Interesting anthology, some stories were good and some weren't. I hadn't really read any folk horror previously so thought this would be a good way to get my feet wet. Not sure if I like folk horror, to be honest.

16 classic supernatural stories from across the UK from 1870-2014
Excellent collaboration of classic horror however it did feel more like something you would read in English Class in High School
It has (very obviously) the classic style of writing and can feel drawn on
There were a couple stories that felt like retellings or just a regional version of myths

While some may not seem all that chilling to the modern reader, it's important to consider their cultural context. Paying close attention, you can see how folk horror evolved over time. In "The White Cat of Drumgunniol" (1870) the anthology starts out strong. It is a tale of the bean sidhe, of death and superstition, but in a way that is respectful of Irish culture - as Sheridan Le Fanu was Irish - and meant to be taken seriously by the reader. This is in contrast to "No-Man's Land" (1899), where a self-absorbed Oxford prof. travels to Scotland, but describes his host as "unhinged" after the man warns of creatures (brownies) in the hills. There's definitely something to be said of English class-based prejudice at this time after our narrator returns to Oxford as an outcast! Then, the title of "Ancient Lights" (1912) comes from the doctrine that gives a long standing owner of a building a right to maintain an adequate level of illumination. The modern reader may be unfamiliar with this reference, but it'll pique their interest and that's what's great about it. In "The Hand of Glory" (1919), the skeptical and sneering narrator arrives as executor for a friend who has hung himself but the man's right hand has been taken! The hand of glory is a specifically British superstition, related to healing and witchcraft, making this story particularly well-suited to this collection. Another traditional practice, that of "common ground" is also featured in this one. These are just a few of my favorites! But the reader will note that post-war female authors were emerging with more feminist undertones as the years went by. Not only that, but the creatures of the woods became increasingly powerful yet more far-fetched. The final story, "The Man in the Woods" definitely reflects this change. There were a few stories that were particularly weak choices, that I think were included because of how rare they are in publication, but otherwise it was an incredibly enjoyable read and perfect for spooky season.

This was a really wonderful book. I love folk horror stories in this book was filled with them. Well, I will not recommend this book to my students, I did find it very engaging and would love to read more books from this author in the future.

Great collection of spooky stories for the autumn season, or to get you ready for it.

I really appreciated seeing when they were first published as well.

#TalesAccursed is a nice folk horror anthology. It stays mainly to classic authors in the genre. There's a good amount of creepy locales involved. 4 stars.

"Tales Accursed", by Richard Wells. Is a wonderful anthology of classic spooky tales for the whole family to enjoy. This is the perfect book for the Halloween season, and to enjoy all year long.

This time of year feels like the perfect time to cozy up on the couch with a soft blanket and dive deep into a trove of folktales with primal, human horror at their roots. Tales Accursed contains several of these tales with perspectives spanning almost a century between 1870 and roughly 1965 (the final story by Shirley Jackson was published in 2014, 49 years after her death). Each story is accompanied by a beautiful image hinting at the plot. I will say, because these stories are so old, reading a few of the earlier ones is a bit of a challenge. One worth winning. The harder work makes uncovering the horrors hidden in the words much more satisfying. In this book, you'll find tales of deathly cats and vengeful ghosts. Of sinister severed hands and otherworldly planes of existence. And all of it is perfect for the month of October, when the days grow shorter and the nights linger on much, much longer.

This isn't Wells's first foray into folk horror. I've not yet read his story collection in Damnable Tales, which apparently preceded Tales Accursed, but I most certainly look forward to doing so in the near future.

An anthology of Folk Horror stories from different authors.
This is creepy, scary, horror filled nightmares, sleepless nights and one hell of a read. If you like me love scary horror then this is for you.... Put together by Richard Wells and a great book to gift.
This is on my gifting list for family and friends
Five Stars

Folk horror is not a subgenre I’ve ever really taken the time to explore, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this new anthology selected and illustrated by the artist Richard Wells. What I found was a collection of sixteen stories, most of them from the 19th and early 20th centuries, all blending folklore with elements of the supernatural and lonely rural settings. Each story is accompanied by a beautiful lino print illustration by Wells which I’m sure will look even more impressive in the physical edition of the book than in the ebook version I read.

The stories are arranged chronologically, beginning with Sheridan Le Fanu’s The White Cat of Drumgunniol from 1870 and ending with Shirley Jackson’s The Man in the Woods, published posthumously in 2014. I had read both of these authors before (although not these particular stories) and there were two other authors I’d also read previously – John Buchan and E.F. Benson – but the others were all new to me. In fact, there were several I’d never even heard of until now, so it was good to be made aware of them and to be able to try their work for the first time.

As with most anthologies, the stories vary in quality. However, I found that there wasn’t much variety in terms of plot or setting. Many of them, particularly the older ones, are based on Celtic folklore and have similar structures, with our narrator travelling in an unfamiliar part of the countryside and meeting someone who tells them a story about strange sightings or occurrences, which the narrator then experiences for themselves. Although this did make the collection as a whole feel slightly formulaic and repetitive, there were still some stories that were different and stood out. One of these is Woe Water by H.R. Wakefield, which unfolds in the form of diary entries written by a man with a troubled past who moves into a remote lakeside cabin and begins to struggle with his conscience. I also enjoyed Elinor Mordaunt’s The Country-Side, told from the perspective of a parson’s wife whose relationship with her unfaithful husband takes a sinister turn when she meets an old woman in the village who is said to be a witch.

Ancient Lights by Algernon Blackwood is another highlight – it has a wonderfully eerie atmosphere as the narrator describes his journey through enchanted ancient woodland. The Shirley Jackson story, The Man in the Woods, in which a man accompanied by a stray cat stumbles upon an old house inhabited by three strange people, is also very good. It’s packed with references to mythology and witchcraft and there are lots of layers to unravel, but the open ending left me frustrated and wanting to know more!

Despite the ‘folk horror’ label in the title, I found the stories in this collection creepy or unsettling rather than frightening. I deliberately haven’t said much about any of the individual stories because some of them are very short and it would be easy to spoil them, but overall I did enjoy the book and am interested in reading more by some of these authors.

Artist Richard Wells seems to have a preoccupation with folk horror. It’s an obsession horror fans — especially literary horror fans - can understand. Paranormal stories set in natural places have been a staple of the genre since the beginning of storytelling. What could be more cosmically significant than experiencing the inexplicable among the mundane?

This is the second folk horror anthology curated by Wells, an illustrator and graphic designer who works both in television and for himself creating stunning folk-inspired linocut, hand-printed artworks. Wells first offering, Damnable Tales, was published in 2021 to the delight of folk readers. The experience must have been a good one for Wells, because now, just three years later, he has returned with Tales Accursed, a second and equally captivating collection of folk horror stories from the 19th and 20th centuries.

While there are many authors working in the folk horror space today, Tales Accursed takes the opportunity to look back at the progression of the genre from Sherridan Le Fanu’s “The White Cat of Drumgunniol,” which was first featured in Charles Dickens’ literary periodical “All the Year Round” in 1870, to a Shirley Jackson short story that made its way to the printed page in 2014, nearly fifty years after the author’s death.

There are many stories that could be praised here, but the genius of Wells’ curation is the reader’s exploration of the page. Much like the terrors the Tales Accursed protagonists encounter, it’s the unexpected that makes this collection such a treasure.

And yet, readers should take note not to miss the standout story of the anthology “The Country-Side” by Elinor Mordaunt. This wonderful story of a minister, his wife, and the country life that comes between them lingers long after Tales Accursed has been set aside. From it’s painfully accurate portrayal of loneliness and disassociation, to the clever character descriptions, like when an old woman is said to stare with “that curious intensity which one sees in a cat watching a hole,” this stunning piece of fiction is a must read for those interested in the sub genre.

Tales Accursed is an excellent set of stories for any fan of horror. The perfect book for reading on a cool fall night.

There is something so lovely about reading a book filled with haunting tales and beautiful images in the early autumn. It's a wonderful collection that is elevated by the gorgeous artwork included. I would recommend this book to readers that are looking for an introduction to the horror genre and seasoned readers who want to revisit classics.

What a mix of haunting tales, perfect to tell over this spooky season. I loved the selection of tales from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The change in writing style is evident through this anthology but folklore is strong throughout all of the stories bringing them neatly together.

I had a few favourites:
The Hand of Glory by Ulric Daubeny, which tells a tale of a man’s hand being removed in order to force entry to his house after his death.
Morag-of-the-Cave by Margery Lawrence, a heartbreaking tale of a woman haunted by her love of the sea and its beasts within.
Lisheen by Frederick Cowles, a tale about a holy man who takes in a baby after swearing to her mother that he will protect her. The oath becomes obsession as the child becomes a teen, he sells his soul to be with her for eternity.

These stories are dark folk horror at its best, they should be told on a cold night in front of the fire or whilst camping in the woods. I really enjoyed this anthology and would recommend it to anyone wanting a little scare over the winter, whether you like to tell spooky stories over Halloween or at christmas.

Thank you to NetGalley and Unbound for letting me review this ARC.

I received this as an ARC on Netgalley and it really wasn't what I thought it would be. I was hoping that a book about folklore would scare me and be full of tension. This book didn't really give me any of that. A couple of the stories I would give three stars to but the majority were two star reads that I will likely never think of again. I will say that it is a very well presented book with great drawings at the start of each story. But if you are looking for a good spook this is not it.

The places where the land is lonely and people tend to stray lead to fantastic terrible tales. Tales of men who tread where they should not, dark dogs, and hauntingly beautiful women will leave your heart racing. I have never read these tales before, but this anthology will stay with me for some time. Be ware the dark places in the world, listen to your elders and heed the stories.

I love a good short story, it's nice to digest piece by piece. There are some familiar stories while some were new to me. My favorite parts were the illustrations that really added to the vibe of the old tales. I would recommend it to those looking for bedtime stories that are a little old-school and nostalgic yet spiced with some spooks.

Decent read and I enjoyed the art within them as well. I wish there was more art inside them rather than just at the front of the short.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc<3
This collection has everything I love- classic writing from the late 1800’s to early 1900’s, creepy short stories focused on sinister environments, folklore, and illustrations!
That being said, this was just fine to me. Only a couple stories really stood out, but I can’t seem to put my finger on why I wasn’t super invested in others. I found myself just being kind of bored with a lot of the stories- I think there were certain descriptions of an environment that was supposed to be sinister but just didn’t connect with me. My two favorite stories were ones where the environment felt almost nightmare-ish and claustrophobic.
My favorites:
Ancient Lights- the disorienting nature of the forest constantly changing its terrain and tricking the observer with light and sound is objectively terrifying and is specifically a fear of mine when it comes to not being able to trust your own senses.
The Man In the Woods- this was written by Shirley Jackson, so I knew I was going to love it right away. She is fantastic at writing characters, dialogue and situations that make very little sense as you’re experiencing them, leaving you with a feeling of eeriness. The way the trees were described as crushing against the windows as if trying to swallow the house whole was very freaky and the cyclical nature of the story was appealing to me.
I think my apathy towards this collection is a me problem and not one of the writing or anthology as a whole. I still had a decent time reading and am always glad to read more classics.

Tales Accursed by Richard Wells was obtained directly from the publisher and I chose to review it. I went into this not quite understanding what folk horror was, but as soon as I started reading it, it came back to me. used to read a lot of folk horror as a youngster and I missed reading it. These stories, some being 150 (sih) years old, are obviously written in the "old timey" European writing style that you will recognize from classics. For what it is worth, Wailing Well was my favorite story from this collection but most were very good, with a few that were kind of slow, as is the case in all anthologies. With the spooky season upon us, certainly give this book a read and share some of the stories with young ones if they want to be scared.

4 Stars

I enjoyed this book, a well mix of different tales that will chill you to the bone during the Month of October