"Fires blazed in every hearth. Delicious scents of cinnamon and roast meat drifted up from the kitchens, and all the windows were laced with frost. It seemed impossible to believe that this house, this very chair, had appeared so menacing by night."
The Chillingham Chair by Laura Purcell
As winter draws to a close, I have been making the most of the dark nights before they slip away into springtime, curling up by the fire each evening to read one of these chilling tales. The Haunting Season, Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights is a collection of new and original ghost stories by some of today's most popular authors. There are eight stories in all, most of them set in the Victorian era.
While each story is unique and unrelated to the others in this collection, there is a cohesiveness throughout the book, for it has been put together with traditional story-telling tropes at its heart. Some of these contributions reminded me of the works of M R James, that timeless master of the classic ghost story, building in atmosphere and leaving the reader's own imagination to provide the fear.
Each tale is set during the depths of winter, so there are snow-bound haunted houses and Christmas cheer mixed with spooky vibes. My favourite stories were Lily Wilt by Jess Kidd, The Chillingham Chair by Laura Purcell and Confinement by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, which all cover themes of classic Victorian Gothic horror. Here you will find tales of incarceration, death and murder, while Thwaite's Tenant by Imogen Hermes Gowar is quite Bronte-esque and reminded me of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.
It is has been described by some as a cosy book and I do think that there is something very cosy about pulling a comfy chair up to the fire, or snuggling down into bed to read a good ghost story, as the rain, sleet and snow batter the windowpanes. Dark nights should be enjoyed and a book like The Haunting Season is the perfect companion to share them with.
It is the kind of book best read by candlelight, with mulled wine or hot chocolate close by. I have enjoyed reading it over the past week and I know I will want to re-read it when Halloween rolls round again later this year and I'm ready for spooky vibes once more. The final story in this collection is based on selkie folklore, so I feel that it leads me into faerie season quite nicely! If you like classic Victorian style ghost stories then you will probably enjoy this book, so curl up and hide under the covers with these Ghostly Tales for a cosy night in at winter's end.
BB Marie x
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