Ancient Sorceries, Deluxe Edition

I love a good a good story telling & HP Lovecraft is one of my fav story tellers, Blackwoods writing was similar and edge of my seat captivating. I especially enjoyed Ancient Sorceries as I love witchy themes!

a reissue of the classic, giving new readers a chance to experience the author who greatly influenced the genre of horror, including HP Lovecraft

I had never heard of this author before. What's original here is the consistent disembodiment of his "monsters" and the extent to which the reader has to decide whether to believe the heretofore sensible narrators anymore, as they become increasingly persuaded of fanciful ideas. I'll return to this author, like I return to Poe and Lovecraft.

Story 1: Oh yeah this is awesome. Weird small French village full of pleasant (but somehow sinister and strangely feline) people? A Satan-worshipping cat princess??? A middle-aged man hopelessly in love with her?!!? Hell yeah!

Story 2: WTF WAS THAT?? It started off as a normal gothic haunted house story, but then… then it got so… so… agh. The ending honestly confused and disturbed me so much?

Story 3: Not really my thing. It was short but confusing and a little bit boring.

Story 4: The buildup for this one was really slow, but it was sufficiently creepy and very mysterious. It was probably the second best story in this collection.

A great collection of stories that most I had read before. Great to see them brought back to life again.

I had never heard of or read Algernon Blackwood before this collection, and I’m so glad I stumbled upon this book because I thoroughly enjoyed his writing. I did think certain stories were much better than others, but overall it was a great reading experience.

Here are my thoughts about the individual stories:

1. Ancient Sorceries: This was by far my favorite of the collection. It really just had everything I enjoy in a classic short horror story - wonderful writing and atmosphere, mystery and foreboding, and certain supernatural elements that I love (but I won’t spoil it by saying what they are.) This was a 10/10 story for me.

2. The Listener: This one had a very strong start, but the ending was abrupt and rather disturbing, and not in a fun way. I was left just feeling a bit confused and unsatisfied.

3. The Sea Fit: This was my least favorite of the bunch. It was very short, at least, but I found it to be boring and unmemorable.

4. The Willows: This was probably my second favorite. The set-up at the beginning was quite slow, but once it reached the climax at the end I was really caught up in the claustrophobic and menacing atmosphere. I only wish we had gotten more of that, and less of the clunky build-up.

Finally, my thoughts on this edition in particular. I really like the cover. The fonts (especially the title fonts) are really beautiful and pleasing to the eye. There was a handful of obvious errors/typos in my ARC edition that hopefully will be caught and corrected before the official publication. Other than that, I think it was really lovely.

Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

The majority of the short stories in Ancient Sorceries revolve around the premise that the narrator is chilled to the bone when they realize that their firmly held belief in material realism cannot be explained away when it pertains to something supernatural and, therefore, they're terrified. It's VERY easy to see why Lovecraft cites Blackwood as an inspiration.

The Willows is BY FAR the most unsettling and haunting read I can remember experiencing in a very, very long time, so I think it's worth picking up this collection just for that story alone. 4/5 stars!

Wow...just wow. Algernon Blackwood is right up there with H.P. Lovecraft, Tolkien, and Stephen King. Blackwood captures the feels and atmosphere of weird fiction. This is out just in time for spooky season.

I got my copy of this from NetGalley and Pushkin Press. Unless they clean up the ebook version, I recommend the pdf or a print copy, otherwise it's unreadable.

I can't believe I've slept on Algernon Blackwood for as long as I have - loving horror as much as I do, especially cosmic and ghost stories, I should have been reading him already! This book includes Ancient Sorceries, The Listener, The Sea Fit, and perhaps Blackwood's most favorite short, The Willows.

All were very good. Blackwood has a way of really bringing the atmosphere, or vibe of a story, to life. I love a storyteller who can elicit a physical reaction in me when reading their work... and while all of these stories succeeded in that regard, it was Ancient Sorceries that really got me. I deeply love The Willows and totally understand why it's so popular, and it definitely a foundational story in the genre of cosmic horror, but Ancient Sorceries just felt so magical and evil. Maybe it's because it's the middle of summer and I read it a sunny, hot day, but I just really, really felt that world.

I'm looking forward to reading more of his stories!! Nightmare fuel for sure.

"A beautifully produced new edition of Blackwood’s weirdest supernatural stories, including "The Willows," highlighted by H.P. Lovecraft as "the single finest weird tale in literature."

Lauded as one of our greatest storytellers, and inspiring generations of writers from H.P. Lovecraft to Tolkien to Stephen King, Algernon Blackwood left a legacy as one of Britain's greatest conjurors of weird and supernatural stories. Blackwood’s inimitable style puts readers right in the middle of the story, with visceral and nature-inspired fear that lies just beyond the real, often in the form of a nameless dread.

This beautifully produced edition, with a stunning cover and thoughtful design and layout to ensure the most enjoyable reading experience, features four of his most unnervingly curious tales:

Ancient Sorceries - a traveller stops in a remote French hill town and soon finds himself unable to leave; there is something strangely feline about the inhabitants, he notices, and they all seem to be watching him very closely…

The Listener - a lodging house guest feels himself observed by a malevolent presence. Soon it transpires his room's previous occupant is watching him from beyond the grave, and is envious of the very flesh on his bones.

The Sea Fit - an old retired ship's captain’s ravings build to a terrifying climax, as he offers himself up as a sacrifice to the cruel gods of the sea.

The Willows - two friends on a canoeing trip spend a terrifying night on a lonely willow-covered island, haunted by the strange trees and sinister shapes in the water."

So much yes at the new edition. LOOK at that cover!

I find Algernon Blackwood’s writing very smooth with tension slowly building giving you a sense that the characters are drifting further and further into a bad situation. Like a vintage version of the movie The Blair Witch Project.
Some of these stores have a H P Lovecraft feel to them also, which I loved.

The characters are exceptionally well written, and the story has a chilling atmosphere, and a excellent example of his work.

I would recommend this book if you like a good classic gothic story.

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.*

Algernon Blackwood is a favourite author of mine and so I was quite pleased to have the opportunity to review this book.

'Ancient Sorceries' contains four of Algernon Blackwood's better known tales - Ancient Sorceries, The Listner, The Sea Fit, and The Willows.
It should be noted for fans of the author that it does not contain all of the stories included in Blackwood's 'Ancient sorceries and other weird stories (1927)' as I had assumed it would.

Blackwood, an inspiration of H. P. Lovecraft, excels in the art of atmospheric horror and leans heavily into humanity's fear of the unexplained.

Written in the early years of the twentieth century, these stories have a distinctively Victorian style, especially in regards to the tone and language. Unfortunately, it does mean that they also contain some of the unfavourable and, occasionally, bigoted views and beliefs of that era.

As far as an introduction to Blackwood's stories, I worry that the story order may deter some readers if they are unaccustomed to Victorian literature.
I personally always recommend newcomers to start with The Willows as I feel it provides an easier introduction to the Victorian writing style and to Blackwood's preference for slowly building tension through multiple subtle occurrences.

The book is bound by a gorgeously illustrated cover that I just have to have on my bookcase.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a free digital copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved these short stories. I had only read one story by Blackwood (“The Willows”) previously and was excited to get my hands on more. Blackwood’s prose is beautiful, with strange, wonderful premises and some truly shiver-inducing moments. “I want your body; I want its covering. I’m waiting for it, and listening always” (127). Is that a good line or what? Even for a modern reader, his takes on haunted houses and ghosts are fresh.

Whoever made the choices for this collection (there was no editor or team credited in the book) did an absolutely fantastic job. Though four may not seem like much, Blackwood’s stories are moreso novellette/novella length than short story length (the collection is 253 pages long). Four stories is the perfect length, not dragging on for too long or being so large as to be intimidating.

The four stories chosen provide an excellent sampling of Blackwood’s work for someone new to Blackwood. While they are all supernatural and weird, they explore different aspects of the supernatural: “The Listener” is a gothic ghost story, “The Sea Fit” and “Ancient Sorceries” concern the ancient occult and paganism, and “The Willows” (with its focus on awe and horror stemming from nature) contains elements of the Romantic, though it of course is first and foremost Weird fiction. Although widely different in terms of subject, in themes they are tied, with a throughline of isolation, entrapment, and the danger of place running as an undercurrent below them all.

The only criticisms I have are minor. “Ancient Sorceries” is one of his John Silence stories, a character sometimes referred to as an occult Sherlock Holmes. I will say that as someone unfamiliar with his work this story was a little confusing at first, as the reader is expected to have some familiarity with John Silence already. The opening paragraph hitting me with “John Silence, the psychic doctor” then immediately moving on was disorienting. However, because Silence and his work is not crucial to understanding the narrative, it was not something that interfered with being able to follow the narrative. While an introductory note or section discussing the stories included or Blackwood as an author would have gone a long way towards preventing that confusion, it’s not something I think the collection requires. After all, my questions were easily cleared up with a quick Google search. Additionally, while “The Listener” is one of my favorites of the collection (topped only by “The Willows”), the narrative cuts off rather suddenly at a revelation regarding the identity of the ghost, leaving the narrator’s story to end abruptly, something that holds it back from being as good as “The Willows.”

Blackwood’s work is often compared to Lovecraft, and while I can certainly see that comparison and agree, I would also compare his work to Shirley Jackson. More specifically, the slow build of tension, pervasive feelings of isolation, and the influence of place and setting in these stories reminded me greatly of We Have Always Lived in the Castle and The Haunting of Hill House. If you enjoy slow, subtle, weird horror and are interested in the works of Blackwood, this collection by Pushkin Press is an excellent introduction to his work. Five stars; I may just be tempted into picking up a physical copy, should I come across one. My next foray into Blackwood will be into his John Silence stories, as the line “John Silence, psychic doctor” hit me like a fright train and has not left my thoughts since.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for providing a digital review copy of Ancient Sorceries!

This is a good creepy collection of four stories, spine tingling and unearthly. In the title story, a man gets off a train and finds himself in a strange town where the people display catlike behaviour. In ‘The Listener’ a lodger is haunted by a previous tenant. ‘The Sea Fit’ is about the nature of the sea and old sea gods. The final story, ‘The Willows’ set on an ever dwindling island in a flooding Danube, two canoeists here sounds from the surrounding willows, something from another dimension wants a victim. The writing is excellent with good pacing. The stories drew me in to the character’s fears and beliefs making me want to know what was going on.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The new edition of Ancient Sorceries is weird and attractive at the same time. You can read one story at a time, perhaps in the evening before bed and they will make you restless but at the same time you will be curious about what you cannot see and cannot understand.

I will try to review the individual stories starting from:

1. Ancient Sorceries: 4 ⭐️
A tourist decides to abandon the train he was traveling on and stop in a small village in France.
After a while he realizes that the inhabitants are strange, silent, almost feline and pretend to ignore him.

This first story opens the anthology in style, it intrigued me, almost hypnotized me. It made me feel exactly like the protagonist, trapped in a kind of numbness.
I really liked it, especially the final chapter (but you have to read it to understand what I’m talking about, I don’t want to do spoilers).

2. The Listener 3⭐️
A man has recently moved into his new home but there is something wrong. Very often at night he dreams that a presence enters his room and during the day he hears strange noises coming from the floor above. Will it all be the result of his imagination?

The story is different from the others because it’s written in the form of a diary but unfortunately the ending was disappointing.

3. The Sea Fit 2.5 ⭐️
An old ship’s capitain’s offers himself as a sacrifice to the pagan sea gods but there are other people who get involved in this rite and things will only get worse.

I didn't particularly like this story, I found it confusing! But I liked the fact that events unfolded with a crescendo of unease and fear.

4. The Willows 4.5 ⭐️
Two man go on a canoe trip down the Danube River. In every place they visit there aren’t any sign of human habitation and civilisation.
Everything goes according to plan until they spot an isle and decide to camp there.
From that moment everything starts to go wrong and the sense of restlessness of the two protagonists continue to increase.. they have understood that something bad is coming for them.

This is an amazing creepy story, my favourite of the entire anthology. It’s really well written!


To conclude I recommend this anthology to all those who like the horror/weird genre and to anyone who likes to read short but intense stories.

Blackwood's tales are classics. Of the four stories in this particular collection, I had clear memories of having read two before. The thing which stands out to me in Blackwood's writing is his use of the first-person narrative and his skill at using that point of view to impart a real sense of anxious fear into his writing. He gives the barest hint of foreshadowing so that we know something strange is going to happen, but makes us rush through the tale alongside the narrator trying to figure out exactly what that strange thing is. Building tension is his forte.

The stories included are:

Ancient Sorceries - a man on holiday takes a detour in a little town where no one is what they seem, and must fight against the hypnotic allure of a lithe young lady and vague memories of his past self, lest he find himself stuck forever in the dreamy little village. Readers with ailurophobia will find this tale especially disturbing.

The Listener - a poor writer rents suspiciously cheap rooms in an otherwise-empty boarding house, only to be plagued by visions of a shadowy figure who listens at his door, sneaks into his rooms, and drives the narrator half-mad as he fights to maintain control of his own mind against the figure's increasing strength.

The Sea Fit - four men gather in a hut near the sea, and it's all fun and games until the old sea gods come calling for a willing sacrfice.

The Willows - two friends on a trip down the Danube find themselves stuck on a shrinking island as strange sights and sounds rub their nerves raw and time ticks slowly toward a seemingly inevitable conclusion. Exactly who or what the strange forces are remains a mystery to the end.

Blackwood wrote during the early part of the twentieth century and thus his style straddles the line between the Victorian writers of Gothic tales and the more modern stories of mid-century authors. A bit wordy at times but worth the work, these are stories which start out slow and pick up steam like a train headed straight for a steep cliff.

Ominous and eccentric, atmospheric and spellbinding, these stories were perfect to get into the autumn mood.

A beautifully produced new edition of Blackwood’s weirdest supernatural stories, including “The Willows,” highlighted by H.P. Lovecraft as "the single finest weird tale in literature ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As a huge Edgar Allan Poe and Victorian Gothic fan, I had always heard that I should try Algernon Blackwood. My favorite stories here were The Listener, Ancient Sorceries, and The Willows. Blackwood was very skilled in creating an ominous, spooky atmosphere and conjuring an immense sense of dread in these tales. The tales are perfect to read on an October day, and better yet during a thunderstorm! Because of the time, some of the language may be a little hard to get through if you aren't used to reading old literature, so it's best to take your time with this book and let the stories settle in. I found myself reading 1 story at a time, which each took about a week. If psychological horror is something you gravitate towards, you should try this! My observation after reading this book is that Blackwood delivers more of a slow burn...not unlike A24 movies like the Witch, Midsommar, and Hereditary. I will definitely check out more from this author in the future!

Gorgeous book. Text font and cover illustrations are spot-on perfect. I had heard of Algernon Blackwood but not ever read his stories so this was a perfect introduction. As we are nearing Halloween, this particular collection would be a good spooky gift.

A gorgeous presentation of some classic horror stories from Algernon Blackwood.
If you like folk horror and slow burning revelation then this author is for you.
Younger Gen Z readers who can't handle scene building and wordiness might choose to miss this author in favour of fast placed Popcorn horror but really shouldn't. Try it, you might like it

A timeless collection of haunting tales that brings together horror,fantasy and atmospheric thrills. I'm so glad they have released the deluxe edition.

In America there was HP Lovecraft and in England there was the brilliance of Algernon Blackwood.

Included in this volume of his stories are some of his best and downright eerie. His attention to detail and dread makes him one of the most accomplished fantasy horror ever to be published. Predating the greats such as Stephen King and Clive Barker, one can read these classic tales and see where inspiration was inspired from.

Blackwood foreboding tales settle on the brain long after reading and leaves the reader with a sense of wonderment and dread making him one of the greats. If you are new to the author, this is an excellent place to start with all his greatest stories collected in one volume.

Open your mind, soul and experience with Blackwood and you will find yourself enjoying a new breed of horror written more than a 100 years ago. Highly recommended.

Lauded as one of our greatest storytellers, and inspiring generations of writers from H.P. Lovecraft to Tolkien to Stephen King, Algernon Blackwood left a legacy as one of Britain's greatest conjurors of weird and supernatural stories. Blackwood’s inimitable style puts readers right in the middle of the story, with visceral and nature-inspired fear that lies just beyond the real, often in the form of a nameless dread.

This beautifully produced edition, with a stunning cover and thoughtful design and layout to ensure the most enjoyable reading experience, features four of his most unnervingly curious tales:
Ancient Sorceries--a traveller stops in a remote French hill town and soon finds himself unable to leave; there is something strangely feline about the inhabitants, he notices, and they all seem to be watching him very closely…
The Listener--a lodging house guest feels himself observed by a malevolent presence. Soon it transpires his room’s previous occupant is watching him from beyond the grave, and is envious of the very flesh on his bones.
The Sea Fit--an old retired ship’s captain’s ravings build to a terrifying climax, as he offers himself up as a sacrifice to the cruel gods of the sea.
The Willows--two friends on a canoeing trip spend a terrifying night on a lonely willow-covered island, haunted by the strange trees and sinister shapes in the water.


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Sinister, creepy but in a good way. Make me extra jumpy that day. THAT GORGEOUS COVER THO!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Highly recommended for Halloween read!

This a supernatural and horror anthology that is entertaining. This book includes four different stories; Ancient Sorceries, The Listener, The Sea Fit, and Willows. Each story is weird, creepy and provocative. The author is a talented horror storyteller. The stories are different but they mesh well together to make a stunning book. This is a heart stopping anthology.


Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for this review copy, I received this review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I dipped in and out of this book over a week, absorbing each unique story. Blackwood really is a master writer, building great atmosphere, tension, emotions and intrigue. A beautiful collection of stories!

What a delight to read these amazing stories again. The Deluxe Edition of Ancient Sorceries was brilliant. They are beautifully written and keep the reader ready for more.

I love short stories, especially horror ones, so this was a perfect read for me! The Listener will particularly never leave me, it was so creepy. Loved the chance to review this classic reissue so thank you!

I absolutely loved Algernon Blackwood's voice in this collection of stories. This is my first book of his and will absolutely not be the last!