Dark village life secrets.

‘Folk’ has already been described so perfectly by reviewers on the cover as ‘thick with magic’, and ‘a gorgeous, uneasy siren of a book’.

It is a short story collection set in a small village on the island of Neverness, inspired by folklore and the Isle of Man.

The stories are somewhat connected. This wraps the reader within the tapestry of village life, to observe the traditions, heartbreaks, and tragedies.

Recurring themes are the shame of dark emotions that can’t be put into words, and the secrets everyone knows but no one talks about.

Landscape and nature feature heavily, with a disturbing and beautiful effect. Madness is induced by thunder, and a magical mist can be found between seacliffs. Feathers, bees, and flowers make spells and superstitions.

I could feel the cold sea wind along the rocky shore as I read ‘Folk’.

The story which struck me most was about an old woman accused of witchcraft. The tale is told in such a clever, indirect way. Once I pieced together what had happened, I was genuinely horrified. I needed to put down the book and take a breather.

Although ‘Folk’ is short, it took me a while to read. I found myself needing emotional breaks because of its dark, unsettling mood. I also find short story collections a bit mentally draining, as you keep meeting new characters.

It was a good book, but I admit I took a deep breath of relief once I was done. It is perfect for someone who wants to get lost in dark fairytales.

3 out of 5 yellow gorse flowers.

FYI: The story about a ‘water bull’ includes sexual violence.

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You may also like this short story collection:

Review: Fen by Daisy Johnson

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