Bloodlines: Four Tales of Familial Fear

Four members of the HOWL (Horror Obsessed Writing and Literary) Society have joined forces to each give us a tale of family (and they do not mean the Hallmark variety). Each novella promises a dark dive into what being part of a family means, and none can resist showing the dark side of that familial bond. Boasting an introduction by HOWL Society founder, Solomon Forse (which is worth the price of admission alone) alongside four tales from some immensely talented horror writers, I’ve broken down some sneak peeks at what ‘Bloodlines’ has in store for you.

Our Migraine by Christopher O’Halloran

Angie, Liza and Penny are three sisters who share a terrible burden. They share a migraine. One that can be passed between each sister when the pain becomes too much to bear. Until it is passed on the migraine builds with each passing moment, becoming increasingly more debilitating and painful until the holder has no choice but to transfer it to the next sister in line. With Angie working on her PhD in the hopes of finding a cure, Liza finding success in her new career and Penny finding happiness in a new relationship, each has their own life to live, but can they find a way toward normalcy while their curse hangs over (or within) their head?

Anyone who has suffered from migraines will find O’Halloran’s lengthy and vivid descriptions of his lead characters in the throes of the worst of their ‘turns’ absolutely stomach-churning. The early paragraphs really help set the scene for quite how awful their communal migraine is to live with and it comes as a huge relief when we learn it is at least something the sisters, who seem to share a genuinely loving bond with each other, can take away from each other, even if just for a short time.

It's such a unique and interesting premise and one that is a great springboard into deeper themes (familial bonds, trust, loss). Not only does the story boast a unique concept, but it continues to be an unpredictable narrative right through to the end. The other big reason this story works so well is how well-drawn the three sisters are as characters. You feel very connected to them, almost from the outset, and each come across as complex individuals while sharing enough quirks and traits with each other to mark them out as a family without the need to expressly state it. It is an impressive feat, given the story is relatively short, but ‘Our Migraine’ packs a lot into its brief page count and gets ‘Bloodlines’ off to a darkly memorable start.

Nos Da, Tad by Antony Frost

“That’s what it means to be the son of a monster, you will always have him with you”.

The above sentence, taken from the closing chapter of ‘Nos Da, Tad” (Good Night, Dad in Welsh) perfectly encapsulates what Antony Frost is writing about in this haunting tale of cosmic horror.

When Fin receives word that his father has passed away, he immediately greets the news with indifference. His father had been absent for much of his childhood and his memories of the man are universally unpleasant, half recalled instances of violence and abuse. His hand is forced when he discovers his father has left him an inheritance and with partner Martin in tow, he sets off to visit the now-empty home of his estranged parent.

Almost immediately upon arrival, Fin begins to have strange encounters with men he does not recognise and finds items in his father’s possession that defy explanation. He becomes to suspect that his father may have been involved with some occult fanatics and that he may unwittingly find himself embroiled in what his father left unfinished.

This was a great mix of family drama and otherworldly terrors, managing an unusual balancing act of being both unsettling and heart-warming at the same time. Fin is a big part of why I liked the story so much, as the focus throughout the story is how events impact him, no matter how grand and the focus on character gives a lot of depth to someone we only get to spend a few dozen pages with. It also happens to feature one of my favourite endings to a story I have read in a very long time.

I am Not To Be Replaced by Carson Winter

I love stories where the reader gets dropped into a situation where all of the characters know what is going on, but we don’t have a clue, and so until we get caught up, you are poring over every word, analysing every word spoken by every character, trying to figure it out. It’s not often you see such a tactic pulled off entirely successfully because it’s a tough balancing act between keeping us engaged and holding just enough back. ‘I am Not To Be Replaced’ has a fantastic opening hook and keeps the reader on it until the last page.

Jeannie is waiting at her family’s cabin for them all to arrive. She wasn’t invited, and they don’t know she is there and when they show up, there is another Jeannie with them. This other Jeannie looks the same, talks the same, and acts the same as she does. The family seem to adore her and treat her like one of their own. They are almost identical, but there is one big difference.

One of them is dead.

I absolutely raced through this story. The concept is so intriguing and the big reveal so satisfying, that you need to set aside enough time to read this one in its entirety in a single sitting because there is no way to put it down once you’ve started. I loved that it didn’t necessarily give you all the answers by the end either. There is enough hinted at for you to draw your own conclusions but not so little that the story becomes overly vague. It also boasts the most bombastic, over the top ending of the collection, giving just another reason why this is a story you’re going to remember long after you’ve read it.

The Heads of Leviathan by Alex Wolfgang

I’ve been a big fan of Alex Wolfgangs’ since reading his phenomenal short story collection ‘Splinter’ last year and I was looking forward to reading more when I picked up ‘Bloodlines’. If I thought I knew what to expect with ‘The Heads of Leviathan’ based on my past experience with the author, then these expectations were soon shattered.

When a family living alone on a remote island lose their mother to a mysterious illness it is left to eldest son Adam to look after his four young siblings, with only his mother's cryptic last words to guide him.

“Once it starts, you’ll know. See it through quickly. I’ll try my best to help. Please, try not to be scared”.

So begins Adam’s journey of discovery, into his family’s history, of why they live alone on an island nobody visits, and why there is a basement door in his house that has been locked up tight as long as he can remember. Locked, until now.

There is a beautiful, dream-like quality to ‘The Heads of Leviathan’ that gives the whole piece an ethereal, otherworldly feel that is wonderfully apt for the story being told. There is an innocence to the whole thing that is present in a lot of coming-of-age horror stories (of which this is an especially unusual example) that makes some of the body horror-centric elements take on a more graceful and transformative tone, and the story is all the more interesting and relatable for it.

It mixes elements of fantasy with some familiar horror themes but uses them to tell an incredibly unique story, one, unlike anything I’ve personally read before. It’s a beautifully written, wholly unpredictable story and a strong, memorable note to end this collection on.


There is a perfect mix of stories on offer in ‘Bloodlines’ from an undeniably talented group of writers. Some of the stories will horrify, some will disgust while others are genuinely touching, or create a feeling of wonder, but every single one will enthral you in its own way. It will also leave you excited to read whatever these authors come up with next.   5 Stars

Bloodlines: Four Tales of Familial Fear ​

​If you’ve ever dreaded a family dinner, felt terror at the blood pumping in your veins; if you’ve ever thought maybe the people you call kin just aren’t quite right—Bloodlines will hold you in its thrall with its literary daring, blood-soaked wit, and taste for carnage. From quiet horror to caterwauling bloodshed, this quadruple feature is fun for the whole family.

A trio of sisters take turns sharing a migraine that challenges their pain tolerance—and sanity ("Our Migraine," Christopher O’Halloran).

A man struggles with his inheritance when his absent father—and namesake—dies, leaving him with disturbing visions and an unwanted purpose ("Nos Da, Tad," Antony Frost).

A young ghost watches a sinister family gathering complete with a prettier, smarter replica of herself—then, makes sure it’s their last ("I Am Not to be Replaced," Carson Winter).

Following the death of his mother, the eldest of five siblings must uncover the true nature of his family’s strange, isolated existence while an apocalyptic event looms ("The Heads of Leviathan," Alex Wolfgang).

This is where the family tree meets the family plot. This is Bloodlines.

---

TODAY ON THE GINGER NUTS OF HORROR WEBSITE ​

the heart and soul of horror fiction reviews