Grimoires is a collaborative horror anthology series of original novellas. Each volume offers a new collection of nightmares that range from unsettling and macabre to brutal and supernatural.
Volume 1 of Grimoires features tales written by Andrew Adams, David Washburn, and Mason Marks.
God of Nothing by Andrew Adams Dennis is obsessed with his front yard, being the only thing he still has control over. When someone in the neighborhood has a fatal accident, he desecrates the roadside memorial to preserve the sanctity of the block, leading to further complications.
It Started as a Tummy Ache by David Washburn Neglecting prolonged stomach pains leads a man to the hospital where he learns his appendix has burst. When doctors open him up to remove the remains, they find much more than their education prepared them for.
The Serpent Born by Mason Marks Every monster has a beginning. The Serpent Born pulls back the curtain on Dalton Asher's past, tracing the brutal collision of an isolated youth, occult forces, and the birth of a killer.
Author of the best-selling novel Crossroads, Inc, Middle Finger Rigor Mortis, Son of a Serial Killer, Serial Publication, Black Widow Blues, and others in the horror, thriller, and transgressive spheres.
Writer of novels, novellas, and short stories.
Ex-filmmaker, welder and engineer by trade, and unabashed metalhead.
God of Nothing - Oh, the age-old conundrum of the narcissist! Everything has to be perfect, appearances must be maintained at all costs, and anyone who can’t match that same energy is clearly beneath him. All fine and dandy until you cross paths with the wrong person! 🤣 You’d think the hints of the occult would have been Dennis’s first red flag, but apparently, his ego was too busy taking up all the room for common sense. Sometimes, karma comes knocking in the most unexpected ways!
It Started As A Tummy Ache - I had absolutely no clue where this story was going, and I loved that! It all starts with Ricky experiencing what seems like an innocent enough tummy ache. After a series of tests, he discovers he needs to have his appendix removed. Simple enough, right? WRONG! Nobody could have imagined the absolute horror that was about to erupt from that surgery! The story never really explains where these “appendix-things” came from, but honestly, the chaos and destruction that follow are enough to turn the entire world upside down! I never expected this to turn into an apocalyptic nightmare, but boy, was I in for a surprise! Talk about a wild ride that takes you somewhere you never saw coming!
The Serpent Born - This one starts off absolutely crazy! You can’t help but feel sorry for this little boy, but then he goes on to do some of the most horrific things imaginable, all without a shred of remorse! It’s almost as if he has absolutely no concept of right and wrong—or maybe he simply doesn’t care. Either way, there’s something deeply unsettling about him. Then he discovers a totem that only amplifies what he’s capable of, and holy hell, does everything spiral out of control! The sheer amount of chaos and horror unleashed is immense. Just when you think things couldn’t possibly get any worse, they do! This was one wild, twisted ride!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a fun little collection! Here’s some mini reviews of each story!
God of Nothing by Andrew Adams
And this is why I don’t get to know my neighbors. You never know what kind of crazy is hiding behind those perfectly manicured lawns. There’s some great gore in this one! And of course, the man completely misses all the obvious occult signs at the neighbors house. Classic. Also, imagine caring that much about your grass. Andrew never lets me down and his short stories are always such a joy!
***
It Started as a Tummy Ache by David Washburn
This one was wild. I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into and every guess I made was wrong. It completely threw me for a loop and I was so here for it. One thing’s for sure though, I’m never getting surgery. Especially anything involving my tummy. Nope.
***
The Serpent Born by Mason Marks
Nope. This kid has got to go. This story throws you straight into the chaos and I spent most of it thinking “WHAT THE HELL?!” Dalton is already unhinged, so naturally, giving him a creepy demon talisman is a recipe for disaster. But also, maybe don’t treat kids like shit? You get what you get.
So I jumped on this collection of 3 stories soon as Andrew Adams announced it. Out of the three stories my favorite has to be It Started As a Stomach Ache by David Washburn. It’s a story that starts off innocent and you feel bad for the main character and want to know what’s going on, when it gets towards the end you find out the true reason for his stomach ache and the story gets crazy. I also liked Andrew Adams story which is God of Nothing. A story about a man who’s obsessed with appearance's especially his yard. What horror awaits him when he starts obsessing over a memorial by his house find out when you read this story! So if your a fan of Andrew Adams or the other 2 authors definitely check this book out.
Ohhh this was so good. Each story had me wanting more. From medical mysteries, obsession with appearance, and child with a dark side, these stories were fantastic. I highly recommend checking it out
An amazing anthology of dark fiction at its best. All three stories are immersive and absorbing. This is, hands down, a favorite anthology - an absolute five star read for me. I just want to shout out to everyone, these stories are that good. Each author is a fantastic storyteller with every story having an unexpected ending.
Joey Powell also did a fabulous job with the artwork throughout the book. Each chapter is represented by amazing artwork. My kindle has them in black and white and I think that gives them a certain dark appeal. I can imagine in color they are just as dark.
Here is my review of the three individual stories.
God of Nothing by Andrew Adams. A man is upset that his neighbors won’t keep up with their yards. They don’t weed or water the grass. He is certainly obsessed with a clean yard. So much so that he waters it everyday when he gets home from work. I was not expecting that ending AT ALL. Fantastically written story and great main character development.
It Started With A Tummy Ache by David Washburn. Ricky’s tummy ache ended up being so much more than expected. Taking an unexpected turn, Ricky starts an event that the world may not overcome. Fantastic story telling. Fantastic descriptions of the characters.
The Serpent Born by Mason Marks. This one - oof!! My heart. My anxiety. It’s a lot. About a young boy who has been evil all his life. It’s like a dramatic horror. I found it hard to read at times, but I pulled through and it was worth it. Again, awesome character development.
These three stories are definitely dark fiction at its best. I loved everything about this volume. I cannot wait to see who is in volume two! This is most definitely a series I’m keeping an eye on.