Three Tales for the Winter
Photo credit: “Christ Church, Downend” by Robert Cutts, 2009. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. Minor edits have been made to the photo’s color and size.
Happy Yule and Winter Solstice! Here’s a roundup of Spindle House stories that are perfect for winter reading! Grab a blanket, make some cocoa, and get cozy with these wintry tales.
“The Living at Eyminster” by Isobel Granby
When a new vicar is sent to a remote village, he inherits the responsibilities of his predecessor in serving the villagers. But the village of Eyminster has an unusual and secretive tradition: each year, on the final Sunday in December, the vicar must administer the Sermon for the Dead at midnight. The ceremony is a sacred rite as much as a secret one, and the new vicar must fulfill this responsibility as well—no matter how much it haunts him.
“House Rules” by Kay Hanifen
In “House Rules,” a woman living with OCD has established a list of rules that help her keep a ghost at bay. But as the days grow colder and the snow begins to fall, it becomes clear that the ghost isn’t going anywhere. Some spirits simply refuse to rest.
“The Sins of Scrivel” by Matthew McConkey
Set in a gothic fantasy universe, “The Sins of Scrivel” is the story of a Manor newly purged of its former Master’s wytching and use of the Low Arts. But while a new Master has taken control of the once-forsaken estate, a servant of the old Master refuses to be reformed. As the months ebb into dismal winter, Scrivel’s recalcitrance grows increasingly sinister, threatening to bring the Manor to its knees.
