The first review of Furnace to hit was at The Conqueror Weird. In it, reviewer Brian O’Connell calls Livia Llewellyn “a master of the horror genre.” O’Connell examines several stories in depth, and ends on a rhetorical question: “Do you see why Furnace is such a masterpiece, such a triumph? It brings to light things we SHOULD be talking about but are too afraid to touch in beautiful prose, in stark brutality, in blood and filth. And, if you look under the billions of layers you can search through in these amazing stories, you will find the beauty in horror.”

The second review of Furnace to hit was at NPR Books, wherein reviewer Jason Heller describes Furnace as “Beautiful and hideous in the same breath, its 13 tales of erotic, surreal, existential horror pack a logic-shattering punch. […] Llewellyn is steeped in the eerie tradition of H.P. Lovecraft and Thomas Ligotti, and a sympathetic sense of dislocation and dread permeates Furnace.” Heller concludes his review describing Furnace as “near to bursting with blood and shadow and dust, with horror and wonder.”

The third review we’re featuring today comes from D. F. Lewis, who is live-blogging the stories in a particularly esoteric manner at The Dreamcatcher of Books. These are reviews that do not lend themselves easily to pull quotes; however, those readers with a taste for the arcane and orphic are encouraged to click through and enjoy.

Have you written a review of Furnace? Let us know!

Update: Publishers Weekly weighs in: “Llewellyn’s second short story collection (after Engines of Desire) showcases her assured writing with compelling and involving tales of horror, often concerning the particular horrors of being female. Llewellyn skillfully incorporates Lovecraft, science fantasy, and classic Greek and Celtic mythology into fresh new narratives. […] Llewellyn’s lush vocabulary and sense of place combine with her ability to imbue her characters with distinctive voices and make her a notable contributor to the field.”

NPR Books’ Jason Heller has reviewed Molly Tanzer’s Vermilion, calling the debut novel “a work of alt-history that finds a fresh kind of magic in the mingling of fact and fantasy,” and concluding “Vermilion is a unique, hearty, thought-provoking romp that rewrites history with a vivacious flourish.” Read the full review at this link, and ask for Vermilion by name wherever books are sold. Or order direct from Word Horde.

‘Vermilion’ Finds New Magic In The Old West