Marshbank

by Josh Hanson

When a child goes missing, the spirit of the marsh takes on a corporeal form and teams up with the village witch to find the source of the evil haunting the nearby village. A dark fantasy of love, story, and the deep powers of place.

Genres: Horror

66 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2024

About the author

Author of King’s Hill, the Woodcutters, Marshbank (novelette), and Minotaur (short stories). Fortress and Caliope Street are both forthcoming in 2025 and 2026, respectively.

Josh hanson lives in Northern Wyoming with his family. He is a graduate of the University of Montana MFA program and teachers high school English. His work has appeared in the Horror Zine, The Chamber, as well as various anthologies.

Reviews

[C.J. Daley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grabbed this one to get in another short read before month’s end! A short review for a short read.

This is a weird little tale about a village near the marsh that has a string of children disappearing. Although often left alone, these disappearances have drawn attention to the old witch in the marsh. Through a growing need, an obsession, a love, the spirit of the marsh takes its first steps to be near the old witch. Together they seek to uncover the horrors haunting these young children.

This novelette is like a visual smorgasbord, with rich descriptions and heavily described characters and set pieces. One that stuck out to me the most was the witches favorite mug, something so simple, yet so effective. The marsh spirit, through drawing in beings of the marsh, alive, dead, even rotten, has become something both monstrous and horrifying, but regardless how you feel, it’s so easy to picture.

I will gladly read more from this author and even this one again!

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

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this. "I won't say it was love (it was love)".

It was short, AND well- done.

I have been disappointed so many times by TIK TOK authors and TIK TOK recommendations that I have a whole shelf dedicated to let downs. I REALLY wanted to like Josh Hanson and I just couldn't take being disappointed again, so I put off reading this one for a while.

Hanson fit so much in in so few pages I'm thoroughly impressed. I'm inspired to read the rest of the lot I've been holding off on now that my fears have been disbanded.

[Angelique Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, it’s hard to put into words the feeling of reading this. The Author accomplished so much in so little pages that I’m in awe. I don’t want to give too much away because I feel this is the type of read that you need to experience, go in blind! You will not be disappointed.

[deidra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marshbank by Josh Hanson...you know that feeling you had when you read something monumental? something like The Stand? or Salem's Lot? a feeling that you knew that this piece of fiction would stay in your mind and matter?
Marshbank is that kind of story. wow. i love horror. all different types. some more than others. folk horror can be a little tricky. it either sings in your soul or it stutters like someone tripping over loose stones in the forest.
this was a feast for the senses, a joy to behold. if i had one complaint, it's that i wish i could have that moment, that spark when i realized this story was awe-inspiring gold. i wish i could read it again for the first time, to relive that moment.
highly recommended.
5, no 10 stars out of...
just read the darn thing!!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am floored by the beauty and depth of this wordcraft, the genius of the story. Every word, savored. Wow. My new favorite story.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish this story was longer! That's my only complaint. I'd love more from the marsh.