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HorrorScope: A Zodiac Anthology
HorrorScope: A Zodiac Anthology, Volume 2
Aries. Taurus. Gemini. Cancer. Leo. Virgo. Libra. Scorpio. Sagittarius. Capricorn. Aquarius. Pisces.
It is said that destiny is determined by the stars. The signs of the Zodiac can predict who you’ll love, who you’ll hate, and who you’ll become. But the fates written in the stars are not always kind. Sometimes, they’re terrifying.
In HorrorScope Volume 2, you will find 36 more dark fantasy poems and short stories all inspired by the zodiac signs. Within these pages, you'll find vigilantes seeking their own form of retribution, centaurs stirring up trouble, and why you should never get on the wrong side of a fortune teller! So, open this book, if you dare, and pray that you weren’t born under a bad sign.
It is said that destiny is determined by the stars. The signs of the Zodiac can predict who you’ll love, who you’ll hate, and who you’ll become. But the fates written in the stars are not always kind. Sometimes, they’re terrifying.
In HorrorScope Volume 2, you will find 36 more dark fantasy poems and short stories all inspired by the zodiac signs. Within these pages, you'll find vigilantes seeking their own form of retribution, centaurs stirring up trouble, and why you should never get on the wrong side of a fortune teller! So, open this book, if you dare, and pray that you weren’t born under a bad sign.
268 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2023
4 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
H. Everend
21 books118 followers-36 years
-Married
-Have three cats, 1 dog
-Enjoys wine tasting, genealogy, photography and scrapbooking as side hobbies
-Currently working on a short story collection
-Married
-Have three cats, 1 dog
-Enjoys wine tasting, genealogy, photography and scrapbooking as side hobbies
-Currently working on a short story collection
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 12, 2023
First off, I'm totally honored to have my piece, My Only Monster, featured in this collection. Second of all, I've just finished reading everyone else's stories and I'm blown away by the talent of these incredible authors! So many of these stories used imagination and creativity that I can only strive to compete with! And the feminine rage was off the charts in some of these stories!
Some favorite stories of mine were:
-As A Spider Weaves by Kerry E.B Black
-Crusty's Penny Arcade by Willie R. Heredia
-Knock Knock by Julia C. Lewis
-All Eyes on You by Torrence Bryan
-Flattery of Pigs by Dorian J. Sinnott
Having said this, I enjoyed every single story (and poem!) in this collection. Some of these stories are super messed up, so if you're a horror lover then I highly suggest picking this up! Pre-orders are open until the 20th of June!
Some favorite stories of mine were:
-As A Spider Weaves by Kerry E.B Black
-Crusty's Penny Arcade by Willie R. Heredia
-Knock Knock by Julia C. Lewis
-All Eyes on You by Torrence Bryan
-Flattery of Pigs by Dorian J. Sinnott
Having said this, I enjoyed every single story (and poem!) in this collection. Some of these stories are super messed up, so if you're a horror lover then I highly suggest picking this up! Pre-orders are open until the 20th of June!
June 24, 2023
Harriet has done it again! She brought together more amazing and talented authors for this astounding anthology!
Some of my personal favorites were:
"MY ONLY MONSTER" by HAYLEY ANDERTON
"NOBODY GETS ME LIKE YOU..." by CHAZ WILLIAMS
"CRUSTY'S PENNY ARCADE" by WILLIE R. HEREDIA
"KNOCK, KNOCK" by JULIA C. LEWIS
"SCHADENFREUDE" by DAVID ROYCE
"PERFECTION" by JENA GLOVER
"THAT BLISSFUL DARKNESS" by GILLIAN CHURCH
"VISIONS OF BURNING STARS" by KIRSTEN AUCOIN
"THE RESTLESS ONES" by SKYE MYERS
I HIGHLY recommend reading Horrorscope Vol 2
Some of my personal favorites were:
"MY ONLY MONSTER" by HAYLEY ANDERTON
"NOBODY GETS ME LIKE YOU..." by CHAZ WILLIAMS
"CRUSTY'S PENNY ARCADE" by WILLIE R. HEREDIA
"KNOCK, KNOCK" by JULIA C. LEWIS
"SCHADENFREUDE" by DAVID ROYCE
"PERFECTION" by JENA GLOVER
"THAT BLISSFUL DARKNESS" by GILLIAN CHURCH
"VISIONS OF BURNING STARS" by KIRSTEN AUCOIN
"THE RESTLESS ONES" by SKYE MYERS
I HIGHLY recommend reading Horrorscope Vol 2
June 25, 2023
Just like its predecessor, Volume 2 is full of stunning stories and poems inspired by the zodiac. Everend possesses the keen eye and perceptive heart required of a curator compiling such a collection of tales. The entries range from darkly funny to gruesomely horrifying. Some are surprising, some sexy, some sad, and some downright scary. With such a broad spectrum, not every entry will be for everyone, but there is plenty of solid writing here and I think every reader will close its pages satisfied.
My personal favorites:
Speak My Name Again by Gregory Leather - an unsettling and prophetic Aries poem.
My Only Monster by Hayley Anderton - a hopeful young creature attends a ball looking for their Only One, but the soul mate they find may not be the one they need.
The Gemini Rose by Jason A Jones - this creepy poem with a fun rhythm tells of an attic dweller and her cat, and the things they get up to when they're hungry.
Crusty's Penny Arcade by Willie R Heredia - old Crusty owns a seaside penny arcade, but only invites an exclusive few inside to see his collection. Beware his magic tricks!
It Came From Broken Heart Bay by Christopher Robertson - this throwback to old 50s creature features follows a newshound as he investigates a strange boating incident. Wacky fun, with great rat-a-tat dialogue.
All Eyes on You by Torrence Bryan - can't really summarize this one without spoilers. Tense and well written body horror.
Perfection by Jena Glover - a prim and proper perfectionist trolls the online dating scene for a mate. I loved the narrator of this one. Mind your manners around her!
That Blissful Darkness by Gillian Church - a talented woman helps her mother-in-law host an engagement party as she inwardly seethes. A sharp and fascinating piece on the madness of thinking we can be everything to everyone at all times.
In the Desert by Marshall Gunness III - a darkly atmospheric poem that serves as a nice appetizer to the Scorpio section
The Restless Ones by Skye Myers - a group of college girls sneak into an abandoned church to mess around with contacting the beyond. Tense and well paced, with a doozy of an ending.
Visions of Burning Stars by Kirsten Aucoin - a man with a strange gift discovers his nephew might be burdened with the same, and reaches out to make a connection with him. Engaging and has a good twist.
D.U.M.E (Song of the Sagittarian Witch) by M Rook Grimsley - a bewitching little spell of a poem.
Rot by Nikki Kossaris - a woman begins a downward spiral as she obsesses over slights on social media, wondering if they are real or just perceived. Wicked and timely, with a satisfying ending.
Sea of Grief by Loki DeWitt - a pensive and beautiful poem that describes well the experience of drowning in waves of sadness.
Pisces Iscariot by Wendy Dalrymple - a dark and enchanting fairy tale of a poem.
My personal favorites:
Speak My Name Again by Gregory Leather - an unsettling and prophetic Aries poem.
My Only Monster by Hayley Anderton - a hopeful young creature attends a ball looking for their Only One, but the soul mate they find may not be the one they need.
The Gemini Rose by Jason A Jones - this creepy poem with a fun rhythm tells of an attic dweller and her cat, and the things they get up to when they're hungry.
Crusty's Penny Arcade by Willie R Heredia - old Crusty owns a seaside penny arcade, but only invites an exclusive few inside to see his collection. Beware his magic tricks!
It Came From Broken Heart Bay by Christopher Robertson - this throwback to old 50s creature features follows a newshound as he investigates a strange boating incident. Wacky fun, with great rat-a-tat dialogue.
All Eyes on You by Torrence Bryan - can't really summarize this one without spoilers. Tense and well written body horror.
Perfection by Jena Glover - a prim and proper perfectionist trolls the online dating scene for a mate. I loved the narrator of this one. Mind your manners around her!
That Blissful Darkness by Gillian Church - a talented woman helps her mother-in-law host an engagement party as she inwardly seethes. A sharp and fascinating piece on the madness of thinking we can be everything to everyone at all times.
In the Desert by Marshall Gunness III - a darkly atmospheric poem that serves as a nice appetizer to the Scorpio section
The Restless Ones by Skye Myers - a group of college girls sneak into an abandoned church to mess around with contacting the beyond. Tense and well paced, with a doozy of an ending.
Visions of Burning Stars by Kirsten Aucoin - a man with a strange gift discovers his nephew might be burdened with the same, and reaches out to make a connection with him. Engaging and has a good twist.
D.U.M.E (Song of the Sagittarian Witch) by M Rook Grimsley - a bewitching little spell of a poem.
Rot by Nikki Kossaris - a woman begins a downward spiral as she obsesses over slights on social media, wondering if they are real or just perceived. Wicked and timely, with a satisfying ending.
Sea of Grief by Loki DeWitt - a pensive and beautiful poem that describes well the experience of drowning in waves of sadness.
Pisces Iscariot by Wendy Dalrymple - a dark and enchanting fairy tale of a poem.
June 20, 2023
This book is a great collection of stories from a wide range of writers. This is some of their first published works also.
This anthology is part of a four book series. This book follows a format of 3 entries per zodiac sign. This curated collection gathers both poetry and short stories.
Here are a few personal favorites that stood out to me.
“As a Spider Weaves” by Kerry E.B. Black
“Nobody Gets Me Like You” by Chaz Williams
“Crusty’s Penny Arcade” by Willie R. Heredia
“Knock Knock” by Julia C. Lewis
“Perfection” by Jena Glover
“That Blissful Darkness” by Gillian Church
“Flattery of Pigs” by Dorian J. Sinnott
“With Great Power” by Zach Swasta
Looking forward to see what else these writers do in the future.
This anthology is part of a four book series. This book follows a format of 3 entries per zodiac sign. This curated collection gathers both poetry and short stories.
Here are a few personal favorites that stood out to me.
“As a Spider Weaves” by Kerry E.B. Black
“Nobody Gets Me Like You” by Chaz Williams
“Crusty’s Penny Arcade” by Willie R. Heredia
“Knock Knock” by Julia C. Lewis
“Perfection” by Jena Glover
“That Blissful Darkness” by Gillian Church
“Flattery of Pigs” by Dorian J. Sinnott
“With Great Power” by Zach Swasta
Looking forward to see what else these writers do in the future.
Read
June 21, 2023I’m tickled to have a story in the newly released Horrorscope: A Zodiac Anthology, volume 2 selected and edited by the endlessly creative and encouraging H. Everend. (She made this feel like a family project where everyone wished the best for one another. So lovely!) The 267 page book boasts three stories or poems to represent each of the twelve western zodiac signs, with artwork by Leonardo Biscardi announcing each sign.
My story, “As a Spider Weaves,” is included in the ARIES section with Gregory Leather’s poem “Speak My Name Again” and J. Rocky Colavito’s “A Requiem for Rex RAMzey.” (The Requiem has the title character using his head in a wrestling arena.) TAURUS is represented by R.E. Sohl’s “The Labyrinth of Loathing” where Minos’ son prowls, Hayley Anderson’s “My Only Monster” with faceless balls and an exploration of self worth, and Chaz Williams’ tale of love and obsession, “Nobody Gets Me Like You.” GEMINI kicks off with an ominous poem by A.P. Vrdoljak, “Jupiter and Mars.” “Sororicide” by Briana Morgan proves where there’s a will, there’s a - death. Or a few, perhaps. Jason A. Jones’ poem “The Gemini Rose” wraps up the devilish twin’s section. Willie R. Heredia kicks off CANCER with “Crusty’s Penny Arcade,” and its ‘best magician.’ Nicole Shay’s poem “Resplendent Moon Crab” and Christopher Robertson’s “It Came from Broken Heart Bay” complete the summer crab sign. LEO roars in with the short story “Knock, Knock” by Julia C. Lewis. “Schadenfreude” by David Royce introduced me to a new word, and “All Eyes on You” by Torrence Bryan is told from an interesting point of view. VIRGO loves Jena Glover’s wicked short tale “Perfection,” David Washburn’s “Steak Knife,” and Gillian Church’s “That Blissful Darkness” (which is one of my favorites in this anthology.) LIBRA seeks balance in “The Scales” by Amanda Worthington, “Flattery of Pigs” by Dorian J. Sinnott, and “A Moth to Flame” by Marilyn Young. SCORPIO begins with Marshall Gunness III’s poem, “In the Desert.” Skye Myers’ short story “The Restless Ones” and Wesley Winters’ “His Next Strike” complete the scorpion. “Visions of Burning Stars” by Kirsten Aucoin kicks off SAGITTARIUS, with this humorous exchange: “...I’m a writer. You know this.” “Oh, honey, I meant a proper job.” M. Rook Grimsley’s song of the sagittarian witch “D.U.M.E.” reads like a vengeance spell, and Shantel Brunton’s “Centaur Hearts” waxed philosophical. CAPRICORN capers in “With Great Power” by Zach Swasta, “Rot” by Nikki Kossaris, and “Tribulation of Capricornus” by Jay Parker. AQUARIUs dawns with Loki DeWitt’s melancholy poem “Sea of Grief” before Brooklynn Dean’s “Age of Aquarius” takes center stage, followed by “The Turning of a Card” by Caleb J. Pecue. Wendy Dalrymple tests the PISCES water with the salty poem “Pisces Iscariot,” with Jasmine de la Paz’s story “Daughter of the Lake” swimming by next, and Alice Stone’s “Fishcake” concluding the collection.
So if you’re looking for horror stories built around the zodiac, check your Horrorscope, volume 2.
My story, “As a Spider Weaves,” is included in the ARIES section with Gregory Leather’s poem “Speak My Name Again” and J. Rocky Colavito’s “A Requiem for Rex RAMzey.” (The Requiem has the title character using his head in a wrestling arena.) TAURUS is represented by R.E. Sohl’s “The Labyrinth of Loathing” where Minos’ son prowls, Hayley Anderson’s “My Only Monster” with faceless balls and an exploration of self worth, and Chaz Williams’ tale of love and obsession, “Nobody Gets Me Like You.” GEMINI kicks off with an ominous poem by A.P. Vrdoljak, “Jupiter and Mars.” “Sororicide” by Briana Morgan proves where there’s a will, there’s a - death. Or a few, perhaps. Jason A. Jones’ poem “The Gemini Rose” wraps up the devilish twin’s section. Willie R. Heredia kicks off CANCER with “Crusty’s Penny Arcade,” and its ‘best magician.’ Nicole Shay’s poem “Resplendent Moon Crab” and Christopher Robertson’s “It Came from Broken Heart Bay” complete the summer crab sign. LEO roars in with the short story “Knock, Knock” by Julia C. Lewis. “Schadenfreude” by David Royce introduced me to a new word, and “All Eyes on You” by Torrence Bryan is told from an interesting point of view. VIRGO loves Jena Glover’s wicked short tale “Perfection,” David Washburn’s “Steak Knife,” and Gillian Church’s “That Blissful Darkness” (which is one of my favorites in this anthology.) LIBRA seeks balance in “The Scales” by Amanda Worthington, “Flattery of Pigs” by Dorian J. Sinnott, and “A Moth to Flame” by Marilyn Young. SCORPIO begins with Marshall Gunness III’s poem, “In the Desert.” Skye Myers’ short story “The Restless Ones” and Wesley Winters’ “His Next Strike” complete the scorpion. “Visions of Burning Stars” by Kirsten Aucoin kicks off SAGITTARIUS, with this humorous exchange: “...I’m a writer. You know this.” “Oh, honey, I meant a proper job.” M. Rook Grimsley’s song of the sagittarian witch “D.U.M.E.” reads like a vengeance spell, and Shantel Brunton’s “Centaur Hearts” waxed philosophical. CAPRICORN capers in “With Great Power” by Zach Swasta, “Rot” by Nikki Kossaris, and “Tribulation of Capricornus” by Jay Parker. AQUARIUs dawns with Loki DeWitt’s melancholy poem “Sea of Grief” before Brooklynn Dean’s “Age of Aquarius” takes center stage, followed by “The Turning of a Card” by Caleb J. Pecue. Wendy Dalrymple tests the PISCES water with the salty poem “Pisces Iscariot,” with Jasmine de la Paz’s story “Daughter of the Lake” swimming by next, and Alice Stone’s “Fishcake” concluding the collection.
So if you’re looking for horror stories built around the zodiac, check your Horrorscope, volume 2.
June 16, 2024
Full review coming soon!
GOOD LORD did this slip through the cracks. I tend to fall behind on reviews and sometimes I completely forget if I typed something up or not. As you can see, I read this LAST YEAR. I am a bit biased since I do have a story in this anthology. HOWEVER, this is a fantastic collection of short stories and poems. H. Everend did a fantastic job in gathering quality ideas from amazing writers and you never know what to expect from each Zodiac Sign. I'm more than positive that there is something for everyone in here, and I highly recommend to anyone that enjoys a variety of styles/themes in their anthologies!
GOOD LORD did this slip through the cracks. I tend to fall behind on reviews and sometimes I completely forget if I typed something up or not. As you can see, I read this LAST YEAR. I am a bit biased since I do have a story in this anthology. HOWEVER, this is a fantastic collection of short stories and poems. H. Everend did a fantastic job in gathering quality ideas from amazing writers and you never know what to expect from each Zodiac Sign. I'm more than positive that there is something for everyone in here, and I highly recommend to anyone that enjoys a variety of styles/themes in their anthologies!
October 3, 2023
Well...H. Everend has done it again. Another great curation! Just like Volume One, there is something for everyone. Although, I think this one may be a tad grislier than the first, but hey, it works.
Here are some of my favorites:
It Came From Broken Heart Bay by Christopher Robertson
All Eyes on You by Torrence Bryan
Perfection by Jena Glover
Steak Knife by David Washburn
The Restless Ones by Skye Myers
Rot by Nikki Kossaris
My very favorite: That Blissful Darkness by Gillian Church-very satisfying!
And a note on the poetry--dark and lovely--these writers have deep souls.
Check this one out! H. Everend is one to watch!
Here are some of my favorites:
It Came From Broken Heart Bay by Christopher Robertson
All Eyes on You by Torrence Bryan
Perfection by Jena Glover
Steak Knife by David Washburn
The Restless Ones by Skye Myers
Rot by Nikki Kossaris
My very favorite: That Blissful Darkness by Gillian Church-very satisfying!
And a note on the poetry--dark and lovely--these writers have deep souls.
Check this one out! H. Everend is one to watch!
August 4, 2023
Horrorscope is a collection of short stories and poems all based around star signs. Each sign has three stories or poems written by different authors. It was great to find another bunch of incredible authors and to read more work from some of my favourite authors who were also involved with this!
I enjoy short story collections as you can read one here and there while reading another book, or perhaps just devour the whole thing for some spooky fun!
I honestly enjoyed each story and poem, however I set myself a mission to choose three favourites and this is them :-
- Crusty's Penny Acarde - this was very quirky and fun!
- My Only Monster - I really loved the idea behind this one! Would have loved it to been even longer
- Nobody Gets Me Like You - Genuinely terrifying. Haunting. Nightmare worthy. I'm crying, I'm crying into all the five stars I'm giving
I very much recommend volume 2 in the same way I very much recommend volume 1. Excited to read volume 3 and 4 when they are released!
I enjoy short story collections as you can read one here and there while reading another book, or perhaps just devour the whole thing for some spooky fun!
I honestly enjoyed each story and poem, however I set myself a mission to choose three favourites and this is them :-
- Crusty's Penny Acarde - this was very quirky and fun!
- My Only Monster - I really loved the idea behind this one! Would have loved it to been even longer
- Nobody Gets Me Like You - Genuinely terrifying. Haunting. Nightmare worthy. I'm crying, I'm crying into all the five stars I'm giving
I very much recommend volume 2 in the same way I very much recommend volume 1. Excited to read volume 3 and 4 when they are released!
February 18, 2024
Horrorscope Volume 2, edited by H. Everend, is a great read for fans of horror short stories.
Like the other books in the series, Volume 2 consists of 36 short stories and poems, three for each zodiac sign. While each story has at least a loose zodiac theme, they are otherwise unconnected, so you don't have to read the volumes or stories in a particular order to make sense of them. You also don't have to believe in astrology to enjoy them. While some of the pieces do take the zodiac angle pretty seriously, most have a more subtle zodiac element.
The stories vary widely. You'll find terrifying creatures, supernatural entities, magical powers, and very human killers. The settings range from fantastical realms to our contemporary world. No matter what types of horror you prefer, you're bound to find some stories that appeal to you. Of course, the wide range means you may also find stories that don't fall within your preferred subgenres. However, even the stories that weren't to my taste I still generally found interesting, and there were enough stories that I thoroughly enjoyed that I can't even narrow down favorites.
If horror short stories are your jam, I would definitely recommend checking out the Horrorscope series.
Like the other books in the series, Volume 2 consists of 36 short stories and poems, three for each zodiac sign. While each story has at least a loose zodiac theme, they are otherwise unconnected, so you don't have to read the volumes or stories in a particular order to make sense of them. You also don't have to believe in astrology to enjoy them. While some of the pieces do take the zodiac angle pretty seriously, most have a more subtle zodiac element.
The stories vary widely. You'll find terrifying creatures, supernatural entities, magical powers, and very human killers. The settings range from fantastical realms to our contemporary world. No matter what types of horror you prefer, you're bound to find some stories that appeal to you. Of course, the wide range means you may also find stories that don't fall within your preferred subgenres. However, even the stories that weren't to my taste I still generally found interesting, and there were enough stories that I thoroughly enjoyed that I can't even narrow down favorites.
If horror short stories are your jam, I would definitely recommend checking out the Horrorscope series.
November 23, 2023
I just left my review for part one having read both volumes over this past weekend, and once again I find that I'm having a difficult time giving a star rating. Volume 2 feels more consistent overall, I have fewer nitpicks, and I knew better what to expect going into this one in terms of genre. Of course there were different downsides to this volume as well.
I mentioned in my last review that it was disappointing to learn that these were not paid calls for the contributors, and I think that's especially true for the second volume as the first volume seems to have done quite well. I do hope, however, that the extension of the series has resulted in more promotion for the featured authors.
The main thing I liked about HorrorScope Volume 2 over the first volume are that the stories felt more tonally consistent, and I think darker overall? I feel like the most horror centered entries came from volume one, but this one at least skews more to dark fantasy than just straight fantasy, which I was a fan of.
I also think the presentation was more consistent, which proved to be somewhat of a double edged sword. I think it's great that there was more continuity and fewer mistakes (I only noticed one stray line break, for instance, and fewer random changes in font sizes.) On the other hand, I noticed that the printing quality just wasn't as high. I don't know if this was an issue with the interior layout or the printers, but it felt very strange since it mostly just seemed to be an issue in the story titles and the images.
The art, once again, was gorgeous. I like the rough, sketched quality more in the art than I did in the title text. I did think it was really weird there was a different title font when so much of the interior layout was identical to the first. The cover had the same design/embellishments, the the same acknowledgements page with no actual acknowledgement text aside from the contributor bios. Even the back text was copied/pasted from the last volume with just a few small changes, which was where I began to wish that so much of the copy had not been reused.
I once again have ended up in a weird spot, because as an anthology, I felt it lacked in presentation and polish. (There weren't as many glaring issues with line editing in this volume, which was nice, but there was still inconsistency with punctuation style in a way that pulled my attention toward the end.) I was especially hopeful that maybe this volume would be cleaner as a result of the first one bringing in some money, but there was not a huge quality difference as I might have hoped for. On the other hand, I enjoyed a lot of the stories, and was introduced to more new authors through this volume.
A particular favorite of mine was "Fishcake" by Alice Stone, which had such a unique format and voice. I absolutely adored the vision here, and I hope to read more of her work in the future.
I will not be continuing with this series of anthologies, but I hope that the editor continued bringing up the quality for volume 3. I also hope that they raise the funds to pay contributors, as there seems to be another open call up for a volume 4.
I mentioned in my last review that it was disappointing to learn that these were not paid calls for the contributors, and I think that's especially true for the second volume as the first volume seems to have done quite well. I do hope, however, that the extension of the series has resulted in more promotion for the featured authors.
The main thing I liked about HorrorScope Volume 2 over the first volume are that the stories felt more tonally consistent, and I think darker overall? I feel like the most horror centered entries came from volume one, but this one at least skews more to dark fantasy than just straight fantasy, which I was a fan of.
I also think the presentation was more consistent, which proved to be somewhat of a double edged sword. I think it's great that there was more continuity and fewer mistakes (I only noticed one stray line break, for instance, and fewer random changes in font sizes.) On the other hand, I noticed that the printing quality just wasn't as high. I don't know if this was an issue with the interior layout or the printers, but it felt very strange since it mostly just seemed to be an issue in the story titles and the images.
The art, once again, was gorgeous. I like the rough, sketched quality more in the art than I did in the title text. I did think it was really weird there was a different title font when so much of the interior layout was identical to the first. The cover had the same design/embellishments, the the same acknowledgements page with no actual acknowledgement text aside from the contributor bios. Even the back text was copied/pasted from the last volume with just a few small changes, which was where I began to wish that so much of the copy had not been reused.
I once again have ended up in a weird spot, because as an anthology, I felt it lacked in presentation and polish. (There weren't as many glaring issues with line editing in this volume, which was nice, but there was still inconsistency with punctuation style in a way that pulled my attention toward the end.) I was especially hopeful that maybe this volume would be cleaner as a result of the first one bringing in some money, but there was not a huge quality difference as I might have hoped for. On the other hand, I enjoyed a lot of the stories, and was introduced to more new authors through this volume.
A particular favorite of mine was "Fishcake" by Alice Stone, which had such a unique format and voice. I absolutely adored the vision here, and I hope to read more of her work in the future.
I will not be continuing with this series of anthologies, but I hope that the editor continued bringing up the quality for volume 3. I also hope that they raise the funds to pay contributors, as there seems to be another open call up for a volume 4.
June 29, 2023
As soon as this puppy came in the mail I read it in 2.5 days, and that was with a migraine! What I love is finding new authors and with 36 showcased, you're bound to find a few you haven't heard of.
Here are the stories I'm still thinking about~
THE LABRYNTH OF LOATHING by R.E. Sohl
✨️...Because sometimes confronting who we are can be terrifying...
THE GEMINI ROSE by Jason A. Jones
✨️...truly creepy poem with strong gothic vibes. A cat and her girl who lives in the attic with twin cravings...hell yes!...
CRUSTY'S PENNY ARCADE by Willie R. Heredia
✨️...people actually do come out of that old man's arcade...right?! 😱... whata a twist!...
IT CAME FROM BROKEN HEART BAY by Christopher Robertson
✨️...story telling without bounds, because the heart knows no bounds. Great effing storytelling, exactly what I'd expect from a Robertson story 🔥....
SCHADENFREUDE by David Royce
✨️...do you really know how that person next to you feels? After this read you'll question that...
THAT BLISSFUL DARKNESS by Gillian Church
✨️...amazing use of language to give us the inner thoughts of a perfectionist. Always wondered what they think of me 🤣 just kidding...kinda...really freaking excellent read. Super dark!...
THE RESTLESS ONES by Skye Myers
✨️...ok, I have to get a book by Skye, like NOW. This story was excellent. Think: scary "mean girls" and a ouiji board...
ROT by Nikki Kossaris
✨️...I've totally thought some similar thoughts as the MC. "Is she being low key snarky with her posts at me?" And this MC may be concocting a most disturbing plan for just desserts...can't wait for more from Kossaris...
DAUGHTER OF THE LAKE by Jasmine de la Paz
✨️...highly imaginative, visually disturbing imagery-as well as beautiful-this is an author I also need to catch up on RN.
Ok, so obviously you need this one! Go get yourself a copy 🔥
Here are the stories I'm still thinking about~
THE LABRYNTH OF LOATHING by R.E. Sohl
✨️...Because sometimes confronting who we are can be terrifying...
THE GEMINI ROSE by Jason A. Jones
✨️...truly creepy poem with strong gothic vibes. A cat and her girl who lives in the attic with twin cravings...hell yes!...
CRUSTY'S PENNY ARCADE by Willie R. Heredia
✨️...people actually do come out of that old man's arcade...right?! 😱... whata a twist!...
IT CAME FROM BROKEN HEART BAY by Christopher Robertson
✨️...story telling without bounds, because the heart knows no bounds. Great effing storytelling, exactly what I'd expect from a Robertson story 🔥....
SCHADENFREUDE by David Royce
✨️...do you really know how that person next to you feels? After this read you'll question that...
THAT BLISSFUL DARKNESS by Gillian Church
✨️...amazing use of language to give us the inner thoughts of a perfectionist. Always wondered what they think of me 🤣 just kidding...kinda...really freaking excellent read. Super dark!...
THE RESTLESS ONES by Skye Myers
✨️...ok, I have to get a book by Skye, like NOW. This story was excellent. Think: scary "mean girls" and a ouiji board...
ROT by Nikki Kossaris
✨️...I've totally thought some similar thoughts as the MC. "Is she being low key snarky with her posts at me?" And this MC may be concocting a most disturbing plan for just desserts...can't wait for more from Kossaris...
DAUGHTER OF THE LAKE by Jasmine de la Paz
✨️...highly imaginative, visually disturbing imagery-as well as beautiful-this is an author I also need to catch up on RN.
Ok, so obviously you need this one! Go get yourself a copy 🔥
February 18, 2024
This zodiac theme anthology featured a very diverse breadth of stories and poems. I would say this was more diverse than the first volume, with lots of very unique pieces and writing styles.
Some of my favourites were:
The Labyrinth of Loathing by R.E. Sohl - such an interesting take on the tale of the minotaur of Minos.
Schadenfreude by David Royce
All Eyes on You by Torrence Bryan
Perfection by Jena Glover
Steak Knife by David Washburn
Rot by Nikki Kossaris - simple yet powerful, I really enjoyed this one. It was like a reverse "Bliss" by Kathrine Mansfiled
Sea of Grief by Loki Dewitt
Pisces Iscariot by Wendy Dalrymple
Fishcake by Alice Stone - very unique writing that made this piece quite an interesting read
Some of my favourites were:
The Labyrinth of Loathing by R.E. Sohl - such an interesting take on the tale of the minotaur of Minos.
Schadenfreude by David Royce
All Eyes on You by Torrence Bryan
Perfection by Jena Glover
Steak Knife by David Washburn
Rot by Nikki Kossaris - simple yet powerful, I really enjoyed this one. It was like a reverse "Bliss" by Kathrine Mansfiled
Sea of Grief by Loki Dewitt
Pisces Iscariot by Wendy Dalrymple
Fishcake by Alice Stone - very unique writing that made this piece quite an interesting read
July 21, 2023
HorrorScope: A Zodiac Anthology Vol 2 is a wonderful horror anthology filled with several poems and short stories that explore the signs of the Western Zodiac in a multitude of ways. These pieces are cleverly done, and I’m certain everyone who picks it up will find a gem they will treasure. H. Everend has done a wonderful job with compiling works from multiple authors into these anthologies. It’s fun to find baby authors as well as more seasoned authors. The variety in voices ensures you will be terrified and horrified by the end. As with the first volume, you don’t even have to believe in horoscopes to enjoy the collection.
January 21, 2024
Again like the first book I liked some stories more than others but I was completely entertained and a lot of the stories kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to read more.
😱 OMG!!! This book contains a story I was looking forward to reading that was written by Chaz Williams (Nobody Gets Me Like You) that I must say is a Master Piece. He writes so freaking good that I MUST read more of his work like ASAP!!!
Overall I liked the book. There are authors I would loved to read more of so I will definitely be looking into it.
😱 OMG!!! This book contains a story I was looking forward to reading that was written by Chaz Williams (Nobody Gets Me Like You) that I must say is a Master Piece. He writes so freaking good that I MUST read more of his work like ASAP!!!
Overall I liked the book. There are authors I would loved to read more of so I will definitely be looking into it.
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