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The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove
Graves Grove isn’t your ordinary town…
Nestled within the folds of the Canadian Rockies, Graves Grove probably isn’t the picturesque place you’d like to stay for long. Peculiar things happen here. The citizens seem normal superficially—they function well enough. But each one is deeply disturbed, wrapped in secrets and neuroses which drive them to strange behaviors.
And then there are all the missing children. And why is everyone afraid of that sycamore tree?
The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove is an anthology of stories taking place throughout the history of this mysterious town, from its founding to its future. Read them…if you dare.
Nestled within the folds of the Canadian Rockies, Graves Grove probably isn’t the picturesque place you’d like to stay for long. Peculiar things happen here. The citizens seem normal superficially—they function well enough. But each one is deeply disturbed, wrapped in secrets and neuroses which drive them to strange behaviors.
And then there are all the missing children. And why is everyone afraid of that sycamore tree?
The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove is an anthology of stories taking place throughout the history of this mysterious town, from its founding to its future. Read them…if you dare.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2017
About the author
J.S. Bailey
23 books247 followersJ. S. Bailey enjoys writing speculative tales that keep readers on the edges of their seats. She has published eight novels and twenty-two short stories, with more on the way. Bailey is fond of long walks in the woods, British television, and lots of burritos. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 12, 2019
The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove
is an interesting anthology. Think Tales of the Cryptkeeper- slightly bizarre, varied in styles, and also simplistic and kinda humorous in storyline.
It's set in the small, lonely town of Graves Grove, British Columbia. First of all, my Canadian heart is so down for this. Graves Grove is just not right- it seems to drive some people crazy..
It's really pretty well done. Each story is centered around one horror in the town, and while each horror is different, the town seems to have a few universal mysteries and recurring characters. The stories range from creepy, unsettling, serving to flesh out the town's history, or darkly humorous. At the end of the day, we're left feeling like we were able to see a scary vignette of a complete town.
My stay in Graves Grove was fun. I'm lucky that unlike so many, I was actually able to leave...
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's set in the small, lonely town of Graves Grove, British Columbia. First of all, my Canadian heart is so down for this. Graves Grove is just not right- it seems to drive some people crazy..
It's really pretty well done. Each story is centered around one horror in the town, and while each horror is different, the town seems to have a few universal mysteries and recurring characters. The stories range from creepy, unsettling, serving to flesh out the town's history, or darkly humorous. At the end of the day, we're left feeling like we were able to see a scary vignette of a complete town.
My stay in Graves Grove was fun. I'm lucky that unlike so many, I was actually able to leave...
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2019
In April of 1880, Samuel Graves and his followers arrived in British Columbia, where they established the town known as Graves Grove. However, most of his followers probably didn’t know that Samuel was dedicating this town a being called Talakoth. This collection of short stories tells of only some of the events that occurred there.
Thoughts:
The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove is a collection of 22 short stories that are in the realm of mild horror or have a supernatural feel to them. At the beginning, is a short introduction by J.S. Bailey who describes how the anthology came to be and the backstory of Graves Grove, which included creating certain characters the different authors could potentially use in their stories, such as Mamie Rue Le Doux and a town mutt named Copper.
Although, most of the stories have only mild horror or an unsettling creepy factor, there were a couple that were a bit outside of that and had a little more horror than my personal preference. Like all collections, I found some stories were more to my liking than others. Some of this probably depends on my mood for the day or perhaps what I may have been previously reading. I do think my favorite was The Summerfield Horror – something about the way the story was structured and told stuck with me. I also found that sometimes the stories didn’t necessarily flow together as well as they could have and felt a little uneven. For example, you might read a story where the tone is more spooky or creepy and then followed by one with a more light-hearted horror humor to it. Each one story was fine, but when put together it could be kind of jarring to go from one type of supernatural atmosphere to another.
However, all in all it was a nice collection of stories, just beware of reading them too late at night!
Thank you Netgalley and BHC Press for the reader’s copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.
Thoughts:
The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove is a collection of 22 short stories that are in the realm of mild horror or have a supernatural feel to them. At the beginning, is a short introduction by J.S. Bailey who describes how the anthology came to be and the backstory of Graves Grove, which included creating certain characters the different authors could potentially use in their stories, such as Mamie Rue Le Doux and a town mutt named Copper.
Although, most of the stories have only mild horror or an unsettling creepy factor, there were a couple that were a bit outside of that and had a little more horror than my personal preference. Like all collections, I found some stories were more to my liking than others. Some of this probably depends on my mood for the day or perhaps what I may have been previously reading. I do think my favorite was The Summerfield Horror – something about the way the story was structured and told stuck with me. I also found that sometimes the stories didn’t necessarily flow together as well as they could have and felt a little uneven. For example, you might read a story where the tone is more spooky or creepy and then followed by one with a more light-hearted horror humor to it. Each one story was fine, but when put together it could be kind of jarring to go from one type of supernatural atmosphere to another.
However, all in all it was a nice collection of stories, just beware of reading them too late at night!
Thank you Netgalley and BHC Press for the reader’s copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.
November 27, 2019
Completely different from the genre I enjoy reading The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove was a compelling and spooky read for me. This book left me immersed in a fascinating and creepy world of ghosts, demons, evil fairies, vamps, shifters, haunted forests, and Jikininkis. Graves Grove in British Columbia, Canada has a pretty despairing history of resident children going missing. Not one or two, but hundreds of children have gone missing over the years without any explanation and never been found. Graves Grove thus keeps attracting people from all over. Some visit, never to return. This anthology of stories will keep you hooked till the very last page.
What attracted me to the book was the beautiful yet spooky cover and true to its design, this book's main recurring character is the cursed sycamore tree. Other characters that make a frequent appearance are Samuel Madsen Graves, the town's founder, the fascinating Mamie Rue Le Doux, and the cute russet hound Copper. All stories had a pretty high creep factor making it the perfect read especially after 10 pm. Gives you the heebie-jeebies. Of all stories, I loved the story Rules, Double-Edged Sword and The Never-ending Circle of Love.
Thank You, NetGalley, BHC Press and J.S. Bailey, Mackenzie Flohr, Elise Manion, D.M. Kilgore, et al. for an arc!
What attracted me to the book was the beautiful yet spooky cover and true to its design, this book's main recurring character is the cursed sycamore tree. Other characters that make a frequent appearance are Samuel Madsen Graves, the town's founder, the fascinating Mamie Rue Le Doux, and the cute russet hound Copper. All stories had a pretty high creep factor making it the perfect read especially after 10 pm. Gives you the heebie-jeebies. Of all stories, I loved the story Rules, Double-Edged Sword and The Never-ending Circle of Love.
Thank You, NetGalley, BHC Press and J.S. Bailey, Mackenzie Flohr, Elise Manion, D.M. Kilgore, et al. for an arc!
July 12, 2019
Welcome to Graves Grove. Nestled somewhere in western British Columbia, a quintessential quiet small town. Thoroughly steeped in weird. From its founder, the mysterious Graves himself, who apparently hailed from Virginia, only no one’s ever heard of him there to its denizens to its strange Graves planted tree to its sartorially peculiar Graves statue to its missing children. Graves Grove is a town of secrets and mysteries. Graves Grove is strange. These are the tales of Graves Grove. They may explain some of the strangeness of the town, told through perspectives of those who live there and those who visit…and those unable to leave. And so there you have it, witches, shapeshifters, haunted places and people, murder mysteries, unexplainable and inexplicable speculated upon by different authors. This was one of those randomly awesome anthologies from a small publisher featuring mostly unknown names and offering unexpectedly high quality. Just a pleasant surprise all around. A thematic anthology well done. Go Canada. Darkly entertaining, maddeningly fun tales of frights and fantasies about a small town you would only ever dare to visit via a book. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
July 29, 2019
As soon as I saw the cover I knew this book would be coming on vacation with me. That old tree could not be a more perfect representative for this anthology, That sycamore is featured throughout the stories and is practically one of the main characters. All the tales take place in Graves Grove, a picturesque town with a dark past and a pervasive evil that still thrives to this day. One of my favorite characters who pops up in multiple stories is Copper the town stray dog. He belongs to everyone and to no one, and has a secret of his own much like the other residents. You will meet ghosts and demons, witches and trapped souls in Grave's Grove. Most of the stories are quite dark and eerie but one in particular was rather humorous. There is a bronze statue in the town square that somehow changes it's clothes on a daily basis. The townspeople are quite used to this. In one amusing story we learn how this came to be, and it was one of my absolute favorites in the whole collection.
4 out of 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
4 out of 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
October 20, 2019
The stories were hit and miss for me, but overall an enjoyable read. See my full review on my blog: http://sprainedbrain.blog/2019/10/19/...
August 23, 2018
Even though I'm not a huge fan of anthologies, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Bailey sets the stage with the first story, giving the origins of the town and the mysterious tree. After that, the stories skip around in time, but they're all cohesive. It almost feels like they've each been given a cheat sheet of specific characters and parts of the town and then were able to use their creative freedom from there. Each story reads from a different person's perspective, but we have the same creepy cast and backdrop for each one. It's really done rather well.
Some of the stories are just alright, while others really shine. I was sort of limping through the book until I stumbled upon Turney's Tree Whisperer. It was the first story in this anthology that really swept me away into Graves Grove and made me glad to be there. As soon as I finish writing this review, I'm off to see what else he has published so that I can read that next. After Turney's story, I found myself enjoying the rest of the book immensely.
Graves Grove is a creepy little town with some creepy little inhabitants and all sorts of supernatural occurrences.
Some of the stories are just alright, while others really shine. I was sort of limping through the book until I stumbled upon Turney's Tree Whisperer. It was the first story in this anthology that really swept me away into Graves Grove and made me glad to be there. As soon as I finish writing this review, I'm off to see what else he has published so that I can read that next. After Turney's story, I found myself enjoying the rest of the book immensely.
Graves Grove is a creepy little town with some creepy little inhabitants and all sorts of supernatural occurrences.
May 4, 2018
I absolutely loved this book. There were a few times I read this before bed and found myself hesitant to get up. It is a collection of short stories with different characters that all center on the same town. It seems as though every paranormal entity lives here along with an evil tree that eats children. Yes you read that right, an evil tree.
November 4, 2019
Another anthology, tied together by place this time. As always, anthologies are a mixed bag. I suggest reading only a few at a time and reading something else between. It helps with the disjointed feeling of the stories.
Read
October 13, 2017I had the pleasure of writing part of the backstory for this multi-author horror/comedy anthology as well as three of the stories that appear therein. Read it...if you dare!
July 10, 2019
This wonderful Canadian Horror anthology I read in a one-sitting, "I can't stop now," session. Seamlessly interwoven by multiple authors, the anthology relates the life and times of a small inbred community in the Canadian Rockies, in a forested rural valley in rural British Columbia. Founded in 1880 by one Samuel Madsen Graves, the community revolves around the sycamore he planted. The setting and stories I found delightfully Lovecraftian. Certainly every single story is a winner, and the conclusion is incredibly powerful. I highly recommend this anthology.
April 8, 2018
Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman
The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove is an anthology of dark and scary short –stories with a difference. When the creators of this anthology called for submissions, they stipulated that all stories must revolve around the mythical town of Graves Grove, a small town in the wilds of British Columbia, Canada. The town was unique in many ways, in that it appeared to be a nexus or a meeting place for all sorts of paranormal activity, be it vampires, fairies, shape-shifters, ghosts and demons. The town itself has a collection of odd-ball and off-beat characters, but nothing defines Graves Grove as much as 1/ The bronze statue of the town’s founder (which somehow seems to changes its clothes on a daily basis. 2/ A giant sycamore tree that dominates the town park and is the centre of many of the rumours and stories about Graves Grove and 3/ A history of missing children, on a regular basis spanning over a hundred years. All this makes for an intriguing set of stories from a number of authors, including: J.S. Bailey, E.D.E. Bell, Mark Andersen, Matthew Howe, Travis Perry and Dakota Caldwell, plus many more.
The concept of writing a series of short-stories, across time, centred on one small town is an interesting one and one that did work. With many of the principal, weird characters and situations already set in place by the editors, it allowed the authors free license to stretch their imaginations and indeed that is exactly what they did. The Sycamore Tree, which dominated the premise was a central theme in almost all the stories, with the authors coming up with many and varied ideas as to what the tree was capable of, what it harboured beneath its roots and what weird and wonderful creatures actually lived or inhabited the tree. I found the variety of the writing to be especially refreshing and, in actual fact many similar themes appeared in different stories from different authors. As with any anthology, some stories stuck in my mind and resonated more with me, than others. Three particular favourites of mine were: Where’s Matheson Lam by S.R. Betler, Fairy Troubled by Catherine Bonham and Magick by D. M. Kilgore. If you want something different in a short story anthology, then The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove may well be right up your alley.
The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove is an anthology of dark and scary short –stories with a difference. When the creators of this anthology called for submissions, they stipulated that all stories must revolve around the mythical town of Graves Grove, a small town in the wilds of British Columbia, Canada. The town was unique in many ways, in that it appeared to be a nexus or a meeting place for all sorts of paranormal activity, be it vampires, fairies, shape-shifters, ghosts and demons. The town itself has a collection of odd-ball and off-beat characters, but nothing defines Graves Grove as much as 1/ The bronze statue of the town’s founder (which somehow seems to changes its clothes on a daily basis. 2/ A giant sycamore tree that dominates the town park and is the centre of many of the rumours and stories about Graves Grove and 3/ A history of missing children, on a regular basis spanning over a hundred years. All this makes for an intriguing set of stories from a number of authors, including: J.S. Bailey, E.D.E. Bell, Mark Andersen, Matthew Howe, Travis Perry and Dakota Caldwell, plus many more.
The concept of writing a series of short-stories, across time, centred on one small town is an interesting one and one that did work. With many of the principal, weird characters and situations already set in place by the editors, it allowed the authors free license to stretch their imaginations and indeed that is exactly what they did. The Sycamore Tree, which dominated the premise was a central theme in almost all the stories, with the authors coming up with many and varied ideas as to what the tree was capable of, what it harboured beneath its roots and what weird and wonderful creatures actually lived or inhabited the tree. I found the variety of the writing to be especially refreshing and, in actual fact many similar themes appeared in different stories from different authors. As with any anthology, some stories stuck in my mind and resonated more with me, than others. Three particular favourites of mine were: Where’s Matheson Lam by S.R. Betler, Fairy Troubled by Catherine Bonham and Magick by D. M. Kilgore. If you want something different in a short story anthology, then The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove may well be right up your alley.
September 1, 2019
I'm about half way through (EDIT: Finished now) and really like this collection so far. The first story sets the stage well with the founding of the town of Graves Grove by a madman who roots the town in evil from its beginning. The constant setting, Lovecraftian flavor, and creepy feel of these stories make them flow together, despite being by different authors and being set in different times. The main characters are the town itself and the tree on the cover. "The Summerfield Horror" especially is a near-perfect imitation of the style of H.P. Lovecraft.
So far, the other biggest highlight is "Rules". The basic idea of a few teenagers going into a forbidden haunted place has been done many times, but I don't easily get tired of this stuff, and it's well done here.
"Like a Flash" is the last story I read so far, and it tends to be the things that bug me that drive me to write something in response. This story started so well and then ended in the middle. So many short stories end too soon and it always bugs me.
There's a way to end a story and leave some things hanging that works well. The previous story, "The Jar", does it well. Bethany (the main character) isn't stupid, so it's easy to guess what happens next. I wanted something more from "Like a Flash".
I'm finished with the book now. Most of these stories are good, but the three stories by Matthew Howe, "The Summerfield Horror", "The Never-Ending Circle of Love", and "Double-Edged sword" stand out as a level above most of the others. (Imagine my disappointment when I search Howe's name on Goodreads and Amazon and find only one book, and that one book doesn't really look like my kind of thing. oh well.) Of his three stories, my favorite is "The Never-Ending Circle of Love", which is my second favorite of the book. (Chad says he prefers cats. The main character doesn't know what to say because she (and I) don't understand how anyone could prefer cats over dogs.)
My favorite story of the bunch is The Family Business by J.S. Bailey in which Copper, the town stray dog and one of my favorite characters throughout the anthology, .
A couple other highlights include "Where's Matheson Lam?", "Fairy Troubled", and "The Tree Whisperer". The darkest/heaviest stories (to me) are "The Girl Who Was Found" (which I didn't like as much as the others), and "Double-Edged Sword".
I love how the stories connect to each other so well in the history of the town of Graves Grove, and how the last few stories (starting with "The Family Business") wrap up the threads that run throughout the book.
So far, the other biggest highlight is "Rules". The basic idea of a few teenagers going into a forbidden haunted place has been done many times, but I don't easily get tired of this stuff, and it's well done here.
"Like a Flash" is the last story I read so far, and it tends to be the things that bug me that drive me to write something in response. This story started so well and then ended in the middle. So many short stories end too soon and it always bugs me.
There's a way to end a story and leave some things hanging that works well. The previous story, "The Jar", does it well. Bethany (the main character) isn't stupid, so it's easy to guess what happens next. I wanted something more from "Like a Flash".
I'm finished with the book now. Most of these stories are good, but the three stories by Matthew Howe, "The Summerfield Horror", "The Never-Ending Circle of Love", and "Double-Edged sword" stand out as a level above most of the others. (Imagine my disappointment when I search Howe's name on Goodreads and Amazon and find only one book, and that one book doesn't really look like my kind of thing. oh well.) Of his three stories, my favorite is "The Never-Ending Circle of Love", which is my second favorite of the book. (Chad says he prefers cats. The main character doesn't know what to say because she (and I) don't understand how anyone could prefer cats over dogs.)
My favorite story of the bunch is The Family Business by J.S. Bailey in which Copper, the town stray dog and one of my favorite characters throughout the anthology, .
A couple other highlights include "Where's Matheson Lam?", "Fairy Troubled", and "The Tree Whisperer". The darkest/heaviest stories (to me) are "The Girl Who Was Found" (which I didn't like as much as the others), and "Double-Edged Sword".
I love how the stories connect to each other so well in the history of the town of Graves Grove, and how the last few stories (starting with "The Family Business") wrap up the threads that run throughout the book.
August 17, 2019
The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove is a decent book. The premise of creating a novel out of a series of short stories is interesting and unique within itself. Each story has its own sense of horror and intrigue that, no matter which way the story goes, it always leads back to the mystery of Graves Grove and it’s founder, Samuel Graves.
I find that there is a set base of characters that reside within and give the town it’s own strange qualities with their own distinct mannerisms. Each of these people adds to the mystery and heart of what is actually going on while each story gives a hint as well. Some are briefer than others, while a few stories are a nice length, delving deep into the bizarre events of the Grove. The one thing I feel holding this book back is the vast amount of characters beyond the main few. Because there are so many instances and so many characters and the majority of the stories are so short, I cannot find an emotional connection with any of them. Everything happens so fast that there isn’t time for much emotion, and once that emotion is presented, the story is quickly shut down only for me to have to restart completely fresh with another. This had me taking several days between reads; having a sit down for two or three stories, the most, so I could digest them and not get them mixed up.
The writing is old fashioned, often with a somewhat backwoods twang that I think goes well with this type of story. It appears, as said in the book, to be targeting teens and children but in the horror-like fashion of Grimm’s Tales. The language is clear, distinct, but lacks the power of creating an extensive and realistic atmosphere, which I feel is mainly because of the shortness of the sections.
Overall, The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove is okay but not something I would write home about.
I find that there is a set base of characters that reside within and give the town it’s own strange qualities with their own distinct mannerisms. Each of these people adds to the mystery and heart of what is actually going on while each story gives a hint as well. Some are briefer than others, while a few stories are a nice length, delving deep into the bizarre events of the Grove. The one thing I feel holding this book back is the vast amount of characters beyond the main few. Because there are so many instances and so many characters and the majority of the stories are so short, I cannot find an emotional connection with any of them. Everything happens so fast that there isn’t time for much emotion, and once that emotion is presented, the story is quickly shut down only for me to have to restart completely fresh with another. This had me taking several days between reads; having a sit down for two or three stories, the most, so I could digest them and not get them mixed up.
The writing is old fashioned, often with a somewhat backwoods twang that I think goes well with this type of story. It appears, as said in the book, to be targeting teens and children but in the horror-like fashion of Grimm’s Tales. The language is clear, distinct, but lacks the power of creating an extensive and realistic atmosphere, which I feel is mainly because of the shortness of the sections.
Overall, The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove is okay but not something I would write home about.
October 10, 2019
The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove is a perfect anthology for the Halloween season, or really any time of the year. This was a great read for right before bed. I could finish one story if I was tired, or read a few more if I wasn’t ready to close my eyes yet. Each story was unique and had a sense of dread or horror, but still tied in perfectly with the rest of the stories.
The way the editors, J.S. Bailey and Kelsey Keating were able to pull together all the stories from all the different authors into a cohesive story is amazing. There are some central characters, including the sycamore tree, that flow throughout the entire book. As well as some characters that you only read about once. This worked well, except for one story involving the vampires. It left me hanging and there wasn’t a conclusion to it in the book. Not that every story needs a conclusion, but this was so wide open that it needed something more, or perhaps to be taken out of the anthology.
While a lot of the stories are eerie, there are some funny ones. The reason behind the bronze statue’s clothes changing daily was amusing. And when you find out more about, Cooper, the dog that belongs to everyone and no one, there is a heroic twist that gives you a bit of hope for the village of Graves Grove.
Graves Grove would be a place that I would enjoy visiting, but with some Holy Water, a machete, a gun, a stake, silver bullets, and a platoon of Marines.
The way the editors, J.S. Bailey and Kelsey Keating were able to pull together all the stories from all the different authors into a cohesive story is amazing. There are some central characters, including the sycamore tree, that flow throughout the entire book. As well as some characters that you only read about once. This worked well, except for one story involving the vampires. It left me hanging and there wasn’t a conclusion to it in the book. Not that every story needs a conclusion, but this was so wide open that it needed something more, or perhaps to be taken out of the anthology.
While a lot of the stories are eerie, there are some funny ones. The reason behind the bronze statue’s clothes changing daily was amusing. And when you find out more about, Cooper, the dog that belongs to everyone and no one, there is a heroic twist that gives you a bit of hope for the village of Graves Grove.
Graves Grove would be a place that I would enjoy visiting, but with some Holy Water, a machete, a gun, a stake, silver bullets, and a platoon of Marines.
July 17, 2019
Man oh man oh man....I loved this book! The story of a little village settled by a madman and his followers in an isolated valley in the mountains, told in vignettes as the years and the decades go by. The story told by the founder Samuel Graves, by the residents of Graves Grove, by visitors, by creatures and monsters that live or pass through there and by those who had to deal with all or any of the above. Graves Grove's two icons are the bronze statue of Samuel Graves, which somehow changes it's clothing (also bronze) every single day and the giant sycamore tree by the elementary school, the roots of which provide an ideal play area for the children even while the tree gives so many people the creeps. Speaking of the children....the town bulletin board has photos of children dating way back into the 1800's, hundreds of children that have all mysteriously gone missing and were never found.
The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove winds through the mind of these characters as they experience the strangeness of this little village. Each chapter, by a different author and told through the eyes of a different character, gives us just a little taste of life in Graves Grove through many era's and it all comes together in the end.
This book would make a wonderful mini-series. I really hope to see it on the screen some day.
#netgalley #TheWhisperedTalesofGravesGrove
The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove winds through the mind of these characters as they experience the strangeness of this little village. Each chapter, by a different author and told through the eyes of a different character, gives us just a little taste of life in Graves Grove through many era's and it all comes together in the end.
This book would make a wonderful mini-series. I really hope to see it on the screen some day.
#netgalley #TheWhisperedTalesofGravesGrove
May 31, 2021
Like others have said, the stories were very hit or miss. My least favorites were also the two longest ones. I barely managed to finish An Undead Jane Doe and A Never-Ending Circle of Love.
It's interesting to see how many people loved A Never-Ending Circle of Love. While I loved Howe's other two stories (they were actually my favorites), I thought that one was the worst in the book. It felt like he was trying way too hard to sound like a teenage girl and it came off cliche and the character also sounded very stupid and obnoxious. I couldn't stand it.
I also agree with the review that says Like a Flash seemed to end in the middle. I get where the author was going with it, but it just seemed like a very anticlimactic ending. There could have been more.
An Undead Jane Doe was the second worst. It was a typical New Vampire story. There was literally nothing interesting about it. And of course there just had to be a "flamboyant" sassy male character. What century is that author living in? I could have skipped over it and been happier with the book.
Overall it was interesting to see how the stories connected and I wouldn't warn someone away from reading it. Some stories were forgettable, others downright obnoxious. But the few that were good were REALLY good. Despite hating one of his stories, Howe stole the show here.
It's interesting to see how many people loved A Never-Ending Circle of Love. While I loved Howe's other two stories (they were actually my favorites), I thought that one was the worst in the book. It felt like he was trying way too hard to sound like a teenage girl and it came off cliche and the character also sounded very stupid and obnoxious. I couldn't stand it.
I also agree with the review that says Like a Flash seemed to end in the middle. I get where the author was going with it, but it just seemed like a very anticlimactic ending. There could have been more.
An Undead Jane Doe was the second worst. It was a typical New Vampire story. There was literally nothing interesting about it. And of course there just had to be a "flamboyant" sassy male character. What century is that author living in? I could have skipped over it and been happier with the book.
Overall it was interesting to see how the stories connected and I wouldn't warn someone away from reading it. Some stories were forgettable, others downright obnoxious. But the few that were good were REALLY good. Despite hating one of his stories, Howe stole the show here.
November 17, 2017
"The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove," edited by J. S. Bailey and Kelsey Keating, is a collection of stories set in the fictional town of Graves Grove, British Columbia, which is founded by a crazy American beholden to a Lovecraftian ancient god called Talakoth. The stories are by various authors, who use each others’ characters in their own stories, as in a mosaic novel. But the stories are all over the place - funny, horrific, dealing with vampires and fairies and ghosts (with ghostbusters included) and, oh, lots of Lovecraft riffs. I found it very uneven; the three stories by Matthew Howe were easily the best, while some of the stories by the editors (always a worrisome sign when an anthology includes stories by the editors!) were just so-so, and a few by other authors were just unnecessary to my mind. So, a mixed bag; not sure if I’d recommend it to anyone in particular, but I probably will keep an eye out for more stories from Mr. Howe.
I received this e-book from the Early Reviewers at LibraryThing.
I received this e-book from the Early Reviewers at LibraryThing.
July 27, 2019
This book was provided by Netgalley, in exchange for my honest opinion. It will be available on October thirteenth.
If Twin Peaks had a more horror-based neighboring town, Graves Grove would be it. Bizarre and creeptastic, this shiver-inducing collection of short stories is a blast to read. I love reading stories that have a common thread, but still showcase each author’s individual style. That’s what this collection did: while all the tales were part of a larger narrative, each one was individualistic and creative.
There were many stories that I loved, and just a few that were “meh”. A couple of them mentioned fairies which didn’t seem to jive with the rest of the book, but they were still interesting even though they felt a bit disjointed.
I loved Where’s Matheson Lam and The Flash in particular. The both left me with that feeling of what if?, which is so much fun in supernatural and horror books. I also loved that there’s a distinct lack of over-the-top gore.
This book collection was a lot of fun. I highly recommend it.
If Twin Peaks had a more horror-based neighboring town, Graves Grove would be it. Bizarre and creeptastic, this shiver-inducing collection of short stories is a blast to read. I love reading stories that have a common thread, but still showcase each author’s individual style. That’s what this collection did: while all the tales were part of a larger narrative, each one was individualistic and creative.
There were many stories that I loved, and just a few that were “meh”. A couple of them mentioned fairies which didn’t seem to jive with the rest of the book, but they were still interesting even though they felt a bit disjointed.
I loved Where’s Matheson Lam and The Flash in particular. The both left me with that feeling of what if?, which is so much fun in supernatural and horror books. I also loved that there’s a distinct lack of over-the-top gore.
This book collection was a lot of fun. I highly recommend it.
October 17, 2019
I received a copy fr9m the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This collection of supernatural and strange stories occurring in a small fictional town in British Columbia was perfect for the halloween season. Though not always spooky, each story had its own little twist and contribution in explaining certain mysteries surrounding the town. I also thought it was fantastic that even though each story was written by a different author, that everyone managed to maintain consistency in certain elements of the narrative. For example, the missing children over the years, Copper the dog, the appearance of fairies, the very creepy sycamore tree in the middle of town, crazy Mamie Rue le Doux, and my personal favourite, the wardrobe changing statue.
There was creepiness, humour, tragedy, and mystery, with each story being very different from its predecessors. I really enjoyed this collection.
This collection of supernatural and strange stories occurring in a small fictional town in British Columbia was perfect for the halloween season. Though not always spooky, each story had its own little twist and contribution in explaining certain mysteries surrounding the town. I also thought it was fantastic that even though each story was written by a different author, that everyone managed to maintain consistency in certain elements of the narrative. For example, the missing children over the years, Copper the dog, the appearance of fairies, the very creepy sycamore tree in the middle of town, crazy Mamie Rue le Doux, and my personal favourite, the wardrobe changing statue.
There was creepiness, humour, tragedy, and mystery, with each story being very different from its predecessors. I really enjoyed this collection.
November 27, 2019
I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.
So when I first started the story I was kind of not getting into it. Yet, by the second story, I found myself flipping the pages to find out just how different and unique this town truly is. Graves Grove is not your normal town. Things happen here, people disappear, a statue changes outfits every day, the supernatural is among the people. Yet, no one can really explain why. This town was founded in the 1800s and it has been weird ever since. Each story being told was different but it all went together perfectly with the story before so to speak. I really enjoy it when the authors can be all on the same page as to how they want a story to go in an anthology. This is a great read for whenever but it is also a good read for Halloween. I love big trees but I am not sure this is one that I want to have in my backyard. 22 stories, 22 different things that happen within this town of Graves Grove what could possibly happen right?
So when I first started the story I was kind of not getting into it. Yet, by the second story, I found myself flipping the pages to find out just how different and unique this town truly is. Graves Grove is not your normal town. Things happen here, people disappear, a statue changes outfits every day, the supernatural is among the people. Yet, no one can really explain why. This town was founded in the 1800s and it has been weird ever since. Each story being told was different but it all went together perfectly with the story before so to speak. I really enjoy it when the authors can be all on the same page as to how they want a story to go in an anthology. This is a great read for whenever but it is also a good read for Halloween. I love big trees but I am not sure this is one that I want to have in my backyard. 22 stories, 22 different things that happen within this town of Graves Grove what could possibly happen right?
November 16, 2020
“The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove”—a fun anthology of short stories with a healthy hint of spookiness. Graves Grove, the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it little town in which all the stories take place, has its share of closet skeletons and other very real inhuman denizens. Each chapter is written through the eyes of a different character, and each has its own dash of whimsical charm. But this anthology, like most, should be read a chapter at a time to prevent tedium. One story, “Magick,” written by D.M. Kilgore, stands out with crisp and concise writing. It had me smiling and laughing out loud as it unfolded, and I wished it could have continued. An absolute delight. I recommend this book to readers like myself who can’t handle bloodcurdling horror, but who enjoy a little toe and nape tingling.
November 30, 2017
This is a collection of short horror stories, but it is a sort of concept album: The editors created the town of Graves Grove, gave it a short backstory, and then said Go! Every story is set there, there are some repeating characters, and an assortment of various supernatural beings. As with any anthology, there are some stories that were rather weak, and others that were good- a couple very good. Depending on what your taste is in supernatural and horror, you will surely find something enjoyable in this book. I only felt a couple of stories were poor. Some have graphic violence but most are lower key; some have mainly a feeling of horrible dread. A nice, solid collection.
July 29, 2019
This anthology clearly is an anthology. Still, the writers did a very good job in consistency. The details of the characters that came up in more than one story all fit together, and all stories together do not build, but grow the complete picture of Graves Grove and it's sycamore tree.
I am glad that I could enjoy the view and spookyness of this little Canadian town. It seems that I, unlike many, was able to leave. At least, let's first find out if I can get it out of my head too. Perhaps I'm mentally as stuck in Graves Grove now as the inhabitants are physically.
I received a free copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I am glad that I could enjoy the view and spookyness of this little Canadian town. It seems that I, unlike many, was able to leave. At least, let's first find out if I can get it out of my head too. Perhaps I'm mentally as stuck in Graves Grove now as the inhabitants are physically.
I received a free copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
July 19, 2019
This is an anthology of horror shorts, written by different authors. The twist though, is that there is a central theme: the town of Graves Grove.
I think it’s a cool concept to plan a book with an arc and a detailed list of characters and request others to build the town narrative. So cool!
The short stories were very short and entertaining. I would like to see a longer novel that perhaps braids some of these shorter narratives into a true story in the future.
I think it’s a cool concept to plan a book with an arc and a detailed list of characters and request others to build the town narrative. So cool!
The short stories were very short and entertaining. I would like to see a longer novel that perhaps braids some of these shorter narratives into a true story in the future.
August 10, 2019
I love horror anthologies so I was super excited to read this. I never expect to love every single story in a book of shorts and that’s okay. What matters to me more is what I take from the experience overall. This was a fun, imaginative take about a town overcome with hauntings, disappearances, and strange events. I mean I don’t know what else you would expect from a place named Graves Grove honestly. This was a fun, easy read perfect for when fall hits.
August 10, 2019
A refreshing assortment of horror tales that sound like the old days, but are totally modern. Each of them gave me just the right amount of chills and thrills. While the tales are very different, this collection puts me in mind of some of Poe's greatest work., And that's huge. I recommend this book to anyone who has a love for gothic horror, or well crafted horror in general. Check this one out. You won't be disappointed.
May 27, 2020
GOODNESS, I WAS SCARED TO DEATH BY MOST OF THESE BOOKS! I can't believe that a tree planted by a man years ago fertilized in his own blood could control a village that turn into Graves Grove, Canada and I sure am glad that's it a fictionalized place, OR I HOPE IT IS. Author after author tells a gripping story, some I liked and some I didn't like, but it was needed to tell the story. I'll let you be the judge!
July 31, 2019
Definitely an imaginative grouping of stories, and the individuals putting together the anthology did a great job of keeping the storylines related, and tying the entire book together from finish to end. Some of the stories did get a little repetitive, but they were all unique, short, and fun to read. Great read.
March 9, 2018
This town drives a few of the locals a bit crazy.
Read full review in the 2018 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2018 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.
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