I would like to thank the author for an advance copy of this collection in exchange for a fair and honest review

Publisher – Wild Wood Books

Published – Out now

Price - £7.23 paperback £2.31 Kindle eBook

It begins with a seed. A dream. An idea, planted and encouraged to grow. A thought that buries deep down inside and puts out monstrous roots. Until at last, the bloom erupts and showers the land with life.

It begins with a seed…

The menopause brings some unusual and unexpected changes, a woman wakes up after a party in a body that isn’t hers, a teen’s life changes forever when they embrace the truth about who they are, and a lone mother tries to bury her traumatic past but instead grows a terrible future.

An unsettling selection of quiet horror and dark speculative fiction brought together in a brand new collection from Australian Shadows Award-winner, Tabatha Wood.

As the author Tabatha Wood in her short story collection Seeds talks about in their introduction all stories come from a seed of an idea. In this collection they have come back to various ideas that have been growing and now finally given a final form in the shape of 15 short fiction tales to beguile, bewitch and scare you as you read them. It delivers a wonderfully versatile set of tales perfect for winter nights

Amongst the very many tales I enjoyed were

Bloom – a couple travel in a camper van to a golden field but as the reader continues although this is a tale of love; we sense an element of loss coming through. Subtle and bittersweet

Red Eye – A passenger is fascinated by the young family about to board the plane she is scheduled to go on to. But we start to realise this passenger has a purpose that would frighten the whole plane if they knew. A tale that manages the delicate act of being both dark and yet come with a sense of peacefulness all helped by our narrator’s perspective of the long term. One of the best in the collection.

Breathing Room – two people hiding from a terrible disaster suddenly feel hope they can finally escape their hiding place but for very different reasons. Again Wood combines something quite dark and nasty with a strange moment of beauty derived from the same moment

Becoming- Skye has arrived at a new school and already feels very alone and vulnerable terrified her past at a different school comes to haunt her and yet Hannah one of the school’s most popular girls is taking an interest. A tale of love and acceptance combined with some very cool secrets about o finally be revealed. Another favourite in the collection

The Quiet Voice – a woman escaping a poisonous relationship finds herself haunted by a ghost. Here it is all about the emotional journey the characters we meet are on and that need to find strength to do the right thing. A powerful tale.

Marian – In her mid-forties and prone to being walked on by her family and office Marian is about to experience a change in so many ways. A tale exploring the menopause, finding inner strength and letting your darker impulses win it is surprisingly hopeful.

Merry Christmas, Other You – Riley is struggling as the Christmas period approaches; work is manic; her housemates are not doing their fair share and her girlfriend feels she is not being given much of her time so she idly wishes she could get a clone for Christmas and next day one arrives. What initially sounds a funny tale turns gradually darker as both Rileys ask well who should be living their best life. The switch from light to dark is brilliantly delivered. Another favourite.

Night Wolves – a woman constantly worried about her long missing sister finds solace waking in the woods and a strange lone dog that loves to travel with her. The tale gradually reveals its mysteries and has a satisfying yet mournful conclusion as truths are finally revealed.

In Loving Memory – Aimee awakes and is scared to find herself nursing a young baby and apparently twelve years older than the younger woman attending a drunken party. This tale of time travel explores feelings of growing up, second chances and also coming to terms with becoming an adult and the choices we make. Fascinating and has great character development as people reveal themselves.

I’m hugely impressed with tis collection. Wood has an ability to be very flexible in tone and often lead character’s voice which is hard to find in many collections. In particular the weaving of dark and light topics often in the same story and in particular gives voice to a whole range of female characters straight and queer; old and young which really adds to the collection’s variety. None of these stories go for the obvious choices and that means reading them is a bit like jumping into a box of chocolates without looking at the box you never know what you’ll bite into. However these are a fine collection of treats and perfect for this time of year. Highly recommended!