The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls

by Angela Sylvaine

The dead a corner drenched in shadow; an earthquake's epicenter; the part of a roller coaster ride where the car rounds the final curve and all force dissipates, leaving those trapped beneath the safety bar feeling sick and hollow. From the beloved author of Frost Bite and Chopping Spree comes this heartbreaking horror collection about girls and women trapped by circumstance, manipulation, and obsession. The book includes a moving introduction by J. A. W. McCarthy (Shirley Jackson Award finalist for Sometimes We're Cruel) and seventeen stories by Sylvaine. The stories Astronaut Dreams, The Bride, New Hue, Playing Tricks, Sorry, We're Open, Antifreeze and Sweet Peas, If Heard, Please Call, Starved, Return of The Wilderness Girls, Night Maere, The Dead Spot, Burnt Embers and Bluebirds, Mr. Chew, Crimson Clover, Unrestful Dogs, Clutching Air, Edge of Decay.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Collections, Fiction, Adult

174 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 21, 2024

About the author

Angela Sylvaine is a self-proclaimed cheerful goth who writes horror fiction and poetry. Her debut novel, Frost Bite, and her debut collection, The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls, are available from Dark Matter INK. Her short fiction and poetry have appeared in/on over forty anthologies, magazines, and podcasts, including Southwest Review, Apex Magazine, and The NoSleep Podcast. She lives in the shadow if the Rocky Mountains with her sweetheart and three creepy cats. You can find her online angelasylvaine.com.

Reviews

[Jamedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls is the debut horror short story collection of Angela Sylvaine, which will be published by Dark Matter INK. A compilation of powerful stories that all pivot around girls put in difficult situations, which push them towards their limit, written in a gorgeous prose.

It is difficult to qualify many of them due to how their length varies, from flash fiction territory to novelettes, but all equally intense, putting those girls in the spot where the society that should protect them can't help or even becomes part of that problem; a theme that runs in parallel with the current politic developments in some countries.

Supernatural things are involved in many of them, but we can see how at the end, it's only the agency of the characters their way to escape from that cycle they are immersed. I found especially interesting Antifreezer and Sweet Pea, one of the longest in the anthology, but whose ending almost stops my heart. Those with mixed endings stayed with me after finishing the collection.

If you are looking for a great palate cleanser, putting the focus on girls and horror, The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls is an excellent collection, a proof of Sylvaine's talent as author.

[Barbara Behring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Angela Sylvaines writes so beautifully and elegantly. I enjoyed most of the stories in this anthology .

[Veronica ☠️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of 17 amazing stories of girls and women dealing with monsters was such a great collection! They were all excellent and hard to pick a favourite but here are a couple of stand outs...

1) Playing Tricks: Dinas home life has been hard and school life is no better. Suffering from her parents separation, her mom decides to give her a gift to cheer her up a bit. It was a doll named Pansy, Pansy was her moms doll when she was younger. Dina loved her but quickly noticed things change. Pansy would move on her own and giggle a lot. Will mom believe Dina or should she get rid of the doll?

2) Starved: It's a normal boring day of school for Tessa until SHE walks in. Once Neve walked in that classroom, Tessas life changed. A hunger in her was born and she was hungry for Neve. They have a little fun but that stop until Neve finds a boyfriend. Tessa, now jealous, will fight to have her Neve back

3) Mr. Chew: Imagine seeing a monster that nobody else can? Imagine not knowing what's real and what's not? Just remember, that once you hear his song, he will come.

This was such an excellent collection! I truly enjoy Angela's writing style and all of these stories were excellent! Definitely check this out and Angela's other work!

[J.E. Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of anthologies and short story collections. As an adult, I could be coerced into the back of a windowless van with diet soda, fried chicken, and Twilight Zone and Night Gallery playing on an endless loop. My kidnappers would pay the police to kidnap me back.

The Dead Spot tickles that same dead spot in my soul that once had its scab picked away after I discovered copies of Tales From the Crypt and The Vault of Horror in my aunt's childhood room (and the subsequent HBO series). But what I like most about everything she writes is how accessible it is without losing depth in the stories. There's blood but you're not drowning in it. Moments of gore are present but not lingered upon. And each of the POV characters feels like their own person and not an archetype or trope. It makes a couple of these tales hurt a little more than expected. Stories like "Starved", "Return of the Wilderness Girls", "The Dead Spot", and "Clutching Air" had me feeling the twist of the knife before I even realized I'd been stabbed.

Buy a loved one this book and Sylvaine's "Frost Bite" for Halloween-mas.

[thevampireslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review to follow, for now...Not a word is wasted in this collection of hauntingly beautiful stories, each one is unique and the characters are well fleshed out considering the length, plots felt well developed, for fans of the gloomy and eerie

[Happy Goat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review at Happy Goat Horror:
https://happygoathorror.com/2024/10/1...

This was a good, solid collection. My favourite story in it was Astronaut Dreams.. who would ever think of 28 Days Later style rage bees? Sylvaine, that's who.

[KMart Vet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection delivers a set of seventeen horror stories where the supernatural collides with the all-too-real darkness of human nature. The best horror often has a very specific purpose, in my opinion. It tends to hold a mirror up to humanity to show us something about ourselves. Short stories are a great format for this and the essence of this collection explores the lives, struggles, and often grim fates of its female protagonists. Each story is meticulously crafted, with vivid settings that draw readers in and immersive scenes that linger. The author uses the short story format to great effect, distilling horror into potent, bite-sized pieces that pack a powerful punch.

The women in these stories are fighters, enduring harrowing circumstances with resilience and tenacity. While their endings are rarely happy, they are imbued with a sense of defiant strength. Sylvaine's writing does not shy away from the unsettling or the sorrowful, challenging readers to confront the darker aspects of humanity through the lens of the supernatural.

This collection is a testament to the power of horror as a mirror to society. Sylvaine skillfully uses her stories to reflect on the complexities of female existence, making the collection both a tribute to the ways women navigate a world filled with unseen horrors.

Its richly described settings and powerful narratives create a haunting experience that is best savored slowly, preferably in the dark of night. Each story invites readers to pause and reflect, making it a perfect collection for those looking to delve deeply into the genre in short, impactful doses. Highly recommended for those who appreciate horror that is both thought-provoking and deeply unsettling.

I received an advance review copy to read and review from Booksirens and the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful and utterly haunting, the Dead Spot is such a stunning tribute by Angela Sylvaine to all the lost girls out there. This collection of short stories combines her lovely prose with some gruesome imagery that is so effective! I recommend especially for my horror lovers that also appreciate sad girl literature, these stories feel like a marriage of both.

The story that stands out to me the most is “Return of the Wilderness Girls”, which is about missing girls returning to their hometown years after their disappearance, but not being quite the same. The tone is unsettling throughout and provides some effective horror. This may not be the intention, but I connected with this story and interpreted it as recovering from trauma. The way the townspeople misunderstood the girls and just wanted them to be back the way they were before they disappeared felt personal to me.

If you’re looking for sad girl horror in bite-sized stories of lost girls, The Dead Spot comes out on May 21st!

Thank you so much to Angela Sylvaine for sending me a copy of this collection to review. I really loved it and I cannot wait to see what you write next!

[Natascha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich bin durch verschiedene Anthologien auf Angela Sylvaine aufmerksam geworden und daher war meine Freude natürlich riesig, als ich gehört habe, dass sie eine eigene Sammlung herausbringt. Und was soll ich sagen? Sie war so gut wie ich erwartet habe. Die Bandbreite an unterschiedlichen Geschichten die sich hier finden lässt ist beeindruckend und ich hoffe sehr, dass noch viele Geschichten folgen werden.

Meine Highlights waren:

New Hue - Dystopisch und knallhart. Das Ende hat mich eiskalt erwischt.

Playing Tricks - Wenn die Monster menschlich sind ist das für mich immer der schlimmste Horror.

Sorry, We're Open - Für mich die traurigste Geschichte von allen, die mich direkt ins Herz getroffen hat.

Return of the Wilderness Girls - Atmosphärisch und geheimnisvoll. Ich hätte mir noch 100 Seiten mehr davon gewünscht.

Mr. Chew - In so einer Sammlung darf natürlich auch eine 'richtige' Monstergeschichte nicht fehlen.

Edge of Decay - Revenge-Geschichten müssen emotional sein und das ist diese auf jeden Fall.

[Rebecca White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good anthology between the bigger reads. They are great as a palate cleanser.

As someone who grew up obsessed with new episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark and watching reruns of The Twilight Zone, I instantly loved this book.

Some stories were only a few pages long which I appreciated. It made me fly through this one bc I kept telling myself “ok, just one more story”.

Some were truly dark and definitely did not have happy endings but all were beautifully written and imaginative. If short stories are yer jam, definitely pick this one up!

Thank you to the author for the e-ARC.

[Nikita · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dead Spot is an eclectic mix of short story horrors, ranging from light fright to downright depraved. This collection shares the stories of lost and lonely girls and leaves you filled with heartbreak, anguish, and horror.

My personal favourites are The Bride, Starved, and Return of the Wilderness Girls, but truthfully I loved every story.

5 stars!

[Mallory McCartney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short story collection! The Bride, Playing Tricks and Mr. Chew are definitely my faves from this one

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Death changes a person’s song.”
📚
The Dead Spot is utter perfection from start to finish. Every single devastating, heart-wrenching, eerie, terrifying, vicious, vengeful, shocking, twisted story is a chilling, thrilling, horrific, and exhilarating experience where women and girls face formidable foes and situations. And while they’re certainly victims, these fully-fleshed characters also possess inner fire and agency. Their courage and strength screams off the pages as they endure unspeakable circumstances and fight back against evil oppressors, at times tragically succumbing, at others pointedly enacting targeted, brutal, and cinematic vengeance. And the scariest part? The intense realism and hair-thin line between comfort and ruin, success and failure, fiction and reality.

The entire compilation is malevolent and pristine, generating the rare occasion where this reader couldn’t choose just a few stories to highlight. Each contains so much depth, skill, and feeling; hope occasionally shimmers among the doom and dread, and this, along with skillfully cultivated horror and desolation, makes this collection an absolute treasure and delight. And that cover — utterly gorgeous!

Astronaut Dreams: A tragic and anxiety-inducing apocalyptic narrative where a man-made epidemic wreaks lethal havoc.

The Bride: A deliciously dark Gothic tale surrounding an old Victorian wedding dress and two young brides.

New Hue: A savage and phenomenal dystopian where color determines caste; appalling and unmooring in its brutality and real-life societal parallels (and that ending!!😫).

Playing Tricks: A creepy exploration of insanity and manipulation that cuts to the bone.

Sorry, We’re Open: A nightmarish journey of love and longing with a seriously haunting conclusion.

Antifreeze and Sweet Peas: A powerful and original account of murder, toxic masculinity, and sugary-sweet revenge.

If Heard, Please Call: A living nightmare where loss, carnage, and devotion creep, haunt, and devastate in equal measure.

Starved: An all-consuming portrayal of attachment, pleasure, deprivation, and obsession oozing with beauty and horror.

Return of the Wilderness Girls: A mysterious and violent story of time, transformation, truth, and hatred centered around the quandaries of villainy, humanity, and monsters.

Night Maere: A paralyzing tale of fear, foreboding, and predisposition where demons lurk within and stalk without.

The Dead Spot: A disturbing titular title of control, choice, tragedy, and fate.

Burnt Embers and Bluebirds: A strange and monstrous anecdote of sorrow, loneliness, and belonging where a library functions as both home and haven.

Mr. Chew: A harrowing examination of power, neglect, trauma, mistreatment, and corruption where help is scarce and potentially deadly.

Crimson Clover: One of the most concise yet hardest hitting and brutally biting stories in the bunch!

Unrestful Dogs: A claustrophobic tale of deceit that truly unnerves and terrifies.

Clutching Air: A brilliant and commanding allegory of gentrification, social inequity, predators, and society’s callous and greedy nature.

Edge of Decay: An evocative and agonizing story of abuse, cruelty, and comeuppance that serves as a thundering final exclamation point!

A huge thank you to Angela Sylvaine for sharing an ARC of this tremendous collection, which is scheduled for release on May 21st via Dark Matter INK. I ravenously devoured it, and it will easily top both my yearly and all-time favorites lists!

[Ed Crocker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angela Sylvaine impressed last year with her debut novel, the small town creature feature Frost Bite, which gave Gremlins/Tremors vibes, heavy on the action and humour, but twinned this with some brilliant character work. The reputation of prairie dogs has yet to recover.

Now she has brought us her debut story collection, the intriguingly titled Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls. These tales, nine of which are reprints, showing that the theme of lost girls has followed her throughout her short story career – give us exactly what was promised, a series of girls (and some women) who, sometimes through some fault of their own and often through none, have indeed lost their way and found themselves in a tough spot and, frequently, a dead one.

The first thing to say is that these are so dark, and so twisted, and so wildly imaginative, that there were several times I let out various weird animal noises of surprise and admiration at just how devilishly macabre we go.

For example in Playing Tricks, a girl faced with the loss of her dad from her home life must contend with the possibility that she has inherited his mental illness while avoiding creepy talking dolls; if you think she’s already having a rough time then boy does Sylvaine have a wild finale for you.

And in the vividly imaginative sci-fi horror short New Hue, where only the rich can afford a colour change to the entire body – “New hue = new you”, Sylvaine laces a cruel streak of hope with one of the most brutal endings I’ve encountered recently. Oh and wait till you meet the ‘zombees’ in the collection’s opener Astronaut Dreams – there is no typo there, I can assure you.

But this isn’t just a collection to shock and horrify, though it definitely is that. Sylvaine has twinned her devilish tone with a keen sense of empathy for the lost girls in question. Whether or not they are the authors of their own downfall or the victim of wild unfairness (the line between the two being artfully blurred in this collection), you feel desperately for them thanks to Sylvaine’s ability to write a wickedly strong voice and twist even the darkest narratives into ones that elicit sympathy for them in a world that is most definitely not, ever, their friend.

In perhaps my favourite tale Return of the Wilderness Girls, a bunch of missing girls return to their hometown and families, changed somehow, and whether they are the monsters or whether it’s the judgmental society around them who can’t handle them is something Sylvaine skilfully plays with, complete with an ending that tells us firmly where she – and at that point most definitely us too, stands on the issue.

And in the gloriously named Antifreeze and Sweet Peas, a baker hands out much more than delicious pastries to the sleazy male characters who grace her shop; we are left in no doubt as to the blood on our protagonist’s hands from the outset yet are still rooted in sympathy firmly for them by the gut-punching ending.

This contrast of the dark with spider-web strong levels of empathy works wonders in this collection, which constantly slaps you round the face with its denouements for characters you’re rooting for. Or, as Anna Dupre put it in her recent FanFiAddict review, ‘the depths of darkness explored across these stories hold a magnifying glass to the unique female experience.’

What really jumped out to me about so many of these stories is that the POV of each “lost girl” in question is so strong from the get go, yet Sylvaine mostly refrains from announcing whether they are the hero or the villain, meaning that often when you find out their true nature, you are already on their side. This is a wildly effective narrative device that not only makes you question the depths of their villainy but also the very act of judging without understanding: in a world where women are constantly judged to whether they conform to a certain stereotype (the crazy one, the humourless one, the flesh-eating one), what happens when you utilise empathy prior to the judgement? How does this warp (or level) the narrative? How would society be different if we gave that a go? With such questions does Sylvaine pepper her macabre with relish.

These are deliciously dark and brutal tales twinned with startling empathy for the lost girls in question: it’s a wicked combo that makes Sylvaine a horror insta-buy.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having recently finished a horror novel with an all-male cast, I thought it'd be interesting to dip into Angela Sylvaine's forthcoming debut horror collection, 'The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls.' Described in one review as some sort of palette cleanser, I naively thought that those seventeen stories making up the collection, all of them starring women placed in horrifying situations, would be exactly what I needed. Well, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

Are the stories worth reading? Yes, very much so; there're no hit and misses here, they're all absolute gems. Are they harrowing, terrifying, uncomfortable, original, unsettling? Yes indeed, from the very first page; I even had a nightmare about one of them, which is very rare for me (it was "Crimson Clover," the shortest of the bunch, essentially a flash about a baby girl - not for the faint of heart). Are they well-written? Without a doubt: powerful writing, detailed descriptions, not a word wasted, careful, precise, and sometimes stunningly crafted prose, no matter the length. Is Sylvaine worth watching? Yep, a super-talented author, she's made a life-long fan outta me. What's so special about the collection, then?

Angela Sylvaine has a no-nonsense approach to evil, and that gutted me. Repeatedly. She's offering no explanations, no excuses. She's neither throwing gore left and right, making up gag-inducing scenes for their own sake, nor does she flatten everything with moralism, PC rage, and so on. On the contrary, she portrays women and girls through limit-situations that make sense of their world far more effectively than simply telling us about it. The villains are not invariably men (mothers, foster and otherwise, can be evil too), but there's so much intensity between the lines, the reader finds no time to rationalize the uncomfortable truths on the page nor devise excuses in order to evade the disagreeable realities. The women and the girls in these stories are lost, and the people who should be helping, are definitely not helping. Sylvaine herself offers no help in this: dear reader, she seems to say, take it or leave it, that's just how it is. Admittedly, sometimes, this makes evil a bit too real - it spills over the story and haunts the mind.

Let's look at my favorite stories: the opening story, "Astronaut Dreams," is an apocalyptic tale of eco-horror, starring a little girl trying to survive. Incredibly well-told, with a rather upsetting ending. It WILL shook you. But that's nothing; wait till you read "Playing Tricks" - now, that's a real horror story! Go totally blind. Try to see the world the same afterwards! "Mr. Chew," is an utterly creepy story about siblings, urban legends and corruption of the soul. "Crimson Clover" needs kid glove treatment; and "Clutching Air," a girl saved by the art of graffiti, but what happens when paint no longer sticks on walls? Finally, "Edge of Decay" closes the collection with a bang: the lack of parental love breeds monsters. Or does it?

This is a must-read collection for horror fans who enjoy being shocked without forgoing good writing. Angela Sylvaine is an author to watch!

[Timea B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angela Sylvaine's "The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls" is a compelling exploration of the depths of human resilience and vulnerability, with a particular focus on the female experience. Through a series of captivating characters, Sylvaine delves into profound fears and moments of courage, immersing readers in a world shrouded in darkness and anticipation.

Each story within the collection exudes a delicious spontaneity, woven with an eerie atmosphere and a subtle sense of predictability that keeps readers teetering on the edge of their seats. "Crimson Clover" stands out as a particularly striking example, packing a heart-wrenching punch within its compact narrative, crafting a truly haunting tale of horror.

The opening story, "Astronaut Dreams," commands attention with its bold premise, providing readers with a thought-provoking glimpse into a not-so-distant future. Meanwhile, "The Bride" skillfully depicts the chilling depths of obsession borne from the possession of a haunted object, while "New Hue" transports readers to a dystopian society where societal hierarchy is dictated by color, exploring the struggles of a young protagonist striving to transcend her predetermined fate.

From the emotionally charged "Return of the Wilderness Girls" to the haunting "The Night Maere" and the poignant "Mr. Chew," each tale evokes a spectrum of emotions, from anguish to sorrow to the sheer joy of immersive storytelling.

Sylvaine maintains a flawless narrative pace throughout the collection, deftly guiding readers through each story with a compelling voice. "The Dead Spot" stands as a testament to Sylvaine's prowess as a storyteller, leaving readers eager to delve into future works from this talented author.

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

[Nat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cliche, full of purple prose and overdramatic to the point where it sometimes comes off as silly. Occasionally a story is decent, but these are mostly just bad.

Astronaut Dreams - bees turn people into zombies. Lol. 1/5

The Bridge - haunted wedding dress. Why did it freeze her to death? This was ok but escalated too fast to make sense. 3/5

New Hue - in a dystopia where people are assigned to different colors, a girl tries to turn herself pink and turns into stone. Whatever dystopia is happening here is so derivative that it feels like parody. 1/5

Playing Tricks - Mom makes her young daughter think she's going crazy. This one was decent, 4/5

Sorry, We're Open - woman goes to a bar to see the ghost of her murdered friend. The actual murder part is so unbelievably cliche but the rest is fine. 3/5

Antifreeze and Sweet Peas - baker mom who kills people. Eh. 3/5

If Heard, Please Call - ghost train. 3/5

Starved - poetry and cannibalism and ridiculous purple prose. Absolutely terrible, 1/5.

Return of the Wilderness Girls - vampire girls who return from the dead. Cliche, 2/5

Night Maere - hallucination of dead mother. Overwritten but ok, 2/5

The Dead Spot - haunted roller coaster. 3/5

Burnt Embers and Bluebirds - library demons - silliness. 2/5

Mr Chew - foster kids and boogeyman haunting. Also silliness, 2/5

Crimson Clover - crying makes the rain come. 3/5

Unrestful Dogs - criminal minds-esque kidnapping of a woman. Come on lol. 2/5

Clutching Air - graffiti artist turns invisible. This was ok, but the end is underwhelming. 3/5

Edge of Decay - girl living in a trailer park whose brother dies. 3/5

[ania | hellishreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt lost at one time or another in your life — if you’re a Woman in Society™, then you’ll probably have felt a certain kind of loneliness that’s almost impossible to describe, but which Angela Sylvaine perfectly manages to convey in her short story collection The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls.

This collection feels both refreshingly new but achingly familiar and it contains a variety of different and unique stories of women and girls lost in one way or another. There’s stories of little girls abandoned by their parents, young girls looking to belong and of women lost to the world; there’s stories full of grief, loneliness and sadness.

Some of my favourite stories were:
- Sorry, we’re open.
- If heard, please call.
- Return of the wilderness girls.
- Clutching air.

The Dead Spot is honestly a pretty strong collection of stories, that are all equally good, but they all give off different kinds of vibes within subgenres of horror — there’s some paranormal, science fiction and urban legend’ish vibes to the stories and if you’re into Jennifer’s Body and Yellowjackets there’s two stories that are giving everything you’d wish for. Not to mention, there’s a good amount of queer stories and characters in this collection, so that’s a huge win to me.

Overall, a really solid horror short story collection and if you’re looking to read something by Sylvaine for the first time, this is a good starting point (but I would highly recommend Frost Bite by her as well though!).

// ARC received by the author for an honest review.

[LibraryMelancholia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of short stories by Angela Sylvaine is everything my dark little heart could ask for and more! I resonated with every story in some way.

I have several favorites which include:
Astronaut Dreams 
The Bride 
New Hue
Antifreeze and Sweet Peas
Starved
Return of The Wilderness Girls
Clutching Air
Edge of Decay

Even just the story titles are amazing. This is a collection of macabre, dark and emotional stories that follow several women through various difficult situations. From little girls with big dreams, to adult women with daring hopes, these stories don't necessarily have quote on quote happy endings, but they are most certainly satisfying. Every story is a little weird and a lot dark, and I loved them all. 

Thank you Angela for allowing me to read an advanced copy. I can't wait to get my hands on the physical copy when it comes out on May 21st. Can we all agree the cover is absolutely gorgeous? 🥰

[Lorna Rosewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this short story collection! Angela Sylvaine is a fantastic Author and this book is written so beautifully.

A couple of the stories I don't think were for me, however, two of my personal favorites were definitely the first story 'Astronaut Dreams' and the ninth 'Return of the Wilderness Girls.' These two stories really impressed me. I'd honestly read an entire book if it expanded upon the wilderness girls, haha.

I would recommend reading this if you're into eerie and strange short story collections all featuring girls in some capacity, and you don't shy away from topics that are a little more on the extreme side! With that being said, the book does contain content warnings that I'd recommend reading beforehand!

Thank you to the Author for sending me an ARC copy! All opinions are my own.

[Brittany Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of short stories will go down as a forever favorite. Every single one of these stories had me hooked in and on the edge. From the first story I knew I would enjoy the wild ride. Some of the stories are sad and bleak. Not the all the stories had “happy” endings, Quite a few “ good for her “ moments which I love. If you support women’s rights and women’s rage, this collection has it. I thought all of the stories were written beautifully. I could hear the different voices from story to story and it didn’t feel like one main voice / character. There are a lot of traumatic moments so Angela Sylvaine does provide a list of trigger warnings which is always appreciated.

I absolutely can’t wait to read more of her work.

[Heather Dugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ate this up, with it only making me want more. More as in full novels of each short story. Each relatable in a sense with eerie, bloody, and uniquely phenomenal ways. It thrills me that it is all from the POV of women and girls. This isn't a palate cleanser between books but a tease of what more could be before and after this event that has been told. Even if given the answer.

Angela Sylvaine is such treasure as a writer and I cannot wait to read more from her.

[Nelli Lakatos · Rating 1 out of 5]

My most favorite genre is horror so I feel like I’m always more critical reviewing a horror book and this was a short story collection which is another favorite of mine.

I really wanted to love this, looking at the gorgeous cover this book seemed promising but unfortunately this was a huge disappointment for me. None of the stories were gripping to me, they weren’t even spooky let alone scary or terrifying.

I’ve read 32% of the book before deciding to stop reading it.

[Emma E. Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this collection of horror stories all centered around women/girls! Sylvaine brings out so much emotion in such short tales, I was genuinely impressed at the depth of feeling and how much I cared for characters I had only the briefest experience with. My favorites of the collection were Crimson Clover, If Heard Please Call, Astronaut Dreams, and The Dead Spot, but there wasn’t a story I didn’t enjoy (which is rare for me in a collection or anthology). Definitely check out this bouquet of feminine suffering, dread, and sublime horror.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow is all I can say .
Every short story in here was so freaking good . I felt they were all unique in their own ways and kept me hooked !! I would definitely recommend checking this out !!

[BoswellonBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of short stories was so much fun! Took me back to shows like the Twilight Zone, Tales from the crypt and the Outer limits. One of the best short story collections I have read in quite some time. Hoping for a second volume!

[Kathryn Grace Loves Horror · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are 4 stories in this collection that really worked for me. In "Starved," Tessa loves Neve, but Neve tires of her. It turns out Tessa might be a little crazy, but Neve might be a little not nice. In "Mr. Chew," Cammie tells her little brother an urban legend, and he calls on the boogeyman from it to kill their abusive foster mother. "The Bride" in the title is Rosie who buys a beautiful dress for her wedding, but who becomes obsessed with keeping the dress safe when she begins having visions of its original owner. Finally, "Playing Tricks" was one I'd read before, but was possibly my favorite. An evil doll story that takes a turn I wasn't expecting, one that made the story both sadder and more frightening.

I'm glad I finally got around to reading this collection, and I will be keeping an eye out for more of Sylvaine's haunting work.

[Mika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review includes spoilers, read at your own risk.



• • • •


Quotes from the Book

'Bars are very sad places filled with people trying too hard to have fun, trying too hard to forget, and trying too hard to kill themselves, albeit slowly.'

- Emi (Sorry We're Open short story)

'A poetry of tastes that she wanted to share with me alone.'

- Tessa (Starved short story)


• • • •

• • • •


In Depth Discussion/The Review

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



Information:

Cover: Gloomy, fits the book.

Table of content: Yes, well-arranged.

Content warning: Yes, necessary, at the end of the book.

Likes:

The book covers a huge variety of words. There is almost no repetition of any words and if so they are spread so that one doesn't notice it. Every kind of happiness and pain is described and the way blood is described left me want to read more.

Description of surroundings even if it's short stories. Many forget to describe things when they write a short story and just focus on the story itself, but not it's surroundings, not what is around the protagonist. Just 'cause it's a short story doesn't mean one can leave that open. One must describe it. And the book did.

'Playing Tricks' was my favourite short story out of this book (properly 'cause it's about mental health). + the ending was unexpected.

After 'Playing Tricks' I liked 'If Heard, Please Call' and I think it's worth making a full story out of this. The idea is so interesting and I think quite original and I really would look forward to reading a longer version of this short story.

It felt like each character got their own voice as the narrator forms (first and third person) changed for each story. That gave the effect that one is actually listening of a story of someone else.

Dislikes:

Unrealistically possessive over a dress, even after an accident happened 'cause of it, doesn't even let her boyfriend take it 'He is going to try and take the dress, but I can't let him. I have to protect it.' Only good reasoning for the boyfriend is the wedding, but still a bit over the top with the 'I need to protect that dress'. (The Bride story).

If she wanted to have the dress so desperately then why does she worry if it fits her? Didn't she look at the size before even considering buying the dress? That's a bit unlogical.

Grammatical mistake 'I have ever lied to her, but I have no choice' instead of 'I have never lied to her, but I have no choice'. At least that makes more sense. (Page 32).

The end is always predictable of the short stories.



The word cringe has been used too often and sometimes it didn't fit the situation.

No blanket? Why no blanket? Why did the character not have a blanket? It costs less than renting an apartment so why wasn't she using a blanket? (The Bride story)

The genre 'LGBT' was there, I don't read LGBT stories, not 'cause I dislike people that are in that community, but 'cause I have no interest in reading it (unless it's manhwa). It wasn't labeled as a genre in the book before I read it.

Deliah (Antifreeze and Sweat Peas story) was punishing everyone who became evil, but not herself, which doesn't make sense for me. She saw only the evil in others, but not herself. That narcissistic behaviour of hers got on my nerves.

Trigger warning for cannibalism was forgotten for the 'Return of the Wilderness Girls' story.


• • • •


Rating

How it works: Only everything that is lower than 9 gets reduced from the final rating. Depending on how strong it inflicted the overall enjoyment of reading it affects differently.

[ Story 6 / 10 ] -

[ Characters 8 / 10 ] -

[ Triggering 4 / 10 ] -

[ Topic/Genre 9 / 10 ] +

[ Writing style 9 / 10 ] +

[ Grammatic and spelling 9 / 10 ] +

[ Ending 9 / 10 ] +

Final Rating

3/5


• • • •


Final thoughts/Questions

If the short story 'The Bride' and 'Antifreeze and Sweat Peas' wasn't there then I think I actually would have rated the book a bit higher. They don't change the fact that some other's were boring, but these two stories made an great impact on my rating and I wished it wouldn't have as I really liked certain stories. I think the author made a great effort writing this book and I am glad I read it and found a few short stories that inspired me.



Started the book: 03. March 2024
Finished the book: 04. March 2024
Wrote the review: 04. March 2024

[Sage Nestler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick Take

The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls by Angela Sylvaine takes the concept of "lost girls" and creates an incredibly eclectic collection of short stories that explores all facets of the term. Each story could make its own novel, and so many of them left me wanting more. I couldn't put this collection down, and I loved just about every story included. That is so rare for me when it comes to horror collections.

Tell Me More

I have to start this review by saying that I didn't realize that the author and I live in the same area until I read the short story that bears the title of the collection. That made me appreciate this fabulous collection even more!

Horror collections are always so varied in their offerings, and The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls is one of the most eclectic collections I have read. It features flash fiction and novelettes, and no two stories are alike. Some are more brutal than others, and a lot of them are on the heartbreaking side. The theme is consistent in that it features stories of girls and women in tough and often violent situations - and many of the women featured were morally grey. I appreciated this aspect, because so many times women and girls who are deemed "lost girls" are assumed to be weak, but that was not the case with this collection. The term "lost" was explored in a variety of ways, including women who fight back against hatred and violence, girls who are seeking to fight back against their lower social status, and girls who are working to save their neighborhood from gentrification. None of these girls and women go down without a fight, and I loved it.

My favorite selections included Playing Tricks, Antifreeze and Sweet Peas, The Dead Spot, and Clutching Air.

The ending of Playing Tricks was deeply reminiscent of a Twilight Zone episode, and it took my breath away. It addressed perceived mental illness in a way that twisted it into more of the effects of manipulation by others.

Antifreeze and Sweet Peas was brutal, heartbreaking, and shocking. It addressed mother-daughter relationships and fighting back against violence towards women in a completely unique way. The twist of the story was also fantastic and unexpected.

The Dead Spot featured an old amusement park that I grew up around here in Colorado, so it was near and dear to my heart. It was haunting and supernatural, while being a bit bloody, which was a nice treat.

However, my absolute favorite selection was Clutching Air. It tackled the subject of gentrification and left me in tears. It follows a young woman fighting back against the changes in her neighborhood with an ultimately devastating ending.

Sylvaine knew how to address difficult subjects through a horror lens, and I was amazed by her intense imagination. I look forward to reading more of her work!

If you are a fan of horror that features feminine themes and doesn't shy away from real-world horrors, you are going to adore this collection. I definitely need a physical copy now so that I can hold this gorgeous collection in my hands and revisit each story! I can't recommend it highly enough.

[Becky's Book Hoard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy and am so grateful for the opportunity to read this.

I love horror novels, but this was my first time reading a collection of Horror Stories and I loved it. Bite size pieces of horrifying tales all centered around women. I love a good woman-centric story, but it's a bit different in this case given that the tendency for each story to end in tragedy 😂 Starting off with "Astronaut Dreams" was a fantastic choice, a short one with a "Black Mirror" feel that shoves you right into the darkness of Angela Sylvaine's mind and gives you a good taste of what you're in for throughout the rest of the collection.

Each story is completely unique, some more classic horror, some modern, some fantasy - a little bit of everything. "New Hue" was unlike anything I'd read before, but it had a clear purpose and made provoking social commentary on classism within what was probably a 5 minute read. "Playing Tricks" makes you question everything and takes you through something truly horrifying in a way you wouldn't expect through the eyes of a scared child. "Starved" brings you on a strange journey of first, forbidden love and heartbreak with an eccentric and unstable narrator. With so many stories of varying degrees of fear, nothing is what you think it is, and if you're not someone who looks forward to a disappointing end, then you'll be disappointed. You won't find relief or happiness no matter how much you root for a character, but for some reason, the way she writes it, you'll love it all the more for it.

It was clear from the description and introduction, written by a fellow author, that this book would be disturbing and devastating, but I clearly did not take that warning seriously enough because I held hope for too long at times in spite of it, only for her to prove that she truly is going to betray you with her cruel and shocking plot twists. I like to think I'm pretty good at figuring things out and can be a step ahead of the plot usually, but that seemed impossible through this book. I reacted constantly to this book, gasping loudly in public regularly because I couldn't help myself. Truly brilliant writing; her style, unexpected twists, and flare for drama are a delightfully consistent discomfort.

I absolutely loved every moment of it.

Highly recommend this collection, but I mean it when I say this is not a relaxing read to fall asleep to!