I told you it wouldn’t always be horror. Unless you count centuries of being overlooked, forgotten, and oppressed by the patriarchy a horror. Which I do.

Filled with background on some of the most popular murder ballads, including potential historical inspirations and different versions and accompanied by Horan’s gorgeous folk horror illustrations, Murder Ballads is a must-have for any fan of this song style (or music history or folk horror in general).

Overall, as a fan of haunted and “sick” houses, it was an enjoyable reminder of the houses I’ve read about and seen in film and was fun to learn a little more about those and others I wasn’t aware of.