[Book Review] Strange Tales in Fiction and Fact by Richard Howard

Strange Tales in Fiction and Fact by Richard Howard is a beautifully written collection of short stories that will totally captivate you.

I had previously read, and loved, Tales of the Lost by Richard Howard. So when the author offered to send me this collection, I was ecstatic! Unfortunately, my life got insanely busy with my two jobs, wedding planning, staying on top of my honest review requests that were already on the calendar, my two book clubs, and general everyday life things… So quite some time had passed before I was able to pick it up.

Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way. 

Let’s dive in!

My Thoughts on Strange Tales in Fiction and Fact by Richard Howard

I LOVE when authors who send me a book for an honest review do things like this! Thank you, Richard!

This collection was so much fun! There were a number of stories that I really loved and already cannot wait to reread. The entire collection was so beautifully written.

I took my time reading this one so I could properly digest each tale, and I am so glad that I did. This collection just screams for a reread!

My Favorite stories form this collection included:

• Storm Child
• Elegy in Red
• Stars and Crystals
• Echoes
• The Prisoner
• Last Rites
• Labyrinth
• Tower Song
  

Here are my rating breakdowns and quick notes for each short story:

The Temple of Lior
Woah, what a story! I really enjoyed the building anticipation to see how this one was going to play out.

Storm Child
LOVE this one!! It was so suspenseful. I was really rooting for Eleanor and my heart totally broke for her. This was my favorite story of the collection!

Elegy in Red
Oooh! What a fun twist! This was a quick one, but such an action filled short!

The Messenger
I was getting so anxious to find out why the messenger was there! But I think I may have missed something with this one…

Lacrimae
Unfortunately I didn’t get this one. Guess I had better reread it soon!

Stars and Crystals
Loved this one! Such a sweet and interesting tale!!

Echoes
WOW! Heartbreaking, terrifying, and so bittersweet.

Moon Prophecy
I think I missed something in this one as well, but I really liked the beginning.

Last Rites
I’m always a sucker for vampire stories! This one was so spooky!

The Prisoner
WOW! I was feeling bit claustrophobic reading this one. And that ending!

Labyrinth
Lovely!! What a fun and fantastical tale about love!

Tower Song
What a fun tale!

Strange Tales In Fact ~ An Autobiographical Note
What an honest and beautiful section. I really appreciate the author giving us a glimpse into his life. I also really loved learning where some of these stories originated! What a great way to end the collection!

My Favorites Passages from Strange Tales in Fiction and Fact

Just because we might not understand how, doesn’t mean it cannot be.

Thunder crashed and rolled across the countryside like ocean breakers, crackling sharply just as it seemed most likely to recede.

Believe in the love that you have chosen and no harm will befall you.

My Final Thoughts on Strange Tales in Fiction and Fact

I would highly recommend this short story collection if you like slightly mysterious tales with a strong dose of the paranormal. As I read each story, I was totally sucked in. While I didn’t want many of them to end, I was also excited to dive into the next one.

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