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shadestate's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The stories I loved the most:
- Bag and baggage;
- The dredger;
- Lies I told myself;
- Unmoored;
- The past you have, the future you deserve;
- The room above;
- When the nightingale devours the stars;
- Venom;
- In the vastness of the souvereign sky.
Sharing my quick review notes for each story:
Watch me burn with the light of ghosts
Whispers of ghosts and visions in the fire. It was alright. The secondary female character was way more interesting than the main guy, though sadly with some manic pixie horror dream girl vibe. 3/5
Immolation
Lovely story of the horror and trauma of overburdening parental expectations. Rode the line between truth and metaphor really well. 4/5
Her eyes are winter
Lazy “shock” horror, mediocre, boring. CW for the rape of a child offhandedly mentioned in 1 sentence. Only read if you want a great example of how to avoid writing horror. 1/5
8X10
“All eyes on me” through the lens of a photo camera. Liked the premise, execution was alright. 3,5/5
Bag and baggage
A story of grief, desperation, and the danger of unlimited wishes fulfilled. Loved it. 5/5
The dredger
Water and stone. Cold air and conversation by the fire. Some things are meant to rest within the silt. 5/5
Lies I told myself
Haunting Parisian catacomb story. Easily could have been cliché but instead it gripped me. 5/5
The Unkindness
Boring mediocre coming of age boy horror, babysitter fucks dad trope, I sided with the ravens the whole way. 2/5
Merge now
Loved loved loved how it started. It lost me a bit in the last third. Still a fun horror story, love how everyday traffic was made horrific. 4/5
When we were trespassers
Quick drug descent into nihilism pointing out there is no point. It wasn’t bad, just... forgettable. Low fat low sugar low calories story. 2,75/5
Rum Punch is going down
Man arrives at a paradise island of lost souls. Start was fantastic, but it lost some spice at the end. Still an enjoyable read. 3,75/5
Unmoored
Harrowing ambiguous psychological ghost story. 5/5
Just beyond the shore
Classic seal/mermaid story, with a splash of generational trauma. 3,75/5
The schoolmaster
A story about the ironic cycles of life, and humans relationship to fire and shelter. Didn’t make me feel much. 2,25/5
The past you have, the future you deserve
I could taste, feel, smell this story. I loved every second of it. One of my favourites. 5/5
Herr Scheintod
Loved the buildup and the storysetting. Kind of escalated abruptly at the end in a way that felt like a loss of tension to me. Still very enjoyable and something to study to see how to sketch a setting impactfully. 4/5
The room above
Six pages showing you don’t need to write endlessly to give a story life with a punch. Sleep paralysis demon house ghost horror. 5/5
Sincerely Eden
Haunted by our own regret. It was alright. 3/5
Wild dogs
A blur of (un)belonging. With hints of sexual predator? 3/5
The moody rooms of Agatha Tate
I continue to be a sucker for haunted houses and the people who belong to them. 4,5/5
Salmon run
Took me a second read to really feel it, and I'm glad I did. This story taps into something alien and primal, yet utterly human. 4/5
The little drawer full of chaos
Perfectionism horror pushing chaos into the life of two cosy lesbians. I was vividly reminded of my own junk drawer and that was very uncomfortable. 4/5
When the nightingale devours the stars
Ethereal, mystical, a small town discovers the consequences of forcing a desert to conform. 5/5
Far from home
Beige sexual tension horror. 2/5
Birds
The story I bought this book for, and it didn't disappoint. 4/5
Strident caller
Boring satanic sacrifice stuff. 2,5/5
The taste of rot
Loved the story and atmosphere. The last paragraph overshot. Shame. Still lovely nasty decay. 4/5
Venom
Creeping loss of control, our fear of being manipulated, hypnotising, depersonalising, institutionalising. 5/5
In the vastness of the sovereign sky
An homage to revolution and cruelty, the animal within man, and the call of the leap beyond. 5/5
bookwisp86's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
catsy2022's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
wpsmith17's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not going to lie but a few stories in and I was only feeling a little ho-hum about this anthology. Don't get me wrong, the writing was strong, the art excellent, and the stories creative, but I just wasn't connecting. Then comes Michael Wehunt's excellent, "Hello," and everything seemed to click.
This is a very wide-ranging collection. The horrors within each story taking us on their own unique path. But I assure you, there is a lot in here to love. And a lot of new authors to discover.
Standouts for me include: "Hello," "Gardening Activities for Couples," "Merge Now," "Herr Scheintod," "Salmon Run," "The Little Drawer Full of Chaos," "When the Nightingale Devours the Stars," "The Taste of Rot," and "In the Vastness of the Sovereign Sky."
This is a very wide-ranging collection. The horrors within each story taking us on their own unique path. But I assure you, there is a lot in here to love. And a lot of new authors to discover.
Standouts for me include: "Hello," "Gardening Activities for Couples," "Merge Now," "Herr Scheintod," "Salmon Run," "The Little Drawer Full of Chaos," "When the Nightingale Devours the Stars," "The Taste of Rot," and "In the Vastness of the Sovereign Sky."
madarauchiha's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
4.5
❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara 💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️
fave stories HELLO, LIES I TOLD MYSELF, HERR SCHEINTOD, VENOM, and IN THE VASTNESS OF THE SOVEREIGN SKY
◆ Watch Me Burn With The Light Of Ghosts by Paul Jessup
minor blood, suicide ideation, religion catholic,
medium brainwashing?,
major gun violence, drug use smoking tobacco, spree shooters, gore, animal death, murder, mental illness, religion, cults, arson, fire, demolition,
◆ Immolation by Kristi Demeester
minor misogyny, animal death,
medium vomit, grief, parental death, alcoholism, eating disorders, sexual content,
major mental illness, sexual content,
◆ Her Eyes Are Winter by Christopher Ropes
minor child death,
medium torture, child abuse, kidnapping, csa, rape, sexual abuse, murder, antiblack racism, police brutality,
major religion,
◆ 8x10 by Duane Pesice And Don Webb
Bag
minor drug use weed,
medium sexual content, minor alcohol,
major unreality, stalking? the context being theres a lil contest to take pics of the mc and she gets harassed around town because of this.
◆ And Baggage by Greg Sisco
minor suicide ideation,
medium addiction, drugs prescription drugs,
major suicide ideation, mental illness, murder, suicide ideation,
◆ The Dredger by Matt Thompson
minor injuries,
medium blood, excrement,
major animal death, gore, unsanitary,
◆ Hello by Michael Wehunt
minor addiction, drugs hard drugs, stalking / paranoia,
medium psychosis?,
major body horror,
◆ Gardening Activities For Couples by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
minor alcohol use, sexual content,
major medical abuse, medical content,
◆ Lies I Told Myself by Lynne Jamneck
minor dogs, drug use smoking tobacco, suicide, schizophrenia, infidelity, murder, suicide ideation,
medium grief, mental illness, gore, self harm,
major police,
◆ The Unkindness by Dino Parenti
minor animal death, gore, childbirth, pregnancy,
medium parental death, blood,
major gore, age gap, animal death,
◆ Merge Now by Kurt Fawver
minor blood, excrement,
major car crashes,
◆ When We Were Trespassers by Doungjai Gam
minor death , grief,
major injuries, blood, insects, drug use hard drugs, ableism towards people who use drugs, ableism,
◆ Rum Punch Is Going Down by Daniel Braum
minor antisemitism, hitler mention, parental death,
major alcohol use, serophobia, racial slurs, racism, violence, murder,
◆ Unmoored by Sean M. Thompson
major unreality?, dementia,
◆ Just Beyond The Shore by Elizabeth Beechwood
minor vomit, animal hunting, parent death,
major drowning scenario, misogyny,
◆ The Schoolmaster by David Peak
minor child death, gore, murder,
medium animal death,
◆ The Past You Have, The Future You Deserve by K.H. Vaughan
minor vomit, infidelity, vomit, suicide, excrement,
medium child death, alcohol use,
major whorephobia, child death, animal death,
◆ Herr Sheintod by Lc Von Hessen
medium vomit, rape, necrophilia, sexual content,
major body horror, medical content, gore, death, unsanitary,
◆ The Room Above by Brian Evenson
n/a
◆ Sincerely Eden by Amelia Gorman
minor torture, vomit, blood, cancer, parental death,
medium parental death, grief,
◆ Wild Dogs by Carrie Laben
minor unsanitary,
medium animal death,
major dogs, alcohol use,
◆ The Moody Rooms Of Agatha Tate by Wendy Nikel
minor death, pregnancy,
medium unreality,
◆ Salmon Run by Andrew Kozma
minor vomit, insects, animal death, unsanitary,
medium medical content, grief,
◆ The Little Drawer Of Chaos by Annie Neugebauer
minor alcohol use,
medium vomit, body horror?, medical content,
major gore, self harm, blood, death, car crash, drunk driving, vomit,
◆ When The Nightingale Devours The Stars by Gwendolyn Kiste
minor cults, religion, arson, fire, death, suicide,
medium misogyny,
◆ Far From Home by Dan Coxon
minor unsanitary,
medium sexual content,
major alcohol use, body horror,
◆ Birds by Zin E. Rocklyn
medium death, colorism,
major gore, injuries,
◆ Strident Caller by Laird Barron
major animal death, death, sexual content, police abuse, rape?, unsanitary, sexual content, dogs,
◆ The Taste Of Rot by Steve Toase
major diseases, injuries, unsanitary,
◆ Venom by S.P. Miskowski
minor arachnophobia, childbirth, pregnancy,
major medical content, medium medical abuse, spiders, animal death, insects,
◆ In The Vastness Of The Sovereign Sky by S.L. Edwards
minor child death , murder,
medium animal hunting, animal death, blood, suicide, medical content,
major gun violence, murder, genocide, suicide attempt, violence
fave stories HELLO, LIES I TOLD MYSELF, HERR SCHEINTOD, VENOM, and IN THE VASTNESS OF THE SOVEREIGN SKY
◆ Watch Me Burn With The Light Of Ghosts by Paul Jessup
minor blood, suicide ideation, religion catholic,
medium brainwashing?,
major gun violence, drug use smoking tobacco, spree shooters, gore, animal death, murder, mental illness, religion, cults, arson, fire, demolition,
◆ Immolation by Kristi Demeester
minor misogyny, animal death,
medium vomit, grief, parental death, alcoholism, eating disorders, sexual content,
major mental illness, sexual content,
◆ Her Eyes Are Winter by Christopher Ropes
minor child death,
medium torture, child abuse, kidnapping, csa, rape, sexual abuse, murder, antiblack racism, police brutality,
major religion,
◆ 8x10 by Duane Pesice And Don Webb
Bag
minor drug use weed,
medium sexual content, minor alcohol,
major unreality, stalking? the context being
◆ And Baggage by Greg Sisco
minor suicide ideation,
medium addiction, drugs prescription drugs,
major suicide ideation, mental illness, murder, suicide ideation,
◆ The Dredger by Matt Thompson
minor injuries,
medium blood, excrement,
major animal death, gore, unsanitary,
◆ Hello by Michael Wehunt
minor addiction, drugs hard drugs, stalking / paranoia,
medium psychosis?,
major body horror,
◆ Gardening Activities For Couples by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
minor alcohol use, sexual content,
major medical abuse, medical content,
◆ Lies I Told Myself by Lynne Jamneck
minor dogs, drug use smoking tobacco, suicide, schizophrenia, infidelity, murder, suicide ideation,
medium grief, mental illness, gore, self harm,
major police,
◆ The Unkindness by Dino Parenti
minor animal death, gore, childbirth, pregnancy,
medium parental death, blood,
major gore, age gap, animal death,
◆ Merge Now by Kurt Fawver
minor blood, excrement,
major car crashes,
◆ When We Were Trespassers by Doungjai Gam
minor death , grief,
major injuries, blood, insects, drug use hard drugs, ableism towards people who use drugs, ableism,
◆ Rum Punch Is Going Down by Daniel Braum
minor antisemitism, hitler mention, parental death,
major alcohol use, serophobia, racial slurs, racism, violence, murder,
◆ Unmoored by Sean M. Thompson
major unreality?, dementia,
◆ Just Beyond The Shore by Elizabeth Beechwood
minor vomit, animal hunting, parent death,
major drowning scenario, misogyny,
◆ The Schoolmaster by David Peak
minor child death, gore, murder,
medium animal death,
◆ The Past You Have, The Future You Deserve by K.H. Vaughan
minor vomit, infidelity, vomit, suicide, excrement,
medium child death, alcohol use,
major whorephobia, child death, animal death,
◆ Herr Sheintod by Lc Von Hessen
medium vomit, rape, necrophilia, sexual content,
major body horror, medical content, gore, death, unsanitary,
◆ The Room Above by Brian Evenson
n/a
◆ Sincerely Eden by Amelia Gorman
minor torture, vomit, blood, cancer, parental death,
medium parental death, grief,
◆ Wild Dogs by Carrie Laben
minor unsanitary,
medium animal death,
major dogs, alcohol use,
◆ The Moody Rooms Of Agatha Tate by Wendy Nikel
minor death, pregnancy,
medium unreality,
◆ Salmon Run by Andrew Kozma
minor vomit, insects, animal death, unsanitary,
medium medical content, grief,
◆ The Little Drawer Of Chaos by Annie Neugebauer
minor alcohol use,
medium vomit, body horror?, medical content,
major gore, self harm, blood, death, car crash, drunk driving, vomit,
◆ When The Nightingale Devours The Stars by Gwendolyn Kiste
minor cults, religion, arson, fire, death, suicide,
medium misogyny,
◆ Far From Home by Dan Coxon
minor unsanitary,
medium sexual content,
major alcohol use, body horror,
◆ Birds by Zin E. Rocklyn
medium death, colorism,
major gore, injuries,
◆ Strident Caller by Laird Barron
major animal death, death, sexual content, police abuse, rape?, unsanitary, sexual content, dogs,
◆ The Taste Of Rot by Steve Toase
major diseases, injuries, unsanitary,
◆ Venom by S.P. Miskowski
minor arachnophobia, childbirth, pregnancy,
major medical content, medium medical abuse, spiders, animal death, insects,
◆ In The Vastness Of The Sovereign Sky by S.L. Edwards
minor child death , murder,
medium animal hunting, animal death, blood, suicide, medical content,
major gun violence, murder, genocide, suicide attempt, violence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcohol, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Child death, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Racism, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Death of parent, Police brutality, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, and Vomit
Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug use, Excrement, Gore, Antisemitism, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, and Vomit
evavroslin's review against another edition
5.0
*** Review copy purchased online from Nightscape Press ***
With stunning artwork from Luke Spooner, this horror anthology from Nightscape Press features such a wide swathe of talented and diverse authors, and it is definitely not the same old parade of the “usual suspects.” It deviates from relying on the formula of using a few “big names” to sell the anthology, mixed in with mostly less widely-known authors. Readers with their pulse on who is doing some of the best work in the genre right now on the small press scene will recognize and cherish the stories by Gwendolyn Kiste, Kristi DeMeester, Michael Wehunt, S.P. Miskowski, Brian Evenson, and so many more, as I did.
Nightscape Press has consistently been releasing some of the most cutting edge horror fiction out there for the past several years, and Nox Pareidolia is a strong continuation of that tradition.
Although I was not expecting Michael Wehunt’s story “Hello” to have anything to do with the 1984 Lionel Richie song, it was an absolute trip to read this metafiction story, which breaks the fourth wall, so to speak, and blurs the lines between the author’s life and the protagonist’s. I should also note that Michael has a forthcoming book through Nightscape called Everything is Beautiful and Nothing Bad Can Ever Happen Here, and that $10 from each sale of this chapbook will go to the Southern Poverty Law Center. (Once sold out, a total of $2,500 will be donated to this charity).
“Herr Scheintod” by LC Von Hessen had a cool Edgar Allan Poe vibe to it while those looking for more existentialism in their horror will enjoy both “The Room Above” by Brian Evenson and “Sincerely Eden” by Amelia Gorman among others.
Other highlights for me included “When We Were Trespassers” by Doungjai Gam. A young couple breaks into an abandoned house at great risk to themselves because the someone close to one of them, John, passed away here specific circumstances. It goes into the perils of drug use, of obsessiveness, and of need. That’s all I can say without veering into spoiler territory. The author has a forthcoming book through Nightscape, Watch the Whole Goddamned Thing Burn, which I am eagerly anticipating.
“The Little Drawer Full of Chaos” by Annie Neugebauer is also another notable entry. I admit my bias as a librarian upfront for this story. Seeing protagonists who work in libraries is always a delight for me, as it was here. Librarians will understand the obsessiveness with that one book and not being satisfied until we put it in its correct spot on the shelf. May, the protagonist, is dealing with that, but it morphs into obsessiveness at home, which gets progressively worse. Her partner, June, also goes topsy turvy. It builds toward an explosive climax.
Meanwhile, one of my perennial favourites, Gwendolyn Kiste also has an entry here. Her spectacular novella, The Invention of Ghosts, releases at the end of November, and I recommend that you buy it while you still can, especially if you want a print copy. Her story here, “While the Nightingale Devours the Stars,” which has one of the most stunning titles ever, tells the tale of a girl, Ella Jane. She is the sole survivor of a fire caused by a death cult. There’s a fundraiser to bring her back home, and the townsfolk are all trying to pitch in, but the protagonist doesn’t really know what to make of Ella Jane’s return and finds her a very tragic character. Gwendolyn Kiste does bird horror very well and this story is no exception. I found it creepy, disturbing, and reminiscent of another Shirley Jackson tale, The Lottery not necessarily in terms of the plot per se, but the overall darkness that looms in the atmosphere. And again, I know, I know, another “obvious” comparison, but it rings true.
Saving the best for last: my favourite story was undoubtedly “The Moody Rooms of Agatha Tate” by Wendy Nikel. This story of a person going into the house of an old woman who has recently passed away (the Agatha Tate of the title) called to mind The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson strongly. While I realize that’s a very mainstream/well-known comparison, I stand by it because it’s difficult to evoke that sense of dread and tension and pull it off as well as Nikel does here. We soon find out that Agatha was into some dark things, and that’s all I can say without spoiling the rest of the story. It builds suspense in an exhilarating way and presents a phenomenal story. This story is also a wonderful addition to “unreliable narrator” territory. I also found it a testament to the author’s skill that they managed to build such a tense narrative with the possibility of more glaring or obvious terrors, but did it so simply and yet so effectively. I can’t sing the praises of this story enough.
Nox Pareidolia is meatier fare than most horror anthologies, and although I would not classify it in “doorstopper” territory, it is incredibly substantial. Readers should take their time to absorb this anthology and savour it. This volume is a slow burn, not something that readers can “tear through” and devour. It requires a bit more patience, but overall, it is another very strong offering that packs some hefty punches for horror readers who want darker and more challenging fare.
With stunning artwork from Luke Spooner, this horror anthology from Nightscape Press features such a wide swathe of talented and diverse authors, and it is definitely not the same old parade of the “usual suspects.” It deviates from relying on the formula of using a few “big names” to sell the anthology, mixed in with mostly less widely-known authors. Readers with their pulse on who is doing some of the best work in the genre right now on the small press scene will recognize and cherish the stories by Gwendolyn Kiste, Kristi DeMeester, Michael Wehunt, S.P. Miskowski, Brian Evenson, and so many more, as I did.
Nightscape Press has consistently been releasing some of the most cutting edge horror fiction out there for the past several years, and Nox Pareidolia is a strong continuation of that tradition.
Although I was not expecting Michael Wehunt’s story “Hello” to have anything to do with the 1984 Lionel Richie song, it was an absolute trip to read this metafiction story, which breaks the fourth wall, so to speak, and blurs the lines between the author’s life and the protagonist’s. I should also note that Michael has a forthcoming book through Nightscape called Everything is Beautiful and Nothing Bad Can Ever Happen Here, and that $10 from each sale of this chapbook will go to the Southern Poverty Law Center. (Once sold out, a total of $2,500 will be donated to this charity).
“Herr Scheintod” by LC Von Hessen had a cool Edgar Allan Poe vibe to it while those looking for more existentialism in their horror will enjoy both “The Room Above” by Brian Evenson and “Sincerely Eden” by Amelia Gorman among others.
Other highlights for me included “When We Were Trespassers” by Doungjai Gam. A young couple breaks into an abandoned house at great risk to themselves because the someone close to one of them, John, passed away here specific circumstances. It goes into the perils of drug use, of obsessiveness, and of need. That’s all I can say without veering into spoiler territory. The author has a forthcoming book through Nightscape, Watch the Whole Goddamned Thing Burn, which I am eagerly anticipating.
“The Little Drawer Full of Chaos” by Annie Neugebauer is also another notable entry. I admit my bias as a librarian upfront for this story. Seeing protagonists who work in libraries is always a delight for me, as it was here. Librarians will understand the obsessiveness with that one book and not being satisfied until we put it in its correct spot on the shelf. May, the protagonist, is dealing with that, but it morphs into obsessiveness at home, which gets progressively worse. Her partner, June, also goes topsy turvy. It builds toward an explosive climax.
Meanwhile, one of my perennial favourites, Gwendolyn Kiste also has an entry here. Her spectacular novella, The Invention of Ghosts, releases at the end of November, and I recommend that you buy it while you still can, especially if you want a print copy. Her story here, “While the Nightingale Devours the Stars,” which has one of the most stunning titles ever, tells the tale of a girl, Ella Jane. She is the sole survivor of a fire caused by a death cult. There’s a fundraiser to bring her back home, and the townsfolk are all trying to pitch in, but the protagonist doesn’t really know what to make of Ella Jane’s return and finds her a very tragic character. Gwendolyn Kiste does bird horror very well and this story is no exception. I found it creepy, disturbing, and reminiscent of another Shirley Jackson tale, The Lottery not necessarily in terms of the plot per se, but the overall darkness that looms in the atmosphere. And again, I know, I know, another “obvious” comparison, but it rings true.
Saving the best for last: my favourite story was undoubtedly “The Moody Rooms of Agatha Tate” by Wendy Nikel. This story of a person going into the house of an old woman who has recently passed away (the Agatha Tate of the title) called to mind The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson strongly. While I realize that’s a very mainstream/well-known comparison, I stand by it because it’s difficult to evoke that sense of dread and tension and pull it off as well as Nikel does here. We soon find out that Agatha was into some dark things, and that’s all I can say without spoiling the rest of the story. It builds suspense in an exhilarating way and presents a phenomenal story. This story is also a wonderful addition to “unreliable narrator” territory. I also found it a testament to the author’s skill that they managed to build such a tense narrative with the possibility of more glaring or obvious terrors, but did it so simply and yet so effectively. I can’t sing the praises of this story enough.
Nox Pareidolia is meatier fare than most horror anthologies, and although I would not classify it in “doorstopper” territory, it is incredibly substantial. Readers should take their time to absorb this anthology and savour it. This volume is a slow burn, not something that readers can “tear through” and devour. It requires a bit more patience, but overall, it is another very strong offering that packs some hefty punches for horror readers who want darker and more challenging fare.
vfee's review against another edition
4.0
They oscillate.
The good ones in here are excellent, hence the four stars. If you like weird fiction or horror, I'd definitely recommend this one, just be aware that some of the shorts in here are a bit...bland. Not bad, just "meh," so to speak. If nothing else there's some great art in here.
The greatest weakness that keeps cropping up consistently is that quite a few of these have weak endings. That being said, the good ones are interesting and weird and have some excellent imagery. This was fun. :)
The good ones in here are excellent, hence the four stars. If you like weird fiction or horror, I'd definitely recommend this one, just be aware that some of the shorts in here are a bit...bland. Not bad, just "meh," so to speak. If nothing else there's some great art in here.
The greatest weakness that keeps cropping up consistently is that quite a few of these have weak endings. That being said, the good ones are interesting and weird and have some excellent imagery. This was fun. :)
eerieyore's review against another edition
4.0
I admit, I skipped around a bit in this anthology. I specifically picked it up for Zin E. Rocklyn's contribution, after reading her gorgeous story "The Night Sun" on tor.com, but since the stories are specifically not attributed to authors (only titles are given in the table of contents), I started at the beginning. I'm glad that I did, because otherwise I would've missed some real gems.
The strongest story in this collection is, by far, Michael Wehunt's "Hello." To say much more about it would be to spoil the pure pleasure of wandering into it blind. It's been awhile since I've come across such a distinct voice. I have immediately procured a copy of "Greener Pastures," his collection of stories, as a direct result of reading his story here, and have already become enthralled by it. If you enjoyed House of Leaves, you'll be immediately sucked into this uncanny vortex of a story.
Zin E. Rocklyn's story "Birds" did not disappoint. I really cannot wait for her to put out more work. Her stories that I've read so far have been a weird dichotomy - I want to say that they are ruthless and savage, bloody and febrile, but that would be to deny that there also seems to be a fragility to them, something wondrous and hushed, like the space between the beating of huge wings.
There is also Brian Evenson, with "The Room Above," which, though sparse in his prose, never fails to elicit terror, and does so here again. My first experience reading Gwendolyn Kiste, with "When The Nightingale Devours the Stars", will surely not be my last. On the strength of these few stories alone, I'll be returning to this anthology again, to see what other gems are hiding in the graveyard dirt of Nox Pareidolia.
The strongest story in this collection is, by far, Michael Wehunt's "Hello." To say much more about it would be to spoil the pure pleasure of wandering into it blind. It's been awhile since I've come across such a distinct voice. I have immediately procured a copy of "Greener Pastures," his collection of stories, as a direct result of reading his story here, and have already become enthralled by it. If you enjoyed House of Leaves, you'll be immediately sucked into this uncanny vortex of a story.
Zin E. Rocklyn's story "Birds" did not disappoint. I really cannot wait for her to put out more work. Her stories that I've read so far have been a weird dichotomy - I want to say that they are ruthless and savage, bloody and febrile, but that would be to deny that there also seems to be a fragility to them, something wondrous and hushed, like the space between the beating of huge wings.
There is also Brian Evenson, with "The Room Above," which, though sparse in his prose, never fails to elicit terror, and does so here again. My first experience reading Gwendolyn Kiste, with "When The Nightingale Devours the Stars", will surely not be my last. On the strength of these few stories alone, I'll be returning to this anthology again, to see what other gems are hiding in the graveyard dirt of Nox Pareidolia.
cheesedance's review against another edition
5.0
An absolutely stunning collection of literary horror. This anthology blew me away. I generally shy away from anthologies because they can be so hit or miss. A single story in an anthology that I dislike can make me feel uninspired to keep on reading. Not the case for this one!
Every story here was quality, with several stand out selections. My favorites were the stories from Gwendolyn Kiste, S.P. Miskowski, Annie Neugebauer, and Kristi DeMeester.
If this collection has a theme, it’s “ambiguity.” These are stories that are going to make you think, and several deal with big concepts. A good handful of these stories will stay with me for a very long time. Highly recommend!
Every story here was quality, with several stand out selections. My favorites were the stories from Gwendolyn Kiste, S.P. Miskowski, Annie Neugebauer, and Kristi DeMeester.
If this collection has a theme, it’s “ambiguity.” These are stories that are going to make you think, and several deal with big concepts. A good handful of these stories will stay with me for a very long time. Highly recommend!
motherhorror's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars
Review to come, sending this one to SCREAM Mag.
Review to come, sending this one to SCREAM Mag.