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Sigils and Totems
Pentacle
There are houses like this all over the world. Most people only know of them from whispered stories over campfires; tall tales told to scare the unwary. But some—those who suffer—know better. They are drawn to these places to ease their pain. If you have the will, the fortitude, you can peer into another life, where the dead are not gone, where your love might live forever.
But that’s not the case for the residents of the Edinburgh house, for something has disturbed the quiet reflection in that old building. A creature has slipped through, sniffling and snuffling in all the dark places, disrupting the balance of time and space.
And it's John’s job to fix it…by any means necessary.
But that’s not the case for the residents of the Edinburgh house, for something has disturbed the quiet reflection in that old building. A creature has slipped through, sniffling and snuffling in all the dark places, disrupting the balance of time and space.
And it's John’s job to fix it…by any means necessary.
- GenresHorror
56 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2015
3 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
William Meikle
407 books1,849 followersI'm a Scottish writer, now living in Canada, with more than thirty novels published in the genre press and over 300 short story credits in thirteen countries.
My work has appeared in a number of professional anthologies and I have recent short story sales to NATURE Futures and Galaxy's Edge. When I'm not writing I play guitar, drink beer and dream of fortune and glory.
For an intro to me, my writing and my accent see my Youtube channel
My work has appeared in a number of professional anthologies and I have recent short story sales to NATURE Futures and Galaxy's Edge. When I'm not writing I play guitar, drink beer and dream of fortune and glory.
For an intro to me, my writing and my accent see my Youtube channel
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 7, 2017
When John, the concierge of a haunted boarding house, hears something in the basement, he goes down to investigate and finds tapes left by the previous man to hold his post. As he listens to the tapes, he's horrified to find the exact events on the tapes unfolding around him...
Broken Sigil was my first William Meikle book and this book is part of the same mythology: creepy ass houses that draw troubled people to them, people who bear sigils carved into their flesh.
This one is all suspense, glimpses at the horrors from beyond that threaten to break through into our world. It's all John can do to keep the house in order, much less fix whatever has caused things to come unraveled. As with a lot of great horror, Meikle provides enough hints for readers to fill in the blanks and supply a lot of the really horrible shit themselves.
Pentacle reminded me of 14 a bit, probably because of the mysterious setting and the contraption in the basement. I really like the mythology Meikle is building on here and plan to track down the related works at some point.
In a time where I can't seem to find enough time to read, William Meikle has proved time and time again that I can count on him for a solid story every time. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Broken Sigil was my first William Meikle book and this book is part of the same mythology: creepy ass houses that draw troubled people to them, people who bear sigils carved into their flesh.
This one is all suspense, glimpses at the horrors from beyond that threaten to break through into our world. It's all John can do to keep the house in order, much less fix whatever has caused things to come unraveled. As with a lot of great horror, Meikle provides enough hints for readers to fill in the blanks and supply a lot of the really horrible shit themselves.
Pentacle reminded me of 14 a bit, probably because of the mysterious setting and the contraption in the basement. I really like the mythology Meikle is building on here and plan to track down the related works at some point.
In a time where I can't seem to find enough time to read, William Meikle has proved time and time again that I can count on him for a solid story every time. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
October 26, 2015
Pentacle by William Meikle Pentacle is the second supernatural novella from William Meikle based around Sigils carved into the skin and disturbing old houses, dark places that possess a certain power capable of disrupting the balance of time and space. Pentacle much like Broken Sigil explores the author’s creepy fascination with houses that possess something like a mythology, attracting people who suffer, people who are drawn to these places to ease their pain. Places adrift it seems from time itself, self-contained with their own set of rules and their own concierge.
John is the keeper of the Edinburgh house, the sigil on his stomach burns, the noises in the basement beg for exploration and a tape plays, the words of a past keeper.
'He put his hand on the door handle—just as it turned from the other side. He stopped and held his breath. The brass handle went cold in his palm, and when he did finally breathe, mist formed in the air ahead of him.'
And something has slipped through, from places better left undisturbed, hiding in the darkness, waiting. John must put things right, restore order and rebuild the electric pentacle in the basement. William Meikle has hit on a pretty creepy mythos with two intriguing novellas set in places you'd wish could never exist.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
John is the keeper of the Edinburgh house, the sigil on his stomach burns, the noises in the basement beg for exploration and a tape plays, the words of a past keeper.
'He put his hand on the door handle—just as it turned from the other side. He stopped and held his breath. The brass handle went cold in his palm, and when he did finally breathe, mist formed in the air ahead of him.'
And something has slipped through, from places better left undisturbed, hiding in the darkness, waiting. John must put things right, restore order and rebuild the electric pentacle in the basement. William Meikle has hit on a pretty creepy mythos with two intriguing novellas set in places you'd wish could never exist.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
September 29, 2015
Another winner from Willie. I really enjoyed this one. It had a super creepy and mysterious vibe going on and a storyline that is much deeper than its 56 pages. There is something snuffling about at the Edinburgh house and John the concierge is about to find out that it is going to take more than just sigils and totems to soothe the beast that lurks in the shadows.
I have read quite a few Meikles and have liked every single one of them. He has a genuinely smooth style and the ability to breathe life into all of his characters regardless of the length of the tale. A very good one to begin with, this one continues to grow on me.
I have read quite a few Meikles and have liked every single one of them. He has a genuinely smooth style and the ability to breathe life into all of his characters regardless of the length of the tale. A very good one to begin with, this one continues to grow on me.
October 9, 2015
This was the fourteenth book by William I have read and still have quite a few more of his to read. This was a very good quick read. It had a lot of story packed into only fifty six pages. The story is centered around John the Concierge of the Edinburgh House. One day John hears this noise in the basement and goes down there check it out. He finds a old cassette recorder and a box of tapes under a white sheet addressed to the house dated back in the 70's. The first tape was dated January twenty fifth nineteen seventy two. The tape talks about the house,how it functions, the totems and sigils. The more tapes he listens to the more he learns about the house. Then one day listening to one of the tapes he hears this snuffling sound. Will stop here. Like all of Williams books they are well written have a good flow and interesting characters. Well worth the time to read this one at only 56 pages can be read at one siting. I gave Pentacle 4 stars.
I received an e-arc of this book from DarkFuse in exchange for an honest review
I received an e-arc of this book from DarkFuse in exchange for an honest review
November 2, 2015
PENTACLE is much like a follow-up to William Meikle's BROKEN SIGAL. Although it is a stand-alone novella, it builds upon the ideas first introduced by its predecessor. The theme regards certain "houses" that somehow call out to people that have lost a loved one, and are most in need of the type of comfort these apartments can mysteriously supply.
"There are houses like this all over the world."
John was called to such a house of apartments a couple of years ago, and soon found himself in the position of "Concierge of the Edinburgh House". His duties are simply to ensure that things run smoothly; if there is a problem, he is the one to address it.
The magic of these houses is never fully understood, but on occasion, a "change" may arise in the mechanics at work. In John's case, it begins with a noise in the basement . . .
Meikle is an expert at making his readers feel the emotions of his characters--characters who are usually very complex individuals that are able to easily pull us into their worlds. In this particular tale, the house, itself, takes on a role of a "character", as well. We grow to see the place as an entity of sorts, and long to see the problems resolved as much as its residents do.
Another excellent tale by William Meikle, both atmospheric and emotionally fulfilling.
*I received an e-copy of this book through DarkFuse in exchange for an hones review.*
"There are houses like this all over the world."
John was called to such a house of apartments a couple of years ago, and soon found himself in the position of "Concierge of the Edinburgh House". His duties are simply to ensure that things run smoothly; if there is a problem, he is the one to address it.
The magic of these houses is never fully understood, but on occasion, a "change" may arise in the mechanics at work. In John's case, it begins with a noise in the basement . . .
Meikle is an expert at making his readers feel the emotions of his characters--characters who are usually very complex individuals that are able to easily pull us into their worlds. In this particular tale, the house, itself, takes on a role of a "character", as well. We grow to see the place as an entity of sorts, and long to see the problems resolved as much as its residents do.
Another excellent tale by William Meikle, both atmospheric and emotionally fulfilling.
*I received an e-copy of this book through DarkFuse in exchange for an hones review.*
October 18, 2015
William Meikle pretty consistently turns out enjoyable stories, and while I haven't read a ton of his work I've yet to stumble across a dud.
PENTACLE is certainly no exception: it has a nicely creepy atmosphere, thanks to the mysterious house and the odd snuffling creature that appears one night. It's a short, quick read, and a terrific way to kill an hour.
Note: I received this story for free as a member of the Darkfuse Book Club.
PENTACLE is certainly no exception: it has a nicely creepy atmosphere, thanks to the mysterious house and the odd snuffling creature that appears one night. It's a short, quick read, and a terrific way to kill an hour.
Note: I received this story for free as a member of the Darkfuse Book Club.
October 28, 2015
John is the caretaker of a very special house. A house in which the right kind of people suffering the wrong kind of loss, can connect with their loved ones after being branded with a sigil and working out what their totem is, linking said spirit to them. It's a house in which the inhabitants only leave if they have to, so content are they to be re-connected to their loved ones. And it's a house that sits a little too closely to other things that want to cross the divide between dimensions, meaning it is soon up to John to fix whatever it is that is broken...
What begins intriguingly in William Meikle's short and to the point novella, Pentacle, eventually gives way to being less than what the reader's imagination can conjure. Having not yet read his previous work, Broken Sigil, which reportedly acts as a kind of spiritual prequel to Pentacle, I enjoyed the way Meikle gradually revealed the world in which these strange houses and the people drawn to them exist. By the time his protagonist becomes aware that something is wrong and finds a series of tapes explaining what a previous inhabitant did to keep the things from the other side at bay, I thought I was in for something special.
Unfortunately, when the threat was revealed, I was seriously underwhelmed. I won't reveal what said threat is, but to my mind, it never felt overly concerning or indeed anything more than annoyingly weird. Others may see it differently, but for mine, this was a novella that started solidly before falling well short of the nefarious horror I was anticipating.
In short, this was just an okay read from an author I've come to expect bigger things from.
2.5 Mournful Tunes for Pentacle.
What begins intriguingly in William Meikle's short and to the point novella, Pentacle, eventually gives way to being less than what the reader's imagination can conjure. Having not yet read his previous work, Broken Sigil, which reportedly acts as a kind of spiritual prequel to Pentacle, I enjoyed the way Meikle gradually revealed the world in which these strange houses and the people drawn to them exist. By the time his protagonist becomes aware that something is wrong and finds a series of tapes explaining what a previous inhabitant did to keep the things from the other side at bay, I thought I was in for something special.
Unfortunately, when the threat was revealed, I was seriously underwhelmed. I won't reveal what said threat is, but to my mind, it never felt overly concerning or indeed anything more than annoyingly weird. Others may see it differently, but for mine, this was a novella that started solidly before falling well short of the nefarious horror I was anticipating.
In short, this was just an okay read from an author I've come to expect bigger things from.
2.5 Mournful Tunes for Pentacle.
November 10, 2015
3.5 stars.
What would you do if you were given the opportunity to occupy a house that would forever connect you to a passed loved one? This is the premise of William Meikle's Pentacle, a short tale that packs a lot of suspense into its 56 pages.
John is offered the position of Concierge in a house that is, in effect, a gateway to other realms. One day, after hearing noises in the basement, John discovers an old cassette player and a box of tapes. His decision to play the cassettes plunges him into a dimension spanning mystery.
I enjoyed Pentacle, and it held my interest throughout, but I am new to William Meikle's writing and somehow this felt as though I had entered the story partway through. I don't know whether these characters have featured in any of his previous stories?
Still, an enjoyable read, and one which I should imagine was influenced by the writings of William Hope Hodgson.
What would you do if you were given the opportunity to occupy a house that would forever connect you to a passed loved one? This is the premise of William Meikle's Pentacle, a short tale that packs a lot of suspense into its 56 pages.
John is offered the position of Concierge in a house that is, in effect, a gateway to other realms. One day, after hearing noises in the basement, John discovers an old cassette player and a box of tapes. His decision to play the cassettes plunges him into a dimension spanning mystery.
I enjoyed Pentacle, and it held my interest throughout, but I am new to William Meikle's writing and somehow this felt as though I had entered the story partway through. I don't know whether these characters have featured in any of his previous stories?
Still, an enjoyable read, and one which I should imagine was influenced by the writings of William Hope Hodgson.
December 29, 2015
I received an E-arc from Darkfuse Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
John is the caretaker in a very special house, it's one where those who have lost someone they love can connect with them through sigils and totems. When he finds an unwelcome presence in the house it is up to him to set things right.
This novella ties in with previous work, Broken Sigils, which unfortunately didn't really work that well for me either. John was a pretty good character and I liked his research on the house through the tapes but the threat wasn't that disturbing to me and I wasn't that interested in it when it was revealed.
Just a case of personal preference and this one just didn't quite work for me to rate it higher.
John is the caretaker in a very special house, it's one where those who have lost someone they love can connect with them through sigils and totems. When he finds an unwelcome presence in the house it is up to him to set things right.
This novella ties in with previous work, Broken Sigils, which unfortunately didn't really work that well for me either. John was a pretty good character and I liked his research on the house through the tapes but the threat wasn't that disturbing to me and I wasn't that interested in it when it was revealed.
Just a case of personal preference and this one just didn't quite work for me to rate it higher.
November 29, 2015
An enjoyable short novella from William Meikle Being a fellow Celt myself what I enjoy about reading a William Meikle novella is his wonderful use of language and his love of everything Scottish which always shines through in his writing. The setting for Pentacle is Edinburgh, a city with a bloody history “lurid accounts of body snatching and ghosts, demonologists and witches and all kinds of goblins and bogles.”
John is the new “concierge” at an old house in the city and the rhythms of that dwelling are about to be disturbed by a creature attempting to slip through from another time..”Something had it feeling antsy-something he needed to investigate before it became a definite problem.”
He discovers some tapes that lend additional clues to incidents that affected residents living in the house many years ago. “There are houses like this all over the world. Most people only know of them from whispered stories over campfires; If you have the will, the fortitude, you can peer into another life, where the dead are not gone, where your love might live forever.....And as we watch and listen, we can, sometimes, gain enough peace for ourselves that we too can thrive, and go on.”
John learns through the tapes that previous residents, by use of chants and a pentacle, have been successful in contacting their lost and loved ones “I have no idea whether my pronunciation will get the job done- but I have to try, not just for myself, but for the other poor folks here - and for my Becky. If I am to hear her again, I have to try.”
However it may have been a grave error to have made use of an electric pentacle “Whatever he had done had opened new doors in the house to places that would have been better left undisturbed” This open door appears to have been an invitation for an unwanted “creature” to pass through.
John is the perfect keeper of the house as he laments his own loss his beautiful Lizzie who often sings with him when he plays his sad guitar. He must address the beast and to do so he constructs a pentacle in the basement for a final confrontation and a peace not only for his soul but that of the residents...after all he is the concierge and it is his duty.
“The beast in the corner slumped into a sitting position. It was hard to see through the swirling dance of color, but it seemed to be fading back into the dark. The guitar rang he sang - and his Lizzie sat beside him, her clear high vocal ringing loud and clear as the ocean splashed the walls...And I will love thee still, my dear, Till a’ the seas gang dry. Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rock melt wi’ the sun, And I will love thee still, my dear, While the sands o’ life shall run....”
A short, sharp little read from William Meikle is a great treat for a cold and wintry Sunday afternoon! His Scottishness brings a real grit and rawness to his publications and his use of language and lyrics adds a touch of nostalgia. I did enjoy and hope you will too.
John is the new “concierge” at an old house in the city and the rhythms of that dwelling are about to be disturbed by a creature attempting to slip through from another time..”Something had it feeling antsy-something he needed to investigate before it became a definite problem.”
He discovers some tapes that lend additional clues to incidents that affected residents living in the house many years ago. “There are houses like this all over the world. Most people only know of them from whispered stories over campfires; If you have the will, the fortitude, you can peer into another life, where the dead are not gone, where your love might live forever.....And as we watch and listen, we can, sometimes, gain enough peace for ourselves that we too can thrive, and go on.”
John learns through the tapes that previous residents, by use of chants and a pentacle, have been successful in contacting their lost and loved ones “I have no idea whether my pronunciation will get the job done- but I have to try, not just for myself, but for the other poor folks here - and for my Becky. If I am to hear her again, I have to try.”
However it may have been a grave error to have made use of an electric pentacle “Whatever he had done had opened new doors in the house to places that would have been better left undisturbed” This open door appears to have been an invitation for an unwanted “creature” to pass through.
John is the perfect keeper of the house as he laments his own loss his beautiful Lizzie who often sings with him when he plays his sad guitar. He must address the beast and to do so he constructs a pentacle in the basement for a final confrontation and a peace not only for his soul but that of the residents...after all he is the concierge and it is his duty.
“The beast in the corner slumped into a sitting position. It was hard to see through the swirling dance of color, but it seemed to be fading back into the dark. The guitar rang he sang - and his Lizzie sat beside him, her clear high vocal ringing loud and clear as the ocean splashed the walls...And I will love thee still, my dear, Till a’ the seas gang dry. Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rock melt wi’ the sun, And I will love thee still, my dear, While the sands o’ life shall run....”
A short, sharp little read from William Meikle is a great treat for a cold and wintry Sunday afternoon! His Scottishness brings a real grit and rawness to his publications and his use of language and lyrics adds a touch of nostalgia. I did enjoy and hope you will too.
October 5, 2015
Pentacle is directly related to William Meikle's previous novella, Broken Sigil. They are not sequels but are set in the same world and have the same central conceit, that there are houses throughout the world where one can stay in contact with dead loved ones. Knowledge of Broken Sigil is not at all necessary to enjoy Pentacle.
What is more useful is knowledge of the works of classic weird fiction author William Hope Hodgson. The titular device, as well as the menace in the house, are drawn from Mr. Hodgson's work. I was a bit confused by the goings on until I did a little research after I had finished the novella.
Pentacle is well written and imaginative, just as one would expect from William Meikle, but not getting the references I felt at sea. Now I know how a reader not familiar with H.P. Lovecraft feels when stumbling across Mythos homages. Fans of William Hope Hodgson are sure to get a kick out of this, and I would recommend it highly to them. 3.5 stars.
What is more useful is knowledge of the works of classic weird fiction author William Hope Hodgson. The titular device, as well as the menace in the house, are drawn from Mr. Hodgson's work. I was a bit confused by the goings on until I did a little research after I had finished the novella.
Pentacle is well written and imaginative, just as one would expect from William Meikle, but not getting the references I felt at sea. Now I know how a reader not familiar with H.P. Lovecraft feels when stumbling across Mythos homages. Fans of William Hope Hodgson are sure to get a kick out of this, and I would recommend it highly to them. 3.5 stars.
November 21, 2015
Pentacle takes place in the same "universe" as Willie's "Broken Sigil", though the characters and the house are not the same. So that book need not be read to enjoy this one, though I would recommend reading it first, if nothing else because it's a really good book, as is this. :-)
John, the concierge of this house, has a problem to solve. All he has to go on is the little bit of advice he got from the previous concierge, his instincts, and a set of tapes he's found in the basement.
What follows is very creepy and atmospheric. Some of the imagery was crystal clear in my mind, so well was it drawn. Despite the short length, it never felt rushed, nor did I feel that anything was left unexplained - it was the right amount of story for the length of the work. No real character development, but it's not really the point - the house is.
I do hope Willie continues to write more books in this universe, because I'd love to visit more of the houses and learn more about it.
John, the concierge of this house, has a problem to solve. All he has to go on is the little bit of advice he got from the previous concierge, his instincts, and a set of tapes he's found in the basement.
What follows is very creepy and atmospheric. Some of the imagery was crystal clear in my mind, so well was it drawn. Despite the short length, it never felt rushed, nor did I feel that anything was left unexplained - it was the right amount of story for the length of the work. No real character development, but it's not really the point - the house is.
I do hope Willie continues to write more books in this universe, because I'd love to visit more of the houses and learn more about it.
September 25, 2015
This book takes place in the same sort of world as Meikle's Broken Sigils, but the characters are very different. It's hard to say which book I liked more. I read them back-to-back on a plane ride. Broken Sigil had a simpler story with very close concerns. It was much more subtle. Pentacle seems to take a grander stage, reminiscent of Lovecraft. There is much more going on than just the house. In fact, Meikle taunts us with the question that if the house can manifest a window to the dead, what might crawl back through that window? I enjoyed the book. I like Meikle's style. It's familiar in a way that is very different from most modern horror.
May 7, 2024
Another fine "concierge of the house" story
I'm not sure how many there are, but it's a theme the author often has explored (loss, pain, redemption and longing) in a mysterious house with strict requirements and the possibility of easing your pain.
I'm not sure how many there are, but it's a theme the author often has explored (loss, pain, redemption and longing) in a mysterious house with strict requirements and the possibility of easing your pain.
February 26, 2021
what a great book. Interesting concept and such fun to read. love this author
July 1, 2022
The House is a place for people to ease there pain, however an evil presence is looking to destroy that. With the help of old tapes, John looks to save the House.
July 20, 2018
Pentacle by William Meikle is one of the books in the Sigils and Totems series, but it can be read as a stand alone. There is something eerie about Edinburgh house. A creature, perhaps?
Plot 4/5: Interesting plot
Characters 4/5: The characters were fleshed out, and interesting.
World building 4/5: Everything happened within Edinburgh house.
Pacing 4/5: A little slower than some of the author's other books.
Writing 5/5: William Meikle's writing is always good.
Overall 4.2
I won this book in a giveaway.
Plot 4/5: Interesting plot
Characters 4/5: The characters were fleshed out, and interesting.
World building 4/5: Everything happened within Edinburgh house.
Pacing 4/5: A little slower than some of the author's other books.
Writing 5/5: William Meikle's writing is always good.
Overall 4.2
I won this book in a giveaway.
January 17, 2016
Shades of Carnacki and The House on the Borderland in this, but it was too clumsily written to be enjoyable. It wasn't intriguing or clever, merely weird. And I don't mean the good kind of weird one encounters in Carnacki or other classics. It was a bland sort of weirdness. More conventional pacing, or more explanation, maybe, would have made it easier to follow along, but as it stands this story is an unfortunate, muddled mess.
October 3, 2015
Loved it! Nice and creepy.
September 29, 2015
I was confused as to what was going on for much of this novella but it was an enjoyable read.
Want to read
April 16, 2016This is copy 25 of 100 signed and numbered copies signed by William Meikle.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews