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We're Not Ourselves Today
PREPARE TO BE DEWEY-DECIMATED!
The grisly, green-skinned Librarian from Kandisha Press returns, presenting thirteen pulp horror tales by the Mavens of the Macabre, Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi. Stories filled with razor-sharp teeth and buckets of blood and popcorn. Some old, some new, ALL terrifying! Continuing Kandisha's mission to promote women horror authors worldwide!
- A pregnant woman receives a mysterious letter addressed to her unborn child. Will the contents spell her doom?
- A petty thief steals a cursed wallet, and must keep it full at all costs
- When Dakota meets her doppelganger, she is determined to break the ice
- Formed from the bad things people throw away, a demon terrorizes a garbage dump
- A master chef cooks up gourmet cuisine you'd never want to eat
- A bullied teenager's day on the lake ends in bloody revenge
- Murderous humanoid frogs have taken over the country. Resist them and you'll croak!
And more inside! Hurry now and order your copy... we wouldn't want to charge you any LATE FEES!
ADVANCE PRAISE FOR WE'RE NOT OURSELVES TODAY:
“For a shrieking good time with old-school movie vibes, We’re Not Ourselves Today, is all that and more. Strong leads, feminine horror, creatures, cryptids and terror galore, Lydia Prime and Jill Giradi hit a home run with this collection straight out of the paperbacks from hell era!” – Candace Nola, author of Bishop & Desperate Wishes
"Looking through Girardi’s Americana gothica lens and ardent love for Malaysia, paired with Prime’s brazen descriptors of how someone can be decimated, you’ll see the world through cracked glass, forcing yourself to question if you truly feel like yourself today." - Author/Editor Patrick R. McDonough
"We're Not Ourselves Today by Lydia Prime & Jill Girardi melted my freakin' face off! Yeah, it is that good. Its gruesome brutality, non-stop tension, and occasional humor makes for one undeniable anthology." - Daemon Manx, author of The Ojanox Series, Abigail, and Manx-iety
"We're Not Ourselves Today is a one-two punch from Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi. Alternating back and forth with wonderful slices of depravity to satisfy your horror needs. From cooking shows to killer frogs, I was happily enthralled the entire time. Fantastic." - M Ennenbach, author of Cuckoo
"Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi are horror's new dreamers of the dark fantastic, spinning prose that forces you to keep the lights on long after you've put the book down." - Brandon Scott, author of the Vodou Series
"Dirty deeds, dark humour, buckets of gore, vile creatures – and human beings who are even worse – populate this splendid two-woman collection from rock goddesses of horror Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi. Each of the thirteen stories conjures up its own little universe of unspeakable terrors, darker and more twisted than the last. Characters you’d never want to meet but will never forget, and twists of fate that will leave you giddy, are testament to the extraordinary imaginations of their creators. These brilliant, vicious little tales will wrap their tentacles around you, sink their razor teeth into you, and refuse to let you go." - Anna Taborska, award-winning author of For Those Who Dream Monsters and Bloody Britain
“A sleek, dark and disturbing journey into terror, WE’RE NOT OURSELVES collects 13 macabre tales from the wonderfully twisted minds of Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi that are as much fun as they are unsettling. Take the ride, you’ll be glad you did!” —Greg F. Gifune, author of Smoke in Crimson
The grisly, green-skinned Librarian from Kandisha Press returns, presenting thirteen pulp horror tales by the Mavens of the Macabre, Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi. Stories filled with razor-sharp teeth and buckets of blood and popcorn. Some old, some new, ALL terrifying! Continuing Kandisha's mission to promote women horror authors worldwide!
- A pregnant woman receives a mysterious letter addressed to her unborn child. Will the contents spell her doom?
- A petty thief steals a cursed wallet, and must keep it full at all costs
- When Dakota meets her doppelganger, she is determined to break the ice
- Formed from the bad things people throw away, a demon terrorizes a garbage dump
- A master chef cooks up gourmet cuisine you'd never want to eat
- A bullied teenager's day on the lake ends in bloody revenge
- Murderous humanoid frogs have taken over the country. Resist them and you'll croak!
And more inside! Hurry now and order your copy... we wouldn't want to charge you any LATE FEES!
ADVANCE PRAISE FOR WE'RE NOT OURSELVES TODAY:
“For a shrieking good time with old-school movie vibes, We’re Not Ourselves Today, is all that and more. Strong leads, feminine horror, creatures, cryptids and terror galore, Lydia Prime and Jill Giradi hit a home run with this collection straight out of the paperbacks from hell era!” – Candace Nola, author of Bishop & Desperate Wishes
"Looking through Girardi’s Americana gothica lens and ardent love for Malaysia, paired with Prime’s brazen descriptors of how someone can be decimated, you’ll see the world through cracked glass, forcing yourself to question if you truly feel like yourself today." - Author/Editor Patrick R. McDonough
"We're Not Ourselves Today by Lydia Prime & Jill Girardi melted my freakin' face off! Yeah, it is that good. Its gruesome brutality, non-stop tension, and occasional humor makes for one undeniable anthology." - Daemon Manx, author of The Ojanox Series, Abigail, and Manx-iety
"We're Not Ourselves Today is a one-two punch from Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi. Alternating back and forth with wonderful slices of depravity to satisfy your horror needs. From cooking shows to killer frogs, I was happily enthralled the entire time. Fantastic." - M Ennenbach, author of Cuckoo
"Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi are horror's new dreamers of the dark fantastic, spinning prose that forces you to keep the lights on long after you've put the book down." - Brandon Scott, author of the Vodou Series
"Dirty deeds, dark humour, buckets of gore, vile creatures – and human beings who are even worse – populate this splendid two-woman collection from rock goddesses of horror Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi. Each of the thirteen stories conjures up its own little universe of unspeakable terrors, darker and more twisted than the last. Characters you’d never want to meet but will never forget, and twists of fate that will leave you giddy, are testament to the extraordinary imaginations of their creators. These brilliant, vicious little tales will wrap their tentacles around you, sink their razor teeth into you, and refuse to let you go." - Anna Taborska, award-winning author of For Those Who Dream Monsters and Bloody Britain
“A sleek, dark and disturbing journey into terror, WE’RE NOT OURSELVES collects 13 macabre tales from the wonderfully twisted minds of Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi that are as much fun as they are unsettling. Take the ride, you’ll be glad you did!” —Greg F. Gifune, author of Smoke in Crimson
262 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2024
10 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Jill Girardi
30 books95 followersJill Girardi is the internationally best-selling, award-nominated author of Hantu Macabre and the founder of Kandisha Press, a company dedicated to women horror authors from around the world. She loves writing darkly humorous creature features and still believes in twist endings. Find her on Instagram or Twitter @jill_girardi
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
March 19, 2024
Thanks to Kandisha Press for an advanced copy of this to review, happy release day to the book!
Morbidly punny from its first lines, the weekly hosted anthology vibes of this dual-author collection were entertaining and a fun throwback feel.
If I had to pick a "dead end job", Kandisha Press' dead - I mean Head Librarian would be one of my top choices. I've read two-author collabs on one story before, but a duo collection was neat, alternating between the writers' horror voices seamlessly. As varied as the stories were, they also all felt as if they belonged together here, the connecting sinew being a strong sense of belonging on a night of Elvira's Movie Macabre, filmed in full color with tons of fake blood, iffy prosthetics, and slime. The Head Librarian is a great trophy collector - I mean, story curator.
The collection starts with Lydia Prime's "The Letter", which sizzles with malice as a housewife's late-stage pregnancy discomfort becomes the least of her problems when a mysterious letter arrives. This story ran like one of the best-worst 80s B-movies in my mind, with plenty of body horror and fluids everywhere. Like a contemporary Grimm tale, it warns of the painful consequences of bureaucratic mixups.
I was totally surprised and delighted to find Malaysia, its settings and lore a common thread across Jill Girardi's stories. I need to pick up more of her work. The second story in the collection, Girardi's "The Ecstasy of Gold", was a fascinating, grungy test of morality for a young man in Kuala Lumpur; it includes the phrase "meat castle", an amazing adjective, and also, the similes in that story were vividly creative.
"South Dakota" by Prime was a wintry tale of doppelgangers that chilled me, and not just with its depictions of an icy landscape.
Girardi's "The Wet Dream" was one of those trainwrecks you see coming long before it happens, yet you can't look away; it was a cool drink of female vengeance on a hot day.
I found "Monster Mashed" by Prime one of the most unique takes on family suburban slice of life stories, pun fully intended.
And Girardi's "Hunger" was a chef's kiss of a story.
Perhaps my favorite was "The Roiling" by Jill Girardi. I'd read an entire novel of life in an amphibian-ruled dystopia, though I don't think the story's objective was to have me wishing for semiaquatic overlords to take over the current mess of a world we live in...
This was a delightful collection, each story horrifying in a way unique to a different one of the five senses, each one a potential film I'd race to the drive-in to watch. (though I might watch what snacks I chose, hmm...) If you like pulpy, gooey, gnarly horror, this is a perfect dose.
Morbidly punny from its first lines, the weekly hosted anthology vibes of this dual-author collection were entertaining and a fun throwback feel.
If I had to pick a "dead end job", Kandisha Press' dead - I mean Head Librarian would be one of my top choices. I've read two-author collabs on one story before, but a duo collection was neat, alternating between the writers' horror voices seamlessly. As varied as the stories were, they also all felt as if they belonged together here, the connecting sinew being a strong sense of belonging on a night of Elvira's Movie Macabre, filmed in full color with tons of fake blood, iffy prosthetics, and slime. The Head Librarian is a great trophy collector - I mean, story curator.
The collection starts with Lydia Prime's "The Letter", which sizzles with malice as a housewife's late-stage pregnancy discomfort becomes the least of her problems when a mysterious letter arrives. This story ran like one of the best-worst 80s B-movies in my mind, with plenty of body horror and fluids everywhere. Like a contemporary Grimm tale, it warns of the painful consequences of bureaucratic mixups.
I was totally surprised and delighted to find Malaysia, its settings and lore a common thread across Jill Girardi's stories. I need to pick up more of her work. The second story in the collection, Girardi's "The Ecstasy of Gold", was a fascinating, grungy test of morality for a young man in Kuala Lumpur; it includes the phrase "meat castle", an amazing adjective, and also, the similes in that story were vividly creative.
"South Dakota" by Prime was a wintry tale of doppelgangers that chilled me, and not just with its depictions of an icy landscape.
Girardi's "The Wet Dream" was one of those trainwrecks you see coming long before it happens, yet you can't look away; it was a cool drink of female vengeance on a hot day.
I found "Monster Mashed" by Prime one of the most unique takes on family suburban slice of life stories, pun fully intended.
And Girardi's "Hunger" was a chef's kiss of a story.
Perhaps my favorite was "The Roiling" by Jill Girardi. I'd read an entire novel of life in an amphibian-ruled dystopia, though I don't think the story's objective was to have me wishing for semiaquatic overlords to take over the current mess of a world we live in...
This was a delightful collection, each story horrifying in a way unique to a different one of the five senses, each one a potential film I'd race to the drive-in to watch. (though I might watch what snacks I chose, hmm...) If you like pulpy, gooey, gnarly horror, this is a perfect dose.
March 18, 2024
Were Not Ourselves Today is an anthology of 13 stories by Jill Girardi and Lydia Prime. The problem with some anthologies are there are a few good stories and a few bad ones. This book does not have that problem at all except for maybe one story these were all amazing, creepy, exciting and original.
The writing is very polished and each story is different from the next. I also loved how some of these are set in different locations from the norm such as Malaysia which is great to see.
You get a bit of everything hear from creatures, supernatural and everything in between.
My top 3 favourite of the bunch would have to be The Ecstasy of Gold, Lab Rats and Lunitation.
If you love short story collections this is a must read. Solid 4.5 stars. Plus can we just all appreciate how amazing that cover art is as well. Well done to the artist it's amazing.
The writing is very polished and each story is different from the next. I also loved how some of these are set in different locations from the norm such as Malaysia which is great to see.
You get a bit of everything hear from creatures, supernatural and everything in between.
My top 3 favourite of the bunch would have to be The Ecstasy of Gold, Lab Rats and Lunitation.
If you love short story collections this is a must read. Solid 4.5 stars. Plus can we just all appreciate how amazing that cover art is as well. Well done to the artist it's amazing.
February 19, 2024
I think I read this in record time, it was so fun and easy to read, an outstanding collection, I loved It!
First off, that cover is beautifully done, with just the right mix of horror, fun and sexy.
secondly, the Librarian character is so much fun, she reminds me of the crypt keeper, from Tales from the Crypt, and Elvira, I’d love to see more of her.
Now down to the actual stories, there is a really great mix of creatures and monsters, everything from the familiar werewolf to the more obscure like a garbage demon, and a wallet.
I loved the different combination of elements in each story, some are gory and fun, others are dark and brooding, this is a really solid collection, I liked all of the stories but my favourite stories would have to be;
“Lab Rats” a Grad student finds a special diet increases a rats intelligence; James Herbert would love this one.
“The Letter” A pregnant woman receives a mysterious letter address to her soon to be born child.
“The Ecstasy of the Gold” A petty thief steals a wallet and gets more than he bargains for.
“The Roiling” this is an invasion story.
If you loved watching Tales from the Crypt, and the Creepshow movies, like I did and still do, then you will love this book.
First off, that cover is beautifully done, with just the right mix of horror, fun and sexy.
secondly, the Librarian character is so much fun, she reminds me of the crypt keeper, from Tales from the Crypt, and Elvira, I’d love to see more of her.
Now down to the actual stories, there is a really great mix of creatures and monsters, everything from the familiar werewolf to the more obscure like a garbage demon, and a wallet.
I loved the different combination of elements in each story, some are gory and fun, others are dark and brooding, this is a really solid collection, I liked all of the stories but my favourite stories would have to be;
“Lab Rats” a Grad student finds a special diet increases a rats intelligence; James Herbert would love this one.
“The Letter” A pregnant woman receives a mysterious letter address to her soon to be born child.
“The Ecstasy of the Gold” A petty thief steals a wallet and gets more than he bargains for.
“The Roiling” this is an invasion story.
If you loved watching Tales from the Crypt, and the Creepshow movies, like I did and still do, then you will love this book.
March 15, 2024
Honestly, every time I read an anthology that Jill Girardi and kandisha press are involved with I end up enjoying immensely. We're not ourselves today is no exception. This collection is phenomenal. This book should come with a warning - you'll either hide under your bed from the monster's these two amazing writers have created, tissues for the emotion that the powerful stories emit and a barricade for your door.
Often with anthologies, the stories can be quite hit and miss, but there wasn't a bad story in this. I had such a genuinely good time with this book. I loved it. The author's know how to create characters you can fall for - especially difficult to achieve with shorter works of fiction. The author's with their crystal clear writing, transport you into a world of terrifying horror.
This is a book that is hard to put down. I know that phrase is thrown around a lot but this was really, really hard to put down. For one day, I forgot about the hoovering that needed doing, the washing that had piled up or the need to declutter my kids wardrobes. My kindle was welded to my hand. There was no putting it down until it was done.
Often with anthologies, the stories can be quite hit and miss, but there wasn't a bad story in this. I had such a genuinely good time with this book. I loved it. The author's know how to create characters you can fall for - especially difficult to achieve with shorter works of fiction. The author's with their crystal clear writing, transport you into a world of terrifying horror.
This is a book that is hard to put down. I know that phrase is thrown around a lot but this was really, really hard to put down. For one day, I forgot about the hoovering that needed doing, the washing that had piled up or the need to declutter my kids wardrobes. My kindle was welded to my hand. There was no putting it down until it was done.
June 23, 2024
Thirteen stories introduced by the green skinned librarian, Aisha. Lydia’s are gory, gothic and bloodsoaked. Jill’s are torturous, grim and have teeth.
A caller appears, a tasty encounter, Dakota makes a friend, in the garbage business, a TV dinner, jet ski poseur, a transformation, the amphibian invasion, the experiment, the feast, stalked, feeding time and rehabilitation.
A fantastic mix of horror genres, slasher, scifi, splatterpunk, gothic and creature. This was fun!
A caller appears, a tasty encounter, Dakota makes a friend, in the garbage business, a TV dinner, jet ski poseur, a transformation, the amphibian invasion, the experiment, the feast, stalked, feeding time and rehabilitation.
A fantastic mix of horror genres, slasher, scifi, splatterpunk, gothic and creature. This was fun!
April 11, 2024
Not a single story in this anthology left me feeling disappointed. Some of them combine humor with horror, such as "The Letter" and "Monster Mashed." Some of my favorites are "Little Piggy" and "The Garbage People." I would definitely recommend this anthology to readers who enjoy horror.
Read
February 10, 2024Kandisha Press just released We’re Not Ourselves Today, featuring 13 tales of short, speculative scares from the “demented minds” of the “Mavens of the Macabre,” Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi. These stories are “presented” by a green-skinned librarian and start with a letter to an unborn child and the grisly ramifications when his expectant momma opens it. Lots of blood and a bit of humor from Lydia Prime in this. From there, the stories alternate between Lydia and Jill. The Ecstasy of Gold by Jill Girardi reads like one of the Tales of the Arabian Nights and features a hungry wallet. In this collection, readers encounter a doppelganger, “garbage people,” endangered water supplies, cannibals, practical comeuppances, a wolf, doll, an invasion, a feast, a scary spot, lab rats, and rehab. My favorites were “The Wet Dream” and “Hunger” by Jill Girardi and “Little Pig” by Lydia Prime, but there’s much to consider in the 210 pages of this book.
July 31, 2024
An assortment of fun and gory stories with a very 'Tales from the Crypt' vibe.
June 17, 2024
Book Review ✨️
We're Not Ourselves Today By Lydia Prime & Jill Girardi 🤍
Rating ~ 5 Star's 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I am pretty happy I got this on Kindle Unlimited it was a good book that starts right off with a bang ! had everything from werewolves to vampires, a little canabalism , very bloody ! The incredibly drawn and fun horror cover artwork draws you into a world of ghastly beasties and mean-monster mashing
This book is HUGE MUST HAVE, and the horror-fiction fans X world can only hope there will be a sequel to this (and "The Garbage People"!) I SERIOUSLY LOVED THE GARBAGE PEOPLE !
I mean it, though, if you haven't read this , you need to get on it ! 🤍 very fast-paced read also ! This book did not disappoint 👏 you can thank me later 🫶
We're Not Ourselves Today By Lydia Prime & Jill Girardi 🤍
Rating ~ 5 Star's 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I am pretty happy I got this on Kindle Unlimited it was a good book that starts right off with a bang ! had everything from werewolves to vampires, a little canabalism , very bloody ! The incredibly drawn and fun horror cover artwork draws you into a world of ghastly beasties and mean-monster mashing
This book is HUGE MUST HAVE, and the horror-fiction fans X world can only hope there will be a sequel to this (and "The Garbage People"!) I SERIOUSLY LOVED THE GARBAGE PEOPLE !
I mean it, though, if you haven't read this , you need to get on it ! 🤍 very fast-paced read also ! This book did not disappoint 👏 you can thank me later 🫶
March 28, 2024
I loved this collection! Every story was different, and every story was phenomenal. There isn’t a stinker in the bunch. Well worth your time!
April 5, 2024
I knew when Kandisha Press sent me this digital copy of We're Not Ourselves Today that would be horrified, but I still wasn't ready.
The 13 stories within, written by Jill Girardi (editor and owner of Kandisha Press) and Lydia Prime (co-editor of Kandisha Press), and presented by their green-skinned Head Librarian Aish Kandisha have everything. Whatever your poison: monsters with saliva that can melt your face off, cursed riches, evil twins, a horrific and hilarious case of mistaken identity, werewolves, betrayal, cannibalism, invasions of other species, rats that feast on human flesh, or just shitty people getting what's coming to them. All of this and more are here in macabre detail. My goodness. There were times I had to stop reading so I could process what I just read.
My standouts:
The Letter - Lydia Prime
The Ecstasy of Gold - Jill Girardi
South Dakota - Lydia Prime
The Wet Dream - Jill Girardi
Sadie - Lydia Prime
Hunger - Jill Girardi
Little Pig - Lydia Prime
The blood, the teeth, the gory details, my paranoia. If you have a vivid imagination, don't read Little Pig at night. This anthology gave me Tales from the Crypt vibes. My fellow 80s babies would know what I'm talking about. I felt a pang of nostalgia as I devoured this read. Apart from the gore, some of the stories deal with serious themes like mental illness and drug addiction.
Kandisha is an independent woman-owned press, and its mission is to promote women horror writers. We should be celebrating women writers year round, not just in March. If you're into pulp horror, please support and get this book or any of their other offerings.
The 13 stories within, written by Jill Girardi (editor and owner of Kandisha Press) and Lydia Prime (co-editor of Kandisha Press), and presented by their green-skinned Head Librarian Aish Kandisha have everything. Whatever your poison: monsters with saliva that can melt your face off, cursed riches, evil twins, a horrific and hilarious case of mistaken identity, werewolves, betrayal, cannibalism, invasions of other species, rats that feast on human flesh, or just shitty people getting what's coming to them. All of this and more are here in macabre detail. My goodness. There were times I had to stop reading so I could process what I just read.
My standouts:
The Letter - Lydia Prime
The Ecstasy of Gold - Jill Girardi
South Dakota - Lydia Prime
The Wet Dream - Jill Girardi
Sadie - Lydia Prime
Hunger - Jill Girardi
Little Pig - Lydia Prime
The blood, the teeth, the gory details, my paranoia. If you have a vivid imagination, don't read Little Pig at night. This anthology gave me Tales from the Crypt vibes. My fellow 80s babies would know what I'm talking about. I felt a pang of nostalgia as I devoured this read. Apart from the gore, some of the stories deal with serious themes like mental illness and drug addiction.
Kandisha is an independent woman-owned press, and its mission is to promote women horror writers. We should be celebrating women writers year round, not just in March. If you're into pulp horror, please support and get this book or any of their other offerings.
March 15, 2024
We're Not Ourselves Today by Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi
Firstly, what a fantastic cover! It gives a glimpse of the depraved insanity and blood curdling horrors lurking within.
13 horror tales that come at you spraying blood and gore in every direction with shocks and surprises, monsters and terrors, alien invasion and revenge and a devilishly good line in humour.
Proudly wearing it's pulp and weird fiction influences on its sleeve and turning up the schlock to the max as if you've been strapped to a chair and forced to watch an 80s slasher horror marathon until your eyes bleed and the nightmares take root.
It's highly entertaining, wildly imaginative and twists many a horror trope to provide thrills and surprises.
From the opening story with a mysterious letter that provides a shock ending through to horrendously bloodthirsty monsters living in a garbage dump, an almost cosy family scene of watching a cookery show until what's really happening becomes clear, the most bizarre alien invasion you're never going to have imagined and a story with rats that is so scary that it makes James Herbert's novels look positively carefree.
There's something for every horror fan in this collection. You're guaranteed a screaming good time and if one story doesn't work for you then don't worry because chances are the next will be a favourite.
😱😱😱😱👽4 screams and an alien out of 5 screams.
A big thank you for the eARC.
Firstly, what a fantastic cover! It gives a glimpse of the depraved insanity and blood curdling horrors lurking within.
13 horror tales that come at you spraying blood and gore in every direction with shocks and surprises, monsters and terrors, alien invasion and revenge and a devilishly good line in humour.
Proudly wearing it's pulp and weird fiction influences on its sleeve and turning up the schlock to the max as if you've been strapped to a chair and forced to watch an 80s slasher horror marathon until your eyes bleed and the nightmares take root.
It's highly entertaining, wildly imaginative and twists many a horror trope to provide thrills and surprises.
From the opening story with a mysterious letter that provides a shock ending through to horrendously bloodthirsty monsters living in a garbage dump, an almost cosy family scene of watching a cookery show until what's really happening becomes clear, the most bizarre alien invasion you're never going to have imagined and a story with rats that is so scary that it makes James Herbert's novels look positively carefree.
There's something for every horror fan in this collection. You're guaranteed a screaming good time and if one story doesn't work for you then don't worry because chances are the next will be a favourite.
😱😱😱😱👽4 screams and an alien out of 5 screams.
A big thank you for the eARC.
June 17, 2024
2.5 stars for the overall collection
We're Not Ourselves Today is a collection of short stories written in the ode of pulp fiction horror stories. I was excited to check this collection out because it sounded like it would be a lot of fun and has a really badass cover. I liked the concept of a librarian reading these stories in a book, but I found the stories to be way too absurd, lackluster, or overly camp (and not in the fun way). There were some stories in which I enjoyed the concept. Some examples are a monster chef who cooks people on TV, a group of people worshipping a garbage demon, a woman obsessed with rats and making them sentient, and a wallet that eats people. It's a pretty average collection and I do recommend it overall because I think there are some fun concepts to explore that are not typically seen in horror short stories.
Overall Ratings:
4 stars: Monster Mashed by Lydia Prime, Little Pig by Lydia Prime, Lab Rats by Jill Girardi
3.5 stars: The Garbage People by Jill Girardi
3 stars: The Ecstasy of Gold by Jill Girardi, The Roiling by Jill Girardi
2.5 stars: Lunation by Lydia Prime
2 stars: South Dakota by Lydia Prime, Sadie by Lydia Prime, Hunger by Jill Girardi, Hazel Hill by Lydia Prime
1 star: The Letter by Lydia Prime, The Wet Dream by Jill Girardi
We're Not Ourselves Today is a collection of short stories written in the ode of pulp fiction horror stories. I was excited to check this collection out because it sounded like it would be a lot of fun and has a really badass cover. I liked the concept of a librarian reading these stories in a book, but I found the stories to be way too absurd, lackluster, or overly camp (and not in the fun way). There were some stories in which I enjoyed the concept. Some examples are a monster chef who cooks people on TV, a group of people worshipping a garbage demon, a woman obsessed with rats and making them sentient, and a wallet that eats people. It's a pretty average collection and I do recommend it overall because I think there are some fun concepts to explore that are not typically seen in horror short stories.
Overall Ratings:
4 stars: Monster Mashed by Lydia Prime, Little Pig by Lydia Prime, Lab Rats by Jill Girardi
3.5 stars: The Garbage People by Jill Girardi
3 stars: The Ecstasy of Gold by Jill Girardi, The Roiling by Jill Girardi
2.5 stars: Lunation by Lydia Prime
2 stars: South Dakota by Lydia Prime, Sadie by Lydia Prime, Hunger by Jill Girardi, Hazel Hill by Lydia Prime
1 star: The Letter by Lydia Prime, The Wet Dream by Jill Girardi
March 8, 2024
As you probably already know, I love me a good collection of short stories. So, when Kandisha Press sent me their new offering – We’re Not Ourselves Today – I was pretty sure I would be a fan. And, well, I absolutely was!
This collection of 13 pulpy stories from Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi was a riot – like a Creepshow movie put together by a riot grrrl band, its tales are gorey, shocking, twisty, clever and bags of fun…unless you’re scared of frogs. If you are, maybe skip The Roiled.
There are plenty of the stories gathered here that I want to shout out. Starting with those from Lydia Prime, The Letter was a sick and fun opener, South Dakota was an effective doppelganger shocker, Sadie was an original take on a werewolf story, while Little Pig had a cracking ending that made me punch the air.
As for Jill Girardi’s stories, The Garbage People hooked me from the start and kept there to its zinger of a finale, Lab Rats was all sorts of grim and nasty, The Wet Dream had a great stinger, and the aforementioned The Roiling offered a vision of a future that I hope I never see.
Overall, this one packs plenty of bang for your buck. If you old school nasty little stories, make sure this collection finds it way onto your TBR!
Thanks to Kandisha Press for the advance copy – out 16 March.
This collection of 13 pulpy stories from Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi was a riot – like a Creepshow movie put together by a riot grrrl band, its tales are gorey, shocking, twisty, clever and bags of fun…unless you’re scared of frogs. If you are, maybe skip The Roiled.
There are plenty of the stories gathered here that I want to shout out. Starting with those from Lydia Prime, The Letter was a sick and fun opener, South Dakota was an effective doppelganger shocker, Sadie was an original take on a werewolf story, while Little Pig had a cracking ending that made me punch the air.
As for Jill Girardi’s stories, The Garbage People hooked me from the start and kept there to its zinger of a finale, Lab Rats was all sorts of grim and nasty, The Wet Dream had a great stinger, and the aforementioned The Roiling offered a vision of a future that I hope I never see.
Overall, this one packs plenty of bang for your buck. If you old school nasty little stories, make sure this collection finds it way onto your TBR!
Thanks to Kandisha Press for the advance copy – out 16 March.
April 3, 2024
I picked it up earlier today and couldn't put it down until I just finished it! We're Not Ourselves by Jill Girardi and Lydia Prime was phenomenal! It had everything from werewolves to vampires, a little canabalism here and a heavy dose of splatter everywhere else. Each story had an excellent undercurrent of creepiness that I love in my horror. It was a joy to read, highly recommend this one, it has a little something for everyone in it!
May 3, 2024
WE'RE NOT OURSELVES TODAY is a gleeful, unexpected collection of stories by two fantastic authors, Jill Girardi and Lydia Prime. The authors present a delightfully varied set of stories, thematically different so you won't get bored, ranging from strictly humorous to introspective, but all with a similar undertone of messy, gory fun. Reality is turned on its head at every turn—it's best to settle in and enjoy the ride. You'll love where you end up.
May 28, 2024
Thank you, Jill Girardi and Lydia Prime
This Collection of stories was really engaging. The stories were orginal and fun to read. These two authors take turns in contributing to this book equally. Both are very talented. It's a wild range of stories from creature feature to science fiction and everything in between.
This Collection of stories was really engaging. The stories were orginal and fun to read. These two authors take turns in contributing to this book equally. Both are very talented. It's a wild range of stories from creature feature to science fiction and everything in between.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2024
Thank u both for allowing me to read this I was amazed that each story was getting better and better they was gory and gorier I’d love to see these in a film version I honestly cudnt pick out which one I loved more even though I’m animal gore this was amazing I just wish I cud get a signed copy thank u again
February 22, 2024
An amazing collection of well developed and interesting short stories? With a gorgeous undead librarian as my guide? Sign me up!!
I absolutely loved each and every one of these stories in this collection. I found them to be super unique, so well written and of course terrifying! It starts off with a bang, The Letter by Lydia Prime is a gory, horrific tale with a surprising and hilarious twist. The second story, The Ecstasy of Gold by Jill Girardi, hits us with a twisted, brutal tale of a killer…. Well, you should really just read it and see!!
It’s very rare to have a collection that hits every tale, but I honestly cannot find fault in any of these stories. I also want to mention a couple others I REALLY loved: The Garbage People, The Roiling and Little Pig.
Amazing job Lydia and Jill for putting together a fantastic collection. Also huge kudos to the artist who did your cover work as well. I’m super thankful for the ARC opportunity, and I happily leave my voluntary review!
I absolutely loved each and every one of these stories in this collection. I found them to be super unique, so well written and of course terrifying! It starts off with a bang, The Letter by Lydia Prime is a gory, horrific tale with a surprising and hilarious twist. The second story, The Ecstasy of Gold by Jill Girardi, hits us with a twisted, brutal tale of a killer…. Well, you should really just read it and see!!
It’s very rare to have a collection that hits every tale, but I honestly cannot find fault in any of these stories. I also want to mention a couple others I REALLY loved: The Garbage People, The Roiling and Little Pig.
Amazing job Lydia and Jill for putting together a fantastic collection. Also huge kudos to the artist who did your cover work as well. I’m super thankful for the ARC opportunity, and I happily leave my voluntary review!
April 24, 2024
I loved this collection by two dark countesses of modern horror. From Lovecraftian to right-out gory and macabre, the stories kept me riveted and covered in goosebumps. I think I enjoyed the most the story called Lab Rats. Highly recommended!
May 7, 2024
Bloody brilliant! Thoroughly entertaining and a must for horror fans.
March 16, 2024
This was a very eclectic short story collection. There’s something for everyone. Creature horror, werewolves, doppelgängers, frogs, rats, cannibalism and more round out this book of macabre tellings. Jill and Lydia have given us a truly spectacular, well-written collection for the masses. Blood and splatter soaked pages await anyone willing to take the journey. Each of the stories unique and compelling. Each story short enough to be easily digestible…if you have a strong stomach. My favorites were The Letter and The Garbage People, but they were all delightful in their own way. Would definitely recommend this collection to anyone!
March 21, 2024
We’re Not Ourselves Today is full of monsters, some of them in the shape of a giant frog race that has taken over the Earth, or a family straight out of Texas Chainsaw Massacre harboring a garbage monster, and the most delightful family of vampires.
Lots of great stories. Here’s a few of my faves:
Monster Mashed by Lydia Prime
Two adorable grandchildren being babysat by their doting grandfather. Watching their cooking show, the one that their grandfather used to host. You don’t realize something’s not quite right until the show starts.
The Roiling by Jill Girardi
Post apocalyptic tale of the world tuned upside down when a race of frog monsters takes over. They croak and sing all night long, keeping the humans still there awake. And if they catch you, you might end up floating in a bubble, slowly dying in the sky. Loved the ending on this one!
Great read for fans of horror and love to support female authors!
Lots of great stories. Here’s a few of my faves:
Monster Mashed by Lydia Prime
Two adorable grandchildren being babysat by their doting grandfather. Watching their cooking show, the one that their grandfather used to host. You don’t realize something’s not quite right until the show starts.
The Roiling by Jill Girardi
Post apocalyptic tale of the world tuned upside down when a race of frog monsters takes over. They croak and sing all night long, keeping the humans still there awake. And if they catch you, you might end up floating in a bubble, slowly dying in the sky. Loved the ending on this one!
Great read for fans of horror and love to support female authors!
March 16, 2024
Aisha Kandisha, the head Li-bury-an is here with 13 stories to satiate your horror needs. Are you in the mood for a smorgasbord of terror? Jill and Lydia have you covered from a tale of a letter for an unborn child not to be opened until it was 'time' to the tale of Regina, who works in a lab with rats. While she is carrying on her research at the university, she is also conducting her own research outside her lab. And much, much more.
From killer frogs to cryptids to a tale of revenge, this collection is the epitome of something for everyone. Strong characters, great dialogue, and lots of horror—this is a solid collection. So grab a copy, settle in, and buckle up. It's a wild ride. Check it out.
4 severed fingers out of 5
From killer frogs to cryptids to a tale of revenge, this collection is the epitome of something for everyone. Strong characters, great dialogue, and lots of horror—this is a solid collection. So grab a copy, settle in, and buckle up. It's a wild ride. Check it out.
4 severed fingers out of 5
March 16, 2024
We're Not Ourselves Today by writers Lydia Prime & Jill Girardi was a great collection of horror stories. For the first time reading the tales of these two others, I have to admit they came up with some pretty good horror stories and for that reason, am looking forward to more anthologies from them.
July 30, 2024
Full review at Happy Goat Horror:
https://happygoathorror.com/2024/07/1...
Well that's it - two new favourite authors unlocked!
This short story collection alternates very dark, often also very humorous stories from the two authors, Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi. I've read a little of their works before but not much, and this would make a perfect book to start on. I was thoroughly entertained, found the writing to be consistently great, and loved the stories themselves!
https://happygoathorror.com/2024/07/1...
Well that's it - two new favourite authors unlocked!
This short story collection alternates very dark, often also very humorous stories from the two authors, Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi. I've read a little of their works before but not much, and this would make a perfect book to start on. I was thoroughly entertained, found the writing to be consistently great, and loved the stories themselves!
April 20, 2025
We are not the monsters. We are simply what you could have been.
"We're Not Ourselves Today" by authors Jill Girardi and Lydia Prime is a very uneven mix of light horror and creature feature shorts that left me basically non-plussed. Certainly like just about any anthology I've ever picked up - noting there are not my favorite form of presentation, nor am I usually keen to try books delivered by exactly two authors - there were better stories and those that did little in terms of scratching that itch I carry around for finding true spookiness. There were some good concepts with potential where I could even imagine enjoying a much longer and full-bodied version of - noting I especially liked "Lab Rats", "Hunger", and "The Garbage People" - but overall very little from this set clicked with me.
This is no ordinary hole in the ground. It���s a chasm of hell.
Very much more unfortunately, if I can put it that way, the editing throughout was far below par. This went as far as to shock me as in the authors' biographies, I remember that at least one offers editing services. Even worse than poor editing was the fact that it was inconsistently edited and decidedly uneven, which only proved to distract me utterly from whatever it was that I should have been getting out of this experience. But random punctuation - or the lack thereof - along with just awful dialogue "management" (e.g. capitalization after given punctuation in an on-going statement) has me regretting checking this book out from KU. Meaning, yes, I'm disappointed as hell and this was free! And did I mention the invented punctuation symbols (*We.”)? No points for originality that's for sure!
I had no idea how hard it is to chop off a head.
I was going to include a collected "greatest" hits of this mess that I started marking as I went along but honestly, why bother? It also would have wound up being several pages long as it just seemed to multiply. If I had been doing a beta-check on this copy, I would have considered sending it back and asking the authors to run through it again before re-trying the final review. Which of course disappoints me even more that it got as far as to be published in this state. Independent writers should know better and I don't apologize in the slightest for saying that.
They didn’t quit. We ate them.
In terms of the overall "meh-ness" I feel towards this collection, I am more than a little bit surprised at this, well, disappointing outcome. This is because I decided to read this collection on the recommendation of someone who usually never leads me astray with her proposals. However, I guess there's always a first time when despite the best intentions of all involved it just doesn't work out. Alas and woe is me and all that. I just think ALL of these stories were best served being published as they were in other collections.
A perfect heart, free of disease, free of ache and betrayal.
But to end on a positive note: that cover rocked! Well done CorlenScope, who I am now following on I-gram! Dang, I wish I'd met her (the character, not the artist) way back when!
"We're Not Ourselves Today" by authors Jill Girardi and Lydia Prime is a very uneven mix of light horror and creature feature shorts that left me basically non-plussed. Certainly like just about any anthology I've ever picked up - noting there are not my favorite form of presentation, nor am I usually keen to try books delivered by exactly two authors - there were better stories and those that did little in terms of scratching that itch I carry around for finding true spookiness. There were some good concepts with potential where I could even imagine enjoying a much longer and full-bodied version of - noting I especially liked "Lab Rats", "Hunger", and "The Garbage People" - but overall very little from this set clicked with me.
This is no ordinary hole in the ground. It���s a chasm of hell.
Very much more unfortunately, if I can put it that way, the editing throughout was far below par. This went as far as to shock me as in the authors' biographies, I remember that at least one offers editing services. Even worse than poor editing was the fact that it was inconsistently edited and decidedly uneven, which only proved to distract me utterly from whatever it was that I should have been getting out of this experience. But random punctuation - or the lack thereof - along with just awful dialogue "management" (e.g. capitalization after given punctuation in an on-going statement) has me regretting checking this book out from KU. Meaning, yes, I'm disappointed as hell and this was free! And did I mention the invented punctuation symbols (*We.”)? No points for originality that's for sure!
I had no idea how hard it is to chop off a head.
I was going to include a collected "greatest" hits of this mess that I started marking as I went along but honestly, why bother? It also would have wound up being several pages long as it just seemed to multiply. If I had been doing a beta-check on this copy, I would have considered sending it back and asking the authors to run through it again before re-trying the final review. Which of course disappoints me even more that it got as far as to be published in this state. Independent writers should know better and I don't apologize in the slightest for saying that.
They didn’t quit. We ate them.
In terms of the overall "meh-ness" I feel towards this collection, I am more than a little bit surprised at this, well, disappointing outcome. This is because I decided to read this collection on the recommendation of someone who usually never leads me astray with her proposals. However, I guess there's always a first time when despite the best intentions of all involved it just doesn't work out. Alas and woe is me and all that. I just think ALL of these stories were best served being published as they were in other collections.
A perfect heart, free of disease, free of ache and betrayal.
But to end on a positive note: that cover rocked! Well done CorlenScope, who I am now following on I-gram! Dang, I wish I'd met her (the character, not the artist) way back when!
February 25, 2024
“We’re Not Ourselves Today,” from the deliciously demented minds of two of the best females writing in the horror genre today, offers up a collection of wildly original and vividly imaginative stories ranging from charming to downright dreadful.
Under the auspicious watch of “the Librarian,” a gorgeous literary ghoul named “Aisha Kandisha” versatile authors Jill Girardi and Lydia Prime invite us into a world of eclectic demons, disillusioned and unfortunate humans, and all manner of situations like no other!
Every story in this substantial book is unique and a standalone, and I enjoyed each one, “The Letter” and “Hunger” in particular.
Still, as a grouping, the book is outstanding, full of dark delights, and an absolute gem of indulgent and sometimes nostalgic storytelling.
Fans of “Tales of the Crypt” and other bite-sized and brilliant short stories that keep you awake at night will appreciate the talent and creativity Girardi and Prime display with ease.
This one also deserves a front and center spot on everyone’s shelf, displaying the stunning retro cover art by “Silvester the Goregnome.”
It’s a refreshing and fresh journey into mayhem and terror, with a side dish of ferocious fun!
Under the auspicious watch of “the Librarian,” a gorgeous literary ghoul named “Aisha Kandisha” versatile authors Jill Girardi and Lydia Prime invite us into a world of eclectic demons, disillusioned and unfortunate humans, and all manner of situations like no other!
Every story in this substantial book is unique and a standalone, and I enjoyed each one, “The Letter” and “Hunger” in particular.
Still, as a grouping, the book is outstanding, full of dark delights, and an absolute gem of indulgent and sometimes nostalgic storytelling.
Fans of “Tales of the Crypt” and other bite-sized and brilliant short stories that keep you awake at night will appreciate the talent and creativity Girardi and Prime display with ease.
This one also deserves a front and center spot on everyone’s shelf, displaying the stunning retro cover art by “Silvester the Goregnome.”
It’s a refreshing and fresh journey into mayhem and terror, with a side dish of ferocious fun!
July 2, 2024
Introduced by the Green skinned librarian Aisha Kandisha, the fearless succubus of Kandisha Press (founded by author Jill Girardi), We Are Not Ourselves Today is a collection of thirteen tales of horror, blood and gore, some old and some new.
The tales themselves cover numerous different themes, there’s a story where a pregnant woman receives a letter to her unborn child. A tale in which a young girl has a frosty welcome from her doppelganger, and a whole host of other tales that will have your head spinning a full 360 degrees and swearing at your mama!
There is no doubt about it, I had a really fun time with these stories and loved every minute of them. Some of them were laugh out loud funny, whilst others definitely made the hairs on your neck have a slight tingly feeling. However, what they all were was a blood soaked goreathon.
The stories themselves are very reminiscent of things like Creepshow, or the old EC comics kind of pulpiness, which made me shout ‘Yep, I am ready for this’.
This was my first time reading the works of the two authors (although I have Under Her Black Wings) and I will definitely be reading more of their works, and as far as short story anthologies go, this is one that you should definitely read.
The tales themselves cover numerous different themes, there’s a story where a pregnant woman receives a letter to her unborn child. A tale in which a young girl has a frosty welcome from her doppelganger, and a whole host of other tales that will have your head spinning a full 360 degrees and swearing at your mama!
There is no doubt about it, I had a really fun time with these stories and loved every minute of them. Some of them were laugh out loud funny, whilst others definitely made the hairs on your neck have a slight tingly feeling. However, what they all were was a blood soaked goreathon.
The stories themselves are very reminiscent of things like Creepshow, or the old EC comics kind of pulpiness, which made me shout ‘Yep, I am ready for this’.
This was my first time reading the works of the two authors (although I have Under Her Black Wings) and I will definitely be reading more of their works, and as far as short story anthologies go, this is one that you should definitely read.
April 8, 2024
📚 Mini Book Review:
"We're Not Ourselves Today" by Jill Girardi and Lydia Prime is a collection of 13 unique and creepy horror stories. The book is introduced by Aisha Kandisha, the book librarian, who keeps spooky stories. I loved the introduction as it made the book even more fun to read and reminded me of the Crypt Keeper from Tales From The Crypt, which I always enjoyed watching. Aisha Kandisha is a modern and even cooler librarian.
The stories are filled with gore, blood, guts, monsters, rats, frogs, vampires, and more. If you enjoy good horror stories, then this book is definitely worth checking out. Each story is written by either Jill Girardi or Lydia Prime, and the alternating style adds to the overall reading experience. I loved this collection of spooky stories.
I was fortunate enough to receive a gifted copy of this book and I'm grateful to @helminthophobia and @jill_girardi for this wonderful read. This is my honest opinion. Thank you so much! 🐸
"We're Not Ourselves Today" by Jill Girardi and Lydia Prime is a collection of 13 unique and creepy horror stories. The book is introduced by Aisha Kandisha, the book librarian, who keeps spooky stories. I loved the introduction as it made the book even more fun to read and reminded me of the Crypt Keeper from Tales From The Crypt, which I always enjoyed watching. Aisha Kandisha is a modern and even cooler librarian.
The stories are filled with gore, blood, guts, monsters, rats, frogs, vampires, and more. If you enjoy good horror stories, then this book is definitely worth checking out. Each story is written by either Jill Girardi or Lydia Prime, and the alternating style adds to the overall reading experience. I loved this collection of spooky stories.
I was fortunate enough to receive a gifted copy of this book and I'm grateful to @helminthophobia and @jill_girardi for this wonderful read. This is my honest opinion. Thank you so much! 🐸
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