Seasons of Severance: Collected Dark Fiction

by Sara Tantlinger, Corey Farrenkopf, Jessi York

Seasons of Severance is an anthology of four mini horror collections, featuring new fiction from Sara Tantlinger, Corey Farrenkopf, Jessi Ann York, and Red Lagoe. Each author brings out the dark, creepy, and weird through their own personal style.

Themes you'll find explored folk horror, fears of seclusion, interpersonal demons, coming-of-age angst, and body horror.

237 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 18, 2023

About the author

Sara Tantlinger is the author of the Bram Stoker Award-winning The Devil’s Dreamland: Poetry Inspired by H.H. Holmes, and the Stoker-nominated works To Be Devoured, Cradleland of Parasites, and Not All Monsters. Along with being a mentor for the HWA Mentorship Program, she is also a co-organizer for the HWA Pittsburgh Chapter. She embraces all things macabre and can be found lurking in graveyards, at saratantlinger.com and on Instagram @inkychaotics

Reviews

[Paul Mcnally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthologies usually rate three stars for me because of the 'hit or miss' aspect of the stories, but this gathering definitely contained more hits than misses for me.

I felt like the standouts were the tales by Jessi Ann York and Corey Farrenkopf. Each had four stories that immediately drew me in and held me until the final word.

[Paul Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

"They're not welcome in my house! It's breaking and entering." he'd told Alyssa.
"I'm pretty sure the spiders are just entering, you big baby. There's no breaking."
"They're breaking my rules. No spiders."
--from Arachnu by Red Lagoe

These are four authors that deserve to be recognized and BRAVO to Cemetery Gates Media for the incredible concept of this book. Typically you are getting only a small taste in a collection with each author only getting one story, Here we have four authors telling us four stories each, so they really can wow you and show you what they can do.
Overall these are dark tales that vary from being humorous to fucking twisted. Every single story is a banger and these authors have my full respect. I need everyone to know about the four of them and what they can do to your mind.
Sara Tantlinger-- I highlighted so many quotes in these stories. They were all deeply mesmerizing and thought provoking with a sensual writing style that makes you want to wallow in her words. I have never been so moved by a 16 page story.
Corey Farrenkopf-- interconnected stories that are so engaging. You truly feel like you are part of the action and the anticipation is palpable.
Jessi Ann York-- Such powerful women. These characters shine when the need arises, releasing their strength and leaving us all in awe of them.
Red Lagoe-- Holy shit. I need more Red in my life. There is dark and then there is DARK! These are stories that you need to recover from. JFC

"A person can get used to anything, especially when the only options are either adapt or die." --from The Eating of Angels by Sara Tantlinger

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love short horror fiction, and enjoy seeing the different ways people have of bringing them together. I love the concept of this anthology as a hybrid with the collection format. Four authors with four stories each. You get the benefits of an anthology by getting to sample from several different authors. And you get the benefits of a collection by experiencing a thematic sampling of an author’s work. This alone makes this book worth picking up so the reader can explore how they like experiencing short horror fiction. I enjoyed Corey Farrenkopf’s action and Red Lagoe’s visual style. “Arachnu” was particularly striking and was pumpkin spiced with wry humor.

“The Eating of Angels” by Sara Tantlinger is glorious. This story kicks us into its setting with “When the angel materializes in my backyard, I drag the poor creature across mud-streaked grass and into the old barn.” A woman discovers a fallen angel. Consumes it. Resurrects it. And sets it loose. This is a meditation on the forms and actions of awe, grace, and worship. The resurrection has tinges of Frankenstien with a modern poet’s pen. "I fill the angel with rattlesnakes and crickets. Perhaps a balance of the humors is needed after all." From open to close this story is a tightly stitched monster. "Be not afraid" indeed.

“Women of the Mere” by Jessi Ann York is a reminder of the dangers of erasure. “Marchosias” warns us of allowing others to control us and dictate our happiness. “Dimorphism” has subtle creeping horror snuggling with cannibalism and creatures who eat their mates and their young. This hits a lot of the same beats as Jessi's story "Love Letters from the Devil's Beard" but this one is a lot less sweet and a lot grosser in all the best ways. “Mother of the Wind” is an excellent storm chaser story. It includes witches, as all proper tornado stories should.

[Brian Carney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally read anthologies in the morning - usually one or two stories at breakfast. SEASONS OF SEVERANCE was the first time I read an entire anthology in one sitting! Each story is gripping, creepy, and well-written. If you love dark fiction, folk horror, coming-of-age angst, and the macabre, you need this collection writtern by four amazingly talented authors. 5 ⭐️! Highly recommended!

[Tony Sarrecchia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid anthology of creepy stories.