a fairytale story about a circus that only appears at night. the two protagonists are engaged in a centuries long deadly game where only one of them can survive ā¦.. a beautifully written story and also would be very accessible for someone who may not be interested in / is trying to get into fantasy.
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Fabien Vehlmann & KerascoĆ«tās book has disarmingly child-like but gorgeous watercolors with a story that reads like a modern Grimm fairy tale.
Jan 16, 2025
My favourite short stories tend to be creepy or magical. I think due to the necessary open-endedness of short stories, it lends itself most to mystery and magic.
Angela Carterās Bloody Chamber is a great classic creepy feminist story to start with.
Carmen Maria Machadoās The Husband Stitch continued Carterās legacy
Iām a HUGE Kelly Link fan, but her stuff is very strange so might not be for everyone, but my favourite of hers is probably The Specialistās hat or Skinderās Veil
Shirley Jacksonās The Lottery is also a classic, and if you like creepy stories and want a good overview of writers in that genre, I recommend the collection āWhen Things Get Darkā, a collection inspired by the tone of Jacksonās work; it features Kelly link, Carmen Maria Machado, Joyce Carol Oates, and loads of contemporary short story writers. I discovered the story Tiptoe by Laird Barron through this and its possibly my favourite creepy short story, it sent full shivers down my spine in a way no other story had.
May 22, 2024
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short and incredibly compelling ecological horror, with an unusual form. i ate it up but was filled with dread the whole time
Feb 26, 2024
Top Recs from @robynm
black queer history is FULL of forgotten legends who have shaped mainstream culture and continue to have a lasting impact on fashion, language, art & performance. āØParis Is Burning immortalises and preserves the legacy and the stories of the people featured in this film along with the spaces, community and families they created for themselves in a society that consistently marginalised and discriminated against them.
this is an essential watch!!!
Jun 8, 2025
Jun 8, 2025