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Shrouded Horror: Tales of the Uncanny by K.C. Grifant is such a fun collection of stories! The tales are all over the place when it comes to plot elements, creating a thrilling reading experience where surprises abound, promising both spookiness and enjoyment at every turn!
Let’s dive in!
My Thoughts on Shrouded Horror: Tales of the Uncanny by K.C. Grifant –
I’m so excited I was able to snag an early copy of this one via NetGalley. While I took my sweet time reading though since my reading time was very scarce, I was so grateful for these short stories each time I picked up the book to read one when time allowed.
Right from the first tale, I knew this collection was going to be a hit for me.
My favorites include:
- Gifting
- Terror on the Boulevard
- Just Another Apocalypse
- The U Train
- Puddle of Comradely Despair
Per usual, here are my thoughts on each tale!
Introduction –
This intro gives readers a peek into what’s to come in such a spooky way! And the last sentence… are you kidding me?! I was even more pumped to dive in after that! However, I paused for a moment to ask myself if I really wanted to start reading right before bed. (I did)
Vermin –
Determined to get pizza, but not wanting to wait in the long line, this crew decides to follow a creepy man into a tunnel after he promises them quick access to the pizza.
Following a creepy dude into a tunnel is never a grand idea! All the alarm bells were going off here but they were just too blinded by the smell of the food! Ugh, the claustrophobia this one gives for a bit!
Gifting –
Finding an old beat-up jewelry box in a shop, this woman is immediately drawn to it as she is a bit battered herself. Finding an impossible item inside, she’s shocked to find that’s not the only thing the box provides.
My heart hurts for this poor woman. The grief and blood-boiling unfairness makes the ending that much sweeter!
All Aboard –
When a sickness runs rampant, extreme quarantine measures are taken to keep people safe. But will this group of exposed be safe?
Oh my gosh, this is too real-world terrifying! Illness already terrifies me, but mob mentality especially freaks me out!
Terror on the Boulevard –
While on the set of a true crime film, this woman decides she has had enough of the expectations of sexual favors. When an unusual being appears, she’s offered another path.
Ugh, men that expect sexual favors. Congress! The turn this tale took was wonderfully satisfying! I would love a whole book dedicated to this woman and what comes next for her!
Just Another Apocalypse –
After getting picked up while hitchhiking, this character has bonded with the couple. But when a zombie sneaks up in them, will they stick together or split?
Oh my gosh! This is such a fun twist on the zombie element. I’m obsessed with this tale!
What Storms Bring –
When a terrible storm approaches, a man appears on her doorstep. Knowing that he needs shelter, she lets him into her basement to ride out the storm. But as soon as he’s through the doorway, strange things begin to occur.
How quickly things go sideways here is absolutely terrifying!
The Color of Friendship –
While on a weekend away, things with this group are tense. When the woman who organized overhears her friends talking about her, she finds a new friend to confide in.
Oh, this was so eerie! I love not knowing how to feel about the main character!
Lonely Arcade –
When a girl burdened with far too much is shown a dark path, it’s up to her to see which way she will go.
My heart broke for this poor girl. So much grief packed into such a short tale!
The Sighting –
Determined to prove that Bigfoot is real, this woman plans one more trip. If she doesn’t find anything this time, she promises she’ll move on.
Ah but of course she finds more than she hoped. That ending! It just begs for more! How did this end?!
The U Train –
Stuck waiting for the train, this random bunch soon realizes that they can’t leave and are about to be put to the test.
I loved this spooky real-world tale so much! Waiting certainly is the worst, but what came next for these folks was of true nightmare.
The Perfect Gift –
While out in his “space condo,” this man makes a connection with another life form. He thinks this will be his ticket into popularity with a better light, but he gets way more than he bargained for.
Anything around AI in horror tales freaks me out. This one continued that trend. The ending is terrifying.
Unrest –
Sent to finally allow a place to rest? This being must stay strong and do what needs to be done.
Oh, your blood will just boil over this man saying he just can’t help himself.
The Night Call –
Escaping his apartment and his fighting parents, this young man plays with his butterfly knife. When it slips and he feels it cut him, he waits for the pain to subside. While waiting, he gets a visitor.
Oh my gosh, I was so nervous throughout this one! As soon as he cut himself, I feared the worst.
Better Halves –
While away on a trip that’s supposed to be relaxing, this woman is more stressed than ever. When she feels that something g is off, she’s drawn to a mirror in their honeymoon suite…
This tale is such a quiet and slow-burn horror! I was so ready for something big to happen at any turn, but the pacing continued to crawl and add more and more unease!
From Sea to Shining Sea –
While fishing for jellyfish, this character gets a warning for something that may be to come.
Everything about this one is fast! Phew, what a tale!
Blessed –
When an invasion reaches them, one woman believes she is safe. Even swept up by the survivors, she keeps telling them she will be soared, but they don’t share that same faith…
What an intense start! I loved that we slowly learned what was going on!
The Circus King –
Working a strange and unusual circus with peculiar clowns, the Circus King is surprised when the act suddenly doesn’t go as planned.
Puddle of Comradely Despair –
Finding himself stuck in a helpless state, he begs anyone to help. When someone finally pauses to look at him, he promises them a wish.
This was so unsettling, strange, mysterious, and exciting all at once! I had so much fun reading this one. I’d love to see what these two got up to next!
Macabre Elves –
When a group of elves appears but are never quite captured on camera, these two teenage boys are intrigued. Whether they’re a gang or something else, the boys don’t care, they just want to join them. But little do they know, these elves have more with them than just their knives.
I love a good holiday-themed tale! This one reminded me of the year we had clowns randomly showing up in random places, just creepily standing there. The dark interest in learning who they are is strong!
The Peerlings –
Trying to start a colony in a new world, this crew soon learns that there’s something already there. As they start disappearing, the mayor is forced to face the beings or deal with the backlash from their people.
Oh my gosh, this one had a killer claustrophobia element to it mixed perfectly with the suspense.
My Favorite Passages from Shrouded Horror: Tales of the Uncanny –
It’s amazing how even in a span of two days you can get to know someone well enough that you don’t have to talk to communicate. One of the few perks of being in constant life-or-death situations, I guess.
— Just Another Apocalypse
They say waiting is its own kind of hell. Whoever said that was probably familiar with the NYC subway system.
— The U Train
So at night, we all pretend to be asleep though we’re far from it, willing ourselves not to peek as the buzzing intensifies. The curiosity almost kills you as much as the fear itself.
— The Peerlings
My Final Thoughts on Shrouded Horror: Tales of the Uncanny–
I can’t say enough how much fun reading this collection was! Each tale was so wonderfully unique. I’m already eager to delve into more of this author’s work!
Preorder your copy today!
Thanks for reading!
And thank you to KC and Dragon’s Roost Press for allowing me to read this one early!
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