A Quaint and Curious Volume of Gothic Tales by Alex Woodroe

A Quaint and Curious Volume of Gothic Tales Reviews

• 
  Stephanie

  I was lucky to read this early as I was privileged to be asked to provide an introduction to the book and then realised I should share my views on goodreads!
  
  A Quaint and Curious Volume of Gothic Tales is a wonderful selection of gothic stories by female writers which take you into the chilling, shadowy and secretive world of this much-loved genre. My introduction includes a quick response to each story, there was honestly no room for favourites. Their standard and the editorial quality was truly outstanding.
  
  To quote myself (which I've never done before!) 'The stories within these pages ... reasserts the position, indeed the primacy, of the female—in its all encompassing definition—as arbiters of excellence in the genre. The torch has been passed to a new generation and they all burn so very brightly.'
  
  This is an excellent body of work and is one I can see people rereading so that it almost becomes a tradition.
• 
  Doug Weaver

  A haunting anthology of horror that will leave your heart broken and longing for more.
  
  I found this to be an unexpectedly powerful group of short stories that were filled with traditional elements of horror, but which seemed to probe deeper into the mind and heart of the reader. This was done, as I explain below, through the use of emotionally charged story telling, all built around gothic themes of horror, death, and love, which were ordered in such a way that the reader is repeatedly pushed into the depths of despair, with just enough light given to catch your breath.
  
  This reading is an emotional roller coaster that explores natural, as well as supernatural, horrors. The lead story PENANCE by Lindsay King-Miller is devastating as it investigates our perceptions of ourselves and those we love. THE LAKE IN WINTER by Emily Cohen, ARBOR HILLS by Deana Lisenby, and LIKE MINDED by Cindy O’Quinn all explore mostly natural events with tragic consequences for the characters and the reader.
  
  Much like The Twilight Zone series often did, these authors take the elements of gothic literature (horror, death, love, romance) and place them in (mostly) un-Gothic settings. These are not necessarily stories set in 1800’s cathedrals filled with priests and vampires. These are stories filled with gloom and mystery and perfect unhappily-ever-after endings. MERCY by Catherine McCarthy, A KINDNESS OF RAVENS by April Yates, AN ENDLESS KIND OF NOTHING by Alexis DuBon, and HENRY by Mo Moshaty are prime examples of story telling that fills the reader with dread and then reveals the depths into which the characters have tumbled, sometimes completely unaware until it is too late to change course.
  
  The last piece of the puzzle that makes this such an excellent anthology is the quality and ordering of the stories. This anthology is truly a greatest hits album of gothic short stories. There were things that I loved about every story. Naturally some impacted me more than others, but this is a quality collection. Given that Alex Woodroe had a great foundation, she went further in arranging the stories in a way that leaves the reader breathless. As I made my way through the tales, I felt as if someone was holding my head under water and then briefly letting me catch my breath before plunging me into the depths again. And this group finishes strong. There is no filler to be found.
  
  In short, if you are looking for horror that will break your heart and then hastily put you back together so that it can break your heart again (maybe suffocating you as well this time), look no further. If you’ve ever thought about giving short fiction horror a try, this would be a great place to start.
• 
  Philippa

  (ARC received; what follows is my honest review.) This collection of Gothic tales gave me a reading experience that was simultaneously cosy and spooky (not unlike a brooding mansion that is possiblymaybedefinitely haunted).
  
  I think that Alex Woodroe did an incredible job of editing this collection, organising the stories in such a way as to ensure that each story felt fresh and new, without any repetition of theme or subject matter. I very much enjoyed the contrast between the modern and historical stories, and the diversity of geographical settings as well.
  
  As with all anthologies, not every story landed perfectly. However, in this instance, I feel that it's more a matter of personal taste than quality. Considering the single Gothic theme, the stories published cover a wide ground and I think that most readers will find a number of stories that will haunt them long after the book is finished.
  
  Three of the stories that stood out for me, personally, were:
  
  PENANCE by Lindsay King-Miller. I thought I knew where the story was going, only to find out how wrong I was and also that I was crying. A powerful opening story that beautifully sets the tone for the stories to come.
  
  OLD LADY NAME by Jolie Toomajan. I'm already a fan of Jolie's writing, and this gorgeously written story does not disappoint. It's a story that makes me thrill with horror - not just because of its ghostly manifestations (although there are moments that made me want to keep my night light on forever) but also because it is grounded in an authentic friendship and a situation that I could relate to more than I would ever wish to.
  
  HELLO, MY NAME IS GOYA WYETH by Evelyn Maguire. This was absolutely charming: I loved the way that the story was set up as a detective narrative, with the narrator revealing more and more until you reach a conclusion that just makes you sigh "of course". The writing was simultaneously precise and poetic; I'm going to look out for more of this authors work in future.
• 
  Sarah Huntington

  I have nothing but praise to say and probably so much praise, that whoever reads this might throw up.
  I also won't list every individual story, or I'll end up writing a book.
  I love Gothic stories. I can't write them for the life of me but I do love to read them. This book almost made me want to go back to hanging around graveyards in the dark and being dramatically sullen and morbid ( teenage years) That doesn't mean the book is morbid, it just took me back to those particular years when I was obsessed with all things Gothic, which was nice.
  The first story was a little jarring. I don't think I've ever read a tale told in that way, but once my brain settled ( I don't like change) I loved how it was written and there were more great stories to come. There isn't a bad one in this collection, not a single dull or tired, predictable word. I did have my favourites, purely stories that resonated with me personally. These were Mercy by Catherine McCarthy which was an odd and very stunning story. The door to other places by Kathleen Palm stuck me. A kindness of Ravens by April Yates was absolutely wonderful and The Sweetlings by SH Cooper got me. But as I said, all of the stories grab you and there is no getting away from all this extraordinary talent.
  Essential, this is not a story book but a magic book. It is full of new worlds and exceptional characters and tales. All crafted and told with sheer beauty and expertise. You will be transported off elsewhere. Very highly recommended.
  
• 
  Katherine Silva

  An exemplary blend of macabre minds, bygone houses of grandeur, and chilling terror, each story in A Quaint and Curious Volume of Gothic Tales will haunt you long after the last page.
• 
  Austrian Spencer

  I received an ARC of this Anthology, with thanks, from the publishers and Alex Woodroe, in return for an honest review. Like with most anthologies, the range and scope of the shorts on offer was wide, and the quality of the stories high – I was impressed with the editing, the polishing, the packaging. This is an anthology that is, very rightly, going to receive a lot of love.
  
  
  Let’s break it down. The title “Gothic” didn’t (in my eyes) apply to all of the stories, but the umbrella was there, and I am by no means an expert on all things Gothic, quite the contrary, white and blue are my favorite colors, I am not a person to be obsessed by churches and graveyards, death fascinates me – true – but only in the abstract – the breaking apart of it for want of a story. Taking my confession of Un-gothicness to heart, how did the anthology rate overall for storytelling? Well, pretty well done, in my opinion.
  
  
  The opening piece, Penance , by Lindsay King Miller, is a strong starter. Excellent writing, a well-constructed plot, and a fantastic premise. Likewise, What the dead whisper to the living by Mary Rajotte, is a wonderful short, something almost reminiscent of Gaiman in its concept. Mercy by Catherine McCarthy followed directly afterward, and was for me, the highlight of the anthology, and over far, far too quickly. Like-minded from Cindy O’Quinn nearer the end of the book, was a great piece on madness. The bonus short The Sweetlings by S.H.Cooper left us with that sour taste you really want to leave a horror anthology on. Good work.
  
  
  This is one of those anthologies that managed to maintain my interest. I can’t say that there were constant flashes of genius, but the quality of the writing was consistent and engaging. A women’s anthology (authors) that showed a lot of heart and passion in its execution.
  
  
  This gets a 4 ⭐ ‘s out of 5 from me. Excellent work, Ladies, and the cover is pure eye candy, there’s something almost Egon Schiele – esque about it – and you’ve gotta love Schiele.
• 
  M.J. Pankey

  
  

  ARC Review

  
  
  

  A Quaint and Curious Volume of Gothic Tales is a short story anthology published by
  Brigid's Gate Press and includes 24 delightful stories embodying the gothic themes of mystery, horror, and gloom with plenty of magic, mythology, and otherworldly elements mixed in.

  
  
  
  
  

  This collection is very professionally compiled and organized, with cover art by
  Elizabeth Leggett that is a perfect swirl of enchanting and creepy, an excellent Foreward by Alex Woodroe, and a charming Introduction by Stephanie Ellis.

  
  
  
  
  

  The stories are written by both new and established authors, and there is a story (or two, or three, or more) that everyone will enjoy and will want to read again. As with all anthologies, some stories moved me more deeply than others, but all of them had their own unique touch of intrigue and dread that kept me engrossed in the narrative and furiously turning the pages.

  
  
  
  
  

  I will be acquiring a physical copy once it is available for purchase on Amazon. These stories are perfect to squeeze into that 5-15 minute window where escape from the real world of doom and gloom is a must just to make it through the day.

  
  
  
  
  

  I'll be keeping up with Brigid's Gate Press, this anthology shows that they have an eye for quality and creativity that promises more great stories in their future publications.

  
  
  
  
  

  You can follow them on twitter
  @Brigidsgate.

  
  
• 
  Robin Knabel

  What a delight to read this collection of gothic horror short stories. No two stories were the same, and I appreciated the editor's ability to give me such a variety. The cover art, foreword, and introduction were also enjoyable. I love the background and reason for bringing this book to life. So many of the stories stuck with me. I would be hard pressed to pick a top 3. For a detailed, spoiler free review, please see the link included.
  
  
  https://robinknabel.squarespace.com/r...
• 
  Catherine McCarthy

  Please note: I do not rate on Goodreads.
  
  Before I begin, I need to declare a personal interest in this anthology since I am a contributing author. That said, and without referring to my own work in any shape or form, the stories featured really are a diverse and wildly interesting take on the Gothic genre. I loved each and every tale; not one disappointed. From the classic to the modern, there's something here to suit all tastes.
  So proud of everyone here.
• 
  Beverley Lee

  Review to come!
• 
  Sarah Budd

  Loved this! Review coming soon!
• 
  Brian Carney

  This is an excellent collection of Gothic tales. I really can’t decide which story was my favorite. I do know however, that this is one of my favorite anthologies. The stories are not only haunting, diverse, and will impact you on some level, they are well-written and well-organized in this book. And if “Volume” in the title hints to more like this, I’m SOLD.