Review of Hollow Skulls and Other Stories by Samuel Marzioli
Hollow Skulls and Other Stories by Samuel Marzioli (JournalStone, 2021) is a collection of thirteen horror and otherwise dark short stories. The majority of the stories are previously published stories, while a few are new to this collection.
One of Marzioli’s greatest strengths, showcased in this collection, is a sense of creeping dread that pervades his writing. These stories are all creepy, and many of them will haunt you after you’ve read them. My particular favorites of the collection were “She Who Would Rip the Sky Asunder,” in which the narrator tries to help his girlfriend’s daughter deal with her unusual power, and “Penelope’s Song,” in which a young woman living in a group home tries to protect herself and the other residents from monsters, despite being unable to communicate what is going on to her caretakers or fellow residents.
The stories in this collection are not for the faint of heart, and horrible things happen to people regardless of gender or age. Though the violence is often not explicitly described, women, children, and animals are all harmed within these stories. However, if you want to experience the creeping dread of Marzioli’s writing, this collection is a fantastic place to start. Hollow Skulls and Other Stories will be available in ebook and paperback on Friday, January 8, 2021.
The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for review consideration.
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