The first in the Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena series, Kate Maruyama’s Bleak Houses showcases two very different homes haunted in very different ways.

Safer was an engaging read, with its lockdown setting and reminder that the living pose far more dangers than the dead. That’s not to say it’s light on the scares - Maruyama strikes a great balance between the ghosts that haunt Soledad’s new residence, and the dark truth that haunts the family that lives there. A lot is packed into its short page count, including a genuinely quite thrilling final chase.

But of the two stories, Family Solstice was the one for me. Maruyama builds the lore of Shea’s family so beautifully, and the tale itself has twists and turns galore as we - and Shea - discover the truth of what lives in the Massey’s basement. Family Solstice is generational trauma made manifest; an ancient, manipulative evil that no family member is exempt from.

Fans of short horror stories would do well to keep an eye on this ongoing series from Raw Dog Screaming Press.

"Bleak Houses" by Kate Maruyama is a collection of two tales that delve into family misadventures and explore dark secrets.
These tales fearlessly explore themes such as family dynamics, secrets, tradition, and the lengths parents will go to for their children. "Bleak Houses" provides thought-provoking and engaging narratives that delve into relevant and troubling issues.

The two stories in this book are some of the most utterly eerie, disturbing, and enthralling I've read. Safer was an intense one that brought back the worst feelings during Covid, the disturbing ways of the super rich Hollywood elite, and the ending was superb. Family Solstice was unnerving, spooky, and chock full of darkness. The author has a way of carving your psyche to pieces a bit at a time making you feel like you're right there experiencing it all along with the characters.

Two very different short stories. Both of them had their twist and the ending is not predictable in either of them, at least for me. I would love to read more books written by you.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

I loved both of these short stories. Writing was decent and the twists were somewhat unexpected. I would read more by this author!

Amidst the backdrop of a global pandemic and lockdown, the literary world unveils "Bleak Houses," a duo of captivating tales that plunge readers into the abyss of dark family secrets, eerie mysteries, and the extraordinary lengths people will go to protect their loved ones. These narratives each bring their unique strengths and weaknesses to the table, making them ideal for readers seeking quick and chilling reads.

*Summary*

"Bleak Houses" introduces us to two intriguing stories. The first story immerses us in the life of Soledad, a college student who seizes the opportunity to become a live-in caretaker for the child of A-list celebrities during the "Safer at Home" lockdown in Los Angeles. At first, the allure of solid pay and a change of scenery seems irresistible, but as unsettling occurrences begin to mount, Soledad finds herself questioning her decision to accept the job.

The second tale, "Family Solstice," revolves around the enigmatic Massey family, whose youngest member, Shea, is preparing for her 13th year when she will take on the family duty of fighting an unknown threat lurking in their basement. Despite her training, Shea remains in the dark about the nature of the impending battle, and as the fateful day approaches, she must confront her deepest fears.

*Plot and Pacing*

"Bleak Houses" crafts both stories with engaging plots and well-balanced pacing. They manage to keep the reader invested without rushing or dragging the narrative. In the first story, the element of Soledad living alone in a stranger's home adds a layer of eerie suspense reminiscent of popular thrillers, creating an atmosphere of unease that draws readers deeper into the story. The second tale, "Family Solstice," offers a blend of folklore horror and familial dread, with a touch of creature feature, making it a tantalizing read for fans of these genres.

*Themes and Message*

"Bleak Houses" delves into thought-provoking themes. In the first story, the exploration of the lengths parents will go to protect their child and the challenges faced by outsiders in unfamiliar and unsafe environments are compelling. The second story, "Family Solstice," delves into the dangers of tradition, inheritance, and the consequences of a family's dark legacy. These themes resonate with contemporary issues and offer readers plenty to ponder.

*Execution and Writing Style*

While both stories have intriguing premises, their execution leaves room for improvement. In the first story, the frequent mention of Covid-related protocols, though initially relevant, becomes excessive and distracting as the story progresses. The attempt to use this as a plot point falls short, detracting from the overall enjoyment. In "Family Solstice," the use of a lack of communication as a plot device feels frustrating and unconvincing. The writing style lacks emotional depth, often presenting events and reactions in a detached manner. Repetitive sentence structures and awkward phrasing hinder the reader's immersion in the story.

*Conclusion*

"Bleak Houses" offers readers quick, intriguing reads with compelling plots, but they are not without their flaws. While they both explore relevant themes and offer tantalizing premises, the execution and writing style may leave some readers wanting more depth and emotional engagement. Despite these shortcomings, if you're in the mood for eerie mysteries and dark family secrets, "Bleak Houses" is worth considering for a quick literary escape.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/141319641-bleak-houses" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Bleak Houses: Safer & Family Solstice (Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1682985024l/141319641._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/141319641-bleak-houses">Bleak Houses: Safer & Family Solstice</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7141007.Kate_Maruyama">Kate Maruyama</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5817630980">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
“‘ Everyone is in place.’ In place for what?” <br /><br />Selected papers from the consortium for the study of anomalous phenomena, volume one: Bleak Houses by Kate Maruyama contains two modern gothic novellas’ safer and family solstice. Both are uniquely disturbing horror stories that offer different cultural critiques on American society, family values and family dynamics through the very appropriate use of gothic fiction.<br /><br />“ Miss Wolf, she visits sometimes …. The light was no longer there, but a patch of ice had formed in the lining of my stomach. Au pair, haunted castles. Don’t be stupid. Kids his age have imaginary friends.”<br /><br />Safer is largely influenced by the Covid 19 pandemic and the government’s response of isolation and lock down focuses on issues of isolation, job security, racial identity and social hierarchy. Family secrets and ghosts, rich movie stars, au pairs, Covid and mansions! The prefect combination for a compelling and believable modern gothic (which believe it or not, is actually quite difficult to write)!<br /><br />“…. I can’t help but think there’s something he’s not telling me. In addition, to the other things, no one tells me. At least this is my last year of not knowing.”<br /><br />Now Family Solstice…. I’d like to give this story five stars. It is an amazing modern gothic coming-to-age story about a young girl who’s about to find out what her “birthright” really is! A commentary on inherited family trauma, America settler history and critical examination of American nuclear family dynamics. I was completely glued to the pages of the second novella, as Kate created a beautiful picture of a modern and seemingly normal American family, with a dark secret. A protagonist Shea that is believable, inspiring and someone you can help but root for and then completely destroys your every assumption, expectation with an ending that is both shocking and horrifying but entirely representative of the American dream. <br />Thank you to rds press for sending me this as an arc copy. <br />I loved Kate’s writing style and will be looking out for more of her work.<br /><br />Genre:<br />Horror<br />Gothic fiction<br />Coming-of-age<br />General adult fiction<br />Paranormal <br />Young adult<br /><br />Themes:<br />Isolation<br />Family secrets<br />Lies<br />Who can be in the know <br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/156863808-just-another-final-girl-review-brittany-levely-connolly">View all my reviews</a>

Bleak Houses brings together two stories that were so unexpected. I did not go in with high hopes but left feeling pleasantly surprised.. I didn't see either stories twist endings coming, so I really loved that. These are the perfect October vibes, creepy and mysterious in their own regard.

SAFER - I’m not really that into fiction that excessively name drops or is too current to read about. (the  pandemic for example) And by name drop I mean pull real world, current events places and events. For example, the author talking about driving up to Ralph’s for picking up groceries, the directions to get to the mansion that she’s working at (though that’s a very LA thing to do, talk about what routes you take to get where) 

The writing was fine. The narrator sounds like an early 20 year old, apt as that's what she is, and I can't tell if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Maybe I’m just too old to be reading fiction with so much sarcasm. Youths. The story was pretty predictable but I feel like it either should have been a haunted house story or the changeling story, not both. It lessened the spooky element and made it less effective. Since I got this as a Net Galley ARC, I'm gonna take this with a grain of salt and hope that an edit or five was made before publication since there are times when the same turn of phrase or word is used in every other sentence. She loves to talk about that marine layer. 

FAMILY SOLSTICE - Even though I just started this one, the writing is so much better. It flows well and leaves just the right amount of bread crumbs that keep you following the trail. Like, as her turn approached, I was tense with her, scared for her. I wanted to know what was in that basement! And that secret did not disappoint. The author nails writing in the voices of our narrator. Shea really does sound like a thirteen year old with her descriptions and views. And it's a great metaphor not only for what has been happening with the state of the world lately, but for that question of what's your line when it comes to family secrets? Particularly when it comes to a family that seems as close as I'm picturing the Massey's. When do you say "No, I can't be a part of this" if you're brave enough to say it at all? Great story to end on

Safer – Soledad is trying to make some money for college, so when an opportunity to become a au pair for a rich, LA couple comes up, she jumps at the chance. Even with signing the NDA and learning that the family is a little high maintenance doesn’t bother her at first, until odd things begin to occur that lead her to question her choice in accepting the job. Family Solstice – Shea is the youngest in the family, and so doesn’t know what the secret in the basement is since no one finds out until a trial in their 13th year. But she’s been training for it and is certain she’ll be able to complete the task adequately; but as no one will tell her anything, she isn’t really certain what she’s getting into, and what she finds may cause her to question everything she thought she knew.

This work is set up as two unrelated stories. The first is set during 2020, so discussions about Covid and related protocols occur quite often – it didn’t bother me at first, but it became so frequent in the story that it detracted from my enjoyment. I think the author was trying to use it as a plot point, but the execution fell short. The second story was set in the 1970s and was more fantastical, which I wanted to like, but as there was no real explanation included, it made for an unsatisfying read. When the protagonist tried to ask questions, everyone simply responded, “We don’t talk about that” but then they acted shocked when the protagonist went against what she was told to do. This use of lack of communication to move the entire plot forward was frustrating and didn’t make for a compelling read.

The writing style didn’t work for me on this one. No emotions came through in the writing. When something tense or dramatic happened, it was written like, “Then x happened. I reacted like y.” So instead of feeling sucked into the story, it felt more like reading a grocery list of events and emotions. Repetitive sentence structure was also present throughout the work, adding to the tedium of the read. There were many instances where the wording/phrasing was awkward or downright incorrect; I often had to reread sentences multiple times to try and understand what the author meant. Between the writing style, the rushed stories with minimal depth, and characters that felt like cardboard, no atmosphere or tension came through this work of “horror.”

As this was an ARC, I’m hoping that it underwent some intense editing before release. But based on what I read, I can’t recommend this book and it goes well beyond the number of errors I encountered. I received a copy of this work from NetGalley and RDS Publishing in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

These stories were great! I wasn't expecting the ending to either of them which made them very interesting. They both have creepy elements making them great for horror lovers. I would reccomend this to anyone who enjoys horror or mysteries. 10/10 highly recommend! Special Thank You to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complementary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This volume brings together two stories, both of which revolve around strange houses that are central to the plot. However, I found the first one to be not as successful as the second. Even though "Safer" makes complete sense in the end, I was left unsatisfied with the text because I felt that all the elements related to the house were not sufficiently developed, unlike the second story, "Family Solstice," which is truly well-crafted and prominently features a house harboring a very disturbing secret. The atmosphere is also more successful in this second story. Nevertheless, "Safer" is a thought-provoking text that raises many questions. It's a pity that some of them remain unanswered.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc.

The arc contains two short stories, which I will both review separately before concluding the review with an overall.

First, “Safer”, a short gothic-horror story that takes place in LA during the COVID. Soledad, our main heroine of the story, takes on a live-in caretaker job for a famous Hollywood couple, watching their son for the majority of the day. Their son, Story, seems to be quite the peculiar kid. A suspicion that is confirmed by Sol as Story tells her about the ghost Mrs. Wolf that watches over him. Sol shrugs is off, not particularly scared of ghosts, until a far more sinister plot seems to unravel…

The story itself was a fun and quick read. The plot lines were solid and it creeped me out at moments with that particular Gothic feel. At times the story did feel rushed, some parts of the story felt glossed over and the characters didn’t get a chance to fully develop. Naturally, being a short story, there isn’t much space to go fully in-depth. The story itself gives great commentary about the way racism comes at play in crucial moments and sometimes communities have to take matters in their own hands for justice. All in all it was a fun read and a great take on modern day Gothic stories, but the pacing felt a little rushed, which made the story lose some of its tension.

The second story, “Family Solstice”, is set during the late 1970s and is about a white family living in an estate that has been in their family for centuries, when they came over from Europe. Right from the starts it builds the tension as the youngest kid, our heroine Shea, is prepared to fight a mystery monster in their basement the upcoming Solstice. We follow her journey as she prepares herself in the year she turns 13. As per family traditions, Shea will inherit the estate and the family tradition are even more important for her. The secret in the basement however, is far darker than she ever could have imagined.

Again, given that it is a short story there is very limited space. Yet, this story felt a little rushed as well. It felt more cohesive and worked out than “Safer”, yet some things seemed to be glossed over rather quickly. The story gives good commentary on, and shows, the darker sides of family traditions and how this isn’t always the right thing, as well as how it’s hard to break these traditions when people keep believing in them, no matter the cost.

Personally, I would’ve loved to have more of these stories. They have so much potential and I think they would come more to their rights in a longer format. To conclude, I definitely recommend Bleak Houses and its short stories for a dark rainy day, with a cup of tea, for some good spooky vibes. It is difficult to bring the Gothic genre into more modern settings and Murayama does this seamlessly.

Two spooky stories perfect for a quick read. I enjoyed the plot to both of these stories as well as pacing. Not too fast, not too slow. The writing kept me invested enough to finish and I wasn’t disappointed.

The first story reminds me a lot of other popular thrillers. I especially like the whole “live in caretaker” element. It adds a nice touch of eerie mess, knowing our MC lives alone in a stranger’s home.

I don’t want to spoil too much, think The Housemaid vibes.

The next tale screams Folklore horror and familial horror with a dash of creature feature. Right up my alley. This was a spooky, shocking twist to Winter Solstice and the lengths we will go through for our family and wealth.

Overall I enjoyed this little palette cleanser. I will definitely read more from the author.

One tip I would suggest is editing the formatting but maybe that’s just for the ARC. I think it should be double space or broken up into paragraphs or sub chapters. Other than editing and formatting, I would say nice work

This is a collection of two novellas, SAFER and FAMILY SOLSTICE.

It's too bad I have to review them in tandem, because to be totally honest I think SAFER is mediocre at best, whereas FAMILY SOLSTICE is pretty good! FAMILY SOLSTICE was originally published in 2021 by Omnium Gatherum, and I believe it's now out of print, so it's exciting that it's been included in this new volume, although I think it would have been much stronger as a standalone. SAFER is nothing but predictable all the way through, with nary a twist or a spooky moment. FAMILY SOLSTICE, on the other hand, is tense, eerie, and full of feeling (albeit with a fairly heavy-handed central metaphor), and it has an unexpected and satisfying ending.

I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you netgalley and Raw Dog Screaming for an Advanced Copy for review. All opinions are my own :) Also thank you to Kate Maruyama for putting her work into the world
A collection of two thrilling novellas that had me entertained from beginning to end
Safer
Sole is looking for a summer job and finds an Au Pair position for a famous celebrity. Their son, Story, is 4 years old and his family works hard to keep him out of the media, so hard that there is no trace of him. All is well until Sole discovers the truth behind his birth.
I will be honest, I never saw the twist coming, and I was glued to the book trying to figure out what Sole was going to do. It is tense and will have your heart racing. I was invested and truly concerned for the outcome for Story and Sole, which is telling because Kate Maruyama made me fall in love with the characters in the short amount of time before things went wrong. She mastered luring you into a sense of normalcy and made the characters feel alive.
Family Solstice
All families have secrets, but the Massey family has a massive secret. This plays on childhood fears of what is lurking in the dark corners of the basement and dials it up to 10. The children are being raised to fight the thing of nightmares and Shea is determined to do something about it. It shows how despite best intentions, things can still go wrong. I enjoyed this as it brought me back to my roots and felt like a very grown up RL Stine type monster situation.

I want to say thank you to RDS Publishing for sending me an arc of this book.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. Putting the grammatical errors aside the stories felt flat and felt rushed. Specifically in SAFER with the constant reminder that this is a “true story”popping up out of context ruins the immersion into the story. Negatives aside if you are interested in short dramatic stories and don’t care about grammar and spelling issues and just want something quick to read this book may be for you

Enjoyed this book by Kate Maruyama. Enjoyed the two stories/plots, and the characters. Will need to read more from her in the future. Another great book from RDS Publishing. #BleakHouses #NetGalley

Author has crafted both the stories with utmost passion, intriguing characters and atmospheric & suspenseful setting. Dive into the life of celebrity and unravel its dark side and discover the family secrets in the other tale with perilous tradition that will keep you at edge. Two intricate tales are woven in the plot about family misadventures and secrets.

First tale is set in Los Angeles when the lockdown happened due to covid. It was such a devastating time. So, Soledad, a college takes the job of being a caretaker of four year child, Story. Not only the parents are high maintenance but James is a famous actor too and Celina married him for her own reasons but there are secrets and Sol must keep the child safe. The dark underside has been revealed and an unexpected happened.

While the other tale is about family’s solstice. It has secrets and traditions. There is a huge secret about the inheritance and attic beneath the stairs. The Massey family not only has dark secrets but dangerous tradition too. It’s gripping and the tale will hook you. As soon as you will learn their secrets and about family tradition, it will shook you but you will find yourself trapped in darkness until you will reach to the ending. The youngest child’s life is going to change forever on her 13th year but will dark family secrets entangle her and the family will keep paying for the sins of one family member. I recommend this book to gothic and suspense readers.

Thank you Netgalley, Author and Publisher