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A review by becandbooks
Strange Girls: Women in Horror Anthology by Azzurra Nox
2.0
Trigger/Content warnings: death/murder, sexual assault, toxic relationships, stalking, outing of sexuality, bullying, violence, necrophilia, rape
Representation: non-binary, queer MC & POC side character (Personal Demons), queer MC and off-screen character (The Eyes of the Dead)
24 Hour Diner by Charlotte Platt ★★
Generic paranormal story - not really horror, in my opinion.
Sideshow by Jude Reid ★★★1/2
Lovely atmosphere and well-defined characters. I enjoyed how this story developed. But it didn't blow me away at all.
The Doll's House by Alyson Faye ★★★1/2
Finally something a little creepy. I love how this developed and the ambiguity that was throughout the story until the very end.
Blood by Red Claire ★
I'm confused by the story. Also, by the fact that this was fantasy. Not horror.
Self-Portrait with Pears by Rachel Bolton ★★1/2
Part of me actually did enjoy this story, but again, NOT HORROR. This was absolutely more of a suspense short story. Good, but also just way too much of the creepy stalker dude which amounted to nothing other than me being really mad and annoyed.
Personal Demons by Angelique Fawns ★
No no no no no no. Not only was the non-binary MC misgendered BY THE AUTHOR in the first few lines (okay, this may be changed in the final copy - please note I am reading a proof) but "...being a lesbian doesn't suit me" is possibly one of the worst lines I have ever come across. The writing made me cringe, the story-telling was jaunty and it seemed incredibly cliche to use the name Lilith.
Friends with Benefits by E.F. Schraeder ★★1/2
I didn't fully understand what was happening. But I liked it? But then it felt incomplete and rushed. Oh and some of the most DISGUSTING mental health language in this story. *sigh* I just want a well-written full length novel of this...
Night Terrors by Angela Sylvaine ★★1/2
This was well-written and I didn't hate it. But absolutely not horror (definitely sci-fi) and not original at all.
The Girl Who Never Stopped Bleeding by Sam Lauren ★
This would have been good if the entire thing hadn't been some weird, messed up analogy about female menstruation.
Leda and the Fly by Marnie Azzarelli ★★★★1/2
Finally something good! If you loved The Yellow Wallpaper then this will be right up your alley.
Jenny's Bobo by Hillary Lyon ★★
This was promising. Until it ended suddenly, turning this into a short story with zero point.
Extinguishing Fireflies by Rebecca Rowland ★★★★
I enjoyed this! Super creepy vibes, gorgeously developed twist.
The Eyes of the Dead by Danielle R. Bailey DNF
I can't believe this was written. I can't believe this was chosen for an anthology.
Don't subject yourself to this story. It's disgusting. It's graphic shock value just for the sake of it. It is the worst torture/rape/necrophilia scene I've ever come across. Also shitty dialogue about substance abuse/homelessness.
My Mirror Wife by Ash Tudor ★★★★
Really well scripted victim-to-villain story. I loved the way this finished as well. Deliciously dark and messed-up.
Patterns of Faerytales by Azzurra Nox ★★★★
I enjoyed this one. Absolutely more fantasy with horror elements, than strictly horror. But it was well told.
Campfire Tales: The Bloody Rings by Emma Johnson-Rivard ★★
Meh.
Cracked by Regan Moore ★★★
Not bad, but honestly it didn't thrill me either. The premise could make a great horror story, but I didn't feel a whole heap of suspense.
Angel of Death by Phoebe Jane Johnson ★★
This was just odd. Like I was reading two stories at once? The two parts just didn't gel together.
Her Garden Grows by Maxine Kollar DNF
Revival by Madison Estes ★★★★1/2
This was good! The dark creepy, second-guessing sort of horror that I want from short stories.
A Song Only She Can Hear by Wondra Vanian ★★★1/2
I really enjoyed this one but it wasn't as atmospheric as I wanted. The story was great, but it didn't feel spooky?
Tribal Influence by Erica Ruhe ★★★1/2
This was a nicely fleshed out story. I enjoyed it, but I wasn't blown away.
So all up, some okay stories, a couple of stories that were fantastic and even more that strongly recommend you skip over. My average star rating for the anthology is 2.5. Pick it up if the descriptions of the stories intrigue you. But I don't think this is a collection that I will be revisiting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Representation: non-binary, queer MC & POC side character (Personal Demons), queer MC and off-screen character (The Eyes of the Dead)
24 Hour Diner by Charlotte Platt ★★
Generic paranormal story - not really horror, in my opinion.
Sideshow by Jude Reid ★★★1/2
Lovely atmosphere and well-defined characters. I enjoyed how this story developed. But it didn't blow me away at all.
The Doll's House by Alyson Faye ★★★1/2
Finally something a little creepy. I love how this developed and the ambiguity that was throughout the story until the very end.
Blood by Red Claire ★
I'm confused by the story. Also, by the fact that this was fantasy. Not horror.
Self-Portrait with Pears by Rachel Bolton ★★1/2
Part of me actually did enjoy this story, but again, NOT HORROR. This was absolutely more of a suspense short story. Good, but also just way too much of the creepy stalker dude which amounted to nothing other than me being really mad and annoyed.
Personal Demons by Angelique Fawns ★
No no no no no no. Not only was the non-binary MC misgendered BY THE AUTHOR in the first few lines (okay, this may be changed in the final copy - please note I am reading a proof) but "...being a lesbian doesn't suit me" is possibly one of the worst lines I have ever come across. The writing made me cringe, the story-telling was jaunty and it seemed incredibly cliche to use the name Lilith.
Friends with Benefits by E.F. Schraeder ★★1/2
I didn't fully understand what was happening. But I liked it? But then it felt incomplete and rushed. Oh and some of the most DISGUSTING mental health language in this story. *sigh* I just want a well-written full length novel of this...
Night Terrors by Angela Sylvaine ★★1/2
This was well-written and I didn't hate it. But absolutely not horror (definitely sci-fi) and not original at all.
The Girl Who Never Stopped Bleeding by Sam Lauren ★
This would have been good if the entire thing hadn't been some weird, messed up analogy about female menstruation.
Leda and the Fly by Marnie Azzarelli ★★★★1/2
Finally something good! If you loved The Yellow Wallpaper then this will be right up your alley.
Jenny's Bobo by Hillary Lyon ★★
This was promising. Until it ended suddenly, turning this into a short story with zero point.
Extinguishing Fireflies by Rebecca Rowland ★★★★
I enjoyed this! Super creepy vibes, gorgeously developed twist.
The Eyes of the Dead by Danielle R. Bailey DNF
I can't believe this was written. I can't believe this was chosen for an anthology.
Don't subject yourself to this story. It's disgusting. It's graphic shock value just for the sake of it. It is the worst torture/rape/necrophilia scene I've ever come across. Also shitty dialogue about substance abuse/homelessness.
My Mirror Wife by Ash Tudor ★★★★
Really well scripted victim-to-villain story. I loved the way this finished as well. Deliciously dark and messed-up.
Patterns of Faerytales by Azzurra Nox ★★★★
I enjoyed this one. Absolutely more fantasy with horror elements, than strictly horror. But it was well told.
Campfire Tales: The Bloody Rings by Emma Johnson-Rivard ★★
Meh.
Cracked by Regan Moore ★★★
Not bad, but honestly it didn't thrill me either. The premise could make a great horror story, but I didn't feel a whole heap of suspense.
Angel of Death by Phoebe Jane Johnson ★★
This was just odd. Like I was reading two stories at once? The two parts just didn't gel together.
Her Garden Grows by Maxine Kollar DNF
Revival by Madison Estes ★★★★1/2
This was good! The dark creepy, second-guessing sort of horror that I want from short stories.
A Song Only She Can Hear by Wondra Vanian ★★★1/2
I really enjoyed this one but it wasn't as atmospheric as I wanted. The story was great, but it didn't feel spooky?
Tribal Influence by Erica Ruhe ★★★1/2
This was a nicely fleshed out story. I enjoyed it, but I wasn't blown away.
So all up, some okay stories, a couple of stories that were fantastic and even more that strongly recommend you skip over. My average star rating for the anthology is 2.5. Pick it up if the descriptions of the stories intrigue you. But I don't think this is a collection that I will be revisiting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!