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The Horror that Represents You
Fear. Terror. Horror.
Though we all share those emotions, the form of what scares us, terrifies us, gives us nightmares, and defines us, differs from person to person. Some have snakes for pets; others can’t even look at them through a glass barrier. Some move gracefully in high places like acrobats on tightropes; others quiver nervously even standing 20 feet back from a drop-off.
The Horror that Represents You is an exploration of the fear and horror that moves and defines the 24 authors whose stories and poems appear herein.
Featuring the talents of Vivian Kasley, Sridhar Shankar, Megan M. Davies-Ostrom, Nicole M. Wolverton, Scott J. Moses, Anya Leigh Josephs, KC Grifant, Samuel McQuail, Fred Furtado, Anna Fitzgerald Healy, Samantha Lokai, Christine Lucas, Hiro Finn Hoshino, Christopher O’Halloran, Simo Srinivas, Jen Mierisch, Ray Pantle, Micah Castle, Patricia Miller, Sheila Massie, Stephanie Parent, Bebe Bayliss, and Linda D. Addison.
Though we all share those emotions, the form of what scares us, terrifies us, gives us nightmares, and defines us, differs from person to person. Some have snakes for pets; others can’t even look at them through a glass barrier. Some move gracefully in high places like acrobats on tightropes; others quiver nervously even standing 20 feet back from a drop-off.
The Horror that Represents You is an exploration of the fear and horror that moves and defines the 24 authors whose stories and poems appear herein.
Featuring the talents of Vivian Kasley, Sridhar Shankar, Megan M. Davies-Ostrom, Nicole M. Wolverton, Scott J. Moses, Anya Leigh Josephs, KC Grifant, Samuel McQuail, Fred Furtado, Anna Fitzgerald Healy, Samantha Lokai, Christine Lucas, Hiro Finn Hoshino, Christopher O’Halloran, Simo Srinivas, Jen Mierisch, Ray Pantle, Micah Castle, Patricia Miller, Sheila Massie, Stephanie Parent, Bebe Bayliss, and Linda D. Addison.
- GenresHorrorAnthologies
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 10, 2024
1 person is currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 13, 2024
(Rounded down from 4.5)
This collection is a dark and delightful surprise! When I first started reading, I felt that the anthology’s theme, “what scares you,” seemed too vague to really even be called a theme. But then I got into these stories, and it all makes sense. These stories feel intimate and personal, they feel like something exposed, raw and unflinching. Each story seems to have a central truth it understands, about itself or the world, and horrors unfurl around and through that truth. While there are sprinkles of body horror mixed with dashes of blood here and there, a little supernatural and sci-fi added just for spice, these stories all feel like they revolve around psychological horror. Horror that lives under your skin, nesting in your mind’s hidden spaces.
That said, the collection does feel diverse and balanced. It doesn’t feel like the same story told different ways, even though the collection feels coherent. (While I stand behind the claim to the diversity of the stories, somehow two of the stories feature Greek grandmothers, which brings my total number of horror stories featuring Greek grandmothers to… two. But one of them almost made me cry, and the other had a stellar framing device and ending, so I will allow it!). While star rating systems are arbitrary, I will say that although not all of these stories were five star reads a lot of them were, and most of the rest were strong fours. I wasn’t disappointed with any of these stories, and I had a lot of fun with the entire collection.
It is hard to narrow down the audience for this, since the theme of the collection is so nebulous. I think any horror fan will find a lot to love in this collection, a lot to scratch at their insecurities and make their breath catch in their chests. It reads quite quickly, nothing feels like it lags or slows the anthology down, and the stories were curated and paced really well. Definitely check it out!
I want to thank the author, the publisher Brigids Gate Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This collection is a dark and delightful surprise! When I first started reading, I felt that the anthology’s theme, “what scares you,” seemed too vague to really even be called a theme. But then I got into these stories, and it all makes sense. These stories feel intimate and personal, they feel like something exposed, raw and unflinching. Each story seems to have a central truth it understands, about itself or the world, and horrors unfurl around and through that truth. While there are sprinkles of body horror mixed with dashes of blood here and there, a little supernatural and sci-fi added just for spice, these stories all feel like they revolve around psychological horror. Horror that lives under your skin, nesting in your mind’s hidden spaces.
That said, the collection does feel diverse and balanced. It doesn’t feel like the same story told different ways, even though the collection feels coherent. (While I stand behind the claim to the diversity of the stories, somehow two of the stories feature Greek grandmothers, which brings my total number of horror stories featuring Greek grandmothers to… two. But one of them almost made me cry, and the other had a stellar framing device and ending, so I will allow it!). While star rating systems are arbitrary, I will say that although not all of these stories were five star reads a lot of them were, and most of the rest were strong fours. I wasn’t disappointed with any of these stories, and I had a lot of fun with the entire collection.
It is hard to narrow down the audience for this, since the theme of the collection is so nebulous. I think any horror fan will find a lot to love in this collection, a lot to scratch at their insecurities and make their breath catch in their chests. It reads quite quickly, nothing feels like it lags or slows the anthology down, and the stories were curated and paced really well. Definitely check it out!
I want to thank the author, the publisher Brigids Gate Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 22, 2024
This is a great collection of horror stories! I enjoyed them all and would recommend this! My favorite stories in this are 'The Craving' by Vivian Kasley, 'It Calls At Night' by Samantha Lokai, 'The Grandmother's We Leave Behind' by Christine Lucas and 'The Last Train' by Jen Mierisch. Special Thank You to S.D. Vassallo, Brigid's Gate Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2024
The Horror That Represents You is simply mind-blowing. As someone who’s read quite a few horror anthologies, I can confidently say this collection stands out as something unique and refreshing. Normally, in anthologies, there are a few stories that don’t quite hit the mark—but that’s not the case here. Each story is masterfully written and adds something of value to the whole experience.
Two stories that had me laughing while still managing to unsettle me were "Folie A Deux" and "One Star Would Not Recommend". The snarky tone and humor were an unexpected but delightful twist amidst the tension, balancing the darker elements perfectly. On the other hand, even though "The Craving" wasn’t quite to my taste—I'm not a fan of body horror—it was undeniably captivating. Despite the discomfort it caused, it was a testament to the quality of writing that it kept me hooked.
For readers looking for stories that tackle deeper issues, "Something Blue" and "The Visitor" were haunting explorations of abusive relationships and the horrors of being stalked. Both were incredibly well-executed, drawing out the dread of real-life horrors. Meanwhile, "Khotoum" and "Blood and Dust" stood out as environmentally conscious pieces, making readers think about the human impact on the natural world, which added a layer of relevance and depth.
I also loved how stories like "It Calls at Night", "The Grandmothers That We Leave Behind", and "Low Contact" emphasized the importance of cultural lore, traditions, and the care we must take in preserving history. There’s something inherently unsettling about the loss of those connections, and these stories tapped into that perfectly. "A Lesson in Obsolescence" was a chilling take on technology and the fear of discovering that we might be robots without even knowing it—a truly thought-provoking story that left me questioning reality. And "The Last Train" was a somber, eerie reminder of the cost of indifference, a theme that resonated long after I’d turned the page.
One of the reasons this anthology is so powerful is right there in the title: The Horror That Represents You. Each author shares deeply personal fears, making these stories feel raw, real, and authentic. There’s no reliance on cheap gore; instead, it’s a collection of fears that truly matter, leaving readers covered in goosebumps because they can relate to the core of those fears.
Overall, The Horror That Represents You isn’t just another horror anthology—it’s a profoundly moving and unsettling exploration of the human condition. It shows us what horror really is when it mirrors our deepest anxieties, our cultural and environmental worries, and our fears of losing control over our own lives. I highly recommend this collection to anyone looking for horror that’s not just frightening but meaningful.
Two stories that had me laughing while still managing to unsettle me were "Folie A Deux" and "One Star Would Not Recommend". The snarky tone and humor were an unexpected but delightful twist amidst the tension, balancing the darker elements perfectly. On the other hand, even though "The Craving" wasn’t quite to my taste—I'm not a fan of body horror—it was undeniably captivating. Despite the discomfort it caused, it was a testament to the quality of writing that it kept me hooked.
For readers looking for stories that tackle deeper issues, "Something Blue" and "The Visitor" were haunting explorations of abusive relationships and the horrors of being stalked. Both were incredibly well-executed, drawing out the dread of real-life horrors. Meanwhile, "Khotoum" and "Blood and Dust" stood out as environmentally conscious pieces, making readers think about the human impact on the natural world, which added a layer of relevance and depth.
I also loved how stories like "It Calls at Night", "The Grandmothers That We Leave Behind", and "Low Contact" emphasized the importance of cultural lore, traditions, and the care we must take in preserving history. There’s something inherently unsettling about the loss of those connections, and these stories tapped into that perfectly. "A Lesson in Obsolescence" was a chilling take on technology and the fear of discovering that we might be robots without even knowing it—a truly thought-provoking story that left me questioning reality. And "The Last Train" was a somber, eerie reminder of the cost of indifference, a theme that resonated long after I’d turned the page.
One of the reasons this anthology is so powerful is right there in the title: The Horror That Represents You. Each author shares deeply personal fears, making these stories feel raw, real, and authentic. There’s no reliance on cheap gore; instead, it’s a collection of fears that truly matter, leaving readers covered in goosebumps because they can relate to the core of those fears.
Overall, The Horror That Represents You isn’t just another horror anthology—it’s a profoundly moving and unsettling exploration of the human condition. It shows us what horror really is when it mirrors our deepest anxieties, our cultural and environmental worries, and our fears of losing control over our own lives. I highly recommend this collection to anyone looking for horror that’s not just frightening but meaningful.
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January 9, 2025This is a dark and twisty anthology of 24 stories and poems by 24 different authors, edited by S.D Vassallo.
The one thing I love about an anthology is that there is something for everyone in them, and this is the case here too, though this is particularly unique as it features both poems AND short stories!
What is incredibly fascinating is that you can relate to many as an individual as the authors showcase various horror within us and society.
In The Darkness We Dig by Nicole M. Wolverton was particularly creeping... A story told in first person, it follows a couple who keep finding teeth around their house... in the garden, in the house... in weird and wonderful places... this breeds distrust between the two as both think it is the other playing a joke.
The ending was far creepier than I expected!
The variety in here is great as you can go from a creepy, darker story to a lighter horror - though this could be me as I enjoy horror!
If you want to read something a little different and enjoy horror than this one is for you!
The one thing I love about an anthology is that there is something for everyone in them, and this is the case here too, though this is particularly unique as it features both poems AND short stories!
What is incredibly fascinating is that you can relate to many as an individual as the authors showcase various horror within us and society.
In The Darkness We Dig by Nicole M. Wolverton was particularly creeping... A story told in first person, it follows a couple who keep finding teeth around their house... in the garden, in the house... in weird and wonderful places... this breeds distrust between the two as both think it is the other playing a joke.
The ending was far creepier than I expected!
The variety in here is great as you can go from a creepy, darker story to a lighter horror - though this could be me as I enjoy horror!
If you want to read something a little different and enjoy horror than this one is for you!
January 9, 2025
This horror anthology has something for everyone. Comprising of 24 short stories, there are honestly no bad stories in here and several that really stuck with me. Featuring creatures, body horror, sci-fi, psychological, environmental elemnts...there are some many different ways to frighten and horrify us.
My favourites were The Craving - period pains are killer! Something Blue - and unexpected wedding story. A Lesson in Obsolescence - a scary take on technology. The Last Train - empathy costs nothing.
Highly recommend this one, your guaranteed to find a story in here that will resonate with you.
My favourites were The Craving - period pains are killer! Something Blue - and unexpected wedding story. A Lesson in Obsolescence - a scary take on technology. The Last Train - empathy costs nothing.
Highly recommend this one, your guaranteed to find a story in here that will resonate with you.
January 8, 2025
The Horror That Represents You by S.D Vassallo.
I did enjoy this book. I liked the cover and blurb. This is a collection of short stories. These were dark and gripping. My favourites were the craving, skin, blood and dust. I also liked the nature of me. Some stories were just ok. I did enjoy most of them though.
I did enjoy this book. I liked the cover and blurb. This is a collection of short stories. These were dark and gripping. My favourites were the craving, skin, blood and dust. I also liked the nature of me. Some stories were just ok. I did enjoy most of them though.
November 24, 2024
4.5 rounded to 5. A superbly crafted anthology, containing twenty-three short stories and one poem, nominally sharing the theme of one's preferred kind of horror (what sort of horror scares one, therefore 'representing' them in the horror genre), though in truth the anthology is so wide-ranging it may as well not have a specific theme: there's body horror, psychological horror, sci-fi horror, dark fnatasy, weird horror, and many other kinds of horror. Up to a point, this is to be expected, since the theme itself implies wide differentiation. Indeed, being Greek in origin, I was pleasantly surprised by a couple of stories featuring Greek grandmothers! That's a first! Others will probably find other things to "represent" them.
In fact, each story is profoundly unique and the many-faceted spin through different sorts of scary horror makes for a wonderful trip through a variety of fears, creepy settings, and unsettling writing styles (see, for example, the hilarious "One Star Would Not Recommend" by Anya Leigh Josephs). There's no point picking favorites, all the stories have something to say and show abundant heart and passion for the genre. However. one story I eagerly recommend is Nicole M. Wolverton's "In the Darkness We Dig," it stands out for both writing and concept.
In fact, each story is profoundly unique and the many-faceted spin through different sorts of scary horror makes for a wonderful trip through a variety of fears, creepy settings, and unsettling writing styles (see, for example, the hilarious "One Star Would Not Recommend" by Anya Leigh Josephs). There's no point picking favorites, all the stories have something to say and show abundant heart and passion for the genre. However. one story I eagerly recommend is Nicole M. Wolverton's "In the Darkness We Dig," it stands out for both writing and concept.
November 14, 2024
It’s hard to rate anthologies because different stories will appeal to different people. In the case of The Horror That Represents You, the calibre of writing and editing is very high. I’ll mention the stories that resonated with me. Other readers may find other stories in the collection more appealing.
First, the one that made me cry. Christine Lucas’s “The Grandmothers We Leave Behind” is beautifully written and packs an emotional punch. Such a moving story, heartrending and beautifully executed. I feel like this will tug at the heartstrings of everyone.
Simo Srinivas’s “Low Contact” made me chuckle. The necromancer angle is hilarious, and the voice so strong it reads very smoothly. Honestly, this one is delightful. A real joy to read.
Micah Castle’s “Someone Who’s Not Me” is so full of angst it made my heart ache for the protagonist. Love the concept of healing with nature, and the magic is so well thought out, it’s amazing.
Patricia Miller’s “Just Lucky” is so well-written I felt immersed in the story from beginning to end.
Koji A. Dae’s “Folie a Deux” is a modern-day cautionary tale about the power of words, neatly executed.
Sheila Massie’s “Monster Spray, Monster’s Prey” is very short but is notable for its lyricism and power.
Like I mentioned before, different stories will appeal to different readers. I’m not a horror fan, but I’m a fan of the short story form, and came to this anthology via word-of-mouth recommendation. I hesitated because of the horror aspect, but I’m glad I picked this one up.
First, the one that made me cry. Christine Lucas’s “The Grandmothers We Leave Behind” is beautifully written and packs an emotional punch. Such a moving story, heartrending and beautifully executed. I feel like this will tug at the heartstrings of everyone.
Simo Srinivas’s “Low Contact” made me chuckle. The necromancer angle is hilarious, and the voice so strong it reads very smoothly. Honestly, this one is delightful. A real joy to read.
Micah Castle’s “Someone Who’s Not Me” is so full of angst it made my heart ache for the protagonist. Love the concept of healing with nature, and the magic is so well thought out, it’s amazing.
Patricia Miller’s “Just Lucky” is so well-written I felt immersed in the story from beginning to end.
Koji A. Dae’s “Folie a Deux” is a modern-day cautionary tale about the power of words, neatly executed.
Sheila Massie’s “Monster Spray, Monster’s Prey” is very short but is notable for its lyricism and power.
Like I mentioned before, different stories will appeal to different readers. I’m not a horror fan, but I’m a fan of the short story form, and came to this anthology via word-of-mouth recommendation. I hesitated because of the horror aspect, but I’m glad I picked this one up.
November 17, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The collection has 23 stories and 1 poem. While some are amazing horror stories, there were a few that was not to my taste, which can always happen with short story collections especially when the stories are by different authors that have different styles.
My overall rating for the stories is 3.8 and my favourites were The Side of the Moment, A Lesson in Obsolescence and In Darkness We Dig.
The collection has 23 stories and 1 poem. While some are amazing horror stories, there were a few that was not to my taste, which can always happen with short story collections especially when the stories are by different authors that have different styles.
My overall rating for the stories is 3.8 and my favourites were The Side of the Moment, A Lesson in Obsolescence and In Darkness We Dig.
November 10, 2024
I really wanted to like this more, but the majority of stories here elicited little more than a shrug from me. Of the 24 gathered, there were seven that stood out…
The Craving, Vivian Kasley: excellent period horror, and I mean Carrie style not something set in the 1800s
This Side of the Moment, Megan M Davies-Ostrom: a very clever and very scary tale of what-if
In the Darkness We Dig, Nicole M Wolverton: what starts as something creepy about teeth becomes fully unhinged by the end. Impressive!
One Star Would Not Recommend, Anya Leigh Josephs: really fun way of assessing yourself - via imagined reviews of your body left by the aliens that have borrowed it!
The Grandmothers That We Leave Behind, Christine Lucas: another creepy fable with some haunting images of people stuck in a time loop
The Last Train, Jen Mierisch: very powerful and haunting story about the darker side of having a new baby. Drew me in and kept me there.
Mad Lullaby, Ray Pantle: interesting idea set in a parallel world where people don’t sleep.
Thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Craving, Vivian Kasley: excellent period horror, and I mean Carrie style not something set in the 1800s
This Side of the Moment, Megan M Davies-Ostrom: a very clever and very scary tale of what-if
In the Darkness We Dig, Nicole M Wolverton: what starts as something creepy about teeth becomes fully unhinged by the end. Impressive!
One Star Would Not Recommend, Anya Leigh Josephs: really fun way of assessing yourself - via imagined reviews of your body left by the aliens that have borrowed it!
The Grandmothers That We Leave Behind, Christine Lucas: another creepy fable with some haunting images of people stuck in a time loop
The Last Train, Jen Mierisch: very powerful and haunting story about the darker side of having a new baby. Drew me in and kept me there.
Mad Lullaby, Ray Pantle: interesting idea set in a parallel world where people don’t sleep.
Thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2024
I don't pick up many short story compilations as I do tend to prefer a longer story to sink my teeth into. However, short stories/novellas can sometimes be a better alternative for when you want something short and sweet...
This collection of tales is aix of quirky, weird and wonderful. There's a supernatural element to some, horror and just terrible happenings to others, often at the hands of another person or being.
They capture your attention for the whistle stop tour of adventures. I enjoyed working my way through the individual stories but my favourite has to be the first. I think a lot of women will relate to it on some level and perhaps feel some sympathy. It definitely grabbed my attention and was a great introduction to the compilation.
This collection of tales is aix of quirky, weird and wonderful. There's a supernatural element to some, horror and just terrible happenings to others, often at the hands of another person or being.
They capture your attention for the whistle stop tour of adventures. I enjoyed working my way through the individual stories but my favourite has to be the first. I think a lot of women will relate to it on some level and perhaps feel some sympathy. It definitely grabbed my attention and was a great introduction to the compilation.
October 4, 2024
The Horror That Represents You
There's a strong passion for the genre that's clearly evident in the authors that creatively soon each of these dark tales; The Horrors That Represent Us is a smart, scary, banger of an anthology.
Several stories gave me nostalgic vibes while reading ... of bring a teen and scaring myself senseless late at night, in my room.
While I'm now in my 40's, have a TAD more sense (depending on who you ask), and don't get scared the way I used to, these stories were still highly effective.
This anthology was a very pleasant surprise, and I'd highly recommend checking it out if you enjoy horror shorts at all.
It's a really solid one.
4..5 / 5 (rounded up)
There's a strong passion for the genre that's clearly evident in the authors that creatively soon each of these dark tales; The Horrors That Represent Us is a smart, scary, banger of an anthology.
Several stories gave me nostalgic vibes while reading ... of bring a teen and scaring myself senseless late at night, in my room.
While I'm now in my 40's, have a TAD more sense (depending on who you ask), and don't get scared the way I used to, these stories were still highly effective.
This anthology was a very pleasant surprise, and I'd highly recommend checking it out if you enjoy horror shorts at all.
It's a really solid one.
4..5 / 5 (rounded up)
January 27, 2025
This is a brilliantly dark and twisty collection of 24 short stories and poems by different authors - all with the theme of things that scare us!
What we are afraid of will differ from person to person - but even though in general, many of the topics in these stories don't normally scare me - I found that these were all pretty atmospheric and creepy.
The authors do a great job, taking sometimes seemingly normal everyday things and creating a situation or sequence of events that will really get to you and keep you mulling over it for, in my case, the rest of the afternoon!
I loved the diversity through the book and it was great to grab over a lunchtime and devour a story or two.
This format is perfect to use as a palate cleanser, to dip into whilst reading other books - not losing your place or thought process throughout.
It's also a brilliant introduction to horror - if this isn't normally your genre....try it out and just dip into a quick read before some lighter reading!?
I'm quite a horror reader at heart and so I really can't pick a favourite piece in this book. Each one has its own plus points and I was equally drawn into them all.
This is my first anthology of 2025 but have really been enjoying this format more and more over the last year or so and hope to include more as the year progresses.
What we are afraid of will differ from person to person - but even though in general, many of the topics in these stories don't normally scare me - I found that these were all pretty atmospheric and creepy.
The authors do a great job, taking sometimes seemingly normal everyday things and creating a situation or sequence of events that will really get to you and keep you mulling over it for, in my case, the rest of the afternoon!
I loved the diversity through the book and it was great to grab over a lunchtime and devour a story or two.
This format is perfect to use as a palate cleanser, to dip into whilst reading other books - not losing your place or thought process throughout.
It's also a brilliant introduction to horror - if this isn't normally your genre....try it out and just dip into a quick read before some lighter reading!?
I'm quite a horror reader at heart and so I really can't pick a favourite piece in this book. Each one has its own plus points and I was equally drawn into them all.
This is my first anthology of 2025 but have really been enjoying this format more and more over the last year or so and hope to include more as the year progresses.
January 10, 2025
The Horror That Represents Us is an anthology of stories curated by S.D. Vassallo, writer and co - founder of Brigid Gate Press.
I have read a number of releases from this publishing house and have to say that the calibre of books that I have read from them have all been very high, and have subsequently, for me, have made them a publisher to watch. So, when I was accepted on the tour for this book I was most pleased.
The Horror That Represents Us is a collection of stories circling around the concept of fear and what scares each of us. Whilst this is a little luminescent in its brief, each of the stories captures a differing feeling of unease and disquiet in their essence, whilst gently gnawing their way under the skin.
Each of the stories has a different flavour of horror involved, such as body horror, sci fi horror, psychological horror and dark fantasy to name a few, but what ties them together is the fact that whilst not all the stories will be creepy on the whole, there will be one that burrows its way under the skin of the individual. And this was the case with my experience.
The one that stood out for me was the brilliant ‘This Side of the Moment’ by Megan M. Davies - Ostrom, which tells the tale of a woman, who after leaving her teen home alone walks in to find her cooking churros. Not a particularly horrific or disturbing premise…. Or is it. The story then moves on to play out a sliding doors moment in which in one reality the mother of the girl is deemed as being anxious but life goes on as normal, whilst in the other reality the experience led to disastrous results.
The story plays around with those moments that we all fall into. The what ifs and the what may have been. It’s an excellent story and one that I can relate to totally.
On the whole it’s is a really well crafted anthology of superbly written short stories that will hit home and leave the reader with a thought provoked frown on their face as they digest each little slice of disquiet.
I have read a number of releases from this publishing house and have to say that the calibre of books that I have read from them have all been very high, and have subsequently, for me, have made them a publisher to watch. So, when I was accepted on the tour for this book I was most pleased.
The Horror That Represents Us is a collection of stories circling around the concept of fear and what scares each of us. Whilst this is a little luminescent in its brief, each of the stories captures a differing feeling of unease and disquiet in their essence, whilst gently gnawing their way under the skin.
Each of the stories has a different flavour of horror involved, such as body horror, sci fi horror, psychological horror and dark fantasy to name a few, but what ties them together is the fact that whilst not all the stories will be creepy on the whole, there will be one that burrows its way under the skin of the individual. And this was the case with my experience.
The one that stood out for me was the brilliant ‘This Side of the Moment’ by Megan M. Davies - Ostrom, which tells the tale of a woman, who after leaving her teen home alone walks in to find her cooking churros. Not a particularly horrific or disturbing premise…. Or is it. The story then moves on to play out a sliding doors moment in which in one reality the mother of the girl is deemed as being anxious but life goes on as normal, whilst in the other reality the experience led to disastrous results.
The story plays around with those moments that we all fall into. The what ifs and the what may have been. It’s an excellent story and one that I can relate to totally.
On the whole it’s is a really well crafted anthology of superbly written short stories that will hit home and leave the reader with a thought provoked frown on their face as they digest each little slice of disquiet.
November 24, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for providing a review copy.
I love a good themed anthology. It's so interesting to me how different authors interpret a theme. So an anthology about what scares you most or represents you as a person is right up my alley. I feel like I got to know the authors a bit, while enjoying some top-notch horror. 4 stars
The Craving by Vivian Kasley ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Khotoum by Sridhar Shankar ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Folie à Deux by Koji A. Dae ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
This Side of the Moment by Megan M. Davis-Ostrum ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
In the Darkness, We Dig by Nicole M. Wolverton ⭐⭐⭐.25
Two Heads, One Body by Scott J. Moses ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
One Star, Would Not Recommend by Anya Leigh Josephs ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Skin by KC Grifant ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why I Wear the Mask by Samuel McQuall ⭐⭐⭐
Blood and Dust by Fred Furtado ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Something Blue by Anna Fitzgerald Healy ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
It Calls at Night by Samantha Lokai ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Grandmothers That We Leave Behind by Christine Lucas ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Visitor by Hiro Finn Hoshino ⭐⭐⭐.25
A Lesson in Obsolescence by Christopher O’Halloran ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Low Contact by Simo Srinivas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Last Train by Jen Mierisch ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mad Lullaby by Ray Pantle ⭐⭐⭐.5
Someone Who’s Not Me by Micah Castle ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just Lucky by Patricia Miller ⭐⭐⭐.75
Monster Spray, Monster’s Prey by Shella Massie ⭐⭐⭐
Wire Laurel by Stephanie Parent ⭐⭐⭐
Adrift in the Salish Sea by Bebe Bayliss ⭐⭐⭐.75
I love a good themed anthology. It's so interesting to me how different authors interpret a theme. So an anthology about what scares you most or represents you as a person is right up my alley. I feel like I got to know the authors a bit, while enjoying some top-notch horror. 4 stars
The Craving by Vivian Kasley ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Khotoum by Sridhar Shankar ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Folie à Deux by Koji A. Dae ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
This Side of the Moment by Megan M. Davis-Ostrum ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
In the Darkness, We Dig by Nicole M. Wolverton ⭐⭐⭐.25
Two Heads, One Body by Scott J. Moses ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
One Star, Would Not Recommend by Anya Leigh Josephs ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Skin by KC Grifant ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why I Wear the Mask by Samuel McQuall ⭐⭐⭐
Blood and Dust by Fred Furtado ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Something Blue by Anna Fitzgerald Healy ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
It Calls at Night by Samantha Lokai ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Grandmothers That We Leave Behind by Christine Lucas ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Visitor by Hiro Finn Hoshino ⭐⭐⭐.25
A Lesson in Obsolescence by Christopher O’Halloran ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Low Contact by Simo Srinivas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Last Train by Jen Mierisch ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mad Lullaby by Ray Pantle ⭐⭐⭐.5
Someone Who’s Not Me by Micah Castle ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just Lucky by Patricia Miller ⭐⭐⭐.75
Monster Spray, Monster’s Prey by Shella Massie ⭐⭐⭐
Wire Laurel by Stephanie Parent ⭐⭐⭐
Adrift in the Salish Sea by Bebe Bayliss ⭐⭐⭐.75
December 11, 2024
It is a good book. There are several stories from different authors. Each story is unique and interesting. This was a fun read.
September 24, 2024
Typically, I am an extreme horror reader, and I would classify these stories as mild; there is also a list of content warnings for each story at the beginning for those who prefer to know what they're up against. That being said, I really enjoyed this anthology! I usually love the format - being able to engage with many diverse plots in a short time - and this was exactly that. I enjoyed visiting all of the different points of view and places these stories took me, and there was a great mix of psychological, body, and classic horror, and even some of them even included some fascinating folklore. I also appreciated the depth in the stories - each one really made me reflect on different areas and experiences in life and how they might relate to what the characters were going through. A few of my absolute favorites were Khotoum, This Side of the Moment, A Lesson in Obsolescence, and Blood and Dust. All of the stories were fantastic, but I think those are the ones that really moved me the most. I'll definitely be rereading this collection again! (I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
September 14, 2024
I received a review copy for free via BookSirens and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Generous collection of above average stories with a handful of really good ones. Almost all are very competently written and there's a wide variety of subjects and styles so I think something to suit everyone. I found a few new authors whose other work I searched for.
Generous collection of above average stories with a handful of really good ones. Almost all are very competently written and there's a wide variety of subjects and styles so I think something to suit everyone. I found a few new authors whose other work I searched for.
November 10, 2024
Really enjoyed this collection of stories, some scary some gross some emotional kept me hooked from start to finish & was pleased to read at the end about all the different authors would highly recommended
I received an advance copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily
January 5, 2025
This was such an enjoyable little collection of short horror stories/poems and I think the name sums it up perfectly as there is something in there for everyone - to be petrified of that is.
Each story is well written and really gave me a feel for the writing style and characters which isn't always the easiest thing to do but I feel that this collection did it really well. Each one gripped me right from the opening line and held my attention all the way through, I couldn't put them down and I didn't want too, so finished it in one sitting.
I would definitely be hard pushed to pick a top read from this collection but a few that were stand out for me are
This Side of the Moment
Khotoum
In The Darkness We Dig
One Star Would Not Recommend
These are four that really stick in my mind especially One Star Would Not Recommend as it really hit differently as society is very caught up with the way someone looks and sadly people often make a judgement of someone and their abilities based on their looks and body shape and sadly being a plus size woman myself I am all to aware of this.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves Horror, who loves short stories and/or wants to try something new
Each story is well written and really gave me a feel for the writing style and characters which isn't always the easiest thing to do but I feel that this collection did it really well. Each one gripped me right from the opening line and held my attention all the way through, I couldn't put them down and I didn't want too, so finished it in one sitting.
I would definitely be hard pushed to pick a top read from this collection but a few that were stand out for me are
This Side of the Moment
Khotoum
In The Darkness We Dig
One Star Would Not Recommend
These are four that really stick in my mind especially One Star Would Not Recommend as it really hit differently as society is very caught up with the way someone looks and sadly people often make a judgement of someone and their abilities based on their looks and body shape and sadly being a plus size woman myself I am all to aware of this.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves Horror, who loves short stories and/or wants to try something new
January 7, 2025
I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with Zooloo's Book Tours.
This is an anthology of short horror stories by various authors. I found that some of these stories were entertaining in a dark, twisted, or gruesome kind of way, while some were more chilling or sinister. I find that short stories are a good choice if you aren't sure what you want to read, or don't feel like committing to a full-length novel.
The story that I connected with the most was “Something Blue”, as I could identify with the protagonist a little bit. The story that I found the most interesting to read was “One Star, Do Not Recommend”. It struck me as different from the others, and I think that fans of sci-fi will enjoy that one too. The story that I found the most unnerving was “The Visitor”; that one gave me chills.
I think many of these stories speak to the fact that there are always things we don't understand, about ourselves, the world, and human nature. If you enjoy short horror stories, you may enjoy this book.
Thank you to Zooloo's Book Tours, to the respective authors, and to the publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.
This is an anthology of short horror stories by various authors. I found that some of these stories were entertaining in a dark, twisted, or gruesome kind of way, while some were more chilling or sinister. I find that short stories are a good choice if you aren't sure what you want to read, or don't feel like committing to a full-length novel.
The story that I connected with the most was “Something Blue”, as I could identify with the protagonist a little bit. The story that I found the most interesting to read was “One Star, Do Not Recommend”. It struck me as different from the others, and I think that fans of sci-fi will enjoy that one too. The story that I found the most unnerving was “The Visitor”; that one gave me chills.
I think many of these stories speak to the fact that there are always things we don't understand, about ourselves, the world, and human nature. If you enjoy short horror stories, you may enjoy this book.
Thank you to Zooloo's Book Tours, to the respective authors, and to the publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.
November 27, 2024
The Horror That Represents You is a brilliantly dark collection of horror stories. The stories range from quirky and unsettling, to gory and violent.
They were all exceptionally written and with very intriguing plots. Each story flows well and I couldn't bring myself to put this one down. There was not a single story that I did not enjoy.
I can easily tell the level of dedication and effort that went into this work of art.
There is something here for every horror reader and I highly encourage everyone to give this book a try. Very well crafted indeed.
Thank you to Netgalley, Brigid's Gate Press, the authors and editor, for my eARC of this book. Pub Date December 10th, 2024
They were all exceptionally written and with very intriguing plots. Each story flows well and I couldn't bring myself to put this one down. There was not a single story that I did not enjoy.
I can easily tell the level of dedication and effort that went into this work of art.
There is something here for every horror reader and I highly encourage everyone to give this book a try. Very well crafted indeed.
Thank you to Netgalley, Brigid's Gate Press, the authors and editor, for my eARC of this book. Pub Date December 10th, 2024
December 24, 2024
A Riveting Exploration into the Psychological Facets of Mankind
I love the cover of this book. It's mystical and bewildering tales of the horror that lies inside and which represents the facets of mankind. This anthropology of stories is a riveting exploration into psychological tales with a mystic and mysticism atmosphere. There are so many great tales, that it is hard to pick a favorite. Some are quite chilling, some are shorter than others, but each has its unique value. I love the poem at the end and the explanation for those who are not familiar with Lagniappe, a saying or phrase that is directly tied to New Orleans Louisiana. I would definitely recommend this read
I love the cover of this book. It's mystical and bewildering tales of the horror that lies inside and which represents the facets of mankind. This anthropology of stories is a riveting exploration into psychological tales with a mystic and mysticism atmosphere. There are so many great tales, that it is hard to pick a favorite. Some are quite chilling, some are shorter than others, but each has its unique value. I love the poem at the end and the explanation for those who are not familiar with Lagniappe, a saying or phrase that is directly tied to New Orleans Louisiana. I would definitely recommend this read
January 6, 2025
With 24 short stories in this anthology, I was fascinated by how different authors view aspects of fear and horror in their own, unique way. Some made for uncomfortable reading, whilst others struck a chord with me. And others did make me think what if, especially when the premise of the story is something we take for granted, like sleeping. I enjoyed each tale for their own merits, but my personal favourites were A Lesson in Obsolescence by Christopher O’Halloran, Skin by K.C. Grifant and Why I Wear the Mask by Samuel McQuail. But I’m sure though that each reader of this book will discover their own favourites.
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