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The Journal of J.P. Drapeau ★★★ A bunch of vignettes in journal form. Written from the point of view of a late 19th century inhabitant of Bruges, it involves typical Ligottian themes such as labyrinthine, crooked cities and dolls. There's no overarching plots, which is a bit of a let down, but it's very accessible.

The Music of the Moon ★★★★ Tressor, an insomniac, wanders the deserted city at night to alleviate the boredom, when ge gets a leaflet pressed into his hands with an invitation. When he explores the deserted venue that was advertised he meets some weird musicians that direct him to the nocturnal concert that is going to be held for a captive audience.

The Greater Festival of Masks ★★★ Another story about illusion and identity. Noss is a newcomer to a certain misbegotten town and wants to participate in the irregular tradition of the Festival of Masks that's already starting to slowly peter out from the edges. Walking into a costume shop he quickly finds a mask that's a perfect fit. But the shopkeeper is dismayed. He needs another mask...

The Sect of the Idiot ★★★★ An explicitly Lovecraftian story this time. A man visits an unnamed town, described in typical Ligottian fashion with high, steep, unnatural roofs (imagine something from a Tim Burton movie). During a vivid dream he gets into contact with some sort of sect whose members took note of him. Ultimately costing him his bodily integrity and... sanity.

Dr. Locrian's Asylum ★★★★ An unnamed town is dominated by the oppressive presence of the ruins of an insane asylum. When in an unspoken, collective act, the townspeople tear it all down, they unwittingly release its true purpose: the truth of the world as only madmen can understand it. (It's also, it turned out in re-reading, one of the places I might have picked up the word 'mysteriarch')

Professor Nobody's Little Lectures on Supernatural Horror ★★★★ Not a story but an actual collection of a few very short essays on horror and Ligotti's pessimistic view on life. Actually quite decent and contains a few great sentences.

Dr. Voke and Mr. Veech ★★★ Be careful what you wish for, especially from the weird puppet guy in the attic. If being a puppet in this world is one of the ultimate agonies, what is being a human dummy then?

Masquerade of a Dead Sword: A Tragedie ★★★ Ligotti's attempt (or is it version?) in grimdark fantasy. There's little detail but it's about some sort of former hero, going mad, being cured of his madness by spectacles while also losing any other interest in the world. Then he takes on a mercenary job and dons a jester outfit to infiltrate a masked ball that ends in pandemonium...

The Troubles of Dr. Thoss ★★ Another story about an artist. This time one with only a talent for observational drawing. He starts to hear whispers about a Dr. Thoss - the name being the best part about him. There's a lot of jumbled scenes, some moody stuff, and then suddenly a dramatic end without much rhyme (reason is not applicable anyway).

The Lost Art of Twilight ★★★★ A rich, reclusive painter struggles with his identity, being neither a being of the day, nor a creature of the night. Until his family from the Old Country come visit him, those responsible for the death of his already dead mother and his unnatural birth. Forced to collapse his world of perpetual twilight. This is Ligotti's very interesting take on vampirism.

The Christmas Eves of Aunt Elise ★★★ Not really horror, but a layered description of family Christmas Eves that are superficially very cozy, feel off. You don't want to be there. You don't belong there. It's all very forced. But you can't escape them, they'll stay with you for the rest of your life. One way or the other.

Notes on the Writing of Horror: a Story ★★★ What starts out as a rather smug essay on writing horror in different styles, shifts as the approach becomes more personal. And shifts and disintegrates entirely when the inspiration and the horror are revealed.