What Kind of Monster Are You? : A Collection of Tales & Terrors

by J. Moody

From a gruesome cannery prisoner to a cabin in the woods, the characters in these stories face horrors of all kinds. Each asks the question: What kind of monster are you?
Light a candle and enjoy a different flavor of fear with every story, including tales and terrors of the spectral, dystopian, religious, alien, and fantastical.

238 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

J. Moody is an educator by day, a writer by night, and an adventurer in every moment between. She’s the author of The SEPA Project, its sequel, Quántóu Rising, and the final book in the trilogy, A Rue's Revenge. Her short fiction “To Be a Woman” won the Best Horror Award in Ooligan Press Magazine. She has two short stories published in the anthology Once Upon Another Time: Fresh Tales From the Far Side of Fantasy and two dystopian stories published in When All That's Left Are Stories. She lives with her family in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Ellybeth Dye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I found my new favorite local author! I came across J Moody at a Friday night market and I couldn't be more thankful to have found her. I absolutely adored these short stories and will be looking to read more from her in the future. There is a beautiful blend of horror, mystery, dystopian societies, and humor throughout each story. My favorites were 'I Am Good', 'It's a Sin' and 'The Girls'. Overall I really enjoy Moody's writing style and curious mind. I would 100% recommend this book to everyone!

[R. Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured these short stories! Moody has a knack for delving into the sinister side of storytelling, and I was not disappointed by any of these tales. There were a few that definitely left me wishing for more! My favorites included I am Good, It's a Sin, The Girls, and Hansel and Gretel Were Here. Overall, an excellent collection from a fabulous author!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book of Scary Stories reminds me of a darker, more grown up version of my favorite short story books as a 90s kid (IYKYK!). It’s got just the right amount of spooky to give you the shivers but not so much that you cannot sleep. I took my time reading this book to really INDULGE in each story. And I’ll tell you, J Moody did not disappoint! From monsters and ghosts, to magic and cannibals, you’ll find a little bit of everything in this collection. My favorites were “A Canyon Concerto”, “The Disappearance of Lyla Grady”, “The Girls”, and “Hansel &Gretel Were Here”

[Shay Shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

J Moody's What Kind of Monster Are You is an incredible horror short story collection, hands down the smartest and creepiest stories I've read this year. From demonic barns to disappearing castles, Moody's stories are imaginative, fun, spooky, and horrifying (some maybe not in the traditional sense, but entertaining regardless). The stories are all different in terms of voice, style and subgenre but they're all tied in with clever, inventive horror.
The problem with most horror collections that have come out recently is that they focus too much on the concept and not enough on the horror elements, trying to be "elevated horror" without actual scares. What Kind of Monster Are You stands above this. Even in the stories with social commentary, there are strong, unmistakable horror tropes, which is refreshing.
I wanted to do an in-depth story-by-story review, but I feel I might end up spoiling some of the stories, and most of these are best gone into without any information. And without spoiling anything, let me tell you my favorite one from the anthology called "It's a Sin". Let's just say this one will blow your socks off.
What I wish from this author now is a full-length novel - they could literally choose any of these stories and expand on them and I will be first in line to read it.

Thanks to the author for an advanced copy.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and varied short stories collection, darkly supernatural and perfectly dystopian gnarly for the spooky season, and more.

I had two favorites for sure, I loved everything about a reimagining of Hansel and Gretel with modern family trauma and the creepy super natural.

I don’t want to spoil anything in the plot for The Girls, but it’s dark turns I did not see coming, almost gothic horror at the end!


There is also several much kore dystopian stories to dive into including a prequel novella for a richly described world, of dreams being sought after like scarce resources, equally scarce water and work camps in spiraling wastes.