I was quite disappointed with these stories and couldn't finish all of them. up

One was a back and fro of emails then turned to a newspaper article, another just ended abruptly and I wondered what the heck... after that disappointment I gave up reading it any more!

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

Perfect for spooky season! This collection of tales of haunted books and literary motifs was full of chills and thrills from authors both well established and on the rise. Great for educators that want to assign seasonal horror readings. Also a successful meta commentary on horror literature. Highly recommended!

I really loved the premise of this book. Horror stories about books and the like? Perfect way to jump into spooky season. Unfortunately, a lot of these were really slow and I could not get the motivation to keep going. There were a few winners, Footnotes, From the Sea, but after those, not much. A lot of them felt like they would be better under the banner of weird fiction, rather than horror. It was not for me.

I work in a library and I love to read so this was always going to get a pretty high rating! I've given a brief review of each story below. Highly recommend 'From the Sea', 'The Witch's Pillow Book' and 'Beneath the Diaphragm, The Gut Itself'.

1. From the Sea by Charlie Higson – love the email format – I sometimes find this falls a bit flat in horror books as the scares aren’t always as strong but it worked really well here. Fantastic! 5*
2. Footnotes by A.K. Benedict – a very cool concept, not quite as dark as I like my horror but a fun little story all the same. 4.5*
3. The House Witch by Alison Moore – not my cup of tea, I struggled to pay attention to this. 2*
4. Whatever Remains After You Leave Me by Eric LaRocca – very eerie, but not quite as horrific as LaRocca’s other works. 3*
5. Choose Your Own Adventure by Nadia Bulkin – very engaging, even if I didn’t quite understand it. 3.5*
6. Broken Back Man by Lucie McKnight Hardy – very creepy and atmospheric, the setting felt really familiar. 4*
7. The Witch’s Pillow Book by Priya Sharma – this was great, I loved the imagery 4.5*
8. Book Worm by Isy Suttie – very unusual and surprisingly sad. 4*
9. The Man Who Collected Barker by Kim Newman – short but spooky, this made my spine tingle. 4*
10. Bloodhound by Zin E. Rocklyn – eerie, and sad. I think this would have worked better if it was longer. 3*
11. Bell, Book and Lamp by A.G. Slatter – I hate rich people. This was one of the longer stories and it was very good. 4*
12. Next Big Thing by Amanda DeBord – I was really lost with this one. 1.5*
13. Cora Jarrett Gets Into Trouble by Johnny Mains – love the John Waters quote at the start. No idea what was going on but I reslly enjoyed it. 4*
14. The Wretched Tome by Jeremy Dyson – reminded me of Dickens scary stories. 3*
15. Written On by Ramsey Campbell – quite eerie and very unusual. 3.5*
16. Beneath the Diaphragm, the Gut Itself by Robert Shearman – so unique! 4.5*
17. Bibliette by Guy Adams – I thought the whole thing was so pretentious but the last line was so beautiful that it redeemed the entire thing. 4*
18. Near Zennor by Elizabeth Hand – this one really spooked me, so atmospheric. 4.5*
19. Pending Licensor Approval by Adam Cesare – it was ok, a little predictable. 3*

Such a well curated collection.
A fantastic cast of contributors.
I’m writing little mini-reviews of stories and will highly recommend this moving forward.

Cursed media, especially cursed or otherwise dark and twisted books that affect those that read them, is one of my favorite horror tropes (The Ninth Gate anyone?) so I was stoked to receive an ARC of Bound in Blood which is a collection of 19 stories all about this trope.
There is something in here for every horror fan depending on which makes you shiver.
Eric LaRocca is the master at making me so uncomfortable. His story, "Whatever Remains After You Leave Me" was as visceral and emotional as I expect from him. Always a solid choice in reading.
I have never read Robert Shearman but Beneath the Diaphram the Gut Itself has made me want more of his work.
I think the only stories I didn't get into as much were the repeated themes of prophetic books. They were good, don't get me wrong, but I think I often want something more from this trope than that particular winding path.
Overall its a great read and worthy of any horror fan's shelf.

*Bound in Blood* is a deliciously eerie collection that taps into the age-old fascination with cursed and haunted books, offering nineteen unsettling tales from some of horror’s finest writers. Edited with a keen eye for the uncanny, this anthology explores the sinister possibilities of books that trap, twist, and terrify their readers.

Each story centers on the idea of the book as an object of malevolence, whether it’s a dusty tome lurking in an attic or a novel that literally consumes its reader. The anthology takes readers through a variety of settings, from haunted bookstores to cursed libraries, with each tale weaving its own kind of terror. The strength of *Bound in Blood* lies in its diversity, as each author brings a unique voice and style, yet all contribute to the shared theme of the dangers lurking in the written word.

Standout stories include Eric LaRocca’s visceral and psychological horrors, which confront the reader with themes of obsession and dread, while Kim Newman’s tale adds a cinematic flair, blending the supernatural with pop culture in a way that’s as fun as it is frightening. A. G. Slatter’s entry, filled with gothic undertones, explores the dark pull of family legacies and the inescapable ties that bind, while Charlie Higson’s story leans into the kind of creeping suspense that lingers long after the last page is turned.

The anthology isn’t just about scares, though it offers plenty of those. It also meditates on the power of stories themselves: how they can enchant, beguile, and even curse those who engage with them. From second-hand bookshops filled with ominous volumes to cursed journals whose contents spiral into madness, *Bound in Blood* revels in the idea that books are not merely objects, but portals to something much darker.

For fans of atmospheric horror, this anthology offers a rich variety of storytelling styles—from quiet, creeping unease to outright terror. Much like the cursed books within its pages, *Bound in Blood* draws you in, leaving you unsettled and a little wary of the next book you pick up. It’s the perfect collection for fans of *When Things Get Dark* or anyone who enjoys tales of the supernatural with a literary twist.

With contributions from names like Adam Cesare, Priya Sharma, and Lucie McKnight Hardy, the anthology ensures that every story feels fresh and distinctly chilling. *Bound in Blood* is a must-read for lovers of bookish horror and those brave enough to crack the spine of a cursed book—or in this case, anthology. Just be careful where you leave it when you’re done.

Horror collections are always a yes. Great was to find works from established and lesser known authors. Loved the theme and bought a copy for my home library. Thank you for the advanced reader NetGalley and the publisher.

In the course of reading this anthology, I overlooked this book’s subtitle: cursed books, damned libraries, and unearthly authors. There stories do cover the gamut—not just written manuscripts, but even a photo album and a screenplay. As a writer and a book collector, this is a anthology pretty much made for me.

My favorites:

“From the Sea” by Charlie Higson – The anthology starts off strong with this Necronomicon-adjacent tale, told in 21st century epistolary-style (via email exchange).
“Footnotes” by A. K. Benedict – Aisling, a young woman more comfortable in a library, is chosen to be the next Inscriber of a prophetic book.
“Bloodhound” by Zin E. Rocklyn – A woman with some psychic ability searches for her sister, a collector of rare books.
“The Wretched Tome” by Jeremy Dyson – Another prophetic book, but this one much more sinister. Very M. R. James in tone.
“Beneath the Diaphragm, the Gut Itself” by Robert Shearman – A fantastical story about a world in which every book that will ever exist is birthed by someone. Everyone births a book, but some people birth Charlotte Brontë and some birth “The Cursed Book” by J. J. Jacobs.

Overall great stories. I look forward to reading individual titles by each of these authors. My only grievance was the first story being told via a series of emails made it difficult to maintain focus on the story itself (though the plot and story itself were excellent).

Nineteen short stories about haunted books, stories, journals and the like. I love horror. I love books about books. What could go wrong?

A lot. Thank you, BOUND IN BLOOD for giving me nothing. I don’t think there was even one story here that I enjoyed or would recommend. So very, very disappointing, I was really looking forward to this.

I was excited to read this because 2 of my favourite authors have stories in here. I’ve come to realise that anthologies aren’t my thing. I found more misses than hits but I’m certain others will love this more than me.

A wonderful collection of horror short stories all of them good. It hard to pick out a favourite because they all have something to offer but if I had to choose it would be Eric La Rocca's Whatever Remains After You Leave Me. It remains long after you've finished the book. Thanks to Titan books and Netgalley for this review copy.

With 19 stories in total Bound in Blood is a brilliant Horror collection. As with all anthologies each reader may find some hits and some misses but for me even the ‘misses’ were extremely good just not for me at the time.

I do think this anthology brings a lot to the table and is a great introduction to the authors who have offerings inside. While I didn’t love every single entry and most certainly liked them all and a couple of the authors who I haven’t read previously (Lucie McKnight Hardy, Alison Moore & Izy Suttie) I will definitely be looking into their work. I will say that a few were instant hits because I like the authors. I really liked The House Witch and From the Sea in terms of real standout stories but did enjoy them all.

Being a book fan, obviously, I can say I did love the theme of cursed books, ‘evil’ books, eldritch horrors and the like entertaining throughout. I will most definitely get this in physical form to take pride of place on my bookshelves.

As always thank you to Titan Books for the copy to review. My review is always honest and truthful.

What I loved most about the selection here was the broad definition of what a book is. A "book" can be a diary, a scrying tool, or serve as a guide or set of instructions, and it's not always found in a store or library. The tales are written in differing narrative styles and with a diverse cast. For my followers, I listed a few of my favorites:

In "The House Witch" by Alison Moore, the book serves as a trusted companion rather than a mysterious object. It's very rare that I am left with so many questions and at the same time completely satisfied with the ending.

In "Whatever Remains After You Leave Me" by Eric LaRocca, I was amazed how quickly LaRocca can pull you in, get you invested, and shock you with a tragic twist. In this instance, the book is a photo album, which again is a clever choice my Mains. The ending left me unnerved and wondering if something else was invited in.

"Broken Back Man" by Lucie Hardy was an unexpected delight. At first I wasn't crazy about the narrator, but then it spiralled into something akin to Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House! I'm glad Mains included this one because unlike the others, it's a physical, body altering type of horror and changes up the pace nicely.

"Book Worm" by Isy Suttie was like a mix between a Stephen King childhood novel and Twilight Zone's Time Enough at Last. What's unique about this tale is that the man is a willing participant in his own demise. The man's obsession is dangerous but it never feels like a curse or a burden to him. What's more, it's too many books that is the threat rather than just one. Another excellent choice by Mains!

Finally there's "Cora Jarrett Gets into Trouble" by Johnny Mains himself. I appreciate how Mains wrote Mrs Jarrett's inner monologues as scattered but never hard to follow. Her thoughts are constant and at times deeply threatening, but one can still read between the lines. The reader is not sure if what happens is real or simply in Cora's mind until it's all over!

Highly recommend! 5/5! It's perfect for spooky season, book lovers, and you can't beat the variety! Thank you Titan Books for approving my request on NetGalley!

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for an eARC version of this novel! Opinions are my own.

BOUND IN BLOOD is a collection of some of my favorite voices in horror, and these stories did not disappoint. Tales of the written word are explored through a variety of fresh and chilling concepts, and I'm excited to read more by each of the featured authors.

Thank you again to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review and to the authors who make it difficult to turn off the lights at night.

This collection had such a good variety of authors which made it exciting to read, I was full of fear of excitement when reading this.

I really enjoyed Bound in Blood. This is a diverse, entertaining collection of short stories. I’m familiar with some of the authors such as Eric LaRocca and Kim Newman but many were new to me. One of the strengths of the collection is now different and varied the stories are. No two are alike and you won’t get bored reading this. The stories explore a range of themes and ideas and I was never sure what to expect when I started a fresh story. The best stories include From The Sea by Charlie Higson, Whatever Remains After You Leave Me by Eric LaRocca, Book Worm by Isy Suttie and Beneath The Diaphragm The Gut Itself by Robert Shearman. I’d recommend this collection.

Fantastic horror anthology full of unique and terrifying short stories. Perfect for the fall season for any fan of horror.

Bound in Blood is a themed anthology of 19 stories, all related to cursed "books" of some kind.  The types of books in the stories range from a photo album to the granddaddy of all cursed tomes, the Necronomicon itself.  It's an enjoyable, if not altogether original, theme for a horror collection.  Well, a sometimes-horror collection, because, despite what the title of this volume would seem to imply, there are several stories that are really fantasy or even just weird or experimental fiction, and don't touch on horror at all.

As with most anthologies, there are some winners and some losers, and in this instance, I feel like I rated more stories than I normally do as only two stars.  But, there were also some enjoyable tales in here.  Favorites of mine include the stories "From the Sea," by Charlie Higson, "The Man Who Collected Barker," by Kim Newman, "Cora Jarret Gets Into Trouble," by Johnny Mains (who also edited the book), and "Written On," by Ramsey Campbell.   And the two real standouts, "Bell, Book and Lamp," by A.G. Slatter, and "Near Zennor," by Elizabeth Hand, made wading through the slog of some of the 2 and middling 3 star stories worth it.  

My thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for a digital advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.  Bound in Blood will be released on September 10, 2024.