The Dark Writings of Charlotte Emma Gledson

This review will be featured in issue 9 of HOUSE OF HORROR MAGAZINE

http://www.houseofhorror.org.uk/#/home/4534063502

Charlotte Emma Gledson writes like no other. Her ability to capture the monster that lurks in the dark, be it physical, metaphorical or in the mind, is astounding to say the least. Her poetry above all is beauty and pain mixed into one and that is why I employed her as poetry editor for House of Horror. Never would I have thought that such dark and disturbing work could come from the mind of such a lovely lady. She is a writing force to be reckoned with and being a relatively new addition to the dark world of writing horror, she has most definitely made a name for herself in such a short amount of time. The Lonely Tree and Other Twisted Tales of Torment is Gledson's debuing book, put out by her own publishing company, Black Hound. The book is a collection of 19 short horror stories that will surely chill you to the bone. Each individual story takes you on a ride of pure dread and I for one could not put that book down.

The Lonely Tree has now been read on both sides of the world and is well renowned for being as close to Stephen King as you can get. Through the flow of her dark prose, Charlotte teaches us some of the true horrors in life and that simple words on a page can mean so much more. I have read small snippits of Gledson's work, but on a much smaller range. The Lonely Tree was a completely different read altogether. Never in my life have I been so scared to put a book down until I had read each and every story to the end. Be warned: These stories are truly horrifying and deal with some terrible aspects of horror with vulgarity and bad language. If you are to be offended by any of these things then turn away now. But, if you enjoy a truly horrifying read and something to challenge your mind to the depth of your soul then this will definitely be a book for your reading list. I sure as hell cannot wait to see what Gledson puts out next, but one thing I can be certain of, is that it won't be a pretty story with a happy ending.

S E COX - Author of FORBIDDEN LOVE and EDITOR of HOUSE OF HORROR MAGAZINE.