The Crate of Rags & Bones : Review

 Blurb

These dusty crates are filled with twenty dark tales that have been penned specifically to frustrate your slumber and incite insomnia. A stew of sinister intent as it were. A pinch of horror, a splash of mystery, two dashes of murder, and smatterings of suspense have all been brought to a boil and congealed into this olio of evil.

Within, you will find witches cackling as they reclaim their youth, a snarling coy wolf in a fight for survival, a banshee wailing about her homicide, and long dead pirates howling for revenge. A judgmental apple tree observes illicit lovers, a tyrannical government of a dismal future punishes dissidents with impunity, and a distraught vampire who seeks his own demise. These, as well as a host of other characters, endure experiences that test the bounds of rational thought.

Each story is unique, with yarns spun across multiple timelines, spanning numerous countries and continents to draw taut your tether to comfort and reality. Whether in India, Canada, Romania, or England, peering through the dingy lace of a Victorian past, or shielding your eyes from the ominous glow of a dystopian future, these tales have been woven to shroud your heart within the inky black of pure terror.

Pry open each crate in the safety of daylight and with the utmost of caution, for here, there be monsters.

My Thoughts 

You desire exhilarating reading? Sincerely, you've got it here. Horrifying, gloomy, bereaved, eerie, or startling? You can choose. 

"The Crate of Rags & Bones" by L.A. Nolan is a collection of short stories which includes different genres like thriller, suspense, horror, murder and drama. 

—"To all the creaky floor boards in the attic, bumps in the night from the basement, and flicks of shadow just over my shoulder. I adore you."

Lol, this dedication is my most favorite part from the book!

This collection of short stories is both enjoyable and captivating. Perfect for those who enjoy reading short horror stories.

The standouts to me were:

'Sabbat of the Kali Daayan' was, for me, a beautifully told horror story/tale. It was a tight story with a spooky and intriguing plot. I wish it had a bit more depth. Although it is classified as Horror, I don't know whether I should call it so. At some part of the story, I was a little anxious. That's it. But somehow I loved the story. 

'While Horse & Hero Fell' was also interesting because of the storyline. It was a dark drama where James play the main character. I was kept guessing by this mind-bender because I had no idea where it was going. The narrative made sense and moved along easily.

I shouldn't have chosen two favourites from this collection, because all of the stories were strong in their own way. These collection of short stories keep getting more eerie and terrifying and this one can make your heart and breathing rate erupt. 

I had a few minor issues with it, in particular the less scary elements. So, a word of caution: you could be let down if you enter this novel expecting to be really really scared. What did jump out at me was the beauty of L.A. Nolan's writing. It's not always simple to read. I was able to truly get into each story after the first page or so, though, and it got much easier to read after that.

This collection is ideal if, like me, you're looking for a quick, dark read before bed. You can pick and choose a short story every night.

Click here to buy this book now!