Shattered Spirits: The Fall of Ishcairn

by Cal Black

Legends say a dead god is buried under the stone city of Ishcairn, protecting its inhabitants by dashing enemy fleets into the jagged coast of Craeburn. Adjunct professor Corrie Ecksley doesn’t believe any of that, but she knows from her work excavating nearby burial sites that the ancient Craeburn people believed it enough to name the city after their dead god, Ish.

When the ripples of a great war finally reach Craeburn’s shores, a terrifying new weapon is unleashed on the city that not even Ish can deter. A bomb that tears souls from bodies, driving anyone who witnessed the blast insane. But it is not the living that Corrie fears. Displaced spirits are hungry for a body, and care not if it already plays host to a soul.

No bullets can stop them, no walls are thick enough to keep them out.
No help is coming.
No one left but Corrie to stop the carnage, if she even can.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Novella, Fiction, Dark, Lovecraftian

77 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

Cal Black is a Canadian writer who enjoys telling stories about messy people who try to improve their situation, for better or worse. Cal has a short story published in the Advent of Winter anthology, was runner-up in the 2023 SFINCS novella competition, and is the author of the Legends & Legacies series, a gaslamp and western fantasy series full of adventure.

Reviews

[Andrews WizardlyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first eldritch style horror read and I’m glad it came from Cal Black! This was a gripping read I just wish it was longer. I’m always want more page count from Cal 😂.

Do yourself a favor and pick this one up for spooky season well worth it!

[Esmay Rosalyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this one completely blind and I honestly think that was the perfect way to experience this story. It pulled me in from the very first page and I didn't stop reading until I had turned the very last page. This was such a compelling, chilling and mesmerising story from start to finish!

I'd already fallen in love with Cal Black's writing in No Land For Heroes (highly recommend!), but all her greatest skills as an author are on full display in this little novella. The character work is magnificent, the world building is engrossing, and the levels of intrigue, mystery and dread are sky-high. And I also really enjoyed the atmosphere of the sea/coastal city setting, all these places just came to life before my eyes!

This story went in some very dark places, but I was totally here for every single twist and turn. The very end was literally quite explosive and I was a bit lost there, but at the same time I also really like the ambiguity and mystery of it.

If you want a chilling and emotionally engaging horror fantasy novella that will creep under skin and haunt you for days to come, then you have to check out Shattered Spirits. The perfect read for spooky season!

[Jamedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally on JamReads

Shattered Spirits: The Fall of Ishcairn is an excellent horror novella, a dive from one of my favourite authors, Cal Black, into the eldritch territory. And honestly, it's incredible how many things are nailed in her first foray into the genre; a sleeping god is under the streets of Ishcairn, and Corrie Ecksley might be the only one that can stop its awakening, in the middle of a war where the enemy is not playing fair.

Corrie Ecksley is traveling by ferry to the city of Ishcairn, on the coast of Craeburn (a nation at war), to take her place as adjunct professor at the University. However, all those plans jump by the window as Craeburn's enemy attacks the city, unleashing unspeakable horrors upon the city; Corrie is forced to flee for help, and soon becomes aware that she's the only hope Ishcairn has to stop the bomb that has been set upon the city, starting a race against the time, having to use her knowledge on Ishcairn's history to save the island and herself.

Black manages to unravel the story magnificently, slowly revealing more layers that were previously hidden to ourselves; all of this while setting perfectly the sense of urgency, in a way that I have seen a few times so well done in the genre (I would say that it remembers me to Pathology). You can feel this is a race against the time, and that the stakes at play are really high.
From the first chapter, the horror atmosphere is set, exploring different types at some points (be aware to check the content warnings); and personally, the twist given to eldritch horror in this book is quite enjoyable from the perspective of a genre aficionado. The short travel across the catacombs also helps reinforce this oppressive sensation.

Despite being a novella, with its consequence limited space, Black has not been shy at worldbuilding, creating this set of nations with its own myths and legends, which might not be only fiction after all; mixed with the 1920s vibes that can be got from the technology and transport shown in the book.

Lastly, I would like to talk a bit about the characters, because Corrie is an excellent example that not needing a big length to have a complex main character; and even some that are only shown in a few pages are well defined and portrayed.

If I had to do a comparison, I would say this novella is the perfect mix between the horror of Bloodborne with the sense of urgency/characters of Pathologic; if you like the genre, you must read this book, because you will be amazed by it.

[L.L. MacRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mesmerising and horrifying in equal measure, this novella packs an emotional punch from beginning to end.

I was browsing my Kindle library for short reads to squeeze in before the end of the month. Having loved Cal Black’s “No Land For Heroes” I started Shattered Spirits on a whim, and was enraptured from the first page.

Professor Cordelia Ecksley is caught up in the midst of an attack on the ancient city of Ishcairn. Trapped, injured, and confused, she is desperate to find answers and escape. But it is no ordinary attack, and horrors are unleashed beyond anything she knows or has seen before.

The writing in this was absolutely gripping. Especially in the later chapters, with labyrinths, tunnels, crypts, and rock, which absolutely made me shudder and put the book down for a few moments to steel myself against Ecksley’s journey.

I knew nothing about this book before reading (I never read burbs and prefer going into books as unbiased as possible) but I did not expect this terror-fuelled journey. Fog and violent light, wraiths and desperate people, this novella is magnificent. There’s incredible character work right from the off, and though it took a decidedly darker turn than I am used to, I could not stop reading.

I had no idea where things were going, could not predict the ending, and devoured the mystery alongside Ecksley herself. The ending was as staggering as the beginning, and I particularly loved the ciphers we were able to see.

Great world building, writing, pacing, and characters. Highly recommend!

[ash | · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review first posted at FFA: https://fanfiaddict.com/review-shatte...

“Whatever the blinded had seen, it had driven them into mindless hysteria.” — Unsettling… absorbing… This novella skillfully intertwines facets of gaslamp fantasy and eldritch horror, evoking a chilling and captivating narrative that surpassed my expectations and took me by surprise. It honestly set the standard pretty high.

SHATTERED SPIRITS features a substantial degree of world-building, presenting a story enriched with supernatural elements, ancient lore and mystery, and religious devotion. The ability to capture an entire story within a shorter narrative framework is truly commendable. Black not only accomplishes this feat but also succeeds in cleverly revealing its secrets.

The narrative unfolds against a backdrop of frozen fog, bloody tears, and mass hysteria. There was just enough familiarity present in the ancient city and characters so that the supernatural phenomena felt deeply connected and integral to this world — in other words, one felt like it couldn’t exist independently of the other.

As much as I love novellas, I often find them incomplete. They may excel in one area, but miss in another. Character development and pacing are two areas that I often find very underwhelming and lacking. But here these areas were evenly balanced with the rest. The characters held considerable depth and felt whole and realistic, complete with flaws, a feat that is often challenging to accomplish in a novella. They added substantial contributions to the plot, transcending mere peripheral side-character existence. Rather than functioning simply as background figures, each character helped advance the plot organically and didn’t fall into stereotypical roles.

An eerie atmosphere, a compelling sense of immediacy, and haunting descriptions created a deep sense of dread. The tone created a potent impact which gave me a visceral sense of icy coldness and spine tingling suspense. The anticipation of the unknown and potential revelations created a play between fear and curiosity within. The unique attributes and features of the horrors felt original. I found myself moving through the back half of the story at a fervent pace. There’s an unnerving tone to the final chapters. It’s always satisfying when a plot goes in a direction you weren’t expecting. Themes of consequence, power, and morality are explored, although the handling of these themes felt more subtle. I felt that the impact was only fully realized after sitting with the story once finished.

The combination of intricate world-building, chilling atmosphere, and well-paced narrative makes SHATTERED SPIRITS exceptional in my view. I anticipate this will remain a favorite throughout the year. I’m eager for more from the talented Cal Black so I will be moving NO LAND FOR HEROES up my list.

I would recommend SHATTERED SPIRITS to readers of dark fantasy and horror, emotional journeys, and the coexistence of the otherworldly with the mundane. It’s a quick, yet immersive literary experience for anyone looking for a single-sitting read.

I reviewed SHATTERED SPIRITS: THE FALL OF ISHCAIRN for the SFINCS semi-finals with team Fanfiaddict. This review only represents my personal opinion and does not reflect the entire teams thoughts. Since reading and reviewing, it’s made finals- congratulations! Thank you for reading.

[Rowena Andrews]

Pterodactyl screech * THIS BOOK*

THIS BLOODY (at some points literally) BOOK.

I LOVE IT.

Shattered Spirits has firmly placed itself as one of my favourite books for 2024. I don’t care that we’re less than a third of the year, this book has well and truly carved a niche for itself in my brain, and I don’t see it moving any time soon. I finished it days ago, and yet I am still utterly wrapped up in the imagery and atmosphere of this novella.

I’ll be honest, I went into this book with high expectations, because everyone I know who has read it has gone on to recommend it. Shattered Spirits laughed (in a deep echoing eldritch cackle) at my expectations and blew them out of the water (along with a few other things). First and foremost, I have to highlight just how beautifully this novella blends genres. We have fantastical elements through the ancient lore and mythology that shapes both world and story, along with Gaslamp elements (which were some of my favourite parts, and amongst the unfolding horror and spine-tingling chills, were the most grounding). Then we have the horror – which was a mixture of cosmic/eldritch horror; and almost gothic horror with the way the atmosphere built up layer by layer, and the emotional elements at play. Lastly, there are historical vibes. It doesn’t matter that Ishcairn, and the war are fictional, or that we have only this peek through the keyhole, Black layers the war and the conflict with personal loss and grief, to the wider impact, in a way that had me feeling as though this was something that had just stepped out of sight in history.

With such a blending of genres it would have been easy for Shattered Spirits to lose sight of itself, but Black has a tight hold on all the threads, and within the unavoidable limitations of a novella’s narrative length, manages not only to hit all the notes of those genres and make them sing, but does so in complex, richly imagined and utterly compelling story.

One of the reasons this book works so well is the worldbuilding. Black keeps the narrative centred on Ishcairn and its waters, but very much creates a world that continues beyond the borders of that setting. Through character work and lore, we are given glimpses of the wider tapestry, without ever losing sight of the immediate setting or taking away from the feeling that is happening here is EVERYTHING rather than a cog in a greater war, while making it clear that there is a broader game of chess at play. Ishcairn itself is a delightfully intricate setting’ and I loved the imagery of this city built on itself; and the idea of its history and lore being it’s literal and figurative foundation. (My inner archaeologist was having the best time with that element of this book); and while much of the narrative is based on the events, and our main character, I was very much there in that city – in the twisting undercity, the buried chapel – Black had made it wonderfully, vividly real for me.

The lore is on a whole other level. As with the city itself we are given layers of lore, from physical evidence and history that leads into the symbols that come to have such meaning, to the mythology behind the city itself which has funnelled both into religious devotion and misdirection; even to the existence of the city itself as well as its role and image in the wider world. I could happily have spent many hundreds of pages more diving into the lore, and yet, at the same time I was completely and utterly satisfied and enraptured by what Black showed us, and that is a fantastic balance to achieve. I also loved how the lore itself was its own source of dread, and there were definitely moments when we uncovered a new piece to the puzzle, where the dread rose, and I was sat there going ‘oh no’ – and that was before we got to see the resulting development in the supernatural phenomena sweeping the city.

That is another reason, why this novella is so utterly compelling and captivating. Each thread or clue Black gives us is integral to the narrative, with each element feeding into another. You could no more strip out any of the lore, than you could a piece of the setting, or a character moment. Yes, we are given that feeling that there is so much more to this world. But the instance we are in is utterly complete in and of itself.

Another reason of course, is the character work. Corrie our main character, has a wonderful character voice that pulls us into her story and experience; despite the length of the book, we got to explore her character and what had brought her to this point, both emotionally and in terms of experience. We got to see her strength, but also the cracks in the armour, the desires for more than she had and what she didn’t want. Nodding back to the gothic feel of this book, we are given the expectation that with a finance missing in action and presumed dead, this would be a character bowed by grief or haunted by lost love. Black beautifully subverts that, and instead gives us a fully realised character, who takes that hurt, and the tangled mess of relief, and uses it to forge her own path forward. Black’s character work is by no means limited to our protagonist, and the cast of side characters, no matter how fleeting – or even those present only through her reminiscences, were given vivid life and as with every other aspect of this book, it all felt very organic and layered. You could not have removed anyone of those characters and had the plot advance as it did… and even Hugh who I despised so much, was an integral part of the story (and I was very satisfied with how the scales balanced there).

Shattered Spirits nailed the atmospheric horror. Between the beautiful and horrifying descriptions, and the very realness and lived in feel of the world, Black also nailed the tension. The novella coiled around us, the pace building with each revelation, and each encounter with the unknown; and through a combination of unravelling events, and Corrie’s voice, we were given an looming sense of sand slipping through the hour glass; and that anticipation, and the immediacy of events and the fact that time was not on the character side, all led to the feeling that we were on a spiral that couldn’t be stopped until we hit the bottom.

And it was not the bottom I was expecting.

I will admit that it took me a second reading to fully grasp the ending – as much as any one can grasp hold of an eldritch ending with the ambiguity of what lies in that space. This I think was more because I was so focused on Corrie, having very much come to enjoy her voice and not expecting the twist in her path; and on a reread, the ending while still different than what I have might have expected, was both the perfect capstone for this story, but as with everything, was something that could stretch out and impact the world beyond Ishcairn. And left me sitting there chewing over the story, long after turning that last page.

Shattered Spirits was an utterly immersive read, and it is impossible to capture that completely here. Especially, as I would not want to spoil the journey that Corrie and the reader go through. However, this book, really nailed all its elements, and my only complaint is that I want more in this world. I’m already planning a reread for when my physical copy arrives (plus I’ll get to admire the cover some more). I would say this is a must read for anyone who loves dark fantasy, eldritch horror and a beautifully realised world, that I would happily plunge into… even if it wouldn’t end well for me.

[Joseph Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders.

To state the obvious right off the bat, Cal Black’s Shattered Spirits: The Fall of Ishcairn is a masterclass in how to write gripping and tense horror fantasy. In the span of just under 80 pages, this novella provides chills and frights along with a mind-bending plot that excites right from the beginning and has left me wanting more from this world in all the best ways.

The people of Ishcairn believe there to be a dead god named Ish lying in wait beneath their city, protecting them from enemy fleets in their time of war. But not even the power of Ish can prevent a new weapon from being unleashed on their city. After surviving the bombs that rip a person’s soul from their body, adjunct professor Corrie Ecksley has but one goal: uproot the mystery behind the attacks. But more than that, she must survive. Because the bombs were only the first threat. The scattered spirits are much, much more dangerous.

Atmosphere is one of the key things in a good horror story, and Cal Black absolutely nailed it in this book. Everything feels claustrophobic, that no matter how small or wide a space is, something will be lurking, and no place is safe. There is never a feeling that anyone is safe, and the question in my mind was never, “How is Corrie going to get out of this?” but rather, “What is going to happen to her at the end?” Once the bombs dropped and the horrors erupted from there, I could not put the book down.

I found Corrie to be a fascinating character, well-rounded and multi-dimensional. Seeing Ishcairn fall to madness through the eyes of an educator familiar with the city’s history added layers to the horrors, as not only do we see the lengths to which she will go to survive, but we also see the histories of Ishcairn both come alive and fall apart. It was an expert approach to worldbuilding to have the escape solutions be tied to the knowledge Corrie has as part of her research and profession. And beyond her intelligence and resourcefulness, we also see her be compassionate and protective and vindictive. That she has so much depth in such a short book is a testament to Black’s skills as an author.

The titular shattered spirits are just as memorable. It’s been over a week since I finished this book, and I’m still thinking about the displaced spirits in search for a new body. Whenever a tense sequence with the spirits concluded, I felt I had to stop and catch my breath. They’re such a simple horror creature, but how they’re depicted is impeccable. I have a strong feeling I’m going to continue thinking about these spirits years on in the same regard I hold the slakemoths from Perdido Street Station. They’re that good and memorable. And spooky. Really goddamn spooky.

If you’ve been looking for a new horror fantasy to read with all the lights on, then Shattered Spirits: The Fall of Ishcairn is the one for you. It’s scary and tense, and all the frights feel incredibly well-earned. Cal Black has written an absolute gem here.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

a delightfully dark horror tale

Well, this was a complete surprise! A good surprise might I add. I’ve wanted to read this author’s first book, No Land For Heroes, for ages. I will push it up my TBR now. Her writing style is easy to follow and flows so smoothly. I was mesmerized by the story from the first page. This was a wonderful way to finish my fall spooky reads with a short story filled with creepy atmosphere, wraith creatures, and a believable heroine.

[Cat Rector · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second read complete. Just as good as last time, if not better. This novella stuck in my head since last reading and I feel like I'll be coming back to it again and again

This was an excellent novella. It left me feeling both that it was the perfect length, and that I could've read a whole book about this character and her world. It's dark, inventive, odd, and beautifully written. I honestly struggle to describe it. It's a grey, dark world that feels gothic, low fantasy, and horror all at the same time. But how much more can I say without spoiling the whole novella? I really enjoyed this piece and would gladly read more pieces like it from Cal!

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered Spirits by Cal Black was a much anticipated novella where I loved everything I learned about it beforehand, from the cover to the keywords to the map and finally a full description. I didn’t think I’d be able to read it before pub day but then I said screw it and dropped everything else to start this as soon as I received it.

I read No Land for Heroes and really liked the smooth prose that allowed me to read the story quickly without overthinking it. I really liked that here as well but despite it the short length of the book, I felt there were more descriptions about the world. Or maybe her words were just really well chosen and allowed me to visualize it more easily than I usually do while reading.

I knew this story would be different for me from the usual (can I still say that when I’ve said it so often lately hahaha) and I was here for it. It had me glued to the screen from the first chapter on, with my heart racing and my mind wanting more, more, more. Just a couple of words here and there made me feel really creeped out but, like with a train wreck, I just couldn’t look away.

I liked that the ending took us somewhere completely different than I had first expected. You think you know what’s coming but you really don’t. That felt really well done. I also liked how some of the character development turned to places I didn’t think we would go.

If you want a dark read for spooky season that doesn’t do a deep dive into horror, then definitely check this one out. I’m really eager to see what Cal Black writes next because with her current trajectory, she’ll shoot up to my favorite authors soon.

[Kayla Kay's Hidden Shelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars

Haunting and eerie, Shattered Spirits quickly pulled me into a thrilling and dark read I couldn’t put down.

After reading No Land for Heroes, I knew I needed to read more from Cal Black. And I’ll be honest, I went into this novella blind. I had no idea what the story was about, only that this was a great read for the spooky season and BOY was that on point! The tone, atmosphere and overall story were immersive and features a compelling main character, Professor Corrie Ecksley.

Corrie is a young woman who is thrust into a nightmare, facing displaced souls, carnage and the remnants of a bomb that drives witnesses insane. Only as a professor who has spent much of her life on excavations, her strengths lie in her intellect and experience rather than combat. This made for an engaging read with a refreshing main character.

What’s truly impressive is Cal Black’s ability to create developed characters, craft suspenseful and dark scenes with spot on pacing, and seamless worldbuilding all within 77 pages. There were even twists and turns woven into the story I never saw coming.

I ended up reading Shattered Spirits in one sitting. The story is self contained and works great as a standalone. The world, atmosphere, and the way the story unravels was mesmerizing. It also weaves in eldritch horror, and dark fantasy elements making a spine chilling read.

I’d highly recommend checking out this novella if you’re looking for a haunting read with a refreshing take on the main character.

[Tori Tecken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere.

Cal Black has created a gritty and horror flavored short story with a dark twist on the familiar undead trope. I loved that ancient gods and lore were seamlessly woven into what felt like a quasi-gaslamp style world.

A strong, spooky vibes read that packs a massive punch in a short amount of pages. That's hard to pull off, and this story does it very well!

[C.J. Daley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one as a finalist in SFINCS, however I already owned the kindle version!

This is a mixture of eldritch horror with a fantasy backdrop. A mix of gods and what felt like industrial style weaponry made for what comes across as a sort of gaslamp fantasy horror. I would kind of liken it to Of Honey and Wild Fires by Sarah Chorn in its fantasy world feel, but instead of crippling grief, it’s actual horrors coming for the characters.

A bomb blast that rips souls from bodies and causes those that witness it to go insane, creates these shrieking husks of people that used to be. These apparition-like beings create a creepy atmosphere that has the reader as amped up as the main character.

Corrie Ecksley, an adjunct professor, is thrust into the middle of all of this and just trying to survive. I liked that besides her excavation experience giving her some background information, she was just a normal person trapped in an impossible situation. And of course, sometimes literally trapped.

I will say that some of the world building bits and character explanation beats kind of took away from that creepy atmosphere, so in the end I don’t think this really comes across as horror. Not necessarily a negative, but I felt like it was on the fence of blending the two genres well, and I would have liked to see it go all the way. I am still kind of going through it though, so my attention span is a little off and reading has been difficult.

Regardless, this was an enjoyable novella. The big beats were there, the pace is good, as the character faces more than one issue that’s very time sensitive, and there’s definitely enough that I could have kept reading longer.

https://fanfiaddict.com/review-shatte...

[FantasyBookNerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as part of the SFINCS novella competition and Cal Black’s Shattered Spirits was part of the finalists group.

Right! A quick run down of the story! Corrie Eckersley is sailing to the University of Ishcairn to take up a teaching position with her young apprentice (that may not be the right word but I am going with it!). In the midst of their sea voyage, the boat is bombed by Rostaat, who have been at war with the country of for some time.

At first, the bombs leave those who have seen them blind. However, we soon learn that this is not the extent of the horrors.

I must say that I was quite impressed with this novella. Having not read any Cal Black before I didn’t know what to expect from this novella. However, with a mix of fantasy and cosmic horror this little book really impressed me. One of the criticisms of some of the novellas that I have read in this competition is that they are already set in an established world and you needed some background in the worlds that the novellas are set in to feel like you have fully grasped the story. However, with this one, I felt that this was not necessary. Without having to know the backstory or the characters it was easy to be swept away with this novella.

In terms of character, it was easy to connect with them and also to care about their plights.

The story itself packs a punch and it moves along with a blistering pace as we follow Corrie as she attempts to leads some inhabitants of the Ishcairn to safety.

On the whole, this had some great world building, some good characters and also satisfied my cosmic horror love (which I do have rather a soft spot for!)

[Trinity · Rating 5 out of 5]

A creepy, enthralling read! Cal pulls you in with talk of sleeping gods, holy relics and creepy catacombs. In the midst of a war, what happens when the enemy does not play fair? When a bomb is dropped that has erie, and unsettling repercussions, it's up to one woman to figure out what has happened. With very little time and only her vast knowledge of history on her side, can she save the island and herself from utter devastation?

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella made me feel a ton of things. Mostly dread and shivers. So good!

[Tom Bookbeard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chilling, captivating and downright terrifying gaslamp horror story. It's almost as if Studio Ghibli made a horror movie. Take a bow, Cal, this was excellent.

[Susanne Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A desolate undercity, a maybe not quite dead god, and an adjunct historian stranded on an island overrun by strange glowy wraiths, all come together in this eerie tale of exploration at what feels like the verge of an apocalypse.
Its hints of history and magic, of strange glyphs, and secrets kept by the powerful, all left me wanting more.

[Dimitris Kopsidas · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're a fan of horror and novellas then you should try Shattered Spirits. Personally I'm not the biggest fan of short stories and this one was really short for my liking (under 80 pages). It felt a bit too rushed even for a novella, especially in the department of the lore of the world .
Having said that, there was atmosphere in abundance and some great moments that definitely made it worth the read.

[Helyna Clove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing, dark little story, very eldritch themes, spooky, desperate atmosphere. I liked the terse, straight-to-the-point writing which managed to be also mystical and moody, even though I'd have loved to know more lore! The main character's journey was an interesting addition and I found it easy to see from her viewpoint. A short, impactful read.

[Terry Rudge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a novella itch that needed scratching!
So I asked Twitter for some guidance !

The people suggested this one, and what a pleasant surprise.

This story is full of atmosphere and tension, and much like the story itself, it was told at a speed that made me feel like I was in imminent danger if I didn't get moving!

The imagery created in this story was superb, and it instantly transported me into the world.

I loved that the author made you feel the fear and terror that the characters were feeling.

A top novella this. I recommend 👌

[Karen McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent pace, kept me intrigued, and left me wanting more

[Hannah ⚔️ Jaedia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super short novella that gives us a hint of a rich fantasy world, set within the port city of Ishcairn upon a Celtic-esque culture, we're treated to cosmic horror that understood the assignment. I loved it. Within we get a deep main character desperate to do something about the tragedy that strikes just as the ship she's coming in on is struck by horror: most passengers aboard are blinded and driven mad in a moment by a bomb strike from the Rostaat opposition in the ongoing war, seeing an odd violet light before the light goes out possibly forever. As Corrie rushes on land to seek help she gets injured and must flee people with an odd, and familiar, violet light in their eyes. The more she goes on, the more she realises that what Ishcairn needs is a historian, and that's exactly what she is.

There's a great journey here that we get to be witness to, and the fact that Cal managed this in just 77 pages is astonishing.

If you love cosmic/Lovecraftian/Eldritch horror? If you want more fantasy horror? Feminine rage? Pick this one up!!

[Karen Lykkebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a creepy and eerie novella and I loved every little twisted bit of it!

From the India-Jones vibes of deciphering keys and hidden symbols, the chill of long, deserted underground tunnels, the utter horror of the zombie/wraiths, but most of all the steadfast and capable MC who just wanted to solve a tragic mystery for future historians to learn from.

It was a wonderful mix of adventure and horror with an extensive lore that made the world expand around you while reading. The MC, Professor Ecksley, absolutely held my heart and the little snippets of her backstory blended so well with her actions and goals and her struggle with personal and professional sacrifice.

Light on gore and heavy on dark, tight spaces, this was a horror story that crept under your skin!

[Doctordalek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book directly from the author (well, the author's friend, but I went back when Cal Black was there to get her to sign it) at Ottawa Comic Con 2023. I don't tend to buy a lot of independent books because so many of them aren't properly edited, but this one just had the coolest black and gold cover, and the person working the stand really sold the story on me. Needless to say, it's wonderfully written and stands out among so many others. It's pretty short (83 pages), but that helps it chug along at a nice pace. I was just completely taken by the story. There are some fantastic ideas in here. I'm going to look into picking up the other Cal Black books. I'd also like to see a second book from the perspective of somebody else in the same setting!

[lookmairead]

I’m a judge on the Before We Go Blog team. We’re in the final round!
RTC
Until then, learn more here:
https://sfincscompetition.wordpress.com

[SnooRegrets · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a little surprise, I really enjoyed reading it. The atmospheric writing and interesting characters made sure, that this will not be the last book I pick up from this author.

[Ed Crocker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The man’s head snapped towards me with an inhuman quickness. He shambled closer, his eyes pinpricks of that horrible violet light that I’d seen while on the ferry. It hurt to look at, though the utter despair on the man’s face compelled me to watch as he emerged from the fog. His body was little more than a silhouette, unravelling in dark wisps of smoke with his every step. His glowing eyes were fixed on mine, pleading for help that I could not provide. They seemed to burn my vision, leaving behind smears of light, the way a flame would if one stared at it for too long. This was no man, not anymore.

Wow. Cal Black hits like a heart attack. This was my first introduction to the Canadian author’s work – previously known for her gaslamp fantasy western series Legends and Legacies – and it’s a bite-size but gloriously memorable hit of disturbing cosmic horror with excellent character work, haunting scenes and one of the most inventive horror concepts of the year.

We begin the story with little information and a tense, atmospheric set-up: archaeologist (I think?) Corrie Ecksley is travelling to the ancient city of Ishcairn, to take up her post as professor at the university. Craeburn is at war, as part of a wider regional conflict, and as Corrie arrives by boat to Ishcairn, the enemy unleashes a deadly aerial bomb. The next think Corrie knows, she is running for her life from the inhabitants of the city, who have been driven mad, their souls torn from their bodies. So begins a one-woman mission to find out what just what the enemy has done that takes her deep under the city – where legends say a dead god is buried.

What immediately struck me – and if you’re not a gamer, a thousand pardons you may skip this paragraph – is how this short but memorable novella proceeds like the opening of a horror video game. The arrival by ship; the mystery affliction of the citizens of a creepy city; the single protagonist; a terrifying journey through the deeper layers of the city attempting to solve the mystery of what the hell went wrong. It gave me strong Bioshock/Dead Space vibes (and certain cathedral/priest bits, Resident Evil 4 vibes) and this, perhaps, partly explains why I enjoyed it so much. This not a long story, and the way Black makes the most of this simple gaming premise to terrify you, introduce a bunch of lore and get some pinpoint character work in is an example of a great author at work.

What I have to empathise though is how truly terrifying this book is. The bizarre affliction of the citizens – which I won’t go into too much detail about because half the fun is working out what manner of devilry is going on – is constantly creepy, at times reminiscent of the 1970s open-mouthed wail of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and, in one particularly shiver-inducing scene, giving off vibes of the long-limbed creatures in Dead Space (gamer talk again, sorry). The fact that you can catch this affliction leads to a sinister edge of body horror, too. Then, as our protagonist Corrie descends into the catacombs of the city seeking answers, it develops the classic ominous vibes of cosmic horror, including a monstrously eerie priest-gathering scene and the classic descent into the bowels of the eldritch lair:

Drawing level with the gathered holy men, I heard their voices split into discordant tones. Some had already collapsed, lying on the steps to the altar with their arms still outstretched, lips mumbling the words of their chant. To a man, their eyes had been bleached white, made all the more disconcerting by the brilliant red that rimmed them from the affliction’s bloody tears.

Sheer terror aside, this also has one of the most inventive (maybe the most?) horror ideas I’ve read this year. Black gives us clues, introducing some heavy eldritch lore, but then when she finally discovers the bomb site for the weapon that has so devastated the city and discovers the truth of its origins, the reveal is such a brilliant concept that I genuinely, not figuratively, sat back in my chair and silently applauded the author (I do this a lot with books though, we can’t all be sane).

But for all that I’ve been yammering on about the horror and the invention, another pleasing thread of the story is how the character work creeps on you amid the terror. Corrie has a husband lost, presumed dead, to the war, and for a while you think this is going to go into traditional grief territory; but Black makes a pleasingly counter-intuitive swerve on this plotline, and soon we realise that this is not the story we assumed. Corrie is, above all else, someone dedicated to the academic truth and, even more so, to saving the city, and this refusal to follow traditional character arcs gives this novella a spiky edge to it.

The end of the book is completely bonkers. I didn’t really understand it – have you ever read a cosmic horror ending that you understood, be honest – but I loved its ambition and vagueness.

Overall, this horror novella is short, sharp and so chilling your friends will store beer inside you. Cal Black writes cosmic horror like she has one day left to live, and I am foaming at my eldritch mouth at the thought of what this author has next in store, whether in the fantasy or the horror genres. One of the horror reads of the year.

[Derek Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who doesn't tend to consume a ton of scary media and has only dabbled in a couple of Lovecraft's shortest of short stories (none of his most famous ones), I wasn't really sure how I was going to connect with a full novella in the eldritch horror category. After reading it, I have to say that I had quite a good time with this!

CONTENT
This tale of haunting horrors is told from the perspective of Dr. Corrie Ecksley who is a university professor and an archeologist of sorts in that she has studied the undercity of Ishcairn which represents a place that has literally been build on top of and houses some rather deadly secrets. She's on a ferry with a young man who was her brother-in-law-to-be prior to the disappearance of Lawrence, a man she's engaged to, but went missing on the battlefront in a war between nations before the wedding actually happened. We get some establishing moments between these characters as well as a briefly peaceful look at the pair's destination. Things quickly take a turn for the worse as they prepare to make port and their rival nation suddenly drops bombs on the city of Ishcairn. With many other people on board mysteriously blinded, Corrie leaves her fellows behind and sets off in search of answers and help on the strangely desolate streets of the city. All around, people seem to be turning into monstrous wraith-zombies and she quickly finds herself fleeing for her life. She meets other survivors along her nightmarish odyssey to find answers to what's going on, but no one really sticks around for too long in the story. All of the side characters are interesting and distinct in their own way, but I didn't feel like we got to spend enough time with them to be too scared for their safety or too crushed when they inevitably fell to one terrible fate or another. Corrie herself is quite fascinating though. We slowly learn more and more about her over the course of the story and while it's easy to see where she is coming from in a lot of ways, she's also not the best of people. It's really interesting to see how her life experiences have shaped her and even more compelling is how both her background knowledge and her less-than-empathetic tendencies both contribute to her ability to survive the various threats that her and her companions encounter during her quest for answers.

The story has all the hallmarks of a good eldritch horror from the quick. no-nonsense pacing to the themes of madness, and, of course, an awesomely powerful being of god-like proportions. It's a thrilling ride through one disturbing situation after another and there were plenty of moments where things got genuinely tense, even though you kind of know that Corrie is making it through until at least the end of the story since she's the one telling it to us. That said, the ending took a couple of rather surprising turns as the story reaches it's final crescendo. These last moments were super interesting, but also left me somewhat unsatisfied in that it kind of felt like there was more of this story to tell. Everything is well-explained and the narrative being told here does end, it just feels like there are follow up stories which deserve to be told in this world. Overall though, I really enjoyed this novella. It was the perfect amount of unsettling without ever getting too gross or gratuitous with the horror elements. It's certainly not a cozy read either, but if you're like me and not a huge horror person, but like giving more thrilling reads a try from time to time, then I'd absolutely give this one a chance. Even if you are a seasoned horror fan, I think there's going to be enough staples of the genre here for you to have a fun time with it.

eBOOK
The cover is sort of simple, yet striking in it's design. It gives off all the right vibes without really divulging any details about the story, which I think is a good thing in this genre. The interior formatting is simple, but clean and I appreciated the short, even lengths of the chapters themselves. Novellas and shorter novels tend to be quite satisfying for me to read electronically and this was a perfect example of that. I was able to complete this in a day, reading half of it on each part of my commute (I take public transportation to work), so I think it would be absolutely perfect if you wanted to read something spooky from start to finish on Halloween.

CONCLUSION
Horror newbies and seasoned veterans alike can find something to love about this fast-paced eldritch horror tale set in a fantasy world. I'd definitely recommend anyone in the market for a good eldritch horror story check this one out.

(+) An interesting and complex main protagonist
(+) A fast-paced thrill ride from one spooky situation to another
(+) An awesome eldritch god
(+) The way the plot is explained over the course of the nightmarish events felt quite graceful
(+) A devastatingly awesome finale
(-) The ending left me slightly unsatisfied in the sense that if felt like the larger story could/should go on
(-) Side characters were hard to connect with on account of how quickly they tend to get killed off (I often have this problem within the horror/thriller genres)

[Rebecca]

As Corrie is headed into Ishcairn, she is witness to a horrific event. What was once fog is now a wall of ice. As she looks around, she notices most have red tears, blood filling their eyes. She is horrified at what she sees, and unsure of how she was able to avoid being struck with the same affliction. As she moves through the small ferry, she notices that very few have also managed to avoid the red-eyed mystery. As she tries to work out what is happening, one thing is certain. The king did not protect them. He left them defenseless, and this city is one that could be dangerous to unleash. It is said that the god Ish is buried there. But where? What is going to draw this new weapon away, and perhaps allow a few fortunate souls to survive?

What a read! If you are looking for a short horror that is going to have you rooted in spot, this is it. Of course, it won my heart over immediately with the history aspect, but the horror - oh my. I was drawn into this story, and COULD NOT STOP. I had to know what was going to happen, and even found myself scooting further forward on my chair, as if that was going to help. (Seriously folks, don't be like me and fall off the couch when you get to an exciting part). Corrie is trying to save the town, but her actions could end up costing her - and everyone else - everything. I did find the one character, Henry (jerkface) to be the most unlikable of people, and was glad when she decided to ditch him along the way.
Fantastic read, and I highly recommend this one!