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Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'
Bury Your Gays: An Anthology of Tragic Queer Horror by Sofia Ajram
3 reviews
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
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
shrikebait's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Man...tragic is right.
This anthology is not for the faint of heart. It managed to make me squirm one moment and break my heart the next. There is plenty of grotesque, otherworldly horror, but the core of this collection is the real-world horror queer folks face.
In my opinion, all of the stories are well-written and fit the theme of this anthology. That being said, some just did not capture my attention as well as others. I would still recommend this as a solid anthology for fans of queer horror.
Thank you to the authors and to BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
This anthology is not for the faint of heart. It managed to make me squirm one moment and break my heart the next. There is plenty of grotesque, otherworldly horror, but the core of this collection is the real-world horror queer folks face.
In my opinion, all of the stories are well-written and fit the theme of this anthology. That being said, some just did not capture my attention as well as others. I would still recommend this as a solid anthology for fans of queer horror.
Thank you to the authors and to BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Murder, Vomit, Alcoholism, Bullying, Terminal illness, Drug use, Violence, Body horror, Sexual content, Gore, and Cursing
Moderate: Suicide, Religious bigotry, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, Outing, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Transphobia, Grief, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
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