Review of "Still of Winter" from Inky Bones Press
Updated: Aug 18
I simply couldn't get enough of the blankets of snow and icy feelings Still of Winter from Inky Bones Press provided!
This anthology is packed with wonderful fiction, poetry, and photography (I loved staring at the photos!) All the elements worked together to create a book that flows beautifully.
In between the horrific tales, there were a few that dug deep into the human pysche—exploring loss and grief. Creativity wasn't lacking whatsoever, with pieces like "Life Cycle" by Jay Cyces where Winter is a being; and the final story, "Trails in the Snow" by Marc Sorondo, was a soft place to land.
Below follows a list of my favorite written pieces and some thoughts on each!
[F] = Fiction
[P] = Poetry
• Melody – J.B. Kish [F]
The narrator of this story is deaf, and it being told through their POV only added to the claustrophobic feeling. Despite the twinge of humor, and the ton of horror, this story also broke my heart.
• Winter's Bite – Robin Knabel [F]
Reads like a folktale that's very up close and personal; an origin. So creepy and atmospheric!
• Time Traveler's Lament – Emma E. Murray [P]
The ending line is just heartbreaking (the whole poem is). The cyclical nature of the aftermath hit really deep.
• The Winterclaus Tree – Richard Lau [F]
This piece reminds me of the type of fiction I'd find when I looked up scary stories on the internet, with the intention of being scared, as a kid. It reads like a proper urban legend!
• Bleak Winter – Dawn DeBraal [F]
So unexpected, and the epistolary-style kept me hooked!
• Bitter Water – Simone le Roux [F]
Insanely creative twist on a classic tale.
• The Hive – Jacqueline West [F]
The imagery is very rich, and I could practically feel the cold as I was reading it.
• The Winter Lights – Craig Crawford [F]
Chills to the max. What an insane story!
• If a Tree Falls in the Forest – H. Dair Brown [F]
Incredibly thought-provoking (in a what-would-you-have-done? way), and immersive.
• How I Became the Real Elizabeth Finch – Karol Lagodzki [F]
I would love to see this as a short film or something. Super compelling!
Quotes I thought were neat:
• "... the winter sun always dipped below the horizon sooner than expected."
— Old Growth, Harrison Shimens
• "I feared if I touched my face, I'd find pieces missing..."
— Winter's Bite, Robin Knabel
• "In silence thicker than ice, a cloying, stagnant thing that pounded at her head and crushed her pulse."
— The Rope Maker, Riv Rains
• "You look so melancholic. No one would ever believe you’ve been cured of anything."
— Bitter Water, Simone le Roux
• "It rang and chanted and sang. It was a heart, a miniature cathedral. It buzzed with life."
— The Hive, Jacqueline West
• "She wore her “forgiveness” like a corset: it molded her into a shape pleasing to others, but her insides were contorted and crushed."
— If a Tree Falls in the Forest, H. Dair Brown
• "I am eerie stillness, the last bloom of white from dying blue lips."
— I Am Winter., Elinora Westfall
After reading Still of Winter, I will never look at trees the same way again. You never know what's lurking in, or near, those roots, but I definitely recommend finding out what's lurking inside this anthology!
