Daphne Fauber’s Ballerina will have your nuts crackin’
Before you take down that Christmas tree (it’s not July yet!), crack one more yuletide tale open. We’ve got an advance copy of Eerie Christmas 3 by Black Hare Press and I was able to sit down with author Daphne Fauber to discuss their story, ‘The Ballerina’. This review is two parts–Part 1 the story of The Ballerina and Part 2 the overall feel of the Eerie Christmas 3 anthology.
The Ballerina: Get them nuts a crackin’
Full Disclosure: Although Daphne is a writer for this site, my review is independent and there’s nothing in trade, etc.
One of the perks of owning a horror business is that you can meet cool people in horror. Daphne is one of the most talented new writers I have seen in a long time. Rarely do we find someone who is both a product of their generation and able to navigate their artistic world through that lens–yet not being controlled by that lens.
Prose can be important and a clean, crisp copy is something readers can immediately get into. Daphne’s writing is not quite minimalist but it is crisp. If you’ve read Ray Carver before and seen what Lish did to his writing (a great before/after snapshot is found in Beginners), then you’ll have the measure of Daphne’s prose–not Lish minimalistic and not Carver’s original style, but the happy medium. It gets to the point. It is what Bruce Lee would call ‘Economy in motion’.
Not only does her writing push the story without the weight of ‘extra’, but she hits the crowd running (oh, Van Halen drop!) from the first line.
“Tiny pointe shoes danced across the floorboards, each step met with the plink of ceramic against wood.”
Daphne Fauber, The Ballerina. Eerie Christmas 3
The setting comes at us with intentful action. You can see this happening with little effort of the imagination. The start of the story comes on like the opening of the Nutcracker. We see a (mostly) unnamed character. We know them only as The Ballerina. The removing of the name, much like Joyce did in Counterparts, signifies the reduction of personhood. Unlike Counterparts, however, the removing of the name here isn’t done out of shame, but rather part of the plot. There is a reason why things are happening in this house and the exploration of family, bonds, and love in the face of courage are put to the test.
When reading this, I kept coming back to the imagery in the story. It sparked memories of my childhood cartoon movies (remember, Gen X cartoon movies were a lot darker than what we see today–we killed Bambi’s mom). Without spoiling the story (sincerely, go buy the anthology and find out for yourself–this story is well worth the price of admission), I can say that there is a lyricism in Daphne’s writing that makes you connect with memory. The sensory details, along with the rhythm, bring the writing to life. There are parts of this story where I was both imagining what the Ballerina looked like and she braved the darkness of the ______ (shhh spoilers!) and how each move would look on screen.
Story wise, Daphne’s writing moves like the Ballerina. It’s light, quick, and pointe toed. The plot dances on a string and slows where it needs to only to find itself spinning (no pun) once more with a change of beat.
Character development can be (sometimes) difficult for a short story. I know writers who can’t even get a character from the car door to the front door in three pages. Daphne’s character work matches her plot n prose work. You get to know the character bit by bit and not through a exposition or inner monologue but with action. We see who this Ballerina is from the start, and by the end we are not only cheering for her, but wanting to see more.
In the end, The Ballerina by Daphne Fauber is a touching piece of holiday warmth. If you are from Gen X or like your Christmas tales with a bit of punch (or stab), then you really need to check out The Ballerina. It hits the sweet spot between endearing and engaging.
(5 / 5)
Eerie Christmas 3
Horror anthologies have a special spot in my heart. I mean, we’ve published an anthology (almost) every year for about a decade. It’s kinda our jam. I have to say I love the cover of this anthology and the way they did the interiors. It is a well-edited collection of some great horror stories. The pricing is just right and, it’s a great way to support indy books and indy horror at the same time.
I read the anthology on my kindle white and my Apple Books app (iPad). The iPad version looks better because parts are in color but the black and white with Kindle still works. There was something slightly askew with Kindle White and names (my version at least) that made me need to hit the TOC a bit more than I wanted, but, overall, the reading was an enjoyable experience.
I look forward to more Eerie Christmas anthologies and I hope everyone supports them so there are more anthologies to come :).
(4 / 5)
Where to get Eerie Christmas 3 and The Ballerina (sponsor links)
Try our link for direct access to Amazon and snag yourself a copy today!
Ever wonder what would happen if a witch, a mythological dreamscape, and a kitchen disaster collided at full speed? Jennifer Weigel’s Let’s Do Lunch (Witch Hayzelle’s Recipes for Disaster Book 1) doesn’t just answer that question—it serves it up on a flaming silver platter with a side of snarky humor and alliterative goodness.
This fast-paced, genre-blending novella is part mythological adventure, part obsessive investigation (Moby Dick style), and part cookbook. Yes, you read that right. The book sprinkles in recipes—some of which might be surprisingly edible (looking at you, tofu dish). I think the mix of this worked really well. At times, and this might be because of my background, I thought that the book was pushing into Gargantuan territory and then it slipped back into a real recipe.
Where Let’s Do Lunch really shines is in its world-building. The mythology of dreams is an intriguing and immersive element that keeps the story grounded in a unique and whimsical lore. The characters, while more like vehicles for humor than deep personalities, fit well within the book’s quick and quirky style. There’s also a delightful meta-layer to the storytelling, making it feel self-aware in the best possible way.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Weigel, Jennifer (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2025-01-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Another thing that worked really well, even on Kindle, is the art the author produces. The drawings really do make a lot of the book pop and work remarkably well in black and white (or paperwhite, as the case may be). Even the cover is a mix of void space set aside by white–the creation of art through erasure of darkness.
Kindle Caveat:
One small hiccup–if you’re reading the Kindle version, be prepared for footnotes that don’t always play nice with e-readers. They can be tricky to navigate, making it tough to appreciate some of the book’s side notes without breaking the flow. This is something the publisher seems to agree with (as the amazon page has a similar warning).
Overall and Score
Overall, Let’s Do Lunch is a light, fun read perfect for anyone who enjoys their fantasy with a heavy dose of humor and a sprinkle of culinary catastrophe. If the rest of the Recipes for Disaster series keeps up this level of playful mayhem, fans are in for a treat (or at least a hilarious food-related accident).
(4 / 5)
“It’s the thing they say about Tome. Everyone returns in the end-“
Lucy Foley’s 7th and newest page-turner was released in June 2024. The Midnight Feast, demonstrates to readers why her name keeps appearing on the New York Times best sellers list. Blending a mystery/ thriller story with folkloric horror, Foley had me sitting up past my bedtime and considering moving Tome.
- Audible Audiobook
- Lucy Foley (Author) – Joe Eyre, Sarah Slimani, Roly Botha (Narrators)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2025-01-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Plot.
The Manor, an exclusive retreat nestled deep within the woods, opens its doors on a weekend of glitzy chaos. Founder Francesca Meadows, is the picture of serene wellness. A meditating, green juice-drinking, organic linen-wearing type, at least on the surface. The Manor was left to her by her Grandfa (no this is not a typo!) and she summered here as a teen.
Francesca is rather stressed because it is opening night and the construction is still in progress. The next stage in the renovation is the building of treehouses for guests to stay in. Inspired by one that Francesca had as a child. However, this means cutting down trees in the woods. Though this part of the woods is technically private property the locals are not happy, and neither are the strange bird-like creatures in the woods. These are Elder trees after all, and cutting them down would be bad luck without asking the trees’ permission first…
As a diverse cast descends upon The Manor, each harboring concealed pasts, the idyllic facade begins to crumble. Locals, masquerading as glamorous outsiders, mingle with the elite, revealing a web of interconnected secrets and unspoken resentments.
Beneath the veneer of tranquility lies a simmering undercurrent of tension, fueled by unspoken desires, long-buried grudges, and the unsettling feeling that everyone, in their own way, is seeking redemption at The Manor.
Highlights.
The Midnight Feast brims with subtle and insightful social commentary. One of the most compelling aspects is Foley’s ingenious portrayal of the affluent imitating the pagan, and vice versa. The elite, led by Francesca Meadows, strive to embrace “natural living” with white robes, floral headpieces, and a veneer of eco-consciousness. Ironically, they are aping the very rituals of the local townsfolk, who hold deep-rooted pagan beliefs. Meanwhile, these locals are donning formal attire and dropping their accents to navigate the social circles of The Manor. This fascinating dynamic, presented with understated humor, highlights the performative nature of social identity and the blurred lines between genuine connection and superficial imitation.
On a more profound level, Foley grapples with the complex issue of land ownership and the historical injustices it can perpetuate. Francesca Meadows, with her inherited wealth and privileged position, asserts absolute dominion over the land. She views it as her exclusive domain. She attempts to restrict access to the woods, a vital thoroughfare for the local community, sparking a conflict that raises important questions about land rights, historical dispossession, and the inherent unfairness of a system that allows a few to claim ownership over land that has been traditionally used and revered by others for generations.
Drawbacks.
My only criticism of this book is for something Foley is known for doing; 5+ points of view. There’s Bella, Owen, Francesca, Eddie, DI Walker, and local fishermen, then add to this journal entries from the summer of 2010 and it really does feel like you are drowning in the beginning. Despite this overwhelm, as you become more familiar with the characters it becomes easier to follow. Foley is excellent at making her characters’ voices distinct from one another. So much so that you almost don’t need the names at the top of the chapters. But buyer beware.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Foley, Lucy (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2025-01-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Final Take.
Having thoroughly enjoyed all of Foley’s novels that I’ve read, I can confidently say that The Midnight Feast is a standout. The seamless integration of folkloric elements – a personal favorite – truly elevates the narrative. From the enigmatic markings to the otherworldly creatures lurking within the forest and the intriguing use of solstice as chapter markers, Foley masterfully weaves a captivating and atmospheric tale that kept me utterly engrossed. This is a true page-turner that I wholeheartedly recommend.
(5 / 5)
Published in January of 2024, This Wretched Valley is Jenny Kiefer’s debut novel and is a horror written for hikers, campers, and all of your general outdoorsy type people. Reminiscent of Scott Smith’s The Ruins, with a healthy helping of Adam Nevill’s The Ritual, This Wretched Valley is a story of restless and vengeful spirits with some spectacular body horror scenes you will not forget.
The Plot.
Set in Kentucky, This Wretched Valley’s main plot covers a week in March of 2019. The time-stamped chapters follow four college friends and their faithful Australian Shepherd. One of the four friends, Clay, has discovered a rock formation that appears to have never been climbed or explored. The group embark on an expedition that is part rock climbing exploration and part scientific research. From the moment they enter the valley at the base of the rock things don’t feel right. Their dog, Slade, is acting funny and the plant life grows in unusual varieties and patterns for this part of Kentucky.
After an accident climbing the rock things go from bad to worse, with strange apparitions appearing before them and dead animals being left at the edges of the camp. The worst thing is that despite following their GPS, they can’t seem to find their way back to the car. Tempers flare, but is it because of the situation they find themselves in, or is something influencing their emotions?
Highlights.
One of the highlights of This Wretched Valley is the short chapters that are dotted throughout the book. These chapters tell the stories of other people who came before our hikers, from other centuries, that suffered due to their presence in the valley. As the main chapters culminate the characters from the historical chapters begin to pop up in the present.
The descriptions of the injuries the hikers suffer, real and imagined, are excellent. Kiefer really knows how to make a reader squirm, if you enjoy blood and gore this book is for you. There is one scene in particular with a swarm of flies that I read twice.
Drawbacks.
I know it is a necessary evil in horror, that the main characters must miss things that may seem obvious to the reader for the story to build. I mean, if the hikers in This Wretched Valley picked up on how the dog was acting in the first chapter and left we wouldn’t have this excellent book. That being said, so many things begin to go wrong, but each is shrugged off or explained away. The ignorance of huge things that were happening right in front of them seemed a little too wilful. Perhaps we can give Kiefer the benefit of the doubt and assume that maybe this was the point, the wilfully ignorant get what they deserve.
Another grip I have with this book is the head-hopping. Rather than focus on one character in a chapter and reading their point of view, Kiefer has head hopped. Delivering various points of view within a chapter, sometimes within a paragraph. And that’s fine, many authors do this. However, at times it was hard to figure out who was seeing or thinking a particular thing. Going back to reread some paragraphs did help, but stopping in the middle of the action to reread is not ideal.
The Final Take.
While I’m not an avid outdoorsman myself – camping, hiking, and climbing aren’t my passions. I found myself thoroughly engaged with the descriptions of the natural world in this novel. Kiefer, a rock climbing enthusiast, clearly brings a genuine passion and expertise to her depictions of This Wretched Valley. I believe any reader who enjoys these pursuits will find a particular resonance in her writing.
For those interested, I discovered that Jenny Kiefer owns Butcher Cabin Books, a unique horror bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky. If you’re in the area perhaps pop in and explore a book store dedicated to the world of horror literature.
(4 / 5)
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