's the short stories like this that often make me really appreciate when authors are able to craft something compelling and succinct.
"Stillborn": This one is probably not for the faint of heart, but I really liked this crazy and shocking story. We follow a nurse, Sylvia, as she begins working for a doctor who has a terrifying side hustle that makes Sylvia realize she is in way over her head. This was a rollercoaster from start to finish and definitely left me feeling uneasy–which is exactly what I want from a horror story!
"Stay Tuned": This one hooked me from the start. We follow a group of 'vigilantes' of sorts who take a lot of matters into their own hands... with methods that probably aren't exactly ones most people would condone. There were some huge twists and shocking moments in this one that left me completely unsure how to feel. I didn't find the latter half quite as compelling as the beginning when we are still getting to know these vigilantes and what they do, but overall I really enjoyed this particular story.
Overall, I found this to be a very solid collection of stories. As with any anthology, there were certainly stories I enjoyed more than others, and I found just a few that didn't quite live up to the others. There were some with abrupt endings that fit well with the story and left you with an open ending that works well with horror, whereas others felt a bit too abrupt and I felt like there was too many things left unsaid or almost as if the story wasn't as complete as it could have been. However, even if I didn't think a story quite hit the mark in a way I expected it to, I still found myself captivating by at least one aspect in each story and I really liked the different ideas Braun played with throughout this collection. I've given The Broken Darkness four bloody stars!
*I received a copy of The Broken Darkness courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.*
February 7, 2023
An imagination is a terrible thing to waste, and in the case of these 13 tales of horror, no imaginations were wasted!
Some of the stories I wanted more and didn't want them to end (Stay Tuned)
The back cover tells us that the author explores the inner workings of the human heart and let me tell you my heart felt many things while reading!
Dark, Darker, Darkest
Sick, Sicker, Sickest
These tales of horror are quite exquisite
Some of the stories I wanted more and didn't want them to end (Stay Tuned)
The back cover tells us that the author explores the inner workings of the human heart and let me tell you my heart felt many things while reading!
Dark, Darker, Darkest
Sick, Sicker, Sickest
These tales of horror are quite exquisite
February 20, 2023
Thank you BookSirens for the opportunity to read and review this book. Horror is one of my favorite genres and this was a spine-chilling collection of short stories. Some of the stories could have been expanded upon a little, and there were parts that took a few re-reads to fill in the blanks of things that were missing. There were a few stories that I enjoyed more than others but all of them gave you sense of the darkness that can be hiding in our everyday lives.
January 10, 2023
I’ve been a fan of Theresa Braun’s writing for some time now. She has a way of crafting her stories like few others and she covers different genres so easily and so well that’s it’s a joy when you’re the reader. Theresa also happens to be one of the nicest people out there, so I’m always excited when she has a new release out, knowing people will be clamoring to check out what she’s created this time.
‘The Broken Darkness’ is her first short story collection and it combines a few of her previously released novelette’s/novella’s with some new pieces. One thing you can guarantee when diving into her work, is that the characters will be intriguing and darkness will seep into every corner of the story.
What I liked: Consisting of thirteen stories, Braun wastes no time bashing the reader over the head and in their hearts with ‘Dead Over Heels.’ This was a fun story and one that works as an excellent opening piece in the collection to give you an idea of what you’re in for.
The highlights for me were;
‘Collecting Empties’ – a fun story detailing a drunken encounter.
‘Celestial Assignment’ – love this novelette. We get a really intriguing story that will make the reader wonder about where they fit in the world and what else is going on between the veil of here and there.
‘Guilty as Cell’ – a horror-ized PSA about the dangers of driving while using your cellphone. This one is dark, gripping and horribly sad.
‘Stillborn’ – possibly the craziest story in the collection, this one follows a new nurse working with a doctor facing some conspiracy type accusations. When she investigates them, she finds far more than she’s wanting to discover.
‘Dying for an Invitation’ – really outstanding story that showcases the romantic-aspect of the vampire lore. A real highlight of the highlights.
Throughout, Braun’s enjoyable writing style shines through and really pulls the reader along.
What I didn’t like: A few of the stories didn’t connect that much with me. They were still fun, but compared to the ones I really loved, they were solid, but not as phenomenal as they others. This happens in every collection and anthology and it’ll absolutely be reader preferences.
Why you should buy this: Braun’s writing speaks for itself and honestly I need to be seeing more of YOU sharing her work on all of the social media platforms. She writes phenomenal characters who have to deal with dark scenarios as best as they can and she does it so very well. This was a great collection and a perfect place for those who’ve not read her work to dive in.
‘The Broken Darkness’ is her first short story collection and it combines a few of her previously released novelette’s/novella’s with some new pieces. One thing you can guarantee when diving into her work, is that the characters will be intriguing and darkness will seep into every corner of the story.
What I liked: Consisting of thirteen stories, Braun wastes no time bashing the reader over the head and in their hearts with ‘Dead Over Heels.’ This was a fun story and one that works as an excellent opening piece in the collection to give you an idea of what you’re in for.
The highlights for me were;
‘Collecting Empties’ – a fun story detailing a drunken encounter.
‘Celestial Assignment’ – love this novelette. We get a really intriguing story that will make the reader wonder about where they fit in the world and what else is going on between the veil of here and there.
‘Guilty as Cell’ – a horror-ized PSA about the dangers of driving while using your cellphone. This one is dark, gripping and horribly sad.
‘Stillborn’ – possibly the craziest story in the collection, this one follows a new nurse working with a doctor facing some conspiracy type accusations. When she investigates them, she finds far more than she’s wanting to discover.
‘Dying for an Invitation’ – really outstanding story that showcases the romantic-aspect of the vampire lore. A real highlight of the highlights.
Throughout, Braun’s enjoyable writing style shines through and really pulls the reader along.
What I didn’t like: A few of the stories didn’t connect that much with me. They were still fun, but compared to the ones I really loved, they were solid, but not as phenomenal as they others. This happens in every collection and anthology and it’ll absolutely be reader preferences.
Why you should buy this: Braun’s writing speaks for itself and honestly I need to be seeing more of YOU sharing her work on all of the social media platforms. She writes phenomenal characters who have to deal with dark scenarios as best as they can and she does it so very well. This was a great collection and a perfect place for those who’ve not read her work to dive in.
February 20, 2023
In her debut novel, Theresa Braun has created an incredible collection of 13 short horror and dark fantasy stories that will draw you in and refuse to let you go until the very end. This mixes stories filled with ghosts, demons, angels, aliens, and more while insuring each story is unique and highlights different aspects of human nature and relationships. Braun did an incredible job creating unputdownable stories. Please be aware though that this book does cover some sensitive topics, like stillbirths and murder, so check trigger warnings before reading if that's something that might trigger you or just be something you don't want to read about.
The collection opens with a horror-romance story of all things and it is beautiful! I read it twice before moving on because it was so good! It had a really cool twist that intertwined the characters in a shocking way. Twists are something that Braun does marvelously in all these stories. They're gripping and believable, and add an extra element to the layers that each story contains. There's one story, Heathen, that showcases hypocrisy - specifically in "religious" people - and the lines in it are incredible!
This is my first 5-star read of the year and its one that I'll be recommending to everyone! And that means you! Go pick up a copy and give it a read, you won't regret it!
A very big thank you to Theresa Braun & R&R Book Tours for a digital ARC to read and review.
This review is/will also be posted on Functionally Fictional, Fathoms Amidst the Lines, and the FATL Bookstagram.
The collection opens with a horror-romance story of all things and it is beautiful! I read it twice before moving on because it was so good! It had a really cool twist that intertwined the characters in a shocking way. Twists are something that Braun does marvelously in all these stories. They're gripping and believable, and add an extra element to the layers that each story contains. There's one story, Heathen, that showcases hypocrisy - specifically in "religious" people - and the lines in it are incredible!
This is my first 5-star read of the year and its one that I'll be recommending to everyone! And that means you! Go pick up a copy and give it a read, you won't regret it!
A very big thank you to Theresa Braun & R&R Book Tours for a digital ARC to read and review.
This review is/will also be posted on Functionally Fictional, Fathoms Amidst the Lines, and the FATL Bookstagram.
February 20, 2023
review - https://booksteacupreviews.com/2023/0...
The Broken Darkness is a collection of 13 paranormal/horror stories that include stories of ghosts, demons, celestial entities, vampires, serial killers, monsters, and other dimensions. Some stories were straight five stars, some were good while some I didn’t get and wanted more explanations. Each story started with a prologue that makes the story intriguing, they all have unique concept and idea, fantastic character backgrounds, and blood-chilling scenes with surprising twists, all in just a few pages. They gave the feeling of reading scary campfire stories. Here is review of each story-
1. Dead Over Heels ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Collecting Empties ⭐⭐⭐
3. The Celestial Assignment ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Guilty As Cell ⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Lost Time ⭐⭐.5
6. Heathen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7. Stillborn ⭐⭐⭐⭐
8. Legend Trippers ⭐⭐⭐⭐
9. Dying For An invitation ⭐⭐⭐⭐
10. Homecoming ⭐⭐⭐
11. Stay Tuned ⭐⭐⭐
12. While My Guitar Gently Weeps ⭐⭐⭐⭐
13. Heirloom ⭐⭐.5
Overall, The Broken Darkness was interesting, atmospheric, and enjoyable horror/paranormal anthology with unique concepts and amazing writing.
The Broken Darkness is a collection of 13 paranormal/horror stories that include stories of ghosts, demons, celestial entities, vampires, serial killers, monsters, and other dimensions. Some stories were straight five stars, some were good while some I didn’t get and wanted more explanations. Each story started with a prologue that makes the story intriguing, they all have unique concept and idea, fantastic character backgrounds, and blood-chilling scenes with surprising twists, all in just a few pages. They gave the feeling of reading scary campfire stories. Here is review of each story-
1. Dead Over Heels ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Collecting Empties ⭐⭐⭐
3. The Celestial Assignment ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Guilty As Cell ⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Lost Time ⭐⭐.5
6. Heathen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7. Stillborn ⭐⭐⭐⭐
8. Legend Trippers ⭐⭐⭐⭐
9. Dying For An invitation ⭐⭐⭐⭐
10. Homecoming ⭐⭐⭐
11. Stay Tuned ⭐⭐⭐
12. While My Guitar Gently Weeps ⭐⭐⭐⭐
13. Heirloom ⭐⭐.5
Overall, The Broken Darkness was interesting, atmospheric, and enjoyable horror/paranormal anthology with unique concepts and amazing writing.
March 18, 2023
Theresa Braun's debut collection, The Broken Darkness, delves into the depths of the human psyche, exploring our innermost desires through 13 short paranormal horror stories, each with its own unique plot and characters. Despite not being a fan of horror, I found myself engrossed in the book's intriguing premise.
While some of the stories may have predictable elements, Braun's impressive writing draws readers into the narrative, displaying her talent for crafting captivating tales that keep readers on edge.
The book's stories range from quick and fast-paced to longer and more elaborate, making it an enjoyable read for horror/thriller enthusiasts of all tastes. However, the book does contain themes that some readers may find disturbing, and I recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving in. Overall, The Broken Darkness is an excellent collection of horror stories that will leave readers both thrilled and haunted.
While some of the stories may have predictable elements, Braun's impressive writing draws readers into the narrative, displaying her talent for crafting captivating tales that keep readers on edge.
The book's stories range from quick and fast-paced to longer and more elaborate, making it an enjoyable read for horror/thriller enthusiasts of all tastes. However, the book does contain themes that some readers may find disturbing, and I recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving in. Overall, The Broken Darkness is an excellent collection of horror stories that will leave readers both thrilled and haunted.
January 11, 2023
What an amazing read! love a horror anthology and this didn't disappoint! Wicked little stories that spun well rounded characters some of which meet nasty ends. A mix of story lengths turned this into a great read. received an advance review copy for free from booksirens.com, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 13, 2023
Some stories I really loved, most of them i did honestly. But there were a few that left me either wanting more or slightly confused. Either way, this is a wonderful book of stories that I feel like most people can enjoy.(that last story is a doozie though so uhh trigger warnings for pregnancy, infanticide, mental illness? Idk just shit that was brutal)
January 13, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Broken Darkness is a horror anthology. The author does a nice job with characters and concepts, but ultimately almost every story fell a bit short for me, specifically when it came to the endings. Several of the stories felt more like a first chapter than a complete story.
Short stories CAN end with some loose ends, and often the reader can surmise or speculate in a way where the story is satisfying. I think a couple of these stories meet that mark, but when alongside other stories that fall short, every unanswered question looms larger.
I can't stress enough that every story had merit, some solid moments, or a cool twist. A few were thought-provoking. We meet Vlad Tepes in a nicely atmospheric story that almost felt complete. If you like vampire stories, this story alone might be worth your time. The final story has layers I'm sure I haven't fully unpacked, and is impressive. The first story is also quite nice; it has loose ends, but I feel they work. There's another story that will really make you think twice or ten times about driving while distracted on your phone.
But too many stories ended for me in disappointment as I felt it needed more, and that more might only be a line or two.
To put this into perspective, I have time and time again bought Riley Sager books because I love, love, love the concepts, and I always end up disappointed. Obviously Sager is an accomplished author who is an autobuy for a lot of people, but there's something missing in his stories for me. And, in this case, the endings in this anthology fall short for me.
The Broken Darkness is a horror anthology. The author does a nice job with characters and concepts, but ultimately almost every story fell a bit short for me, specifically when it came to the endings. Several of the stories felt more like a first chapter than a complete story.
Short stories CAN end with some loose ends, and often the reader can surmise or speculate in a way where the story is satisfying. I think a couple of these stories meet that mark, but when alongside other stories that fall short, every unanswered question looms larger.
I can't stress enough that every story had merit, some solid moments, or a cool twist. A few were thought-provoking. We meet Vlad Tepes in a nicely atmospheric story that almost felt complete. If you like vampire stories, this story alone might be worth your time. The final story has layers I'm sure I haven't fully unpacked, and is impressive. The first story is also quite nice; it has loose ends, but I feel they work. There's another story that will really make you think twice or ten times about driving while distracted on your phone.
But too many stories ended for me in disappointment as I felt it needed more, and that more might only be a line or two.
To put this into perspective, I have time and time again bought Riley Sager books because I love, love, love the concepts, and I always end up disappointed. Obviously Sager is an accomplished author who is an autobuy for a lot of people, but there's something missing in his stories for me. And, in this case, the endings in this anthology fall short for me.
February 19, 2023
As horror anthologies go, The Broken Darkness has a variety of concepts that are sure to appeal to a wide range of readers. With stories featuring your classic paranormal fare like ghosts and vampires, to mythological beasts, human killers, and something straight out of a Twilight Zone/Black Mirror episode, there's a lot to be explored.
But with that being said, I found a lot of the stories to be lacking in depth and clarity which ultimately brought my enjoyment down. To my surprise the shorter stories in the collection, like "Collecting Empties" and "Stay Tuned," were better developed than some of the longer ones and were my favorites in the collection. Other standouts that I recommend include "Dead Over Heels," "The Celestial Assignment," "Guilty as Cell," and "Dying For An Invitation." These all had well developed characters and interesting plots with satisfying twists that I didn't see coming.
The rest I found to be lacking in ways. It seemed to me that the longer the story was, the less coherent it became. I was often confused with scene transitions. It just seemed like details were missing, and the story didn't make sense because of it. I often found myself disoriented and wondering if I missed something in the story. I don't think that was the intended emotion the author was trying to convey. I will say that even with the stories that I didn't enjoy as much, the twists were really good. I just think they would have had more of an impact if everything else was executed better.
I still recommend this anthology to horror fans or even to those newer to the genre. The twists and concepts are very original and entertaining. I was impressed with them even in the stories I didn't enjoy as much. I think they are pretty accessible over all, but I do recommend that readers be aware of trigger warnings as many of the stories include sensitive material such as on page violence, death, self-harm, sexual assault, etc.
I received an advance review copy for free through Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
But with that being said, I found a lot of the stories to be lacking in depth and clarity which ultimately brought my enjoyment down. To my surprise the shorter stories in the collection, like "Collecting Empties" and "Stay Tuned," were better developed than some of the longer ones and were my favorites in the collection. Other standouts that I recommend include "Dead Over Heels," "The Celestial Assignment," "Guilty as Cell," and "Dying For An Invitation." These all had well developed characters and interesting plots with satisfying twists that I didn't see coming.
The rest I found to be lacking in ways. It seemed to me that the longer the story was, the less coherent it became. I was often confused with scene transitions. It just seemed like details were missing, and the story didn't make sense because of it. I often found myself disoriented and wondering if I missed something in the story. I don't think that was the intended emotion the author was trying to convey. I will say that even with the stories that I didn't enjoy as much, the twists were really good. I just think they would have had more of an impact if everything else was executed better.
I still recommend this anthology to horror fans or even to those newer to the genre. The twists and concepts are very original and entertaining. I was impressed with them even in the stories I didn't enjoy as much. I think they are pretty accessible over all, but I do recommend that readers be aware of trigger warnings as many of the stories include sensitive material such as on page violence, death, self-harm, sexual assault, etc.
I received an advance review copy for free through Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 20, 2023
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
I absolutely love this book cover. I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover but the cover was what really got me to try this out.
Some of the stories are quick reads while others could be the first chapter of a book. I do wish that those stories were built more on to create a book rather than keep it as a short story. A lot of the endings are open for interpretation which works for a few of the stories.
I did have to skip one of the stories due to a TW and there was a pretty spicy scene 🌶🔥 that I wasn't prepared for. If you don't like smut I would skip the story Dying for an Invitation.
I did get confused throughout some of the stories. I didn't know who the MC was and would have liked the POV at the top with the short story name. There was one story that was so short I didn't know what was going on. I thought it was apart of the first story and was even more confused when it ended.
The twist in the Stillborn story was pretty good. I would have enjoyed a book of just that. Some interesting concepts in these short stories
I absolutely love this book cover. I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover but the cover was what really got me to try this out.
Some of the stories are quick reads while others could be the first chapter of a book. I do wish that those stories were built more on to create a book rather than keep it as a short story. A lot of the endings are open for interpretation which works for a few of the stories.
I did have to skip one of the stories due to a TW and there was a pretty spicy scene 🌶🔥 that I wasn't prepared for. If you don't like smut I would skip the story Dying for an Invitation.
I did get confused throughout some of the stories. I didn't know who the MC was and would have liked the POV at the top with the short story name. There was one story that was so short I didn't know what was going on. I thought it was apart of the first story and was even more confused when it ended.
The twist in the Stillborn story was pretty good. I would have enjoyed a book of just that. Some interesting concepts in these short stories
January 26, 2023
I requested this Arc through @BookSirens mainly because I liked the idea of a short story collection focusing on the dark side of human nature. This short story collection really delivers. At times subtle and unsettling and at other times shocking and horrific, Theresa Braun explores the dark side of human nature and also how people can deal with grief and the human ability to change and grow.
Stand out stories for me were ‘Dead Over Heels’, ‘The Celestial Assignment’, ‘Dying for an invitation’ and ‘Heirloom’. I would definitely recommend this collection of stories to anyone interested in clever and unique horror stories. I am looking forward to reading more of Theresa Braun’s work in the future.
Check your triggers before reading
Thank you to Book Sirens for my gifted copy of this ebook. This review is my honest opinion and is written voluntarily.
Stand out stories for me were ‘Dead Over Heels’, ‘The Celestial Assignment’, ‘Dying for an invitation’ and ‘Heirloom’. I would definitely recommend this collection of stories to anyone interested in clever and unique horror stories. I am looking forward to reading more of Theresa Braun’s work in the future.
Check your triggers before reading
Thank you to Book Sirens for my gifted copy of this ebook. This review is my honest opinion and is written voluntarily.
February 20, 2023
Thank you to Book Sirens & the author for providing me with an e-ARC of The Broken Darkness!
There are some pretty solid reads in Theresa Braun's The Broken Darkness. Each story in the collection shows the range of the author -- there are ghosts, vampires, and more within the pages of The Broken Darkness. & although the stories differed from each other, the writing style never changes, making it clear that every story is written by the same author. I bring this up since I've been dabbling in art & I think it's really cool when someone has their own style & it's obvious they're comfortable and very developed in their own style.
Unfortunately, there are some unforgettable reads in this collection, but that's pretty much always bound to happen. All in all, it was a perfectly fine read & worth checking out.
There are some pretty solid reads in Theresa Braun's The Broken Darkness. Each story in the collection shows the range of the author -- there are ghosts, vampires, and more within the pages of The Broken Darkness. & although the stories differed from each other, the writing style never changes, making it clear that every story is written by the same author. I bring this up since I've been dabbling in art & I think it's really cool when someone has their own style & it's obvious they're comfortable and very developed in their own style.
Unfortunately, there are some unforgettable reads in this collection, but that's pretty much always bound to happen. All in all, it was a perfectly fine read & worth checking out.
February 13, 2023
I love horror and fantasy. Add a dash of darkness and I'm a happy book nerd. The Broken Darkness is a good mix of all these and more. There is a depth of emotion, and some dark humor to a couple of the longer short stories and I really loved that aspect.
As with all anthologies, there were some I loved and some that fell flat for me. I sometimes have a hard time with short stories because just as I get into the story...its done. I understand that, to some degree, the reader is supposed to finish off the story for themselves BUT there are times when even my imagination isn't enough to satisfy 😂 There were a couple of stories I wanted more from.
Overall though, I really enjoyed this one. This made a perfect morning read, sipping my coffee at 330am with the Alaskan darkness surrounding me. This would also be a good one for Spooktober. Definitely pick this one up.
I sincerely appreciate the author for the review copy. All opinions expressed herein are my own.
As with all anthologies, there were some I loved and some that fell flat for me. I sometimes have a hard time with short stories because just as I get into the story...its done. I understand that, to some degree, the reader is supposed to finish off the story for themselves BUT there are times when even my imagination isn't enough to satisfy 😂 There were a couple of stories I wanted more from.
Overall though, I really enjoyed this one. This made a perfect morning read, sipping my coffee at 330am with the Alaskan darkness surrounding me. This would also be a good one for Spooktober. Definitely pick this one up.
I sincerely appreciate the author for the review copy. All opinions expressed herein are my own.
May 22, 2023
I've been trying to get more into short stories for those times when I just need a quick, short read, a one-and-done, and this was great for that. The first was my favorite because I had no idea what was going on (in a good way) for most of it, and the ending really took me by surprise. Dying For An Invitation was also right up my alley. I would say these two are 4 stars, the rest were all around 3/3.5 stars. Very solid overall and really recommend if you like short stories.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Theresa Braun for the review copy. Thoughts are my own, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Theresa Braun for the review copy. Thoughts are my own, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 22, 2023
“The Broken Darkness” was my first venture into the horror/paranormal genres, and while I don’t know what I was expecting when I started it, I’m happy to say that it was actually amazing! Each of these stories was really gripping despite their shorter lengths, and I kept going back and forth between being intrigued, getting chills, or both! Theresa Braun is a new-to-me author, but I’m very happy I’ve discovered them. I would definitely recommend to any horror/paranormal fan!
August 8, 2023
This was such a spooky summer gem. I loved how quick each story went and that I could start and stop between them and just enjoy the ride. This was so cozy, like summer campfires but you know, with a little jump scare added in. I loved that some of these had open endings that kept me guessing and thinking about them long after it was finished.
January 30, 2023
I've been a big fan of Theresa Braun for a long time and finally she has released her debut short story collection featuring 13 tales of horror! One of Theresa's many talents is that she's a master of creating characters you can really connect with. These stories fell really real to me like they could be real accounts! She's also great a sprinkling a little humour in her tales too.
What I really liked with this collection was the variety. There's a lot of horror covered in these tales from a variety of tropes, we have vampires, serial killers, crazy conspiracy theories, the darkness within us all. In here you'll find short tales that pack a punch and longer tales to really sink your teeth into.
Whilst I loved all these tales my standout favourites were Stillborn, this tale had me enthralled it was so out there and very cleverly written. Celestial Assignment had a lot of heart as well as darkness. Guilty as Cell was also a joy to read, of a fun night out gone very wrong with far reaching consequences.
I also really enjoyed Dying for a Invitation, a vampire story like no other. This one had a lot of heart but also moves at a quick pace as Dacie has a big decision to make.
This is a really fun anthology to read and if you're looking for something longer, Theresa has also written a novel called Fountain Dead. Check it out!
What I really liked with this collection was the variety. There's a lot of horror covered in these tales from a variety of tropes, we have vampires, serial killers, crazy conspiracy theories, the darkness within us all. In here you'll find short tales that pack a punch and longer tales to really sink your teeth into.
Whilst I loved all these tales my standout favourites were Stillborn, this tale had me enthralled it was so out there and very cleverly written. Celestial Assignment had a lot of heart as well as darkness. Guilty as Cell was also a joy to read, of a fun night out gone very wrong with far reaching consequences.
I also really enjoyed Dying for a Invitation, a vampire story like no other. This one had a lot of heart but also moves at a quick pace as Dacie has a big decision to make.
This is a really fun anthology to read and if you're looking for something longer, Theresa has also written a novel called Fountain Dead. Check it out!
February 17, 2023
4 stars! My review review can be read here ---> https://wp.me/p5t5Tf-21A
August 11, 2023
I really enjoyed this collection of scary stories!! The perspective of all of us facing our own darkness is fascinating to me and I really enjoyed it. Some stories were scarier than others and some I really had to think about to understand what the message was supposed to be. But I love a book that sticks with you and you continue to think about well after you’ve finished it!
January 26, 2023
OMG THIS WAS SO GOOD!!
This is an anthology of horror stories written by one author…one AMAZING author!! I am in awe of how good she writes. The stories each keep your attention throughout, and it keeps you turning the pages. I love the way her mind works, with these creepy Twilight Zone-ish stories!
The characters throughout are engaging and interesting, to say the least. Her twists of shock kept my mouth opening, as I gasped at what happens!
This is a great book, and a cool one to buy for my bookshelf!! I love the cover!! But, really though, if you enjoy the type of horror stories I described, then you need this anthology of creepiness!!
This is an anthology of horror stories written by one author…one AMAZING author!! I am in awe of how good she writes. The stories each keep your attention throughout, and it keeps you turning the pages. I love the way her mind works, with these creepy Twilight Zone-ish stories!
The characters throughout are engaging and interesting, to say the least. Her twists of shock kept my mouth opening, as I gasped at what happens!
This is a great book, and a cool one to buy for my bookshelf!! I love the cover!! But, really though, if you enjoy the type of horror stories I described, then you need this anthology of creepiness!!
July 15, 2023
This book contains a collection of 13 horror/paranormal/dark fantasy short stories, with each one containing a type of relationship, with each story focused on different characters and their own often vulnerable situation, I will mention that majority of the stories contain some gore and vulgar language, so I would bare that in mind before reading/listening and I would recommend this book only to mature audiences because of the content, especially for some of the triggers in a couple of the stories
The book was an interesting mix of stories told from various perspectives such as the victims, suspects, and even those of a celestial nature, this is not usually my go to genre of book, but the synopsis caught my attention and this was an intriguing read overall. I won’t lie there were times that I felt uncomfortable with some of the crimes and descriptions, especially the short story Stillborn, that was my least favourite and I did struggle with the content, but it was interesting to see how each individual story played out and I found myself trying to work out the plot twist every time, my absolute favourite of the anthology is Guilty as Cell, that one was fantastically written and actually had the best moral of the story for the readers.
Dead Over Heels (1hr 15m) ⭐⭐⭐
This story follows Veronica as she is getting to know her date Sebastian, who has chosen a restaurant close to Veronicas interests as their first date, however fast forward throughout the story and things taken an unexpected turn when they decide to return to the same restaurant. The plot twist in this story was unexpected but the scene at the end really did irk me as it was quite descriptive and uncomfortable to listen to, it was a great build up throughout the story though.
Collecting Empties (7m) ⭐⭐⭐
One of the two shortest listens in this collection as it follows a woman who goes on a date with Mr Blue Eyes, who after returning to his home have their lives changed forever
The Celestial Assignment (40m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was my first favourite listen in the collection, which follows a guardian angel whose latest assignment is looking out for Celeste, throughout the story you listen to the guardian angel as he watches and looks after Celeste from her birth up until his newest assignment, who is someone from their past.
Guilty As Cell (35m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one follows Andrew who has been in a major car accident and is finding himself really struggling with the guilt of that fateful night, we then spend the rest of the story listening to Andrew experience paranormal activity from his phone as he struggles to accept what has happened, I really liked this story and my interpretation is that cell phones should be put away in particular situations and that those who are unable to accept their parts played in any accident really can torture themselves unnecessarily. This is my favourite listen now!
Lost Time (7m) ⭐⭐⭐
Another short listen about a man who whilst driving home finds a couple of figures on the side of the road who look like they have been in a crash, he stops to assist but after his fight or flight reaction kicks in he finds himself at home inviting his wife out on a drive
Heathen (30m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Delvin has been sent to the Academy of Holy Angels after he is accused of Satanism at his school. However the students at his new school discover the reason for Delvin’s relocation, and decide to offer him a proposal. I did find this one a little stereotypical for “high school types” and will also mention that there may be a trigger for some as there is some homophobic language in this short story, other than that it was a good listen
Stillborn (37m) ⭐
Sylvia, who has only been at her local hospital for two weeks, works in the maternity department and has a concerning confrontation from a patient, and then finds herself chosen by Dr Reynolds to become his new delivering partner. Dr Reynolds starts asking Sylvia to run errands for him and its during these errands that she discovers a dark secret about Reynolds, with a very interesting shock plot twist at the end, however even despite that I personally struggled with this one at the mention of stillborns and other triggering content, such as the mentions of animal dissection and the death of babies.
Legend Trippers (33m) ⭐⭐⭐
This story follows Jackson, who is on the search for a missing young girl, however majority of the town believe that local children and others are considered to be legend tripping, after they visit a local spotbin which “the goat man” is rumoured to be found, which lures those trying to findnhim to the train tracks and ultimately leading to their deaths. Shock pilot twists and gory detailing made this one a little difficult to listen to towards the end, but still a curious and interesting story!
Dying For An invitation (1hr 5m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story starts with 6 year old Dacia as her mother realises that she has an ‘imaginary friend’ and wants to do all she can to protect her daughter from this paranormal influence, we fast forward 20 years and Dacia has come back to her childhood, and that comforting ‘friend’ is back, even after multiple attempts from her parents to banish him. But is this ‘imaginary friend’ just that or arr they something/someone more sinister? I liked this story, and with it being a longer listen I felt there was much more character and story development, the concept was intriguing and interesting and I really liked seeing how much her mother was trying to protect her, but that plot twist at the end! Wow.
Homecoming (36m) ⭐⭐
I struggled with this one as I found it difficult to keep up, this follows a couple who have travelled to Ireland for vacation, and they begin to realise that sprites and spirits are real, there was many influences of folklore, and some erotic notions with various scenes of romance.
Stay Tuned (18m) ⭐⭐
This was a confusing read, and to me comes across as a set of vigilantes who are dishing out justice, but I’m not too sure which part of the story was real, as there were a variety of what felt like “dream sequences” I didn’t particularly like this story, the only part that stuck out to me was the song drop “bodies” I listened to the song straight after!
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (20m) ⭐⭐⭐
This was an interesting listen centred on a gentleman who wants to start a band and become one of the greats like “The Who” and the “Sex Pistols” after entering a bar he befriends another guy who claims to be a fantastic singer and one that should be a member of this band, however after the agreement is struck it appears there are other ideas in the mind of the bar friend, and with a band called Soul Collector just what do you think the ulterior motive is?
Heirloom (1hr 23m) ⭐⭐⭐
This is the final and longest story in the entire collection and follows therapist Rachel as she holds sessions with various patients. Rachel finds herself with a patient who seems to have a magical ring, and the ring alongside her heirloom mirror Rachel finds herself travelling to alternative realities. It was an interesting concept and intriguing listen, I liked Rachel and really felt her character development was good, and you really felt for her throughout out the story, I’m not a fan of Richard, his behaviour throughout bothered me a lot, and I feel there is a trigger of sexual assault, as there were particular scenes in which it seems that Rachel was not as interested in the sexual encounters, as well as child death
The book was an interesting mix of stories told from various perspectives such as the victims, suspects, and even those of a celestial nature, this is not usually my go to genre of book, but the synopsis caught my attention and this was an intriguing read overall. I won’t lie there were times that I felt uncomfortable with some of the crimes and descriptions, especially the short story Stillborn, that was my least favourite and I did struggle with the content, but it was interesting to see how each individual story played out and I found myself trying to work out the plot twist every time, my absolute favourite of the anthology is Guilty as Cell, that one was fantastically written and actually had the best moral of the story for the readers.
Dead Over Heels (1hr 15m) ⭐⭐⭐
This story follows Veronica as she is getting to know her date Sebastian, who has chosen a restaurant close to Veronicas interests as their first date, however fast forward throughout the story and things taken an unexpected turn when they decide to return to the same restaurant. The plot twist in this story was unexpected but the scene at the end really did irk me as it was quite descriptive and uncomfortable to listen to, it was a great build up throughout the story though.
Collecting Empties (7m) ⭐⭐⭐
One of the two shortest listens in this collection as it follows a woman who goes on a date with Mr Blue Eyes, who after returning to his home have their lives changed forever
The Celestial Assignment (40m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was my first favourite listen in the collection, which follows a guardian angel whose latest assignment is looking out for Celeste, throughout the story you listen to the guardian angel as he watches and looks after Celeste from her birth up until his newest assignment, who is someone from their past.
Guilty As Cell (35m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one follows Andrew who has been in a major car accident and is finding himself really struggling with the guilt of that fateful night, we then spend the rest of the story listening to Andrew experience paranormal activity from his phone as he struggles to accept what has happened, I really liked this story and my interpretation is that cell phones should be put away in particular situations and that those who are unable to accept their parts played in any accident really can torture themselves unnecessarily. This is my favourite listen now!
Lost Time (7m) ⭐⭐⭐
Another short listen about a man who whilst driving home finds a couple of figures on the side of the road who look like they have been in a crash, he stops to assist but after his fight or flight reaction kicks in he finds himself at home inviting his wife out on a drive
Heathen (30m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Delvin has been sent to the Academy of Holy Angels after he is accused of Satanism at his school. However the students at his new school discover the reason for Delvin’s relocation, and decide to offer him a proposal. I did find this one a little stereotypical for “high school types” and will also mention that there may be a trigger for some as there is some homophobic language in this short story, other than that it was a good listen
Stillborn (37m) ⭐
Sylvia, who has only been at her local hospital for two weeks, works in the maternity department and has a concerning confrontation from a patient, and then finds herself chosen by Dr Reynolds to become his new delivering partner. Dr Reynolds starts asking Sylvia to run errands for him and its during these errands that she discovers a dark secret about Reynolds, with a very interesting shock plot twist at the end, however even despite that I personally struggled with this one at the mention of stillborns and other triggering content, such as the mentions of animal dissection and the death of babies.
Legend Trippers (33m) ⭐⭐⭐
This story follows Jackson, who is on the search for a missing young girl, however majority of the town believe that local children and others are considered to be legend tripping, after they visit a local spotbin which “the goat man” is rumoured to be found, which lures those trying to findnhim to the train tracks and ultimately leading to their deaths. Shock pilot twists and gory detailing made this one a little difficult to listen to towards the end, but still a curious and interesting story!
Dying For An invitation (1hr 5m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story starts with 6 year old Dacia as her mother realises that she has an ‘imaginary friend’ and wants to do all she can to protect her daughter from this paranormal influence, we fast forward 20 years and Dacia has come back to her childhood, and that comforting ‘friend’ is back, even after multiple attempts from her parents to banish him. But is this ‘imaginary friend’ just that or arr they something/someone more sinister? I liked this story, and with it being a longer listen I felt there was much more character and story development, the concept was intriguing and interesting and I really liked seeing how much her mother was trying to protect her, but that plot twist at the end! Wow.
Homecoming (36m) ⭐⭐
I struggled with this one as I found it difficult to keep up, this follows a couple who have travelled to Ireland for vacation, and they begin to realise that sprites and spirits are real, there was many influences of folklore, and some erotic notions with various scenes of romance.
Stay Tuned (18m) ⭐⭐
This was a confusing read, and to me comes across as a set of vigilantes who are dishing out justice, but I’m not too sure which part of the story was real, as there were a variety of what felt like “dream sequences” I didn’t particularly like this story, the only part that stuck out to me was the song drop “bodies” I listened to the song straight after!
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (20m) ⭐⭐⭐
This was an interesting listen centred on a gentleman who wants to start a band and become one of the greats like “The Who” and the “Sex Pistols” after entering a bar he befriends another guy who claims to be a fantastic singer and one that should be a member of this band, however after the agreement is struck it appears there are other ideas in the mind of the bar friend, and with a band called Soul Collector just what do you think the ulterior motive is?
Heirloom (1hr 23m) ⭐⭐⭐
This is the final and longest story in the entire collection and follows therapist Rachel as she holds sessions with various patients. Rachel finds herself with a patient who seems to have a magical ring, and the ring alongside her heirloom mirror Rachel finds herself travelling to alternative realities. It was an interesting concept and intriguing listen, I liked Rachel and really felt her character development was good, and you really felt for her throughout out the story, I’m not a fan of Richard, his behaviour throughout bothered me a lot, and I feel there is a trigger of sexual assault, as there were particular scenes in which it seems that Rachel was not as interested in the sexual encounters, as well as child death
February 8, 2023
DNFed at 55% (8 stories in) - was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review, so here are my thoughts.
This is a collection of 13 short stories all based around occult themes and practitioners.
Not particularly great but not awful either - no one story really jumped out at me as being great and none stayed with me after finishing. The writing in each was average, but there were many slurs including "lame"and "demented" (insultingly), as well as calling people "lunatic", "nutcase", etc. (all extremely outdated words and imply mental illness with violent tendencies which is inaccurate in each of the cases they were used). Mostly just very average and was a slog to get through what I did.
This is a collection of 13 short stories all based around occult themes and practitioners.
Not particularly great but not awful either - no one story really jumped out at me as being great and none stayed with me after finishing. The writing in each was average, but there were many slurs including "lame"and "demented" (insultingly), as well as calling people "lunatic", "nutcase", etc. (all extremely outdated words and imply mental illness with violent tendencies which is inaccurate in each of the cases they were used). Mostly just very average and was a slog to get through what I did.
February 4, 2023
The Broken Darkness is a short story collection from Theresa Braun and it left me with the feeling that most short stories collections do. There were some stories I enjoyed, others I did not, and one that stood out for me.
Dead Over Heels, the first in the collection, was a three-point-five-star rating that I rounded down. It was an interesting story, yet it was one that I worked out far too easily. I enjoyed watching the specifics play out, but I had hoped for more of a surprise from it.
Collecting Empties was a two-star rating. This was a very quick story that didn’t quite grab me in the way I had hoped. There was something about the telling of it that didn’t quite work for me, but I can see why it will appeal to others.
The Celestial Assignment was my favourite in the collection and a four-star rating. It was an interesting take on guardian angels and kept me turning the pages, hooked on how it would play out. It is certain to intrigue those wanting something a bit different.
Guilty as Cell was a three-point-five-star rating that I rounded down. It was an interesting story that kept me turning the pages, but I would have liked a little bit more emotion from some points. Nevertheless, it was an intriguing story.
Lost Time was another two-star rating. It was another quick read that can be read in no time, and it left me feeling like I was missing something. It gave me vibes of other short horror stories I have read, which may be while I felt like something was lacking – but this is only because I have read similar that explored this type of story more.
Heathen was a two-point-five-star rating that I rounded up. This was one that did not quite work for me at first, yet it grew on me. I came to enjoy the way the details came together and liked the strangeness of the story. I just wish there had been a little bit more at the start to suck me completely in.
Stillborn was a three-star rating. This was a strange little tale that kept me turning the pages, and I enjoyed watching the pieces come together. It was one of those stories that I could easily imagine as something longer, as an introduction to an intriguing story or series.
Legend Trippers was a two-point-five-star rating that I rounded down. This was an intriguing story that kept me turning the pages, but there were a couple of points where I was not quite clear on what was happening. It was intriguing, yet it didn’t quite work as well as I’d hoped.
Dying For an Invitation was a three-point-five-star rating that I rounded down. I enjoyed the details in this one and the way everything came together, yet there were a couple of points where I wanted things to be a bit clearer. It was enjoyable, yet I could have enjoyed it more had certain details been explored more.
Homecoming was a two-point-five-star rating. This was one of those stories that I think I would have enjoyed more had it been longer. The details were interesting, yet they were not explored as much as I’d have liked. I can see other people enjoying it, though.
Stay Tuned was a two-point-five-star rating. I enjoyed the first half of this story more than the second half. It was an interesting idea, but I felt it would have hit harder had it just been the first part. The second detail that played out did not quite work for me.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps was a three-star rating. This was another story that gave me vibes of stories I have read before. It made it easy to work out where it was going, yet I enjoyed watching the pieces come together.
Heirloom was a two-point-five-star rating that I rounded down. This was an interesting concept, but there was a lack of clarity at points that left me confused. I can see why people would be hooked on this, yet the flow didn’t quite work for me.
All in all, I’m sure many will enjoy this collection of stories. There is a wide variety to be found, and I’m sure there will be something that will work for everyone.
Dead Over Heels, the first in the collection, was a three-point-five-star rating that I rounded down. It was an interesting story, yet it was one that I worked out far too easily. I enjoyed watching the specifics play out, but I had hoped for more of a surprise from it.
Collecting Empties was a two-star rating. This was a very quick story that didn’t quite grab me in the way I had hoped. There was something about the telling of it that didn’t quite work for me, but I can see why it will appeal to others.
The Celestial Assignment was my favourite in the collection and a four-star rating. It was an interesting take on guardian angels and kept me turning the pages, hooked on how it would play out. It is certain to intrigue those wanting something a bit different.
Guilty as Cell was a three-point-five-star rating that I rounded down. It was an interesting story that kept me turning the pages, but I would have liked a little bit more emotion from some points. Nevertheless, it was an intriguing story.
Lost Time was another two-star rating. It was another quick read that can be read in no time, and it left me feeling like I was missing something. It gave me vibes of other short horror stories I have read, which may be while I felt like something was lacking – but this is only because I have read similar that explored this type of story more.
Heathen was a two-point-five-star rating that I rounded up. This was one that did not quite work for me at first, yet it grew on me. I came to enjoy the way the details came together and liked the strangeness of the story. I just wish there had been a little bit more at the start to suck me completely in.
Stillborn was a three-star rating. This was a strange little tale that kept me turning the pages, and I enjoyed watching the pieces come together. It was one of those stories that I could easily imagine as something longer, as an introduction to an intriguing story or series.
Legend Trippers was a two-point-five-star rating that I rounded down. This was an intriguing story that kept me turning the pages, but there were a couple of points where I was not quite clear on what was happening. It was intriguing, yet it didn’t quite work as well as I’d hoped.
Dying For an Invitation was a three-point-five-star rating that I rounded down. I enjoyed the details in this one and the way everything came together, yet there were a couple of points where I wanted things to be a bit clearer. It was enjoyable, yet I could have enjoyed it more had certain details been explored more.
Homecoming was a two-point-five-star rating. This was one of those stories that I think I would have enjoyed more had it been longer. The details were interesting, yet they were not explored as much as I’d have liked. I can see other people enjoying it, though.
Stay Tuned was a two-point-five-star rating. I enjoyed the first half of this story more than the second half. It was an interesting idea, but I felt it would have hit harder had it just been the first part. The second detail that played out did not quite work for me.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps was a three-star rating. This was another story that gave me vibes of stories I have read before. It made it easy to work out where it was going, yet I enjoyed watching the pieces come together.
Heirloom was a two-point-five-star rating that I rounded down. This was an interesting concept, but there was a lack of clarity at points that left me confused. I can see why people would be hooked on this, yet the flow didn’t quite work for me.
All in all, I’m sure many will enjoy this collection of stories. There is a wide variety to be found, and I’m sure there will be something that will work for everyone.
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