Storyhouse, Volume 1: A Blanket of Embers

by Andy Kind

24^th January 2024

Storyhouse, Volume 1: A Blanket of Embers by Andy Kind is a brilliant collection of short stories! I enjoyed them all in one afternoon.

Each one is as unique, and entertaining, as the last.

Now, I’m never quite sure how to properly review a short story collection so, as I read each one, I made a note of my immediate thoughts.

Here are the ones that stood out the most for me….

Early Stages gave me goosebumps.

The Real Martha Morris is hilarious, at first, but has a shocking conclusion.

A Swift ‘Arf is very clever!

The Boy Who Could Be Anything had me laughing out loud although it probably shouldn’t have.

And I Still Do is thought provoking.

Footprints is another one that gave me goosebumps.

Strawberry Picking – Woah! This one gave me chills!!

I found Kuebiko quite poetic.

The Perplexity of the House on Malleus Road is so creepy!

On A Dream is yet another one that gave me goosebumps.

The Hardest Thing to See is another thought-provoking tale.

That Sunday I Went to Church is both hilarious and heart-warming.

Harry’s Pigeons melted my heart.

Aroma is particularly poignant. It costs nothing to be kind!

A Night in Hebden Bridge is both horrifying and hilarious.

The Sharpshooter is a powerful story to end on. Just wow!

Such clever writing! I can’t recommend this collection highly enough. I read it cover to cover in one sitting, but you could easily dip in and out as each one is short enough to be enjoyed on your tea/coffee break or whenever you fancy. I would happily buy this book for friends and family. I think it deserves to fly off the shelves!

I already own Andy Kind’s other books. I think I really need to bump them up my TBR list!

** Many thanks to Andy Kind for my ARC of this excellent short story collection. I’m honoured to have been the first person to have read it in full! **

Andy Kind presents a collection of short stories as a remedy for the time-strapped modern reader. Storyhouse Volume 1 offers a diverse array of tales through Dusk, into Night, and on to the Dawn – each representing different emotional landscapes. The tales are ‘pandemic babies,’ conceived through the intersection of lockdown monotony and persistent hopefulness.

A Blanket of Embers offers readers an escape into diverse minds and experiences, exploring the three R’s: redemption, resurrection, and reconciliation – while acknowledging the harsh realities of life where death, pride, and brokenness often prevail. The collection promises moments of pleasure, inviting readers to step into the world of compelling ‘What if?’ scenarios and poignant reflections on the human condition, while at times straying into the fantastical, the liminal, and the horrific.

In this, his first collection of short prose, Andy Kind displays both his depth of emotional nuance and his eye for the details hidden in the human psyche.