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mikeroderique's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
bookishactor's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
I received an eARC of this book from one of the contributors for review. All opinions are my own. Collage Macabre by the Future Dead Collective is an art themed horror anthology. As a theatre artist and filmmaker I was immediately intrigued by concept and enjoyed this title immensely. Gemma Amor wrote a great introduction which sets the stage for the reader. Each story begins with a chilling illustration and explores characters intersecting with various art forms in many horrific ways. While some tropes seemed a bit repetitive or tired, others were novel and unique. Overall the stories ranged from “ok” to “excellent” with Lady Widow by Julie Sevens, Lack by TJ Price, Chiaro Obscuro by Alex Wolfgang, Station 42 by Erik McHatton, Twigs by Andrew F. Sullivan, How to Make it in Hollywood by Rachel Searcey, and Take it From the Top by Timothy Lanz being some of my favorites. Really, there were no bad stories in the bunch, making this a truly excellent anthology. I think it will appeal to artists of all sorts as well as general horror fans as well. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
readthesparrow's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Who consumes art? Who is consumed?
These are the questions asked by Collage Macabre in its aesthetically chilling collection of stories. The art in question ranges from fiber crafts to sugar blowing to oil paintings.
The collection is organized as an art exhibit. The book even includes a map of the exhibit, a really nice touch that also serves as an excellent guide of thematic organization. The stories are accompanied by gorgeous black-and-white illustrations (by illustrator Schism), which add an extra-creepy touch to the collection. My favorites of their illustrations were the ones for “Callous” and “The Preparator.”
As a queer person, I loved the amount of queer rep in this collection. Short stories such as “Lack” by TJ Price and “Darned if You Do, Damned if You Don’t” by Nikki R. Leigh featured queer protagonists. There were also excellent stories from authors of color, including “Breathe, Blow", Burn” by Ai Jiang and “How to Make it in Hollywood” by Rachel Searcey.
There is not a single short story in this collection I disliked. The authors and editors did an absolutely fantastic job with their work here—the range of styles, subjects, and themes made for an absolutely unforgettable mosaic of terror.
Because I have so many favorites, though, I’ll choose one from each exhibition—History of Art as Obsession, Painting, Visual Arts, Sculpture Hall, Modern Experimental Arts, Art on Film, and the FDC Auditorium.
History of Art as Obsession: “The Preparator” by Joseph Andre Thomas follows a college student’s drug-fueled decline while writing an essay about The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp. As someone who well aquainted with the kind of manic exhaustion that comes with writing academic essays as well as obsessive streaks (though mine, admittedly, were sans street drugs), I can say this short story perfectly captured the kind of energy that comes with both fronts.
Painting: “Lack” by TJ Price; the story follows a man whose relationship with his artist boyfriend begins to deteriorate after he paints an all-black painting. While never explicitly stated, it’s clear that the main character suffers from a mental illness (likely OCD or some kind of paranoia) which influences his connections with the world around him and his relationships.
Visual Arts: “Chiaro Obscuro” by Alex Wolfgang. The story follows a man who attempts to learn art as a way to fix what he views as his own skewed perception of the world. The story executes a very difficult approach to imagery with ease.
Sculpture Hall: Though it’s a difficult choice, “Callous” by Christi Nogle is my favorite of the sculptures. What can I say? Frankenstein is one of my favorite books and I adore flesh used as artistic material (in a fictional context, of course).
Modern Experimental Arts: In “Twigs” by Andrew F. Sullivan, a man reconnects with his childhood friend after she becomes a rising star in the art world. Okay, maybe choosing “Twigs” is cheating since I’m not entirely sure if it counts as experimental arts or sculpture, but I’m a sap (badum-tsh) for forest horror. There’s just something so creepy and underutilized about twigs used as sculpture!
Art on Film: A young woman becomes an unpaid PA on the set of a horror movie being shot in the middle of the desert in “How to Make it in Hollywood” by Rachel Searcey. The story examines predators and predatory practices on even diverse sets with a final scene I won’t forget any time soon.
The FDC Auditorium: Something strange happens during a community college play rehearsal in “Take it from the Top” by Timothy Lanz. This story plays with the audience in a really interesting way that makes it a perfect final story before the collection calls curtains. I’m also just a huge sucker for theatrical horror.
Collage Macabre is easily one of my top ten favorite horror short story collections. The exhibition is a must-visit for any horror lover, especially fans of Dorian Grey and The King in Yellow. It is a fresh and sharp take on art horror; I look forward to more work from the Future Dead Collective.
I received a digital review copy from the publisher in exchange for a review. A big thank you to the wonderful Collage Macabre team for providing me an ARC!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Violence, Classism, Racism, Mental illness, Gore, Child abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, and Physical abuse
Minor: Medical content and Sexual harassment
A full list of content warnings by story is avaliable in the back of the book.
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