The Old Ways: Volume One

Name: The Old Ways: Volume One
Price: 15.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781990245893

✍️ Stephanie Ellis

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$15.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A folk horror anthology by Stephanie Ellis exploring dark rural rituals and ancient traditions.

Ellis gathers narratives that reveal the terrifying side of rural folklore in this 2023 release. The book focuses on specific events like the Kinlet May celebration and the East Marion parade, alongside lesser-known customs such as smoking scarecrow. These stories are tied to seasonal changes and lunar cycles, emphasizing their recurring nature. The content is explicit, covering heavy subjects including ritualistic torture and abuse. Readers seeking gentle supernatural tales should avoid this volume. It is designed for those who want to understand the specific mechanics of folk horror through detailed accounts of traditional practices and their modern interpretations.

Key Themes

folk horror rituals ancient gods worship seasonal superstitions

Literary Context

This book sits within the folk horror genre, exploring traditions tied to forests, fields, and seasonal cycles like solstices and equinoxes. It draws on rural customs such as May celebrations and specific local parades, presenting them through a lens of supernatural terror and occult practice.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

M.R. James · Robert Aickman · Algernon Blackwood

🕯️

Supernatural

🏛 Eerie River Publishing 📅 2023 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781990245893

📚 This Book in Collections

🌾 Folk Horror

📝 Description: The Old Ways: Volume One

Stephanie Ellis curates a collection of folk horror narratives in The Old Ways: Volume One. This anthology examines dark traditions within forest and field settings, focusing on ancient gods and terrible rituals. The text investigates specific cultural practices, such as why children smoke scarecrow plants, how the village of Kinlet welcomes May, and the dangers associated with the East Marion parade. These tales return to haunt readers during solstices, equinoxes, and under the full moon. They represent stories that communities prefer to keep hidden, rooted in the Old Ways of folk tradition. The volume includes trigger warnings for death, abuse, murder, occultism, ritualistic torture, the death of children and animals, and mentions of sexual assault. Ellis organizes these entries to highlight the terrifying aspects of rural folklore. The book suits readers interested in supernatural fiction and gothic themes who are prepared for graphic content regarding violence and occult practices. It does not suit those sensitive to depictions of abuse, murder, or the death of minors and animals. The publisher, Eerie River Publishing, released this work in 2023. The ISBN is 9781990245893. This collection provides a concrete look at the darker corners of folk horror without offering comfort or resolution.

💎 Our verdict on The Old Ways: Volume One

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Stephanie Ellis curates a chilling anthology that exposes the terrifying underbelly of rural folklore. By focusing on specific cultural practices like the Kinlet May celebration and East Marion parade, the text highlights the dangers inherent in ancient traditions. The narrative structure ties these stories to seasonal changes and lunar cycles, emphasizing their recurring, haunting nature. While explicit and containing heavy subjects such as ritualistic torture and abuse, the work serves as a vital study for horror enthusiasts. It appeals to readers who appreciate detailed examinations of folk horror’s mechanics rather than conventional ghost stories. The volume is uncompromising in its depiction of dark rituals, offering a raw and unvarnished perspective on the old ways that communities prefer to keep hidden.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a visceral exploration of folk horror’s darker mechanics will find this volume essential. It is designed for those who wish to understand the specific, often grotesque, traditions behind rural folklore rather than enjoy gentle supernatural tales. The book offers a concrete look at how communities hide terrible secrets rooted in ancient ways. It suits fans of gothic themes and cosmic horror who are prepared for graphic content regarding violence and occult practices. Those interested in the terrifying side of seasonal changes and lunar cycles will appreciate the detailed accounts of traditional practices. This collection provides no comfort or resolution, making it ideal for readers who want to confront the harsh realities of folk tradition without romanticization.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Stephanie Ellis curates a chilling anthology that exposes the terrifying underbelly of rural folklore. By focusing on specific cultural practices like the Kinlet May celebration and East Marion parade, the text highlights the dangers inherent in ancient traditions. The narrative structure ties these stories to seasonal changes and lunar cycles, emphasizing their recurring, haunting nature. While explicit and containing heavy subjects such as ritualistic torture and abuse, the work serves as a vital study for horror enthusiasts. It appeals to readers who appreciate detailed examinations of folk horror’s mechanics rather than conventional ghost stories. The volume is uncompromising in its depiction of dark rituals, offering a raw and unvarnished perspective on the old ways that communities prefer to keep hidden.