Bound in Blood edited by Johnny Mains ~ a Review

by MK French

This anthology involves cursed books, Eldritch tomes, and haunted bookstores, with stories from many of the well-known names in horror. ter. 

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

September 2024; Titan Books; 978-1803367491
ebook, print (368 pages); horror anthology

It opens with "From The Sea" by Charlie Higson, an epistolary tale told through emails and newspaper articles about a horror movie production. A brilliant but emotionally fragile set and prop designer researches the Necronomicon and finds that he understands the Old Ones and doubts the motives of people he knows. We imagine most of the events, making it feel more intense and sinister.

This sets the tone for the collection. There's always a book featured in the stories collected here, whether it's a journal kept, a book with sections written by oracles, a homemade library, or letters left behind for others to read. 

The narrators don't always see the menace until the twists at the end, where so many end with the potential for horror. 

Some of the stories involved transformation that I didn't expect, yet it felt so obvious in retrospect. Some are more sad than anything else, such as "Book Worm" by Isy Suttie. 

My favorite story is A.G. Slatter's "Bell, Book and Lamp," mixing horror and Regency-era family lines. 

Whoever said that books couldn't harm you has never read this book, and it will make you second guess the safety of old books. 

Buy Bound in Blood at Amazon

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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