BOOK REVIEW: We’re Not Ourselves Today : 13 Tales of Pulp Horror by Lydia Prime & Jill Girardi

REVIEW: We’re Not Ourselves Today 13 Tales of Pulp Horror

Lydia Prime & Jill Girardi

Prime and Girardi craft thirteen spine-tingling short stories certain to terrify and disturb. From garbage demons and werewolves to curses and delicious revenge, each tale weaves memorable monsters with high tension and horrific stakes. Some readers may gravitate a tad more toward Girardi’s haunting writing style while others may lean into Prime’s stomach-churning scenes, but overall, Prime and Girardi shine equally, sharing the spotlight with expert prose that invokes nightmares long after the final page.

Each story features a monster – whether human or otherwise. Familiar creatures such as werewolves are featured in multiple stories but with clever and refreshing twists to keep readers salivating. Other times, original monsters are born from the wickedly twisted imaginations of Prime and Girardi. Creativity oozes from the pages as does a decent about of blood and guts; however, inserted into the terror are occasion moments of absurdist levity such as in the opening story “The Letter” by Prime, who takes a gruesome premise of an expectant mother receiving a mysterious letter and pivots in a campy unexpected way. The creature in “The Roiling” by Jill Girardi also has a campy vibe undertone and would make an incredible onscreen villain, if ever adapted for television. In this piece, Frog People have taken over and Sherman Tan, a rather cowardly human protagonist, must figure out how to survive the new landscape.

The overall anthology feels like stepping into a wickedly intense 80s fright night marathon. Some of the content may be shocking for readers (child death, domestic abuse) as neither Prime nor Girardi hold back, but for those open to extreme horror with splashes of gore and tons of uniquely crafted monsters, this is a must read! Perfect for horror fans looking for creature features, women written horror, and nightmare fuel!

The Dead Inside: A Horror Anthology Book Review

THE DEAD INSIDE: A HORROR ANTHOLOGY EDITED BY LAUREL HIGHTOWER AND SANDRA RUTTAN

4.5 stars

COVER ART BY GEMMA AMOR

THE DEAD INSIDE is a dramatic thirty piece collection of short stories and poetry delving into the topic of identity horror. The plots explore what happens when identity is denied, forgotten, repressed, or suppressed whether through society, culture, or family. There’s an inclusive range of characters and a wide array of heartbreaking lessons to be learned. Readers will easily find stories that speak to their own internal and external experiences mirrored by these dynamic characters.

Highwater and Ruttan do a fantastic job of compiling a steady mix between stories and poetry. The collection starts off with a bang, immediately capturing reader’s attention with “From Within” by S.H. Cooper. This body horror short story focuses on an overlooked woman trying to rise the corporate ladder. From there, the collection continues in a steady ebb and flow of themes, characters, and premises that will connect with readers from various cultures and backgrounds.

Each story has a stand out moment, and while many selections will stick with readers long after the final word has been read, there are a few that rise above:

Similar in theme to “From Within,” “Evil Inc. (Or How to Succeed in Business without Really Dying)” by Robert Stahl) delves into the horrors of evil corporations that work their employees to the bone, asking readers, “How far would you go to succeed?” Some stories have a more lyrical tone such as “Subsidence” by Sarah Jackson where the protagonist discovers a crack “not a scar, just a pale slit, like a paper cut” along the collarbone. The poem entitled “Black Like That” by R.J. Joseph is an exquisitely crafted raw look at racism:

“we know your blackity black

but don’t be black like that

dark skin and thick, dark lips

bubble butt rounded with hips…”

“Ending is the Only Beginning” by Ali Seay is a chilling look at motherhood, depression, and substance abuse, while “The Daughter She Wanted” by Jaecyn Boné is less a horror story and more a powerful dramatic piece about family, self-love, and acceptance. Finally, the book ends on a fitting note of death as a young man finds himself on an unusual job interview in “An Evaluation” by Scott J. Moses.

While a few of the stories were a bit slow in pacing, the majority sunk their claws deep within, not letting go of the reader until the final moments. Transphobia, homophobia, racism, suicide, and child death are just some of the sensitive topics that are written about. Check out the content warnings at the back of the book for further information. For those who enjoy Carmen Mario Machado, Thomas Ligotti, or Rachel Yoder, this collection is a perfect fit!

Shiver Anthology Pre-Sale Is Live!

Shiver Anthology is Pre-Sale Here!

You’ve patiently waited, and now the big moment is here! Shiver, a chilling anthology, is officially available for pre-order through Amazon! Paperbacks will be available on January 11, 2021, the official launch date. Check out this amazing wrap by Rooster Press!

Here is the TOC:

Sam Sumpter

Patrick Barb

Mark Wheaton

Sarah Jane Huntington

Ian A. Bain

Emily Reinhardt

Richard Webb

Christopher Wood

Mason McDonald

Alex Ebenstein

Michael Tichy

Lillah Lawson

Jonathan Torres

Erin Louis

Charles Maria Tor

Ziaul Moid Khan

Stehpanie Rabig

Eric Raglin

Steve Stred

Jessica Guess

KC Loesener

Jeremy Megargee

Sara Mullins

Jessie Small

Laura Nettles

Tiffany Michelle Brown

Sam Heaps

Brennan LaFaro

Enjoy!

Lullabies for Suffering : Tales of Addiction Horror #BookReview

Title: Lullabies for Suffering: Tales of Addiction

Authors: Gabino Iglesias, Kealan Patrick Burke, Caroline Kepnes, Mark Matthews, John FD Taff, Mercedes M. Yardley

Wicked Run Press, 2020

5 Stars

My emotions are exposed and raw, my stomach tangled, my shoulders sagged. This open-veined collection tore me up.

When Lullabies for Suffering began circulating social media, I knew I wanted to review it and my expectations were high. I hoped for a hauntingly gritty, yet delicate portrayal of various addictions, not just alcohol and drugs. I hoped for stories that illuminated without romanticizing. I wanted to experience the disease fester in the character’s minds while longing for a happy ending.

I wanted to read this and feel addiction.

I got what I wanted.

Six unique short stories make up this collection, and each one left a mark. While alcohol and drugs are prevalent, the anthology includes some lesser represented addictions such as pain, people and even hope. When combined, Lullabies for Suffering becomes a dramatic and intense array for tales that burrow under the skin. Each time I finished a story, I thought ‘That’s my favorite. No story can top it,’ and then the next one did just that. Each writer exhibited a thoroughness and compassionate understanding of the subject matter, weaving together reality and fiction in such a way that addiction gets a worthy platform in which to enlighten readers about the true nature of the disease. I’m grateful that nothing was held back, that the characters contained realism both in action and dialogue, and that the lure of drugs/alcohol was presented in such a way that didn’t glamorize the topic.

But let’s not forget this is a horror collection. If you’re after blood, you’ll get it. Eerie tension? Yup, you can check that box. What about mysterious creatures? Sure thing. There’s plenty of dark elements to keep you glued to the pages.

Usually when I review a collection, I single out a few stories, but I’d rather not do that for Lullabies for Suffering. Each one created a captivating story world that sucked me in and led me on a dark and twisted ride. There wasn’t one that shined over the other. They all lit up the pages.

But it wasn’t just curiosity that led me to request this book. I’ve had my own struggles, faced my own demons, and been tortured by my own mind. I dream of writing my own story one day, but I’m not ready, and that’s okay. It was important to me, as someone who lived with heavy darkness shadowing her every move, to read this and tell the world whether the authors got it right. Rest assured, they did, and in doing so, gave a powerful voice to the victims of addiction, no matter what that addiction may be.

5 stars.