Horror Books

I enjoyed this novel very much. It was sad, or more accurately, melancholy like a John Coltrane song. But don't let that statement mislead you. It was well written and enjoyable. Mr. Haughton delivers a tale that is as unique as it is engaging. I will anxiously await his next novel.

After reading this book, and then reading the above Publisher's Weekly review, I can only wonder: What hungover grad student is doing that magazine's book reviews? This novel mixes humor and pathos in a way that mirrors real life. As Dickens, Twain, and now John Irving understand, tragedy and comedy walk hand-in-hand with us through each day. Hautmann realizes and conveys the same thing. This is a book that will linger in your soul for a long time. I've bought it for my friends who have everything, and I've heard no complaints.

In Naples, Florida, one year has passed since young Casey Cooper lost his beloved wife Ginny. Stunned and feeling guilt for living and culpability in his mind for causing her death, he remains in mourning as an urban hermit with only alcohol and jazz as his companions. His friends have written Casey off and his family is on the verge of excommunicating him as his depression overwhelms anyone who dares to enter his personal space. Only Ginny's cat Mashed Potatoes remains a companion though he often forgets to feed the feline.

Suddenly out of nowhere Eleanora enters Casey's life singing with a voice and a look that make her an identical twin of Billie Holiday. No one else sees this enigmatic Eleanora with even Casey wondering if it is the bottle, his mental state, BILLIE'S GHOST or a real person? Still Casey does not care as Eleanora with the jazzy voice moves in with him. She provides him with a reason to rejoin the living as she boosts his self esteem.

This is a very simplistic yet deep tale that provides several messages to the audience to include accentuating the positive in relationships because though mankind imposes but God disposes without warning and grieving is exclusively a lone act. The three key players, Casey, his deceased wife, and Eleanora are cleverly designed to provide insight into how far someone can fall when a loved one is lost early and abruptly in life and that grieving and recover are customized within a powerful character study.

Harriet Klausner

"Billie's Ghost" is a whopper of a love story, ghost tale, and mystery all wrapped up in a deceptively small package. Enter the tropical paradise of Naples, Florida, a Gulf of Mexico resort blending old, historic bungalows and fabulous high-rises. A young widower is struggling with his grief, virtually sinking into oblivion, when Eleanora appears, a sultry, salty, hard-drinking, beautiful black woman. Discover how she changes the life of this man forever and decide for yourself if she is real or not! You will be fascinated by her humor, allure, and compassion. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of ravishing southwest Florida, a region engaged in its own struggle to balance the conservation of wildlife habitats and the preservation of its history, against a burgeoning population. At the conclusion, you will rejoice and chuckle, and always wonder!

I loved this book! It was exciting and the ending suprised me. I have had the pleasure of meeting this author and she is just as interesting as her book, if not more so.

I am hoping she will write again. I would love to see a prequel to this novel. Paul is a very sexy and enticing character and he keeps you wondering what will he do next.

This book is very well written and definitely not an average ghost story. Makes you question how much of this was based on true accounts.

You first need to read the section "about the author" before going further into the book. Then ask yourself, is this fiction or not?
A good story that could easily be made into a movie or short film. Each chapter pulls you to the next one. It flows from the real to the surreal without any hiccups. Makes you wonder how much is really fiction here.
A book worth reading and an ending that you may expect but then again.................

The first review practically said it all. I am hoping the author is working on part two. I'm ready to read more by C.X. Alexander. The ending is not what you expect, and the author should get extra stars for that!

This book kept me invloved from the very start. You fall in love with the charecters, you become mesmorized with the story telling. This book will keep you interested with the ghosts, the characters, the mystery, and after several chapters you'll wonder if it is a love story, a ghost story, or a love story about ghosts. It is very intense, it's not a book for children as there are many scenes in this book that you'll want to try out with your lover. It has a surprise ending and you'll not want to put this book down until the very last page is read! One of the best "scary" books I have ever read!

Quite simply this book is stunning. The stories are gritty, in your face affairs. Instead of relying on gore and cliche Schow attacks the reader with believable extreme characters. So is there gore? Hell yes, and done better than ever before! Are there cliches? You bet, and all of them are turned on their heads. The best horror writer since Lovecraft.

"Short stories are the shadow warriors of prose." This is a quote from David Schow's afterword of BLACK LEATHER REQUIRED. He backs those words up with some powerful writing in this, his third collection of shorts. Schow uses every color and tone on his palette. Subtley scratching with fine lines and slam dunking you with broad strokes. Dispicable though deviously enjoyable characters, vivid settings, and roller coaster plots. All written with a sure hand and humorous eye for detail. His writing is so unique that he can horrify and touch you in the same sentence. B.L.R. celebrates short horror at its highest.

I will not kid you. Schow's fiction is real; it is brutal; and it often offends (especially those who recognize themselves in his characters). But like Bunuel's classic short film "Un Chien Andalou", Schow also uses his graphically brutal scenes to shock our deadened senses in order to allow us to honestly assess the problems of a post-industrial, post-modern America. Schow challenges our ambigous morals and a culture that voraciously consumes sanitized pre-packaged violence. But most importantly of all he writes ENTERTAINING stories. This collection is a must

David Schow first came to my attention when I read Jerry's Kids Meet Wormboy. One of the funniest, shocking, openings I have ever read. This collection shows just a little portion of the talent that Schow has for making you think. He is one of the few that can take a bad pun and make it outstanding without stretching the boundries of believability. He is an outstanding writer that catches the nuances and foibles of the english language and uses them to his advantage. His sentences have a meter and rhyme that catches you up and pulls you in. (Read Bad Guy Hats, for proof.) Overall, Schow is a much better writer than his image would lead you to believe. Being the "Father of Splatterpunk" has mis-aligned him with the public and critics alike. I recommend Schow whole heartedly to everyone.

Most of the vampire books I read in my everyday life are not suitable for children(books by Ann Rice etc).
But this book which I read a long time ago,when I was younger (probably early teens),is one of the first vampire books I have every read.And it truly is a masterpiece.It more or less introduced me to the general idea of vampires.It is not too long or boring but just right for the young mind.The plot is simple and not at all disappointing.
It revolves around two vampire in the woods who are hiding from their creator.
A boy(I can't remember his name,sorry),accidently finds them both while they slep in coffins.
Soon one of the vampire wants to be his friend and the other wants to kill him.
In this story Jill Morgan shows how this boy becomes caught up in the lives of two vampires.And also as the story takes its course a shocking truth emerges,one which envelopes the characters and the reader in one world.
For a thin(short) book there is alot of information hidden in these beautiful pages.
The cover of this book shows(what I assume to be)the two vampires in the woods.(the brothers)
These vampires is(I think) the basis of the book's name,"Blood Brothers"...
I strongly recommend this book,as a starter vampire book.Especially for beginners.
After reading this book I suggest you go on to Christopher pike's "The Last Vampire" series.......which is outstanding...And if you are maybe a teenager or older you might want to try Bram Stoker's "Dracula",which is excellent.
For the mature minds,There is Anne Rice's,"The Vampire Chronicles"....

Enjoy..............This review was written by Nigel.

One year ago, a powerful vampire named Valdier attacked a family that was harboring his old Druid enemy, Joseph Kellum, aka the Old Celt. Valdier killed the parents of the household and made two of the three children into vampires: Dillon and Xander Adler. Out of guilt, the Old Celt and his family "adopted" the children and moved far away from Valdier. They came to Pennsylvania where the story begins.

Tucker Burton is the 12-year-old protagonist in "Blood Brothers". He's captivated by the Irish Gypsies that have come to work on his family's farm. The day that he sees shy, timid Lilly, Tucker follows her and the Kellums home, which happens to be in the Scavengers' Woods, a very dangerous and eerie place. He then witnesses something that is completely unbelievable--the Kellums produce two coffins that are inhabited by twin vampires, Dillon and Xander. One of them (Xander) is nearing his vampire state, while the other (Dillon) struggles to delay the inevitable. With the help of Tucker, the Kellums plan to protect the twin vampire brothers from ever being discovered by humans, or worse--Valdier.

"Blood Brothers" is one of the few vampire books for kids that is really exciting to read whether you're a child or not. Many of the vampire myths are the same in the book--sunshine will burn a vampire's skin, they sleep in coffins during the day, etc.--, but Jill Morgan adds some interesting twists, such as a time lapse between being bitten by a vampire and finally entering vampiredom, and the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or vanish into air.

Since I really enjoy vampire stories, I can't help but praise this book. The reading level is for 8 to 12-year-olds, but I would still encourage older readers who share my interest to pick this one up. It's well worth your time.

I loved this book. It intranced me and frightened me all at the same time. I couldn't stop reading it. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat. I recommend this book to anybody who likes vampires, suspense, or adventure. It will change the way you think of vampires FOREVER! But remember only read this book if you dare.

This book was fabulous, it feels like you're right there in the story and it gives you such an intense feeling. For example when Tucker was watching those two vampires come out of there coffin, now that was intense. I would definitely recommend this book for any age group over 10 years of age.

This book is a must read for any true horror fan. Its by far one of the best books ive ever read, A true page turner from start to finish.

This is not my kind of reading,it was very graphic, but it was a very good book. It held my attention from beginning to end. At the end of the book I wanted to know what happen to the people in the book. I was amazed that I finished it. The writer has a gift I hope he continues to pursue his writing, and in the future I hope to read something less graphic.

Wow, what a read!! My mind is still reeling from the wonderfully sadistic and twisted plot. The Author brings to life the darker side of obsession/love and all the other quaint emotions we wee humans experience in our pathetic struggles for happiness.

Wow, what a read!! The author portrays a full range of emotions and makes the characters feel as if you know them personally. You will experience their gains and losses as if you were one of them. The book will keep you on the edge till the very last page. I personally had to put it down and take a break from it in order to regroup my ravished senses. A must read for any Steven King fan or any one that is attracted to the darker side of reality.

Blood Origins kept me completely entranced from cover to cover. It is a different take on the origins of vampires. All the characters are well written and come to life with every word. A story of discovery and love, a wonderful read and highly reccomended.

T. Isilwath has spent years honing her skills as a writer and Blood Origins is the result. A unique take on the often cliched idea of vampirism, Blood Origins rethinks the mythologies that so many of us have taken for granted and sets them on their ear. The result is a refreshing look at vampires and the world around us. This book is easily ten times better than Chris Rice's hilariously bad so-called novel Density of Souls and is certainly better than anything Anne Rice herself is writing these days. I truly recommend giving Blood Origins a try!

Blood Origins is a delightful book to read. Each chapter is more exciting than the last. The characters are vividly described.

Blood Origins tells the tale of the origins of vampires - and its far different then anyone would have imagined. Isilwath continues in the tradition of Anne Rice - beautiful, sensual, "human" vampires - but she takes it much further. She explores vampires and religion in a very unexpected way. The heroes of her story are not the evil monsters of Dracula, they are not portrayed as abominations, but as part of nature itself. This is a tale of a few vampires and their discovery of their origins - but more importantly who they are. The characterization in this novel is wonderful. The vampires and even the goddesses and gods come alive. The author gives you just enough history of each character so that you understand them, their motivations, and their fears. The characters of Tobias, Rain and Sky are especially memorable. The story is, for the most part, well paced. The plot is good, makes sense, and is believable. Isilwath's world is one of the most exciting I have seen in awhile, and I hope she will write future books in this world. Any vampire fan would enjoy this book, and I highly recommend it. I have already read it twice!

I have a problem. I love vampire short stories. I'm not gothic or even (overtly) weird, but I am well on my way to having read every scrap of vamp short fiction ever written. So profit from my mis-spent youth, and buy this collection because it is by far the best of the best of what this genre has to offer.

There literally is something here to suit every taste. Other reviewers have been kind enough to list individual stories and how the various pieces are organized, so I will not repeat their work. Suffice it to say, even authors you think you know will surprise you.

I read Salem's Lot (the novel) and was not the least bit scared or even impressed, yet Stephen King's short story based on the same novel gave me chills and had me sleeping with the covers over my head. Tanith Lee delivers my favorite story in the anthology with a poignancy and beauty uncommon to the genre, and Anne Rice writes a superb gothic romance with more quality than even her earlier works.

More than the novel, the short story allows the reader of vampire fiction an undiluted taste of each author's true talent that leaves you more scared, more satiated, infected and thirsty for more.

Thirty tales of vampire fiction, from the classical blood sucker to science fiction monster to the comic relief. From such great authors as Anne Rice and Stephen King, to interesting choices such as Woody Allen and Hanns Heinz Ewers, and authors I love such as Tanith Lee and Richard Matheson (who are also great), we get a ton of vampire literature. If there is a style of vampire story you like this is the book to get and the best part is if you discover a new author who pushes your buttons you can go find their works. And if they don't push your button you have 29 other stories to make you happy.
Read! Feast! Enjoy!

I great collection of modern vampire stories. Several of the stories are actually chapters from longer novels, which only entices the reader to read those novels too. Wonderful read, but with the lights on!

This novel brings together works of so many amazing talented writers: Stephen King, Richard Matheson, Anne Rice, Tanith Lee, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Algernon Blackwood, Joyce Carol Oates...just to name a few! Be on the lookout for "Count Dracula" by Woody Allen; whether you love him or hate him, this short story is a hoot!

This one lets you sink your teeth into some quick, sometimes chilling, sometimes humorous, sometimes just plain weird vampire stories. It will also introduce you to some incredible authors, and I bet you'll race to buy more of their works. Wolf breaks down this collection into categories: The Classic Adventure Tale; The Psychological Vampire; The Science Fiction Vampire; The Non-Human Vampire; The Comic Vampire; and The Heroic Vampire. Horror and vampire fans will recognize some of these stories (King's is an excerpt of SALEM'S LOT) from other novels or collections. But this one is a tasty treat (yes, all puns intended) that I found delightful!

It is a shame that this novel is not better known, but I have to wonder how many authors were inspired by it. Back when vampire novels came in mainly two varieties, "Salem's Lot" clones and "Interview With the Vampire" clones, Reeves-Stevens dared to do something different: write an action-thriller with vampires. Secret vampire societies, a strong female protaganist, wall-to-wall action, a pseudo-scientific "viral" rationale for vampirism...Reeves-Stevens didn't come up with any of these ideas, but he combined them long before most other writers did. If you like vampires, you really owe it to yourself to read this book.

I found this book to be a great read. I picked it up because it was written by one of my favorite authors (and I got lucky with it being a vampire novel). I like the different slant he took on vampires.

This is the greatest novel of this or any other genre. Period

This was the first book by Garfield Reeves-Stevens I read, and I was absolutely hooked from the first chapter. Reeves-Stevens' writing style is one of my favorites, especially the action/combat scenes, as this book demonstrates very well. His version of the vampire legend and where he takes it is both fascinating and unique, and characterization is handled well. If you're into vampire thrillers, I highly recommend this one.

I seldom review a book before reading it completely, but here I have to make an exception because I was bowled over by the appreance of this book as soon as I opened the Amazon box. This book is obviously a very loving treatment of Hodgson's works, the picture here doesn't do it justice. It is nicely bound and the cover is a deep blue textured faux leather, the drawings and lettering on front and spine, and the portrait of Hodgson on the back cover are deeply embossed in brilliant silver and quite stunning! WHY OH WHY someone had to slap a barcode sticker with strong adhesive on the back is beyond me, it took me 30 minutes of soap, window cleaner and knife to carefully remove it without marring the book. This book also contains wonderful line illustations at the beginning of several of the tales. Heads and tails above the quality of most books purchased nowadays.

The stories themselves (I've only read a few so far in the Sargasso Sea section) are quite enjoyable. I'm a fan of Lovecraft, Blackwood, Machen, et al and also love a good sea story, so these are right up my alley. Well-written, interesting, and atmospheric while still having enough action to move things along.

Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys stories in this genre and who wants a beautiful set of books on their shelves. This would look great in a nice glass-doored bookcase. I'm looking forward to buying the whole set.

It was just by dumb luck that I happened to make up my mind to seek new editions of my old, dog-eared paperbacks of Hodgson's work at the same time these became available. There's no need to review the work of the author--if you're looking for Hodgson's books these beautifully-bound new hardbacks are th ones to buy.

It's great to see that finally ALL the works of William Hope Hodgson are being published. It's about time that this great storyteller is about to get his masterpieces printed in style. I just bought the first volume and I must admit it's been done with care: the book cover is intricate + the nice pictures, layout, design, and editing work ensures that the volume can only be marvelled with content. As a fan, I for one have been waiting for this event to happen and will ensure that I will collect all these editions from Night Shade Books. So, if you're a fan then this is a must buy. And if you aren't acquainted with the author yet and are into stories of the tall and dark seas, then this is a great place to start on your sea journey to the worlds of William Hope Hodgson.

P.S. For those wondering which stories are all there, here's the complete list:

Introduction by Jeremy Lassen

The Boats of the "Glen Carrig"

The Sargasso Sea Stories:
-From the Tideless Sea Part 1
-From the Tideless Sea Part 2: More News From the Homebird
-The Mystery of the Derelict
-The Finding of the Graiken
-The Thing in the Weeds
-The Call In the Dawn

The Exploits of Captain Gault:
-Contraband of War
-From Information Received
-The Case of the Curio Dealer
-The Diamond Spy
-The Drum of Saccharine
-The Red Herring
-The German Spy
-The Painted Lady
-The Problem of the Pearls
-My Lady's Jewels
-The Adventure of the Garter
-Trading with the Enemy
-The Plans of the Reefing Bi-Plane

The Adventures of Captain Jat:
-The Island of the Ud
-Adventure of the Headland

Stories of Cargunka:
-The Bells of the Laughing Sally
-The Adventure with the Claim Jumpers

A Note On The Texts

If you haven't ...you should. Hodgson is a master of his craft from the fog bound streets of London to the tropical heat of a becalmed ship in the Pacific. This is a beautiful presentation which will eventually consist of five volumes, I am already impressed by my first two volumes....and eagerly await the rest.

I can add little to the above review other than this deck is not only an extraordinary Tarot deck, it is also a gallery of 78 Gothic pictorial vignettes that will prove inspirational and illustrative for writers and poets working in the genre. A wonderful companion gallery to HP Lovecraft's survey of Supernatural literature as well. ghos

I've had this amazing and one of a kind deck since it's release by the publishers, Magic Realist Press, in end of December. It's only recently become available in the US.

It quickly and without hesitation became my absolute favourite deck (I have over 200 decks!). There is no other Tarot on the market like the Bohemian Gothic. In my opinion this is now THE quinnessentail Gothic Tarot deck. Vargo's Gothic and others pale and wither in comparison!

First off they're 3x5 inches and of a sensual and silky cardstock. They shuffle like butter in your hands, and only get better with use. I've used this deck everyday now for 4 months! The backs have a striking skull and arch interlocking pattern with the words "Memento Mori". There's a silver ink sheen to the image. Completely reversible. I can tell you they're extremely eyecayching!

The creators Karen and Alex desired to create a deck truly inspired by the earliest Gothic novels and chapbooks from the 18th & early 19th centuries....books like Mysteries of Udolpho, The Monk, The Recess etc. And also the fascinating, mysterious and chilling resurgence of Gothic fiction and fad for ghost stories that started in the mid-1800's until the early part of the 20th century. These are the stories, images and inspiration for theses resplendent and breathtaking images!

They wanted the sublime terror, not the gorey horror affect of recent times and some decks. Honestly there is no other deck currently on the market that has this inspiration and ideals. The chill in the air, the glimpse of something out of the corner of your eye, the distant moan and creaking door. Goosebumps and sighs. Mystery and eldritch primal energies.

The images themselves are beyond words almost, you must behold before your eyes to get the full eerie effect! The cards are done luxurious deep colours. Various shades of blue abound, from a haunting blue, to melancholy, to strong rich brew of blue. The most varied and chilling collection of blues! Dark reds, reddish-orange, pink, a deep absinthe green are seen on quite a few cards. The colours play an extremely important part in this Tarot. The mood and ambience they create is amazing!

The art and images were very much taken from actual late 19th cen to early 20th cen. cabinet photographs, people just "looked" different back then! The creators created each card anew, with incredible attention to detail and atmosphere, the result, though each image is composed of many various parts of other images is completely seamless! There are NOT collage in the normal sense! Totally and completely brilliant artistry. The effects of light, mostly moonlight is one of the most amazing things about these images. The effect makes the light appear real and moving! I have no idea how they've done it, but it's surreal.

The images speak very loudly, clearly and eloquently to me. They sing, they whisper, they laugh, they sigh and cry.....yearn and love. These images will spark your imagination and inspiration! The tales, stories and fairytales to be unveiled and discovered in this deck are unlimited, like hidden jewels within a buried treasure chest they await to be discovered by you as you plunge into the dark waters of your subconscious.

Speaking of dark, yes this is a "dark" deck, in content, image and colour. But don't let that label make you pigeon hole this deck and have you use it in a narrow and slotted way or role! I've found the Bohemian Gothic is a deck to savor and get to know over time. She will reveal herself to you in layers and stages, but you must devote yourself to her! She demands your time, paitence, love and commitment. But it's no hard slog, I've done all this and more with the most intense excitement, joy and a feeling of finding, finally, "THE ONE" perfect Tarot for me. The vast rewards you will get back are nothing short of magnificent for the time and love you put into spending time and studying this deck, doing daily readings, studying the images....all of it. The more you work with the Bohemian Gothic the deeper and deeper it gets, I can't believe it!

So yes it's a Gothic deck in the truest, sublimest sense of the word, it's a "dark" deck, but at least for me, it's an everyday deck....the images run the complete gamut and convey the entire range of human emotion and experience. Besides the chilling foreboding and wickedly eldritch images there is plenty of joy, light and sublime happiness too! It reads fantastically for me on any question and with any spread. It's the deck I've turned to daily now for 4 months for a myriad of reasons, and it's never failed me!

I really cannot put into words the sheer power, poetry and stunning beauty these cards have when they're layed out together, either in different spreads or in a row. Being borderless the images bleed together to create this powerful swirling vortex of energy and emotion! You MUST see it!

As a last comment I wanted to mention the limited edition Silver Edition of the Bohemian Gothic that was released end of December also. There were only 500 and they're completely sold out now! Can you believe they took only 2 MONTHS to sell out?! If you've seen them, you know why. I snagged 3 copies for myself. They're going to be a HUGE collectors item, just a month or so after selling out the swt already sells for double (the set sold for $49, they're now selling on Ebay for $99 and upwards)!

The antique silver ink the creators have overlayed on crucial parts of each card is truly unique...never been done before! A few Tarot decks have silver foil....this is not! The haunting moonlight effect is magical and plain eerie. All the cards look lit up from within...as if each scene is in the moonlight. Some of the cards have a 3D effect, they look like photo negatives. The play of light on them is otherworldy, moving the card under the light creates all these varying effects. Hypnotic. I'm extremely proud to own 3 copies. The Standard Bohemian Gothic and the Silver edition have such different energy and vibe that I honestly consider them differennt decks, even though they both have the same images. Many have said this and noted it! The artfully applied antique silver ink makes each image come alive and read in a whole new way!

If you can, GET a copy of the Silver edition, they are completely worth it and then some. Think of the many 1,000's of tarot decks out there then think this Silver edition with the ink overlay has NEVER been done before, you've never seen this effect and beauty!

Yes this review is long-winded. But it's MY deck, my one true Tarot I've been waiting my entire life for. That alone makes it worthy of my immense praise and recommendation!

I have waited months to finally receive this deck. I love all things Victorian and Gothic, and I was very excited to own a tarot deck that incorporates both.
I have many of Karen Mahony's other decks, including the Victorian Romantic tarot, considered a 'sister deck' to this one. As much as I love all of her decks, I think this one may be my favorite.
At first when I received it, I was a little shocked by the vibrancy of some of the artwork, as well as many of the expressions on the faces of the characters in the cards. Admittedly, I thought it would not read that well.
As soon as I got home, I did some readings to familiarize myself with the deck, and I was stunned by how extraordinarily well the cards worked. Without even reading the companion book at the time, I was able to get what I needed from the images. From the deepest questions, to the most petty (when decks typically quit working well at all), I was able to receive excellent information from these cards.
After I was done reading, I determined to actually read the companion book, to see what the cards were intended to mean. Even without the deck, this would be a fantastic book to own! It clarified the cards so well, and it actually caused me to think more deeply about the meanings and readings.
Even though the subject matter seems heavy and dark, I would recommend this deck to anyone truly interested in the tarot -- but I also suggest reading the book as well. I am so very happy with this deck -- it was definitely worth the wait!

I've had this amazing and one of a kind deck since it's release by the publishers, Magic Realist Press, in end of December. It's only recently become available in the US.

It quickly and without hesitation became my absolute favourite deck (I have over 200 decks!). There is no other Tarot on the market like the Bohemian Gothic. In my opinion this is now THE quinnessentail Gothic Tarot deck. Vargo's Gothic and others pale and wither in comparison!

First off they're 3x5 inches and of a sensual and silky cardstock. They shuffle like butter in your hands, and only get better with use. I've used this deck everyday now for 4 months! The backs have a striking skull and arch interlocking pattern with the words "Memento Mori". There's a silver ink sheen to the image. Completely reversible. I can tell you they're extremely eyecayching!

The creators Karen and Alex desired to create a deck truly inspired by the earliest Gothic novels and chapbooks from the 18th & early 19th centuries....books like Mysteries of Udolpho, The Monk, The Recess etc. And also the fascinating, mysterious and chilling resurgence of Gothic fiction and fad for ghost stories that started in the mid-1800's until the early part of the 20th century. These are the stories, images and inspiration for theses resplendent and breathtaking images!

They wanted the sublime terror, not the gorey horror affect of recent times and some decks. Honestly there is no other deck currently on the market that has this inspiration and ideals. The chill in the air, the glimpse of something out of the corner of your eye, the distant moan and creaking door. Goosebumps and sighs. Mystery and eldritch primal energies.

The images themselves are beyond words almost, you must behold before your eyes to get the full eerie effect! The cards are done luxurious deep colours. Various shades of blue abound, from a haunting blue, to melancholy, to strong rich brew of blue. The most varied and chilling collection of blues! Dark reds, reddish-orange, pink, a deep absinthe green are seen on quite a few cards. The colours play an extremely important part in this Tarot. The mood and ambience they create is amazing!

The art and images were very much taken from actual late 19th cen to early 20th cen. cabinet photographs, people just "looked" different back then! The creators created each card anew, with incredible attention to detail and atmosphere, the result, though each image is composed of many various parts of other images is completely seamless! There are NOT collage in the normal sense! Totally and completely brilliant artistry. The effects of light, mostly moonlight is one of the most amazing things about these images. The effect makes the light appear real and moving! I have no idea how they've done it, but it's surreal.

The images speak very loudly, clearly and eloquently to me. They sing, they whisper, they laugh, they sigh and cry.....yearn and love. These images will spark your imagination and inspiration! The tales, stories and fairytales to be unveiled and discovered in this deck are unlimited, like hidden jewels within a buried treasure chest they await to be discovered by you as you plunge into the dark waters of your subconscious.

Speaking of dark, yes this is a "dark" deck, in content, image and colour. But don't let that label make you pigeon hole this deck and have you use it in a narrow and slotted way or role! I've found the Bohemian Gothic is a deck to savor and get to know over time. She will reveal herself to you in layers and stages, but you must devote yourself to her! She demands your time, paitence, love and commitment. But it's no hard slog, I've done all this and more with the most intense excitement, joy and a feeling of finding, finally, "THE ONE" perfect Tarot for me. The vast rewards you will get back are nothing short of magnificent for the time and love you put into spending time and studying this deck, doing daily readings, studying the images....all of it. The more you work with the Bohemian Gothic the deeper and deeper it gets, I can't believe it!

So yes it's a Gothic deck in the truest, sublimest sense of the word, it's a "dark" deck, but at least for me, it's an everyday deck....the images run the complete gamut and convey the entire range of human emotion and experience. Besides the chilling foreboding and wickedly eldritch images there is plenty of joy, light and sublime happiness too! It reads fantastically for me on any question and with any spread. It's the deck I've turned to daily now for 4 months for a myriad of reasons, and it's never failed me!

I really cannot put into words the sheer power, poetry and stunning beauty these cards have when they're layed out together, either in different spreads or in a row. Being borderless the images bleed together to create this powerful swirling vortex of energy and emotion! You MUST see it!

As a last comment I wanted to mention the limited edition Silver Edition of the Bohemian Gothic that was released end of December also. There were only 500 and they're completely sold out now! Can you believe they took only 2 MONTHS to sell out?! If you've seen them, you know why. I snagged 3 copies for myself. They're going to be a HUGE collectors item, just a month or so after selling out the swt already sells for double (the set sold for $49, they're now selling on Ebay for $99 and upwards)!

The antique silver ink the creators have overlayed on crucial parts of each card is truly unique...never been done before! A few Tarot decks have silver foil....this is not! The haunting moonlight effect is magical and plain eerie. All the cards look lit up from within...as if each scene is in the moonlight. Some of the cards have a 3D effect, they look like photo negatives. The play of light on them is otherworldy, moving the card under the light creates all these varying effects. Hypnotic. I'm extremely proud to own 3 copies. The Standard Bohemian Gothic and the Silver edition have such different energy and vibe that I honestly consider them differennt decks, even though they both have the same images. Many have said this and noted it! The artfully applied antique silver ink makes each image come alive and read in a whole new way!

If you can, GET a copy of the Silver edition, they are completely worth it and then some. Think of the many 1,000's of tarot decks out there then think this Silver edition with the ink overlay has NEVER been done before, you've never seen this effect and beauty!

Yes this review is long-winded. But it's MY deck, my one true Tarot I've been waiting my entire life for. That alone makes it worthy of my immense praise and recommendation!