3.5 rounded up.

This is a short, easy read of Icelandic horror short stories. As with all collections, some are more enjoyable than others, but this was one of the most easily readable short story collections I have ever read. There were some stories I wanted more from, and on the whole they are only surface level, but they are enjoyable and feature a good range of subgenres whilst still feeling cohesive. I'd recommend this for those looking for winter horror. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for the ARC of this horror anthology. Actual rating is a 4.5 but rounding up to a 5.

I really enjoyed the stories that explored Icelandic mythology. There were a few stories that I didn’t enjoy quite as much, but they were all well written.

The author made note of some other anthologies they’ve been a part of and I look forward to look into those as well.

What Protects Our Heritage is my first collection by Villimey Mist and is advertised as a series of short stories inspired by Icelandic heritage and culture. There are 10 stories in total, including a "novelette" to conclude the collection. Each story focuses on a different type of horror, from slashers to cryptids, and vary ion length from a couple pages to an entire quarter of the book.

Some stories, for me, were better than others. Standouts included All-You-Can-Drink Buffet and the titular What Protects Our Heritage for the character development and unique plots present in the story. Bonus points go to What Protects Our Heritage, Hell of a Ride, and The Yule Lads Are Coming for really highlighting Icelandic myths like the Yule lads and the Nykur in its pages.

For me, though, some of the stories fell seriously flat. Tupperware Party could have been set anywhere in the world with the same plot and didn't spend enough time endearing us to the characters to make the stakes high enough for concern. Several of the stories really lacked that explicit tie into Icelandic folklore, which I found disappointing. The Hag's Gift and The Girl with the Hooves were also extremely short and felt lacking in enough soul to draw the reader in.

Overall, this was an interesting collection of short stories that were entertaining, but somewhat lackluster when taken as a whole. Those interested in a unique perspective on horror may enjoy them, but many horror aficionados may finds themselves disappointed by some of the plotlines.

WHAT PROTECTS OUR HERITAGE AND OTHER ABBERATIONS by Villemey Mist is a fantastically creepy collection of short stories filled to the brim with Icelandic folklore and landscapes. Thank you to the author, @netgalley , and the publisher @brigidsgatepress for the e-ARC!

I love, love, love folklore and have been to Iceland a couple times now and find it absolutely enchanting so when I saw this one on netgalley I had to grab it. I freaking loved these stories that included many of the folklore characters famous in Iceland including Gryla and the notorious Yule Lads but I do have one complaint: where was the Yule cat Jólakötturinn?!? Lol - it is my favorite character in Icelandic folklore but I will continue to check out Mist's work to see if it is featured!

These stories were grim, spooky and frigidly cold! I was so happy to be so cozied up reading about the weather conditions the characters were experiencing. There were multiple points in these stories where I was delightfully frightened and feeling the chills though!

If you like folk horror, have an interest in Iceland pand generally just like a cold scary story, this collection is worth picking up!

Folklore and cryptids are two of my favourite personal research topics. So when I had the chance to read this collection I was incredibly excited. I haven’t read this author before but I was given the blurb and cover I was sure it would be a fantastic collection and I was not wrong.

There is a bit of everything in here and each story stands on it’s own with a perfect blend of horror, environmental and survival. I personally loved all the stories but the one that really stood out was The Hag’s Gift. I would highly recommend this collection to any lover of horror.

As always thank you to Netgalley and Brigid’s Gate Press for the copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

I really enjoyed this collection mostly drawing on Icelandic folklore, with creatures and environments that I mightn’t come across otherwise.

They Came From the Rocks is a brilliant piece of found fiction creeping horror. Other standout pieces are the Yule Lads Are Coming (think Christmas tradition turned completely on its head) and the title story about a cryptid you definitely won’t find in North American or European horror stories.

I look forward to reading more of Mist’s work.

Enthusiasts of folk horror and sinister short stories will find this anthology to be a vital addition to their reading list. A wonderful collection of dark stories from a talented storyteller.

What Protects Our Heritage and Other Aberrations is an anthology of chilling horror stories inspired by Icelandic folklore and human darkness. The last one of the collection What protects our heritage is a novelette about a search-and-rescue team trapped in a snowstorm, encountering horrors beyond their imagination. The other shorter stories have a variety of themes, from post-apocalyptic survival to vampiric office encounters, which ensures there’s something for everyone. 🤩

My favorites were The Yule lads are coming (my personal number 1! 🥰) Hell of a ride and What protects our heritage. All three solid and awesome tales which stood out of the rest according to me.

The girl with the hooves 4⭐️
Survival of the fittest 3.75⭐️
They came from the rocks 4.25⭐️
Tupperware party 4⭐️
Hell of a ride 5⭐️
All you can drink buffet 4.5⭐️
The hag’s gift 4.5⭐️
The Yule lads are coming 5🌟
The perfect time 3,5⭐️
What protects our heritage 5⭐️

This anthology is a must-read for fans of folk horror and sinister short stories. I loved to read about Iceland’s rural landscapes and the folkloric creatures combined with horror elements, which gave the book a wild, mystical and menacing vibe. Each creature is mysterious and interesting and I definitely want to read more about them, so please give me more books like this! 🥰 4.5⭐️

Thank you so much @fangs.and.light and @netgalley for the given chance to read this book. 🙏🏻✨

I’m not the biggest short story collection fan but the premise of this one intrigued me. However, it was kind of mid for me. I found more stories to be just okay then I did great and there was a lot of strange choices made. I would still give it a go as there were some great stories.

This was my first ever time reading a collection of short stories, and I fully consider it to be a success! I thought the length was perfect overall, as well as the lengths of the individual stories. All the stories were interesting, and unique in their own right and kept me on my toes through the entire read. I enjoyed the different cultures and mythologies, especially the Icelandic ones. It was such a welcome change from the usual horror plots and settings.

For the page length we got I was happily surprised to find great detail and no lack of uneasiness within the stories. They were all individual in nature but kept with the overarching themes of the collection. This is the ideal collection of stories to start off winter with.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Brigids Gate Press for a digital readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I admit that what attracted me to this title was that amazing cover. I mean, just look at it, it's stunning, so my hearty compliments to the cover artist.

What Protects Our Heritage and Other Aberrations by Villimey Mist is a collection of nine short stories and one longer short story from which the title of the volume is taken. Overall, I think this was a collection of interesting tales, although the stories that focus on Icelandic folklore held more interest for this reader than the few of the other stories that were more general horror. My favorites included "The Girl with the Hooves," "They Came from the Rocks," and "Hell of a Ride." I also enjoyed the titular longer story from which that amazing cover art is taken, and which follows a volunteer search and rescue team looking for some lost tourists at the site of an old airplane wreckage. What they end up encountering is much worse than the hapless sightseers they expected to find.

The biggest issue with this collection, I must say, is that the writing and grammar could definitely use the polishing of a good editor. There are editing mistakes and odd turns of phrase that jarred me out of the stories on a few occasions. There also isn't much depth to be found in the characters and the dialogue in most instances is odd and stilted. Overall, though, if you are at all interested in Iceland and it's folklore and don't mind a lack of nuance and some bumpy writing, I would recommend What Protects Our Heritage as a quick and easy read.

What Protects Our Heritage and Other Aberrations is an okay short story collection. I found the collection to be a bit befuddling as I was expecting Iceland to be the common theme, but 3 stories took place in other countries, and it was a bit jarring.

I found the inclusion of the American in Japan to be downright silly, saying he learned Japanese through anime and that he was surprised by the amount of overtime they were working. Americans work copious amount of overtime -- not as much as the Japanese, but most American workers would be used to the concept -- so I felt that making him American actually detracted from the point.

I did love the final story about the cryptid shell bear. That was a fantastic short story and was engaging and spooky. The description of the shells whistling in the wind was awesome! I think SAR stories are always gripping regardless of the inclusion of actual monsters, so I was already on board.

Overall, the collection was just okay. I think a couple of stories were added to pad the length and shouldn't have been included. It ruined the flow for me personally. Most of them weren't that interesting and were downright silly.

A wonderful collection of dark stories from a talented storyteller. The original twist on Icelandic folklore is present throughout the stories. I actually bought the book after reading the ARC from NetGalley (thank you!) because I enjoyed them so much.
However, there are numerous spelling and grammatical errors - it appears that the book has not been proofread. They don't hinder meaning, though.

Fabulous batch of grim short stories showcasing several classics from Icelandic folklore, including Grýla, tilberi, nykur, the Yule Lads and Skeljaskrimsli, to name but a few, as well as just some out and out dark tales, dripping with intrigue and blood! Villimey handles them all with imaginative aplomb, and this is the perfect time of year to enjoy a little chill down the spine in the dark nights with Yule approaching, when you're cosied up safely at home.... but maybe best read with all the lights on!

Thanks Netgalley for the early ARC!

This is an immensely enjoyable short story collection. Creepy, Lovecraftian, and bleak as the Icelandic landscape. Some stories felt too short, almost unfinished. But part of that criticism is just me wanting them to be longer. Which is also a compliment. If you love Scandinavian landscapes and folk horror, this might be the collection for you.

If the author publishes a novel in future, I'll buy it in a heartbeat.

As is the case with many short story collections there were some gems mixed in with more average stories.

Inspired by Icelandic mythology, this book draws on the horrors of folklore and the mundane, which gives each story an interesting flavour.

With that said, there were parts I struggled to engage with, and sometimes I struggled with the author's style and framing.

Whilst not a bad book, I don't think it particularly excelled either.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC.

This is a bone chilling collection of horror stories which mainly take place in Iceland and the dark disturbing legends of that country.

I love mythology in various culture's. And Iceland seems to be full of pretty gruesome lore of terrifying creatures and dark urban legends. This author takes some of those and turns them into nightmare fuel.

An origin story about a girl with sharp teeth and hooves instead of feet kicks things off. Even though this mythical creature is a fearsome man eating monster of legend, I felt a certain amount of sympathy for her as she was rejected by those who should have loved her.

Nature's evil side is highlighted when a drilling crew encounters some.... things underground. This one is told through a series of emails and gave it an extra creepy vibe as the horrific events unfolded.

A Tupperware party turns into a blood bath in this slashery tale of revenge amongst a group of friends.

Oh, whatever you do, DO NOT piss off the Yule Lads. Yikes!

The titular story is an atmospheric action packed story about a search and rescue team in a blinding snowstorm who are looking for some missing tourists. What they find is absolutely horrific. The cryptid in this one makes Bigfoot and The Jersey Devil look like cuddly pets.

A vampire living in a post nuclear world struggles to find untainted blood. This story is actually heart breaking and adds a bit of feels to a vampire story.

Plus there are many more stories to enjoy in this fantastic collection. I highly recommend it.

Way more than just another horror collection. It's an unsettling journey that digs deep beneath mythological monsters, revealing that the real terrors often walk around in our everyday shoes. Mist has an incredible talent for bringing out the horror hidden behind normality, turning seemingly simple stories into psychological experiments in the dark.
The stories move with surprising ease: from "Survival of the Fittest", a post-apocalyptic tale that leaves a knot in your stomach, to "They Came from the Rocks", a story that sends chills down your spine. Each story is a tiny universe of its own, where horror is never quite what it seems.
The variety is truly impressive. One moment you're immersed in Icelandic legends, the next you're in a bizarre Japanese buffet or at a Tupperware party that turns into a nightmare. The author switches from gloomy tones to moments of dark humor with a confidence that immediately grabs the reader.
Sure, not all stories hit the mark perfectly. Some feel less impactful, and the pacing isn't always consistent. But the overall quality remains high, with Mist proving she can orchestrate horror like few others.
The real stroke of genius? Making us understand that the most terrifying monster isn't the one with fangs or claws, but the one that might be hiding inside each of us.

Villimey Mist's third short story collection contains nine shorts and one novella, plus story notes for each story. It's an impressive melange of dark fantasy, folk horror, creature feature, and weird horror. It's very much Icelandic in tone, since every story involves that country's lore and legends, and similarly both the cast and the setting are almost always Icelandic (with a couple of exceptions: one story, "All-You-Can-Drink Buffet," is about an American working in Japan, and another, "Tupperware Party," is a slasher set in the US). Mist's stories are wide-ranging, clearly written, quite atmospheric, and several times multilayered as well (often making some point indirectly about nature and tourism in Iceland, for example). For inspiration, Mist has drawn on horror films, manga comics, personal experience, and her own studies on Japan. There are tales about vampire-like creatures (giving strong Jungi Ito vibes), an e-mail exchange between a contractor and his boss about a drill operation gone horrifically wrong, a neighbor who's an evil witch, a Tupperware party massacre, and many tales about creatures, trolls and monsters in the snow and the cold. My favorite stories were the aforementioned "Buffet" story, the e-mail exchange, "They Came From The Rocks," and the heartbreaking tale of monsters and immortality, "Survival of the Fittest". The closing story, the titular novella that inspired Kristina Osborn's stunning cover, was a wonderful creature feature, but too tame and sweet for my taste. All the stories, however, are a delight to read, and the collection deserves high praise and wide recognition for its polished prose, interesting settings, and beautiful endings.

"Zombies weren’t real and the only serial killer Iceland had lived centuries ago. Good luck to any maniac who’d thought he could escape this hell of an island."



4.2✨
The Girl with the Hooves - 5✨
Survival of the Fittest - 3.65✨
They Came from the Rocks - 5✨
Tupperware Party - 5✨
Hell of a Ride - 4✨
All-You-Can-Drink Buffet - 5✨
The Hag’s Gift - 3.5✨
The Yule Lads Are Coming - 5✨
The Perfect Time - 2.5✨
What Protects Our Heritage: An Icelandic Cryptid Story - 4✨

💭Overall a brilliant short story collection bringing life to Icelandic Folklore. Lovely storytelling and prose and engaging characters. This one is worth checking out.
Some stories which stood out are grisly, primal and revolting. I also like the additional notes from the author which gives each story a brief summary of how or where the author got the ideas or inspiration from. One of my fave is the All You Can Drink Buffet which is heavily inspired by Junji Ito's manga. Nice to know that the author is also a fellow Junji Ito fan.

Thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for the arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily .Expected Publication Date: November 26, 2024 🖤