Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire Hardcover – February 7, 2017

When I purchased this hardcover to celebrate summer break from teaching literature and composition and actually getting back to my own writing, there was a review that explained to confused Gaiman fans what this story is about. Now, that review seems to be gone, and somewhat repetitive complaints seem to be proliferating and echoing each other. So, as well as I can, I will explain what Gaiman accomplishes with this one brilliant story, illustrated by Shane Oakley. For those who teach or attend college (or high school, if I remember correctly), there is acceptable Art that supposedly replicates reality, and then there is less acceptable pseudo-art (all the fantasy genres, including Gothic and Horror) that escapes it. Less acceptable pseudo-art usually is an attack label slapped on fantasy genres. This becomes important to readers and writers when, for example, a student wants to write (or a professor wants to teach) about American Gods, Game of Thrones, or Lilith's Brood instead of Huckleberry Finn, Tender is the Night, or The Bell Jar. Gaiman's story starts in the middle of a Gothic/ Horror story that shows that reality is subjective. The author is attempting to write a Gothic while living in a mixture of classic Horror stories. The Gothic is Realism for him. His circumstance points out that middle class suburbia may be real for many readers, but it may not be the experience of some writers. He wants the freedom to escape Horror altogether and write about an unhappy suburban wife.The wife with emotional focus to wonder if she is taken for granted by her husband as she cooks his breakfast is a reality that might be escapist fantasy for some writers with other lifestyles and other worries, just as a Gothic/Horror setting may be fantasy for some readers and writers. But in that escape to an unrealistic fantasy setting, a writer may find the freedom to explore a very realistic message that he cannot approach seriously in the world (place and time) he lives in and knows so well. Writing students are told to write what they know. But what does that mean? The places they've seen? The times they live in? Or the emotions they need to project into fantasy in order to fully explore and express?

I liked this, it's a fun idea, of an author who is tied of writing the truth and wanting something less mundane. It's a really well drawn piece, I really liked the art, the tone is great and it really looks unique.

This was obscenely entertaining. Another addition to my Gaiman shelf.

It has a very Poe feel to it with interesting artwork and a very original storyline.

Very short, quick read, it seems like a single issue comic book in a hardcover, which means even at $12 it is kind of pricey. I'm a big fan of Gaiman, for decades now, and this doesn't strike me as his greatest work either.

Fun book from a great author.

I'm a Neil Gaiman collector & have almost all his graphic novels & books, but this was a disappointment. 1st the book is incredibly thin, it like 1 comic book long, so putting it hardback was kind of a joke. The binding is already starting to come loose just because the few pages it contains could barely be glued to the spine. Then there is the art work, I'm a fan of all sorts of art but this is so stylized it more suggests what is happening then actually shows it. The story itself is classic Gaiman turning a genre upside down, but it is more of an unfinished idea good for a 10 page short story then something worthy of its own presentation.

I eagerly waited for months for this book to be released. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed by what I found between the covers. The concept of a horror spoof seemed like a fun idea to me, but there's just not much of a story in these scant pages from Gaiman. The story, such as it is, becomes confusing and disjointed. The humor is evident, but becomes lost and insignificant in the course of "events". I gave this book one star for the unique title and amazing artwork on the cover. Otherwise, I can find no redeeming qualities in this purchase.