As previously mentioned, I was excited to get my hands on a copy of Kelly Link's latest book, Pretty Monsters. (The cover is one of the most gorgeous I've seen, so apart from being a brilliant book, Pretty Monsters looks lovely on your bookshelf, too.)Pretty Monsters is a collection of short stories by Link, who also penned story collection Magic for Beginners. It contains nine spooky stories, each as intriguing and delightful as the next.
The book begins with The Wrong Grave, a tale about a boy called Miles who decides to dig up the greave of his dead girlfriend in order to retrieve some poetry he'd lovingly placed in her casket - but now wants back. He does so...but not without some particularly strange consequences!
Other stories include The Faery Handbag, the Surfer, Magic for Beginners and of course, Pretty Monsters. My favourite story has to be The Specialist's Hat (though I loved all of them!). The title page of each story is illustrated by Shaun Tan.
Pretty Monsters is a wonderful and unique collection, packed with ghoulish charm and elements of fantasy and horror. Even the jacket is beautiful. Perfect for anyone who loves a scary tale!
Rating: 5/5
