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We Are 13: A Collection of Folk Horror
Lock your doors, turn on the lights, and make sure your children are safe and tight...and discover what lies beneath the Autumn dark in WE ARE 13... The new collection of folk horror stories from the Master of Splatterfolk, Thomas R Clark. This curated volume includes a witch's coven of stories covering all aspects of folk horror, from cottagecore to urban fantasy. Werewolves, witches, druids, ancient gods, bogeymen, and unnamable things of all types grace these pages. You've been warned, the curse cannot be broken!
306 pages, Paperback
Published March 24, 2025
11 people want to read
About the author
Thomas R. Clark
30 books67 followersThomas R Clark is a musician, writer, and podcast producer & engineer. He is a two-time Splatterpunk Award Nominee for his novella BELLA'S BOYS and the short story Fireflies & Apple Pies (in THE GOD PROVIDES). His books include GOOD BOY, and THE DEATH LIST-published through Stitched Smile Publications, and A PRAYER FROM THE DEAD, THE GOD PROVIDES and SUMMERHOME, from St. Rooster Books. His most recent collection, IMMORAL DILEMMAS, is currently available. Tom's journalism has appeared in Rue Morgue, This Is Infamous, Memento Mori Ink, and House of Stitched Magazine. He lives in Central New York with his wife and their canine companions.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 27, 2025
This book consists of 13 tales of folk horror, with vampires, witches, changelings, and werewolves. Set all over the world, with lots of different sub genres and styles, and lots of interesting, unique and brutal kills.
The stories within are gripping and immersive, and there isn't one that I didn't enjoy! My standouts were, ‘BAD, BAD BOGEYMAN’, ‘HEARTS ALONE’, and ‘THE ROCKER’.
As always I'll share a few words below for each story….
THE BREEDERS.... Well that escalated to fucked up proportions rather quickly!
Gary was out to get a new puppy, but he got a whole lot more than he bargained for….
"Poor little Peanut".
THE STAFF.... Stephanie and her cat, Bacchus, accept a rather curious yet well paid job..
CONCRETE HARVEST... A Hunters moon at Halloween results in legends coming to life..
GIANTS.... Are the rumours of a miraculous discovery in New York true?
Great scene setting makes you feel you're along for the ride. Fast-paced bloody action.
LEAVING THE BEAVER.... A family get together at Beaver Island quickly takes a sinister turn.. Dam good!
BAD, BAD BOGEYMAN.... Nightmares are real and Sebastian is ready to face them, whatever the consequences. Eerie, and disturbingly chilling in the way only horror and the world and imagination of children can be.
VALHALLA.... An impressive figure is unearthed at an archaeological dig, and bloody chaos quickly ensues.
HEARTS ALONE.... Camping under the stars, when lust quickly turns to blood drenched lunacy.
THE HAUNTING OF ROUTE 13.... Come closer on this chilly halloween night, let me whisper a story in your ear, a story of a haunted highway, highway 13. The twist to this story was an emotional one for sure.
THE RAINBOWS END.... An island paradise, which quickly turns sinister, but something is missing....and something else is hungry.
A tranquil yet eerie atmosphere makes this all the more chilling.
SEIZURE.... During the pandemic, the Jackson family get desperate. But something is about to fuck up their plans, quite literally, And the consequences are dire.
THE ROCKER.... A cursed rocking chair, with a dark and disturbing history. It’s just perfect for what Sophie has planned.. until it isn't. Never mock a curse!
MONMORTE L'AMOUR.... I could smell the opening scenes of this one, thanks to the descriptive narrative, unfortunately what was being described wasn't pleasant....at all.
Marty is having a really bad day and a chance encounter with a mysterious woman, among death and carnage, ingrains itself on Marty's mind, she becomes one of many distractions.. until it reaches a rather thrilling climax.
The stories within are gripping and immersive, and there isn't one that I didn't enjoy! My standouts were, ‘BAD, BAD BOGEYMAN’, ‘HEARTS ALONE’, and ‘THE ROCKER’.
As always I'll share a few words below for each story….
THE BREEDERS.... Well that escalated to fucked up proportions rather quickly!
Gary was out to get a new puppy, but he got a whole lot more than he bargained for….
"Poor little Peanut".
THE STAFF.... Stephanie and her cat, Bacchus, accept a rather curious yet well paid job..
CONCRETE HARVEST... A Hunters moon at Halloween results in legends coming to life..
GIANTS.... Are the rumours of a miraculous discovery in New York true?
Great scene setting makes you feel you're along for the ride. Fast-paced bloody action.
LEAVING THE BEAVER.... A family get together at Beaver Island quickly takes a sinister turn.. Dam good!
BAD, BAD BOGEYMAN.... Nightmares are real and Sebastian is ready to face them, whatever the consequences. Eerie, and disturbingly chilling in the way only horror and the world and imagination of children can be.
VALHALLA.... An impressive figure is unearthed at an archaeological dig, and bloody chaos quickly ensues.
HEARTS ALONE.... Camping under the stars, when lust quickly turns to blood drenched lunacy.
THE HAUNTING OF ROUTE 13.... Come closer on this chilly halloween night, let me whisper a story in your ear, a story of a haunted highway, highway 13. The twist to this story was an emotional one for sure.
THE RAINBOWS END.... An island paradise, which quickly turns sinister, but something is missing....and something else is hungry.
A tranquil yet eerie atmosphere makes this all the more chilling.
SEIZURE.... During the pandemic, the Jackson family get desperate. But something is about to fuck up their plans, quite literally, And the consequences are dire.
THE ROCKER.... A cursed rocking chair, with a dark and disturbing history. It’s just perfect for what Sophie has planned.. until it isn't. Never mock a curse!
MONMORTE L'AMOUR.... I could smell the opening scenes of this one, thanks to the descriptive narrative, unfortunately what was being described wasn't pleasant....at all.
Marty is having a really bad day and a chance encounter with a mysterious woman, among death and carnage, ingrains itself on Marty's mind, she becomes one of many distractions.. until it reaches a rather thrilling climax.
March 20, 2025
The awesome King of SplatterFolk, Thomas R. Clark, was kind enough to send me a copy of his latest offering , 'We Are 13 : A collection of folk horror', for review and left me in awe of this wonderful reading experience.
Thomas R. Clark is a breath of fresh air to the horror genre with his unique blend of Splatterpunk and Folk horror. He paints with vivid colors, and mainly in undertones of blood red, a horror anthology filled with precious gems, like no other.
Packed with all my favorite creatures and themes of the dark realms like werewolves, vampires, witches, druids, cursed objects, death gods, ghosts, and bogeymen of all sorts.
We even get the wonderful opportunity to revisit the fantastic McEntire family from his much beloved magnus opus, The God Provides.
The author masterfully crafts an exciting literary journey steeped in folklore/mythology and creates a unique reading experience that is the perfect companion for creepy nights.
The writing is impeccable and utterly cinematic with the scenes coming out of perfectly directed, short horror movies only to keep you nailed to your reading spot bitting your nails and turning pages like a windmill in a hurricane to reach the finale.
Dear reader, with this one, you got your horror dose for the rest of the year..
Thomas R. Clark is a breath of fresh air to the horror genre with his unique blend of Splatterpunk and Folk horror. He paints with vivid colors, and mainly in undertones of blood red, a horror anthology filled with precious gems, like no other.
Packed with all my favorite creatures and themes of the dark realms like werewolves, vampires, witches, druids, cursed objects, death gods, ghosts, and bogeymen of all sorts.
We even get the wonderful opportunity to revisit the fantastic McEntire family from his much beloved magnus opus, The God Provides.
The author masterfully crafts an exciting literary journey steeped in folklore/mythology and creates a unique reading experience that is the perfect companion for creepy nights.
The writing is impeccable and utterly cinematic with the scenes coming out of perfectly directed, short horror movies only to keep you nailed to your reading spot bitting your nails and turning pages like a windmill in a hurricane to reach the finale.
Dear reader, with this one, you got your horror dose for the rest of the year..
February 14, 2025
"We Are 13: A Collection of Folk Horror"
by Thomas R. Clark
(TL;DR: if you love folk horror, splatterpunk, splatterfolk, or any horror subgenre that makes you think (while also not having an easily turned stomach)... this is for you!)
A review:
Tommy Clark does, in "We Are 13," what he does best...
He takes characters that are very much like people you've known (now, whether you like them or not is person by person) and places them in horrific situations. These are not, however, your normal "horrific" situations.
Tommy writes what he knows and he knows Central New York. He knows the personalities (for better and worse) and the places.
And most of all... he knows how to build a story.
These thirteen tales cover a gamut of horrors many have forgotten about and a few you might've never considered.
The stories include the following topics:
Inbred rednecks with a puppy mill unlike any other. (Poor Peanut!)
A haunted property protected by one with the earth.
A Werewolf gone uptown on a hunt.
A tale of lost faith in post-Civil War America.
The Gods do not care of what your sexuality or gender is. They only care that you worship them.
The Bogeyman is real. Children are your only hope.
Archeology is dangerous... Just ask the viking warriors.
Do. Not. "F". With. Magic.
Places are haunted for reasons. Curses are real.
Bifrost is a cosmic horror.
Racists deserve what they get.
Even the Amish can curse objects.
Lady Death is an erotic being who drives an 18-wheeler.
Long story longer... Thomas R. Clark knows his folklore, horror, and how to write a damn good tale.
Pick this up and you will not be disappointed.
If you're still reading, my favorite stories are:
The Staff
Bad, Bad Bogeyman
Hearts Alone
Seizure
All for different reasons but they hit me the hardest and I'm still thinking about them.
by Thomas R. Clark
(TL;DR: if you love folk horror, splatterpunk, splatterfolk, or any horror subgenre that makes you think (while also not having an easily turned stomach)... this is for you!)
A review:
Tommy Clark does, in "We Are 13," what he does best...
He takes characters that are very much like people you've known (now, whether you like them or not is person by person) and places them in horrific situations. These are not, however, your normal "horrific" situations.
Tommy writes what he knows and he knows Central New York. He knows the personalities (for better and worse) and the places.
And most of all... he knows how to build a story.
These thirteen tales cover a gamut of horrors many have forgotten about and a few you might've never considered.
The stories include the following topics:
Inbred rednecks with a puppy mill unlike any other. (Poor Peanut!)
A haunted property protected by one with the earth.
A Werewolf gone uptown on a hunt.
A tale of lost faith in post-Civil War America.
The Gods do not care of what your sexuality or gender is. They only care that you worship them.
The Bogeyman is real. Children are your only hope.
Archeology is dangerous... Just ask the viking warriors.
Do. Not. "F". With. Magic.
Places are haunted for reasons. Curses are real.
Bifrost is a cosmic horror.
Racists deserve what they get.
Even the Amish can curse objects.
Lady Death is an erotic being who drives an 18-wheeler.
Long story longer... Thomas R. Clark knows his folklore, horror, and how to write a damn good tale.
Pick this up and you will not be disappointed.
If you're still reading, my favorite stories are:
The Staff
Bad, Bad Bogeyman
Hearts Alone
Seizure
All for different reasons but they hit me the hardest and I'm still thinking about them.
April 1, 2025
Bibliophilia Templum review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2025/04/01/we-are-13/
We are 13 is an intense collection of folkhorror stories by Master of Splatterfolk Thomas R Clark. Herein are 13 stories encompassing an impressive variety of horrors: a backwoods dog breeder with a deranged secret, mysterious creatures of lore, strange artifacts and cursed objects, ancient gods and goddesses, highway terrors, cosmic horror, and more.
Clark has once again proven himself Master of Splatterfolk with these engrossing and impactful tales of folkhorror. The characters are vibrant and evocative, the stories dark and compelling. “The Breeders” is a double-edged and bloody blade, speaking to both horrors inflicted on the human psyche and the horrors of illicit animal breeding, and I would say the ending is the stabby point of said blade. And though this one was particularly grim, all the stories are quite different from one another, in tone as well as premise.
“The Staff” is fun and suspenseful, “Concrete Harvest” is full of intrigue, and “Giants” is a brooding story of mystery with impactful subtext regarding people and society. And there’s much more. Among my favorites are the wild and wicked cosmic folkhorror tale “Hearts Alone,” a fantastic and unique camping turned terror story, and “The Rocker,” a riveting tale as much about the characters as it is the curse.
That being said, there is not a story among them I didn’t enjoy. It’s a powerful collection, a shelf-worthy collection, a fantastic reading experience.
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2025/04/01/we-are-13/
We are 13 is an intense collection of folkhorror stories by Master of Splatterfolk Thomas R Clark. Herein are 13 stories encompassing an impressive variety of horrors: a backwoods dog breeder with a deranged secret, mysterious creatures of lore, strange artifacts and cursed objects, ancient gods and goddesses, highway terrors, cosmic horror, and more.
Clark has once again proven himself Master of Splatterfolk with these engrossing and impactful tales of folkhorror. The characters are vibrant and evocative, the stories dark and compelling. “The Breeders” is a double-edged and bloody blade, speaking to both horrors inflicted on the human psyche and the horrors of illicit animal breeding, and I would say the ending is the stabby point of said blade. And though this one was particularly grim, all the stories are quite different from one another, in tone as well as premise.
“The Staff” is fun and suspenseful, “Concrete Harvest” is full of intrigue, and “Giants” is a brooding story of mystery with impactful subtext regarding people and society. And there’s much more. Among my favorites are the wild and wicked cosmic folkhorror tale “Hearts Alone,” a fantastic and unique camping turned terror story, and “The Rocker,” a riveting tale as much about the characters as it is the curse.
That being said, there is not a story among them I didn’t enjoy. It’s a powerful collection, a shelf-worthy collection, a fantastic reading experience.
March 24, 2025
Tommy isn’t called a master of Splatterfolk for just any reason… We Are 13 truly highlights his eclectic talent in this sub-genre while holding fast to his unique voice.
I struggle to truly pin my favorite, honestly. Giants and Valhalla are currently living rent free, with visits from a couple of others.
Each story brings a little bit of a twist that you couldn’t prepare for. Vampires, werewolves, angry deities, fae, valkyries, witches, and more, we are delivered unique perspectives and well researched histories on many of these beloved creatures and ghouls.
Not to mention, while splatterfolk is the core, we get sprinkles of quiet, cosmic, extreme and other tropes in the mix. They meld into one another beautifully, each story wrapping up beautifully, but leaving readers desiring just a little more…
If Thomas R. Clark isn’t on your radar… get him there.
I struggle to truly pin my favorite, honestly. Giants and Valhalla are currently living rent free, with visits from a couple of others.
Each story brings a little bit of a twist that you couldn’t prepare for. Vampires, werewolves, angry deities, fae, valkyries, witches, and more, we are delivered unique perspectives and well researched histories on many of these beloved creatures and ghouls.
Not to mention, while splatterfolk is the core, we get sprinkles of quiet, cosmic, extreme and other tropes in the mix. They meld into one another beautifully, each story wrapping up beautifully, but leaving readers desiring just a little more…
If Thomas R. Clark isn’t on your radar… get him there.
March 26, 2025
A fantastic variety of short stories by the master of splatter-folk. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and think it would be a fantastic introduction for someone wanting to dip their toes into Tommy's work.
The stories vary greatly, but all showcase his ability to blend the creeping vibes of folk horror with the gnarlier aspects of splatterpunk seamlessly.
In this collection you will find hauntings, werewolves, cursed objects, sexy supernatural truckers, viking artifacts, and so much more. Plus we get to spend more time with the McIntyre Clan (if you've read The God Provides, you know. If you haven't, you should)
If I had to choose a few favorites, they would be:
Concrete Harvest
The Breeders
Leaving The Beaver &
The Rocker
The stories vary greatly, but all showcase his ability to blend the creeping vibes of folk horror with the gnarlier aspects of splatterpunk seamlessly.
In this collection you will find hauntings, werewolves, cursed objects, sexy supernatural truckers, viking artifacts, and so much more. Plus we get to spend more time with the McIntyre Clan (if you've read The God Provides, you know. If you haven't, you should)
If I had to choose a few favorites, they would be:
Concrete Harvest
The Breeders
Leaving The Beaver &
The Rocker
February 10, 2025
Hey there book lovers! It’s your old pal, Ninetoes, coming to you from Ninetoes Loves Books Headquarters. Today, I have for you my review of Thomas R. Clark’s We Are 13. I have coffee in my system, and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!
It is no secret that I am a fan of Thomas R. Clark. I started with his book Summerhome, and I keep coming back for more. Each book keeps getting better and better, bloodier and bloodier, and I come away with something new to think about. His newest book, We Are 13, is further proof of his writing prowess.
With We Are 13, you are getting a buffet of horror. The book is comprised of thirteen short stories. Now, he could have picked the number thirteen because he is a Taylor Swift fan, but I do not think so. Maybe a baker’s dozen? That is possible, and he is generous so there is that to consider. Or how about a witch’s coven? They are comprised of thirteen members… I think he chose the number thirteen to punch you in your fear. Everyone is a little hinky about the number thirteen, and now you have even more reason.
Mr. Clark throws a little bit of everything in this book. If you are familiar with his books, you will encounter some old (I do mean OLD) friends. You will also get some urban fantasy, werewolves, vampires, ancient gods, bogeymen (not ‘boogeymen’), druids, and witches. You will get genres from cottagegore to splatterfolk, to splatterpunk, and some good old-fashioned horror. He has something for everyone who loves a good horror story.
Did I like this book? No. I LOVED it! The writing in each story is as sharp as a razor blade, the stories move as fast as lightning, and before I knew it, I was at the end. Yes, it was disappointing to get to the end, just because there is no more to be had in this volume. My only regret is I do not get to read the stories again for the first time. This book is as close to horror perfection as it can get!
I give this 5 very enthusiastic bookmarks out of 5!
The god provides! (If you are familiar with his work, you get it!)
It is no secret that I am a fan of Thomas R. Clark. I started with his book Summerhome, and I keep coming back for more. Each book keeps getting better and better, bloodier and bloodier, and I come away with something new to think about. His newest book, We Are 13, is further proof of his writing prowess.
With We Are 13, you are getting a buffet of horror. The book is comprised of thirteen short stories. Now, he could have picked the number thirteen because he is a Taylor Swift fan, but I do not think so. Maybe a baker’s dozen? That is possible, and he is generous so there is that to consider. Or how about a witch’s coven? They are comprised of thirteen members… I think he chose the number thirteen to punch you in your fear. Everyone is a little hinky about the number thirteen, and now you have even more reason.
Mr. Clark throws a little bit of everything in this book. If you are familiar with his books, you will encounter some old (I do mean OLD) friends. You will also get some urban fantasy, werewolves, vampires, ancient gods, bogeymen (not ‘boogeymen’), druids, and witches. You will get genres from cottagegore to splatterfolk, to splatterpunk, and some good old-fashioned horror. He has something for everyone who loves a good horror story.
Did I like this book? No. I LOVED it! The writing in each story is as sharp as a razor blade, the stories move as fast as lightning, and before I knew it, I was at the end. Yes, it was disappointing to get to the end, just because there is no more to be had in this volume. My only regret is I do not get to read the stories again for the first time. This book is as close to horror perfection as it can get!
I give this 5 very enthusiastic bookmarks out of 5!
The god provides! (If you are familiar with his work, you get it!)
June 28, 2025
This is a collection of folk horror by the Master of SplatterFolk, Thomas R. Clark. He has done his research and delves the reader into the folklore while weaving a believable story around it. These 13 stories are no different. Here are some of my favorites!
This collection opens with a bang. “The Breeders” is a story about a veteran who goes to claim a puppy from a breeder. When he arrives, he finds more than puppies in those sheds. Clark’s descriptors about had me gag as I read. This story was awesome!
“Concrete Harvest” is a story with a character from Clark’s book The God Provides. Rose usually does not miss harvest time with her family on their farm in Upper New York, but this year will be different. She has a job in Manhattan that is keeping her in the city this year, but the harvest may come to her! I love getting the side stories about this family from the book mentioned above.
“Leaving the Beaver” is a story about ritual. Katie brings her partner home for her family to meet. Katie finds herself in a predicament and needs to make a decision fast because unbeknownst to her, this ritual must take place to appease the God.
“Valhalla” is a story of some archeologists that use modern technology and stumble upon a lost Viking tomb. They explore the mound using glow sticks for light and come across something they had not bargained for.
This is just a taste of some of the best stories in the collection. One of the things I love about Clark’s writing is when he puts together a story from a folk tale, he does the research and incorporates some of the language from where the folk tale originates. It gives the story an enhancement to bring the reader into the world they are reading about. This is a collection I will enjoy revisiting over and over again!
This collection opens with a bang. “The Breeders” is a story about a veteran who goes to claim a puppy from a breeder. When he arrives, he finds more than puppies in those sheds. Clark’s descriptors about had me gag as I read. This story was awesome!
“Concrete Harvest” is a story with a character from Clark’s book The God Provides. Rose usually does not miss harvest time with her family on their farm in Upper New York, but this year will be different. She has a job in Manhattan that is keeping her in the city this year, but the harvest may come to her! I love getting the side stories about this family from the book mentioned above.
“Leaving the Beaver” is a story about ritual. Katie brings her partner home for her family to meet. Katie finds herself in a predicament and needs to make a decision fast because unbeknownst to her, this ritual must take place to appease the God.
“Valhalla” is a story of some archeologists that use modern technology and stumble upon a lost Viking tomb. They explore the mound using glow sticks for light and come across something they had not bargained for.
This is just a taste of some of the best stories in the collection. One of the things I love about Clark’s writing is when he puts together a story from a folk tale, he does the research and incorporates some of the language from where the folk tale originates. It gives the story an enhancement to bring the reader into the world they are reading about. This is a collection I will enjoy revisiting over and over again!
April 29, 2025
I knew I loved folk stories before I read this but horror folk stories? Oh my! I am 100% a Thomas Clark fan now and a lover of horror folk stories! His style of writing made this collection of stories so easy to get into. The stories just flowed so beautifully that I hated for several of them to end. Having once lived in Upstate New York myself I enjoyed reading his descriptions of the area and local delights…Byrne Dairy chocolate milk being something I really miss now that I’m back down south. This was one book I just could not put down. I finished it all in one day and was wanting more! This should definitely be added to your To Be Read Now list!
I will add a small warning….the first story in the collection is the ultimate splatterpunk with tons of gore and gross stuff but I loved it! And poor Peanut and his untimely and quite gross demise will forever live in my head…
I will add a small warning….the first story in the collection is the ultimate splatterpunk with tons of gore and gross stuff but I loved it! And poor Peanut and his untimely and quite gross demise will forever live in my head…
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews