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aoibhinnannwn's review
1.0
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. I was drawn to this book by the amazing cover art, and after reading the description I thought this book would definitely be for me. Unfortunately, I was wrong - I made it a little over halfway through these stories before I gave up on them. Every story followed the same formula - some character gets involved with something and ends up dead in some way. All the characters were very flat and there was little motivation for anything that happened with any of the plots. I love a good short short - but a lot of these shorter stories seemed like they were just ideas for a longer work. A lot of telling instead of showing here.
pvp_niki's review
3.0
People who like the kind of horror/weird literature where a lot of random strange things happen and nothing ever makes sense will love this short story collection. Unfortunately, this is not the kind of fiction I like.
I liked the later stories in the book better then the ones in the beginning, some of them were quite atmospheric and good at character emotions.
However, for me, most stories were just "meh" and there were some which were "quite ok" but nothing outstanding. Most of the ideas felt like when you are doing something ordinary and a random thought occurs like "what if this or that very weird thing happened?" but then you just forget about it and certainly don't write a story about it because usually these ideas are not ones you can build a story arc upon. This is what I felt here, that at some point there's some random horror element introduced but usually it doesn't really contribute to the story, it's just there. I know this can be called realistic (if it's possible to use this word with speculative fiction at all) like when something horrifying happens why should anything make sense. However, personally I don't like when stories don't try and build something, a plot twist, a character arc, an homage, something.
Also, the structure of the stories was quite repetitious, they usually start with something ordinary, something really mundane and then at some point something strange starts to seep in and you can't decide (ok after the nth time you can definitely decide) if the characters are just idiots or it's the horror yet then at some point you get confirmed that yes, it's definitely the horror. This is how all the stories go in this collection which got a bit boring for me very soon. Funny enough the editor at the end of the book highlighted this recurring structure as an attractive feature of the stories so don't hesitate to go for this book if you feel drawn to this storyline.
One minor thing that still irked me a lot was the 3rd person narrator calling the protagonists by their full name (with surname and all) in the very first paragraph of every single story (except the few exceptions with 1st person narration). I don't see any use of it, sometimes maybe to hint on the various ethnicity of the characters but certainly not all times, and it makes the characters extremely distant instantly.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the later stories in the book better then the ones in the beginning, some of them were quite atmospheric and good at character emotions.
However, for me, most stories were just "meh" and there were some which were "quite ok" but nothing outstanding. Most of the ideas felt like when you are doing something ordinary and a random thought occurs like "what if this or that very weird thing happened?" but then you just forget about it and certainly don't write a story about it because usually these ideas are not ones you can build a story arc upon. This is what I felt here, that at some point there's some random horror element introduced but usually it doesn't really contribute to the story, it's just there. I know this can be called realistic (if it's possible to use this word with speculative fiction at all) like when something horrifying happens why should anything make sense. However, personally I don't like when stories don't try and build something, a plot twist, a character arc, an homage, something.
Also, the structure of the stories was quite repetitious, they usually start with something ordinary, something really mundane and then at some point something strange starts to seep in and you can't decide (ok after the nth time you can definitely decide) if the characters are just idiots or it's the horror yet then at some point you get confirmed that yes, it's definitely the horror. This is how all the stories go in this collection which got a bit boring for me very soon. Funny enough the editor at the end of the book highlighted this recurring structure as an attractive feature of the stories so don't hesitate to go for this book if you feel drawn to this storyline.
One minor thing that still irked me a lot was the 3rd person narrator calling the protagonists by their full name (with surname and all) in the very first paragraph of every single story (except the few exceptions with 1st person narration). I don't see any use of it, sometimes maybe to hint on the various ethnicity of the characters but certainly not all times, and it makes the characters extremely distant instantly.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
nikki_in_niagara's review
3.0
This is a collection of horror, odd, and weird short stories. I wasn't particularly impressed. There were a couple of excellent stories at the end, a few duds, and most were just okay. My main problem was that the stories were too short and didn't work well. Very short stories can work but they need a specific plot and a good punch. These mostly felt like they were missing information and left me with questions. The longer stories were better.
1. What Happens When the Crickets Stop Singing - A man gets a computer virus and his world turns menacing. Typical man running from danger. Ok. (3/5)
2. And the Flies Will Follow - It's the zombie apocalypse and four people are in a small compound. After a night on duty, Myra sleeps while trouble brews with the others. A simple tale but engaging. Well written. (4/5)
3. Cardboard Citadels - A man finds his favourite web porn star hiding in a homeless person's cardboard box town. There's nothing I hate more than graphic sex with violence. This has no redeeming values. (0/5)
4. Vermilion Borders - A man kills a fly and then goes about his humdrum life until he meets a woman. This was good but really strange. I think I sort of get it. (3/5)
5. Dark Scriptures - Kehlani is dating a Brazilian man who has intense tattoos all over his back. He is studying metaphysical stuff and when she looks at his pile of books he commands her not to look at them. A well-written story and as I'm finding out about this author as usual great characterization. (4/5)
6. Black Static, How Lovely the Sound - A lonely old man is in constant pain from his gums which bleed all the time. Black Static is the form of a woman wanting to end his pain. Very short but well-written with great characterization. The ending was hazy and I'm not sure I understood it. (3/5)
7. Flute of Ribs - Husband and wife have a big fight as she goes out for girl's night but she doesn't come home. Very short with an abrupt ending. Good story until the ending. (2/5)
8. Fire in the Black Night - A teenage boy has been brought to the hospital with severe burns. The nurse who attends to him watches as something overtakes him. This was actually quite boring. (1/5)
9. Time to Shine - A woman dreams of fame and fortune and her husband makes it come true. This was decent but needed to be longer. What did the husband get? Why did he participate? More info on the group. This would all have made a much longer story. (3/5)
10. The Fossilization Method - A young girl's parents turn into fossils. Now as an adult, she feels it happening to herself. A brief story but well-written. (3/5)
11. The Hum of the World - A teacher befriends a strange kid at school and the kid shows him the hum coming from a crack in the ground. This is the best story so far. It has a great interesting lead but the ending is too quick. (4/5)
12. A House Lay Deserted - A man returns home to Poland for his father's funeral. He finds an abandoned house in the village that wasn't there before. This is a fine story. An Intriguing lead-up has plenty of plot and character development. The ending was predictable but satisfying. Even better than the previous story. (5/5)
13. Where Old People Go to Die - A young man wanders into a courtyard in the forest. This was very short. It's a cute story with a hmm ending. (3/5)
14. The Dreadheads - Hunter is a journalist and he's interviewing Blake, the lead singer of the metal group Dreadheads. This is a predictable story but well-written and a little eerie. I enjoyed it. (4/5)
15. Rolling with the God$ - A grappler takes an experimental drug consisting of stingray serum. This was ok. I liked the body horror but I don't like sports in my reading so this is a me thing. (3/5)
1. What Happens When the Crickets Stop Singing - A man gets a computer virus and his world turns menacing. Typical man running from danger. Ok. (3/5)
2. And the Flies Will Follow - It's the zombie apocalypse and four people are in a small compound. After a night on duty, Myra sleeps while trouble brews with the others. A simple tale but engaging. Well written. (4/5)
3. Cardboard Citadels - A man finds his favourite web porn star hiding in a homeless person's cardboard box town. There's nothing I hate more than graphic sex with violence. This has no redeeming values. (0/5)
4. Vermilion Borders - A man kills a fly and then goes about his humdrum life until he meets a woman. This was good but really strange. I think I sort of get it. (3/5)
5. Dark Scriptures - Kehlani is dating a Brazilian man who has intense tattoos all over his back. He is studying metaphysical stuff and when she looks at his pile of books he commands her not to look at them. A well-written story and as I'm finding out about this author as usual great characterization. (4/5)
6. Black Static, How Lovely the Sound - A lonely old man is in constant pain from his gums which bleed all the time. Black Static is the form of a woman wanting to end his pain. Very short but well-written with great characterization. The ending was hazy and I'm not sure I understood it. (3/5)
7. Flute of Ribs - Husband and wife have a big fight as she goes out for girl's night but she doesn't come home. Very short with an abrupt ending. Good story until the ending. (2/5)
8. Fire in the Black Night - A teenage boy has been brought to the hospital with severe burns. The nurse who attends to him watches as something overtakes him. This was actually quite boring. (1/5)
9. Time to Shine - A woman dreams of fame and fortune and her husband makes it come true. This was decent but needed to be longer. What did the husband get? Why did he participate? More info on the group. This would all have made a much longer story. (3/5)
10. The Fossilization Method - A young girl's parents turn into fossils. Now as an adult, she feels it happening to herself. A brief story but well-written. (3/5)
11. The Hum of the World - A teacher befriends a strange kid at school and the kid shows him the hum coming from a crack in the ground. This is the best story so far. It has a great interesting lead but the ending is too quick. (4/5)
12. A House Lay Deserted - A man returns home to Poland for his father's funeral. He finds an abandoned house in the village that wasn't there before. This is a fine story. An Intriguing lead-up has plenty of plot and character development. The ending was predictable but satisfying. Even better than the previous story. (5/5)
13. Where Old People Go to Die - A young man wanders into a courtyard in the forest. This was very short. It's a cute story with a hmm ending. (3/5)
14. The Dreadheads - Hunter is a journalist and he's interviewing Blake, the lead singer of the metal group Dreadheads. This is a predictable story but well-written and a little eerie. I enjoyed it. (4/5)
15. Rolling with the God$ - A grappler takes an experimental drug consisting of stingray serum. This was ok. I liked the body horror but I don't like sports in my reading so this is a me thing. (3/5)
drakaina16's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Thank you to BookSirens for providing a review copy.
Grant Wamack came blaring onto my radar with his novella God's Leftovers. I was eager to pick up this collection and by and large, I enjoyed the stories. There are a few real standouts here, too. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
What Happens When the Crickets Stop Singing ⭐⭐⭐.5
And the Flies Will Follow ⭐⭐⭐
Cardboard Citadels ⭐⭐
Vermilion Borders ⭐⭐⭐
Dark Scriptures ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Black Static, How Lovely the Sound ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flute of Ribs ⭐⭐⭐
Fire in the Black Night ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Time to Shine ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Fossilization Method ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Hum of the World ⭐⭐⭐.5
A House Lay Deserted ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Where Old People Go to Die ⭐⭐⭐
The Dreadheads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rolling With the Gods ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Grant Wamack came blaring onto my radar with his novella God's Leftovers. I was eager to pick up this collection and by and large, I enjoyed the stories. There are a few real standouts here, too. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
What Happens When the Crickets Stop Singing ⭐⭐⭐.5
And the Flies Will Follow ⭐⭐⭐
Cardboard Citadels ⭐⭐
Vermilion Borders ⭐⭐⭐
Dark Scriptures ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Black Static, How Lovely the Sound ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flute of Ribs ⭐⭐⭐
Fire in the Black Night ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Time to Shine ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Fossilization Method ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Hum of the World ⭐⭐⭐.5
A House Lay Deserted ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Where Old People Go to Die ⭐⭐⭐
The Dreadheads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rolling With the Gods ⭐⭐⭐⭐
booksandsalt's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
_morgreads's review
fast-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Rape, and Ableism
thegrimhobbyist's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.0
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first time reading Grant's work, and let me tell you, I am highly intrigued. Surreal horror at its finest, each short story more wacky and bizarre than the next. Like the many references - including the cover itself - this book settles into you like a droning white noise in your ears. Never leaving, constantly humming in the back of your mind after you put the book down. I squinted at the headache I got the day I had to kill a pesky fly in my house. If you read this book, you know what I'm referencing, readers. This was a poetic, horrific, and sometimes erotic experience that left me wanting more.
No, seriously, I really wished some of the short stories had more to it. I felt a few of them were cut too short, or transitional paragraphs to take you from one scene to the next were left out that left things a little jarring instead of flowing properly through the storyline. But that's my nit-picky self who selfishly just wanted to read more of each story. Get more into the surrealism of the world, more into the heads of the characters. Some of these were just a small teaser, a taste. Too small a taste.
If I had to pick a few favorite stories out of this, it would have to be: Dark Scriptures, Fire In The Black Night and A House Lay Deserted. But these are only a few. Several more had certainly a lasting impression on me as well, even with my complaint of them being a tad too short. And can we appreciate the cover of this book? I've been staring at it for awhile, mesmerized. Very artful and aesthetically pleasing to me. Don Noble is the artist of the cover.
This is my first time reading Grant's work, and let me tell you, I am highly intrigued. Surreal horror at its finest, each short story more wacky and bizarre than the next. Like the many references - including the cover itself - this book settles into you like a droning white noise in your ears. Never leaving, constantly humming in the back of your mind after you put the book down. I squinted at the headache I got the day I had to kill a pesky fly in my house. If you read this book, you know what I'm referencing, readers. This was a poetic, horrific, and sometimes erotic experience that left me wanting more.
No, seriously, I really wished some of the short stories had more to it. I felt a few of them were cut too short, or transitional paragraphs to take you from one scene to the next were left out that left things a little jarring instead of flowing properly through the storyline. But that's my nit-picky self who selfishly just wanted to read more of each story. Get more into the surrealism of the world, more into the heads of the characters. Some of these were just a small teaser, a taste. Too small a taste.
If I had to pick a few favorite stories out of this, it would have to be: Dark Scriptures, Fire In The Black Night and A House Lay Deserted. But these are only a few. Several more had certainly a lasting impression on me as well, even with my complaint of them being a tad too short. And can we appreciate the cover of this book? I've been staring at it for awhile, mesmerized. Very artful and aesthetically pleasing to me. Don Noble is the artist of the cover.
sleepysadpoet's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
2.5
Disclaimer: I received a gifted copy of this book in exchange for a review and I'm leaving my honest opinion.
2.5 stars
I think this book is good for the right audience, but I'm not sure I'm in that audience. It's very interesting horror, and it has a lot of potential, but I don't think it's for me. The author isn't a bad writer by any means, I think this just didn't fit for me personally. I can think of a couple friends who might like it though, so I'll keep that in mind for the future. Thanks to netgalley and to grant for the opportunity to read this book. I won't be cross posting this to my bookstagram, in part because I don't like to post negative reviews and in part that I'm not sure how many of my followers will like this.
2.5 stars
I think this book is good for the right audience, but I'm not sure I'm in that audience. It's very interesting horror, and it has a lot of potential, but I don't think it's for me. The author isn't a bad writer by any means, I think this just didn't fit for me personally. I can think of a couple friends who might like it though, so I'll keep that in mind for the future. Thanks to netgalley and to grant for the opportunity to read this book. I won't be cross posting this to my bookstagram, in part because I don't like to post negative reviews and in part that I'm not sure how many of my followers will like this.
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