A review by alexbooksandmore
The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Festive Nights by Catriona Ward, Natasha Pulley, Laura Purcell, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Bridget Collins, Jess Kidd, Andrew Michael Hurley, Stuart Turton, Imogen Hermes Gowar, Elizabeth Macneal, Susan Stokes-Chapman, Laura Shepherd-Robinson

dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

The Winter Spirits is an anthology of ghostly tales by twelve different authors, offering just the right level of spookiness for the Christmas season. Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to finish it by Christmas, but it still made for an intriguing read afterward. 

Despite the relatively short length of each story (30–50 pages), I found it somewhat challenging to adjust to the different writing styles. However, a few stories truly stood out for me: A Double Thread, The Master of the House, and Carol of the Bells and Chains. These were the ones I wished had been longer—I wanted more world-building and a bit more excitement to really immerse myself in them.  

Overall, I’d recommend *The Winter Spirits* if you’re in the mood for a chilling yet festive read during the holiday season!

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