Shards of Shattered Darkness by Mark N. Drake ~ a Review

by MK French

This short story collection opens with "The Grey Berserker," a tale where a banished young man and his friends raid a monastery. There, a man collecting occult knowledge is taken and uses his magic to twist the bodies of fighters into a fearsome berserker, a monstrous form capable of killing hundreds on his own. From there we have stories short and long, each hinting at or outright delving into the dark and hideous potential of horror. The stories start out within the realm of normal before veering off sharply.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

January 2023; Indie; 979-8373790901
ebook, print (202 pages); horror anthology

I liked "Memento," where a police officer with a trauma history is called in to help when a shooter invades a school. 

It's followed by "Vane Harbour," where a team investigating toxins dumped into a harbor finds a lethal and sudden change in the area. 

"Forever Autumn" is circular in nature, creepy, and with an ending that hits hard. 

In "What Fools We Were," the horror comes when you realize who the invaders are, and stop to think about what that means. 

We also have some short stories in the Dark Isle universe. It's not necessary to have read those novels to understand the stories, though it helps to know that cosmic horror entities live there, and those are the "old ways" talked about.

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Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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