Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "ml-rayner"

BLOODY HELL: An Anthology of UK Indie Horror by Sarah Jules

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A stunning showcase of British indie horror.

‘Bloody Hell’ is an anthology of short stories written by multiple authors and set in locations across the British Isles – England, Wales, Scotland, and a bonus story set in the Republic of Ireland. Edited by Sarah Jules, with beautiful illustrations by Rachael Rose, the collection features twenty-seven stories across the spectrum of the horror genre from a legion of indie horror talent, taking us on dark adventures featuring ghosts, stalkers, creatures, supernatural entities, aliens – an assortment of hauntings and folklore, magic and mayhem, slasher and splatter, natural and body horror, tales of vengeance and malign intent, twists of fate and misfortune, and even touches of comedy. Each story offers its own unique premise and style, each author’s signature woven tightly within the DNA of their work – some slow-burning, others fast-paced; some psychological, others visceral; some atmospheric and dripping in suspense, others brutal and bloodthirsty.

Difficult though they were to select, my personal favourites were:
“The God Botherers” by Ashley Lister, for its religious themes and pitch black comedy (I fear I am guilty of all three signs of being a dæmon);
“Pergyl” by C.S. Jones, for its Welsh wilderness and crawling, creeping dread;
“The Dark Heart” by Jim Ody, for toying with our perceptions so brilliantly all the way through;
“Sand” by David Watkins, for its beautiful setting and grotesque hopelessness;
“Brompton Road” by Elizabeth J. Brown, for its haunting atmosphere and delicious twist;
“Down T’Pit” by Sarah Jules, for its claustrophobic tension and jarringly spatial horror.

Overall, this is an incredibly high quality collection, featuring a wide variety that will appeal to all tastes, offering readers the chance to discover new stories from authors they may be familiar with and also discover new writers, all masterfully curated by Sarah Jules. My own story, “Cythraul”, is part of the assembled tales, and it is an incredible privilege to be included in such a strong collection amongst so many of my talented fellow indie authors. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the other writers’ stories and look forward to more from both the authors whose work I was familiar with and those whom I read for the first time in this book.

‘Bloody Hell: An Anthology of UK Indie Horror’ in a superb selection of horror stories, perfect for sampling on dark autumnal and wintry nights. Prepare yourself to embark on a journey, as we travel around the United Kingdom (and Ireland), facing mortal perils and dangerous foes, and unleash bloody hell!



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter

Echoes of Home by M.L. Rayner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A captivating Gothic ghost story of old shadows and secret sins.

Leslie Wills unexpectedly receives an offer to move to a remote property nestled deep in the Scottish Highlands.

However, from the moment he arrives, he feels something is amiss with the house as strange disturbances begin to trouble him.

Les finds himself haunted by his new home’s past – a ghost that cannot rest until overdue justice is served.

'Echoes of Home' is the debut novel by M.L. Rayner, a ghost story set in a secluded village in the Scottish Highlands, a close-knit community with a long and troubled history. Written in the tradition of classic Gothic horror, and largely narrated by lead character, Les, Rayner deftly layers the novel in swirling mists of stunning imagery and Gothic atmosphere, history and folklore, and paranormal phenomena as we explore the natural wilderness and witness her merciless ferocity, glimpsing the tragic events of the past as it relentlessly haunts the present.

Les makes for an interesting character, not immediately endearing, yet dealing with grief at his mother’s passing, perhaps teetering on the brink of depression after struggling for many years as the only one his siblings who remained in his home town to care for his mother, never truly having lived a life of his own. Offered an opportunity to begin anew by his estranged brother, he grasps the bizarre offer and takes to the road without planning or forethought to move to Scotland and into Elphin Cottage, a property that has been abandoned for many years, save for a few occupants who vacated it very quickly. Throughout the novel, we witness the evolution of his character arc, largely through the friendship he forms with elderly local Coull, and how curiosity and bravery ultimately combine to show us, and himself, the true capacity of his character.

With Les becoming determined to find out the secrets of Elphin Cottage, the ruined home he can see across the valley, and the surrounding village, we discover the cruelty and tyranny of original owner of the house, Peter Daily, towards his tenants and staff and his belief that he and his wealthy friends were superior and more worthy than those whom he had power over, while uncovering the agonising legacy of a lost soul caught in an eternal quest, unable to find peace, the novel building to an intense and thrilling climax, and an emotional denouement that neatly concludes the story.

Yet, the tale is far from over, and will continue in both the past and the future in 'Wretched: An Echoes of Home Story', which I'm very much anticipating!



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter