Murder. Magic. A ghost or two.Three spooky adult tales inspired by folklore:Once deep in a forest there lived a strange and magical woman. She had no mother or father, and no-one knew how she came to live alone in the crude hut she called home. But in their dreams, the local men were haunted by her beautiful presence for she had long hair that reached to her waist, the colour of spun gold. They … waist, the colour of spun gold. They called her Gilda.
The Woman with Hair of Gold, retold from a Russian folktale
It was when I was suddenly awake that I realised I’d been dead to the world. What had woken me? A noise? The darkness was complete, and as I lay there straining my ears I had the strongest sense that something was in the room with me. Surely I could hear breathing, or was it just my own ragged breath? Then a weight landed on my legs and I almost cried out.
Peig’s Place, a modern ghost story reimagined from an Irish folktale.
He pierced her body till the blood it did flow,
Then into the grave her body did throw.
He covered her body, then home he did run,
Leaving none but birds her death to mourn
Polly’s Folly. Sleuthing out the clues to the possibly true crime behind a traditional English murder ballad.
Discover the chilling power of folklore with Leaving Birds.
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An insight into how Folklore can influence tales written in the 21st Century. Is there any truth in these folk tales or are they just stories made up to entertain/frighten young children, that have withstood the passage of time? I guess we will never really know.
Intriguing
I found these three short stories to be very intriguing. Based for the most part on folk lore they give some insight into Ms Kings series on Selkie Moon. I have always been interest in folk lore as there is always some truth inbedded into the story. These were very well written with insight from the author on each story. Quick read.
I received an ARC. This is my honest review,
Leaving Birds – A companion to Laying Ghosts consisting of four different stories, of which one is a true event. An interesting note is how these four items were the sparks of a fire known as Laying Ghosts. These were well written, intriguing stories; all different. The author did a wonderful job with Peig’s Place. I would recommend reading this after reading Laying Ghosts, The First Lie, The Second Path and The Third Note. I received this after reading the above listed books. 4*
Laying Ghosts – The beginning of the story repulsed me, but I hung in there and ending up liking the short story. The text gave me a heads up and I figured out the ending. Well-written, repulsive and good characters, good ending to the story for a worthy character. 4*
The First Lie – A well written, intriguing, paranormal suspense with believable and quirky characters and a rich plot that draw you in and you can’t put the book down. This book picks up where Laying Ghosts ended; the main character starting her new life in a new country. There’s a prologue, which I appreciate and a glossary of Hawaiian words. Laying Ghosts is a must read before First Lie; a good foundation short story. 5*
The Second Path – This is a wonderfully intriguing, suspense filled sequel to The First Lie and Laying Ghosts. It was hard to put the book down, so when real life called I couldn’t wait to start reading again. I savored the complex story, taking longer to read it then I usually do with good books. The reader is mesmerized by the flowing, surprised filled plot. The original characters keep growing in their development as the pages flow past. There are some wonderful new characters that make the story more magical and their friendship and guidance help Selkie discover the meaning of her quest.
Included after TSP is a glossary of Hawaiian terms and the short story Laying Ghosts. This short should be read before TSP and The First Lie, it lays a foundation that the other stories build upon. 5*
The Third Note – Another well written, complex novel that’s full of intrigue and suspense. Selkie continues to grow and develop her talents, with the help of her great-grandmother. The complex plot keeps the reader on edge and the components make a well blended mix to keep the reader mesmerized. The characters are realistic and don’t follow the usual stupid formula, and Ms. King’s descriptions paint vivid pictures as the scenes unfold.
For some reason, the Epilogue is separate from TTN, but has a link at the end of the story to obtain it from Bookfunnel. There’s a glossary of various terms. I look forward to reading more of Ms. King’s books; she’s doesn’t disappoint the reader. The Epilogue to The Third Note is very short, but entertaining and clears the air between some of the people who threatened Selkie throughout the story. 5*
On The Spooky Trail: Travels in Supernatural Wales – A very short read containing a few snippets of places of the supernatural stories of Wales. The reader will probably be disappointed in this brief, simplistic read after reading her other books. The snippets aren’t complex, just informative – like a casual conversation. There are three photographs that along with the snips fill 61 percent of this book; the rest is peeks into her other books and a free offering of Laying Ghosts. It’s entertaining enough for a coffee break. 3*