DNF at 53%

I am a big fan of CJ Tudor and have loved a lot of her work. This short story collection I thought would be no different.

The first story End of The Liner blew me away! I absolutely loved it. The character, the mystery, everything. As the stories went on, however, I really lost interest and could not get those feelings back of how much I liked the first story.

I 100% will read novels from CJ Tudor again though.

A very enjoyable short story collection by one of my favorite authors. I particularly enjoyed the author's foreword, where she tells her readers what led her to release this book, and I enjoyed the commentary that accompanied each story.

Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC!

~ ~ ~

This book was sitting in my queue on NetGalley for months, and now I wish I had read it sooner! There were a handful of really good stories in here that definitely gave me the spine-tingles. They covered a wide variety of topics from apocalyptic scenarios to eldritch abominations to the monstrous aspects of human nature. While there were a few stories that fell flat for me, I wouldn't say that there was a bad story in this collection. Additionally, because of the variety, I think there's something in here for everyone.

If I had a complaint, it's that each story has an introduction where Tudor talks about her inspiration for the upcoming story. While I found it all interesting, I really wished that they hadn't put them at the beginning of each story as it spoiled the suspenseful aspects of the story for me a few times. I'm one of those readers who likes to go in blind and piece together what's happening. After a point, I finally started reading the story first then going back to the introduction. Would definitely recommend doing this if you're like me in your reading habits.

My favorite stories were

- Runaway Blues
- The Completion
- Final Course
- The Lion at the Gate

A Sliver of Darkness by C. J. Tudor is delightfully dark! This is by far one of my favorite short story collections. I enjoyed that each story was preceded by the author's thoughts while crafting it; this added character to the storytelling. I rarely give short story collections 5 stars but there wasn't a bad story in the entire book! They were highly unsettling... just plain creepy! BRAVO, these are my type of stories, If you like horror it's a must-read!

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

One day last year I opened up my email to find an arc for CJ Tudor's newest project. I was thrilled. I've read everything that the author has written. I was also in the midst of the worst book slump I've ever had. So, it took me some time, but I eventually picked it up as one of the first audiobooks I'd read in 10 months.

The great news, I really enjoyed it. The combination of stories really worked well for me. Some felt like reading a Stephen King short story collection. Some felt like watching old episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark. Some were just plain horror while others had a sci-fi twist. I also really enjoyed how the Tudor incorporated the pandemic in the fringes of the collection. My favorite parts were the little explanations at the beginning of the sections.

Tudor continues to be an auto buy author for me. I always enjoy her voice.

If you're looking for quick, scary reads that sends shivers down your spine, this is it. Just don't pick it up for your nightime read. It will scare your sleep away quicker than 2 cups of coffee. Some of the stories are 5 stars, some 3, so I am giving it a 4 rating. I think my favorite was The Block. I could perfectly picture it in my mind.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

These short stories by CJ Tudor are so much fun to read! This collection is smart, creepy, twisty and exciting. I enjoyed reading these but perhaps my favorite part of the journey was reading Ms. Tudor's introduction to each story. She pulls back the curtain and allows her fans a peek into her life and inspiration for each story. It was really cool!

My favorites stories were "The Block" which has Stranger Things vibes, "Runaway Blues" about the Fat Man and his hat box which she says is a nod to Stephen King (and really well written!), and "The Lion and the Gate," which was twisty, gory and wild.

I simply could not stop reading this collection. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Ms. Tudor! 4 stars.

Book Summary:

C.J. Tudor is one of the most talented horror authors of our time (one of many, we are so lucky). A Sliver of Darkness collects eleven of his short stories into one concise and horrifying collection. Included, you'll find: End of the Liner, The Block, Runaway Blues, The Completion, The Lion at the Gate, Gloria, I'm Not Ted, Final Course, The Copy Shop, Dust, and Butterfly Island.

My Review:

Holy cats, this was an intense collection to read! It was so intense that I forgot to take notes as I was reading, so you'll forgive the deviation from my usual format. A Sliver of Darkness is a brilliant collection of horror stories. I've read a few horror anthologies this year, and this one has to be near the top of my list.

If you love C.J. Tudor (The Chalk Man is my favorite, personally), you've got to treat yourself to this. Just don't do what I did – reading the whole thing in one night. Or do - I won't judge!

Highlights
Horror Anthology
Spooks
Chills & Thrills

I am loving these short stories. It gives me major Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Vibes and I am absolutely all in. My favorite was definitely the doomsday scenarios but each story definitely offers their own unique story to tell. These are perfect to read in a small dose or all at once!

Thank you #ballantine and #Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A creepy collection of short stories, which is full of fresh ideas, and each story holds an exciting and spine chilling premise.

Every story has relatable protagonists and it’s amazing how the author can get into the minds of people and make the characters so believable.

All the stories within this collection have a foreword about what inspired the author to write each story. This makes every story seem personal. Due to this, I feel that the readers really want to know what happens in the story- and this enables readers to engage with it more.

All of the stories are unique and they are all worth reading for sure. My favorite one is about a spooky block of apartments, that is extremely eerie and intriguing at the same time.

This collection is definitely a must read for horror fans!

In my book-loving world, C. J. Tudor can do no wrong. These short stories are the perfect little bits of darkness I want from the author. Loved it!

I was so excited to read this book of short stories by C.J. Tudor! While they were all enjoyable, I did not like them as much as I anticipated based on other books I've read by her. A lot of the stories had to do with the apocalypse and various scenarios associated with it. I felt that there was too much similarity between a few of them and that some weren't as complete as they could have been. For example, I was really enjoying the final story, "Butterfly Island", but it ended abruptly. I have no idea which way the story was heading as there were still so many unanswered questions and characters that were unaccounted for. I wanted more! The other stories ended with the seed planted by the author for what would happen next. I especially liked the way this was done for "The Lion at the Gate" and, even though it was predictable, "The Block". The scariest of the stories was probably "The Block" while the creepiest was "Final Course".

I appreciate getting a glimpse into some of this author's ideas. I really enjoyed her preface for each story explaining where she got her inspiration from. I liked the short stories however, I prefer her novels, such as "Burning Girls", as her writing becomes more developed as she goes. When she does end up writing her apocalyptic novel, I will definitely be reading it!!

Thank you to #NetGalley for an eARC of #ASliverofDarkness by #CJTudor
-3 stars

Short stories are usually not my favorite to read. These had decent plots and don’t need to be read all together since they don’t relate. They are enjoyable for anyone who likes horror short stories.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

A spine-chilling, mind-bending collection of eleven gripping stories from the queen of suspense, C.J. Tudor (Chalk Man)—A SLIVER OF DARKNESS.

~End of the Liner
~The Block
~Runaway Blues
~The Competition
~The Lion at the Gate
~Gloria
~I'm Not Ted
~Final Course
~The Copy Shop
~Dust
~Butterfly Island

If you have read any of C.J. Tudor's books, this collection is a must for chills and thrills!

From Stephen Kingish to Dean Koontz vibes, and Tudor's signature style, each story is unique, fun, and different. Each can cater to a different audience. Each reader will have their favorites. Mine was the “Runaway Blues," and I also liked, The Copy Shop, The Final Course, and I'm Not Ted; however, all were great!

I enjoyed how the author provided an introduction that was personal and appreciated her sharing this with her readers. (I think readers need to realize these authors have a life, and things happen to them as does to all of us).

I also enjoyed the intro before each story and how the story was inspired. I love it when an author provides this—as it makes the story more enjoyable and engaging.

If you enjoy dystopian, supernatural with a touch of horror, dark, and creepy —a gripping teen mystery/ sci-fi, apocalyptic last dinner theme, a Titanic vibe, laugh-out-loud dark sinister humor, a post-apocalyptic journey, a darker side of Narnia, a psychopath-cleaning lady, a despicable anti-hero—and Twilight fans —there are many to get your adrenaline pumping.

A great collection of stories for the thriller enthusiast. Looking forward to her next book, coming Jan 2023, The Drift!

Thank you to #RandomHouse #BallantineBooks #NetGalley for a gifted ARC.

🎧 AUDIOBOOK: I also listened to the audiobook narrated by an entire cast: Richie Campbell, Dakota Blue Richards, Roy McMillan, Richard Armitage, and Adam Sim for an engaging and suspenseful performance for all voices.

In addition, the intro to the book and the intro to each story is read by the author, which I adored and gave it a more personal flair. I enjoyed her part and hope she will narrate more of her books to come. Highly recommend the audiobook!

Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Nov 8, 2022
Nov 2022 Must-Read Books

I really enjoyed this short story collection! I'm already a huge fan of CJ Tudor's writing, but even if you're unfamiliar with Tudor's work, this collection has a lot to offer. You get Tudor's classic dark style, blending mystery/thriller plots with horror elements, but I felt like you really see a new side of her style in some of these stories - a quirky, tongue-in-cheek side that was refreshing and exciting to discover.

My personal rankings:
1. The Copy Shop
2. End of the Liner
3. Runaway Blues
4. I'm Not Ted
5. The Completion
6. Final Course
7. Gloria
8. Dust
9. The Block
10. Butterfly Island
11. The Lion at the Gate

Thank you to the publisher for granting me an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While I found some of the short stories enjoyable - namely End of the Liner and the Block - but I felt like the book started to lose steam around the time I reached Gloria and Lion at the Gate. I don't know if it was the stories itself, or because I thought it was so odd that the author included an introduction/explanation before each short story. That kind of took me out of the story a little bit and reading the explanation made me feel like "oh well I already know what's going to happen," but when I skipped the intro I'd feel like "wait what?" So I know these are SHORT stories but without the introductions, they felt incomplete and empty and with the introductions, it felt over explained and heavy handed.

Thanks Netgalley! Sorry!

I love C.J. Tudor's novels, so jumped at the chance to read this collection. The author introduces each story with a peek into her inspiration, which I really enjoyed. I don't typically love short stories so ironically it took me a really long time to finish these, but I found myself enjoying the variety of characters and unique storylines that Tudor wrote about.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a short story collection will have some winners and some losers in it. Not this time. Every single one of these stories is full of surprises that shouldn’t be missed and creeptastic plot lines that will keep your lights on at night. Don’t turn off those lamps, and don’t trust what lingers in shadowy corners. Prepare to be delighted by the darkness.

The offerings:

END OF THE LINER: What would happen if a global catastrophe forces its survivors to live aboard cruise ships, on which contentment is strongly encouraged by the “Creators” of these ships? To explore that premise even further, what would the practice of contentment entail, and what would happen if there is then a murder? Wouldn’t want that to “spoil the facade,” would we? This story is thought-provoking, claustrophobia-inducing, and intensely compelling.

THE BLOCK: When a small group of teens explore an abandoned building, the results offer readers a story that is mysterious and blood-curdling, while also somehow remaining completely endearing.

RUNAWAY BLUES: A blues club. A Fat Man. A hat box. An obsession. Yes, those words sum up this story, but they could never convey how truly disturbing it is. The ending of this one gave me one the biggest shocks of my reading life.

THE COMPLETION: When the author wrote this one, she was thinking of “the apocalyptic, human nature, the devil,” and it shows. In it, we follow Dan, a real estate agent who will do anything for sale, but when he attempts to sell a house with an eerie reputation, things get freaky. The past stalks the present in a story that will give your goosebumps their own goosebumps.

THE LION AT THE GATE: A group of kids are late for school, so they take a shortcut that will change the life of our narrator forever. Don’t forget to read the author’s introduction to this one. Her inspirational experience is almost as unsettling as the tale itself.

GLORIA: Two of C.J. Tudor’s characters from two different books meet here. Don’t worry if you haven’t read her previous books. You won’t find spoilers. What you will find is a woman with a questionable profession conversing with a gifted young girl, and this brief meet-and-greet results in the title character making a shocking choice. If a dark story with a dark protagonist can still be heartwarming, it’s here.

I’M NOT TED: This is a very short little story about a guy whose name is definitely not Ted. He has a very puzzling experience which leads to a very perplexing yet entertaining adventure for the reader. CJ Tudor’s darkly comedic personality shines in only a few quick pages.

FINAL COURSE: One of the best parts about this collection are the stories’ introductions, where we learn where the author got her ideas, and of those, the introduction to this one is my favorite. She tells us how she got the idea for a dinner party at the end of the world, and when she began to ask if something would live in the impending darkness.

THE COPY SHOP: Tudor states that this one is about “a broken vase, a stale marriage, and a conundrum.” Very true. If something important to you was broken and you heard of a place that could repair it, would you go? Here’s a better question: Should you go? A dusting accident commences a slippery slope down into the depths of choices that should never be made, and it’s all diabolically delicious.

DUST: A sandstorm, a dust-covered hotel, and strange sounds on the wind combine to create a story like no other. Never trust first appearances. As this one unravels, you’ll gasp several times a page. It’s disturbing on every level, and it’ll haunt your dreams for days.

BUTTERFLY ISLAND: The author tells us that this is one of her favorite short stories, and she hints that she might one day expand it into a novella. I need this to happen—because I think I agree. In a book full of only the best stories, this one might also be my favorite. Perhaps the best was saved for last.

Everyone needs to cuddle up with this one during the cold, cold, cold weather. Light a fire and prepare to be scared! These stories are frightening—blood-curdling, hands-shaking, cold-sweating, foot-tapping, knees-knocking scary—but incredibly fun!

Enjoy!

I’ve actually never read any CJ Tudor, nor do I typically enjoy many horror anthologies, but something made me pick this book and request it.
While I read it way past the publication date because my fall mood reading didn’t quite work the way I thought, I really enjoyed it when I finally sat down and read it.
The stories were short. None of them were like novellas of Stephen King proportions or anything long, which I may have not thought I’d like, yet actually loved. And they were so ominous and creepy!
I loved that the author wrote an intro for each one explaining how the idea popped into her head.
I definitely recommend this book and I can’t wait to read more of CJ Tudor!

C.J. Tudor has done it again. This author is really good with a story and this one is no different. I enjoyed the plot and the characters and I would highly recommend this book.