While not every story was a revelation, none of them were boring in the slightest which is achievement in a book of sixteen stories. All were interesting, bizarre and unsettling in their own way. ( )

Volume 1- 3stars
Volume 2- 4 stars
Volume3- 4 stars

I definitely think that Barker has a tendency to over explain. There were many stories that I would have liked more if a little mystery was left for the reader to think about. Barker's need to wrap everything up nicely often pushed the story over into ridiculous territory because the explanation was absurd. Overall, I enjoyed most of these short stories (especially in volumes 2 &3), and am glad I read them. ( )

Working through this collection. These stories are blood soaked building blocks for his future work. His short fiction is always razor sharp and the reader will not realize they have been cut until noticing they are on the floor bleeding out and gasping for help. ( )

I first read most of these short stories as a teenager in the 90s, and Clive Barker has been my favorite fiction author ever since. Over two decades later, I enjoyed the Books of Blood threefold more than when I first read them. Simply put, Barker is more inspiring and imaginative in one line than most authors are in an entire book. As far as horror and dark literature goes, there is no equal. His combination of creepy suspense, existential doom, physical gore, and paradoxes of human emotion (often all in one story) is undeniably powerful. Add to that his boundless imagination and precise imagery, and you have tales that prompt fear and provoke thought in ways that are simultaneously entertaining and enlightening. Revisiting Books of Blood was both nostalgic and invigorating for me, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark fiction that goes way beyond the simple scares. ( )

Volume 1- 3stars
Volume 2- 4 stars
Volume3- 4 stars

I definitely think that Barker has a tendency to over explain. There were many stories that I would have liked more if a little mystery was left for the reader to think about. Barker's need to wrap everything up nicely often pushed the story over into ridiculous territory because the explanation was absurd. Overall, I enjoyed most of these short stories (especially in volumes 2 &3), and am glad I read them. ( )