Wayland Babes by Judi Daykin


Wayland Babes
Title : Wayland Babes
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 1913793508
ISBN-10 : 9781913793500
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 192
Publication : Published October 19, 2021

Thass bad. Somethin’ dreadful always happens when the chil’un be abroad.

The Wayland Woods in Norfolk – an ancient place where sound and silence, truth and myth, and life and death intertwine.

Some say that the babes of the woods still walk the Earth – wandering through the trees, forever lost, holding hands and searching for help. To see them is a terrible omen. As daylight falls, you may hear the wailing – is it the babes, or just the wind in the trees? What could it mean to see the babes, feel their presence, and be lured deeper into the woods? They look so real. They seem so helpless and desperate.

Five tales tell of five lives touched over five centuries by the so-called babes in the wood. If they beckon, will you follow?


Wayland Babes Reviews


  • Susan Hampson

    Oh my goodness, talk about a scene setter! From the very first page, this book gave me tingles, and yes, I have read plenty of gruesome novels in the past, but, this was such a hypnotic read.

    The story spans five centuries, and the mystery tales that have been passed down through generations about two young children, like sirens of the sea, that coax unwary travellers to their demise in Wayland woods. The spine chilling feeling that made me jumpy was how the roles had reversed. It was how the children used their innocence on unsuspecting travellers that made me cold. The children, after all, had been around many more years than any of their victims.

    There are five stories of people with different reasons why they have come to be in the woods. Each set on a different timeline and even with so many years between the mysterious deaths, the stories had been passed down through the generations so that travellers and locals should be aware of others who have not taken heed of the warnings.

    The author is a conjurer of cautionary tales of the children and woods, not just visually but the sounds of whistling winds and rustling leaves. The pitying cries of children and the soothing voices of the ones captured in their spell. My favourite tale is the one of the priest. But do read these stories yourself, you will have one you like ............. and one you fear too.

    I wish to thank the publisher and author for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.

  • Mandy

    I love it when books teach me something I didn't know about myself. For example, I had no idea that I loved spooky short stories with a definite historical slant but then I read Judi Daykin's Wayland Babes and now I know. Based on the terrible tale of the
    Babes in the Wood, Wayland Babes takes us to Norfolk's Wayland Woods and all the terrible things that have happened over the years following sightings of the ghostly siblings.

    If I had to define Wayland Babes in two words, it would be 'delightful' and 'thrilling'. I looked forward to every moment when I could pick up the book again and I really enjoyed travelling through time from the English Civil War through the Blitz to the current era.

    There are five short stories in the collection, each linked to a sighting of the Wayland Babes. Each tale was spooky and scary and I loved that none were predictable. I was incredibly inspired by the historical aspects of the stories, learning more about the English Civil War and Victorian sensibilities than ever before. What I enjoyed most is the local setting - Norfolk is not far from where I live and I can't wait to visit again. I might just avoid visiting during winter or in the dark or during times of national crisis and I'll definitely avoid the Wayland Woods!

    I loved Wayland Babes and give an emphatic five out of five stars. I consider it high praise to say that I thought I wasn't a short story fan before and now I am. I also thought I wasn't interested in reading fiction set during the English Civil War but I was clearly wrong there too. Wayland Babes was written during the Great British Winter Lockdowns of 2020 / 2021 and I hope that author Judi Daykin enjoyed as much of an escape in writing the stories as I did reading them. Highly recommend to lovers of spooky, historic ghost stories!

    I received an electronic copy of this novel for the purposes of this review. I will always provide an honest review, whether books are provided to me or purchased by me.


    Blog |
    Instagram |
    Twitter |
    Facebook

  • BookJunkie

    Review to follow

  • Joe Singleton

    When I first received an electronic advanced copy I was about unsure as I do not read ghost stories and do not often read collection of short stories. I was curious by this book however as the front cover states 5 stories but the book is laid out as one with chapters following on throughout the book. Once I started reading I realised that this is a series of five short stories that are present chronologically and there is a connection running through them all.
    I loved it. To me it was not so much a ghost story so much as a perception of something going on. Our mind can play tricks with us. When we are children we are told about local folk stories such as the wild dogs in the woods or the ghosts in the graveyard but they are stories that have been handed down through generations and adapted to the times. On a bigger scale think of the Loch Ness Monster. We have all heard the tales and lots of people swear that they have seen it but was this just a folk story to keep children away from the water, or even a publicity stunt to get visitors in the area. A lot of these so called 'viewings' is probably just your mind playing tricks and you accept that scary feeling, but imagine if one day you found evidence to support the folk story!
    The above may feel like a long-winded way of explaining the book to you but I am avoiding telling you what actually happens.
    I think this book would probably be best marketed at the historical fiction genre as it is not really a horror story, and it could be debatable whether it is a ghost story but I will let you decide.
    Many thanks to the author and to Hobeck Books for providing me with an electronic review copy of the book in return for a honest, unbiased review.

  • Sharon Rimmelzwaan

    Wayland Babes by Judi Daykin is a book of five ghostly tales. I have read her books before but of a totally different genre, so I didn't know what to expect when I started this book.
    Thass bad. Somethin’ dreadful always happens when the chil’un be abroad.
    The Wayland Woods in Norfolk – an ancient place where sound and silence, truth and myth, and life and death intertwine.
    Some say that the babes of the woods still walk the Earth – wandering through the trees, forever lost, holding hands and searching for help. To see them is a terrible omen. As daylight falls, you may hear the wailing – is it the babes, or just the wind in the trees? What could it mean to see the babes, feel their presence, and be lured deeper into the woods? They look so real. They seem so helpless and desperate.
    Five tales tell of five lives touched over five centuries by the so-called babes in the wood. If they beckon, will you follow?
    As I started reading I realised it is five tales, but each as a different chapter. They are stories told over five centuries and all are connected together so it is more like one story than five.
    This is a book I enjoyed so much. I was so immersed in these woods I made myself jumpy. The fact that it is children using their supposed innocence to lure adults was very powerful.
    Judi Daykin has written an addictive, eerie book that engages you from first to last page and her skill in describing the setting creates such uneasy,creepy feelings. I was quite spooked just by the sounds of the children myself. A perfect book to pick up on these darks nights.
    Thanks to Hobeck Books and Judi Daykin for the copy of this book.

  • Donna Morfett<span class=

    Well this is a little cracker of a book, what a brilliant idea, cleverly put together.
    This book starts off in the English Civil War, takes you via 1841, 1899, and just after the outbreak of the Second World War in 1940 before ending in the modern day. Each tale features a set of characters who are effected in many different ways after encounting two young children, a boy and a girl, no older than six years old. Sometimes the children beckon the victims to cause them harm, some to warn them. Whatever they want, if they are seen, it is bad news.
    Each story is wonderful in its own right, creepy, believable, great characters. They are relatively short, and if you so wished, you could dip in and out. The running strand throughout is the Wayland Woods, and the story of the Babes in the Woods.
    I was so engrossed I didnt do this, I read it from start to finish in a relatively short space of time, I couldnt stop.
    Considering quite a few historical eras are featured, the research into this must have been thorough and that is reflected. At the end of the book, each time period is broken down, and the inspiration behind each story, sometimes based on true stories, which for me makes it all the more awesome.
    Credit also for the last line, that was a memorable and ironic laugh kinda line.

  • Lauren Sparks

    Thank you to Hobeck Books for my gifted copy of the book and for having me along in the tour.

    The book is a collection of 5 stories centred around the Norfolk tales of The Wayland Babes. Two small children who were sent to their deaths in Wayland Woods by their evil uncle.

    To see the Wayland Babes ghostly spectre’s is to be a bad omen. But people don’t believe in ghosts do they?

    The 5 stories are set in 5 different centuries but each with their own sightings of The Wayland Babes.

    I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it’s 5 stories. My favourites being the vicar and his wife and also the young WAAF Officer.

    I read the book in one sitting which I haven’t done for a long time but I couldn’t get enough of the stories.

    Whilst the stories are not horrifying they are sufficiently spooky and creepy for my spookfest reading this month.

    I have only recently taken to reading short stories and this book is another reason why I am growing to love them so much.

    I also loved that each new story was preceded by a verse of poetry pertaining to the Wayland Babes.

    I urge anyone who loves a creepy tale or two, to pick up a copy of this book. You won’t be disappointed.

  • Lynda

    What a fascinating novella this is. Based on the story of the Babes in the Wood, the first known mention being in 1595 in a ballad by Thomas Millington. The wood in the title is Waylands Woods, part of the land belonging to Griston Hall. A very different ghost story and outside my usual genre.

    Briefly, the book tells five different tales scanning five centuries, from the days of the Cavaliers and Roundheads to the currents day. Each tale tells of someone who has seen two young children, walking hand in hand, in or near the woods. The children are said to portend a forthcoming tragedy. However, their intention is not always bad… Can the children ever find peace?

    All the tales are very different but all are good tales in their own right. Great to read a chapter at a time if you like a short read; or if like me you want to know the outcome it reads great as one book. I really enjoyed this. It was a fabulous read and I think I might like ghost stories after all 4.5⭐️

  • Mairi Chong<span class=

    This short novel tells five ghostly tales spanning five centuries, all touched in some way by the apparent myth of the babes in the wood. The first tale begins during the English Civil war and this story sets the tone for the following ones with a man encountering the apparition of two young children. The eery descriptive passages really draw the reader into folklore and, as we move on to 1841, 1899, then, during the second world war and finally, in current times, it is difficult not to believe in the legend. Although the novel might sound repetitive, the story is actually moved along very effectively and ends with a satisfying conclusion that is poignant and just. I read it in one sitting and have no hesitation in recommending it.

  • Deb

    My last review of a suitably spooky read for Halloween & this is a spine tingler.

    Spanning five centuries, the book centres on the folk lore tales of two young children who lure unsuspecting travellers into Wayland Woods. In some ways, it is simply the age of these characters that makes the read more chilling.
    For each century there is a different story. Even though these tales have been passed down the generations, they have ultimately been ignored.
    My imagination was working overtime; plenty of show not tell together with wonderful rhythmic descriptions of the wood through time.
    Read with the light on. Recommended.

  • Kelsey Younkin

    A great, quick, spine-tingling read - and so cleverly written! This is a ghost story with a creative historical slant, as it's woven across five centuries. If you like a spooky tale, this book's for you.

  • Emma Hardy

    A great read, perfect for cold Autumn nights.

  • ChillwithabookAWARD With

    Wayland Babes by Judi Daykin has received a Chill with a Book Readers' Award

    www.chillwithabook.com

  • Sandra

    2.5
    It starts off well, but the tales become increasingly twee. The final tale had me rolling my eyes multiple times.

  • Debbie

    Simply written ghost stories.

  • Big Bearded Bookseller

    I was asked to join in with the book tour for Wayland Babes and was really glad I could accept.

    Published by Hobeck Books, Judi Daykin’s ghost stories are set in Norfolk and hark back to the tale of Babes in the Wood, but these two babes never met any robins.

    We are treated to ghostly five hauntings, each preceded by a part of the traditional verse of the myth which was published as a broadside ballad in 1595, and developed into the popular panto much later on.

    These hauntings take place over a couple of hundred years and seem to take the period they are set into account in the style of ghost story telling, but for the most part had a feel of gothic ghost stories to it, full of upcoming doom but you never really know who to.

    Judi does a great job of building up tension and expectation in each episode, keeping the flow all the way to the outcome. This made the read really easy and enjoyable, I was gripped enough to read this in just a day (didn’t do much else though).

    Loved how the story built from the myth of the Babes and added to the depth of it, another layer of suspense and ghostly tension.

    Overall a great read, well structured and executed, with enough suspense to have you on the edge of your seat.