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Bound in Flesh: An Anthology of Trans Body Horror
BOUND IN FLESH: An Anthology of Trans Body Horror brings together 13 trans and non-binary writers, using horror to both explore the darkest depths of the genre and the boundaries of flesh. A disgusting good time for all! Featuring stories by Hailey Piper, Joe Koch, Bitter Karella, and others. Edited by Lor Gislason.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
“Wormspace” by L.C. von Hessen
“The Haunting of Aiden Finch” by Theo Hendrie
“Coming Out” by Derek Des Agnes
“Mama is a Butcher” by Winter Holmes
“Fall Apart” by gaast
“Lady Davelina’s Last Pet” by Charles-Elizabeth Boyle
“In The Garden of Horn, The Naked Magic Thrives” by Hailey Piper
“A Scream Lights Up The Sky” by Joe Koch
“Long Fingers” by Layne Van Rensburg
“A Brief History of The Santa Carcossa Archipelago” by Bitter Karella
“Show Me” by Amanda M. Blake
“Man of The House” by Lillian Boyd
“Looking for the Big Death” by Taliesin Neith
TABLE OF CONTENTS
“Wormspace” by L.C. von Hessen
“The Haunting of Aiden Finch” by Theo Hendrie
“Coming Out” by Derek Des Agnes
“Mama is a Butcher” by Winter Holmes
“Fall Apart” by gaast
“Lady Davelina’s Last Pet” by Charles-Elizabeth Boyle
“In The Garden of Horn, The Naked Magic Thrives” by Hailey Piper
“A Scream Lights Up The Sky” by Joe Koch
“Long Fingers” by Layne Van Rensburg
“A Brief History of The Santa Carcossa Archipelago” by Bitter Karella
“Show Me” by Amanda M. Blake
“Man of The House” by Lillian Boyd
“Looking for the Big Death” by Taliesin Neith
220 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2023
32 people are currently reading
1313 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
February 26, 2023
This was an incredible read, a great collection of short trans body horror stories, some of which I'm STILL thinking about even days after finishing. They were all very well written with great plots and twists but I do want to mention a couple that really stood out to me. Bit of a long review but I feel that’s got to be the case with a collection of short stories by multiple authors.
The Haunting of Aiden Finch by Theo Hendrie
This was the first story that really stood out to me. It follows the main character who has stumbled across a body, Aiden, in the woods with no evidence but a dropped phone. On the phone they find a series of pictures and videos following Aiden documenting their transition whilst being haunted by a sheet-ghost. The build-up to the end was creepy and suspenseful, and had some good gore towards the end.
Mama Is A Butcher - Winter Holmes
This follows Riley, a not-human being who's mother sews them a suit of pigskin in order to hide their appearance. One day a neighbour girl, Samantha, is being bullied and Riley comes to the rescue. Over the next few weeks they form a friendship that Riley's mother disapproves of. This was a wonderful read honestly, their friendship really pulled at my heart. I will say I saw the ending coming but that didn't stop it from being just as impactful. Very much a "love me as I am" story.
Fall Apart - gaast
This follows the story of a man who brings the dead back to life through automatons. I'm a huge fan of horror and sci-fi and the merging of these two genres together in this story was superb. I would definitely love to read a longer, more fleshed out version of this one day.
Lady Davelina's Pet - Charles-Elizabeth Boyle
I ADORED this one. This follows the story of Meno who is abducted by what I assume are some sort of alien/witch/??? creatures. Meno is turned into many different creatures from a bear to a bird, an old man to a young woman, by Lady Davelina. He eventually meets Ray, a hart, who was also once human, and they plot to escape. Their relationship made my heart BURST, it was so good. There's a particular scene where Meno, who is a trans man, is transformed into a woman and it was heartbreaking to read their thoughts and emotions. Superb read.
And finally!
Looking For The Big Death - Taliesin Neith
Now. This one? This one made the whole book for me. By far my favourite. Just incredible. It's written in first-person which I usually avoid, but this one does it so well, I was so immersed in the character and plot I didn’t even notice it honestly. It follows the main character who has died in a car crash, except (dun, dun, DUN) they didn't die. They wake up in the morgue craving death again, but this time by murder. They stumble across Arthur on a forum who wants to kill, and begin a relationship. I don't want to give away anymore plot for this one as words cannot describe how incredible I think this one is. An incredible, amazing ending and again another story I would LOVE to read a full-length version of.
Overall an amazing collection of stories, some real gems in there, and I definitely recommend everyone to read this one, particularly if you're into queer horror.
The Haunting of Aiden Finch by Theo Hendrie
This was the first story that really stood out to me. It follows the main character who has stumbled across a body, Aiden, in the woods with no evidence but a dropped phone. On the phone they find a series of pictures and videos following Aiden documenting their transition whilst being haunted by a sheet-ghost. The build-up to the end was creepy and suspenseful, and had some good gore towards the end.
Mama Is A Butcher - Winter Holmes
This follows Riley, a not-human being who's mother sews them a suit of pigskin in order to hide their appearance. One day a neighbour girl, Samantha, is being bullied and Riley comes to the rescue. Over the next few weeks they form a friendship that Riley's mother disapproves of. This was a wonderful read honestly, their friendship really pulled at my heart. I will say I saw the ending coming but that didn't stop it from being just as impactful. Very much a "love me as I am" story.
Fall Apart - gaast
This follows the story of a man who brings the dead back to life through automatons. I'm a huge fan of horror and sci-fi and the merging of these two genres together in this story was superb. I would definitely love to read a longer, more fleshed out version of this one day.
Lady Davelina's Pet - Charles-Elizabeth Boyle
I ADORED this one. This follows the story of Meno who is abducted by what I assume are some sort of alien/witch/??? creatures. Meno is turned into many different creatures from a bear to a bird, an old man to a young woman, by Lady Davelina. He eventually meets Ray, a hart, who was also once human, and they plot to escape. Their relationship made my heart BURST, it was so good. There's a particular scene where Meno, who is a trans man, is transformed into a woman and it was heartbreaking to read their thoughts and emotions. Superb read.
And finally!
Looking For The Big Death - Taliesin Neith
Now. This one? This one made the whole book for me. By far my favourite. Just incredible. It's written in first-person which I usually avoid, but this one does it so well, I was so immersed in the character and plot I didn’t even notice it honestly. It follows the main character who has died in a car crash, except (dun, dun, DUN) they didn't die. They wake up in the morgue craving death again, but this time by murder. They stumble across Arthur on a forum who wants to kill, and begin a relationship. I don't want to give away anymore plot for this one as words cannot describe how incredible I think this one is. An incredible, amazing ending and again another story I would LOVE to read a full-length version of.
Overall an amazing collection of stories, some real gems in there, and I definitely recommend everyone to read this one, particularly if you're into queer horror.
March 25, 2024
“Trapped in a suffocating cocoon that leaked and rotted about him, so ill-fitting around his screaming bones, so tight and constrictive: his soul, he often felt, was caught in the gullet of a great python in the shape of a human man. Joints! Teeth! Hair! The vagaries of smell and taste! The virus of language! The purgatory of custom and culture! Why, why was he cursed to be human?”
The common theme for this anthology was the human body itself—bodily changes, bodily modifications, bodily acceptance, loss of bodily autonomy. Whether unconditional self-love makes the body a home or whether the constricting structures of human society make that body a prison, the stories told here center both queerness and the flesh we walk around in. The fantastic trans and non-binary authors brought together by editor and author Lor Gislason provide us with 13 short stories, each one gory and frightening, hopeful and harrowing.
In L.C. von Hessen’s Wormspace, a man seeks out a physician in hopes of surgically modifying his body into something that will let him “just be”. Theo Hendrie’s The Haunting of Aiden Finch uses found-footage horror to document events leading up to a body found in the woods while Derek Des Anges’s Coming Out creatively utilizes fungal horror to tell a tale of isolation and incarceration. Another story (Mama is a Butcher by Winter Holmes) tackles shame and internalized hate when a mother hides her child’s true identity by sewing pig skin onto his body, claiming their true form is monstrous to a society that is cruel. Another unique story I loved ( Lady Davelina’s Last Pet by Charles-Elizabeth Boyles) brings fantasy and horror together in holy matrimony when a sorceress kidnaps a trans man and uses magic to transform him into whatever she pleases.
I say this with utmost sincerity: no one writes body-horror like trans/non-binary authors and horror fiction lovers should not pass this anthology up! It's imaginative in the most beautiful (and horrific) ways and it will certainly be added to my personal library!
(The publisher Ghoulish Books has made the eBook edition of this anthology available to read for a limited time —from today until March 30th—on their website in honor of the #TransRightsReadathon so don't pass up the opportunity!)
The common theme for this anthology was the human body itself—bodily changes, bodily modifications, bodily acceptance, loss of bodily autonomy. Whether unconditional self-love makes the body a home or whether the constricting structures of human society make that body a prison, the stories told here center both queerness and the flesh we walk around in. The fantastic trans and non-binary authors brought together by editor and author Lor Gislason provide us with 13 short stories, each one gory and frightening, hopeful and harrowing.
In L.C. von Hessen’s Wormspace, a man seeks out a physician in hopes of surgically modifying his body into something that will let him “just be”. Theo Hendrie’s The Haunting of Aiden Finch uses found-footage horror to document events leading up to a body found in the woods while Derek Des Anges’s Coming Out creatively utilizes fungal horror to tell a tale of isolation and incarceration. Another story (Mama is a Butcher by Winter Holmes) tackles shame and internalized hate when a mother hides her child’s true identity by sewing pig skin onto his body, claiming their true form is monstrous to a society that is cruel. Another unique story I loved ( Lady Davelina’s Last Pet by Charles-Elizabeth Boyles) brings fantasy and horror together in holy matrimony when a sorceress kidnaps a trans man and uses magic to transform him into whatever she pleases.
I say this with utmost sincerity: no one writes body-horror like trans/non-binary authors and horror fiction lovers should not pass this anthology up! It's imaginative in the most beautiful (and horrific) ways and it will certainly be added to my personal library!
(The publisher Ghoulish Books has made the eBook edition of this anthology available to read for a limited time —from today until March 30th—on their website in honor of the #TransRightsReadathon so don't pass up the opportunity!)
March 23, 2023
AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
This. This is why I love the horror genre. This is why I never shut up about it. This is what the craft is all about.
I'm so ridiculously obsessed with this anthology. I don't ever reread books really, because I always have a million more things to pick up instead. But I know for a fact that as soon as I receive my physical copy, I'm getting right back into it.
There is so much depth to every single one of these stories. Specific passages or scenes or general ideas that relate so beautifully and horrifyingly to the trans and queer experience: my mind was racing the entire time trying to pick up on every single metaphor, all the allegories and the symbolism. There is so much that I could say about every story in this collection and I know that every time I reread them I will have even more to gush about.
It was disgusting, it was terrifying, it was heartbreaking, it was beautiful. The reason it took me 2 weeks to finish this book was that every time I would finish a story, I would have to set it down and just stare into the void, mouth agape, trying to process what I had just read. I mean, it is truly a bone chilling and nausea inducing collection and I loved it with every inch of my being.
I really cannot recommend this enough. I admit that it might be a bit much for someone who has never read horror or isn't a big fan of the genre. Even I needed 3-4 business days between some of these stories just to absorb what had happened. But if you're a horror buff like me, then you 10000% need to pick this up, it is so incredibly worth it.
Thank you so much Ghoulish Books for an advance reader copy of this novel! I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This. This is why I love the horror genre. This is why I never shut up about it. This is what the craft is all about.
I'm so ridiculously obsessed with this anthology. I don't ever reread books really, because I always have a million more things to pick up instead. But I know for a fact that as soon as I receive my physical copy, I'm getting right back into it.
There is so much depth to every single one of these stories. Specific passages or scenes or general ideas that relate so beautifully and horrifyingly to the trans and queer experience: my mind was racing the entire time trying to pick up on every single metaphor, all the allegories and the symbolism. There is so much that I could say about every story in this collection and I know that every time I reread them I will have even more to gush about.
It was disgusting, it was terrifying, it was heartbreaking, it was beautiful. The reason it took me 2 weeks to finish this book was that every time I would finish a story, I would have to set it down and just stare into the void, mouth agape, trying to process what I had just read. I mean, it is truly a bone chilling and nausea inducing collection and I loved it with every inch of my being.
I really cannot recommend this enough. I admit that it might be a bit much for someone who has never read horror or isn't a big fan of the genre. Even I needed 3-4 business days between some of these stories just to absorb what had happened. But if you're a horror buff like me, then you 10000% need to pick this up, it is so incredibly worth it.
Thank you so much Ghoulish Books for an advance reader copy of this novel! I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 23, 2023
This anthology explores multiple forms of body horror sometimes in quite unique ways. Like most anthologies it's really a mixed bag with some stories being satisfying while others are just plain weird and other yet heart wrenching, some stories tip toe towards something more extreme and transgressive some are more traditional horror so there is something in there for every type of horror lover.
If you enjoy taking the time to think about the deeper meaning of stories and subtext, you'll definitely find a lot of thinking material in this book but with that being said all of the stories are enjoyable at face value so you don't have to get academic about it to have a good time.
I was particularly fond of Long Fingers by Layne Van Rensburg, Looking for the Big Death by Taliesin Neith and Wormspace by L.C. Von Hessen but all stories had a charm of their own.
I received a digital review copy of this book through Booksirens and this is my honest review.
If you enjoy taking the time to think about the deeper meaning of stories and subtext, you'll definitely find a lot of thinking material in this book but with that being said all of the stories are enjoyable at face value so you don't have to get academic about it to have a good time.
I was particularly fond of Long Fingers by Layne Van Rensburg, Looking for the Big Death by Taliesin Neith and Wormspace by L.C. Von Hessen but all stories had a charm of their own.
I received a digital review copy of this book through Booksirens and this is my honest review.
February 11, 2023
Trans body horror may sound like a small niche to the un-initiated . Body horror is already a niche, which is broken up even further here. But you will be absolutely blown away by the variety and scope of all that is contained here.
No two entries are alike in this anthology, and none of the stories are like anything you've ever read. They are strange, disturbing, and alluring, without fail. In these pages you will find traces of classic queer horror tropes, twists to the BDSM trappings, some sneaky sporror, and if you're lucky, a deeper understanding of your own relationship to gender.
I was already a fan of some of the writers in this anthology, including Hailey Piper and Joe Koch. I was also pleasantly surprised that not only did the collection open with a story by LC von Hessen, but that it was actually my new favorite work of theirs. "Wormspace" sets the perfect tone for the anthology, and I would not be surprised if it remains my personal favorite short story of the year.
"Mama is a Butcher" by Winter Holmes was also right up my alley. It was a deeply personal horror story with wider, gorier implications.
"Lady Davelina's Last Pet," by Charles-Elizabeth Boyle was a terrifying, almost whimsical piece of horror that read unlike anything else I've ever encountered.
"Man of the House," by Lilly Boyd was sinister in such a familiar way, yet it never quite advanced in the direction I was anticipating.
While I had several favorites, I don't think there were any weak links. Each tale was captivating, surprising, and left me with a different kind of dread and or appreciation.
Please, please do yourself the favor of picking up this collection as soon as you get the chance.
No two entries are alike in this anthology, and none of the stories are like anything you've ever read. They are strange, disturbing, and alluring, without fail. In these pages you will find traces of classic queer horror tropes, twists to the BDSM trappings, some sneaky sporror, and if you're lucky, a deeper understanding of your own relationship to gender.
I was already a fan of some of the writers in this anthology, including Hailey Piper and Joe Koch. I was also pleasantly surprised that not only did the collection open with a story by LC von Hessen, but that it was actually my new favorite work of theirs. "Wormspace" sets the perfect tone for the anthology, and I would not be surprised if it remains my personal favorite short story of the year.
"Mama is a Butcher" by Winter Holmes was also right up my alley. It was a deeply personal horror story with wider, gorier implications.
"Lady Davelina's Last Pet," by Charles-Elizabeth Boyle was a terrifying, almost whimsical piece of horror that read unlike anything else I've ever encountered.
"Man of the House," by Lilly Boyd was sinister in such a familiar way, yet it never quite advanced in the direction I was anticipating.
While I had several favorites, I don't think there were any weak links. Each tale was captivating, surprising, and left me with a different kind of dread and or appreciation.
Please, please do yourself the favor of picking up this collection as soon as you get the chance.
May 1, 2023
As with most anthologies, there were stories here that I loved and stories I didn't care for and stories I thought were pretty entertaining but that probably won't stick with me. Gislason's done a good job putting together a cohesive collection that gives one a strong sense of their taste and priorities as an editor. I love the cover.
My favorite entry here was probably "Lady Davelina's Last Pet," which is delightfully surreal and decadent. It's easy to read as a metaphor for an abusive relationship with a controlling cis partner, or a metaphor for the ways society in general treats trans people. It's also easy to read as a commentary on the ways many humans mistreat the animal companions with whom they share their lives, the pets they ostensibly "love". But it's not just, or even primarily, either of those things: its appeal is mostly in what it is as itself, taken literally and at face value.
My favorite entry here was probably "Lady Davelina's Last Pet," which is delightfully surreal and decadent. It's easy to read as a metaphor for an abusive relationship with a controlling cis partner, or a metaphor for the ways society in general treats trans people. It's also easy to read as a commentary on the ways many humans mistreat the animal companions with whom they share their lives, the pets they ostensibly "love". But it's not just, or even primarily, either of those things: its appeal is mostly in what it is as itself, taken literally and at face value.
March 25, 2023
Gooey, slimy, sexy, kinky, bloody, nasty, funny and many other adjectives as well!
April 30, 2025
Ew, ew, ew, ew noooooooooooooo! So this book is smack on the corner of Gourmet Vomit and What Feeds You Also Kills You, and I loved it!
Ahaha, so I am like, so drawn to horror and also the biggest weenie, so this book was giving all that delicious push and pull between being utterly grossed out and curious to get to the next page. Bravo to Lor Gislason for getting this together, because it's been a while since I've read a collection where there were so many standout stories. [My general experience reading anthologies are that most are okay, a few stand out, and a few I skip.]
This is trans body-horror, with an emphasis on dark transformation, morbid curiosity, relationships that nourish but also devour. Here's some stories that really grabbed me:
A man visits a world-famous dominatrix to ask her to fulfill a very odd request...
A forest ranger finds the body of a young trans man on a trail, and some terrifying videos on the dead guy's cellphone. (This story was truly eerie and gave me the fkn heebie jeebies.)
A young ??? whose mother sows them a new skin every day makes a first friend. Mother is not pleased...
A domineering, abusive husband takes the most extreme step to show his wife how to serve him better...
A butch trans woman goes to a back alley (?) supplier and falls in lust with one of the workers there... Soo remember the story about how anglerfish reproduce?
A woman in a flailing relationship goes to a yardsale and finds a magical object that can bestow dicks...
“A Scream Lights Up The Sky” Putting the title here, because I genuinely don't know what the plot was even after reading it (two trans (?) guys go to an island full of writhing, breeding monsters, and one of the guys gives the other an abortion, but they also have sex amongst the monsters and also become the monsters??) I don't know what the fuck was going on, but there was such a cool onslaught of imagery, like being in a funhouse mirrorhall full of erupting boils and smashing glass, everywhere you looked.
A southern transphobe gets his just desserts when he taunts the ghost of a murdered girl in the house he just purchased... (This story was a LOT of fun and had a great voice.)
A man obsessed with death but too torpid to commit suicide finally gets his wish when his boyfriend smashes their car, and he dies on site--only to wake up next day at the local morgue... (also full of very many sensory details that were difficult to read, but such a well written piece).
I loved all of these, but my stand-out favorite may have to be ”Lady Davelina’s Last Pet” by Charles-Elizabeth Boyle. I won't try to talk about the plot of this story (it would be impossible), but reading it felt like what I imagine the smell of opium, or like running your hand down the surface of an ornately framed chill mirror. The prose had such a hypnotic rhythm to it.
A gorgeous and inventive collection with such a cool array of disgusting images, smells, and jarring sounds, but also a great mix of satisfying and unsettling--if you're into body-horror and queer lit and are on the prowl for new writers, you definitely need to check it out!
Ahaha, so I am like, so drawn to horror and also the biggest weenie, so this book was giving all that delicious push and pull between being utterly grossed out and curious to get to the next page. Bravo to Lor Gislason for getting this together, because it's been a while since I've read a collection where there were so many standout stories. [My general experience reading anthologies are that most are okay, a few stand out, and a few I skip.]
This is trans body-horror, with an emphasis on dark transformation, morbid curiosity, relationships that nourish but also devour. Here's some stories that really grabbed me:
A man visits a world-famous dominatrix to ask her to fulfill a very odd request...
A forest ranger finds the body of a young trans man on a trail, and some terrifying videos on the dead guy's cellphone. (This story was truly eerie and gave me the fkn heebie jeebies.)
A young ??? whose mother sows them a new skin every day makes a first friend. Mother is not pleased...
A domineering, abusive husband takes the most extreme step to show his wife how to serve him better...
A butch trans woman goes to a back alley (?) supplier and falls in lust with one of the workers there... Soo remember the story about how anglerfish reproduce?
A woman in a flailing relationship goes to a yardsale and finds a magical object that can bestow dicks...
“A Scream Lights Up The Sky” Putting the title here, because I genuinely don't know what the plot was even after reading it (two trans (?) guys go to an island full of writhing, breeding monsters, and one of the guys gives the other an abortion, but they also have sex amongst the monsters and also become the monsters??) I don't know what the fuck was going on, but there was such a cool onslaught of imagery, like being in a funhouse mirrorhall full of erupting boils and smashing glass, everywhere you looked.
A southern transphobe gets his just desserts when he taunts the ghost of a murdered girl in the house he just purchased... (This story was a LOT of fun and had a great voice.)
A man obsessed with death but too torpid to commit suicide finally gets his wish when his boyfriend smashes their car, and he dies on site--only to wake up next day at the local morgue... (also full of very many sensory details that were difficult to read, but such a well written piece).
I loved all of these, but my stand-out favorite may have to be ”Lady Davelina’s Last Pet” by Charles-Elizabeth Boyle. I won't try to talk about the plot of this story (it would be impossible), but reading it felt like what I imagine the smell of opium, or like running your hand down the surface of an ornately framed chill mirror. The prose had such a hypnotic rhythm to it.
A gorgeous and inventive collection with such a cool array of disgusting images, smells, and jarring sounds, but also a great mix of satisfying and unsettling--if you're into body-horror and queer lit and are on the prowl for new writers, you definitely need to check it out!
November 13, 2024
A mixed bag, as anthologies tend to be, but with some gems. The best of these were by turns creepy, graphic, absolutely disgusting, chock full of penises, subversive of some of our basic assumptions about life’s value, eerily horny, and resonant with thematic overtones that went beyond just telling a spooky story. The four I liked best were “In the Garden of Horn, the Naked Magic Thrives” by Hailey Piper, “A Scream Lights Up the Sky” by Joe Koch, “A Brief History of the Santa Carcossa Archipelago” by Bitter Karella, and “Looking for the Big Death” by Taliesin Neith. The authors Karella and Neith were new to me, so I hope to see more of their work.
June 7, 2023
Bound in Flesh: An Anthology of Trans Body Horror edited by Lor Gislason is a collection of dark tales filled with violence, sex, and terror.
Extreme horror fans, you’re in for such a treat here! There is such a perfect blend of tales here that range from blood-boiling to full-blown terror.
My favorite shorts included:
The Haunting of Aiden Finch by Theo Hendrie
Mama is a Butcher by Winter Holmes
Long Fingers by Layne Van Rensburg
Man of The House by Lillian Boyd
What a collection! Horror fans, if you haven’t yet picked this one up, go snag a copy today! This is some extreme horror at its finest!
Check out my full review here:
https://www.ericarobynreads.com/bound...
Extreme horror fans, you’re in for such a treat here! There is such a perfect blend of tales here that range from blood-boiling to full-blown terror.
My favorite shorts included:
The Haunting of Aiden Finch by Theo Hendrie
Mama is a Butcher by Winter Holmes
Long Fingers by Layne Van Rensburg
Man of The House by Lillian Boyd
What a collection! Horror fans, if you haven’t yet picked this one up, go snag a copy today! This is some extreme horror at its finest!
Check out my full review here:
https://www.ericarobynreads.com/bound...
April 26, 2023
There’s something for everyone in Bound in Flesh: An anthology of Trans Body Horror. Personally I like mine with a side of humor so “Looking for the Big Death” by Taliesin Neith and “Man of the House “ by Lillian Boyd were my favorites of the bunch. Some stories are super graphic, gross and horrifying and that’s just what I expected. I received an ARC from Book Sirens, Lor Gislason and Ghoulish Books in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2023
"Some are born with this flesh, and some without, and there are all kinds of complicated details you can learn about bodies and desires and what you want of yourself."
This is a great collection of short body horror stories that really pack in the quick jolts of horror that I'm always looking for. Mama is a Butcher by Winter Holmes was probably my favorite story in this collection. A Scream Lights Up the Sky by Joe Koch gave me big Society vibes and I really liked that one as well. Long Fingers by Layne Van Rensburg was another favorite and Lillian Boyd totally ruined me in her story Man of the House with that "string cheese" scene.
I loved that the collection fit very well together from each story, there were similar elements in each that flowed really well together as the book progressed.
Obviously if you like body horror and short stories then this one's for you and you should definitely check it out!
This is a great collection of short body horror stories that really pack in the quick jolts of horror that I'm always looking for. Mama is a Butcher by Winter Holmes was probably my favorite story in this collection. A Scream Lights Up the Sky by Joe Koch gave me big Society vibes and I really liked that one as well. Long Fingers by Layne Van Rensburg was another favorite and Lillian Boyd totally ruined me in her story Man of the House with that "string cheese" scene.
I loved that the collection fit very well together from each story, there were similar elements in each that flowed really well together as the book progressed.
Obviously if you like body horror and short stories then this one's for you and you should definitely check it out!
August 30, 2023
Such a good anthology!!
Some of these short stories are totally weird in the best way - the one about a penis god was probably my favourite, other notable ones were about becoming a worm in the worst way imaginable, or about having parts of yourself start growing/replicating all over the place like a fungus but it’s literally just body parts.
Some stories have concepts that are classic but executed very well - the mushroom horror story set in a futuristic prison was my favoruite, others included a pretty hot story about a trans guy who dies over & over again, or a story about a girl who is forced by her mother to wear a fleshy person-suit from childhood.
I don’t think there was a single story that I disliked in this anthology.
Some of these short stories are totally weird in the best way - the one about a penis god was probably my favourite, other notable ones were about becoming a worm in the worst way imaginable, or about having parts of yourself start growing/replicating all over the place like a fungus but it’s literally just body parts.
Some stories have concepts that are classic but executed very well - the mushroom horror story set in a futuristic prison was my favoruite, others included a pretty hot story about a trans guy who dies over & over again, or a story about a girl who is forced by her mother to wear a fleshy person-suit from childhood.
I don’t think there was a single story that I disliked in this anthology.
February 28, 2023
Bound in Flesh is a trans horror anthology that brings together thirteen body horror stories to explore the extreme limits of flesh, gender, and humanity. From people exploring their desires, as weird and body horrific as they might be, to those just looking to exist in a body, there's a huge amount of variety in the stories in this anthology, despite the fairly niche theme of trans body horror, both in terms of plots and general vibes.
The opening story, 'Wormspace' by LC von Hessen, is a great way to set the tone, delving into weird desires and changing your body (and has a fantastic ending). One of my favourite stories in the collection is 'The Haunting of Aiden Finch' by Theo Hendrie, due to the way it uses the format of transition-charting videos to tell a horror story, one which is perhaps more slow burn and ominous than others in the book and with some creepypasta vibes. 'Mama Is A Butcher' by Winter Holmes takes a story of acceptance with a Frankenstein-type theme and makes it a friendship story, with the sort of lingering ending that you want from good body horror where the image feels seared into your head.
Though not all of them jumped out at me quite as much, there weren't any stories that I didn't like in the collection or any that I found too hard to get into. There's some really great, twisted ways in which the stories use body horror as a lens to consider transness, for example if you are forcibly shape-shifted into the wrong gender, but also stories like the closing piece, 'Looking For The Big Death' by Taliesin Neith, in which the body becomes a different kind of place, something to desire death but also, it seems, resist it, and being trans is just a part of that complexity.
Trans horror is one of the best kinds of horror (of course) and this anthology shows some of the wealth of options for using trans writers using body horror as a way to tell stories, whether directly or not about being trans. There's lots for body horror fans and lots for trans horror fans, and plenty to wince at in general.
The opening story, 'Wormspace' by LC von Hessen, is a great way to set the tone, delving into weird desires and changing your body (and has a fantastic ending). One of my favourite stories in the collection is 'The Haunting of Aiden Finch' by Theo Hendrie, due to the way it uses the format of transition-charting videos to tell a horror story, one which is perhaps more slow burn and ominous than others in the book and with some creepypasta vibes. 'Mama Is A Butcher' by Winter Holmes takes a story of acceptance with a Frankenstein-type theme and makes it a friendship story, with the sort of lingering ending that you want from good body horror where the image feels seared into your head.
Though not all of them jumped out at me quite as much, there weren't any stories that I didn't like in the collection or any that I found too hard to get into. There's some really great, twisted ways in which the stories use body horror as a lens to consider transness, for example if you are forcibly shape-shifted into the wrong gender, but also stories like the closing piece, 'Looking For The Big Death' by Taliesin Neith, in which the body becomes a different kind of place, something to desire death but also, it seems, resist it, and being trans is just a part of that complexity.
Trans horror is one of the best kinds of horror (of course) and this anthology shows some of the wealth of options for using trans writers using body horror as a way to tell stories, whether directly or not about being trans. There's lots for body horror fans and lots for trans horror fans, and plenty to wince at in general.
May 18, 2023
4.5 ⭐️’s for Bound in Flesh an anthology of trans body horror edited by Lor Gislason. When I saw this book listed as an ARC, I just about screamed for joy because I cannot think of anyone to write body horror like a trans person. Their life before transitioning or coming out is nothing if not body horror.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the variety of short stories. The stories were each written by a trans person. They were all individual and unique even with the theme of body horror. I truly enjoyed each story for different reasons. Some are truly gore filled and others are profound. Some of the absolute gore filled stories are also profound. Regardless, there are stories which make you want to scream and others which have a horrifying theme of being in the wrong body.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the idea of having trans people write body horror. It is by far the most appropriate group of writers matched to a specific genre.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for grammar, spelling and word choice.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for disturb factor/gore. This book is brilliantly done. I’ve not read a better anthology. I believe I rather like the idea of the book being body horror only. This so happens to be my favorite sub genre of horror.
This book is not only scary but it also gives the reader a very tiny glimpse into the horror of being born in the wrong body and the horror of living with the wrong body. Approach this book as not only scary but educational in a sense.
I would consider this splatterpunk so most readers probably do not have triggers. If you are reading this book out of curiosity and have triggers, please inquire about trigger warnings. This anthology is not for the faint of heart.
I received a free copy of an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the variety of short stories. The stories were each written by a trans person. They were all individual and unique even with the theme of body horror. I truly enjoyed each story for different reasons. Some are truly gore filled and others are profound. Some of the absolute gore filled stories are also profound. Regardless, there are stories which make you want to scream and others which have a horrifying theme of being in the wrong body.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the idea of having trans people write body horror. It is by far the most appropriate group of writers matched to a specific genre.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for grammar, spelling and word choice.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for disturb factor/gore. This book is brilliantly done. I’ve not read a better anthology. I believe I rather like the idea of the book being body horror only. This so happens to be my favorite sub genre of horror.
This book is not only scary but it also gives the reader a very tiny glimpse into the horror of being born in the wrong body and the horror of living with the wrong body. Approach this book as not only scary but educational in a sense.
I would consider this splatterpunk so most readers probably do not have triggers. If you are reading this book out of curiosity and have triggers, please inquire about trigger warnings. This anthology is not for the faint of heart.
I received a free copy of an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
April 17, 2023
"As trans individuals, you could say we have a leg-up on understanding the emotions (both good and bad) surrounding living in a body. The joy when someone affirms your identity and the frustration when you’re denied that right. The violence we face just for being who we are. All of these things can be channelled into a story."—Lor Gislason.
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for the copy @ BookSirens!
Content Warnings: profanity, body horror, sex, violence, death, suicide, abuse, blood and gore.
Bound In Flesh is a collection of thirteen short stories written at the hands of extremely talented trans and non-binary authors about trans body horror that explores how far and beyond these characters would go in order to be their truest selves and exploring their deepest fears in such a beautifully put together manner despite how gruesome and spine-shivering inducing this anthology can be that I couldn't stop reading not even if I tried. I would eat some of the stories that exist within this mind-blowing anthology if it was possible for me to do so.
I'm not usually a big anthologies reader/fan but the moment I started to read the first lines from "Wormspace" by LC von Hessen I felt so incredibly captivated and seen through the story that I knew in that instant that Bound In Flesh was going to be one of my favorite reads of this month. I was right, of course.
As a lover of horror and all things scary, nauseating, disturbing etc and also a genderfluid individual that understand the terrors of having a body and all the shapes this body can take, this anthology exceeded my expectations with how good it was to convey all of these topics in such an impactful way that I'm still thinking about some of these stories days after I'm done with the book. I couldn't recommend this book enough to anyone out there that enjoys and wants to read good horror stories with compelling queer characters.
And last but not least, a shout out to my favorite stories from the anthology :)
★ The Haunting of Aiden Flinch by Theo Hendrie.
★ Coming Out by Dereck Des Agnes.
★ Mama is a Butcher by Winter Holmes.
★ Fall Apart by gaast.
★ Lady Davelina's Last Pet by Charles-Elizabeth Boyle.
★ Man of the House by Lillian Boyd.
★ Looking for the Big Death by Taliesin Neith.
I hope that Lor and all the authors that make part of Bound In Flesh are proud of it and I can't wait to keep reading more of what they've written and will write in the near future.
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for the copy @ BookSirens!
Content Warnings: profanity, body horror, sex, violence, death, suicide, abuse, blood and gore.
Bound In Flesh is a collection of thirteen short stories written at the hands of extremely talented trans and non-binary authors about trans body horror that explores how far and beyond these characters would go in order to be their truest selves and exploring their deepest fears in such a beautifully put together manner despite how gruesome and spine-shivering inducing this anthology can be that I couldn't stop reading not even if I tried. I would eat some of the stories that exist within this mind-blowing anthology if it was possible for me to do so.
I'm not usually a big anthologies reader/fan but the moment I started to read the first lines from "Wormspace" by LC von Hessen I felt so incredibly captivated and seen through the story that I knew in that instant that Bound In Flesh was going to be one of my favorite reads of this month. I was right, of course.
As a lover of horror and all things scary, nauseating, disturbing etc and also a genderfluid individual that understand the terrors of having a body and all the shapes this body can take, this anthology exceeded my expectations with how good it was to convey all of these topics in such an impactful way that I'm still thinking about some of these stories days after I'm done with the book. I couldn't recommend this book enough to anyone out there that enjoys and wants to read good horror stories with compelling queer characters.
And last but not least, a shout out to my favorite stories from the anthology :)
★ The Haunting of Aiden Flinch by Theo Hendrie.
★ Coming Out by Dereck Des Agnes.
★ Mama is a Butcher by Winter Holmes.
★ Fall Apart by gaast.
★ Lady Davelina's Last Pet by Charles-Elizabeth Boyle.
★ Man of the House by Lillian Boyd.
★ Looking for the Big Death by Taliesin Neith.
I hope that Lor and all the authors that make part of Bound In Flesh are proud of it and I can't wait to keep reading more of what they've written and will write in the near future.
March 26, 2023
Bound in Flesh is a great collection of trans body horror from 13 different trans and non-binary authors, all amazing at what they do, and definitely a collection worth reading if you’re intro queer horror or body horror! There’s a story for everyone in this book.
Lor Gislason did an exceptional job picking the stories to appear in Bound in Flesh as they’re all extremely well written, supremely gross, and not one story is like the other — you literally cannot predict where this book will take you next. There’s different takes on body horror and it’s a great selection that really showcases how body horror can mean different things to different people. It’s a trope that doesn’t have to be done in just one way. Bound in Flesh is also a good example of how body horror can excel when written through a trans lens and how horror, as a genre, really benefits from having amazing trans, non-binary, and queer authors write it.
This is an amazing collection and one that I will definitely go back to again as the stories can easily be read more than once. I’m already looking forward to getting a physical copy of this in the future so I can get my partner to read it as well, there’s a few stories I know they'll absolutely love as much as I did.
Thank you to BookSirens and Lor Gislason for the ARC.
Lor Gislason did an exceptional job picking the stories to appear in Bound in Flesh as they’re all extremely well written, supremely gross, and not one story is like the other — you literally cannot predict where this book will take you next. There’s different takes on body horror and it’s a great selection that really showcases how body horror can mean different things to different people. It’s a trope that doesn’t have to be done in just one way. Bound in Flesh is also a good example of how body horror can excel when written through a trans lens and how horror, as a genre, really benefits from having amazing trans, non-binary, and queer authors write it.
This is an amazing collection and one that I will definitely go back to again as the stories can easily be read more than once. I’m already looking forward to getting a physical copy of this in the future so I can get my partner to read it as well, there’s a few stories I know they'll absolutely love as much as I did.
Thank you to BookSirens and Lor Gislason for the ARC.
March 24, 2023
This anthology of trans body horror delivers thirteen pieces of horror art, equal parts sublime and disgusting, wrapped up in a sometimes surreal, sometimes immersive and shocking package. I confess not expecting it to be THAT good: gender misidentification is horror enough, and I imagined I knew what to expect. Wrong! From the get go, 'Wormspace' by LC von Hessen, I got such strong body horror vibes, I knew I’d end up loving the anthology. Indeed, with such stories as 'The Haunting of Aiden Finch' by Theo Hendrie, brimming with originality both of narrative format and theme, or ‘Looking For The Big Death’ by Taliesin Neith, it becomes a difficult task to pick favorites. Some of the twists, combined with the occasional toxic atmosphere of gender shaming, were heart-breaking. I highly recommend this anthology!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 14, 2023
A phenomenal anthology! Each story is gruesome and horrific, body horror it's finest (and grisliest). A must-read, people.
August 20, 2023
i love queer literature. i love horror. i love sex. i love gross sex. i love horror sex. i love complex and transgressive desires. i love the erotically abject terror of it all.
this was a bit of a slow start but around the halfway point the stories started aligning perfectly with my tastes and didn't stop. WOW.
this was a bit of a slow start but around the halfway point the stories started aligning perfectly with my tastes and didn't stop. WOW.
April 18, 2023
this was a super cool anthology! my favorites are Fall Apart, In the Garden of Horn, and Long Fingers.
8/10 (it's hard to rate anthologies so i just did a mean calculation)
8/10 (it's hard to rate anthologies so i just did a mean calculation)
June 26, 2024
A mixed bag, as all collections are, but the erotic horror here was actually strongest! I particularly enjoyed the opening story and Joe Koch's entry.
April 20, 2023
I read Bound in Flesh during the Trans Rights Readathon (March 20-27)! I've always been a fan of horror and I loved reading this anthology with so many different perspectives and approaches to body horror. Below are my reviews, synopsis, and any standout quotes for each short story/novella, and due to the length of each story, there will be spoilers.
Wormspace
LC von Hessen
Our main character goes to a hard to find Physician . I found this story quite intriguing (I almost thought that it was going to be a mystery of sorts) and especially entertaining given Heidi Klum's Halloween 2022 costume.
"He didn't want to wear a costume, adopt a persona. He wanted to quite simply, to be."
The Haunting of Aiden Finch
Theo Hendrie
A hiker in a national park comes across a dead trans teen boy's phone and watches the videos on the dead boy's phone to find out what happened.
"He had imagined coming across a scene like this many times. Perhaps he had a morbid min, or perhaps spending so much time alone in the depths of the National Parks simply had that kind of effect."
I thought that this was a fun and enthralling story that felt like the intersection of true crime fanaticism and main character energy.
"He was only here to bear witness. He wanted to know how it ends."
Coming Out
Derek Des Anges
I really loved this one. The author had me from the beginning and really cemented my investment in this story with this quote: “I will die of poop."
Bren McCool is attacked by El Carnicero in prison, suffered a puncture wound to his colon, and has to use a colostomy bag. In his isolation cell, there are mushroom that grow in one corner, and in the machine shop, he gets access to the lathe and metal.
Mama is a Butcher
Winter Holmes
I mostly guessed where this story was going, but it was still heartbreaking all the same.
"It wasn't a perfect body. It was chafed and scarred and bloody. But it was them. God, it was them."
Fall Apart
gaast
This one surprised me a cool, chaotic way.
A man who makes automatas (automatons imbued with a human soul after they die) creates one for himself, but it doesn’t look like his body (it’s supposed to resemble the person as precisely as possible in order to guarantee the seance/transference of the soul) because he wants to keep living and working but living as more/not old.
"I'm not old enough to fall apart, but I'm old enough to rot."
Lady Davelina’s Last Pet
Charles-Elizabeth Boyles
This was one of my favorite stories
Davelina kidnaps a trans man and he is her pet as she transforms his body into different animals, gelatinous blobs, and human forms.
"When you woke up, you were not yourself. You never would be again."
In the Garden of Horn, the Naked Magic Thrives
Hailey Piper
This one was wild and fun and featured a phallic magical artifact, a red robed cult, an orgy with a phallus mass, and a god incarnate.
Reza buys a magic artifact that sort of resembles a dick at a yard sale, and after some research, it’s an idol of love.
A Scream Lights Up the Sky
Joe Koch
This was not one of my favorites, but that's because I'm not really a fan of dystopian sci fi.
Long Fingers
Layne Van Rensburg
This one surprised me in a good way, and I really feel like like this one embodies supporting women's rights and wrongs.
ER doctor Jennifer finds a finger in her coffee (and eventually the hand attached to it) and took it out of the coffee and performed first aid on it. She takes a sample of the finger to check out the structure of it in the lab at work.
"I fight everyone all the time anyway," I tell him. "The only difference is that I now have a chance."
A Brief History of the Santa Carcossa Archipelago
Bitter Karella
This one starts with the black eggs, the origin of which is the mystery, which allegedly make you beautiful if you eat them.
Show Me
Amanda M. Blake
This story was like the Stepford wives getting flipped and reversed on its head.
A doctor husband is obsessed with making her the perfect wife.
He took me down from the pedestal and placed me in this box, because he had no more use for a vase that couldn't hold flowers.
Man of the House
Lillian Boyd
This was hilarious and by far one of my favorite reads.
Ronald Ray buys a house that's haunted by a queer/trans kid (Alex) who was killed by their father. Ronald is homophobic and also abused his wife, and now the house aka Alex is haunting him (including playing the song Dude (Looks like a Lady) on repeat).
Looking for the Big Death
Taliesin Neith
Another story that surprised me and I'd believe is ultimately a love story. It sort of reminded me of Romeo & Juliet but in reverse (start with a tragedy and end with a love story).
The main characters wants to die until his boyfriend accidentally kills him in a car wreck and he thinks it’s a lame way to die.
Instead of exchanging vows and rings, I would put my life in someone's hands, and they would unravel it, sweetly or cruelly.
Wormspace
LC von Hessen
Our main character goes to a hard to find Physician . I found this story quite intriguing (I almost thought that it was going to be a mystery of sorts) and especially entertaining given Heidi Klum's Halloween 2022 costume.
"He didn't want to wear a costume, adopt a persona. He wanted to quite simply, to be."
The Haunting of Aiden Finch
Theo Hendrie
A hiker in a national park comes across a dead trans teen boy's phone and watches the videos on the dead boy's phone to find out what happened.
"He had imagined coming across a scene like this many times. Perhaps he had a morbid min, or perhaps spending so much time alone in the depths of the National Parks simply had that kind of effect."
I thought that this was a fun and enthralling story that felt like the intersection of true crime fanaticism and main character energy.
"He was only here to bear witness. He wanted to know how it ends."
Coming Out
Derek Des Anges
I really loved this one. The author had me from the beginning and really cemented my investment in this story with this quote: “I will die of poop."
Bren McCool is attacked by El Carnicero in prison, suffered a puncture wound to his colon, and has to use a colostomy bag. In his isolation cell, there are mushroom that grow in one corner, and in the machine shop, he gets access to the lathe and metal.
Mama is a Butcher
Winter Holmes
I mostly guessed where this story was going, but it was still heartbreaking all the same.
"It wasn't a perfect body. It was chafed and scarred and bloody. But it was them. God, it was them."
Fall Apart
gaast
This one surprised me a cool, chaotic way.
A man who makes automatas (automatons imbued with a human soul after they die) creates one for himself, but it doesn’t look like his body (it’s supposed to resemble the person as precisely as possible in order to guarantee the seance/transference of the soul) because he wants to keep living and working but living as more/not old.
"I'm not old enough to fall apart, but I'm old enough to rot."
Lady Davelina’s Last Pet
Charles-Elizabeth Boyles
This was one of my favorite stories
Davelina kidnaps a trans man and he is her pet as she transforms his body into different animals, gelatinous blobs, and human forms.
"When you woke up, you were not yourself. You never would be again."
In the Garden of Horn, the Naked Magic Thrives
Hailey Piper
This one was wild and fun and featured a phallic magical artifact, a red robed cult, an orgy with a phallus mass, and a god incarnate.
Reza buys a magic artifact that sort of resembles a dick at a yard sale, and after some research, it’s an idol of love.
A Scream Lights Up the Sky
Joe Koch
This was not one of my favorites, but that's because I'm not really a fan of dystopian sci fi.
Long Fingers
Layne Van Rensburg
This one surprised me in a good way, and I really feel like like this one embodies supporting women's rights and wrongs.
ER doctor Jennifer finds a finger in her coffee (and eventually the hand attached to it) and took it out of the coffee and performed first aid on it. She takes a sample of the finger to check out the structure of it in the lab at work.
"I fight everyone all the time anyway," I tell him. "The only difference is that I now have a chance."
A Brief History of the Santa Carcossa Archipelago
Bitter Karella
This one starts with the black eggs, the origin of which is the mystery, which allegedly make you beautiful if you eat them.
Show Me
Amanda M. Blake
This story was like the Stepford wives getting flipped and reversed on its head.
A doctor husband is obsessed with making her the perfect wife.
He took me down from the pedestal and placed me in this box, because he had no more use for a vase that couldn't hold flowers.
Man of the House
Lillian Boyd
This was hilarious and by far one of my favorite reads.
Ronald Ray buys a house that's haunted by a queer/trans kid (Alex) who was killed by their father. Ronald is homophobic and also abused his wife, and now the house aka Alex is haunting him (including playing the song Dude (Looks like a Lady) on repeat).
Looking for the Big Death
Taliesin Neith
Another story that surprised me and I'd believe is ultimately a love story. It sort of reminded me of Romeo & Juliet but in reverse (start with a tragedy and end with a love story).
The main characters wants to die until his boyfriend accidentally kills him in a car wreck and he thinks it’s a lame way to die.
Instead of exchanging vows and rings, I would put my life in someone's hands, and they would unravel it, sweetly or cruelly.
August 10, 2023
"Wormspace" by LC Von Hessen - 4/5
"The Haunting of Aiden Finch" by Theo Hendrie - 5/5
"Coming Out" by Derek Des Anges - 2/5
"Mama is a Butcher" by Winter Holmes - 5/5
"Fall Apart" by gaast - 3.5/5
"Lady Davelina's Last Pet" - 3/5
"In the Garden of Horn, The Naked Magic Thrives" by Hailey Piper - 4/5
"A Scream Lights up the Sky" by Joe Koch - 3/5
"Long Fingers" by Layne Van Rensburg - 1/5
"A Brief History of the Santa Carcossa Archipelago" by Bitter Karella - 2.5/5
"Show Me" by Amanda M. Blake - 3/5
"Man of the House" by Lillian Boyd - 4/5
"Looking for the Big Death" by Taliesin Neith - 4/5
I had high hopes for this collection; I mean, it's a horror collection of ONLY trans voices. This seemed to be right up my alley. I haven't read many "body horror" books, so this was pretty new for me to read an entire collection of stories dealing with body horror in varying ways. While I did enjoy it, I felt that a few of the stories left A LOT to be desired, and, unfortunately, it took SO long for me to finish the book. I was put in quite the slump where I didn't even want to read because I wasn't fully enjoying what I was reading. My top five stories of the collection were:
1) "Mama is a Butcher"
2) "The Haunting of Aiden Finch"
3) "In the Garden of Horn, The Naked Magic Thrives"
4) "Man of the House"
5) "Wormspace"
("Looking for the Big Death" just BARELY missed the cut)
Although I didn't LOVE every story, I understand the exploratory nature of a lot of these stories, and I don't want to discredit the impact and power they have for others. None of these stories were poorly written; there were just some that weren't quite my cup of tea. I think there were a lot of great allegories present throughout the collection, and I'm excited to see others read this and hear what their thoughts are. It's definitely not your "mainstream" horror collection, so there are bound to be stories that don't click with some people; however, I don't regret reading any of them!
"The Haunting of Aiden Finch" by Theo Hendrie - 5/5
"Coming Out" by Derek Des Anges - 2/5
"Mama is a Butcher" by Winter Holmes - 5/5
"Fall Apart" by gaast - 3.5/5
"Lady Davelina's Last Pet" - 3/5
"In the Garden of Horn, The Naked Magic Thrives" by Hailey Piper - 4/5
"A Scream Lights up the Sky" by Joe Koch - 3/5
"Long Fingers" by Layne Van Rensburg - 1/5
"A Brief History of the Santa Carcossa Archipelago" by Bitter Karella - 2.5/5
"Show Me" by Amanda M. Blake - 3/5
"Man of the House" by Lillian Boyd - 4/5
"Looking for the Big Death" by Taliesin Neith - 4/5
I had high hopes for this collection; I mean, it's a horror collection of ONLY trans voices. This seemed to be right up my alley. I haven't read many "body horror" books, so this was pretty new for me to read an entire collection of stories dealing with body horror in varying ways. While I did enjoy it, I felt that a few of the stories left A LOT to be desired, and, unfortunately, it took SO long for me to finish the book. I was put in quite the slump where I didn't even want to read because I wasn't fully enjoying what I was reading. My top five stories of the collection were:
1) "Mama is a Butcher"
2) "The Haunting of Aiden Finch"
3) "In the Garden of Horn, The Naked Magic Thrives"
4) "Man of the House"
5) "Wormspace"
("Looking for the Big Death" just BARELY missed the cut)
Although I didn't LOVE every story, I understand the exploratory nature of a lot of these stories, and I don't want to discredit the impact and power they have for others. None of these stories were poorly written; there were just some that weren't quite my cup of tea. I think there were a lot of great allegories present throughout the collection, and I'm excited to see others read this and hear what their thoughts are. It's definitely not your "mainstream" horror collection, so there are bound to be stories that don't click with some people; however, I don't regret reading any of them!
April 19, 2023
I found Bound in Flesh completely by accident while I was scrolling Twitter early this afternoon, and I can safely say that there wasn't a lick of hesitation when I bolted to buy a copy of this just-released gem; I'm always on the prowl for trans horror, so it was a blessing to have this juicy little collection fall into my lap.
Though the stories featured in Bound in Flesh aren't all about trans characters, none of the contributors or the editor are cis—truly, no one does body horror better than trans creatives. All of the authors tell unique stories with distinct and compelling voices, and it was all too easy to lose myself in the snapshots of these grotesque worlds. My only criticism is the absence of trigger warnings. I'm perfectly fine with being surprised by some unexpectedly heavy content (aside from the obvious body horror) such as explicit transphobia, domestic abuse, descriptive sex scenes, and suicidal ideation, but that isn't the case for all readers. (Note: I read the PDF of this book and not the paperback, so I don't know if trigger warnings are available in other editions.)
I enjoyed all the stories in this anthology (rare antho W), but my favourites are:
– "Looking For the Big Death" by Taliesin Neith: a trans man really just wants to be dead, but it's horny
– "Man of the House" by Lillian Boyd: trans ghost girl fucks up a really scummy guy
– "Mama is a Butcher" by Winter Holmes: a parent forces her child to be someone they're not under the guise of protection; protag is non-binary but there's another layer of allegory for the erasure of trans kids' identities
– "Lady Davelina's Last Pet" by Charles-Elizabeth Boyles: the loss of bodily autonomy is an apt description of this one I think
I definitely recommend checking this book out if you're a body horror fan! Trans narratives aside, the body horror itself is prime; "Wormspace" and "A Scream Lights Up the Sky" in particular had my stomach turning with how unsettling the imagery was (kudos to LC von Hessen and Joe Koch!).
Though the stories featured in Bound in Flesh aren't all about trans characters, none of the contributors or the editor are cis—truly, no one does body horror better than trans creatives. All of the authors tell unique stories with distinct and compelling voices, and it was all too easy to lose myself in the snapshots of these grotesque worlds. My only criticism is the absence of trigger warnings. I'm perfectly fine with being surprised by some unexpectedly heavy content (aside from the obvious body horror) such as explicit transphobia, domestic abuse, descriptive sex scenes, and suicidal ideation, but that isn't the case for all readers. (Note: I read the PDF of this book and not the paperback, so I don't know if trigger warnings are available in other editions.)
I enjoyed all the stories in this anthology (rare antho W), but my favourites are:
– "Looking For the Big Death" by Taliesin Neith: a trans man really just wants to be dead, but it's horny
– "Man of the House" by Lillian Boyd: trans ghost girl fucks up a really scummy guy
– "Mama is a Butcher" by Winter Holmes: a parent forces her child to be someone they're not under the guise of protection; protag is non-binary but there's another layer of allegory for the erasure of trans kids' identities
– "Lady Davelina's Last Pet" by Charles-Elizabeth Boyles: the loss of bodily autonomy is an apt description of this one I think
I definitely recommend checking this book out if you're a body horror fan! Trans narratives aside, the body horror itself is prime; "Wormspace" and "A Scream Lights Up the Sky" in particular had my stomach turning with how unsettling the imagery was (kudos to LC von Hessen and Joe Koch!).
March 27, 2024
“That’s why I won’t give them the chance to eradicate me. I’ll spread further and faster than they can cope with because I will not be held back from being all that I’m capable of. From being the world.”
There are images, thoughts, things I will take from these pages and come back to, for probably ever. That’s not necessarily a good thing. Repulsion, grief, erotica, rage, dysphoria, euphoria, everything outside and between are all on display in extraordinary severity. A bizarre cacophony of voices and contexts, edited and configured perfectly by Gislason, will compel you further and further into this, unfortunately, quick collection. I think it’s safe to say that trans authors have a more intrinsic relationship, advantage even, with body horror. It just comes with the territory. It’s hard to pick a favorite story but a few knockouts for me were Layne Van Rensburg’s “Long Fingers,” Bitter Karella’s “A Brief History of the Santa Carcossa Archipelago,” and “Lady Davelina’s Last Pet” by Charles-Elizabeth Boyles.
Anthologies can sometimes swing and miss. “Bound” did a hell of a lot of hitting. The missing, few and far between as it were, was mostly due to writing style and content: it’s body horror people, a lot of this swings extreme. If that’s not your bag, and it’s not always mine, I’d hesitate to recommend this one to you. I’d have to give a laundry list of TWs for this book. While it won’t be for everyone, I do believe in reading difficult things to explore perspectives that aren’t my own.
4/5 Penis gods, an eternal murder/suicide pact, and trans women mushrooms, oh my!
There are images, thoughts, things I will take from these pages and come back to, for probably ever. That’s not necessarily a good thing. Repulsion, grief, erotica, rage, dysphoria, euphoria, everything outside and between are all on display in extraordinary severity. A bizarre cacophony of voices and contexts, edited and configured perfectly by Gislason, will compel you further and further into this, unfortunately, quick collection. I think it’s safe to say that trans authors have a more intrinsic relationship, advantage even, with body horror. It just comes with the territory. It’s hard to pick a favorite story but a few knockouts for me were Layne Van Rensburg’s “Long Fingers,” Bitter Karella’s “A Brief History of the Santa Carcossa Archipelago,” and “Lady Davelina’s Last Pet” by Charles-Elizabeth Boyles.
Anthologies can sometimes swing and miss. “Bound” did a hell of a lot of hitting. The missing, few and far between as it were, was mostly due to writing style and content: it’s body horror people, a lot of this swings extreme. If that’s not your bag, and it’s not always mine, I’d hesitate to recommend this one to you. I’d have to give a laundry list of TWs for this book. While it won’t be for everyone, I do believe in reading difficult things to explore perspectives that aren’t my own.
4/5 Penis gods, an eternal murder/suicide pact, and trans women mushrooms, oh my!
March 23, 2023
Bound in Flesh is a collection of 13 body horror stories by trans* writers, each with a unique theme and characters, and it's actually one of the highlights of the anthology, because even after reading half of them, I found myself enjoying the unpredictable nature of the stories. What's going to happen in the next one? No one can guess, based on the themes of the previous piece, because the stories chosen were widely spread across the horror genre.
The anthology managed to make my skin crawl with its gore. And I loved how each story presented a different type of body horror.
I enjoyed all of the stories, and even though some of them weren't as satisfying as others, especially in the way the plot was paced, I have to say that my time reading this book could definitely be described as great, and even fun at some points. Each of the authors had a very pleasant style of writing, and the prose was really beautiful.
My favourite stories from this anthology are Lady Davelina's Last Pet by Charles-Elizabeth Boyle, Long Fingers by Layne Van Rensburg, Show Me by Amanda M. Blake and Man of The House by Lilian Boyd. But, as I said, all of the stories have interesting plots with compelling characters, and I thought it was a really good anthology.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The anthology managed to make my skin crawl with its gore. And I loved how each story presented a different type of body horror.
I enjoyed all of the stories, and even though some of them weren't as satisfying as others, especially in the way the plot was paced, I have to say that my time reading this book could definitely be described as great, and even fun at some points. Each of the authors had a very pleasant style of writing, and the prose was really beautiful.
My favourite stories from this anthology are Lady Davelina's Last Pet by Charles-Elizabeth Boyle, Long Fingers by Layne Van Rensburg, Show Me by Amanda M. Blake and Man of The House by Lilian Boyd. But, as I said, all of the stories have interesting plots with compelling characters, and I thought it was a really good anthology.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
April 17, 2023In the foreword, editor Lor Gislason states how trans people "have a leg-up on understanding the emotions (both good and bad) surrounding living in a body." I can somewhat attest to that, with my horror being that I have to exist in a body at all, a tragic failure of design. It's also what draws me to body horror - the gore and viscera and snot and shit is so much more bearable if it only exists on paper. Body horror that's also blatantly and unapologetically queer is almost a surefire win.
While not all of the stories in this anthology met my - admittedly rather extreme- tastes in gore, some came close - most of all In the Garden of Horn, Naked Magic Thrives and A Brief History of the Santa Carcossa Archipelago, both nasty and horny and grotesquely funny. Other entries had different things going for them. Show Me amused and delighted me with its approach to a grim subject matter, and Looking For the Big Death was moving and beautiful.
My favorite by far though was Coming Out. This is a story where ommission works to spark the imagination in uncomfortable ways, and it combines the unpleasant reality of having a body with the potential of transformation through symbiosis. My deep-seated mistrust of mushrooms will probably never wane, no matter how many gay little stories I read about them, but they are a very satisfying - and inherently queer - ingredient for body horror.
While not all of the stories in this anthology met my - admittedly rather extreme- tastes in gore, some came close - most of all In the Garden of Horn, Naked Magic Thrives and A Brief History of the Santa Carcossa Archipelago, both nasty and horny and grotesquely funny. Other entries had different things going for them. Show Me amused and delighted me with its approach to a grim subject matter, and Looking For the Big Death was moving and beautiful.
My favorite by far though was Coming Out. This is a story where ommission works to spark the imagination in uncomfortable ways, and it combines the unpleasant reality of having a body with the potential of transformation through symbiosis. My deep-seated mistrust of mushrooms will probably never wane, no matter how many gay little stories I read about them, but they are a very satisfying - and inherently queer - ingredient for body horror.
April 27, 2023
alright I suck at doing proper reviews so here we fucking go boys (if any of the authors see this pls dont take the numbers too seriously, I love yall for writing this and youre very cool ok!!)
wormspace: 7.5/10.
fun, freaky. extremely based to read this while sitting in the waiting room of my obgyn, if i do say so myself
the haunting of aiden finch: 6/10.
not really my cup of tea but still fun!
coming out: 6/10.
not a fan of the whole, uh, shit thing but this was pretty funny
mama is a butcher: 7/10.
predictable but still very enjoyable!
fall apart: 8/10.
extremely cool premise, got confused about the descriptions about halfway through but very fun!!
lady davelinas last pet: 5/10.
eh. felt like an alcina dimitrescu fanfic and I didnt like the second person writing. fun premise though!
in the garden of horn: 9/10
hailey piper just fucking gets it!!!!!!!
a scream lights up the sky: 7/10.
had a hard time understanding what was happening at first, but as i figured it out, it was pretty fun!
long fingers: 9/10.
"This is how they see me. I’m a flesh monster corrupting the ordinary world. I will never be able to change their mind." NEED I SAY MORE
santa carcossa: 8/10.
gross and horny, as everything should be
show me: 9/10.
did NOT expect this one to be this fucking good but my GOD it's just wonderful
man of the house: 8/10.
we enjoy a little rebirth through justified violence. as a treat
looking for the big death: 10/10
MINDBLOWING, SHOWSTOPPING, ABSOLUTELY GONNA BE THINKING ABOUT THIS UNTIL THE DAY I DIE THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT BABEY!!!!!!!
wormspace: 7.5/10.
fun, freaky. extremely based to read this while sitting in the waiting room of my obgyn, if i do say so myself
the haunting of aiden finch: 6/10.
not really my cup of tea but still fun!
coming out: 6/10.
not a fan of the whole, uh, shit thing but this was pretty funny
mama is a butcher: 7/10.
predictable but still very enjoyable!
fall apart: 8/10.
extremely cool premise, got confused about the descriptions about halfway through but very fun!!
lady davelinas last pet: 5/10.
eh. felt like an alcina dimitrescu fanfic and I didnt like the second person writing. fun premise though!
in the garden of horn: 9/10
hailey piper just fucking gets it!!!!!!!
a scream lights up the sky: 7/10.
had a hard time understanding what was happening at first, but as i figured it out, it was pretty fun!
long fingers: 9/10.
"This is how they see me. I’m a flesh monster corrupting the ordinary world. I will never be able to change their mind." NEED I SAY MORE
santa carcossa: 8/10.
gross and horny, as everything should be
show me: 9/10.
did NOT expect this one to be this fucking good but my GOD it's just wonderful
man of the house: 8/10.
we enjoy a little rebirth through justified violence. as a treat
looking for the big death: 10/10
MINDBLOWING, SHOWSTOPPING, ABSOLUTELY GONNA BE THINKING ABOUT THIS UNTIL THE DAY I DIE THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT BABEY!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2023
I had never considered how the trans experience could be related to body horror before, but having read this book, I think it was a brilliant idea to put this collection together. The horror elements put the reader at unease with the main character's situation and their body, encouraging empathetic connections with someone of a different gender or lived experience than yours. Many of these characters have a strong sense of identity-- they know what is right for them, and when something is wrong, you can feel how disturbing the situation is. The characters also often very driven; they go for what they want, even if it may seem horrific to others.
I found several stories empowering, but there are just as many that I found really gross and disturbing. That all comes down to personal preference, but this is a reminder to be in the right headspace when reading this book, as there is frequently quite vitriolic imagery. If you are easily disturbed or triggered, I would not recommend this book, but here as some of the main things to look out for: death, gore, dysphoria, suicidal ideation, surgical modification, and explicit sexual content.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I found several stories empowering, but there are just as many that I found really gross and disturbing. That all comes down to personal preference, but this is a reminder to be in the right headspace when reading this book, as there is frequently quite vitriolic imagery. If you are easily disturbed or triggered, I would not recommend this book, but here as some of the main things to look out for: death, gore, dysphoria, suicidal ideation, surgical modification, and explicit sexual content.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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