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slovenlymuse's review
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
4.5
This horror anthology of tragic stories (where a queer character dies) responds to the trope of "burying the gays" in some exquisite and savage ways, proving that even when a character is dead, that doesn't necessarily mean they're out of the story. Sometimes, that's when the story gets most interesting.
ellewhyoh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The relationship between queerness and horror is a long and complicated one (check out “It Came from the Closet” if you’re interested in some nonfiction on the topic) and this collection proudly takes its place in that intersection. It was at times tragic, gruesome, heartfelt, and satisfying.
The ones that really hurt my heart are the ones that, if not based on true stories, are a story we’ve heard again and again—a transgender woman desperate to feel whole in her body undergoes a risky surgery, a young man flashes to all of the small moments of joy he wished he had taken when faced with death dealt by human monsters, a community is left wanting by the medical establishment, etc.
My favorite story in terms of sheer writing was "Cleodora." The author of that piece, August Clark, just has a way with language that leads me to hit the "highlight" button again and again.
Short story collections have a hard time getting 5 stars from me just because there are almost always highlights and lowlights, but overall this was a very solid, enjoyable collection.
Be aware that there is some fairly graphic violence and body horror-- I somewhat wish that this book did what another queer horror collection that I read recently did, which is provide some content warnings in the back of the book for anyone who knew they had specific triggers.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The ones that really hurt my heart are the ones that, if not based on true stories, are a story we’ve heard again and again—a transgender woman desperate to feel whole in her body undergoes a risky surgery, a young man flashes to all of the small moments of joy he wished he had taken when faced with death dealt by human monsters, a community is left wanting by the medical establishment, etc.
My favorite story in terms of sheer writing was "Cleodora." The author of that piece, August Clark, just has a way with language that leads me to hit the "highlight" button again and again.
Short story collections have a hard time getting 5 stars from me just because there are almost always highlights and lowlights, but overall this was a very solid, enjoyable collection.
Be aware that there is some fairly graphic violence and body horror-- I somewhat wish that this book did what another queer horror collection that I read recently did, which is provide some content warnings in the back of the book for anyone who knew they had specific triggers.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, and Sexual content
blulibrarian's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Oh, I really enjoyed these! I picked this one up because I recognized a few names I knew I had enjoyed novels by previously. Often, short stories collections have some gems that really shine, and a few stories that don't really move me. Not this one! I loved every one of these tales and have a long list of authors to go find more works by! There is a really good breadth of horror here across many genres; I have a soft spot for sci-fi horror in particular, and there are an excellent few in among the rest of the stories here. Really recommend this to anyone even vaguely interested.
Oh, I really enjoyed these! I picked this one up because I recognized a few names I knew I had enjoyed novels by previously. Often, short stories collections have some gems that really shine, and a few stories that don't really move me. Not this one! I loved every one of these tales and have a long list of authors to go find more works by! There is a really good breadth of horror here across many genres; I have a soft spot for sci-fi horror in particular, and there are an excellent few in among the rest of the stories here. Really recommend this to anyone even vaguely interested.
booktribe's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.0
“I thought I was my best with her but she saw how wretched I was and she loved me for it—“ - Black Hole by November Rush
““I think I’m not well,” he whispers. “Hey, it’s okay. I’ll take care of you.” How that phrase, take care of, implies both nurturing and disposal.” - American Gothic by LC von Hessen
Overall I enjoyed this collection! There were definitely some hits and misses, but there were several stories that I really enjoyed! My faves were: Your Honor, I’d Like to Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse’s Thirty Proven Clients by M. V. Pine (absolutely horrifying), Black Hole by November Rush (horrifying & beautiful & heartbreaking all at once), Lost and Found by Charlene Adhiambo (I too feel like a dead body rotting in a tub that has nothing except her dreams) & American Gothic by LC von Hessen!
I really enjoyed the continued use of second person POV in these stories, it really brought a haunting vibe to a lot of the stories! A lot of the stories were on the erotic horror side, which isn’t for me, so I think that’s why some of the stories didn’t connect with me. But, the ones I enjoyed, I REALLY enjoyed!
Individual story ratings:
📚 Your Honor, I’d Like to Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse’s Thirty Proven Clients by M. V. Pine: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
> TW: dead naming, transphobia
📚 This Body is not your home by Son M. : ⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚 Curdled Song of the Broken Earth by Jonathan Louis Duckworth: DNF
📚 Fortune Favors Grief by Cassandra Khaw: ⭐️
📚 Cleodora by August Clarke: ⭐️⭐️✨
📚 Summer Night by Robbie Banfitch: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
> TW: hate crime
📚 Bad Axe by Ed Kurtz: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
> TW: suicide; grief
📚American Gothic by LC von Hessen: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚Sardines by Gretchen Felker-Martin: DNF
📚 Zero Tolerance by M. F. Rose: DNF
> TW: bullying
📚 Black Hole by November Rush: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚Lost and Found by Charlene Adhiambo: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
> TW: parental abandonment, drug use
📚Love Like Ours by Violet: ⭐️⭐️✨
📚 Filthy Animals by Thomas Kearnes: skipped (I can tell this one is not for my ace ass lol)
📚 Worth the Dying Shame by Matteo L. Cerilli: DNF (loved the idea, but couldn’t get into the writing)
📚 All of Our Boys Are Missing by Joe Koch: DNF
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Bullying, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Suicide
Moderate: Abandonment
castoffcreature's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
blackmetalblackheart's review
3.0
Based on the theme and the authors involved, I had high hopes for Bury Your Gays, and though it certainly was not bad, it left a lot to be desired. I was hoping for a collection of stories that brought something fresh and subversive to queer tragedy, but mostly it felt familiar and well-trodden. As with any collection, there were some stories that stood out, some that flopped, and all the rest that fell somewhere in-between. I would definitely look up more works by a few of the authors involved, but overall, I found this to be more forgettable than not.
isaiahh's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
4.5
"I'm pissed we tried to live our way and ended up dying theirs and for that I gotta give up my life. [...] I don't regret any of the choices I made [...] So the least I can do is dance about it."
Short stories collections/Anthologies are not what I usually navigate toward in literature, but as I've been exploring (and loving) queer horror, I had to read this. And my God what a great decision that was.
Bury Your Gays a hundred percent delivers on its promise of tragic queer horror. Out of the sixteen stories, some resonated with me more than the rest, and some were not to my personal taste, but I can honestly say I found them all to be very well written, and so interesting! This anthology is definitely not the faint of heart, with its lovely mix of body horror, murder, undead, and a lot (a lot) more. It is horriying and disgusting and heartbreaking, but it is also incredibly loving and hopeful at times.
I terribly enjoyed reading Bury Your Gays, and some of these stories will stay with me for a while (both as beloved tales and as sources of inspiration for my own writing); but none more so than the opening one, by M. V. Pine. It packs a punch and left me reeling from it. A bold way to kick off the anthology, but the perfect choice in my opinion.
My personal five favourites:
- Worth the Dying Shame by Matteo L. Cerilli
- This Body is Not Your Home by Son M.
- All of Our Boys Are Missing by Joe Koch
- Lost and Found by Charlene Adhiambo
- American Gothic by LC von Hessen
+ Special mentions to Sardines by Gretchen Felker-Martin and Cleodora by August Clarke.