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Rayne Hall
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The Bride's Curse: Bulgarian Gothic Ghost and Horror Stories. Thirteen Creepy, Suspenseful Tales from Bulgaria. Kindle Edition

by Rayne Hall (Author), Savina Mantovska (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 out of 5 stars 33 ratings
Welcome to Bulgaria, my adopted country in the south east of Europe, a land of snow-blanketed mountains and sun-baked plains, deep pine forests and fragrant rose plantations, studded with remnants of past eras – ancient Thracian and Roman, medieval, Ottoman and Communist.

Join me on a fictional journey to remote villages where you'll meet native Bulgarians, travellers and expatriates, demons and ghosts. I’ve blended my personal experiences with Bulgarian folklore and mythology, and let my imagination roam. All the events and characters are my inventions, yet they’re steeped in Bulgarian myth and reality.

The tales in this book belong to the ‘quiet’ horror category – more creepy than gory, rich in atmosphere and suspense. Instead of throwing you into a whirl of violent action, I’ll take you on a gentle visit to experience Bulgaria – the wealth of her nature, her economic poverty, her legends and traditions, her creepy abandoned homes and her timeless beauty – all from the safety of your armchair.

The stories are personal, arising from my perceptions and imagination. Still, I hope you’ll gain a ‘feel’ for the country. After each story, I’ll tell you a little about the genesis of that tale, the sources of my inspiration.

Bulgarian artist Savina Mantovska from Sofia has created beautiful illustrations, enriching each story with her vision.

Come and join me under the grape arbour while the sinking sun streaks the mountains with crimson and purple. Sip a blood-red pomegranate juice or a fiery rakia, and enjoy my creepy tales.
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  1. Print length
    234 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    September 27, 2020
  4. File size
    8.5 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08K94VB9S
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 27, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 8.5 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 234 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 33 ratings

About the author

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Rayne Hall

Rayne Hall

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Rayne Hall MA is the author of over 100 books, mostly Dark Fantasy and Gothic Horror, e.g. The Bride’s Curse: Bulgarian Gothic Ghost and Horror Stories. She is also the acclaimed editor of Gothic, Fantasy and Horror anthologies (e.g. Among the Headstones: Creepy Tales from the Graveyard) and author of the bestselling Writer’s Craft series for advanced-level writers, including and the bestselling Writer’s Craft series e.g. Writing Gothic Fiction Writing Scary Scenes, Writing Vivid Settings, Writing Vivid Dialogue, Writing Vivid Characters, Writing Deep Point of View.

Born and raised in Germany, Rayne Hall has lived in China, Mongolia, Nepal and Britain. Now she resides in a village in Bulgaria, where men perform the annual demon dance, ghosts and sirens beckon, and abandoned decaying houses hold memories of a glorious past.

Her lucky black rescue cat Sulu often accompanies her when she explores spooky derelict buildings. He delights in walking across shattered roof tiles, scratching charred timbers and sniffing at long-abandoned hearths. He even senses the presence of ghosts… but that’s another story.

Rayne has worked as an investigative journalist, development aid worker, museum guide, apple picker, tarot reader, adult education teacher, belly dancer, magazine editor, publishing manager and more, and now writes full time.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
33 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book a worthy read with excellent creepy horror stories. Moreover, they appreciate the depth of the stories, with one review noting how they provide a psychological look into the human mind. Additionally, customers like the character development, with one review highlighting the colorful Bulgarian characters.

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8 customers mention "Readability"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a worthy read, with one customer describing it as spellbinding and another noting its well-crafted stories.

"...I will certainly be reading more of Hall's well-crafted stories." Read more

"...She managed to grasp the Bulgarian mentality very well. The book is so palpable, all the descriptions and characters feel live, the stories are..." Read more

"...in her adopted country of Bulgaria, turned out to be an excellent choice for me to read right now...." Read more

"...to see what Eastern European scares are like, this collection is a worthy read." Read more

5 customers mention "Depth"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the depth of the book, with one review highlighting its lush descriptions and historical context, while another notes its psychological exploration of the human mind.

"...This book is more of a psychological look into the human mind, rather than a monster story...." Read more

"...palpable, all the descriptions and characters feel live, the stories are interesting and addictive. I will definitely read more from Rayne Hall...." Read more

"...Three special delights of this collection: Getting to know the people, settings, and customs of Bulgaria; the illustrations by Savina Mantovska; and..." Read more

"...She puts her unique spin on its people, customs and life, giving us its sights, smells and tastes in stories where the unknown and the dread slowly..." Read more

4 customers mention "Suspenseful"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the suspenseful stories in this collection, describing them as excellent and creepy, with one customer noting how the author infuses suspense into every line.

"This is an excellent collection of creepy horror stories for those who do not like the gore of most contemporary horror fiction...." Read more

"The perfect type of ghost/horror stories - creepy and atmospheric without gore and without the need to shock...." Read more

"Rayne Hall, a master of the creepy atmospheric story, now introduces us to her adopted country of Bulgaria...." Read more

"...Hall manages to infuse suspense into every line with lush descriptions and interesting characters...." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one review highlighting the colorful Bulgarian characters.

"...The book is so palpable, all the descriptions and characters feel live, the stories are interesting and addictive...." Read more

"...to infuse suspense into every line with lush descriptions and interesting characters...." Read more

"Rayne Hall weaves colorful Bulgarian characters together with brooding atmospherics and just plain creepiness to produce a fun read just in time for..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Missi Montana
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This is an excellent collection of creepy horror stories for those who do not like the gore of most contemporary horror fiction. Ms. Hall uses her knowledge of Bulgarian culture and legends to create suspenseful stories of ordinary people caught in extrordinary and dangerous situations. What I enjoyed best were the characters whose fear led them to acts they otherwise might not have commited.
    The illustrations are beautiful and go well with the text. This book is more of a psychological look into the human mind, rather than a monster story. There are no good or bad guys, just flawed people doing their best to survive in a difficult world. And also some old legends and spirits to haunt them.
    My two favorite stories were The Bride's Curse and In The Gothic Chair. If you are bored with the whole mindless killer/massive body count gory horror, then this is the book for you.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Andrew S
    5.0 out of 5 stars I don't think I'll put Bulgaria on my bucket list... but read these stories!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The perfect type of ghost/horror stories - creepy and atmospheric without gore and without the need to shock. Many stories had an unexpected - sometimes disturbing - twist at the end. "The Bride's Curse" harks back to Victorian and Edwardian storytelling when there was no need for splatter and excessive crude language. While I have read many stories set in the British Isles, and a smattering elsewhere, this was the first collection I have read set in Bulgaria. Knowing next to nothing about the country, I was pleased to be introduced to some of its customs and legends... although I doubt that I'll add Bulgaria to my bucket list! My favorite story was the first, "Behind Him." Having written several volumes of ghost and horror stories myself, I wish I had written this tale! I will certainly be reading more of Hall's well-crafted stories.
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  • Heather
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Chilling Little Collection
    Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2022
    The Bride's Curse contains thirteen stories that will transport the reader to the ancient villages and snow-covered hills of Bulgaria. The tales are full of demons and ghosts, creepy-crawlies and curses. They reminded me of the old Victorian horror stories because many involve travelers who find themselves in remote areas full of superstition and less-than-friendly locals.

    Stand-out stories in the collection for me were:

    "In the Gothic Chair" - A middle-aged woman inherits her distant cousin's dusty old bookshop, and the strange and powerful chair that sits in its midst. Many want to get their hands on the chair - but why?

    "The Christmas Shadow" - A man decides to buy a house in a remote location even after the realtor tells him that the house has a ghost which kills anyone stupid enough to be inside the house on Christmas Eve. It's just one day of the year, he can just go somewhere else - or can he?

    "Rights of Residence" - An aging woman begins to suspect that her granddaughter is scheming to get her out of the way - permanently - in order to inherit her house. But the old baba has no intention of going quietly.

    "Mulberries for Baba Yanka" - A scheming young woman dabbles in magic she knows nothing about, and learns the hard way to be careful what you wish for.

    "The Bride's Curse" - A brother and sister team spend the night in a haunted house in hopes of producing a thrilling documentary of their experience. But they're about to get more than they bargained for, and they may not both make it out alive.

    These tales are spooky and creepy without being overly grotesque or horrifying. They will appeal to a broad age spectrum - scary enough for adults but also entirely appropriate for children who like a good chilling tale. They are perfect for curling up with on a cold winter evening with a hot drink, preferably while a blizzard howls beyond the windows and a crackling fire warms the room.
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  • AP
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected pleasure
    Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I was born and lived in Bulgaria under the communism, then immigrated to Canada. This book brought me 30 years back. I gulped it in one day and I have to congratulate the author for the amazing job she has done. She managed to grasp the Bulgarian mentality very well. The book is so palpable, all the descriptions and characters feel live, the stories are interesting and addictive.
    I will definitely read more from Rayne Hall. Thanks for the trip down the memory lane, it was a fantastic experience!
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  • Juliet Kincaid
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Read for Our Turbulent Times
    Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The Bride’s Curse, Rayne Hall’s collection of ghost and horror stories, all set in her adopted country of Bulgaria, turned out to be an excellent choice for me to read right now.

    Generally, I prefer reading novels instead of reading short fiction, but given the distractions of current events (the Pandemic, assorted climate-related crises, politics), concentrating on one story at a time is about the best I can do.

    As the author of the Cinderella, P. I. fairy tale mystery series for grownups, I try to give my stories and novels happy endings. Indeed, one or two of Ms. Hall’s stories, including my favorite, have endings that can be interpreted as happy. (You’ll get no spoilers from me about which of these stories have more upbeat endings.) But generally these stories don’t. But many of them do warn against the dangers of anger and cutting yourself off from others. And this is something we all should remember in our tumultuous times.

    Three special delights of this collection: Getting to know the people, settings, and customs of Bulgaria; the illustrations by Savina Mantovska; and Ms. Hall’s end notes to the stories that explain how she came to write them.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Misfit Malice
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good!
    Reviewed in Canada on November 26, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    A fine collection of old-school stories, more fantastic/horror than pure horror, like there used to be in ancient times, when you didn't have to slaughter an entire city to call it horror. Really atmospheric, like the old black and white movies of Dracula. It was fun and pleasant to learn a bit about Bulgaria, too.
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  • Marian Phair
    5.0 out of 5 stars Spine tingling tales
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 28, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I am an avid fan of Rayne Hall. The Brides Curse, is a real page turner. I read it in one night. I walked with the characters, and a scared myself silly, when I discovered two centipedes in my back porch, having just read a harrowing tale about these creepy crawlies. Rayne, has a unique talent for storytelling. Long may she entertain us.
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  • Tedi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
    Reviewed in Germany on December 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    It was very interesting for me to read how the author was inspired from my country - Bulgaria. I like the book and the stories.
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  • Marguerite
    5.0 out of 5 stars REAL chillers!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 13, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoy Rayne Hall's style - I am a fan of her writing series anyway - but these chillers are something else!
    I have been on ghost walks in my own area and enjoy finding out about local history and legends. I knew hardly anything about Bulgaria and yet Rayne, with admitted fiction injected in to the stories, took me on a virtual ghost walk around the beautiful countryside. I virtually visited some very interesting buildings and met some, well, just leave it at, strange people. There were some very clever twists in this varied collection of short and slightly longer tales.
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