Tree of Souls: A Collection of Dark Tales

by Brett McKay

Includes the 2018 Crypticon winner "Ol' Betsy".

These eleven stories of horror, dark fiction, and fantasy that will take the reader into worlds where a centuries-old hanging tree feeds on the living, and a Lovecraft inspired tale of a mad genius opens a portal to another world filled with hideous creatures, and a pretentious traveling salesman is haunted by ghosts who have come to make him pay for the sins of his past.

In "Broken City", a young man living life on the dangerous edge of drugs and violence is tracked by demons with a hideous agenda. In "The Lake", a widowed man seeks solace during a two-week retreat in a cabin, but what lies hidden in the lake is about to wash ashore, and propel him into solving a mystery that will unearth unimaginable horrors.

Finally, "Deadman's Pass" plunges you into an old western town, where a sheriff is tasked with rescuing a carriage of innocent people trapped in a winter blizzard, but the cold is the least of his worries. The beasts waiting in the dark and howling at the moon are hungry.

Genres: Horror

167 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 4, 2020

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant collection of 10 tales. "The Third Eye" is Lovecraft's From Beyond come true. In "The Woman From Tallahassee" we wonder if Jerry, a salesman, is alive or dead. "The Nightmare and the Beast" has a demon warrior on the loose. Hack and slay at its best. "The Phone Call" shines a light on an event from the past. "Hind Sight" makes the main character meet a man from the future. "Remnants of a Fragmented Mind" describes Lennie, a complicated man, being witness to his own funeral. "The Uninvited" describes a mysterious fog bringing someone from the past. Charlie meets a demon in "The Broken City". "The Lake" is a bit of a longer story with several chapters. Might it be possible that lumberjack is a serial killer? This awesome collection closes with "Deadman's Pass" a werewolf western. Absolutely enjoyed every single story here. Eerie, good atmosphere and full of horror motifs I love to read about. Highly recommended!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Tree of Souls" carries the tagline "A collection of dark tales" and that's exactly what this is. By far the best story is the first one - "Ol' Betsy" - which almost had me moving my Kindle away from me as I was reading. It was disturbing, but satisfying at the end. All of the stories get a good grade for entertainment value, though a few felt rushed and not fully thought out. I would be very happy to read more from this author.

My thanks to the author and Hidden Gems for a free copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hit or miss

The majority of these stories fall under the "hit" category. A couple felt a bit forced but overall it was a satisfactory read. I would say the first story is by far the best.

[RaChelle Holmberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has a distinct Lovecraftian feel, and I mean that as a compliment. The stories are a mixed bag, but all good. Scary, twisty, turny, and enlightening. Highly recommended.. I received this book through an ARC reading group that I belong to,and it was an excellent choice!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of dark tales best read with the lights on!

[Josh Schlossberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brett McKay's TREE OF SOULS is a horror buffet stocked with a plethora of dishes sure to please the palate of any dark fiction connoisseur.

[Veronik Durocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good!

If you were an fan of the originals Tales From the Crypt comic books from the 50's, those stories are for you.