The Tall Ones: Spring 1896

De: Dorianne Ashe

Narrado por: Willow, Sullivan, David Shipp

The Tall Ones: Spring, 1896

When five siblings are sent to live with their enigmatic Auntie Willow in the mist-shrouded heights of the Appalachian Mountains, they expect boredom, maybe a few ghost stories. What they find instead is a world on the edge of legend.

Hidden in the folds of the forest lies a truth long buried—about their mother’s mysterious disappearance, and the ancient red-haired giants who once roamed the land before even the Native tribes. Towering as trees and cloaked in forgotten lore, these beings guard secrets that could unravel history itself.

As the children delve deeper into the mystery, they cross paths with a young Admiral Richard Byrd—future explorer and keeper of Hollow Earth secrets—whose own childhood in the mountains holds clues to a realm beneath their feet.

Blending historical echoes with fantastical adventure, The Tall Ones is a spellbinding journey into myth, memory, and the shadows that stretch between worlds. Darkly lyrical and steeped in myth, The Tall Ones is a haunting tale of legacy, loss, and the monsters we inherit.

©2025 Dorianne Gilleo (P)2026 Dorianne Gilleo

Mysterious!

This book was enjoyable to listen, I liked the tone of each of the characters it was well narrated. It provides an unsettling and atmospheric vibe. There is a sense of mystery around the mountains and aunt willow. The slow unraveling of secrets keeps it engaging. If your okay with a story that builds gradually instead of constant action, this can be a good find.

Ancient secrets and a wonderful journey

Five children are shipped off to their crazy different aunt in Appalachia who had 4 husbands named John and believes in mountain healing. She is a character from the start. Their Mom has disappeared and Dad can’t take care of them. The kids find that the mountains hold many secrets of ancient times including giants. This is a great story and the audible version is well done.

Haunting and beautifully told

This book pulls you in right away with its eerie Appalachian setting and keeps you there with rich, atmospheric storytelling. The mystery surrounding Auntie Willow and the strange world the siblings step into unfolds at just the right pace, building tension without losing its sense of wonder. It feels both intimate and expansive, like a fireside story that slowly reveals something much bigger beneath the surface. A compelling, memorable read that lingers after the final page. The audio was on point with regional accents. I was truly immersed in Appalachia.

A Haunting Glimpse Into an Unforgettable Spring

The Tall Ones: Spring 1896" is a haunting novella that captures something ineffable about a particular moment in time—when the ordinary rhythms of a small community are disrupted by the arrival of something (or someone) inexplicably unsettling. The compressed format of the novella proves ideal for this story, creating an atmosphere of mounting tension and mystery that builds with precision toward a revelation that lingers long after the final page. Set in the spring of 1896, the historical specificity grounds the narrative in a particular world while the central mystery—who or what are "the tall ones"?—transcends time, tapping into something primal and deeply unsettling about the unknown. The author demonstrates remarkable restraint, resisting the urge to over-explain or rationalize the strangeness at the heart of the story. Instead, the narrative unfolds through observation, dialogue, and the gradual accumulation of details that create an pervasive sense of dread and fascination. The characters feel authentic to their era and circumstances, their reactions grounded in the worldview and limitations of their time, which makes their encounters with the inexplicable all the more affecting. For readers who appreciate literary horror, historical fiction with an eerie edge, or simply beautifully crafted stories that prioritize atmosphere and psychological tension over conventional plot mechanics, "The Tall Ones" offers a memorable, unsettling experience. It's a novella that proves sometimes the most powerful stories are those that refuse easy answers and instead invite us into genuine mystery.

Like listening to a spooky tale around the campfire

Having this story not only told from the point of view of a young child but also narrated mostly by a child is genius. The story itself is fairly spooky but the addeels affect of having the narrator being young makes it seem like you're sitting around a campfire telling ghost stories again or seeking a book late at night when you're supposed to be sleeping. This book will have you sitting on the edge of your seat while also turning on the lights (if you're listening at night) to keep the spooks at bay. I loved it!