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Make a Home of Me
LONGLISTED FOR THE 2026 DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE
Peer through the keyhole and what will you see?
A mysterious dinner party with a sickening twist.
A woman’s intense new relationship with a single father and his strangely shy daughter.
The rediscovered journals of a famous artist with a singular obsession who disappeared in suspicious circumstances.
A family driven to desperation by the impossible appearance of nonsensical notes.
A seemingly happily married couple driven to the edge of despair by a neighbour’s crying baby.
Set in houses that should provide protection but instead turn on their inhabitants, places of safety invaded without warning, and familiar landscapes that gradually change beyond recognition, Make a Home of Me is about all the ways in which our sanctuaries can turn into foreign places, casting us as strangers as we roam the halls.The stories in Make a Home of Me are unsettling and distinct, introducing a fresh new voice in the horror landscape.
Lock up when you’re done...
“Chilling, haunting and unflinching, Vanessa Santos is an astonishing writer and I’m utterly obsessed with this collection of unsettling short stories.” - Lucy Rose, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lamb
Peer through the keyhole and what will you see?
A mysterious dinner party with a sickening twist.
A woman’s intense new relationship with a single father and his strangely shy daughter.
The rediscovered journals of a famous artist with a singular obsession who disappeared in suspicious circumstances.
A family driven to desperation by the impossible appearance of nonsensical notes.
A seemingly happily married couple driven to the edge of despair by a neighbour’s crying baby.
Set in houses that should provide protection but instead turn on their inhabitants, places of safety invaded without warning, and familiar landscapes that gradually change beyond recognition, Make a Home of Me is about all the ways in which our sanctuaries can turn into foreign places, casting us as strangers as we roam the halls.The stories in Make a Home of Me are unsettling and distinct, introducing a fresh new voice in the horror landscape.
Lock up when you’re done...
“Chilling, haunting and unflinching, Vanessa Santos is an astonishing writer and I’m utterly obsessed with this collection of unsettling short stories.” - Lucy Rose, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lamb
142 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2025
15 people are currently reading
810 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 29, 2025
Really pretty damn great. Compelling, unsettling, imaginative and exquisitely written. I loved it.
July 18, 2025
I felt that the early stories, particularly the opening dinner part and the creepy daughter Emily were really strong, but after the half way mark I didn't think those stories were as strong or memorable and they frequently left me feeling like they needed a stronger ending.
September 28, 2025
I really wanted to connect with Make a Home of Me, but this short story collection just didn’t land for me. While the themes of love, loss, and belonging were clear, I struggled to stay engaged with the stories themselves. The writing style felt uneven, and instead of pulling me in, I found myself drifting.
There were glimpses of emotional depth, but overall, the collection lacked the impact I was hoping for. Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me.
There were glimpses of emotional depth, but overall, the collection lacked the impact I was hoping for. Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me.
May 24, 2025
3.5/5 rounded up.
This collection of short stories take a look at domestic bliss and kill the lights, exposing a bunch of unsettling stuff underneath.
Whether it’s a crying baby, a missing child, a lockdown, a strange wake…there’s lot to explore here and these tales all build dread and will linger long after you’re done with them. The sound of their claws scratching against the door might well infect your dreams.
There are eight stories here, and I’ve made notes on all of them:
Table scraps: blackest of black humour. The weirdest wake you can ever imagine and a darkly intriguing opener to this collection.
Emily: creepy tale of a creepy kid that belongs to the man our main character has just started a relationship with. A little too long and lost me a bit in the middle, but a strong, dark ending.
Mouthful: journals of a missing artist. Like the found footage element but the content didn’t really grab me.
Changes: sad rather than scary. A couple go for a holiday to a strange town and find they are more different from each other than they thought.
Make a home of me: a truly effective and creepy haunted house story. What would you do if you house started leaving notes for you and your family?
As above, so below: a chilling tale of alien invasion that also feels like an attempt to process that weird time of the covid pandemic. A story full of dread, like a breath being held for the entire thing. Very good.
Riverquick, saltfresh: a haunting tale of grief and guilt and the pull of the sea…even if it means death. Evocative and compelling.
The wall: a tale of madness caused by a crying baby. Brought back plenty of bad memories, so thanks for that!
Overall, an impressive collection that is perfect for a slice of something chilling before bed.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy!
This collection of short stories take a look at domestic bliss and kill the lights, exposing a bunch of unsettling stuff underneath.
Whether it’s a crying baby, a missing child, a lockdown, a strange wake…there’s lot to explore here and these tales all build dread and will linger long after you’re done with them. The sound of their claws scratching against the door might well infect your dreams.
There are eight stories here, and I’ve made notes on all of them:
Table scraps: blackest of black humour. The weirdest wake you can ever imagine and a darkly intriguing opener to this collection.
Emily: creepy tale of a creepy kid that belongs to the man our main character has just started a relationship with. A little too long and lost me a bit in the middle, but a strong, dark ending.
Mouthful: journals of a missing artist. Like the found footage element but the content didn’t really grab me.
Changes: sad rather than scary. A couple go for a holiday to a strange town and find they are more different from each other than they thought.
Make a home of me: a truly effective and creepy haunted house story. What would you do if you house started leaving notes for you and your family?
As above, so below: a chilling tale of alien invasion that also feels like an attempt to process that weird time of the covid pandemic. A story full of dread, like a breath being held for the entire thing. Very good.
Riverquick, saltfresh: a haunting tale of grief and guilt and the pull of the sea…even if it means death. Evocative and compelling.
The wall: a tale of madness caused by a crying baby. Brought back plenty of bad memories, so thanks for that!
Overall, an impressive collection that is perfect for a slice of something chilling before bed.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy!
July 10, 2025
4.5 - this was so fun & unexpected - felt serendipitous that one of the stories was titled “emily” but then it ended up being about a demon child so lol
May 25, 2025
Thank you so much to Dead Ink Books & NetGalley for the e-ARC!!
4 stars!!
This collection was fantastic for variety! There's so much here that can be a hit or miss but so much to also have something for anyone!
My favourite has to be Table Scraps! What a way to open the collection!
I liked this one so much I'd actually love to read more / longer / novella version of it.
Another I liked but mainly because of the creepy ending was Emily, the middle of the story seemed to drag a little but the imagery of the ending I loved.
Make a Home of Me I loved creepy haunted houses and this one had something unique to it and I loved the writing and this can also be said for the writing in Riverquick, Saltfresh. Loved the writing
So happy to have read this collection and to find a new author I'm definitely keeping an eye for!
4 stars!!
This collection was fantastic for variety! There's so much here that can be a hit or miss but so much to also have something for anyone!
My favourite has to be Table Scraps! What a way to open the collection!
I liked this one so much I'd actually love to read more / longer / novella version of it.
Another I liked but mainly because of the creepy ending was Emily, the middle of the story seemed to drag a little but the imagery of the ending I loved.
Make a Home of Me I loved creepy haunted houses and this one had something unique to it and I loved the writing and this can also be said for the writing in Riverquick, Saltfresh. Loved the writing
So happy to have read this collection and to find a new author I'm definitely keeping an eye for!
October 5, 2025
one very creepy story that spooked me out late at night. other than that, this just seemed a bit too A Level english lit for me
June 9, 2025
Vanessa Santos' "Make a Home of Me" is the perfect quiet horror collection: just eight stories at the absolutely right length, all easy reads, every one full of creepiness and shuddering terror with minimal gore (practically none) and full of emotional upheavals - exactly what you might need to read before bed, or during a hot summer afternoon. Their common theme, if any, is the undoing of domestic comfort, the collapse of those "places of safety" one craves for after an exhausting day at work, a quarrel with a neighbor, or even the loss of a loved one without warning. Santos deconstructs safe places the way one is supposed to enjoy a cigar: slow draws, enjoying the flavor, and letting the story burn itself out - a slow and deliberate process finely crafted in words most familiar, but with the strangest and the most unsettling of endings!
All nine stories are gems, but five of them stood out for me: "Table Scraps," the opening story, challenges the funeral rituals we may accept as proper and comfortable expressions of honoring the dead; "Emily," probably the best story of the collection, takes the "creepy kid" horror trope and gives it an original spin, reminiscent of "Let the Right One In"'s ending, but with a scary twist; the titular "Make a Home of Me," an outstanding tale of a house leaving notes to the family living inside it (this will probably be most people's favorite, the premise is genius); "As Above, So Below," a spooky story about the arrival of aliens, a tale of quiet sci-fi horror, with an undertone of grief and an atmosphere of quiet indifference; and the majestic "The Wall," about a baby that never stops crying, driving mad the neighbors.. The claustrophobic ending is very well-done, and will make you look twice at noisy newborns.
This is a solid 5-stars collection, and if you enjoy Shirley Jackson or Ray Bradbury prepare for some definite chills!
All nine stories are gems, but five of them stood out for me: "Table Scraps," the opening story, challenges the funeral rituals we may accept as proper and comfortable expressions of honoring the dead; "Emily," probably the best story of the collection, takes the "creepy kid" horror trope and gives it an original spin, reminiscent of "Let the Right One In"'s ending, but with a scary twist; the titular "Make a Home of Me," an outstanding tale of a house leaving notes to the family living inside it (this will probably be most people's favorite, the premise is genius); "As Above, So Below," a spooky story about the arrival of aliens, a tale of quiet sci-fi horror, with an undertone of grief and an atmosphere of quiet indifference; and the majestic "The Wall," about a baby that never stops crying, driving mad the neighbors.. The claustrophobic ending is very well-done, and will make you look twice at noisy newborns.
This is a solid 5-stars collection, and if you enjoy Shirley Jackson or Ray Bradbury prepare for some definite chills!
June 11, 2025
Make A Home Of Me by Vanessa Santos takes you on an unsettling, haunting journey through a series of short stories all relating to the haunting harbour that is home.
Table Scraps, Emily and Riverquick,Saltfresh will forever haunt my thoughts. Especially Table Scraps, I was left speechless by the end of that one, I did not see that coming at all.
Thank you so much to Dead Ink Publishers for sending me a copy of this, I enjoyed being scared, disgusted and intrigued by these short stories and would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves horror!
Table Scraps, Emily and Riverquick,Saltfresh will forever haunt my thoughts. Especially Table Scraps, I was left speechless by the end of that one, I did not see that coming at all.
Thank you so much to Dead Ink Publishers for sending me a copy of this, I enjoyed being scared, disgusted and intrigued by these short stories and would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves horror!
July 14, 2025
3.5 stars
A great collection of eerie stories focused on homes and houses. There were some that I loved more than others, particularly “Emily” and “The Wall”. The entire book had an underlying theme of haunting, even though the stories weren’t connected they all felt uncomfortable to read, like I was being watched. A great horror collection!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #MakeAHomeOfMe #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
A great collection of eerie stories focused on homes and houses. There were some that I loved more than others, particularly “Emily” and “The Wall”. The entire book had an underlying theme of haunting, even though the stories weren’t connected they all felt uncomfortable to read, like I was being watched. A great horror collection!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #MakeAHomeOfMe #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
June 18, 2025
Make a Home of Me by Vanessa Santos
If you like books about haunted houses, strange children, quiet and eerie horror - this is the story collection for you!
Each story is brilliant and will linger with you long after you finish them. While I enjoyed each story, there were definite stand outs for me. ‘Emily’ offers a fresh new take on the classic creepy child story. The titular story ‘Make a Home of Me’ was chilling, and very reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s Haunting of Hill House - what would you do if your house started to leave you notes? And finally ‘Riverquick, Saltfresh’, a story of guilt, grief and the alluring pull of the sea - perfect for fans of Julia Armfield!
Thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy to read and review! I’ll be thinking about what a little weirdo Emily was for some time.
If you like books about haunted houses, strange children, quiet and eerie horror - this is the story collection for you!
Each story is brilliant and will linger with you long after you finish them. While I enjoyed each story, there were definite stand outs for me. ‘Emily’ offers a fresh new take on the classic creepy child story. The titular story ‘Make a Home of Me’ was chilling, and very reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s Haunting of Hill House - what would you do if your house started to leave you notes? And finally ‘Riverquick, Saltfresh’, a story of guilt, grief and the alluring pull of the sea - perfect for fans of Julia Armfield!
Thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy to read and review! I’ll be thinking about what a little weirdo Emily was for some time.
May 4, 2025
4.25/5.0
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy of this collection of short stories.
I always say this, but reading short stories is always risky because in the same book, some of these stories might feel really good and others might disappoint or confuse you, which makes it hard to then rate the book altogether.
But not in this one, as every story was a great one. So much so, I had trouble pausing my reading. Each story had its own eerie vibe that I enjoyed immensely. From the very start, I was hooked and I went through a spectrum of emotions reading throughout this book. Some stories were scarier, some sadder, but all of them made you feel something.
Make a Home of Me is definitely a collection of short stories I can recommend to anyone that is looking for a quick and easy read in the horror genre. The vibes were truly immaculate and I will, for sure, keep an eye on what Vanessa Santos will write about next.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy of this collection of short stories.
I always say this, but reading short stories is always risky because in the same book, some of these stories might feel really good and others might disappoint or confuse you, which makes it hard to then rate the book altogether.
But not in this one, as every story was a great one. So much so, I had trouble pausing my reading. Each story had its own eerie vibe that I enjoyed immensely. From the very start, I was hooked and I went through a spectrum of emotions reading throughout this book. Some stories were scarier, some sadder, but all of them made you feel something.
Make a Home of Me is definitely a collection of short stories I can recommend to anyone that is looking for a quick and easy read in the horror genre. The vibes were truly immaculate and I will, for sure, keep an eye on what Vanessa Santos will write about next.
Read
July 19, 2025Don't sleep on this excellent debut collection of stories. The stories are (very) loosely themed around the home and not all of them really fit the theme, but who cares when the stories are this good?
Table Scraps is the story of one last meal to honour the life of the deceased.
Emily is the standout story here for me: a woman who moves in with her partner, only to discover that he has a daughter that he never mentions. That lives with him and never says much. That exhibits some increasingly sinister behaviour...
Riverquick, Saltfresh is another favourite of mine: a reflection on grief and the solace one young girl finds in the ocean.
These dark stories are emotive, written in a familiar and comforting tone that belies the strange twists they take. One of the best debut collections I've read in some time. I'll be waiting patiently for more from Vanessa Santos.
Whilst I am reviewing the contents of the book, let's also take a moment to appreciate the incredible cover.
Table Scraps is the story of one last meal to honour the life of the deceased.
Emily is the standout story here for me: a woman who moves in with her partner, only to discover that he has a daughter that he never mentions. That lives with him and never says much. That exhibits some increasingly sinister behaviour...
Riverquick, Saltfresh is another favourite of mine: a reflection on grief and the solace one young girl finds in the ocean.
These dark stories are emotive, written in a familiar and comforting tone that belies the strange twists they take. One of the best debut collections I've read in some time. I'll be waiting patiently for more from Vanessa Santos.
Whilst I am reviewing the contents of the book, let's also take a moment to appreciate the incredible cover.
July 15, 2025
If you like horror-tinged, weird girl fiction you need to get ‘Make a Home of Me’ on your TBR. This short story collection focuses on the domestic mundane but injects it with sinister vibes and shows you that home isn’t always a safe sanctuary. Whilst the home is a central theme of the collection, each story has different elements that make each story quite unlike the next- you’ve got changeling children, monsters in the woods and even aliens- yet nothing feels out of place.
I most enjoyed ‘Emily’, the longest story in the collection, which focused on an uncanny child and the lengths the characters would go to escape having her in their lives. ‘Changes’ was a close second however, and whilst this story was much shorter, it was even more unsettling and shows how good of a writer Santos is that she can build so much tension in just a few pages. Like with most short story collections, I didn’t enjoy every story to the same extent (‘Riverquick, Saltfresh’ and ‘The Wall’ didn’t really do it for me) but this is a very strong collection overall and I can’t wait to see what Santos does next!
Thank you to Dead Ink Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.
I most enjoyed ‘Emily’, the longest story in the collection, which focused on an uncanny child and the lengths the characters would go to escape having her in their lives. ‘Changes’ was a close second however, and whilst this story was much shorter, it was even more unsettling and shows how good of a writer Santos is that she can build so much tension in just a few pages. Like with most short story collections, I didn’t enjoy every story to the same extent (‘Riverquick, Saltfresh’ and ‘The Wall’ didn’t really do it for me) but this is a very strong collection overall and I can’t wait to see what Santos does next!
Thank you to Dead Ink Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.
June 15, 2025
huge thanks to dead ink for sending me a copy of this book. i love weird stories, horror stories and short stories so i knew this one would be my thing, and it truly is one of the best collections of short stories i've ever read.
usually when you go for a short story collection you kind of resign yourself to the fact that there'll be high points and low points, but make a home of me is such a consistently high standard throughout. i end up having to drag out my reading of it so i could allow space to fully digest each story as i read them.
incredibly excited to check out vanessa's first full length novel, in your heart a devil, next year.
usually when you go for a short story collection you kind of resign yourself to the fact that there'll be high points and low points, but make a home of me is such a consistently high standard throughout. i end up having to drag out my reading of it so i could allow space to fully digest each story as i read them.
incredibly excited to check out vanessa's first full length novel, in your heart a devil, next year.
June 16, 2025
A collection of strange and dark short stories, with the only common theme of an exploration of home - and what that means and how it can not be the idyllic refuse and oasis we crave it to be.
Masterfully crafted stories that surprise you with twists in their prosely paths, and leave you breathless and wondering what the hell just happened. This isn't sledgehammer horroe - rather nails down your spine that reveal themselves to be sharper than you originally thought.
A joy to read, I wolfed them down and wanted more - not that any of the tales left me wanting!
Masterfully crafted stories that surprise you with twists in their prosely paths, and leave you breathless and wondering what the hell just happened. This isn't sledgehammer horroe - rather nails down your spine that reveal themselves to be sharper than you originally thought.
A joy to read, I wolfed them down and wanted more - not that any of the tales left me wanting!
August 1, 2025
Thank you to Dead Ink Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars.
A collection of short horror stories set around the idea of home as a sanctuary and safe place being subverted.
Some of these stories worked better for me than others. The tales about the demonic child and the crying baby were both effectively creepy, but the others largely failed to hit the mark for me.
An interesting collection and idea though, and I'll definitely look out for more from this author.
3.5 stars.
A collection of short horror stories set around the idea of home as a sanctuary and safe place being subverted.
Some of these stories worked better for me than others. The tales about the demonic child and the crying baby were both effectively creepy, but the others largely failed to hit the mark for me.
An interesting collection and idea though, and I'll definitely look out for more from this author.
July 25, 2025
Faultless. I initially thought I would rank each short story, but they would all be 5/5. I then thought I would place each on a list from favourite to least, and couldn't. Read this book!! You won't regret it, this makes you think and enjoy tales of the unexpected like you'd never believe. A quick read but one which takes up a long time in your mind. Will read again. You will be surprised and caught off guard.
July 29, 2025
I loved this actually. very unsettling
October 5, 2025
An excellent collection of short fiction, lyrical and haunting.
October 26, 2025
3.5 — loved a good few of the stories, liked the others
August 16, 2025
Grim…I loved it
January 13, 2026
I’m so mad I spent money on this. Any creative writing student could have come up with this and gotten a solid B; but for it to be transformative horror? No. You can’t just call something strange 100 times, pair it with an ambiguous ending and then say that it’s scary.
April 27, 2025
ARC received through Netgalley
3.5 ⭐️
This was so good!! I don’t usually particularly appreciate collections of short stories (especially when they are horror because I feel like most times they’re too short for me to even get into it and actually feel scared). This one, though? I loved it, I thought the pacing was spot on in most of the stories, the themes were interesting and the endings satisfying. I would definitely recommend if you want a nice selection of horror short stories which all somehow have to do with homes.
3.5 ⭐️
This was so good!! I don’t usually particularly appreciate collections of short stories (especially when they are horror because I feel like most times they’re too short for me to even get into it and actually feel scared). This one, though? I loved it, I thought the pacing was spot on in most of the stories, the themes were interesting and the endings satisfying. I would definitely recommend if you want a nice selection of horror short stories which all somehow have to do with homes.
October 18, 2025
Whilst this was a perfectly fine collection of short stories, written perfectly well, I find them forgettable and a bit boring. I did enjoy the story ‘Emily’ but the ending fell flat still.
June 22, 2025
3.5 stars A collection of 8 short stories that build dread and leave you feeling creeped out. I enjoyed these - Emily dragged a little but the rest were all short and drew me in instantly. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.
June 20, 2025
Title story was the highlight, creepy notes left for the family by the house.
I wasn’t enamoured by the rest, though Santos’ writing is largely enjoyable there were a lot of commas where I’m not sure they were needed.
You can see the craft of story writing in each one, the foundations and structure comes through quite clearly.
I wasn’t enamoured by the rest, though Santos’ writing is largely enjoyable there were a lot of commas where I’m not sure they were needed.
You can see the craft of story writing in each one, the foundations and structure comes through quite clearly.
August 22, 2025
Summary: A collection of 8 short stories that are set in houses. We typically think of houses providing protection and safety but in these stories this is not the case.
My thoughts on each story:
Table Scraps- I love a good meal scene. The awkwardness and the building to something. This was a good entree to the book.
Emily- oh my god no just no. That was intense and eerie to next level! So many thoughts.
Mouthful - ooh fair play. Sharing is caring.
Changes- ooh okay. Depressing and eerie. Tapping into the gross feeling of being perceived. How suddery.
Make a Home of Me- ahhh you hate to love it. Creepy and warming the best kind. Disturbingly beautiful.
As Above, So Below - huh and also damn. Think this one lost me a bit. Was this about the pandemic? But also aliens?! This felt like the deepness of the ocean. Not my favourite.
Riverquick, Saltfresh- creepy,sad and deep.
The Wall- oh. Okay.
Overall an uncomfortable, nightmarey tinged collection. Great debut! Probably a more consistently enjoyable collection that I’ve experienced from a short story collection!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5
Thank you so much Dead Ink for gifting me a copy to read and the fun house to build!
My thoughts on each story:
Table Scraps- I love a good meal scene. The awkwardness and the building to something. This was a good entree to the book.
Emily- oh my god no just no. That was intense and eerie to next level! So many thoughts.
Mouthful - ooh fair play. Sharing is caring.
Changes- ooh okay. Depressing and eerie. Tapping into the gross feeling of being perceived. How suddery.
Make a Home of Me- ahhh you hate to love it. Creepy and warming the best kind. Disturbingly beautiful.
As Above, So Below - huh and also damn. Think this one lost me a bit. Was this about the pandemic? But also aliens?! This felt like the deepness of the ocean. Not my favourite.
Riverquick, Saltfresh- creepy,sad and deep.
The Wall- oh. Okay.
Overall an uncomfortable, nightmarey tinged collection. Great debut! Probably a more consistently enjoyable collection that I’ve experienced from a short story collection!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5
Thank you so much Dead Ink for gifting me a copy to read and the fun house to build!
April 28, 2025
What an excellent debut collection! I thoroughly enjoyed these strange, uncanny stories - very reminiscent of Shirley Jackson and The Twilight Zone which I LOVE. My absolute favourites were the opening story, Table Scraps - even though I figured out what was going on pretty quickly, it still had a massive impact; Emily scared the hell out of me - the ending!!!!; Make a Home of Me, the titular story, is this strange, scary and sad sort of a story that I really like; As Above, So Below - a tense and sci-fi-ish tale, excellent!
I’ll definitely read what Vanessa Santos writes next! Thank you to NetGalley and Dead Ink for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
I’ll definitely read what Vanessa Santos writes next! Thank you to NetGalley and Dead Ink for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
June 20, 2025
The anthology as a whole (4 stars):
This horror anthology started strong, with some wonderful short stories that unsettled me to my very core. This said, many were just too short to flesh out their wonderful ideas and left me wanting. I'd love to read more from this author. I love the way she writes. The way she bleeds imagery into a shiver that runs down your spine… A brilliant collection of domestic horror stories that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to a friend
SPOILERS BELOW!
Individual short story reviews (Average rating 3.75 stars)
Table Scraps
A solid, unsettling story to start the book. I guessed the premise straight away but I've been watching Hannibal recently so that's probably why! The dog/title tie in was a nice touch for an unsettling end.
★★★★☆
Emily
Bloody hell. Like, this is actually creepy. I thought for a while that maybe it was a cuckoo situation, or that Emily was an alien who made someone care for her. Having finished it, he could be anything. I'm just hoping I won't wake up to her standing over me tonight…!
★★★★★
Mouthful
A sweet, almost comforting monster story. Enjoyable but not scary in the slightest.
★★★★☆
Changes
I'm confused. But in the most delicious way! It seemed creepy to begin with and I love the manner in which it was written. A distinct lack of explanation in any form leaves your mind reeling in it's aftermath.
★★★★☆
Make a Home of Me
Make a Home of Me is almost gothic in it's conclusion. Whilst reading it, I was struck by Vanessa Santos' frequent use at the scary thing left unsaid, leaving the reader just enough to make their own fears true. Whilst in Changes I found this a little lacking, in Make a Home of Me, readers are given just enough to wonder. Though the house itself isn't particularly sinister, it's the not knowing what was on the youngest child's 'special' notes that makes it so. A classic horror story with an ending that leaves you wanting more
★★★★☆
As Above, So Below
This one feels very COVID-19 coded. It reminds me in a way of the book 'Our Wives Under the Sea' but without the suspense and body horror. I can't say that this one was scary, or really all that intriguing. I didn't care for the characters (they just don't have the time in such a small amount of pages to be fleshed out enough) and the ending was too tidy for a plot with no answers.
★★☆☆☆
Riverquick, Saltfresh
There wasn't enough about the characters to make you feel for them in any way. The parents locking her up bit didn't seem to have any relevance and it was confusing that the parents were referencing the water taking their first daughter when she could easily have been kidnapped ect (as it appears no one but the MC saw her fall in/was there?). The final ideas at the end were more atmospheric though and that saved the story a little.
★★★☆☆
The Wall
A much better story for being that tiny bit longer. The characters felt more real, with some horror aspects grounded in reality. This said, I'm not sure what the point of the ending was? Perhaps just a way to tie together an anthology under this title?
★★★★☆
Thank you to Vanessa Santos, Dead Ink Books and NetGallery for the opportunity to leave an honest review.
This horror anthology started strong, with some wonderful short stories that unsettled me to my very core. This said, many were just too short to flesh out their wonderful ideas and left me wanting. I'd love to read more from this author. I love the way she writes. The way she bleeds imagery into a shiver that runs down your spine… A brilliant collection of domestic horror stories that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to a friend
SPOILERS BELOW!
Individual short story reviews (Average rating 3.75 stars)
Table Scraps
A solid, unsettling story to start the book. I guessed the premise straight away but I've been watching Hannibal recently so that's probably why! The dog/title tie in was a nice touch for an unsettling end.
★★★★☆
Emily
Bloody hell. Like, this is actually creepy. I thought for a while that maybe it was a cuckoo situation, or that Emily was an alien who made someone care for her. Having finished it, he could be anything. I'm just hoping I won't wake up to her standing over me tonight…!
★★★★★
Mouthful
A sweet, almost comforting monster story. Enjoyable but not scary in the slightest.
★★★★☆
Changes
I'm confused. But in the most delicious way! It seemed creepy to begin with and I love the manner in which it was written. A distinct lack of explanation in any form leaves your mind reeling in it's aftermath.
★★★★☆
Make a Home of Me
Make a Home of Me is almost gothic in it's conclusion. Whilst reading it, I was struck by Vanessa Santos' frequent use at the scary thing left unsaid, leaving the reader just enough to make their own fears true. Whilst in Changes I found this a little lacking, in Make a Home of Me, readers are given just enough to wonder. Though the house itself isn't particularly sinister, it's the not knowing what was on the youngest child's 'special' notes that makes it so. A classic horror story with an ending that leaves you wanting more
★★★★☆
As Above, So Below
This one feels very COVID-19 coded. It reminds me in a way of the book 'Our Wives Under the Sea' but without the suspense and body horror. I can't say that this one was scary, or really all that intriguing. I didn't care for the characters (they just don't have the time in such a small amount of pages to be fleshed out enough) and the ending was too tidy for a plot with no answers.
★★☆☆☆
Riverquick, Saltfresh
There wasn't enough about the characters to make you feel for them in any way. The parents locking her up bit didn't seem to have any relevance and it was confusing that the parents were referencing the water taking their first daughter when she could easily have been kidnapped ect (as it appears no one but the MC saw her fall in/was there?). The final ideas at the end were more atmospheric though and that saved the story a little.
★★★☆☆
The Wall
A much better story for being that tiny bit longer. The characters felt more real, with some horror aspects grounded in reality. This said, I'm not sure what the point of the ending was? Perhaps just a way to tie together an anthology under this title?
★★★★☆
Thank you to Vanessa Santos, Dead Ink Books and NetGallery for the opportunity to leave an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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