In These Hallowed Halls edited by Marie O'Regan and Paul Kane ~ a Review

by MK French

This collection features the darker side of academia, with lecturers who should know better, obsessive students, and affairs of the heart that go south. 

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

September 2024; Titan Books; 978-1803365640
ebook, print (368 pages); horror anthology

Following the introduction, we open with "1000 Ships" by Kate Weinberg, a reference to Helen of Troy having the face that launched a thousand ships. In it, Lorna is an undergraduate who was caught up by her professor, who said he admired her work. Lorna takes matters into her own hands when wronged; this is essentially a backstory for a novel Lorna appears in.

I enjoyed "Pythia," which includes transcripts as part of the story, which involves technomancers and a supercomputer of a sort, and "The Hare and the Hound," which is as much magic as it is academia. Other stories involve rivalries between academics or students, or revenge for wrongs done. "The Ravages" is very fun that way leaving me grinning at the end of the story. In others, people either work against the agenda or fall in line. Those are the interesting ones in the collection, as we see what breaks ideals and pushes people into unwanted changes. This is definitely a collection worthy of those who enjoy dark academia stories. 

Buy In These Hallowed Halls 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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