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Pale Blades of Moonlight
In a dark alley in St. Paul, Minnesota, a pair of boys think they’re breaking into an abandoned secondhand store, but what they’re really entering is a nightmare from which they may never escape.
Meanwhile, in a nearby city, a caped figure appears as it does every night on the sidewalk outside the house of that old woman who neighbors believe is really a witch.
And in a rural woodland, ghouls unearth the residents of an ancient graveyard and carry off the rotting remnants for sinister purposes.
All by the silvery light of the moon.
The nine tales in this collection by award-winning writer Joe Pawlowski feature a hapless real-estate agent driven to extreme measures by his love of a severely deformed woman; a trio of farmers who discover a presence from beyond lurking in the corn; a paraplegic miss who rides the supernatural into realities far from the confines of her hospital bed; the American tourist in Mexico City who discovers the deeper meaning of the Day of the Dead; and the wise guy who learns it’s not OK to shortchange a sin eater.
It’s surely looking like a bad moon is on the rise.
Meanwhile, in a nearby city, a caped figure appears as it does every night on the sidewalk outside the house of that old woman who neighbors believe is really a witch.
And in a rural woodland, ghouls unearth the residents of an ancient graveyard and carry off the rotting remnants for sinister purposes.
All by the silvery light of the moon.
The nine tales in this collection by award-winning writer Joe Pawlowski feature a hapless real-estate agent driven to extreme measures by his love of a severely deformed woman; a trio of farmers who discover a presence from beyond lurking in the corn; a paraplegic miss who rides the supernatural into realities far from the confines of her hospital bed; the American tourist in Mexico City who discovers the deeper meaning of the Day of the Dead; and the wise guy who learns it’s not OK to shortchange a sin eater.
It’s surely looking like a bad moon is on the rise.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
187 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 22, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 2, 2024
Pale Blades Of Moonlight is a collection of nine intriguing stories that range from horror to fantasy with a touch of sci-fi.
Black magic, strange rituals, grave robbers, alien beings, and more, made for an entertaining read.
My favorites were as follows...
Shadow Man, in which a reclusive woman who guards a dangerous object lets her defenses down.
It Came Out Of The Sky- When a strange metal capsule crashes to the earth a couple of elderly men follow the trail of its occupant. They should have run the other way!
A young woman who has survived a traumatic and devastating injury that robbed her of the life she should have had travels the globe without leaving her bed in A world Apart.
A realtor becomes obsessed with a deformed client in Iris.
A man tries to cheat a sin eater out of his fee and learns that some things are far more dear than money in Elliot's Just Dessert.
If you're in the mood for shivery thrills and startling chills you'll find them here in Pale Blades Of Moonlight.
My thanks to Joe Pawlowski.
Black magic, strange rituals, grave robbers, alien beings, and more, made for an entertaining read.
My favorites were as follows...
Shadow Man, in which a reclusive woman who guards a dangerous object lets her defenses down.
It Came Out Of The Sky- When a strange metal capsule crashes to the earth a couple of elderly men follow the trail of its occupant. They should have run the other way!
A young woman who has survived a traumatic and devastating injury that robbed her of the life she should have had travels the globe without leaving her bed in A world Apart.
A realtor becomes obsessed with a deformed client in Iris.
A man tries to cheat a sin eater out of his fee and learns that some things are far more dear than money in Elliot's Just Dessert.
If you're in the mood for shivery thrills and startling chills you'll find them here in Pale Blades Of Moonlight.
My thanks to Joe Pawlowski.
April 30, 2024
Received as a Goodreads Kindle Giveaway for my review, thank you to the author!
This is a series of 9 short stories with supernatural efforts, some even cross over into horror- in my opinion (romantasy, thriller trope lover here!)
While not my normal read, what was SUPER cool about this was how these stories were linked. Instead of 9 random stories, there's cool intertwining of these stories.
Each has a creepy undertone, my favorite is a tourist visiting Mexico during on The Day of Dead.
I read these over two nights, and while they are easy reads, BE WARY! you might have trouble sleeping afterwards.
This is a series of 9 short stories with supernatural efforts, some even cross over into horror- in my opinion (romantasy, thriller trope lover here!)
While not my normal read, what was SUPER cool about this was how these stories were linked. Instead of 9 random stories, there's cool intertwining of these stories.
Each has a creepy undertone, my favorite is a tourist visiting Mexico during on The Day of Dead.
I read these over two nights, and while they are easy reads, BE WARY! you might have trouble sleeping afterwards.
September 2, 2025
****I won a free copy of this on Kindle in a Goodreads Giveaway!!!!****
So, I'd give this 3.5 stars, rounded down because....well, while they were sometimes creepy, I just wasn't....scared. I mean, the subject matter could be disturbing, sometimes uncomfortable even, but I don't really put that in what scares me, what makes horror for me. A psycho clown jumping out of nowhere with a chainsaw and that eerie painted-on smile staring at me is scary (no judging, clowns are scary! Read It and/or watch the movie and tell me I'm wrong!!). This was, as I said, uncomfortable, but not really striking fear in my heart. I enjoyed several of the stories, though, found them to be entertaining, held my attention. It just wasn't what I was expecting/looking for.
So, I'd give this 3.5 stars, rounded down because....well, while they were sometimes creepy, I just wasn't....scared. I mean, the subject matter could be disturbing, sometimes uncomfortable even, but I don't really put that in what scares me, what makes horror for me. A psycho clown jumping out of nowhere with a chainsaw and that eerie painted-on smile staring at me is scary (no judging, clowns are scary! Read It and/or watch the movie and tell me I'm wrong!!). This was, as I said, uncomfortable, but not really striking fear in my heart. I enjoyed several of the stories, though, found them to be entertaining, held my attention. It just wasn't what I was expecting/looking for.
October 20, 2024
I will definitely be getting more books by this author. I enjoyed the multiple stories in one.
June 17, 2024
Joe Pawlowski's "Pale Blades of Moonlight" is a captivating supernatural thriller that plunges readers into a world where the line between reality and nightmare is perilously thin. The author's atmospheric writing and masterful blending of horror, suspense, and dark fantasy elements create a multifaceted narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. One of the notable aspects of Pawlowski's work is the way he introduces readers to the unfolding horrors of each chapter through the use of evocative quotes from renowned sci-fi, horror, and fantasy authors, such as H.G. Wells and Robert E. Howard.
The story begins with two boys who stumble upon a twisted realm hidden within the shadowy corners of St. Paul, Minnesota, setting the stage for a harrowing journey. The parallel narratives that unfold, featuring a caped figure haunting the streets and the desecration of ancient graves in the rural woodlands, enhance the sense of impending doom and keep readers guessing about the true nature of the characters and their dark intentions.
Pawlowski's deft storytelling blends elements of the Gothic, weaving a tapestry of rich, evocative prose and a palpable sense of menace that permeates every page. As the narrative progresses, new revelations and deeper intrigue pull readers further into a web of dark secrets and malevolent forces, creating a truly immersive reading experience.
Fans of supernatural thrillers will find much to admire in Pawlowski’s novel. His deft storytelling blends elements of horror, suspense, and dark fantasy, creating a multifaceted narrative that keeps readers on edge. The characters are vividly drawn, their plights deeply engaging, and the intertwining plotlines are masterfully paced.
"Pale Blades of Moonlight" stands out in the genre for its rich, evocative prose and the palpable sense of menace that pervades every page. Pawlowski's skill in crafting a compelling, eerie atmosphere ensures that readers will be hooked from the first unsettling scene to the final, spine-chilling conclusion. This novel is a must-read for anyone who relishes a good scare and appreciates a well-woven tale of supernatural suspense.
The story begins with two boys who stumble upon a twisted realm hidden within the shadowy corners of St. Paul, Minnesota, setting the stage for a harrowing journey. The parallel narratives that unfold, featuring a caped figure haunting the streets and the desecration of ancient graves in the rural woodlands, enhance the sense of impending doom and keep readers guessing about the true nature of the characters and their dark intentions.
Pawlowski's deft storytelling blends elements of the Gothic, weaving a tapestry of rich, evocative prose and a palpable sense of menace that permeates every page. As the narrative progresses, new revelations and deeper intrigue pull readers further into a web of dark secrets and malevolent forces, creating a truly immersive reading experience.
Fans of supernatural thrillers will find much to admire in Pawlowski’s novel. His deft storytelling blends elements of horror, suspense, and dark fantasy, creating a multifaceted narrative that keeps readers on edge. The characters are vividly drawn, their plights deeply engaging, and the intertwining plotlines are masterfully paced.
"Pale Blades of Moonlight" stands out in the genre for its rich, evocative prose and the palpable sense of menace that pervades every page. Pawlowski's skill in crafting a compelling, eerie atmosphere ensures that readers will be hooked from the first unsettling scene to the final, spine-chilling conclusion. This novel is a must-read for anyone who relishes a good scare and appreciates a well-woven tale of supernatural suspense.
July 15, 2024
I don’t typically read much in what could be classified as the horror genre which all of these stories are, but I like to mix things up and stretch myself sometimes by reading books that are outside my favorite genres. I decided to give this a shot and am glad I did. While a collection of short stories these are all long enough to draw the reader in, put them (at least figuratively) on the edge of their seat, and then hit the climax which is sometimes not what you thought was coming. All good reads. Most of them also take place in Minnesota, mostly in “The Cities” as the natives would say, the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. Those familiar with this area and its culture will feel right at home while reading these stories, doncha know, but that’s just an added bonus. Fans of horror should like this collection, even if they claim they’ve never eaten hot dish at any point in their life.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
August 31, 2025
I won this from Goodreads and this is my honest review. Darn you, Goodreads for getting me hooked on another author. Now I have to find and read the rest of Pawlowskis books. I love stories that feel real to me. Reading this book of short stories is like reading a mixture of Poe, King and Lovecraft. I recommend these to anyone who likes those authors or who likes horror stories set in real places with real characters. So good.
September 9, 2025
A nice spooky collection
It was a fun spooky read that was relaxing and enjoyable to read in between reading longer novels. The stories were, however, interesting and suspenseful on some of the stories. It took quite an imagination to come up with some of them.
I especially liked the last story about being in Mexico. I have read another one of your books, The Cannibal Gardener. It was rather interesting, too.
It was a fun spooky read that was relaxing and enjoyable to read in between reading longer novels. The stories were, however, interesting and suspenseful on some of the stories. It took quite an imagination to come up with some of them.
I especially liked the last story about being in Mexico. I have read another one of your books, The Cannibal Gardener. It was rather interesting, too.
April 29, 2024
Eerie short stories surprisingly interlinked. Continuously intriguing, prepare to stay up late if reading at night.
July 15, 2024
Well written stories that kept my attention.
Thanks to the author and all involved in this book giveaway!
Thanks to the author and all involved in this book giveaway!
October 3, 2024
The stories in Pale Blades of Moonlight are creepy in the absolute best way. It's the perfect book to pick up on a chilly October night.
December 7, 2024
Was not my favorite book to read. I do like how each chapter is a new story! Some stories were better than others.
November 29, 2025
💯💯💯💯💯
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews