Tales From the Hanging Tree: Imprints of Tragedy

by Kaye Lynne Booth (Editor), C.R. Johansson (Contributor)

There exists a tree that is timeless, spanning across all dimensions, which absorbs every life as those who are hanged as they die... and it remembers every one. The stories within are a select few of the Tales From the Hanging Tree. 

 

Stories by Kaye Lynne Booth, Paul Kane, DL Mullan, C.R. Johannson, Joseph Carrabis, Sylva Fae, and Matt Usher.

Genres: Horror

168 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2024

About the author

Kaye Lynne Booth lives, works and plays in the mountains of Colorado. With a dual emphasis M.F.A. in Creative Writing, writing is more than a passion. It's a way of life.
When not writing, she is bird watching, or hiking, or just soaking up some of that Colorado sunshine.
She has published work, both online and in print, including her short story collection, "Last Call", her paranormal mystery novella, "Hidden Secrets", and her western novel, "Delilah".

Reviews

[Rakhi (New Book Reviewer)]

What if a single tree could remember every soul it claimed?

That’s exactly what this gripping book presents—a timeless tree that stands witness to the tragic end of those hanged beneath it.

Tales From the Hanging Tree: Imprints of Tragedy by Kaye Lynne Booth, offers a chilling and thought-provoking journey through a collection of stories tied together by this hauntingly symbolic tree.

This book is an enthralling read for anyone who enjoys a blend of mystery, tragedy, and the supernatural.

The highlight I loved about this book is its unique concept of weaving different tales through the lens of one ancient tree. The storyline unfolds with an eerie charm, immersing you in worlds both strange and familiar.

The author has done a phenomenal job crafting these dark, mesmerizing tales. Their ability to bring together diverse voices while maintaining an overarching sense of intrigue is truly impressive. Each story offers something different, yet all of them echo the same sense of human fragility and fate.

The writing is vivid and engaging, making you feel like you’re standing beneath the hanging tree, listening to its whispered memories. This book is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and tragedy. I found myself captivated by the stories, unable to stop reading until the very last page.

Overall, this is a haunting and evocative read

[Staci Troilo]

Hauntingly Ever After

This collection of dark fiction asks the question, “What happens when there are no happy endings?” and answers it with tales that will linger longer than the shadows cast by the cursed tree at the center of them.

The anthology uses a clever concept to link the stories and introduce them to the reader—a sentient tree. All these works are centered around the “hanging tree” and the vile emotions and memories it has absorbed through the ages. Each installment is the tree’s attempt to better bear the vile feeling of fury and the desperate need for revenge each hanged soul experienced, emotions that often linger long after the bodies have died and withered.

I liked some of the stories more than others (which is to be expected), but want to mention "Mercy," which was a particular favorite.

Fans of horror will relish the spine-tingling tales in this book. I know I did. And it will be a long time before I forget them.

[Amber Daulton]

If a tree could remember all the death and misery that humans commit, it would forever change the tree. That’s what this anthology of short horror stories is all about. The hanging tree in each tale bore witness to great heartache. For us readers, it made for interesting entertainment and gave cause for us to think. Some stories were better than others, and despite the typos like missing commas and in one story, using “engine” instead of “Injun” as a Native American slur, this was a good book.
4 stars

[Julie Powell]

I was given a review copy of this book and I liked how the central character was the tree.

Imagine if the worst elements of humanity soaked into the tree from which they were hung...and it remembered.

This collection of stories had ignorance and hate at the core. Set in different times, they demonstrated that people don't change or learn and repeat the same abhorrent acts.

Atmospheric, scary and sad, these stories were well-written and engaging.

Worth a look.

[Kahlani Steele]

This collection of dark tales revolves around a unique tree—the immortal Hanging Tree. It bears witness to all the rage, vengeance, and terrible acts committed by humans. Yet, it also serves as a guardian of the innocent, as exemplified in my favorite story, “Mercy”—the chant still echoes in my head. I recommend this book to fans of horror and supernatural tales.