A very short but fun read. While I usually dislike 1st person narration, the willows made it so that the character’s thoughts weren’t just ramblings but somewhat accurate descriptions of the events that unfolded, letting us witness them through his eyes. I also liked that very little was known about the protagonist and his companion, including their names, the companion being referred to merely as the Swede. I guess this is what made this read so fun and uncomplicated. None of their backstories mattered and as a result made the story even more terrifying in my opinion because I was attached to the characters due to the fear that we shared.

The fear induced by the monsters is similar to Lovecraft's (which isn’t surprising given how Blackwood was an inspiration for Lovecraft). We get the protagonist wondering whether the entities they’re facing are some old gods or some elemental spirits residing among the willows or something. And trying to discover their nature alongside the characters was such horrific pleasure.

And the twists? Things take you off guard so suddenly when you think they’re safe.

I genuinely thought they were safe after losing consciousness when they saw that presence approaching, but it came back the night after.

 

I would have loved a slightly different conclusion for a more dramatic effect but then I remembered this story is not about the characters, so whether they live or die has no effect on the story itself.
Overall, it was very enjoyable and I will easily recommend it to whoever is looking for a short horror story.