Book Review: Sair Back, Sair Banes by Anthony Engebretson

A dark shape now stood in those choppy dark waters. A horse. A black one, large as she’d ever seen, with a mane that poured down its neck.

Genevieve hoped a trip to the Scottish village of Fonniskie would help her reconnect. But her vacation turns out to be less than relaxing: the nearby loch holds a dark secret, and Genevieve finds herself haunted by a relentless persuer whose obsession means he will do anything to possess her—even kill.

Blending ancient folklore with modern alienation, Anthony Engebretson’s eerie debut novella will make you question what it really means to be human.

GENRE: Folk Horror Novella

PURCHASE LINK: Amazon | Other Retailers

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Anthony Engebretson is a dark and speculative fiction writer living in Nebraska. Short stories of his have appeared in anthologies such as Spring Into SciFi (2018 and 2019) and The Rabbit Hole: Weird Stories Volume One. He was also an editor of the 2021 anthology, ProleScaryet: Tales of Horror and Class Warfare. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Library Science.

His debut novella, Sair Back, Sair Banes, was published by Ghost Orchid Press in Spring 2022.

You can learn about Anthony and read more of his work at raccoonalleyblog.wordpress.com.

Review

So, Scotland. A dreamy and romantic place in my imagination, with medieval castles and breathtaking scenic spots… and now it has shape-shifting water horses thanks to this novella, LOL. I’m not even quite as enthusiastic to travel there anymore, as I’ve always had a fear of what’s lurking beneath giant bodies of water myself. Nessie’s one thing, I think, because it’s gotten so popular. But traveling to remote places…

I suppose that’s what makes Anthony’s story so effective. You can see it come alive on the pages and easily imagine it happening to you. (God forbid!) And I’m not sure what’s worse – how haunted Genevieve, the protagonist, was after her encounter in Fonniskie, or the way people can get literally, physically stuck on kelpies.

If you’re a fan of folklore and horror, then this read is perfect for you. It’s short but delightful, in the spine-tingling kind of way.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Hi! I'm Marie, a Filipino SFFH author and book reviewer currently based in the UK. I’m the co-author of The Prophecies of Ragnarok, a Norse myth new adult urban fantasy trilogy, and I also have several short stories published in anthologies and literary journals.

You can find more info about me and my books, and also subscribe to my newsletter for more content, here. And if you like what I do, please also consider supporting me on Ko-fi! 🩷 https://ko-fi.com/mariesinadjan

If you fancy a short read, I have a cozy reimagining of the Norse myths about Hel, but it's just under 70 pages and can be read in one sitting. ✨ Plus there's a swag kit coming soon! Includes a "membership card," a bookmark, a sticker, an origami dog, and an exclusive 500-word story 🫶🏼

All things end, and all must die.

But death is not always the end.

When Geiravor Lokisdottir was stripped of her name and cast out of Asgard, torn from her family and the life she had known, she thought she’d lost it all. But in the shadows of Niflheim she discovers the path to her destiny, and what it truly means to be queen.

This is a prequel short story to THE PROPHECIES OF RAGNAROK trilogy by Meri Benson and Marie Sinadjan, and a retelling of the myths involving Hel, the Norse goddess of death and the queen of the underworld.