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oddreads_nicolestins's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? No
5.0
Perfect for the month of October, or for spooky readers year-long! While it was a quick read, I'll be thinking of these stories for a long time. I loved 11 out of the 12 stories and my top 3:
1 - Doc Buzzard's Coffin
2 - The Choking Kind
3 - Since Hatchet Was a Hammer
Highly recommend this collection, and I look forward to reading more from Eden Royce!
1 - Doc Buzzard's Coffin
2 - The Choking Kind
3 - Since Hatchet Was a Hammer
Highly recommend this collection, and I look forward to reading more from Eden Royce!
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity, Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Torture, Sexual content, and Vomit
bgstrong's review
5.0
I am so glad I found this book. Southern Gothic Horror is one of my absolute favorite genres but this was like discovering the genre for the first time.
Admittedly I hadn’t read any Southern Gothic horror by POC authors until this book and I’m so just blown away at this new perspective of both The South and horror.
Beautiful, haunting, lyrical, and graphic - so many good stories in here.
Admittedly I hadn’t read any Southern Gothic horror by POC authors until this book and I’m so just blown away at this new perspective of both The South and horror.
Beautiful, haunting, lyrical, and graphic - so many good stories in here.
jesterror's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
taylored_novels's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
3.5
nakiacookauthor's review against another edition
4.0
Yay for Southern Black Gothic Horror
I have been looking for these types of stories for ages and I’m glad to have found them. Some were a bit too get in and out for me as I found myself wanting more of the good thing I was getting, but there are plenty of other stories to leave you satisfied. I loved the world building and general tone of foreboding, along with a sense of justice or revenge being served in these stories. I plan to read the second book in the near future.
I have been looking for these types of stories for ages and I’m glad to have found them. Some were a bit too get in and out for me as I found myself wanting more of the good thing I was getting, but there are plenty of other stories to leave you satisfied. I loved the world building and general tone of foreboding, along with a sense of justice or revenge being served in these stories. I plan to read the second book in the near future.
biancarosesmith's review against another edition
4.0
This is a collection of 12 Southern gothic horror stories which are more so quiet horror rather than in your face.
The stories range from the exploration of immortality to hag witches (my fave), root work, magic, revenge and DOC BUZZARD’S COFFIN which reunited me with one of my favourite characters, Jezabel in Root Magic which was released this year.
A great little collection for those who enjoy Southern gothic horror.
The stories range from the exploration of immortality to hag witches (my fave), root work, magic, revenge and DOC BUZZARD’S COFFIN which reunited me with one of my favourite characters, Jezabel in Root Magic which was released this year.
A great little collection for those who enjoy Southern gothic horror.
evavroslin's review against another edition
5.0
It's very rare for me to devour a short story collection by a single author. Anthologies are hit or miss for me with some stories being my favourites but others not interesting me at all and in a way, collections are like that but there's more of a risk factor because a reader has to be quite invested in a particular author in order to have the best reading experience when it comes to single-author collections.
I'd heard of Eden Royce before a friend reviewed her collection, but I'm glad that came across my radar because this is one of the best, most well-written and amazing short story collections I have ever read. Period. If you are a fan of genre fiction that has Southern themes and, as an added bonus, features diversity in the form of the predominantly African-American characters (including one short story that deals with the loa or spirits of Haitian vodou which I absolutely adored to a few that involved the Gullah people).
Eden Royce's stories all have a very strong voice with a unique perspective as she is from Charleston, South Carolina. Her dialogue was stunning and amazing. It is incredibly difficult to write dialogue for any character with an accent but particularly characters who are from the Southern United States. It's very easy to butcher when writing fiction, so I applaud Ms. Royce greatly for her fantastic use of dialogue. Her prose drips with authenticity--everything from the flavour of the settings she described to the wonderfully powerful emotions she evoked from her characters was simply a delight to read.
If you are a fantasy and horror reader or if you love Southern fiction, PLEASE pick up a copy of Eden Royce's collection. Her stories are so full of quality, originality, authenticity and vividness that will make this book impossible for you to put down.
I'd heard of Eden Royce before a friend reviewed her collection, but I'm glad that came across my radar because this is one of the best, most well-written and amazing short story collections I have ever read. Period. If you are a fan of genre fiction that has Southern themes and, as an added bonus, features diversity in the form of the predominantly African-American characters (including one short story that deals with the loa or spirits of Haitian vodou which I absolutely adored to a few that involved the Gullah people).
Eden Royce's stories all have a very strong voice with a unique perspective as she is from Charleston, South Carolina. Her dialogue was stunning and amazing. It is incredibly difficult to write dialogue for any character with an accent but particularly characters who are from the Southern United States. It's very easy to butcher when writing fiction, so I applaud Ms. Royce greatly for her fantastic use of dialogue. Her prose drips with authenticity--everything from the flavour of the settings she described to the wonderfully powerful emotions she evoked from her characters was simply a delight to read.
If you are a fantasy and horror reader or if you love Southern fiction, PLEASE pick up a copy of Eden Royce's collection. Her stories are so full of quality, originality, authenticity and vividness that will make this book impossible for you to put down.
mlmorgenstern's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderful collection by one of my favorite horror writers. Royce has a natural way of drawing the reader into the sultry heat of Charleston, SC. The stories Doc Buzzard's Coffin, Path of the War Chief, and The Choking Kind were my absolute favorites. An absolute delight to read, but over too soon!
thistle_and_verse's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0