In the Mist of Killarney: A Faery Tale

Name: In the Mist of Killarney: A Faery Tale
Price: 14.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781511691789

✍️ R L McCallum

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$14.95

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A professor pursues Irish folklore and loses his sanity.

McCallum explores the dangerous intersection of academic curiosity and ancient belief systems. Professor Emmet Brehon represents the rational mind attempting to validate the irrational through photographic evidence. His journey from Dublin academia to the specific landscape of Kerry highlights the tension between scholarly detachment and visceral supernatural experience. The narrative examines how capturing the unseen can trap the observer in a cycle of misfortune. The story does not offer redemption but rather a descent into madness triggered by a single act of documentation.

Key Themes

Irish mythology faerie folklore psychological horror

Literary Context

The text is set in Ireland in 1911. It draws on Irish mythology and folklore traditions. The setting moves from a Dublin university to the specific location of Lough Leane in Kerry, grounding the supernatural elements in real geographical places associated with faerie lore.

Difficulty

● Easy

Recommended For Fans Of

M.R. James · Shirley Jackson · C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne · Algernon Blackwood

🩸

Horror Fiction

🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2015 📖 222 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781511691789

📝 Description: In the Mist of Killarney: A Faery Tale

R L McCallum presents a narrative rooted in Ireland during 1911. The story follows Professor Emmet Brehon, who teaches Irish mythology and folklore at a Dublin university. His academic focus stems from a childhood encounter with a faery in the woodlands near his home. This early experience drives him to pursue the belief that faeries are real entities rather than mere mythological elements. The plot shifts when Emmet receives a note from a stranger claiming knowledge of where faeries can be found. The note includes a map leading to a faerie circle and mound near Lough Leane in Kerry. There, he witnesses two ghostly little girls and a faery light. Using his Brownie camera, Emmet captures an image of these spectral figures. The photograph becomes the source of his unraveling. He finds he cannot rid himself of the image, and disasters occur whenever he is present. These events lead to the loss of everything precious in his life, including his sanity. The book suits readers interested in early twentieth century Irish folklore and psychological horror. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted supernatural tales or modern fantasy settings.

💎 Our verdict on In the Mist of Killarney: A Faery Tale

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

McCallum crafts a chilling exploration of academic hubris, positioning Professor Brehon’s quest against the backdrop of Kerry’s landscape. The text effectively builds tension by contrasting scholarly detachment with the visceral reality of faery encounters. The use of the Brownie camera serves as a potent symbol for the intrusion of the supernatural into modern documentation. This approach suits readers who enjoy psychological horror where sanity is eroded by specific, documented triggers. While it lacks the complexity of major classics, its focused narrative on the cost of curiosity makes it a noteworthy addition to collections dedicated to Irish gothic traditions and early paranormal fiction.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers drawn to the intersection of academic inquiry and supernatural dread will find this title compelling. It offers a focused study on how rational detachment collapses when confronted with ancient, visceral beliefs. The narrative appeals to those interested in early twentieth-century Irish folklore and the psychological mechanisms of madness. It is particularly suitable for fans of cosmic horror who appreciate stories where the act of observation itself becomes a curse. By exploring the dangers of validating the irrational through photographic evidence, the book provides a tense, atmospheric experience for audiences seeking lighthearted fantasy to avoid.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

McCallum crafts a chilling exploration of academic hubris, positioning Professor Brehon’s quest against the backdrop of Kerry’s landscape. The text effectively builds tension by contrasting scholarly detachment with the visceral reality of faery encounters. The use of the Brownie camera serves as a potent symbol for the intrusion of the supernatural into modern documentation. This approach suits readers who enjoy psychological horror where sanity is eroded by specific, documented triggers. While it lacks the complexity of major classics, its focused narrative on the cost of curiosity makes it a noteworthy addition to collections dedicated to Irish gothic traditions and early paranormal fiction.