Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis
In the ruins of an old parking garage, there is an effigy lashed to a pillar. To anyone else, the remains of the woman with the goat skull head is a warning. To a lonely young boy looking for escape, it is a god of salvation. At its feet lay tattered old notebooks, scattered stories, tales of strange encounters, of broken people and monstrous things, and of corrupt hearts and evil minds. In order to complete his transfiguration, the boy must read these stories, but he has no idea the fate that awaits him.
WE LIVE INSIDE YOUR EYES is the much anticipated new collection from Bram Stoker Award-winning horror author Kealan Patrick Burke, featuring previously uncollected stories and two brand new tales written especially for this collection, the short story “You Have Nothing to Fear From Me”, and the novelette “The House on Abigail Lane.” With an introduction and story notes by the author.
Review
Let it be said that anytime Kealan Patrick Burke releases a new work, whether it be a novella, a collection of stories, or a grocery list with a bloody thumbprint on it, it is a must have in my home. I will rush to pre-order the e-book and paperback, chew on my nails to the roots and beyond until release day, and use the bloody stumps that are left to hold onto my Kindle and devour as many of the words he has put to page as possible. All the while I wait for the dead tree version to be delivered by the kind people of the Amazon Fleet and wait with baited breath for the package to hit the front porch.
ANYWHO…
We Live Behind Your Eyes is a collection of stories inside of a grander story, a story in which we see a clear beginning and end, but the main focus is the set of stories our protagonist happens upon beneath an effigy in an abandoned (and as you can imagine, dimly lit) parking garage.
Quite a few of the stories gave the same sort of bite I have become accustomed to when it comes to KPB’s writing. Engrossing story-telling that hits the mark at each corner, delivering a slow burn that ignites with fiery rage in its culmination. The prose just oozes out of the page like candle wax, hardening on my fingertips and clinging to the skin until it is scrubbed away. Not only that, but some are downright horrifying. We are talking Peekers level here, y’all..
Every. Single. Story. Hits. The. Mark. He even throws in a poem, you guys. COME ON. On top of that, Burke throws in a novelette for kicks; one which I think is a perfect match for King fans.
I’m not going to give a synopsis on each story because you really need to dive in and read them yourself. I can only say that I enjoyed each and every one, like I pretty much do with anything the author puts out.
If you are like me and can’t not buy everything KPB delivers, you know you are buying this book (or have probably already purchased it). If you haven’t taken a chance on him, I would encourage you to check out Sour Candy or Blanky before giving this one a go. It is a bit of a doozy.
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