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unquietlibrarian's review
4.0
The Abyss Within is a collection of short stories, each with their own scary theme. I enjoy horror in the form of short stories because it allows little bursts of thrill without getting too overwhelming. It’s also great for reading in bits and pieces, so I never have to leave a story during a critical moment. This particular anthology has a story for everyone, with themes varying from the undead, to cults, to good old fashioned revenge. Of course, with varying authors and styles, you may not enjoy every story equally, but I feel like all 13 tales in this anthology held their own in terms of quality.
I found each of the short stories to be entertaining in their own individual way. Of course, I did have favourites, and I think The Munchies was the one that had me the most creeped out. Tea for Two was also quite interesting story-wise. Voodoo Doll was also unique in that I really hated the main character, but in a good way. It’s not often that the narrator is such a despicable person, it was refreshing! This anthology felt like the ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark’ books, but geared towards adults. And it was a lot of fun to experience stories from a bunch of different authors, because it gave each story a distinct voice.
The Abyss Within is a great read for horror fans looking for a sample platter of scary stories, all with wildly different plots. And as an added bonus, the anthology includes a handy ‘Content Warning’ reference guide for each story at the back, which is helpful to pursue if you have any concerns. Overall I thought The Abyss Within was fun, freaky, and all the proceeds go to charity so what could be better?
I found each of the short stories to be entertaining in their own individual way. Of course, I did have favourites, and I think The Munchies was the one that had me the most creeped out. Tea for Two was also quite interesting story-wise. Voodoo Doll was also unique in that I really hated the main character, but in a good way. It’s not often that the narrator is such a despicable person, it was refreshing! This anthology felt like the ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark’ books, but geared towards adults. And it was a lot of fun to experience stories from a bunch of different authors, because it gave each story a distinct voice.
The Abyss Within is a great read for horror fans looking for a sample platter of scary stories, all with wildly different plots. And as an added bonus, the anthology includes a handy ‘Content Warning’ reference guide for each story at the back, which is helpful to pursue if you have any concerns. Overall I thought The Abyss Within was fun, freaky, and all the proceeds go to charity so what could be better?
readbydusk's review
5.0
4.5 stars rounded up! This is a strong collection of horror stories and I had a great time reading this anthology! These 13 stories feature different kinds of horror ranging from the supernatural to cannibalism to creature feature and more. My favourites: Kerri Speller’s Vermin is a bone-chilling story of a woman meeting a strange person with a disturbing mask. Rebecca Rowland’s The Munchies is a dark comedy about a pregnant woman with a dangerous craving. Frederick Pangbourne’s Tea For Two is a brilliant take on the deal-with-the-devil trope. Tabitha Potts’ Masquerade describes a woman’s fight to survive an abusive marriage. Jim Tritten’s The Mask looks at a man who obtains a mask with a particularly bloody history.
While the above stories are highlights of the collection for me, the others are entertaining as well. If you’re looking for fun and spooky bite-sized horror, you don’t want to miss this. And it's all for a good cause!
CW: animal deaths, cannibalism, mental illness, domestic abuse
Thank you to the publisher for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
While the above stories are highlights of the collection for me, the others are entertaining as well. If you’re looking for fun and spooky bite-sized horror, you don’t want to miss this. And it's all for a good cause!
CW: animal deaths, cannibalism, mental illness, domestic abuse
Thank you to the publisher for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
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