Liminal Spaces: Horror Stories by Deborah Sheldon
Liminal Spaces: Horror Stories is a collection of short fiction, original and previously published pieces, by Australian author Deborah Sheldon. Published by IFWG Publishing Australia on March 1, 2022, it weighs in at 257 pages.
***Please note, this collection will be published in the US on June 1, 2022. ***I was excited to get my hands on an ARC of Liminal Spaces: Horror Stories in exchange for an honest review of the book.
Having recently read Spawn: Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies and Man-Beast, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on another book involving author Deborah Sheldon. Liminal Spaces: Horror Stories is comprised of 21 short horror pieces written by Sheldon from 2017-2021. This is a great short story collection of various sizes to get readers introduced to this author.
When I first opened the book, I thought I’d read one story real quick, just to get it started and get a feel for it. After finishing the fifth piece, I was angry I had to put the book down so I wouldn’t miss an appointment. I was hooked, and I felt that way throughout the whole collection. Sheldon offers up a variety of dark stories, each distinctly different from the rest. Some of the stories are left open-ended, which I happen to enjoy. I found myself thinking about them when I was out and about, piecing together what I thought could be the outcomes. I love a book that keeps me thinking about it when I’m done. These stories really stayed with me.
When I finished reading the book, I thought about the themes that stuck out to me: madness, despair, grief, delusions, creatures, obsessions, fears, and desperation. So many of the stories left me with that delightful feeling I would get after watching a Twilight Zone episode. You know what you just read, but there’s something ominous and bigger lurking under the surface. This is what keeps you thinking about these stories, returning to them, bending and folding the outcomes and the implications in your mind.
Sheldon has a way of writing characters who are imbalanced or succumbing to delusions. The best part is that you feel what the characters are feeling because of point of view used as well as the superb writing. These stories are eerie, creepy, suspenseful, and thrilling. Most of the horror takes place within the minds of the characters, but there are a handful of stories that bring the horror to the physical plane. Both versions are poignant and left me satisfied at the end of the book.
Liminal Spaces: Horror Stories will be released by IFWG Publishing Australia on 1 March 2022 in most regions, apart from North America which has a release date of 1 June 2022
One of my favorite things about this collection is the speculative flavor in some of the stories. Again, being deep in someone’s disturbed mind or facing creatures not of this world, Liminal Spaces: Horror Stories will keep you on your toes and wondering what you’re going to encounter next. Sheldon has a way of luring you into the skin of her characters and allowing you to experience their stories on a deeper level.
Grab a copy of this book when it’s available. You won’t be sorry!
The stories I enjoyed the most in order of appearance are:
For Weirdless Days and Weary Nights
Carbon Copy Consumables
The Littlest Avian
Barralang, Pop. 63
The Sand
All the Stars in Her Eyes
Shift
Shedding
The Tea and Sugar Train
Other books you might enjoy by Deborah Sheldon:
From Deborah Sheldon’s Website:
I’M AN AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR FROM MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.
I WRITE SHORT STORIES, NOVELLAS AND NOVELS ACROSS THE DARKER SPECTRUM OF HORROR, CRIME AND NOIR.
MY CREDITS ALSO INCLUDE TV SCRIPTS, STAGE PLAYS, MAGAZINE ARTICLES, AND AWARD-WINNING ANTHOLOGY EDITING AND MEDICAL WRITING.
Check out my other reviews of Deborah Sheldon’s works:
