The Nightmare Box and Other Stories

by Cynthia Gómez

A young queer man finds love at a magical clothing shop—and the courage to stand up to the homophobic cops. A witch who makes custom nightmares wonders why all her victims are connected to the Black Panthers—and who she's really working for. A soon-to-be father encounters a mysterious hitchhiker who tries pulling him back to the days of his violent past. A brand-new vampire, freshly hired at the blood bank, delights in her heightened sexual desire and superhuman strength.

Cynthia Gómez's debut collection is a magic-soaked love letter to Oakland, brimming with feminist rage. Its twelve stories center ordinary people—Latine, queer, working class-as they wield supernatural powers against oppression, loneliness, and dread.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Queer, Fiction, Fantasy, LGBT, Anthologies

256 pages, Paperback

Published July 9, 2024

Reviews

[Alyson Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve stories centre ordinary people—Latine, queer, working class-as they wield supernatural powers against oppression, loneliness, and dread. This is the tagline for this imaginatively written anthology that deals with powerful human emotions in a sometimes supernatural way. Certain stories that will stick with me;
A kiss to build a dream on
Will they disappear
The nightmare box
Sure to be a hidden gem upon publication. This author mastifully creates these worlds in such a short format.
I received an advance review copy for free from booksirens.com, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mother Suspiria]

THE NIGHTMARE BOX is filled with rage but also reflection. It contains horrors AND hope. It's incensing, but inspiring: Cynthia Gomez has masterfully blended the tragic truths of Reality with her imagination to create powerful, unique stories that vibrate with urgency, and the voices of all denied equity.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are forthright stories that don’t coddle the reader by over-explaining. It was a thrill to be trusted by the author and a sign of Gómez’s confidence. The title story is great, but “Will They Disappear,” “The Road out of Nowhere,” and “Someone Else’s to Destroy” really gutted me emotionally. I’d be happy to read more of her work.

[Briann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is filled with creative zealous and genius. It is a great book to read, and it keeps you guessing and thinking. I highly recommend reading. While all of the stories were wonderful, “Will They Disappear” and “Someone Else’s to Destroy” were truly heartbreaking and will stay with me for a long time.

“Lips Like Sugar” – 4 Stars – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A Kiss to Build a Dream on” – 4 Stars – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The Nightmare Box” – 4 Stars – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Will They Disappear” – 5 Stars – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The Road out of Nowhere” – 3.5 Stars – ⭐⭐⭐✨
“Huitzol and the Rope of Thorns” – 4 Stars – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The Teacher’s Association” – 3 Stars – ⭐⭐⭐
“The Weight of It” – 3 Stars – ⭐⭐⭐
“Red Brick” – 3 Stars – ⭐⭐⭐
“Someone Else’s to Destroy” – 5 Stars – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The Unburied” – 3 Stars – ⭐⭐⭐
“Hot and Cold” – 2 Stars – ⭐⭐

[Paul Pritchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nightmare Box and Other Stories by Cynthia Gomez is a collection of haunting tales about people who live on society's margins and then stumble into a twilight world where things are not as they seem.
The stories, written with a deep understanding of the lives of the dispossessed, are imbued with a sympathy that does not collapse into mawkishness.
The titular story, "The Nightmare Box," nicely encapsulates the themes found throughout this collection.
If you've read this far, thank you for your time. Now, please buy the book and support this author.

[Keely · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories in The Nightmare Box are like Twilight Zone episodes with a 21st-century social-justice agenda. Supernatural horror elements such as ghosts, gods, vampires, and pernicious plants are used to place power in the hands of marginalized people. The ghost of a man killed in an ICE raid haunts the agent who chased him into the path of a van. A mother who has seen one too many Black men killed by police discovers an uncanny way to keep her own young sons from ever being targeted. A man grieving the murder of his friend picks up an eerie hitchhiker who seems to understand his desire for revenge. And more…

Loved this! I picked up The Nightmare Box on the recommendation of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, who mentioned it in a library book talk, and it did not disappoint. I appreciated that these are psychological horror stories—not at all gory. Violent things do happen, but either the narration minimizes the gore, or else they happen offstage. The strongest stories are in the middle of the book, but the collection is solid throughout. My favorites include “Red Brick,” “Someone Else’s to Destroy,” “Huitzol and the Rope of Thorns,” and “Will They Disappear.” I liked this collection enough that I decided to invest in a few more short-story collections from Cursed Morsels Press.

[Erin Crane · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up. I was enjoying this at the start but got increasingly bored. The stories often don’t do much, horror or otherwise so they just meander for too long. They definitely lean literary, which is fine, but I’m looking for more consistently sharp, fresh stuff and this just wasn’t it. They were also often too didactic for my taste. I would recommend instead The Houseguest by Aparo Davila, Through the Night Like a Snake, or How It Works Out by Myriam Lacroix.

Memorable ones from this collection:
A Kiss to Build a Dream On: Gay man finds safety in a store that is always there when he needs it.
The Nightmare Box: Young woman realizes her powers are being exploited for systemic wrongs and finds a way to fight back.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A newly-fanged vampire gets revenge on a workplace sexual abuser. Racist cops get it from a trickster god brought to life by a fiction writer. A biracial activist mother finds a way to protect her Black children in a world determined to see them killed or jailed for mistakes all children often make. Plus so much more.

This was such an excellent collection where working-class heroes and marginalized individuals get the justice they deserve through supernatural means. Exactly the sort of thing we need to see more of at a time like this, to give hope and solace to those fearing the rise in hate speech and hate crimes. To those who have learned to live with ghosts, "But what about the ghosts that I know are coming?" ("Huitzol and the Rope of Thorns").

It was a refreshing bunch of great back to back weird fiction/horror stories with characters who meet ugly circumstances in the mundane world, but access the super-mundane to have at least some kind of satisfaction from the tragedies they suffered, and have had to see others suffer.

Speaking of, the characters were all really solid and had a weight to them; they were full of information and they felt like real people. Gómez makes it easy to sink into these little worlds and walk amongst them.

Finally, starting with a vampire story was so the move, because I can't resist a good vampire tale, and this one pulls you in right away, like all the dark beauties here. And they don't let go.

Favorite stories:
- A Kiss to Build a Dream on
- Will They Disappear
- Huitzol and the Rope of Thorns
- Someone Else's to Destroy

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Gyalten Lekden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stellar collection manages to play with every emotion, excavating what it means to be human in a world sometimes bereft of humanity. I wouldn’t categorize this collection as “horror,” though it definitely explores the horrific, using a lens of magical realism to confront violence and oppression, including some stories that are inspired by specific acts of real-world brutality. Each story is well-crafted and well-paced, never over-staying its welcome but always with a definite sense of space and style. The characters are rich and complicated, and even though we only get a short time with each they fill out their stories with untold histories that make them robust and genuine; none feel like caricatures or matters of convenience. These stories explore the depth of the human experience, from trauma to ecstasy, from guilt to redemption, from loneliness to devotion.

Not all of the stories feel wholly original, which is to say some feel like expected reactionary art that is defiantly facing specific instances of oppression. But I think that experience of familiarity is because those stories are sandwiched between other stories that stand out in their originality and unique voice. It is more a case of an abundance of riches than a dearth of creativity. Every story hits, for me; it is a no-skip record all the way. Even those stories that feel less original are still telling compelling narratives in important, creative ways, and they leave me feeling richer for having experienced them.

For all the terrors found in this nightmare box, these stories leave me feeling emboldened and empowered. They are fearless and provocative, and I highly recommend them and look forward to experiencing anything else Cynthia Gómez writes.

I want to thank the author, the publisher Cursed Morsels Press, and BookSirens, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brian Mcclain · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very solid collection of stories that are from the perspective of the "other" as they use supernatural abilities to fight against systemic and personal issues in their lives.

The author does a great job of setting up power structures and then allowing the individuals who would normally be at the negative side of that to explore what they would do with the ability to get out from under those situations.

Highly recommended.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved these strange, uncanny stories. Gómez has a knack for weaving together strange concepts with historical events and social commentary in very compelling ways. Some highlights for me: "A Kiss to Build a Dream On," "Will They Disappear," "Someone Else's To Destroy," and "Hot and Cold." What an excellent debut collection.

[Deanna Hardesty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone else described this as not horror, but didactic magical realism, and I’m inclined to agree. Some good stories, others that get so close to saying something but don’t quite get there.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me gustaron mucho estas historias, muy poco convencionales y dirigidas a temas actuales con un giro paranormal. Muy recomendable, muy de miedo.

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very strong collection from a tremendous voice.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher Cursed Morsels Press in exchange for an honest review.

This short story collection is a magical and oftentimes wonderful trip into the lives of marginalized people often facing oppression and sometimes fighting back. Sometimes supernatural powers were on their side, sometimes they were on someone else's, but often the horror of it was palpable. I also adored that even though the stories span a wide variety of stories dealing with supernatural experiences (from zombies to hauntings to magic clothstores that only appear when you need them and so much more), the stories felt connected, particularly due to the choices of characters (often latino, often lower class, often marginalized in other ways as well, often menaced by the goverment/conservatives/racists/the all to real everyday evil of this world), but also because themes of racism and classism were always playing an important role. Many of the stories left me moved, some angry, some sad, some relieved and comforted. My favorites were the titular Nightmare Box, Will They Disappear, Huitzol and the Rope of Thorns, The Teacher's Association, Someone Else's to Destroy, The Unburied and Hot and Cold. All in all this is a short story collection I enjoyed a lot and can definitely recommend to anybody looking for "comforting" horror from a marginalized perspective, fighting the often too real horror of oppression with some comeupance of the supernatural variety.

I've included some notes on each short story here as well as trigger warnings (although they are also provided in the book itself), so spoilers ahead!

Lips Like Sugar: bisexual Latina vampire getting used to her new existence in the face of abusive supervisors, capitalism and constant hunger, fun but nothing groundbreaking for vampire literature unfortunately, tw: workplace sexual harassment

A Kiss to Build a Dream On: dapper clothing store that saves the life of a drag queen through magic and queer rage, incredibly hopeful and sweet, this was a story I very much enjoyed and would like to read more off, tw: homophobia, police brutality

The Nightmare Box: A really good short story about a woman who finds out her nightmare inducing powers are being used to take out members of the black panther party and she comes to a decision what to do about it, filled with creeping dread & very dark and very fun. As I said one of my absolute favorites. Tw: death, drugs, suicide, involuntary confinement, death by fire, child death

Will They Disappear: A tense and interesting story based on the Hart tragedy, with a magic twist to change the ending, one of the stories that left me reeling once I connected it to the real life events, heartbreaking, but really interesting as well, tw: child abuse, neglect, corporeal punishment, white adoptive family abusing adopted children of color, attempted murder, drugging, starving

The Road out of Nowhere: A young man travels home and passes by the bar where a friend of his was beaten to death and stops despite his wife's warnings, haunting and heartbreaking, tw: police brutality, racist language, murder, grief

Huitzol and the Rope of Thorns: A writer summons the god he created to protect himself from police brutality when he is stopped by a patrol on his way home, tense and really fun!!!!! tw: police brutality

The Teacher's Association: A teacher starts a new job after a traumatic event at her last school, but something is very wrong at her new work place, sooooo creepy and tense in the best of ways, I would like more from this story as well because I enjoyed it so much, tw: gun violence, child death, mind control

The Weight of It: A woman seeking revenge for the death of her dog leads to a haunting gone incredible wrong, creepy and full of dread, tw: animal harm, self-sacrifice

Red Brick: A immigration officer haunted by his past, fun ghost story, tw: law enforcement violence, racist language

Someone Else's to Destroy: A latina mother takes drastic measures to ensure her black sons will never become a victim of police brutality, sooooo fucked up but heartbreaking, tw: police brutality, racist language, antiblack racism, child murder

The Unburied: The Overseer of a big building project faces a difficult decision: Awknowledge the find of some potentially important artifact or get rid of it? He'll come to realize that choosing money might cost him everything. A really fun twist on a Native American burial ground horror, tw: alcoholism

Hot and Cold: A zombie story that starts at night, catching those that cannot hide inside their homes first, interesting and I liked the characters a lot, tw: death

[Timy · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Nightmare Box and Other Stories" presents a diverse array of societal dilemmas, ranging from the deceptive façade of online perfection to the stark realities within the foster care system. Through its narratives, the collection confronts issues such as the mistreatment of marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color, as well as instances of police brutality, drawing inspiration from real-world events.

The anthology is commendable for its unflinching exploration of pressing social concerns. It fearlessly tackles uncomfortable subjects, offering readers an unfiltered glimpse into the complexities of contemporary life. However, amidst its thematic richness, there are certain aspects that detract from the overall reading experience.

In recent literary trends, the inclusion of queer and racially diverse characters has become commonplace. I feel like in order to be accepted by the readers, writers feel pressured to pepper these details, just to be politically correct. So naturally, I`ve developed a sixth sense when it comes to people that REALLY need and use properly these details in their books and people that want to seem interested in deep topics and in defending minorities, just because it sells. While representation is undoubtedly crucial and some stories were based on racial or queer matters, "The Nightmare Box" occasionally succumbs to tokenism, with some characters feeling inserted for the sake of diversity rather than contributing meaningfully to the narrative. This tendency may distract from the storytelling and dilute the impact of the themes explored.

Furthermore, the pacing of certain narratives within the collection was inconsistent, at times lacking the depth necessary to justify their length and at others, failing to effectively utilize the brevity expected of short fiction. Moreover, descriptive passages occasionally skirted around the focal point, leaving readers grappling with a sense of aimlessness, and, in some instances, prompting a sense of personal achievement upon completing the story. However, amidst these shortcomings, there are instances of promise, particularly in tales such as the one featuring the girl with the enigmatic ability to make objects vanish. I quite enjoyed it and the next three ones.

One of the most significant disappointments for me was the disparity between the book's premise and its execution. While marketed as horror, "The Nightmare Box" leans more towards mystery (and, sometimes, not even that), falling short of the eerie atmosphere anticipated by readers. While mystery has its merits, this disparity may disappoint those seeking a more overtly chilling experience.

In summary, "The Nightmare Box and Other Stories" offers a commendable exploration of societal issues but is marred by occasional tokenism, pacing discrepancies, and a divergence from genre expectations. While it may appeal to readers interested in socially conscious narratives, others seeking a more tightly crafted and genre-aligned collection may find it lacking. I give it 2.5 stars🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑 (or moons, can`t find the half-star emoji).

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up.

The Nightmare Box and Other Stories is a collection of shorts with a wonderful diverse cast, exploring topics of racism, sexuality, police brutality, abuse and many more that can be deemed modern horrors in today's society.

If I'm being fully transparent, I did not enjoy this collection as much as I hoped to. This novel was labelled as a horror collection, yet I don't think it fit that description at all. This collection was more mystery/thriller, fantasy. I was disappointed at the inaccurate labeling of genre because I went in as a fan of horror expecting to get just that, horror.

A lot of the stories struggled with coherence. and pacing. Often times, I was very confused when finishing a story, wondering, what was the overall idea that the author was going for. Sometimes there was a lack of information around a certain short, or sometimes too much information on unnecessary facts within a story. I felt some stories presented a little messy and left the reader confused. With stories of magical elements, or gods and mystery, worldbuilding is extremely important, and authors need to remember that these worlds are new experiences for these readers. Information and details are important, but too many details and information is also not an enjoyable read. I felt like readers can easily get lost and confused with some stories that have a magical or supernatural element in this collection unfortunately.

I wanted to love this collection, a lot of the stories have amazing ideas and would create incredible tales if fleshed out or defined further. I often times felt like there was too much emphasis on making every story inclusive and diverse, which often took away from the story. I am all for literature, especially within horror, to be more diverse with characters of colour, genders, sexuality, as well as facing and discussing the issues these groups face within society, but it must not feel forced or over emphasised.

One story I loved from this collection was 'Will They Disappear' which was based on true events. I recognised this case very early on as I would have studied it in University, and I loved the route the author took. It was a beautiful take on such a tragic and horrific event and had a more happy and hopeful ending that those children deserved.

The characters were beautifully diverse and the topics and themes discussed focused on the true horrors and downfalls of today's society, which is often more terrifying than any fiction monster or ghost can be!

Thank you so much to BookSirens for and ARC of The Nightmare Box and Other Stories in exchange for a completely honest review.

[Ryan Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me Cynthia Gómez's short story collection stands out as a compelling and thought-provoking read I loved it. I draw favourable comparisons to Stephen King's works, in the sense that she brings West Coast locations to life as SK does Maine for my imagination. She reaches and even surpasses the same level of enjoyment that SK stirs in me for his best short stories [no mean feat as he is one of my very favourite authors.] In fact I would say that she is arguably more deft in her telling than SK [personal view and again only because some of his tropes are familiar by now]. A story I liked was 'Someone Else's to Destroy' though protracted I found rewarding. The collection brought California alive to me, overall its the collection's different subversive themes and witty storytelling that I like. I read some of them collected here on Luna Station [website] and I was primed to dive into the rest. In summary I grant that her collection offers a fresh perspective on the genre espcially as some of the tropes are very worn out. For example there is a vampire story 'Lips Like Sugar' that is the one of best of the bunch. However in context it is a fact that unfortunately these days vampire stories are ten a penny [so I usually skip them these days] the fact she makes this story [to me any way] feel like a fresh take is to her credit it is literally blood brilliant! Her collection leaps the boundaries on race, [There is a 1970's story in particular that really resonated about race for me] class, sexuality, and gender in interesting ways [I am WASP and I love stories that take me out of my cultural head-space and upbringing] I really recommend this book it is a must-read for fans of dark humour, Gómez intertwines humour with the macabre, creating a distinctive atmosphere that challenges conventional storytelling styles. Fans of specially horrorific humour and strange literary fiction alike will LOVE this book. I received a
I received an advance review copy from BOOK SIRENS for an Honest review and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cavak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm actually dancing between three or four stars for this one. Overall I enjoyed my reading experience, so I went for the higher one.

The Nightmare Box and Other Stories is a collection of stories that views with contemporary issues episodes of supernatural vengeance. Rather than horrify or disgust me, the collection's true strengths relied on the issues/real life events each story was attempting to highlight. Sometimes being so on-the-nose about it, it would be an insult to say that the prejudices and crimes presented didn't exist and required addressing.

It's because of that that I let go of my early expectations of this book being a horror read. Just a fanciful mask for the messages.

That's why I'm slightly inclined to go with the higher rating this time around, for that boldness and transparency. Each story has a strong focus on them. It's refreshing to have these presented from an everyday character view, especially from a whole variety of characters. I appreciated the author's notes too, although I'd prefer them all at the end rather than right after a story.

Remarkably, the same reasons that I praise are also why I was inclined to go a little lower: the presentation. Narrative pacing felt rushed, and a few stories felt like they were dropped rather than ended. Every story may feature a different character view, yet their voices sounded strikingly similar to each other over time. Yes, it's an overall contemporary piece; of course they're going to be on their phones. It's just not what I expect every story to have. I'm not sure on the LGBTQIA representation either, as it's not as vulnerable and raw as the others aspired for.

The Nightmare Box and Other Stories is a strong work I'd recommend for younger audiences, especially if they're in their twenties or early thirties. I'd be curious to read more of Gómez's work.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Josh Buyarski · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many of these stories go back to the plight of the other, it’s a really great empathetic collection.

Lips like sugar-a new vampire is dealing with her transformation, a new job, and her heightened appetites

A kiss to build a dream on- a young gay man tries to navigate a world that does not want his kind or their bars. He receives some beautiful pieces of clothing that unexpectedly will help him from the homophobic police.

Nightmare Box- a woman makes a business of selling her services to have people haunted by their own nightmares. Though one employee tries to blackmail her.

Will they disappear-an orphan girl realizes that she has the power to make things disappear, she does get put into an abusive foster home. God it felt so bad knowing this was based in a true story.

The Road out of Nowhere- a man visits the site where his friend was killed and meets a mysterious stranger that gets the whole story from him.

Huitzol and the Rope of thorns- an artist comic book god comes to reality to do exactly what he does in the comics, protect from bad cops

Teachers association- the Faculty but from the point of view of a new teacher

The weight of it-ugh the terrible feeling of losing a dog is so well done in this story, it was a little hard to finish.

Red brick-a man is haunted by a stranger in a red shirt, that no one else can see and who isn’t that unknown to him.

Someone else’s to destroy- A story about not being accepted, even by your family, because of your differences and what Imani does to make sure her twins are safe.

The Unburied- This one felt like it was going the way of Poltergeist, but really it was about creating your own poltergeist, this one’s a stand out!

Hot and Cold- human like creatures disrupt the world trying to find warmth. Terry embraces what comes next with Elle’s help.

[Books For Decaying Millennials · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notes From a Decaying Millennial :

I received an ARC of This book from the publisher Cursed Morsels , in exchange for an open and honest review.

THIS IS NOT A PAID REVIEW
-

Short story collections have been a favorite of mine since childhood. Whether Anthologies showcasing different authors, or a collection from a single writer. Short Story collections always promised a variety for the readers palette. With The Nightmare Box and Other Stories , author Cynthia Gómez delivers on that promise. Nightmare Box offers the reader a series of stories, like individually wrapped candy. You won't know what they are like until you taste each one. Each of the stories presented in this collection have been published elsewhere, but brought together they have a lasting impact on the reader. These are stories that the reader will come back to, re-read and want to discuss. You're heart will be broken, the fires of Rage and Pain stoked bright. Gomez resides in Oakland, and spirit and energy of the bay area are infused into these stories. As someone who lived there in the not so distant past, this book took me back there. Lack of Bay Area lived experience will not preclude the reader from enjoying, being moved by, and feeling terror from Gomez's book. On the contrary, each tale will resonate with a wide and diverse audience. Some readers will find these stories give voice to their own lived experiences. For some of us, these stories are here for us to enjoy, be moved by, and be witness to. Individually, these stories carry a spark and will effect the reader. By bringing them together, in my opinion, Gomez has captured lighting. Captured it, and locked it into The Nightmare Box. It's up to us, as readers, to lift the lid and see what springs forth.

[Sazerina Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was utterly mesmerized by Cynthia Gómez's "The Nightmare Box and Other Stories." Each story in this collection pulled on threads of thought, leaving me lost in beautifully articulated locations in and around Oakland. The vivid, magic-soaked tales were not just enchanting; they were deeply moving and thought-provoking.

What struck me most was discovering that some of these stories were based on real events. This revelation made the narratives even more powerful, serving as a stark reminder of the depravity and callousness humans are sometimes capable of. These particular stories pulled me in and will stay with me long after finishing the book.

Gómez's approach is fearless. She went in with the gloves off and kept them off, each "kiss" from this self-professed "love letter" to Oakland washing over me with a mix of wonder and gratitude. The collection opened my eyes and made me thankful for the resilience and strength depicted in these characters.

The stories of a young queer man finding love and courage, a witch unraveling connections to the Black Panthers, a soon-to-be father confronting his violent past, and a brand-new vampire reveling in her newfound powers were each captivating in their own right. Gómez's ability to blend the supernatural with the everyday struggles of ordinary people—Latine, queer, working class—was nothing short of brilliant.

I didn't even know I needed to read this book, but I'm so glad I did. "The Nightmare Box and Other Stories" is a magic-soaked, feminist-rage-filled collection that celebrates the extraordinary within the ordinary. Gómez's collection is a triumph, and I eagerly await whatever she writes next. This book is a must-read for anyone looking for stories that challenge, enchant, and resonate on a profound level.

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the free advance review copy, which I’m reviewing voluntarily.

Anthologies aren’t usually my thing. I tend to prefer longer stories so I can get attached to the characters. I needn’t be worried about that. In just the few pages of each short story, Cynthia Gómez gets you to connect with the characters, each one unique in their qualities, flaws, and voice. You’ll find yourself rooting for them, worrying about them, and sighing at their bad choices. In a few lines, you’ll be just as caught up in the mystery, the fear and the suspense as they are.

Every story focuses on important issues through the lens of magic and horror. From misogyny, to racism, to queerphobia, to classism, and the intersections between them; from the little things and microaggressions to the systemic problems and their deadly consequences. As far as I can tell, this comes from the hand of someone not only deeply concerned about these issues, but also who knows them well. And yet, it never felt like I was being preached to. These are just the magical stories of people – Black, Latine, queer people – and how those identities (and the oppression associated with them) cannot dissociated from who they are.

In anthologies, it’s common (almost expected, really), that not all stories are on the same level: a few are great, some are good, and others are not so good. That’s not case here. Gómez delivers consistent, excellent quality in every story. Although I have my favorites, there’s not a single miss. Twelve stories, twelve great reads.

[Trevor Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Nightmare Box and Other Stories is some of the most utopian fiction I've had the privilege of reading. That's an odd thing to say about what is ostensibly a collection of horror, but Gómez centers elements of hope in nearly every story, positioning her working class and ordinary characters in situations where they might beat the odds, overcome systemic oppression, and find authority and agency for themselves along the way.

Not every story manages to find a positive outcome, but Gómez's focus is often on real-world problems and writes with convincing and cathartic rage. What characterizes her fiction is always a will to fight, to point out systems of oppression and to give her characters a way to fight back--or to empower her readers with the discernment to think of how they might fight back in their own instances. This collection is steeped in historical precedent, but imagined with that continuous longing for something better, a life and a society with greater equity.

The greatest compliment I can give this collection is that it is remarkably consistent, deliberate and mindful in its message, and both powerful and empowering in a time when we need art to be both things.

Disclosure statement: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher via BookSirens for review. All opinions shared are entirely my own and have not been influenced by the author or the publisher in any way.

[Tig Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy for free via BookSirens and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

This is a generous collection of stories and as can only be expected, some are better than others. However, on the whole this is an above average offering by an author that's new to me but whose work I will be seeking out in future. There's a lot of originality in these stories and I appreciate that some are lighter in tone and quite funny despite their dark narrative. The ones I enjoyed least were "Someone Else's to Destroy which I found too protracted and rather dull and "Hot and cold" which made no sense to me at all; though I was very tired when reading it so the fault could be mine. A couple of others are slightly pedestrian but most are clever, original and very well written. My favourite is probably "Huitzol and the Rope of Thorns" which despite its very serious message is really funny. I absolutely loved the interaction between Roberto and Huitzol and it would make a perfect film adaptation in a series along the lines of the classic "Twighlight Zone" which is indeed the case of many of the stories here. The writing in most of the stories is atmospheric and draws the reader in quickly. Well above average read

[Marielle Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's it. I have found it. The absolute BEST BOOK I've read all year. That's no small task considering this is book #33 that I've finished off this year. But this wins the title by a mile, followed closely by The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson that I just reviewed a short time ago. This wins though for almost every story being absolutely amazing and hitting it out of the park with characterization, vivid descriptions, and plots that kept me happily munching away as I chewed my way through each story. I took my time mainly because I didn't want to get to the ending of the actual book itself too quickly, instead savoring each tale.

There was one or two that were a little weaker than the rest but that's just the perils of creating a short story collection to begin with. For the most part, this read like a modern day version of The Twilight Zone, where the protagonists are queer, Latino, and working class as the book description says. The titular "The Nightmare Box" was a standout for me and after I finished it was about the time that I really started to fall in love with the book. I checked this one out from the library I worked at and now I want to get my own personal copy just so I can reread it whenever I want until it literally falls apart.

[RecycledWords · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Nightmare Box and Other Stories, Gómez offers the reader several short horror stories, some inspired by real life crimes.
A key theme in all of the stories is that the main characters are in some way marginalised. Gómez presents these characters as strong, passionate individuals unwilling to accept the discriminations they face. Each individual narrator provides insight into their specific personal and societal challenges and the reader can't help but feel moved.
The surreal elements of the stories allow Gómez to provide instant problems or solutions to each tale. I challenge any reader not to feel compelled to help work towards real world solutions to the moral dilemmas Gómez highlights in this collection.
Throughout the book, I felt strongly connected to the characters and the endings to each story provided deep satisfaction, despite some being quite macabre. I would absolutely recommend this collection of short stories to anyone who enjoys contemporary horror or true crime and wants a fairer world for everyone.

I received a free advance copy eBook from BookSirens. All opinions are my own.

[Corrine Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wildly compelling collection of dark stories. Gomez captures a wide rage of diverse marginalized voices and explores themes of police brutality, hemophilia, sexism, classism etc. There is genuine rage and sense of injustice that leaps off the page with these characters and it seems Gomez utilizes the surreal elements in these stories to give her characters a fighting chance in a world that's out to get them. This stand out in a bit of a heartbreaking way for the stories based on real events like "Will They Disappear" which explores the abuse inflicted upon a group of foster children with sprinkle of Matilda like powers. Huitzol and the Rope of Thorns was possibly my favorite in a similar way as this entity in the form of a doll is summoned to protect the narrator from police violence.

While the magical realism perhaps offers a bit of levity to the dark reality we face, the stories maintain a sense of haunting and demand to be devoured but digested slowly because there is so much beyond the surface to unpack.


Arc received from BookSirens

[adelaide :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes bordering the supernatural but always rooted in reality, "The Nightmare Box And Other Stories" brilliantly encompasses the experience of living as a marginalized person in the United States. Many of the main characters in this collection use their encounters with sinister, other-worldly horrors to their advantage, confronting racism, homophobia, and classism head-on. Because of this, Gómez is able to write about such difficult topics without the stories being bleak. From police brutality to performative activism, this collection offers a bit of closure for anyone who lives in a country in which justice is not always served.

As is the case with many of the short story collections I've read, the stories themselves were pretty hit-or-miss. With each story, I'd often find that I would be completely enamored by the plot, but I wouldn't find the characters compelling, or vice versa. Because of this, most of the stories failed to resonate with me. Still, there were a couple that really stuck with me, these being Will They Disappear and Someone Else's to Destroy. I enjoyed this collection as a whole, and I look forward to what Gómez writes in the future.

Thank you to BookSirens and Cursed Morsels Press for sending me a free ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[DesanaRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading "The Nightmare Box and Other Stories" by Cynthia Gómez, and I was blown away. This collection is packed with stories where working-class heroes and marginalized folks get the justice they deserve, often through supernatural means. The blend of magical realism and social commentary is spot on, making each tale feel both fantastical and deeply real.

Gómez’s characters feel like real people, rich with history and emotion. From a newly-turned vampire getting back at a workplace predator to a biracial mom finding ways to protect her kids in a harsh world, every story hits home. The mix of horror, magical realism, and sharp social critique makes this a must-read.

Each story is fast paced, and easy to enjoy. Whether it's the creepy, or the uncanny.

This book is an empowering, thought-provoking read that left me feeling both amazed and reflective. Highly recommended for anyone looking for something that challenges and resonates deeply. Can't wait to read more from Gómez