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.

I’m not typically a reader of short story collections or anthologies, simply due to the fact that I feel like I can never become fully invested before the story is over. That said, these are well written and engaging stories, and the introduction to the collection, plus the introductions into each story were eye opening and unique, and I loved getting the insider glance into the inspiration behind each one. If you’re looking for a quick, spooky read, this one is it!

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.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine, C.J. Tudor, and Netgalley for the digital arc of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

A Sliver of Darkness is C.J. Tudor's first collection of horror and thriller short stories. Even though I don't read a lot of short stories, I jumped at the chance to get an arc of the collection. The introduction of the book, which is written by Tudor, gives a glimpse into her life during covid and the reason for the release of these short stories - instead of a novel. Her forthcoming novel, The Drift, she calls her "passion project", is being released on January 31st, 2023.

A Sliver of Darkness contains eleven short stories, in a wide range of horror and thriller genres. Quite a few have a comedic element, along the lines of satire and black comedy. A couple stories feel geared more towards preteens (think R.L. Stine), though that doesn't make them any less enjoyable for adults. The (reading) length ranges anywhere from ten to forty-five minutes, with most averaging about fifteen to twenty-five minutes.

Story titles and a very brief description are as follows:
- End of the Liner - think Snowpiercer on a cruise ship
- The Block - an abandoned building in a slum neighborhood and kids looking for trouble
- Runaway Blues - a tribute to Stephen King
- The Completion - real estate - how far would you go to make that sale?
- The Lion at the Gate - high school kids, a shortcut, and graffiti
- Gloria - a secondary character from a previous book
- I'm Not Ted - a man who's name isn't Ted
- Final Course - a dinner party in the country
- The Copy Shop - a copy shop
- Dust - a remote hotel in the desert
- Butterfly Island - an overnight stay on a remote island

My favorite story is Gloria. I would LOVE a novel featuring Gloria, a full length one or one just filled with short stories like this. I absolutely loved her character and all the little details that went into the things she did. Other stories I really enjoyed include: End of the Liner, The Completion, and Final Course. The Copy Shop probably has the least scary premise, yet for me it was the most disturbing. (It's also the shortest) I can see at least half of the stories working as full length novels. The time seemed to go by quickly. I would finish one story and go right into the next.

Overall, I think this is a good first collection of short stories from C.J. Tudor. I didn't love it as much as I've loved her novels though, with the exceptions of End of the Liner and Gloria. It's good, it's just not quite up to the standards I've grown to expect from C.J. Tudor. Though I applaud her for putting something out during what must have been a tough time for her. I still think this is a worthy read. There is something here for everyone. And if you are a die-hard C.J. Tudor fan like I am, then you won't want to miss it.

3½ stars rounded up to 4 stars
Recommended for fans of: Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Action, Black Comedy, Fiction

A strong collection of short stories! While some were stronger than others, it was an overall fantastic reading experience. It felt a bit Stephen King-esque in a good way. It was weird and good and I have thought about it often since finishing

I still remember the eerie twin girls from the Burning Girls and creepy stick figures from the Chalk Man. I went into reading this story collection with great expectations of feeling similar eerie-creepiness, and I was not disappointed!! The Copy Shop is my most favourite story. The others were also good, they did not fall short by any means. Hence the full stars!! If you enjoy well rounded stories, with mystery and horror, this collection of 10 stories is a must read.

Thank you Random House via Netgalley for the arc.

I love short horror/thriller story collections, and this definitely delivered.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!