Mary Rajotte’s “Frightmarish” litzine features a little bit of everything: short stories, poems, essays, and even some activities, all draped in moody, gothic vibes. I was sent issue three, which was “inspired by the mystical nature of omens”. The zine opens with “The Call of the Carrion Crows”, a “be careful what you wish for” fable featuring poppets, curses, and doomed love. The closing story, “In Token and Pledge” deals with similar themes and motifs, and I like that the zine is bookended by these two tales. They’re both compelling little stories that remind me of old fairytales.

The zine’s guts are a little more hit-or-miss: the activities (a tutorial for an origami crow and a word search) feel a little gratuitous, but the essay “Flora & Fauna of Folklore: the Crow” is tremendous, weaving corvidae science, superstition, and lore with ideas for spellwork. This essay could stand alone as it’s own mini zine, and I’d read a whole series approaching other folkloric figures in this vein. Overall, “Frightmarish” issue three is a gothic grab bag sure to sate your interest in spooky stories. So if you live in the shadows, or just want a little dash of darkness in your TBR pile, check out “Frightmarish” zine.