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A review by em_harring
Whispers in the Night by Wrath James White, Tish Jackson, Michael Boatman, Terence Taylor, Lexi Davis, B. Gordon Doyle, Christopher Chambers, L.H. Moore, Rickey Windell George, Tananarive Due, L.R. Giles, Chesya Burke, Maurice Broaddus, Lawana Holland-Moore, Dameon Edwards, Tenea D. Johnson, Anthony Beal, Brandon Massey
3.0
[2.5 stars rounded up]
I picked this up back in October because I wanted to make sure I read some Black horror; I certainly didn't think it would take me this long to finish the collection, but here we are.
Unfortunately, this collection just didn't work for me. There were some great stories, but there were also a lot of mid stories, and stories I just downright did not enjoy. The best stories are the first and last, in my opinion.
The best part about reading collections with different authors is that you, hopefully, walk away with some new authors to check out, and I did, so even if I didn't fully love my time with the collection as a whole, I'm excited to have some new Black horror writers to check out.
Individual ratings and quick thoughts below.
* "Summer" by Tananarive Due: 5/5--loved this story. It was the perfect length and revealed just enough.
* "And Death Rode With Him" by Anthony Beal: 3/5-- interesting concept, but felt quite repetitive. I think this would have worked better as a novella.
*Are You My Daddy?" by Lexi Davis: 2/5--did not like the main character, and ultimately just didn't find this story that interesting.
* "To Get Bread and Butter" by Randy Walker: 2/5--again, interesting concept, but just okay execution. Not really much substance.
* "Dream Girl" by Dameon Edwards: 1/5-- did not like this one, because again, I did not like the main character. He was insufferable.
* "My Sister's Keeper" by Chesya Burke: 3/5--definitely interested in reading more by Burke. I liked the family dynamics in this story, and it's ultimately more heartbreaking than horrifying.
* "The Wasp" by Robert Fleming: 3/5--good writing and I found it compelling--horrid circumstances for the MC.
* "Hell is for Children" by Rickey Windell George: 5/5--loved the writing and imagery in this one. Great concept.
*"Flight" by Lawana James-Holland: 2/5--just okay.
* "Hadley Shimmerhorn: American Icon" by Michael Boatman:3/5--decent zombie short story.
* "Nurse's Requiem" by Maurice Broaddus: 3/5--I wish this one had a bit more oomph, but really liked the concept.
* "Wet Pain" by Terence Taylor: 3.5/5--again, really liked the concept of this one, and would definitely check out more by this author.
*"The Taken" by Tenea Johnson: 3/5--interesting concept but unsure how I felt about the execution.
* "Mr. Bones" by Christopher Chambers: 2/5--I can appreciate what this one tried to do, but it didn't work for me.
* "RIP Crew" by B. Gordon Doyle: 1.5/5--didn't love the characters or the story.
* "Power and Purpose" by L.R. Giles: 3/5--fun and I liked the MC; the ending didn't quite stick the landing for me.
* "The love of a zombie is everlasting" by Tish Jackson: 2/5--liked the cheeky tone of this one, but it was just okay.
* "Ghosthunter" by Brandon Massey: 4/5--predictable, but fun. Good writing.
I picked this up back in October because I wanted to make sure I read some Black horror; I certainly didn't think it would take me this long to finish the collection, but here we are.
Unfortunately, this collection just didn't work for me. There were some great stories, but there were also a lot of mid stories, and stories I just downright did not enjoy. The best stories are the first and last, in my opinion.
The best part about reading collections with different authors is that you, hopefully, walk away with some new authors to check out, and I did, so even if I didn't fully love my time with the collection as a whole, I'm excited to have some new Black horror writers to check out.
Individual ratings and quick thoughts below.
* "Summer" by Tananarive Due: 5/5--loved this story. It was the perfect length and revealed just enough.
* "And Death Rode With Him" by Anthony Beal: 3/5-- interesting concept, but felt quite repetitive. I think this would have worked better as a novella.
*Are You My Daddy?" by Lexi Davis: 2/5--did not like the main character, and ultimately just didn't find this story that interesting.
* "To Get Bread and Butter" by Randy Walker: 2/5--again, interesting concept, but just okay execution. Not really much substance.
* "Dream Girl" by Dameon Edwards: 1/5-- did not like this one, because again, I did not like the main character. He was insufferable.
* "My Sister's Keeper" by Chesya Burke: 3/5--definitely interested in reading more by Burke. I liked the family dynamics in this story, and it's ultimately more heartbreaking than horrifying.
* "The Wasp" by Robert Fleming: 3/5--good writing and I found it compelling--horrid circumstances for the MC.
* "Hell is for Children" by Rickey Windell George: 5/5--loved the writing and imagery in this one. Great concept.
*"Flight" by Lawana James-Holland: 2/5--just okay.
* "Hadley Shimmerhorn: American Icon" by Michael Boatman:3/5--decent zombie short story.
* "Nurse's Requiem" by Maurice Broaddus: 3/5--I wish this one had a bit more oomph, but really liked the concept.
* "Wet Pain" by Terence Taylor: 3.5/5--again, really liked the concept of this one, and would definitely check out more by this author.
*"The Taken" by Tenea Johnson: 3/5--interesting concept but unsure how I felt about the execution.
* "Mr. Bones" by Christopher Chambers: 2/5--I can appreciate what this one tried to do, but it didn't work for me.
* "RIP Crew" by B. Gordon Doyle: 1.5/5--didn't love the characters or the story.
* "Power and Purpose" by L.R. Giles: 3/5--fun and I liked the MC; the ending didn't quite stick the landing for me.
* "The love of a zombie is everlasting" by Tish Jackson: 2/5--liked the cheeky tone of this one, but it was just okay.
* "Ghosthunter" by Brandon Massey: 4/5--predictable, but fun. Good writing.