This was such an interesting read. I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I read a book of short stories (could be high school??), but at this point I would read anything and everything by CJ Tudor.

I'm not going to review every single story; there are a lot! What you need to know: they were ALL wonderfully creepy and scary and dark in their own ways. I also loved the format: before each story, Tudor gave an explanation for why she wrote it, how it came to her, etc. I loved having the context.

My favorites were Dust (#1 for sure), Final Course, Runaway Blues, and The Block.

Thank you to C.J., Ballantine, and Netgalley for an advance copy of A Sliver of Darkness.

A short stories collection that I loved in its entirety?! This is a groundbreaking development in my reading life. I always say it’s hard to rate and review a short stories collection, but in this case it was actually very easy. There was really only one or two of these ten stories that I could’ve done without. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by C.J. so I did go into this thinking it could be a short story collection that doesn’t let me down and I’m glad that I was right.

C.J. prefaces this book by saying she was struggling to get a full length novel written for a variety of reasons and when it was finished, both her and her editor decided it best to scrap the book so C.J. came up with this collection of stories, some freshly written and some previously published in weekly magazines or what not. I admire her dedication to her fans in not wanting to disappoint and miss a publication and instead of giving us a piece of work that she was unhappy with, pulling together this collection so we get to see even more bits of her writing.

In lieu of giving too much away, because I think going into short stories blindly is the most fun, I will just list the story titles and my ratings with some brief reactions.

The Liner – 5 stars. I love a doomsday dystopian book that has us wondering if we’re putting our trust in the wrong people.

The Block – 4 stars. Think Goosebumps, good solid middle grade, early YA spooky goodness.

Runaway Blues – 3.5 stars. C.J. said that this story was inspired by Stephen King and it is evident; you will get the parts of King that you love the most in this one. Trying to gauge whether a character is morally gray or tipping the scales to evil is one of my favorite mysteries in a good book.

The Completion – 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this one but it didn’t translate well to a short story to me, and that may be because I just wanted more background. It has the makings of a slow burn creepy horror story and I’d love to go deeper.

The Lion at the Gate – 2 stars. This one did not really work for me, it felt very juvenile and not in the way that The Block felt. It almost felt like it was a high school creative writing story rather than a story from a seasoned vet who we know can tell a bomb ass horror story.

Gloria – 3 stars. This was an odd one and I think that is because we see a character that we have met in one of C.J.s full length releases and it was hard for me to put them into a different story? I’ll take the blame on that one.

I’m Not Ted – 5 stars. Futuristic sci-fi, I could totally see the building they were in and picture the scenery. C.J. achieved gold in literally 5-7 pages of a story. Would read this again, would read a full-length about this, would watch a show or movie based on this, would listen to a podcast inspired by this.

Final Course – 4 stars. Dystopian sci-fi with a fun payoff. Who wouldn’t want to go to a dinner part at the end of days?

The Copy Shop – 4.5 stars. So fun and a really creative concept. There was one thing that was wildly predictable about halfway through the story, but it did not deter from the fun. Also, I couldn’t help wondering how many people in the generations after mine are unfamiliar with what a copy shop is.

Dust – 4 stars. Some vacations are just way too long and way too stressful.

Butterfly Island – 4.5 stars. As someone who has a weird kind of phobia surrounding butterflies, this one was a doozy for me. I’ve been super into isolated / locked room settings, so this was up my alley.

This was such a great collection of short stories, if you've liked CJ Tudor books, or in general are looking for some horror, I can definitely recommend this!
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These stories range from creepy psychological fiction to true classic horror, and I absolutely loved every single one. Several of them had an apocalyptic theme to them, so it was interesting to see different interpretations of how a pandemic (or other cataclysmic event) could devolve.
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My favorite story of the bunch was Final Course, about a dinner party where friends plan to take advantage of a manor to monetize the end of the world. Dust was also haunting in a way I can't describe without giving away the ending!
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I enjoyed how every story, no matter how short, felt complete. Each character had a unique voice and was fully developed (at least as much as was possible, some stories didn't allow for that but that was needed for the plot.)
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I very much enjoyed this and am now extra excited for her new book coming out next year! Thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the early copy!

I kept going back and forth on whether or not to send this review in, but even if it wasn't my cup of tea, I should review. My own anticipation may be the culprit here, but these short stories fell very flat. Most of them were great ideas, but the actual plots were either rushed and didn’t leave any satisfaction, or there were specific things I took issue with that lingered throughout the story.

I enjoyed End of the Liner. The plot was super realistic – at times a bit too realistic! The idea that the “powers that be” are lying to us to keep us in line is not a new idea, but the extremes they went to in order to keep the population under their thumbs had me shivering!

The Block was an alright story. It dragged a little in the middle where I thought it should have had the audience hooked. There was action, but I just could not make myself care. However, I did like the twist at the end. That being said, this was the first story I took issue with. One little girl is bullied for being overweight, gets left out of the actual adventure, then ends up hurt. It may have added to the plot point, but I think making her weight a secondary trait may have been a better move.

Runaway Blues had me in the beginning, but again, in the middle fell flat. Where tension should have been building, I found myself wanting to just skip to the end and move on. The twist at the end saved the story. Again, I had an issue with the language around race/complexion. The specific quote: “Of some exotic origin anyway. Skin a warm honey hue. Long dark hair that cascaded in ringlets around a perfect oval face.” She could have been described without the exotic comment.

The Completion is where I gave up. Once I read the following, I quit: “There was just one problem. His indiscretions. Tastes that some find unpalatable. Although why people found an attraction to youth unpalatable always baffled him.” After having an issue with two prior stories that never resolved, it didn’t sit right with me.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the review copy!

This was a fantastic collection of stories! I have been a fan of C.J.Tudor’s writing ever since I first got my hands on a copy of The Chalk Man several years ago. When I saw that she had a collection of stories being published, I couldn’t wait to dive in. I was not disappointed because I liked every single story in this book.

If I were to rate each story individually, I would give each of the either 4 or 5 stars. All of the stories were creepy enough to completely capture my interest. There is a little bit of everything here including a not-so-dreamy cruise, dangerous graffiti, a scary not quite abandoned building, a real estate transaction gone wrong, and even a butterfly sanctuary that could give you nightmares. really liked that the author wrote an intro to each of the stories that gave some insights into how the story came to be.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. I would be hard-pressed to pick a favorite story out of this collection and thought that each and every story in this book was well worth a read. I cannot wait to read more of this author’s work!

I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group.

This was obviously a departure from Tudor's usual full novels, but that's okay. I liked all of these stories well enough and I find myself thinking about them weeks after reading them.

After three years of facing a global pandemic, there is no denying that our world has forever changed. Each of us can probably point to ways our lives were impacted, both big and small. Author C.J. Tudor has had great success writing original horror/thriller novels. In fact, her fabulous book The Burning Girls was one of my favorite reads of last year. Despite this success, she announced that the novel she had worked on through the pandemic and set for release this year just wasn't turning out the way she wanted it to. Living through the lockdown and facing a few personal tribulations just wasn't conducive to her best writing. Tudor made the decision to completely scrap that work and begin a new novel. In place of that now-defunct novel this year, she has opted to release a collection of short stories. A Sliver of Darkness, out today, sees the author apply her signature suspenseful style to several short stories that should more than satiate her readers.

As the title suggests, each story in this collection contains an element of darkness, either a twist or a supernatural component that gives each page an edge of suspense. I particularly enjoyed the first story which featured an elderly woman on a cruise. I had just seen a news story about a woman who chose to live on a cruise ship instead of in a senior center. She was full of so much joy, meeting different people and traveling from port to port. The woman in Tudor's story has lived most of her life on the boat and has grown tired from living there. The more we learn about the ship, the more nefarious this particular voyage appears to be.

I always appreciate short story collections in that they give me a small sampling of an author's capabilities in easy-to-read bursts. I've read each of Tudor's four novels, all of which are fairly different from each other, so I thought I had already seen the full breadth of her authorial prowess. Yes, some of the stories are about what I expected from the author, but others still veered in vastly different directions, showcasing a new layer to her storytelling talent. Each story is preceded by a personal recollection from Tudor sharing how the particular tale came to be. It is in these behind-the-scenes glimpses into the life of the author that A Sliver of Darkness elevates itself beyond similar collections. Tudor reminds us that she has a life outside of her writing, full of events and relationships that have shaped who she is as a person. Through the context of her own life, we better understand the stories that she tells. As most short story collections do, this one left me wanting to read even more from one of my favorite authors. Lucky for me, I won't have to wait very long. Tudor's next novel The Drift releases early next year.

**4.5 stars rounded up**
okay WOW! CJ Tudor really knocked it out of the park with this one! I did not dislike any of the stories in this collection which, for me, is shocking. I always love CJ Tudor’s writing and just the way that each of these stories felt really unique and immersive. WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE!

Obviously, I do have a few favorites that really stood out to me. My absolute favorites in this collection are: End of the Liner, Runaway Blues, and The Copy Shop. But again, none of these stories were less than 3.5 stars for me!

The cliffhangers at the end of some of these stories had me saying “YES PLEASE! MORE OF THAT!” while also giving me a few chills. And of course, I loved the homages made to Stephen King throughout. Another thing I loved, which I have never come across before in a short story collection are “Introductions” before each story explaining where the idea for each story came from, and I absolutely loved that added element. Do yourself a favor and pick this up!

This was exactly my kind of short story collection. 11 brilliant, creative, and short (!) horror vignettes, paired with the author's inspiration for each. In "End of the Liner," land has become uninhabitable and the world's survivors now live their entire lives on Disney cruise ships. One old woman has spent 50 years on board, and is about to be "retired" to make room for a new passenger - but she gets a mysterious note that just might save her from this fate. In "Runaway Blues," a young couple visits a jazz bar and discovers an incredible, unlikely new talent with a potentially dark side to him. In "The Block," a group of young kids decides to break into an abandoned block of council flats and is wholly unprepared for what they are about to find inside.

All of the stories in this collection have creative twists and get you immersed from the very beginning - and I really enjoyed reading how CJ Tudor gets inspired to see horror in the little things she comes across in her day to day life. This is a fun and short read, and great for beginners to horror as well. Thank you to Random House Ballantine for the ARC via Netgalley!

An awesome collection of short stories by a fantastic author. My fav story is called Runaway Blues. It's very Stephen King-esque. Tudor knows how to scare you and twist the ending so you may not even see it coming. There are a few dystopian/apocalyptic stories within A Sliver of Darkness that I didn't love, (mostly because I just don't like the theme), but they are well-written and will scare the beans out of you, so they're definitely worth reading.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-arc.*

This is another excellent horror offering from Ms. Tudor, with the exception of her Steven King fan-girling and the glaring error (which I hope gets fixed prior to publication) in the introduction to the story about the Fat Man. It's not a typo, it's so much more than that and that's all I will say.

While I understand not all short stories can be novels and not all novels can be short stories, some of these stories could have been a bit longer. I enjoyed them all quite a lot and read the book in 2 sittings. My favorite was the one about the darkness descending on the world, second was the one on the cruise ship.

Overall this was a delightful way to pass a rainy evening. I would consider reading them a second time.

Loved this book! Not normally one for short stories but I really like this collection. It makes me want to go and read all of her other work.

One thing that initially was not to my liking was the author's explanation of where each story originated. After finishing the book I can say that this was actually refreshing and also made me like/think about each story a little more.

This is a really excellent, eclectic mix of stories. Tudor does an excellent job of setting the scene, so you really feel immersed in the tales. There's a little something for everything in this book, delicious bites of bitter and bad that can be devoured in one sitting. I especially enjoyed The Copy Shop and Butterfly Island. I don't think I'll ever quite look at butterflies the same, though. 4 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the chance to review this advance copy. A Sliver of Darkness is out 11/8/22.

A deliciously creepy collection of 11 short stories, including some absolute gems. 'End Of The Liner' is a seriously solid opening story and my favorite in the whole book. It's grim, suspenseful and such a brilliant take on modern society and the idea of utopia. I also loved Final Course, The Block, The Runaway Blues, The Copy Shop and Dust.

I actually really enjoyed all 11 dark and twisted stories, many of which combine horror with speculative fiction. So right up my alley, especially when it includes commentary about (the ugliness of) mankind. I would have given this a higher rating if not for some lingering questions, especially for Lion at the Gate, Gloria, and Butterfly Island.

I also loved the personal touch in this book. Each story is accompanied by the author's introduction about its conception and I'm just in awe of what she can come up with. Equally admirable is CJ Tudor's honesty in sharing about writer's block, her writing process, as well as the ups and downs of her career. She's definitely an auto-read author for life!

"So tell me - are you afraid of the darkness?"

I love short story anthologies. They are such a great way to get reading done while also being busy. But this was an especially great set of stories! 11 in total, each one was introduced by the author giving a little glimpse in to how the story came to be or what inspired it. Those little tidbits added so much to the story and made each one just a little bit more exciting.

And there is not a bad one in the set! Each one was just the right length, with characters flushed out enough to pull you in but never so long you got bored. Each plot packed a nice punch and a twist that left my mouth gaping! I loved every one! SO glad I gave this one a try!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Overall, 4 stars. Really enjoyable collection. A lot of good ones, I think I only gave <s>one</s> two 3-star. More horror than I was expecting! Gets gory, gets violent, gets horrifying/chilling/creepy!!!

End of the Liner: 5 stars
The Block: 4 stars
Runaway Blues: 5 stars
The Completion: 3 stars
The Lion at the Gate: 5 stars
Gloria: 3 stars
I'm Not Ted: 4 stars
Final Course: 5 stars
The Copy Shop: 4 stars
Dust: 4 stars
Butterfly Island: 4 stars

My gal, C. J. Tudor, has done it again. Her latest release, a collection of 11 short stories entitled, "A Sliver of Darkness," is nothing short of fantastic.

This is the third time I have read Tudor, and I can now say with confidence that she never disappoints. Her writing is consistently good, and her stories are always compelling page-turners, being just twisted enough to attract horror fans while not repelling those who don’t read much of the genre.

What makes “A Sliver of Darkness” particularly engaging is how Tudor takes the time to introduce her stories, revealing insight into the origin of each idea, the where and the when of the stories in relation to the timeline of her life, her mindset while writing. It’s a nice touch.

As with all short story collections, however, some of the stories are stronger than others. But really, every single one is entertaining. There’s not a rotten apple in the bunch.

My personal favorites:

“End of the Liner” – I’m not sure I’ll ever view cruises the same way again.

“Runaway Blues” – An excellent example of Tudor’s talent for creating characters with unique and diverse voices. Also, a very fun nod to Stephen King.

“Gloria” –I have not yet read “The Hiding Place,” so this was my first introduction to the character of Gloria. I know which Tudor novel I will be reading next.

“Final Course” – A surprising tale, one that highlights the dark lengths people will take in the name of survival and protection of their loved ones.

“Butterfly Island” – Please, Ms. Tudor. Expand it into a novella just as you said you might.

And I will leave it at that. Because overall, “A Sliver of Darkness” is a satisfying read. It should not be missed.


My sincerest appreciation to C. J. Tudor, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy. All opinions included herein are my own.

🌚Book Review🌚
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Summary: Time slips. Doomsday scenarios. Killer butterflies. C. J. Tudor’s novels are widely acclaimed for their dark, twisty suspense plots, but with A Sliver of Darkness, she pulls us even further into her dizzying imagination.

In “The Lion at the Gate,” a strange piece of graffiti leads to a terrifying encounter for four school friends. In “Final Course,” the world has descended into darkness, but a group of old friends make time for one last dinner party. In “Runaway Blues,” thwarted love, revenge, and something very nasty stowed in a hat box converge. In “Gloria,” a strange girl at a service station endears herself to a coldhearted killer, but can a leopard really change its spots? And in “I’m Not Ted,” a case of mistaken identity has unforeseen fatal consequences.
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Rating; ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My thoughts: this was a really fun and unique collection of short horror stories by the author who created Chalk Man. I enjoyed this one! I did find some stories were better than others. Most of the ones at the beginning I absolutely loved. It was unique in that each story had a little author introduction explaining what inspired the story. Definitely a unique horror read and worth it if you enjoy scary stories 🥰 particularly fun to read at night time which is why my photo was taken at night 🥰
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QOTD: do you enjoy reading short stories ?!
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A Sliver of Darkness by C. J. Tudor is a very highly recommended collection of eleven chilling short stories.

After an introduction explaining why the short story collection was released, Tudor follows with eleven excellent short stories. All of the stories are introduced with a personal note, which provides a visceral context to the themes and the reason she wrote the story. The collection starts out strong with "End of the Liner" and follows it with ten more outstanding short stories. Stories include: End of the Liner; The block; Runaway Blues; The Completion; The Lion at the Gate; Gloria; I’m Not Ted; The Copy Shop; Final Course; Dust; Butterfly Island.

The characters are all relatable, realistic people which makes them very empathetic even when the situations they find themselves in seem fantastical. Tudor can make the most bizarre situation seem believable. Every story in this collection was a winner for me. As with any collection, some will resonate more with certain readers than others, but this collection provides ample opportunities for readers to certainly find several stories they will enjoy immensely. In general, fans of the Twilight Zone will appreciate this collection.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Random House via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Amazon.

I really enjoyed this collection and really liked reading each story's genesis. And Butterfly Island definitely needs expanding. I wanna know what happens!