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All Who Wander Are Lost: Destination Horror Stories
First Landing State Park. Antarctica. Mongolia. France. Norway. Ireland. Somerset. Egypt. A giant glacier in an unnamed land.
What do all these places have in common?
They’re the perfect place to set a horror story, is what. In this brand new collection of destination based tales of terror, Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Award nominated author Gemma Amor (The Folly, Full Immersion, Six Rooms, Dear Laura) takes us on a series of adventures through the weird and the wonderful, the strange and the unexplainable, across the remotest, wildest parts of this world, and through lands yet to be discovered. Expect dark and deranged encounters, beautiful vistas, old gods, ghosts, peculiar creatures, vampires, and that most terrifying of all mankind.
What do all these places have in common?
They’re the perfect place to set a horror story, is what. In this brand new collection of destination based tales of terror, Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Award nominated author Gemma Amor (The Folly, Full Immersion, Six Rooms, Dear Laura) takes us on a series of adventures through the weird and the wonderful, the strange and the unexplainable, across the remotest, wildest parts of this world, and through lands yet to be discovered. Expect dark and deranged encounters, beautiful vistas, old gods, ghosts, peculiar creatures, vampires, and that most terrifying of all mankind.
247 pages, Paperback
First published April 23, 2024
18 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
About the author
Gemma Amor
42 books768 followersI'm a horror fiction author, podcaster, artist and voice actor from Bristol, in the U.K.
I write for the wildly popular NoSleep Podcast and various other horror fiction audio dramas. My traditionally published debut FULL IMMERSION is out from Angry Robot in September 2022.
Find me at @manylittlewords on Twitter and Insta.
Repped by Mark Falkin at Falkin Literary.
I write for the wildly popular NoSleep Podcast and various other horror fiction audio dramas. My traditionally published debut FULL IMMERSION is out from Angry Robot in September 2022.
Find me at @manylittlewords on Twitter and Insta.
Repped by Mark Falkin at Falkin Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
April 6, 2024
My complete review is published at Grimdark Magazine.
Let Gemma Amor be your guide in All Who Wander Are Lost, a new anthology of destination horror stories that lead the reader across adventures on five different continents from northern Norway all the way to Antarctica.
All Who Wander Are Lost kicks off with “There’s Something in First Landing State Park,” an ill-fated trip to Virginia Beach where the narrator, Melanie, spots a grotesque, slime-covered man emerging from the sand at sunrise, disappearing into the ocean as he oozes a trail of goop behind him. Amor combines science fiction and horror to astonishing effect, taking the story in bizarre directions on her way to a perfectly executed, jaw-dropping conclusion.
The next story, “The Reunion,” is narrated by Tim, a formerly poor boy who was bullied in school and is now returning to his high school reunion as the successful vice president of a pharmaceutical company accompanied by his beautiful wife. But Tim’s plans of proving his worth to his classmates are disrupted by his ex-wife, Louise, who exacts the ultimate revenge on her former husband for abandoning her and their child. Devoid of supernatural elements, “The Reunion” proves that the most horrific monster may be man himself.
Gemma Amor drops us on a giant glacier in “Fields of Ice,” the third story of All Who Wander Are Lost, which is set in either a near-future dystopian society or some alternate reality. Hayder, an explorer working for an autocratic leader known as the Minister, is sent on a special mission in pursuit of precious ore, but perhaps she is the one being pursued.
The following story, “Let Sleeping Gods Lie,” delivers an Indiana Jones-style adventure as we join an archaeological expedition in Egypt. Written in epistolary format, Gemma Amor takes us on a haunting journey through an underground labyrinth, showing that some ancient powers should be left undisturbed.
Amor channels Daphne du Maurier’s “Don’t Look Now” in her Venetian horror, “The Final Wish Foundation,” bringing several thrilling twists to this familiar backdrop to horror. Next up is “A Song for Sam,” in which two brothers travel to Norway to fulfill their late father’s wish to scatter his ashes beneath the aurora borealis, but one brother has a more sinister plan in mind.
The remaining stories in All Who Wander Are Lost include “The Ancient Ram Inn,” a classic haunted house horror turned inside out, “A Gentlewoman Abroad” about a businesswoman who despises tourists to an unhealthy degree, and “Less Exalted Tastes” about a rather sadistic form of artistry. The anthology concludes with “Christmas in Antarctica,” a decidedly chilling supernatural horror that will make you want to stay at home for the holidays.
Altogether, All Who Wander Are Lost is a masterfully conceived and executed anthology that serves as Gemma Amor’s homage to the human desire to travel and explore. I enjoyed the variety of styles that Amor brings to the concept of destination horror across this anthology.
Let Gemma Amor be your guide in All Who Wander Are Lost, a new anthology of destination horror stories that lead the reader across adventures on five different continents from northern Norway all the way to Antarctica.
All Who Wander Are Lost kicks off with “There’s Something in First Landing State Park,” an ill-fated trip to Virginia Beach where the narrator, Melanie, spots a grotesque, slime-covered man emerging from the sand at sunrise, disappearing into the ocean as he oozes a trail of goop behind him. Amor combines science fiction and horror to astonishing effect, taking the story in bizarre directions on her way to a perfectly executed, jaw-dropping conclusion.
The next story, “The Reunion,” is narrated by Tim, a formerly poor boy who was bullied in school and is now returning to his high school reunion as the successful vice president of a pharmaceutical company accompanied by his beautiful wife. But Tim’s plans of proving his worth to his classmates are disrupted by his ex-wife, Louise, who exacts the ultimate revenge on her former husband for abandoning her and their child. Devoid of supernatural elements, “The Reunion” proves that the most horrific monster may be man himself.
Gemma Amor drops us on a giant glacier in “Fields of Ice,” the third story of All Who Wander Are Lost, which is set in either a near-future dystopian society or some alternate reality. Hayder, an explorer working for an autocratic leader known as the Minister, is sent on a special mission in pursuit of precious ore, but perhaps she is the one being pursued.
The following story, “Let Sleeping Gods Lie,” delivers an Indiana Jones-style adventure as we join an archaeological expedition in Egypt. Written in epistolary format, Gemma Amor takes us on a haunting journey through an underground labyrinth, showing that some ancient powers should be left undisturbed.
Amor channels Daphne du Maurier’s “Don’t Look Now” in her Venetian horror, “The Final Wish Foundation,” bringing several thrilling twists to this familiar backdrop to horror. Next up is “A Song for Sam,” in which two brothers travel to Norway to fulfill their late father’s wish to scatter his ashes beneath the aurora borealis, but one brother has a more sinister plan in mind.
The remaining stories in All Who Wander Are Lost include “The Ancient Ram Inn,” a classic haunted house horror turned inside out, “A Gentlewoman Abroad” about a businesswoman who despises tourists to an unhealthy degree, and “Less Exalted Tastes” about a rather sadistic form of artistry. The anthology concludes with “Christmas in Antarctica,” a decidedly chilling supernatural horror that will make you want to stay at home for the holidays.
Altogether, All Who Wander Are Lost is a masterfully conceived and executed anthology that serves as Gemma Amor’s homage to the human desire to travel and explore. I enjoyed the variety of styles that Amor brings to the concept of destination horror across this anthology.
May 22, 2024
In her forward to All Who Wander Are Lost: Destination Horror Stories, author Gemma Amor discusses how the stories in this collection began in 2020 when her natural wanderlust was stifled by pandemic restrictions, and the only travel she could engage in was through her imagination. All of the stories presented here, Amor tells us, are from locales she's been lucky enough to visit, from Norway to Venice, Virginia to Antarctica.
Ten stories make up this volume, and many of them are longer than what a reader may expect from your average short horror story (well, unless you're dealing with a Stephen King collection), and that's because these are essentially horror travelogues. Amor spends a lot of time on the setting of almost all of these stories, with details that are usually reserved for longer format writing. That's not a complaint from me. I really enjoyed her vividly recalled descriptions of these varied places.
Amor is a very versatile writer and I never know quite what to expect when I start one of her works. She can do psychologically disturbing horror, gross out gory horror, and quiet subtle horror in equally adept measure. Examples of all of those horror sub-genres, as well as forays into scifi, dystopian fantasy and suspense, can be found in All Who Wander.
Amor's versatility extends into setting, character work, and time periods. As someone who's read a lot of Victorian and Edwardian ghost stories, in my opinion she convincingly writes tales set in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as I first discovered in her terrific novella, Christmas at Wheeldale Inn. This talent for harnessing the voice and feel of the distant past is on display again in two of my favorite stories from this book, "A Gentlewoman Abroad," about a Trans-Siberian rail journey that leads to unexpected (and rather grisly) discoveries for the eponymous protagonist, and "Let Sleeping Gods Lie," which is an epistolary story about a ubiquitous cursed tomb with a decidedly toothy twist.
There were a couple of stories that weren't to my personal tastes (namely "Fields of Ice" and "The Reunion"), but most of them were very enjoyable, with two stories that I absolutely loved, "The Ancient Ram Inn" and "Christmas in Antarctica." The former is a rather straightforward story about a group of friends who take a tour of a haunted abandoned inn on Halloween. While that set-up may not be entirely original, it's one I never get tired of, and Amor managed to make that old chestnut her own and gave me the creeps in the process. I'll be adding it to my Halloween horror story rotation for sure. "Christmas in Antarctica" is another paranormal tale, this time of a more enigmatic variety, about a once in a lifetime cruise that harbors a mysterious passenger intent on causing deadly chaos among his shipmates, while summoning an unnameable horror from the deep frozen seas. Those two stories alone made the price of admission for this journey worth it to me.
Ten stories make up this volume, and many of them are longer than what a reader may expect from your average short horror story (well, unless you're dealing with a Stephen King collection), and that's because these are essentially horror travelogues. Amor spends a lot of time on the setting of almost all of these stories, with details that are usually reserved for longer format writing. That's not a complaint from me. I really enjoyed her vividly recalled descriptions of these varied places.
Amor is a very versatile writer and I never know quite what to expect when I start one of her works. She can do psychologically disturbing horror, gross out gory horror, and quiet subtle horror in equally adept measure. Examples of all of those horror sub-genres, as well as forays into scifi, dystopian fantasy and suspense, can be found in All Who Wander.
Amor's versatility extends into setting, character work, and time periods. As someone who's read a lot of Victorian and Edwardian ghost stories, in my opinion she convincingly writes tales set in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as I first discovered in her terrific novella, Christmas at Wheeldale Inn. This talent for harnessing the voice and feel of the distant past is on display again in two of my favorite stories from this book, "A Gentlewoman Abroad," about a Trans-Siberian rail journey that leads to unexpected (and rather grisly) discoveries for the eponymous protagonist, and "Let Sleeping Gods Lie," which is an epistolary story about a ubiquitous cursed tomb with a decidedly toothy twist.
There were a couple of stories that weren't to my personal tastes (namely "Fields of Ice" and "The Reunion"), but most of them were very enjoyable, with two stories that I absolutely loved, "The Ancient Ram Inn" and "Christmas in Antarctica." The former is a rather straightforward story about a group of friends who take a tour of a haunted abandoned inn on Halloween. While that set-up may not be entirely original, it's one I never get tired of, and Amor managed to make that old chestnut her own and gave me the creeps in the process. I'll be adding it to my Halloween horror story rotation for sure. "Christmas in Antarctica" is another paranormal tale, this time of a more enigmatic variety, about a once in a lifetime cruise that harbors a mysterious passenger intent on causing deadly chaos among his shipmates, while summoning an unnameable horror from the deep frozen seas. Those two stories alone made the price of admission for this journey worth it to me.
May 13, 2025
I like Gemma Amor in general. Granted, so far my reading experience with her has ranged from "Couldn't really get into it" (Full Immersion), to "It was alright" (Dear Laura), to "This is one of the best horror books I've read in recent years and it's a new fave and I won't stop singing its praises!" (The Once Yellow House.) But her range is incredible as far as subject matter and I follow her on social media. She's friendly and chill and seems very appreciative of her fans. I'll keep reading her stuff as long as she writes it. There's a new one coming out later this year!
I enjoyed this collection, but I could definitely see hardcore horror seekers maybe not being super into it. A few of the stories are brimming with violence and blood, but many of them are more of what I would call suspense. (And one is just flat out depressing.) The first piece in the bunch, “There’s Something in First Landing State Park," was one of the best in my opinion. Definitely on the weirder and scarier side. Also very gross. I could practically smell it. Though it does go on for quite a while, almost feeling more like a novella.
My other favorite was "Less Exalted Tastes," which was by far the darkest and most violent. But I also liked "Christmas in Antarctica" and I have to wonder if anyone else who's read this was picturing Martin Short's Jack Frost from "The Santa Clause 3." Maybe that's why I enjoyed it as much as I did?
Amor essentially accomplished what she set out to do, which was transport the reader to many different places and offer an escape. Even if it was temporary and somewhat harrowing, I absolutely felt like I had traveled around the globe with these characters by the time I was done.
Currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
Biggest TW: Animal harm/death, Suicide, Harm to children
I enjoyed this collection, but I could definitely see hardcore horror seekers maybe not being super into it. A few of the stories are brimming with violence and blood, but many of them are more of what I would call suspense. (And one is just flat out depressing.) The first piece in the bunch, “There’s Something in First Landing State Park," was one of the best in my opinion. Definitely on the weirder and scarier side. Also very gross. I could practically smell it. Though it does go on for quite a while, almost feeling more like a novella.
My other favorite was "Less Exalted Tastes," which was by far the darkest and most violent. But I also liked "Christmas in Antarctica" and I have to wonder if anyone else who's read this was picturing Martin Short's Jack Frost from "The Santa Clause 3." Maybe that's why I enjoyed it as much as I did?
Amor essentially accomplished what she set out to do, which was transport the reader to many different places and offer an escape. Even if it was temporary and somewhat harrowing, I absolutely felt like I had traveled around the globe with these characters by the time I was done.
Currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
Biggest TW: Animal harm/death, Suicide, Harm to children
April 24, 2024
Happy release day! Thanks as always to Joe at Cemetery Gates Media for a paperback ARC to review. This small press has put out some excellent horror this year, and destination horror in particular. All Who Wander Are Lost: Destination Horror Stories is a collection by Gemma Amor, available for purchase now!
The first story, "There's Something in First Landing State Park", sets the stage right out the gate, a Brit visiting an internet friend in on the east coast of the U.S., and finding more than an idyllic beach locale when she arrives. I loved the seaside horror ambience, and the sense of isolation despite the setting at a popular park.
My favorite story was "Let Sleeping Gods Lie", a story of an English explorer excavating an Egyptian tomb told via letters. This format was a perfect choice, as epistolaries build tension the way nothing else does for me. And Bast the cat was an adorable inclusion.
"A Gentlewoman Abroad" was an excellent mashup of the paranormal, and the high society lady explorer archetype of eras past. I loved the unexpected setting in Mongolia, and aboard a train! Both this story and the final one, "Christmas in Antarctica", play with the locked-room feel of a scary story limited to a vehicle of some sort.
Each story was distinct, ranging from cosmic horror, to creature features, and good old-fashioned residual hauntings. But they were all crafted with Amor's vivid descriptions and rich settings as centerpieces.
A fantastic collection, and one I highly recommend, especially if you like a wide range of horror subgenres.
The first story, "There's Something in First Landing State Park", sets the stage right out the gate, a Brit visiting an internet friend in on the east coast of the U.S., and finding more than an idyllic beach locale when she arrives. I loved the seaside horror ambience, and the sense of isolation despite the setting at a popular park.
My favorite story was "Let Sleeping Gods Lie", a story of an English explorer excavating an Egyptian tomb told via letters. This format was a perfect choice, as epistolaries build tension the way nothing else does for me. And Bast the cat was an adorable inclusion.
"A Gentlewoman Abroad" was an excellent mashup of the paranormal, and the high society lady explorer archetype of eras past. I loved the unexpected setting in Mongolia, and aboard a train! Both this story and the final one, "Christmas in Antarctica", play with the locked-room feel of a scary story limited to a vehicle of some sort.
Each story was distinct, ranging from cosmic horror, to creature features, and good old-fashioned residual hauntings. But they were all crafted with Amor's vivid descriptions and rich settings as centerpieces.
A fantastic collection, and one I highly recommend, especially if you like a wide range of horror subgenres.
April 8, 2024
Gemma consistently amazes me with the diversity of themes she can pull off so deftly and this collection is a wonderful example of her talent, an absolute powerhouse in the horror genre, I'm a fan, did I mention that? I enjoyed all of the stories but some of my favourites were The Final Wish Foundation, A Song For Sam and The Reunion, I cannot rave about her work more!
April 2, 2024
A superb collection. Great titles, too. Such as: The Final Wish Foundation, Let Sleeping Gods Lie. But my favourite here was A Song For Sam. This is one of those stories that grabs you from the very first line: "I decided to kill my brother on the flight to Norway." There's a real back and forth psychology going on that I loved, that felt true. And it just played out brilliantly.
Each story sticks to the theme, but no two are the same. The settings are as diverse as the characters. Believable, too. And no story outstays its welcome, either. In fact, some could easily have gone on a little longer. This is not a complaint.
I really appreciated the work. The care and attention to detail is second to none. There is research here. There is passion in the writing.
I also think the story placement felt right, too. A nice little burst of shorter stories at the end.
Yeah, the more I think about this one, it deserves a five.
Really good stuff.
Each story sticks to the theme, but no two are the same. The settings are as diverse as the characters. Believable, too. And no story outstays its welcome, either. In fact, some could easily have gone on a little longer. This is not a complaint.
I really appreciated the work. The care and attention to detail is second to none. There is research here. There is passion in the writing.
I also think the story placement felt right, too. A nice little burst of shorter stories at the end.
Yeah, the more I think about this one, it deserves a five.
Really good stuff.
July 14, 2024
What a fantastic collection of stories! I’ve been a fan of Gemma Amor since her first release Laura, but have drifted away from her work for some unfathomable reason. I need to fix that!
July 9, 2024
Okay, I need to make an adjustment, so here's my updated ratings...
There's Something in First Landing State Park - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Reunion - ⭐⭐⭐.5
Fields of Ice - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Let Sleeping Gods Lie - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Final Wish Foundation - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Song for Sam - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Ancient Ram Inn - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Gentlewoman Abroad - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Less Exalted Tastes - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 (This one was messed up!😖)
Christmas in Antarctica - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a great collection! The first and last stories were my favorite of the bunch.
There's Something in First Landing State Park - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Reunion - ⭐⭐⭐.5
Fields of Ice - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Let Sleeping Gods Lie - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Final Wish Foundation - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Song for Sam - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Ancient Ram Inn - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Gentlewoman Abroad - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Less Exalted Tastes - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 (This one was messed up!😖)
Christmas in Antarctica - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a great collection! The first and last stories were my favorite of the bunch.
April 27, 2024
Many thanks to Cemetery Gates Media for the physical arc!
Not that this proclaims itself as a short story collection, as it does just say ‘stories’, but I would be willing to bet that most of these are actually around novelette length at the very least. There is not that many stories, only featuring ten, and yet this is actually rather long. Not that that is a bad thing!
This is a solid mix of horror, comedy, sexual deviance, the disturbing, and wit from the author. With things like aliens, gods, ghosts, and even more creepy crawlies to haunt your imagination. And of course, my all time favorite there is, Christmas (in Antarctica).
One I particularly enjoyed was ‘Let Sleeping Gods Lie’. It read kind of like a precursor, or even its own take on those old school monster movies…The Mummy in particular. It’s atmospheric, with just the right amount of building, written in just the perfect style, to make it slowly creep up your neck. Told entirely through journal entries and letters to a beloved, it features the lead of a dig site in Egypt as his team slowly loses their nerve to knocking deep within the tomb. And I’d honestly read an entire novel.
My favorite of the bunch though, was ‘The Ancient Ram Inn’. Featuring a group of friends taking a Halloween night tour through a very haunted Inn. Their guide, a real creepy lookalike, deadpans the history of the place as they get further and further inside…and things get weirder and weirder. For such a short story, this one packed on hell of a twist that I really enjoyed. I’ve found that since writing BestGhost, I just really love different takes on the paranormal and haunted places.
This just released, and regardless of what you’re looking for, there’s something here for everyone. Will you let me know your favorite??
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-all-wh...
Not that this proclaims itself as a short story collection, as it does just say ‘stories’, but I would be willing to bet that most of these are actually around novelette length at the very least. There is not that many stories, only featuring ten, and yet this is actually rather long. Not that that is a bad thing!
This is a solid mix of horror, comedy, sexual deviance, the disturbing, and wit from the author. With things like aliens, gods, ghosts, and even more creepy crawlies to haunt your imagination. And of course, my all time favorite there is, Christmas (in Antarctica).
One I particularly enjoyed was ‘Let Sleeping Gods Lie’. It read kind of like a precursor, or even its own take on those old school monster movies…The Mummy in particular. It’s atmospheric, with just the right amount of building, written in just the perfect style, to make it slowly creep up your neck. Told entirely through journal entries and letters to a beloved, it features the lead of a dig site in Egypt as his team slowly loses their nerve to knocking deep within the tomb. And I’d honestly read an entire novel.
My favorite of the bunch though, was ‘The Ancient Ram Inn’. Featuring a group of friends taking a Halloween night tour through a very haunted Inn. Their guide, a real creepy lookalike, deadpans the history of the place as they get further and further inside…and things get weirder and weirder. For such a short story, this one packed on hell of a twist that I really enjoyed. I’ve found that since writing BestGhost, I just really love different takes on the paranormal and haunted places.
This just released, and regardless of what you’re looking for, there’s something here for everyone. Will you let me know your favorite??
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-all-wh...
April 24, 2024
"Like most fools who don't want to be a nuisance, I kept my worries to myself."
Unfamiliar environments can feel surreal in general, but it adds in a layer of unease by including strange situations. As a participant we tend to go along and hope for the best, as a reader...well, you know that trouble lies ahead and the tension multiplies.
Gemma Amor does a fantastic job writing these stories to be smooth and nonchalant until BANG!! it's too late to turn back. Be prepared to feel that nervous excitement you get when you know a jump scare is coming, only now you will get that feeling when you start to plan your next vacation. No place is safe; deserts, glaciers, castles, state parks and everything in between is covered.
Come travel the world knowing that your next destination could be your gravesite.
"All in all, it was a very pleasing setting for a killing."
Unfamiliar environments can feel surreal in general, but it adds in a layer of unease by including strange situations. As a participant we tend to go along and hope for the best, as a reader...well, you know that trouble lies ahead and the tension multiplies.
Gemma Amor does a fantastic job writing these stories to be smooth and nonchalant until BANG!! it's too late to turn back. Be prepared to feel that nervous excitement you get when you know a jump scare is coming, only now you will get that feeling when you start to plan your next vacation. No place is safe; deserts, glaciers, castles, state parks and everything in between is covered.
Come travel the world knowing that your next destination could be your gravesite.
"All in all, it was a very pleasing setting for a killing."
April 16, 2024
Review originally on JamReads
All Who Wander Are Lost: Destination Horror Stories is the new short story collection written by Gemma Amor, and published by Cemetery Gates Media; a series of stories all sharing the common theme of travel and new places, from across all the world. Despite the shared theme, all of them are quite different, and all with the excellent prose that characterizes Amor's writing.
Reviewing short story collections is always a difficult task, due to the variance included; however, I found this one pretty enjoyable, especially with the small homages that Amor has created to classics of the genre, experimenting with different voices and perspectives. Uncanny valley is a shared element between those stories that have remained with me, outside of Let Sleeping Gods Lie, an epistolary story that takes us to the Egyptology era with some well thrown adventure elements and which hits pretty close to the initial segment of The Mummy.
I would also like to bring the spotlight towards The Reunion and A Song For Sam; both are stories that highlight how the real monsters are the human all the way. Vivid and uncanny, slowly gathering the elements that are needed to create an impactful ending, with an excellent pacing.
All Who Wander Are Lost is an excellent horror collection, with stories sharing that human desire for visiting new places, mixing when needed some elements from historical fiction or science fiction to create compelling stories; an excellent book by Gemma Amor.
All Who Wander Are Lost: Destination Horror Stories is the new short story collection written by Gemma Amor, and published by Cemetery Gates Media; a series of stories all sharing the common theme of travel and new places, from across all the world. Despite the shared theme, all of them are quite different, and all with the excellent prose that characterizes Amor's writing.
Reviewing short story collections is always a difficult task, due to the variance included; however, I found this one pretty enjoyable, especially with the small homages that Amor has created to classics of the genre, experimenting with different voices and perspectives. Uncanny valley is a shared element between those stories that have remained with me, outside of Let Sleeping Gods Lie, an epistolary story that takes us to the Egyptology era with some well thrown adventure elements and which hits pretty close to the initial segment of The Mummy.
I would also like to bring the spotlight towards The Reunion and A Song For Sam; both are stories that highlight how the real monsters are the human all the way. Vivid and uncanny, slowly gathering the elements that are needed to create an impactful ending, with an excellent pacing.
All Who Wander Are Lost is an excellent horror collection, with stories sharing that human desire for visiting new places, mixing when needed some elements from historical fiction or science fiction to create compelling stories; an excellent book by Gemma Amor.
June 20, 2025
I picked this up because I tend to LOVE a themed horror anthology, and horror stories about travel?! Count me in! Unfortunately this collection wasn't full of bangers like so many I've been lucky to pick up.
Some stories are more like psychological thriller than horror. The horror that is there feels meandering a bit. I didn't dislike any of the stories but I think this is a solid three star book. If you're specifically looking for travel-based horror stories this might scratch that itch, but then it might not... it didn't for me, at least.
My favorite story was probably the final story, about a strange trip to Antarctica. Very cosmic horror, I was a fan. But even that was only maybe four stars. I don't know, nothing really struck me or stuck out much in this collection.
But still, three stars is a healthy "I liked it". And I did like it!
Besides which, it's "free" on Kindle Unlimited atm so why not check it out?
Some stories are more like psychological thriller than horror. The horror that is there feels meandering a bit. I didn't dislike any of the stories but I think this is a solid three star book. If you're specifically looking for travel-based horror stories this might scratch that itch, but then it might not... it didn't for me, at least.
My favorite story was probably the final story, about a strange trip to Antarctica. Very cosmic horror, I was a fan. But even that was only maybe four stars. I don't know, nothing really struck me or stuck out much in this collection.
But still, three stars is a healthy "I liked it". And I did like it!
Besides which, it's "free" on Kindle Unlimited atm so why not check it out?
April 24, 2024
“In this brand new collection of destination based tales of terror, Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Award nominated author Gemma Amor takes us on a series of adventures through the weird and the wonderful, the strange and the unexplainable, across the remotest, wildest parts of this world, and through lands yet to be discovered.”
All Who Wander Are Lost is our first collection of stories from Gemma in years (previously, These Wounds We Make, 2020); naturally, I was excited to receive an ARC for review seeing as Cruel Works of Nature (2018) is one of my all-time favorite story collections in horror. Each of the stories contained within offer the reader foreign locations–including Antarctica, Egypt, Mongolia, and others–as the settings for Gemma’s unfolding terror.
My favorite entries are: “The Reunion” is satisfyingly dramatic and features several shocking moments that would feel at home in a soap opera (which I really enjoyed); “Fields of Ice” has a horrific dystopian backstory I would like to explore further, and of course I want the continued story (seeing as this one has a TBC ending); “The Final Wish Foundation” has a great premise for a novella or novel, in which members of a secret group kill one another to get the death they so desire; “The Ancient Ramm Inn” takes place on Halloween and is thoroughly creepy and memorable; and “Less Exalted Tales” drops us in a very creepy mansion owned by a very unsettling woman and her daughter, both of whom enjoy violent escapades.
Gemma Amor is always a guaranteed good read. All Who Wander Are Lost features some truly fantastic sequences that I will return to in the years to follow. If you like your horror dripping in dramatic realism, give this one a shot, especially if you’re someone often struck by wanderlust.
All Who Wander Are Lost is our first collection of stories from Gemma in years (previously, These Wounds We Make, 2020); naturally, I was excited to receive an ARC for review seeing as Cruel Works of Nature (2018) is one of my all-time favorite story collections in horror. Each of the stories contained within offer the reader foreign locations–including Antarctica, Egypt, Mongolia, and others–as the settings for Gemma’s unfolding terror.
My favorite entries are: “The Reunion” is satisfyingly dramatic and features several shocking moments that would feel at home in a soap opera (which I really enjoyed); “Fields of Ice” has a horrific dystopian backstory I would like to explore further, and of course I want the continued story (seeing as this one has a TBC ending); “The Final Wish Foundation” has a great premise for a novella or novel, in which members of a secret group kill one another to get the death they so desire; “The Ancient Ramm Inn” takes place on Halloween and is thoroughly creepy and memorable; and “Less Exalted Tales” drops us in a very creepy mansion owned by a very unsettling woman and her daughter, both of whom enjoy violent escapades.
Gemma Amor is always a guaranteed good read. All Who Wander Are Lost features some truly fantastic sequences that I will return to in the years to follow. If you like your horror dripping in dramatic realism, give this one a shot, especially if you’re someone often struck by wanderlust.
June 22, 2024
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This an absolutely fantastic collection of travel horror short stories from IMO one of the greatest horror authors working today. This assortment is a fine showcase of just how good of a storyteller she is. In a mere 20-30 pages I found myself emotionally engaged with the characters in each of these equally engaging tales.
Not a bad story in the bunch and a wide variety of types of stories to appease a reader that is equally at home in giant monster movies (There's Something in First Landing State Park), haunted houses (The Ancient Ram Inn), or my personal fave of the bunch, Sci-Fi Horror (Fields of Ice). I also gave a bit of a squeal when it was noted that Fields of Ice will be getting more story set in the world. (YES!)
There are even two tales that gave me some straight up Old God / Lovecraftian nostalgia (Let Sleeping Gods Lie & Christmas in Antarctica) but still with characters that grab a hold of your imagination and don't let go until the final terrifying scream!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
This an absolutely fantastic collection of travel horror short stories from IMO one of the greatest horror authors working today. This assortment is a fine showcase of just how good of a storyteller she is. In a mere 20-30 pages I found myself emotionally engaged with the characters in each of these equally engaging tales.
Not a bad story in the bunch and a wide variety of types of stories to appease a reader that is equally at home in giant monster movies (There's Something in First Landing State Park), haunted houses (The Ancient Ram Inn), or my personal fave of the bunch, Sci-Fi Horror (Fields of Ice). I also gave a bit of a squeal when it was noted that Fields of Ice will be getting more story set in the world. (YES!)
There are even two tales that gave me some straight up Old God / Lovecraftian nostalgia (Let Sleeping Gods Lie & Christmas in Antarctica) but still with characters that grab a hold of your imagination and don't let go until the final terrifying scream!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
April 27, 2024
All Who Wander are Lost
Thank you to Cemetery Gates for the ARC copy of this book!
My favorites were:
There’s Something in First Landing State Park
Let Sleeping Gods Lie
The Ancient Ram Inn
Christmas in the Antarctic
There’s Something in First Landing State Park- this is wonderful, especially if you’re a fan of the Creature from the Black Lagoon! Melanie is traveling to the states to go camping with her online friend, the first night night she notices a nude man in the beach which leads to a terrifying camping trip.
Reunion-a man an his wife go to his high school reunion, his ex wife is there. He left her with nothing except the loss of their son. It’s an interesting story that leans more towards nature than nurture.
Fields of Ice- dystopian frozen world , following the guide of the Vellum…
Let Sleeping Gods Lie- An Egyptian explorer who finds an undiscovered tomb that house more than just a mummy. He also makes friends with a cat he names, Bast. This one was a great mythological horror.
Final Wish Foundation- Assisted Suicide pact around the world, interesting concept!
A Song for Sam- the family trauma and feelings of betrayal are intense and juxtaposed with the beauty of the auroras, the story is beautifully brutal.
The ancient Ram Inn- an imaginative and creepy take on a ghost story!! I loved the way the story foreshadows and slowly reveals it’s secrets.
A gentlewoman abroad- a women’s new found traveling companion was found murdered and she finds that the death is related to her.
Less Exalted Tastes- think Grey Gardens, but more horror and with a twist of the semi rundown mansion whose owners have a strange penchant for art.
Christmas in the Antarctic- a couple dreaming of their adventures traveling get brought into an Antarctic cosmic, ghostly situation.
Thank you to Cemetery Gates for the ARC copy of this book!
My favorites were:
There’s Something in First Landing State Park
Let Sleeping Gods Lie
The Ancient Ram Inn
Christmas in the Antarctic
There’s Something in First Landing State Park- this is wonderful, especially if you’re a fan of the Creature from the Black Lagoon! Melanie is traveling to the states to go camping with her online friend, the first night night she notices a nude man in the beach which leads to a terrifying camping trip.
Reunion-a man an his wife go to his high school reunion, his ex wife is there. He left her with nothing except the loss of their son. It’s an interesting story that leans more towards nature than nurture.
Fields of Ice- dystopian frozen world , following the guide of the Vellum…
Let Sleeping Gods Lie- An Egyptian explorer who finds an undiscovered tomb that house more than just a mummy. He also makes friends with a cat he names, Bast. This one was a great mythological horror.
Final Wish Foundation- Assisted Suicide pact around the world, interesting concept!
A Song for Sam- the family trauma and feelings of betrayal are intense and juxtaposed with the beauty of the auroras, the story is beautifully brutal.
The ancient Ram Inn- an imaginative and creepy take on a ghost story!! I loved the way the story foreshadows and slowly reveals it’s secrets.
A gentlewoman abroad- a women’s new found traveling companion was found murdered and she finds that the death is related to her.
Less Exalted Tastes- think Grey Gardens, but more horror and with a twist of the semi rundown mansion whose owners have a strange penchant for art.
Christmas in the Antarctic- a couple dreaming of their adventures traveling get brought into an Antarctic cosmic, ghostly situation.
April 1, 2024
Before I get started I want to thank Cemetery Gates for sending me this ARC!
I’ve been a Gemma Amor fan for a while now and it’s safe to say that if you’re an indie horror reader, you’ve probably come across some of her writing. Any time I read a piece of her work, I’m just so impressed with how well written every story is; this collection is no exception.
Without offering plot points or a summary of each story, individually, I have to say that this collection has something for just about everyone. From cryptids, to families with secrets and even secret societies, the common thread to all of these is the absolutely superb writing we’ve all come to expect from Gemma.
My personal favorites of this collection were “The Reunion, “The Final Wish Foundation,” “Let Sleeping Gods Lie,” “A Song For Sam,” and “Christmas in Antarctica.”
The only story I didn’t connect with was “A Gentlewoman Abroad,” but I think it may have been because it was sandwiched between two stories that I really enjoyed. It’s voice and structure felt different from the others stories. It took me a while to find my footing with it, but even with that, I still enjoyed the writing.
Gemma has proven herself a powerhouse time and time again, and I really think people are going to enjoy these; ESPECIALLY if, like me, you’re a traveler who’s been stuck at home for far too long.
I’ve been a Gemma Amor fan for a while now and it’s safe to say that if you’re an indie horror reader, you’ve probably come across some of her writing. Any time I read a piece of her work, I’m just so impressed with how well written every story is; this collection is no exception.
Without offering plot points or a summary of each story, individually, I have to say that this collection has something for just about everyone. From cryptids, to families with secrets and even secret societies, the common thread to all of these is the absolutely superb writing we’ve all come to expect from Gemma.
My personal favorites of this collection were “The Reunion, “The Final Wish Foundation,” “Let Sleeping Gods Lie,” “A Song For Sam,” and “Christmas in Antarctica.”
The only story I didn’t connect with was “A Gentlewoman Abroad,” but I think it may have been because it was sandwiched between two stories that I really enjoyed. It’s voice and structure felt different from the others stories. It took me a while to find my footing with it, but even with that, I still enjoyed the writing.
Gemma has proven herself a powerhouse time and time again, and I really think people are going to enjoy these; ESPECIALLY if, like me, you’re a traveler who’s been stuck at home for far too long.
December 9, 2024
4.5 starts almost a 5 for me! Beautifully written intriguing twisty tales, loved it.
January 16, 2025
The audiobook narrator was very good, and I really appreciated the extremely specific Virginia Beach lore in the first story (that giant blue plastic skull outside the campy haunted house on the ocean front?? I was immediately transported), and I was very intrigued by the dystopian archaeologist and her indigenous guide but that story was left unresolved. Otherwise, the stories didn’t feel super memorable
July 30, 2024
It's probably the best short story horror collection I have ever read. There is not a dud in this book. I'm a big fan of Gemma Amor now!
November 3, 2024
As always with a collection, some are great, some are meh. This applied. Quite a few will leave a spot on my brain for awhile.
June 1, 2024
This book was awesome! There were a couple of stories I didn't care for as much, but Let sleeping Gods lie, A song for Sam, The ancient Ramm inn, A gentlewoman abroad and Christmas in Antarctica were bad ass!
May 21, 2024
Hans Christian Anderson once wrote: “To travel is to live.” And that’s true I guess, in an Instagram-quotable kind of way. But after reading this collection of “Destination Horror Stories” from Gemma Amor, I think a more accurate version of the quote might be: “To travel is to die, over and over again in spectacularly gruesome and imaginative ways.”
Travel has always been a key element in horror – stripping out familiar surroundings, immersing us in a culture and a place that feel alien can be the perfect way to ramp up a character’s or reader’s discomfort. And extreme locations, such as glaciers or wild seas – where the environment itself becomes a threat to life – are a keen source of horror in themselves.
The ten stories in this collection use all these tricks and more, delivering a wide range of tones, voices and textures in varied and exotic locations. So we have expertly-rendered Lovecraftian pastiche in Egypt, alongside psychological twists and turns in a French chateau. Elder gods rub shoulders with werewolves, freaky naked cryptids, and ghosts, as we tour the Antarctic, the British Isles, and the United States, finding terror at every turn. Rather than treading familiar ground with these stalwart monsters, Gemma Amor pushes them into unfamiliar territory, delivering twists and new perspectives that keep the stories fresh and entertaining.
Highlights for me were the tales where unexplained weirdness was allowed to run amok. A Song for Sam – a story of sibling rivalry beneath the northern lights – delivered startlingly strange images and horrific moments that will stick with me for weeks to come. And the sublimely creepy character of Jack in Christmas in Antarctica will forever haunt my dreams. His profound wrongness reminded me of the Mystery Man in David Lynch’s Lost Highway. I also loved the gothic depravity of Less Exalted Tastes, which included a glorious gallery of disturbingly sensuous imagery that would make Edgar Allen Poe choke on his laudanum.
Elsewhere, we see twisty, intriguing plots that wouldn’t be out of place in episodes of Inside Number 9 or Black Mirror – spinning haunted house tropes in unexpected directions, or imagining a radical, clandestine take on euthanasia. Throughout, Gemma Amor’s inventiveness and ability to inhabit different voices shine through and the variety of tones and styles means that the collection never becomes samey or dull.
This one is easy to recommend to any fan of short horror fiction. But maybe don’t pack it as a beach read…
Travel has always been a key element in horror – stripping out familiar surroundings, immersing us in a culture and a place that feel alien can be the perfect way to ramp up a character’s or reader’s discomfort. And extreme locations, such as glaciers or wild seas – where the environment itself becomes a threat to life – are a keen source of horror in themselves.
The ten stories in this collection use all these tricks and more, delivering a wide range of tones, voices and textures in varied and exotic locations. So we have expertly-rendered Lovecraftian pastiche in Egypt, alongside psychological twists and turns in a French chateau. Elder gods rub shoulders with werewolves, freaky naked cryptids, and ghosts, as we tour the Antarctic, the British Isles, and the United States, finding terror at every turn. Rather than treading familiar ground with these stalwart monsters, Gemma Amor pushes them into unfamiliar territory, delivering twists and new perspectives that keep the stories fresh and entertaining.
Highlights for me were the tales where unexplained weirdness was allowed to run amok. A Song for Sam – a story of sibling rivalry beneath the northern lights – delivered startlingly strange images and horrific moments that will stick with me for weeks to come. And the sublimely creepy character of Jack in Christmas in Antarctica will forever haunt my dreams. His profound wrongness reminded me of the Mystery Man in David Lynch’s Lost Highway. I also loved the gothic depravity of Less Exalted Tastes, which included a glorious gallery of disturbingly sensuous imagery that would make Edgar Allen Poe choke on his laudanum.
Elsewhere, we see twisty, intriguing plots that wouldn’t be out of place in episodes of Inside Number 9 or Black Mirror – spinning haunted house tropes in unexpected directions, or imagining a radical, clandestine take on euthanasia. Throughout, Gemma Amor’s inventiveness and ability to inhabit different voices shine through and the variety of tones and styles means that the collection never becomes samey or dull.
This one is easy to recommend to any fan of short horror fiction. But maybe don’t pack it as a beach read…
October 21, 2024
It is RARE that I enjoy every story in an anthology almost equally, but this anthology manages it. The variety in the horror was refreshing and every story had a new specific destination setting (and one fantasy world) which made things feel even more varied. I had a great time with this one.
It starts with a cryptid/creature feature in my hometown where the main characters bond over a book that I also love (so maybe I started this with some bias) but then we run into vampires, creatures, ghosts, dark entities, ancient evils, deranged family members and the horror of our own mortality. I had so much fun with the stories in this collection.
My top stories (in no specific order) were probably:
1. There's Something in First Landing State Park - An amphibious cryptid story in Virginia Beach's state park.
2. The Final Wish Foundation - a serial killer story with a twist, based around terminally ill victims
3. The Reunion - a dark domestic story of a man seeing his ex-wife at a class reunion for the first time and discovering secrets that change the course of his life
4. The Ancient Ram Inn - A group of friends are headed to a haunted hotel on Halloween night. What could go wrong?
I cannot wait to read what is next from this author. This book is available for free through Kindle Unlimited.
Disclosure: I received a gifted audiobook from Tantor Media and Libro.fm. No review was required and all opinions are my own.
It starts with a cryptid/creature feature in my hometown where the main characters bond over a book that I also love (so maybe I started this with some bias) but then we run into vampires, creatures, ghosts, dark entities, ancient evils, deranged family members and the horror of our own mortality. I had so much fun with the stories in this collection.
My top stories (in no specific order) were probably:
1. There's Something in First Landing State Park - An amphibious cryptid story in Virginia Beach's state park.
2. The Final Wish Foundation - a serial killer story with a twist, based around terminally ill victims
3. The Reunion - a dark domestic story of a man seeing his ex-wife at a class reunion for the first time and discovering secrets that change the course of his life
4. The Ancient Ram Inn - A group of friends are headed to a haunted hotel on Halloween night. What could go wrong?
I cannot wait to read what is next from this author. This book is available for free through Kindle Unlimited.
Disclosure: I received a gifted audiobook from Tantor Media and Libro.fm. No review was required and all opinions are my own.
April 9, 2024
QOTD: Are you a short story collection person?
Read my full review here: https://fanfiaddict.com/review-all-wh...
"Wrapped up in the humdrum of my life here in North West England, it’s easy to forget just how insignificant I am. Seriously, in the grand scheme of time and space, how important is my latest deadline? …the dogs who won’t stop barking down the road? …my undying hatred toward James Cordon? Completely irrelevant. Utterly inconsequential. In her latest collection “All Who Wander Are Lost,” Gemma Amor reminds us of just how big the world is, and that unimaginable terror can be found in all four corners of it. From an ancient Egyptian burial tomb, to (rather amusingly) Somerset, monstrosities, anomalies and injustices are everywhere. Whilst not every story will suit every palate (as is the case with almost all anthologies) overall, this homage to travel and exploration is as captivating as its premise suggests. Thank you Gemma, and Cemetery Gates for sending me over an ARC copy, “All Who Wander Are Lost,” which hits shelves on April 23rd 2024. "
Read my full review here: https://fanfiaddict.com/review-all-wh...
"Wrapped up in the humdrum of my life here in North West England, it’s easy to forget just how insignificant I am. Seriously, in the grand scheme of time and space, how important is my latest deadline? …the dogs who won’t stop barking down the road? …my undying hatred toward James Cordon? Completely irrelevant. Utterly inconsequential. In her latest collection “All Who Wander Are Lost,” Gemma Amor reminds us of just how big the world is, and that unimaginable terror can be found in all four corners of it. From an ancient Egyptian burial tomb, to (rather amusingly) Somerset, monstrosities, anomalies and injustices are everywhere. Whilst not every story will suit every palate (as is the case with almost all anthologies) overall, this homage to travel and exploration is as captivating as its premise suggests. Thank you Gemma, and Cemetery Gates for sending me over an ARC copy, “All Who Wander Are Lost,” which hits shelves on April 23rd 2024. "
August 27, 2024
Full Disclosure: I received an ARC from the publisher
Amor’s latest offering is a collection of location-based horror tales. Some hit home more than others for me; it’s a good collection but not the best or most creative Amor I’ve read (put it down to her having published some really fantastic stuff before, leaving my expectations ridiculously high). That being said, it is a fun collection and you’ll find nude men rising up from sandy beaches and leaving trails of goo… giant centipedes, vengeful exes, grumpy gods and much, much more.
An overview of the stories can be found below (OBS: spoilers). -I’ve marked my favorites with an “*”
There’s Something in First Landing State Park:
Melanie is on her way to Washington to clear her mind & honestly; run away a bit, when her guide cancels on short notice. Set on making it an opportunity rather than a setback, she changes her plans after chatting with a flight attendant and decides to see First Landing State Park with a friend. While enjoying the seaside view from her hotel room she sees a man seemingly rising up (nude, mind) from a hole in the sand. The man leaves a trail of slime. She later comes across a half eaten dolphin covered with the same sort of gloop.. and yet another man shaped whole whole on an excursion to the cypress swamps. It’s all downhill for our protagonist from here as a fellow camper dissappears and she and her friend decides to follow.
-The Reunion:
Tim goes to a reunion he would have been better served staying away from; there with his wife, he’s desperate to make a good impression to get one over on former bullies and, more importantly, see his ex wife again. Once there the ex reveals that the son he thought dead & had abandoned as an 18 month old is alive and that she lied. The son wants to meet him and is getting married in France. So ensues the wedding he should have stayed away from. The ex wife’s ultimate revenge is the reveal of the son being identical to Tim: ambitious, devoid of empathy and greedy. Reminds me of telenovelas I’ve enjoyed.
-Fields of Ice:*
A dystopian society where starvation is a big problem and where the upper echelons eat the dead poor. Enter a ruling minister infamous for his temper. The minister tasks Hayder (an archeologist) with making her way past a glacier to look for the much needed & legendary ore mentioned in the vellum (an antique gadget). Unfortunately she’s not alone; a spy of the minister joins. She befriends Pamuk, an indigenous lady. Barely survives the attack of a freakishly big centipede. Can’t wait to read more about these two ladies.
-Let Sleeping Gods Lie:
1888: Archeologist on assignment in Egypt at an underground mortuary in the form of a labyrinth. His workers soon abandon him in spite of decent wages, mumbling about noises at night and too terrified to say more. He’s soon the only one left on site but decides to carry on. He falls down a hatch and finds a burial chamber and a sarcophagus from which there’s noises of someone/thing is alive. It turns out he’s found a formerly sleeping and now angry god. The labyrinth wasn’t to keep people/looters out, but to keep nightmares contained. He barely makes it out.
-The Final Wish Foundation:*
A dying woman finds herself in her dream location (Venice) but under rather near-nightmarish circumstances rather than a wished for holiday. What follows is killings in Barcelona and Krabi++; all with different means and perpetrators, although all with FWF-business cards left on site. We learn of the existence of a shadowy society offering the perfect deaths to the dying (but really in it for the money).
The story tackles themes of death, the wish to regain control in the face of death & the utter loss of it due to something so mundane as mixing up glasses & those who’d profit of it. Gave me Robert Bloch vibes.
-A Song for Sam:*
Two brothers headed to Northern Norway to scatter their father’s ashes under a sky of northern lights. The eldest harbors deep rooted resentments and has reached the conclusion that he’ll simply kill his brother. Their late father used to say that the Aurora sang and it would seem he was correct.
In the end, Sam doesn’t have to kill Sean as Sean goes insane (tears off his ears and chews on it offering the other one to Sam) and dies while he exclaims that he hears the Aurora. Tell tale heart meets the color out of Space.
-The Ancient Ram Inn:
Halloween; Aggie and friends stay the night at Britain’s most haunted hotel. The energy soon inexplicably goes from lighthearted to oppressive and tensions rise as Aggie feels like the odd one out and the receiver of malignant stares and snide comments. Despite this, they continue the tour and Every room holds another horrific discovery and another piece of the puzzle until it is all revealed; Aggie’s smoking (the careless disposal of the cigarette) killed them 20 years ago and they’re all ghosts
-A Gentlewoman Abroad:
An older businesswoman on the Trans-Siberian & the talkative man she (unwillingly) befriends and who ends up murdered. She begins to investigate and likes what she finds less and less. The connection between her gastrointestinal upset and victim becomes clearer when the next 2 victims. The werewolf tale of the lot.
-Less Exalted Tastes
Ireland: A developer & an old house with a bloody history sure to fetch him a nice sum of money; *if* he can persuade the owners to sell it. Things get disturbing as soon as he steps in the door and is greeted by gore-laden portraits of former owners. It soon becomes apparent that the bloody history isn’t history at all and that he should have stayed well away from the women in this house. Marble with acts of violence and gore; the window cleaner stripped, bound and terrified
-Christmas in Antarctica:*
Jen can’t believe how lucky she is when she and her BF go on a Yuletide cruise to the Antarctic. Some things really are too good to be true, though, and this soon becomes apparent as a pale agent of chaos decides to wreak bloody havoc on the cruise & torment Jen. A solid tale of cosmic horror those who enjoyed ‘A Song for the Void’ by Piazza might enjoy as well.
Amor’s latest offering is a collection of location-based horror tales. Some hit home more than others for me; it’s a good collection but not the best or most creative Amor I’ve read (put it down to her having published some really fantastic stuff before, leaving my expectations ridiculously high). That being said, it is a fun collection and you’ll find nude men rising up from sandy beaches and leaving trails of goo… giant centipedes, vengeful exes, grumpy gods and much, much more.
An overview of the stories can be found below (OBS: spoilers). -I’ve marked my favorites with an “*”
There’s Something in First Landing State Park:
Melanie is on her way to Washington to clear her mind & honestly; run away a bit, when her guide cancels on short notice. Set on making it an opportunity rather than a setback, she changes her plans after chatting with a flight attendant and decides to see First Landing State Park with a friend. While enjoying the seaside view from her hotel room she sees a man seemingly rising up (nude, mind) from a hole in the sand. The man leaves a trail of slime. She later comes across a half eaten dolphin covered with the same sort of gloop.. and yet another man shaped whole whole on an excursion to the cypress swamps. It’s all downhill for our protagonist from here as a fellow camper dissappears and she and her friend decides to follow.
-The Reunion:
Tim goes to a reunion he would have been better served staying away from; there with his wife, he’s desperate to make a good impression to get one over on former bullies and, more importantly, see his ex wife again. Once there the ex reveals that the son he thought dead & had abandoned as an 18 month old is alive and that she lied. The son wants to meet him and is getting married in France. So ensues the wedding he should have stayed away from. The ex wife’s ultimate revenge is the reveal of the son being identical to Tim: ambitious, devoid of empathy and greedy. Reminds me of telenovelas I’ve enjoyed.
-Fields of Ice:*
A dystopian society where starvation is a big problem and where the upper echelons eat the dead poor. Enter a ruling minister infamous for his temper. The minister tasks Hayder (an archeologist) with making her way past a glacier to look for the much needed & legendary ore mentioned in the vellum (an antique gadget). Unfortunately she’s not alone; a spy of the minister joins. She befriends Pamuk, an indigenous lady. Barely survives the attack of a freakishly big centipede. Can’t wait to read more about these two ladies.
-Let Sleeping Gods Lie:
1888: Archeologist on assignment in Egypt at an underground mortuary in the form of a labyrinth. His workers soon abandon him in spite of decent wages, mumbling about noises at night and too terrified to say more. He’s soon the only one left on site but decides to carry on. He falls down a hatch and finds a burial chamber and a sarcophagus from which there’s noises of someone/thing is alive. It turns out he’s found a formerly sleeping and now angry god. The labyrinth wasn’t to keep people/looters out, but to keep nightmares contained. He barely makes it out.
-The Final Wish Foundation:*
A dying woman finds herself in her dream location (Venice) but under rather near-nightmarish circumstances rather than a wished for holiday. What follows is killings in Barcelona and Krabi++; all with different means and perpetrators, although all with FWF-business cards left on site. We learn of the existence of a shadowy society offering the perfect deaths to the dying (but really in it for the money).
The story tackles themes of death, the wish to regain control in the face of death & the utter loss of it due to something so mundane as mixing up glasses & those who’d profit of it. Gave me Robert Bloch vibes.
-A Song for Sam:*
Two brothers headed to Northern Norway to scatter their father’s ashes under a sky of northern lights. The eldest harbors deep rooted resentments and has reached the conclusion that he’ll simply kill his brother. Their late father used to say that the Aurora sang and it would seem he was correct.
In the end, Sam doesn’t have to kill Sean as Sean goes insane (tears off his ears and chews on it offering the other one to Sam) and dies while he exclaims that he hears the Aurora. Tell tale heart meets the color out of Space.
-The Ancient Ram Inn:
Halloween; Aggie and friends stay the night at Britain’s most haunted hotel. The energy soon inexplicably goes from lighthearted to oppressive and tensions rise as Aggie feels like the odd one out and the receiver of malignant stares and snide comments. Despite this, they continue the tour and Every room holds another horrific discovery and another piece of the puzzle until it is all revealed; Aggie’s smoking (the careless disposal of the cigarette) killed them 20 years ago and they’re all ghosts
-A Gentlewoman Abroad:
An older businesswoman on the Trans-Siberian & the talkative man she (unwillingly) befriends and who ends up murdered. She begins to investigate and likes what she finds less and less. The connection between her gastrointestinal upset and victim becomes clearer when the next 2 victims. The werewolf tale of the lot.
-Less Exalted Tastes
Ireland: A developer & an old house with a bloody history sure to fetch him a nice sum of money; *if* he can persuade the owners to sell it. Things get disturbing as soon as he steps in the door and is greeted by gore-laden portraits of former owners. It soon becomes apparent that the bloody history isn’t history at all and that he should have stayed well away from the women in this house. Marble with acts of violence and gore; the window cleaner stripped, bound and terrified
-Christmas in Antarctica:*
Jen can’t believe how lucky she is when she and her BF go on a Yuletide cruise to the Antarctic. Some things really are too good to be true, though, and this soon becomes apparent as a pale agent of chaos decides to wreak bloody havoc on the cruise & torment Jen. A solid tale of cosmic horror those who enjoyed ‘A Song for the Void’ by Piazza might enjoy as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2024
It’s somewhat rare that I rate a collection or anthology more than 3 stars. And that’s mostly because I tend to like some and not like others so it only seems fair to rate them that way. But then along comes some stories and kapow!, I’m a happy horror reader. Such is the case with this collection and let’s face it, Gemma Amor is a fantastic writer who knows how to weave a tale. She takes us on “a series of adventures through the weird and the wonderful, the strange and the unexplainable, across the remotest, wildest parts of this world, and through lands yet to be discovered.” And truly she does.
Some of my favorites in this collection are: “There’s Something In First Landing State Park”, “The Reunion”, “The Final Wish Foundation” and “A Song For Sam”. I would absolutely recommend this collection as I’m sure you’ll find your favorites as well. So go snag yourself a copy. Grab your favorite beverage and a warm blanket and curl up while you take yourself on these chilling adventures. You won’t regret it.
Some of my favorites in this collection are: “There’s Something In First Landing State Park”, “The Reunion”, “The Final Wish Foundation” and “A Song For Sam”. I would absolutely recommend this collection as I’m sure you’ll find your favorites as well. So go snag yourself a copy. Grab your favorite beverage and a warm blanket and curl up while you take yourself on these chilling adventures. You won’t regret it.
October 16, 2024
With ten whole stories to get through, there was a little bit of everything here and the variety was delightful. As with any short story collection there will always be ups and downs in regards to which ones pique your interest more, but each of these is filled with lustrous, rich descriptions of setting and scenery that practically transports you to the location that they’re set, like a tiny little awful holiday.
I enjoyed all the tales in this collection but some felt closer in style to her lengthier works and those worked for me more. Personal standouts were ‘Christmas in Antarctica’, ‘The Final Wish Foundation’ and ‘Less Exalted Tastes’, each very different from each other, but thoroughly enjoyable.
This is a solid collection and the recommendation should go without saying, but it is also now available on audiobook so you have two options for ingesting this beauty!
I enjoyed all the tales in this collection but some felt closer in style to her lengthier works and those worked for me more. Personal standouts were ‘Christmas in Antarctica’, ‘The Final Wish Foundation’ and ‘Less Exalted Tastes’, each very different from each other, but thoroughly enjoyable.
This is a solid collection and the recommendation should go without saying, but it is also now available on audiobook so you have two options for ingesting this beauty!
June 22, 2024
I have become a very big fan of Gemma Amor because of her exceptional writing, and gifted storytelling. This collection of destination horror is brilliant, interesting, and ultimately, scary. The last story is "kind of terrifying", which is what I wrote in my notebook. I loved every story in this book, which makes it difficult to pick favourites, but I've chosen five...
~The Reunion (excellent story, superb writing, blown away)
~Less Exalted Tastes (extremely visual and absolutely glorious)
~The Ancient Ram Inn (BRILLIANT ghost story)
~A Song For Sam (damn!)
~The Final Wish Foundation (one of the best short stories I've ever read)
Highly recommended for lovers of short fiction.
~The Reunion (excellent story, superb writing, blown away)
~Less Exalted Tastes (extremely visual and absolutely glorious)
~The Ancient Ram Inn (BRILLIANT ghost story)
~A Song For Sam (damn!)
~The Final Wish Foundation (one of the best short stories I've ever read)
Highly recommended for lovers of short fiction.
November 8, 2024
ⓇⒺⓋⒾⒺⓌ
All Who Wander Are Lost (Destination Horror Stories) - Gemma Amor
All Who Wander Are Lost is one of the most enjoyable collections I’ve read in some time.
All winners, no fillers as Gemma faultlessly weaves together diverse settings, emotions and horrors.
My favourites are:
There’s Something in First Landing State Park
Reunion
Let Sleeping Gods Lie *Bast the cat 😽
A Song For Sam
Gemma’s attention to detail shines through in every story, as with all her books - she clearly does her homework.
Who knew that all this travelling, to all these destinations whilst sat on your arse in the comfort of your home would be so wonderful?!
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚/10
A mahoosive thank you to Gemma Amor and Cemetery Gates Media for sending ‘All Who Wander Are Lost’ my way.
All Who Wander Are Lost (Destination Horror Stories) - Gemma Amor
All Who Wander Are Lost is one of the most enjoyable collections I’ve read in some time.
All winners, no fillers as Gemma faultlessly weaves together diverse settings, emotions and horrors.
My favourites are:
There’s Something in First Landing State Park
Reunion
Let Sleeping Gods Lie *Bast the cat 😽
A Song For Sam
Gemma’s attention to detail shines through in every story, as with all her books - she clearly does her homework.
Who knew that all this travelling, to all these destinations whilst sat on your arse in the comfort of your home would be so wonderful?!
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚/10
A mahoosive thank you to Gemma Amor and Cemetery Gates Media for sending ‘All Who Wander Are Lost’ my way.
April 14, 2024
This is a great collection of destination horror stories!!! 👹 I enjoyed every single story, and that doesn’t happen very often! 👏
Some of my favorites were:
📖 There’s Something in First Landing State Park
📖 Let Sleeping Gods Lie
📖 The Ancient Ram Inn
📖 Less Exalted Tastes
📖 Christmas in Antarctica
There honestly isn’t a bad story in this book though!! ♥️ There’s monsters (both human and non-human) galore, plus twists in a few! Highly recommend!! 🙌
A big thank you to Gemma Amor and Cemetery Gates Media for the opportunity to read the physical ARC in exchange for my honest review!! I need to bump up my other Gemma Amor books on my TBR now!! ♥️
Some of my favorites were:
📖 There’s Something in First Landing State Park
📖 Let Sleeping Gods Lie
📖 The Ancient Ram Inn
📖 Less Exalted Tastes
📖 Christmas in Antarctica
There honestly isn’t a bad story in this book though!! ♥️ There’s monsters (both human and non-human) galore, plus twists in a few! Highly recommend!! 🙌
A big thank you to Gemma Amor and Cemetery Gates Media for the opportunity to read the physical ARC in exchange for my honest review!! I need to bump up my other Gemma Amor books on my TBR now!! ♥️
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