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zoes_human's review
3.0
A strong collection filled with predominantly good stories, a couple of exceptionally good stories, and four amazing stories. Sadly, it also contains one story which I loathed to such a degree that it literally dragged my rating of this collection down an entire star.
First, the amazing standouts:
Not one but two wonderful Allison M. Dickson stories: "The Shiva Apparatus" and "Under the Scotch Broom." True confession - I have completely developed a reader crush on this writer and have a mission to read all the things she writes. Her descriptive abilities continually draw me in to her universe. Also, having read a bit more of her work at this time, I'm delighted that she doesn't let herself get locked down into one genre. I've now read horror and sci-fi by her and found both to be equally well written.
"Five Steps" by Michael Federico left me with the midnight nightmare fragment sweats. I recommend reading this in bright daylight surrounded by people you love (preferably well armed people who would die for you). Incredibly creepy in the good way.
"The Diner" by Nathan Palmer found me telling a character what to do - out loud (picture those people who shout out things like "Look behind you!" during a scary movie only yelling at a book).
And the bad.... In all honesty, I would have given this book 4 stars instead of 3 if it were not for "A Game of Bones" by Jordan Benoit. I understand that sometimes stereotypes can be used to make a meaningful social statement, but if that was the intent in this story, then the statement is far too subtle for me to detect.There are four main characters. One is specifically described as being black which leaves one to assume the others are white. Despite being mentioned as having graduated college, this character speaks like a hood unlike his white friends. The one female character? Oh yeah, she's a "buxom blonde" (of course), helpless (are you surprised?), pouts during a crisis (are you facepalming yet?), and (drum roll please) only survives because a man rescues her. Charming.
First, the amazing standouts:
Not one but two wonderful Allison M. Dickson stories: "The Shiva Apparatus" and "Under the Scotch Broom." True confession - I have completely developed a reader crush on this writer and have a mission to read all the things she writes. Her descriptive abilities continually draw me in to her universe. Also, having read a bit more of her work at this time, I'm delighted that she doesn't let herself get locked down into one genre. I've now read horror and sci-fi by her and found both to be equally well written.
"Five Steps" by Michael Federico left me with the midnight nightmare fragment sweats. I recommend reading this in bright daylight surrounded by people you love (preferably well armed people who would die for you). Incredibly creepy in the good way.
"The Diner" by Nathan Palmer found me telling a character what to do - out loud (picture those people who shout out things like "Look behind you!" during a scary movie only yelling at a book).
And the bad.... In all honesty, I would have given this book 4 stars instead of 3 if it were not for "A Game of Bones" by Jordan Benoit. I understand that sometimes stereotypes can be used to make a meaningful social statement, but if that was the intent in this story, then the statement is far too subtle for me to detect.
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