Fun little collection of short horror stories, and I think that this author definitely has potential. One of the stories, however, had a HUGE emotional impact with me- Dealing With Demons. I really can't recommend that one enough.

Overall, though, some of these didn't feel fleshed out enough, or just came across a bit too "surface level" to really stick with me on a deeper level. Which is fine, as all of the stories were fun and highly readable, I just prefer a bit more depth and stories that will really stick in my mind.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book had me hooked from story one. Gory and unpredictable and just ugh! (that's a good thing in horror) Loved the collection of stories from different subgenres, but always with that horror element! Looking forward to reading more from this author.

I enjoyed this collection very much. So much that I finished it in one sitting. Some of the stories had that folklore, fairy tale vibe that I always find rewarding. Some of the stories felt like they’d be told around a campfire, with a nostalgic quality. Overall, a captivating collection.

I have a love affair with short stories, horror ones in particular. They remind me oh my childhood…hiding under blankets with a flashlight trying to get in the last few chapters of RL Stine before the sun came up. This is no different, except i am in my 30s!

This book was and will be a favorite for me so far this year. It has a great mashup of genres to keep you spooked, nervous and a tad bit uneasy. You can read this slowly or power through it like I did. I just couldn’t stop once i started.

I love the writing style of this author! Definitely left a lasting impression.

Before diving into Dread Softly, the only other thing I’d read from Caryn Larrinaga was the audio version of her book Hide and Seek. I’d been incredibly impressed with that, so it was easy to want to grab this collection.

Every story in this collection is a winner. There isn’t a story inside that was lacking for anything. From the very first story, the author had me flying through pages, barely able to put the book down. Usually, I can stop for a little bit in a story if I have to, but not with this collection. I stopped between stories, or not at all. I actually read about 3/4 of the collection in one single sitting (when I was supposed to be sleeping–whoops!)

I love the subtle scares. Stories like “The Fishermen” and “Until Death” where brilliantly written in such a way where I physically got goosebumps/felt the hair on my neck stand on end. There’s not much I can say in praise of “Until Death” without spoiling the flash story, but it was so good I went back and read it again before moving on.

Larrinaga has a way of taking you into strange, fantastical POVs without ever making you wonder how you got there or what you’re doing there. “Watcher’s Warning” is a perfect example of such a story, and I ended up glad I don’t have a cat for fear of what they’re really looking at when they stare into dark corners.

This collection left me wanting more, staring confusedly at the end of the last story wondering why I wasn’t getting another one. I really love the story notes, too, getting a little insight from the author about where the stories came from and what they mean to her. I’ll add a small note of appreciation, too, that this came after the collection itself and not as a foreword, since I like going into stories not quite sure what I’m getting from them.

The collection is a perfect mix of horror, a tiny bit of fantasy, and a good amount of the author working through her own fears–all the ingredients for a perfect collection of stories.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

An excellent collection of stories that may cause you to have great apprehension or fear as you read these them. It’s definitely a taste of horror that will be delightful to read if you are into horror as I am. The stories have haunted objects, unwanted desires and creatures that will surprise you. My only complaint of this book is it stopped too soon — I wanted more stories!

I’m honored and delighted to be the first person to rate and review this book. This was a great random Netgalley find and I sincerely hope my reviews will inspire more readers to check it out.
I like trying out new genre authors, but having had one too many disappointments, I do try to make sure the quality is there, so there are certain tests, not foolproof, but it’s something. Superficially this book passed every one of those tests and then I read it an lo and behold, the context matches. Don’t you just love it when the innards match up with the outwards.
The outwards were the excellent cover, the warm introduction by the author, a bonafide genre fan…and then the atmospheric black and white photo for each story and a very nice afterword discussing how each tale came to be.
The innards were the stories themselves. Subtle and spooky original takes on traditional genre concepts, ghost, cannibals, etc. and some new subjects, inspired by the author’s Basque origins and her current Utah location and author’s own anxieties and fears. It’s very much a case of use what you know done right. Neatly twisted at the end, disturbing scary stories told without relying on guts and gore. Just things going Boo in the night. Very nicely done. I’m impressed.
Sometimes it pays to judge the book by the cover. I really enjoyed reading this collection. It was spooky and slim and easily done in one late night sitting, which is really the best time for this sort of thing…if you dare. Recommended for genre fans. Thanks Netgalley.