Antiheroes

by Kyle Robert Shultz, E.B. Dawson, Faye Fite

Seven science fiction and fantasy stories about antiheroes:

-A man determined to get justice for his family, no matter the cost
-A gynoid with two conflicting programming directives
-A teenage boy determined to protect the people who have become his friends
-A monster slayer who is not everything she appears to be
-A young cyborg who makes an unthinkable choice in hopes of a better future
-A mischievous shopkeeper trying to stay one step ahead of trouble
-A blood hunter who discovers a lie that will change the course of her life

Genres: Short Stories, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Anthologies, Young Adult, Fairy Tales

245 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 17, 2018

About the author

Kyle Robert Shultz is the creator of the Aftermythos, an interconnected collection of stories set in an alternate universe where fairy tales and mythology are history. Shultz is a completely ordinary human being with no remarkable qualities whatsoever. Accounts suggesting that he is a dangerous wizard exiled from a parallel reality, a cleverly-disguised magical creature passing off the history of another world as original fiction, a mysterious trickster entity described in the folklore of a circumscribed region of Wales, or a pseudonym adopted by three talking otters stacked up in a trench coat should be dismissed as not entirely accurate.

Note: I'm not active on Goodreads, so I may not see messages or other notifications. I only use this profile for business, so don't be offended if I don't accept your friend request. If you want to get in touch with me, email me at kyle@aftermythos.com.

Reviews

[E.B. Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology is packed with relatable characters, thought-provoking themes, and unforgettable adventures! Science fiction, cyberpunk, fantasy, fairytale retelling, space opera, contemporary fantasy...there is something in here for everyone. I'm going to say a few quick words about the individual stories.

The Wolf at the Door- A mysterious tale with lots of twists and turns. Shultz packs in his usual wit and cleverness. This story has some dark and brooding undertones. I kept thinking about this story long after I had finished it!

Vengeance Hunter- The only story I couldn't read because I know that I cannot handle vampires. Perhaps the most graphic story of the anthology, I am told that the themes of this unusual story are brilliantly written and executed! Hannah Heath is an excellent author and I'm sure if you like vampire tales or dark fantasy, you will enjoy it.

The Word Thrower- A super original modern fantasy about people with the ability to change reality with their words. Extremely well written. This story felt like a warm conversation with a dear friend. Wangler makes gentle observations about the world and forces you to examine your own heart and intentions. Loved it!!

The Astonishingly Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen- This was a hilarious romp! I was hooked from the moment we found Denna hanging from a peg in the wall. I love some of the old-fashioned feel to Philbrick's prose and dialogue. He is clever enough to bring the reader into Denna's plotting and so by the end you can guess the twist just before it happens! Very much enjoyed!

Stealing Freedom- I was so excited to return to the world of Stealing Life because it is so vivid and unique. To me this story felt more character driven than the last one though, just because we have such a strong grasp of who Koya is. His fears and insecurities are vivid and we are rooting for him from the beginning. I love the creep factor behind the Bakemono Corporation and how they market themselves as "Family Friendly." The heist in this book took my breath away (you'll get that pun if you read the story!).

Gynoid- Such a unique story! Pierce takes a risk in her technique by communicating a big chunk of the story through the programming of this female android. The style feels unnatural at first, but I found it absolutely worthwhile when I got deeper into the story and saw the struggles of the protagonist. For anyone who has struggled to reconcile a logical mind with irrational emotions, this story will hit home! Pierce takes a classic SciFi concept and reimagines it in a way that really hits home. Jacelyn's choice at the end made me a bit afraid of her and yet at the same time I understood her. This was another story that kept me thinking long after I read the last words!!

Overall, I loved this anthology and I am super proud to be a part of it! Every author challenged themselves to explore new aspects of their craft and character development. The stories are so rich and diverse, I can see myself revisiting this anthology when I need a quick escape! I can't wait to get it in print!!!

[R.M. Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wolf at the Door: I was laughing so hard at the introduction to this one. The reader is warned not to keep reading... but obviously I ignored the warnings and continued on. After that it gets more serious, but Shultz masterfully weaves in bits of fairytale, the creatures that inhabit the world are intriguing, and the ending is not what you expect.

Vengeance Hunter: Hannah Heath's worldbuilding is amazing. It's woven in beautifully, it's rich and detailed, and it always leaves you wanting to know more and explore the world she's created. The motifs and tone of the story were also incredibly well-done, which further contributed to my vivid view of the world. The characters were all muti-faceted and gripping, as well, and seeing Ishtaka's struggle (from a distance!) was really interesting. I'd love to read a sequel.

The Word Thrower: The Word Thrower was probably my least favorite in the anthology, unfortunately. I wasn't as engaged with the main character, and I felt like there was an unnecessary number of side characters that we didn't really get to know. None of them stayed solid in my brain, even after a second read-through. However, the idea of word throwing is really interesting (I wish we'd gotten to see more of that), and the decision the main character had to make at the end was really thought-provoking.

The Astoundingly Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen: The wit and humor in this one is amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed Denna's story, and the characters were incredibly distinct and unique.

Stealing Freedom: After reading Stealing Life in Phoenix Fiction's smaller anthology (which you can read if you sign up to their mailing list), I was super excited to see similar tech and characters and settings in Stealing Freedom. This one felt less action-driven and more character-driven, which was a bit disappointing, and I missed the more tech-filled tone and atmosphere I remembered from Stealing Life. I really enjoyed the tech that Koya had, and it fit well with what we saw in Stealing Life. This was another story where I found it difficult to connect with the main character, unfortunately. I might enjoy it better if I re-read it as its own thing rather than as sequel to Stealing Life.

Gynoid: I'm honestly not quite sure what I think of this one. I think it was interesting but it wasn't especially engaging for me? The idea of having an android for a main character is really interesting, and I think it was done well. I think the story would have been more satisfying and engaging if there were more background on REPL and AIHA, because they ended up seeming kind of faceless. I wasn't quite sure what their goals were or why and I got them mixed up. (That could just be me, though.) I think I'd enjoy seeing more in this universe, this story just wasn't for me.

Striker: I really enjoyed this one. Space-based sci-fi isn't usually my thing, I tend to prefer cyberpunk and future tech on Earth instead of spaceships and other planets, but this one was really good. The main character was engaging (even though he kinda needed to be smacked upside the head) and his motivation and drive really came through on the page. I also enjoyed the world around him, and I'd be interested to see more of it.

As a whole, I really enjoyed this anthology and I look forward to reading more from Phoenix Fiction Writers, both as a group and individually. I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys speculative fiction and/or antiheroes. :)

[Katelyn Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

~ I received a free advanced review copy of this book, therefore all of the following opinions are my own ~

The authors at Phoenix Fiction never disappoint!

The Wolf at the Door
Kyle Robert Shultz
My rating: ★★★★★
A retelling of Red-Riding Hood with a fresh take on the Wolf! Need I say more? (Plus, y’know, everyone likes being called a nitwit by their favorite Mr. Malcolm sass-dragon Blackfire.)

Vengeance Hunter
Hannah Heath
My rating: ★★★
Vampires are an inherently dark topic, and this story faced that head-on. However, it was very well-written, and the Biblical parallels saved it from being dark just for the sake of being dark. The Mexican setting—something I don’t see often in fiction—was a plus as well!

The Word Thrower
Beth Wangler
My rating: ★★★★
I love the concept behind Word Throwers! Words are powerful, and to go one step further by adding magic to them made this short story shine.

The Astoundingly Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen
Nate Philbrick
My rating: ★★★★★
Anyone who has read The Broken City of Crows knows that Denna is beyond all description. If it was possible, I loved her even more in this installment. I think she’s the most resourceful mint-tea-drinking shopkeeper I’ve ever met. :P

Stealing Freedom
J.E. Purrazzi
My rating:★★★★★
I really enjoyed Purrazzi’s Stealing Life from the previous anthology, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a sequel in this one! It introduces a new main character, and by the end I was rooting for Koya just as much as I had Ameonna.

Gynoid
K.L. + Pierce
My rating: ★★★★
Gynoid is brilliant. K.L. + Pierce pulled off the mix of real thought and programming going on in Jacelyn’s head very well. Another reviewer said that she loved the formatting, and that is as integral a part of this book as the story itself! It was something new and different, and raised interesting questions about life, being human, and the beauty in chaos.

Striker
E.B. Dawson
My rating: ★★★★
This one is full of Dawson’s characteristic refined thoughtfulness. I loved the way Danny’s backstory was revealed bit by bit, despite the confines of a short story! Danny was immensely likeable—a broken human being seeking healing—but whether he finds that healing or not, remains to be seen.

I look forward to seeing more from Phoenix Fiction!

[Janelle Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this anthology! Here is my ratings in no particular order...

VENGEANCE HUNTER: 5 stars
I’m already a huge fan of Heath’s work, and she certainly doesn’t disappoint with this story. I’m in awe of how, with a short story, she can write such well-rounded, deep characters. The world is diverse, the plot intriguing, and like every other story she writes, it leaves me wishing it was longer. Some of her descriptions took my breath away.

STRIKER: 5 stars
Dawson impresses me with how good her writing is, and you can see the development of her skill as she hones her craft. Striker, in my opinion, vies with The Citizen for being her best written work. Danny is my favorite antihero in this anthology, not just because his motivations are so understandable, but because his transformation is so freaking awesome. Loved the plot, loved the politics, loved everything about it.

STEALING FREEDOM: 5 stars
I’m not too familiar with the genre of this story, but it makes me wish I was more so. Just be prepared for your heart to be torn in two, because the main character is so, well, damaged. The story is related to STEALING LIFE, and I really look forward to what Purrazzi does with this new world.

DENNA DORWEN: 4.5 stars
This was my first introduction to Philbreck, and I’ll definitely be reading more of his work. The story was engaging and humorous. The only thing I wished was that the ending wasn’t quite as predictable. But other than that, I really loved it.

GYNOID: 4.5 stars
This is a refreshing look at robots, one that has been explored before but I feel like this story takes it deeper. It was a fascinating concept, and it’s my favorite work of this author so far. I hope she expands into this more in the future.

WORD THROWER: 4 stars
The whole idea of this story was brilliant, and maybe the most unique in the anthology. The idea of throwing words is just so dang awesome. Wangler has a knack for just telling a good story, period. My only issue was the characters seemed so young, maybe more middle grade or early high school level. It didn’t seem to fit as much into this particular anthology.

WOLF AT THE DOOR: 4.5 stars
I’ve only read the first Beaumont and Beasley book by Schultz, and I feel like I enjoyed this story more than the book. This seemed to have a good blend of humor, darkness, character development, and twists in the plot. I hope we get more of this type of writing from him, because it’s SO GOOD. It’s different than the books, and my preference is definitely more in this vein. I feel like the author is so talented, and can write pretty much anything. My only issue was I wanted more background, but it’s probably because this is only my second introduction to the author.

[Nancy Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Anthology is an amazing way to discover new authors and enjoy familiar ones.

At first, I was hesitant spending time on authors I was unfamiliar with. Instead, I found myself enjoying stories that I would normally not pick up. For example, The Word Thrower is not normally a book that I would select. Yet author Beth Wangler wrote an amazing story about the power of words. There were also some favorite authors of mine who did not disappoint: K. L. + Pierce, Hannah Heath, J.E. Purrazzi, and E.B. Dawson.

I recommend you explore the works of each author who contributed to this anthology. You will discover a group of creative and talented authors who will transport you to the worlds of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

[Squire Whitney: Hufflepuff Book Reviwer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pheonix Fiction antihero anthology is a fun, creative, and diverse collection of stories written by seven promising speculative fiction authors! Below are my reviews of the individual stories.


The Wolf at the Door by Kyle Robert Shultz: 2 out of 5 stars

I’ll be honest and just say that The Wolf at the Door isn’t really my taste. The story has a markedly different tone than anything else Shultz has ever written, and I applaud him for branching out. Anyone who wants to get their mind blown by fun world building and surprising twists will probably love this story. The sheer number of overwhelmingly positive reviews that the tale has thus far acquired can attest to this! But, to me, The Wolf at the Door seems to lack the kind of character development, humor, and emotion that I’ve come to expect out of my favorite indie-author. It’s a well-written piece, but it’s not really my kind of story.


Vengeance Hunter by Hannah Heath: 3.5 out of 5 stars

With all the laughable portrayals of vampires that have been perpetuated throughout YA literature and TV shows lately, it’s difficult to imagine the race being presented with any real depth and ingenuity. Heath, however, accomplishes this perfectly in Vengeance Hunter. She manages to capture the inherent creepiness of vampires while still putting a unique spin on the race and raising some deep questions. Honestly, the story struck me as one of the most ingenuitive and unique short pieces that I’d read in a long, long time.

Even beyond the story’s ingenuity, there is no shortage of things to appreciate about Vengeance Hunter. Over the course of relatively few pages, the main character of Ishtaka is developed with surprising depth and complexity. And the society in which the vampires live struck me as perhaps even more impressive! For such a short piece, I was astounded by the amount of thought that seemed to have been put into world-building!

The only reason why I’m giving Vengeance Hunter 3.5 stars—as opposed to four or five—would that the story’s portrayal of religion somehow felt off to me. I’m not really sure if I can quite put my finger on why, but it didn’t really seem to flow smoothly into the narrative for me—and I struggled to figure out exactly what Heath was trying to say about spirituality. Maybe this was just me, though. Other readers seem to have loved the way that Heath explored religion!

However, I have no other complaint about Vengeance Hunter; everything else about it is truly fang-tastic! This is the first piece I’ve ever read by Heath—but she is clearly a promising author, and I look forward to finding out what she comes up with next!


Word Thrower by Beth Wangler: 3 out of 5 stars

I really, really dig the concept for Word Thrower! I mean, I am fascinated words and firmly believe that they can carry immense power—so it was refreshing to read a story that played with this idea by giving certain people the ability to shape reality through the power of the words they use. What’s more, Wangler also manages to raise some fascinating questions about right and wrong in this story—and as to whether it’s ever acceptable to commit an immoral act for the greater good. The main character, Dax, is forced to make such a decision—yet Wangler never really reveals to us whether or not he made the right choice. She leaves it up to her readers to consider, which I appreciated.

I will say, though, that I think the narrative would have been better suited as a novel. There was just so much fantastic material that struck me as a bit rushed and undercapitalized in short story format. I also found some of the expositional dialogue rather rough. However, the concept behind Word Thrower is pure gold, and this was more than enough to keep me entertained and engaged.


The Astoundingly Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen by Nate Philbrick: 4 out of 5 stars

Before reading this story, the only other piece that I’d read by Philbrick had been Where The Woods Grow Wild—which I’d liked but somehow still had a hard time really getting into like most people readers t. So you can only imagine my surprise that his piece ended up proving one of my favorite stories in the entire anthology! Denna is just such an engaging and fun character! I mean, a quirky, eccentric swindler woman who is obsessed with two things—swindling money off people and drinking tea at tea time!? She had me constantly cackling. (And, as aside, I’m one of the few readers who actually didn’t see the twist coming. Which was cool because I like to be surprised!)

I do think, though, that I would have liked the story even better if I had read The Broken City of Arrows first. I had a bit of a hard time making sense of Philbrick’s world and Denna’s character at times. But this is the closest thing I have to a critique for this charming little story!


Gynoid by K.L. + Pierce: 4 out of 5 stars

Gynoid is one of the most thought-provoking and ambitious short pieces of speculative fiction that I’ve ever had the pleasure to read! Honestly, the word that first comes to mind when I think of the story is “gutsy.” Pierce crafts a powerful tale told from the third-person perspective of Jaceyln: a female robot or “gynoid,” who is given a virus, which causes her to experience emotions for the first time. So what makes this story so gutsy? First off, the formatting and structure are unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed in any story. Since the story is told from the perspective a robot, a great portion of the story is depicted through the data she receives. This frequency of such formatting decreases, however, as the narrative progresses and Jacelyn becomes more accustomed to having emotions—thus becoming more and more human-like. As some other reviewers have mentioned, be warned that the formatting might be rather hard to get used to initially—especially for someone like me, who does not read a great deal of speculative fiction. But let me assure you that the sheer originality of this narrative’s structure is more than enough to make up for any potential confusion that it gives rise to. Another thing that makes Gynoid gutsy would be its ending. I don’t want to spoil anything, though; you just need to go read it for yourself!

Another favorite aspect of the story for me would be Jaceyln’s character. I resonated with Jacelyn’s ongoing struggle to learn what exactly emotions were and justify them with her inescapable protocol.

While I feel like this is by far the most mature piece of fiction that Pierce has crafted yet, I’ll acknowledge that Gynoid did not strike me as a particularly polished story. There’s a continuity error—and some of the dialogue/prayers felt “cardboardy” or forced to me. While stiff dialogue worked amazingly for the robots, it bothered me a little when it came from human characters.

However, Gynoid is an absolute gem among short stories. Anybody who loves the sort of speculative fiction that will make you think needs to go read it right now!


Stealing Freedom by J.E. Purrazi: 3 out of 5 stars

Admittedly, I have rather mixed feelings about these Stealing Life/Stealing Freedom stories. While Purrazzi’s ideas are tremendously ingenuitive, and while I have little doubt that readers more accustomed to speculative fiction will eat the stories up, I personally struggle to really enjoy them. Somehow the words on the page fail to form a picture in my mind. I suspect that there are a few reasons for this. Firstly, Purrazzi has a way of dropping her readers into straight into her intricately crafted world with little explanation. While many—perhaps even most—speculative fiction readers likely prefer this technique, I would rather to get slowly eased into a fictional world. Secondly, a great deal of the story consists of action, which is something I almost always struggle with.

Still, there are a lot of things to appreciate about Stealing Freedom! The amount of thought that Purrazzi has put into her world is staggering. And her concepts are one-of-a-kind. Stealing Freedom an impressive story that I had a hard time with for largely subjective reasons.


Striker by E.B Dawson: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Wow! This story thoroughly blew me away! Honestly, I’m thinking more and more that I need to invest in reading some of Dawson’s novels—because in both of the Pheonix anthologies so far, her story has been far and away my favorite.

The world-building in Striker is phenomenally and intricately crafted. The inner-struggle of the main character, Danny, is powerful--as is the slow reveal of his dramatic backstory. The moral questions the story raises are complex and intriguing--questions about whether or not it's ever acceptable to take justice into one's own hands. Dawson opts not to provide a clear answer to most of these questions but leaves it up to her reader to consider, which I appreciated. Honestly, it’s hard to say more without giving way to spoilers—except thank you, Dawson, for writing this gem of a short story.

[Justice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge fan of lists, so here’s a list of my thoughts on each individual story. Some stories get more thoughts than others, for no particular reason.

The Wolf at the Door: I think this is one of Kyle’s strongest short stories yet. It’s got a sinister setting, magical monsters, and some great twists. I don’t know how well you’ll follow if you haven’t read much of Beaumont and Beasley, but if you have, you won’t be dissapointed.

Vengeance Hunter: I really like this take on vampires! This story has a little of everything Hannah’s great at- angry characters, a thick atmosphere, a rich culture... It’s ending is messy and raw (in a character sense, not a technical sense), and I hope I get to see more of the characters one day.

The Word Thrower: What a wonderful idea and execution. The hints at the world and at the magic system really flesh out the setting, and Dax is a super well-rounded character, despite the short page time. Plus, the story doesn’t feel like a spinoff or the beginning of a longer book. It’s all self-contained, which combined with the rich world is a hard balance to maintain.
There was a certain scene at the end that really made me root for Dax as he tried to make a decision, and I wanted him to make the right choice. It made for an excellent ending- really bringing me into the story.
The only complaint I have is that the tone, the characters, and the plot all felt a little younger than high school- maybe more like middle school. Other than that, it’s a clever, enjoyable story- great for anyone who likes younger contemporary fantasy with solid messages.

The Astoundingly Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen: This is the first I’ve read by Nate Philbrick, and it definitely won’t be the last! Apparently, it’s set in the same world as his main series, but it stands alone just fine. It’s so fun to watch the two characters interact, and the voice is super strong throughout; it’s a treat to read.

Stealing Freedom: This story is set in the same world as J.E. Purazzi’s story in the previous PFW anthology ‘Stealing Life.’ I remember the main plot of that one, but not which names belong to which characters. If I had remembered more details, I think ‘Stealing Freedom’ would have had a greater impact on me. The world that’s being set up in these stories has a lot to it, and anyone who’s interested in this type of hard sci-fi/cyborg type of story should check it out.

Gynoid: This is a solid concept- a gynoid (which is a female android) who has a virus that’s starting to make her feel emotions.
However, I had a hard time following the story- I would have liked more explanation on REPL vs. AIHA, and how Jacelyn got the virus. Plus, it seemed like the gears shifted a few times over the course of the story- I wasn’t quite sure what it was building towards.
That being said, Jacelyn’s point of view is super fun to read. She’s very calculating and logical, and clearly not human, which is impressive. And the dynamic between her and Adriana is cool too. The characters are solid, even if the world could be clearer.

Striker: Why is Beth so good at writing hurting characters?? Danny is such a great, messed up, sad person. I loved reading about his journey. Plus, the supporting characters were pretty cool too: well rounded without drawing attention away from Danny himself. The world of “Striker” is the same way- intricate enough to feel real, without taking over Danny’s personal struggle.
His final decision at the end could probably have been stretched out more, and there was a short time skip at the beginning that threw me a little, but those are minor complaints in the scheme of things.
Also, I caught at least two movie references, so that was fun. Overall, this was a super solid end to the solid Antiheroes anthology.

If you follow the Phoenix Fiction Writers at all, you should pick up this anthology. I haven’t read stuff from all of contributing writers before this, but out of those I have, these are all decent examples of their writing and interests. There’s also a wide mix of genres, so if you enjoy any type of spec-fic, you’ll find something in here.
I will say that this mix has a downside- a couple of these stories just weren’t genres I would normally enjoy. But it’s a good, low-commitment way to explore and see what you like or not.

If you’re looking for some great new writers to explore, or if you’re a fan of any of these authors, you’ll definitely get something out of Antiheroes.

[S.M. M. Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this an arc for my honest review.
I enjoyed this anthology and was pleasantly surprised as I have not read all of these authors before. There is something for everyone in this collection of short stories. A couple of the stories were not my favorite and missed the mark for me due to style.
Other than that, it was a fun read!

[Nate Philbrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

My status as a participating author in this anthology has not affected my review as a reader, so I can honestly say that the authors whose stories are featured are truly dedicated to their craft. Each story stands out in its own unique way, and they're so different from each other despite having a common trait in the antihero figure.

Due to the uniqueness and differences of approach from each author, some of the stories included content I wasn't comfortable with (for example, some instances of intense and graphic violence or the use of dark magic). Though I can't personally recommend each story, and would advise potential readers to exercise their own discernment, these stories are still top-notch if these elements don't bother you, and most of them don't veer off the 'comfortable content' path.

Beyond that caveat, you'll find a bit of everything here in terms of tone and story types--from thought-provoking themes in The Word Thrower to mischievous romps in The Astoundingly Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen to something more sinister in The Wolf at the Door and Vengeance Hunter--and more.

[Bethany Fehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was so impressed by Phoenix Fiction's original anthology, so I was super excited to read this one. Once again, I was blown away by the creativity and craftsmanship of these authors. This anthology has given me some insight into how to be a better writer, and the difficult decisions the characters are forced to face will keep me thinking.


The Wolf at the Door:

Even though I read this story before starting the Beaumont and Beasley series, I this story did an excellent job setting up the story world with minimal exposition and without requiring the worldbuilding knowledge from Shultz's other stories set in the Afterverse. I was instantly drawn in by the unique prologue with its desperate remonstrations against reading further and the quirky narrative voice issuing the warnings. Of course I kept reading. And of course the dreadful promises were delivered upon. The actual story itself is a brilliantly woven web of fairytale parallels and unexpected-but-well-foreshadowed twists on the tales and the reader's expectations.


Vengeance Hunter:

While vampire stories and dark fantasy are not genres I would normally choose to read, I was pleasantly surprised by several aspects of this story. The story world is a brilliant twist on ancient South American culture that makes the vampire civilization human and relatable. While there is a fair bit of blood ending up in places it's not supposed to be, it isn't horror, and it doesn't glorify violence. Although it's dark and tragic, it isn't going for creepiness. The message of the story is ultimately uplifting, and the main character is heartbreakingly sympathetic. However, it is graphic enough that I probably wouldn't have decided to read it all the way through except for the purposes of this review. I wasn't scarred, but there were a couple of scenes where I flipped the dimmer switch on my imagination.


The Word Thrower:

This story really grabbed my emotions. Dax is such an empathy-inspiring character. I wanted to be his friend and give him a hug and encourage him, but of course I'm stuck on the other side of the page. The conflict of the story hinges on a difficult moral choice that had me stumped as to what would be the right thing to do, which is awesome. I really appreciate stories that make you think instead of simply reiterating obvious answers, and this is one of them. I would have liked to see the limits of the magic system defined a little more clearly, and it would have been cool to see it used more often, but the concept of using words to shape reality is super cool.


The Astoundingly Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen:

I quite relished the opportunity to spend some more time with one of my favorite characters from the Broken City of Crows. I immensely enjoyed the lighthearted tone and the hilarious chemistry between the characters. While Denna isn't exactly a role model to be followed, her wacky wit and out-of-the-box resourcefulness (and of course the motivation of avoiding that mostly undeserved mortal peril) easily snagged my empathy. The clues leading up to the revelation at the end are excellently timed and the ending left me feeling gratified and pleasantly shocked.


Striker:

This story does an excellent job establishing the main character and the futuristic world he lives in concisely, emotionally, and without interrupting the action. Even though they weren't discussed at length in this short work, I found the different cultures presented fascinating, particular the transplanting of an urban Irish culture to a mining-oriented moon. The story illustrated its theme powerfully and emotionally through the character's choices and the revelation of how his choices throughout his life have shaped him. The bits of backstory necessary to understanding the main character's problems and motivation were woven seamlessly into the main character's present thoughts without making it feel forced or info dumpy. Although the action doesn't get intense until the end of the story, the quieter preceding scenes are certainly not lacking in tension and drive. This story really makes the most of every moment.


Stealing Freedom:

I was quite excited about this story after reading Stealing Life. It definitely delivers on the expectations created by its precursor. More incredibly cool, tragic, and creatively imagined bionics whose powers are balanced with inherent weaknesses. Another heart-tugging main character with a horrific backstory. Another out-of-the box break-in plot. The connection to the characters from Stealing Life was really cool, as was the peek into their backstory. I did find the plot and some characters' reasoning a bit more difficult to follow in some places, but overall, it was a fun ride. The tiebacks to the previous story left me feeling a wee bit homesick.

Gynoid:

Most sentient robots don't sit well with my realism detector, but this one is different. I really appreciated how Jacelyn's progression toward acting more like a human is initially due to an intentional cause, and is then purposefully pursued by the character herself. Jacelyn's thought patterns are persuasively objective and computer-like, and though her ability to experience emotion gradually grows, she still sounds enough like a computer to be convincing. There were a few parts I personally found a bit difficult to understand at first glance, but this is a creative story that offers a unique angle on the familiar robot-simulating-humanity situation.

[Julia Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this anthology! I loved seeing the different authors' skill sets and strengths displayed. So many thought provoking stories.

-THE WOLF AT THE DOOR:
Kyle did an amazing job with this story that took elements of Little Red Riding Hood and other stories creating a thrilling, yet creepy story. I honestly don't know how I slept at all after reading this.

-VENGEANCE HUNTER:
Hannah Heath did a stellar job with this vampiristic story. I normally don't like stories like this, but the characters development and story were very intriguing.

-THE WORD THROWER
Beth Wangler's story about the power of words was inspiring and thought provoking. I only wished it was longer.

-THE ASTOUNDINGLY MORTAL PERIL OF DENNA DORWEN
I have to say, this was probably my favorite. When I turned the page to the title of Nate Philbrick's story I squealed out loud. I didn't even know I was capable of that. Excellent character development, plot and description that was beautiful and never too much. I think I highlighted most of the story. I LOVE Denna!!

STEALING FREEDOM
I'm loving Purrazzi's writing style! The characters were interesting and the plot had me on the edge of my seat. Looking forward to reading more of her work.

GYNOID
I've never read any of K.L. + Pierce's work and I thought making a gynoid the main character was an awesome twist. She did a good job on portraying her viewpoint and keeping it distinct from the human viewpoints. Looking forward to reading more from her also.

STRIKER

Loves E.B Dawson's main character and found his moral dilemma very compelling. Beth does a good job of characterization and world building. I'd like to read more about this character and I hope she revisits him in the future.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this anthology. Seven very different worlds, and not one of them less than a 4*. I will only mention the 5* stories:

The Astoundingly Mortal Peril of Donna Dorwin - Nate Philbrick
I really enjoyed this story. It's so different. I'm sure some readers would call it old-fashioned and perhaps skip it completely, but they don't know what they are missing. So funny, and I had no idea where the story was heading. Excellent. Drew me in from the first page.

Vengeance Hunter - Hannah Heath
Ishtaka is a Blood Hunter and her society needs blood to survive. How do you know you are being told the truth? Do you? Mix this with some Biblical stuff, and the author is on to a winner. Very good indeed. Made me think about all kinds of concepts afterwards.

The Word Thrower - Beth Wangler
Enjoyed this story very much. We may not have magic at the back of our words, but words can hurt (despite what the saying portrays) and can be controlling and all-powerful. Very well-told tale.

Gynoid - KL + Pierce
Loved this story. A virus makes a female Android start feeling emotions. It's been told so many times before, however something felt a bit different here. A wee bit fresher than this type of story normally reads. Very enjoyable.

The Wolf at the Door - Robert Shultz
Stealing Freedom - JE Purrazzi
Striker - EB Dawson
were very good stories which I awarded 4*. Overall, an anthology with intelligent, thoughtful, and well-written stories. Well worth a read from the Phoenix Fiction Writers.

I was offered an eARC which I voluntarily read and honestly reviewed. All opinions are my own.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wolf at the Door: 3.5/5
The Wolf at the Door is a fun, "not everything is as it seems" ride. Complete with many twists and turns, bad ass old women, and an intro by everyone's favorite snarky dragon, this story is sure to entertain!
The only reasons I gave it 3 stars is because I thought it lacked the usual oomph and wit of Shultz's other stories (though, kuddos to him for breaking out of his usual mold)

Vengeance Hunter: 5/5
Wow! There's honestly so much I could say about this story! This is exactly what a dark fantasy should be! Its themes are powerful and incredibly well handled, its worldbuilding is nothing short of brilliant, and its characters are all very well thought out. When it comes to this story, I think the real question is what didn't I like. And to that I can't think of anything

The Astoundingly Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen: 5/5
What a romp!! Having not read Broken City of Crows yet, I wasn't sure who exactly this Denna character is and what made her be such a well loved character. I now know! She has such a distinct, hillarious voice (Think a quirky, spunky Han Solo type), never ceasing to get a cackle out of me!
The twists (While not totally unexpected, were very well constructed) and the worldbuilding was very well done! In fact, it gave me a vague Kingkiller Chronicles vibe. Which is high praise coming from me!

The Word Thrower: 4/5
The Word Thrower reminded me a great deal of a mini super hero flick (With a unique spin off its own, of course)! I think my favorite part of the story would have to be Drax. While at first he might seem like your average guy, towards the end,he makes a very gritty decision, instantly turning him into a fascinating character study! And can we talk about the whole concept behind it?? Cause it's fascinating! I mean, using words to shape the world? A whole academy dedicated to teaching this? So awesome! And I love how Wangler uses this concept to ask whether forcing positive change on someone is right!
As far as critique go: someone the dialogue was a bit too casual, a few of Dax's friends felt a bit juvenile for highschoolers, and everything felt a little too easy.
However, these critiques are pretty minor. And overall this makes for a very solid, intense story!

Stealing Freedom: 4/5
As its been awhile since I read Stealing Life, I probably wasn't as in the know about what was happening as I should have been. However, even so I still remembered enough to know Stealing Freedom is an excellent follow up! In this story, Purazzi seamlessly shows us another side to the whole conflict around Bakemono's sick experimentation. Rather than showing us the rebellion side, she instead shows us the story of a young man named Koya who's on the run from Bakemono, trying to keep his independence. What ensues is an action packed, twist filled adventure with solid characterization (Koya is another example of a fascinating character study) and a frustrating but fitting ending. So excited for this to be expanded into a series!

Gynoid: 4/5
While the whole, "the robot learns to become human" story certainly isn't anything new, Pierce puts a very fresh spin on it! Rather than the robot (or gynoid) simply getting emotions as the result of an accident, her gaining them is very deliberate (And there's much more to it than that, but you'll just have to find out for yourself cause spoilers). Jacelyn's development from full on logic to logic balanced with a dose of emotion is done in such a slow, tactful way; The emotions in are so raw and well conveyed; and the plot twists are shocking and nearly impossible to see coming. This story was truly a gem!
Of course, there were still a few qualms I had with it. Some of the major plot points were a bit confusing, Adriana could have been a bit more fleshed out, and the whole Christianity side of the story felt a bit cardboardy and unnecessary to the story.
However, those critiques aside, Gynoid is an amazingly thoughtful look at humanity that packs a huge punch. I can't wait to read whatever the author puts out next!

Striker: 4/5
Striker is a great example of a less is more story! Its plot and its world (while having some very unique aspects) are rather simple in how they're presented. And yet, this is turned into a strength as it lets us completely zero in on the core of the story: do we have the right to take justice into our own hands?
Danny (The MC) was such a complicated, broken mess, and I loved him. True, he might not have had the most distinct, strong personality, but I think this was done on purpose to show the consequences of seeking revenge- Overtime everything but that goal will be burned away- and the author truly does a great job conveying that!

In short, Antiheros is a very high quality, diverse collection of short stories! I'd highly recommend it to anyone, aquainted with their work or not.

[Faye Fite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology is incredible, and I am so proud to be a part of it. Each story is unique, and each brings something new and exciting to the collection. I loved seeing how every Phoenix Fiction writer's style and voice shone through their antiheroes. Though we all wrote the same character type, we all took on different themes and explored different aspects of humanity. I'm in awe.

The Wolf at the Door Kyle Robert Shultz - I loved all of the twists and turns this story took. Little Red Riding Hood is a fairytale with many adaptations, but I have to say this one is my favorite. The opening is unique and fun (it starts out as if we, the reader, has opened a file we absolutely should not have). Later, the story takes a darker, more solemn twist as the story shifts to being narrated by Mina Grimm. Her narrative voice is great. I hope to see more of her soon. 10/10, would open any file with Mina's name on it.

Vengeance Hunter - Well, I think this story is pretty epic, but my review may be slightly biased, sooooo.....Next.

The Word Thrower by Beth Wangler - Words as a form of magical power? Yes please! The protagonist, Dax Trelegan, is a really neat look at an antihero. His home life isn't all that great, so when he finds a place in the Academy, all he wants to do is help protect his school and friends. But, unfortunately, he makes some difficult and questionable decisions in the process. He's a really neat character and the Word Thrower universe is one that I would LOVE to see more of. Also: Bonus points for this story having Spiderman references. =) 10/10, would marathon Spiderman with Dax and ask him show me around the world of word throwing.

The Astoundingly Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen by Nate Philbrick - This story was so much fun! The writing is laugh-out-loud hilarious. Denna's character is roguishly lovable while still falling squarely in the antihero box, which is hard to do. The twist at the end of this story is incredibly perfect and surprising. Also, I have to say: I love how Philbrick slipped mentions of random fantasy foods into this story. It made me happy and hungry. 10/10, would go on a romp with Denna.

Stealing Freedom by J.E. Purrazzi - The creativity of this story blew me away. This was my first introduction to this particular Purrazzi universe (I haven't read Stealing Life yet) and I loved it. Koya is instantly a sympathetic character. I found myself wanting him to succeed, while also being nervous because I wasn't sure what "success" would look like for him. The ending made me simultaneously hopeful and anxious, so I'm really looking forward to the next installment! 10/10, would give Koya a hug and attempt to shield him from harm.

Gynoid by K.L. + Pierce - This short story is awesome! I loved the unique formatting and the way Pierce showcased the robotic-ness of her character while still making her feel real and nuanced. This story is a great look at the balance between logic and emotions, at the importance of choice, and the strength of faith. Read my full rave review here10/10, would befriend Jacelyn and try to help her figure out emotions.

Striker by E.B. Dawson - The way Dawson wove in insanely creative sci-fi ideas into the story in such a casual way made me really happy. I love the concept of Strikers, and the philosophical questions this story brought up were fascinating and thought-provoking. I found myself going back and forth between being frustrated with Danny and being sad for him. Ultimately, I decided I just really, really want him to find a way to have a healthy life. I hope to see more of him soon! 10/10, would slap Danny upside the head, then give him a hug.

[Elza Kinde · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of SciFi and Fantasy stories spans cities, planets, and universes that showcase the creativity of seven authors when it comes to building worlds, twisting a mean plot, and crafting a compelling antihero.

Antiheroes features some amazing stories that range from exciting escapade to vindictive quest. While many leave an in for continuation, they all stand well on their own despite generally leaving off on some kind of cliffhanger. You know who you are.

Top favorites for me were:
~The Astonishingly Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen by Nate Philbrick (gossip at teatime, mortal peril, a broken ladder)
~Striker by E.B. Dawson (poison, chosen family, plasma knives)
~The Wolf at the Door by Kyle Robert Shultz (a storyteller, Neverwolves, a restricted file)

While often dark, and sometimes violent, these stories do a beautiful job of showing a hero in unlikeliest of people, robots, and those in between.

[K.L. + Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many wonderful stories! RTC!

[Grace Crandall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was awesome!

Firstly, I really love the premise of this anthology. Most of the short story collections I’ve read have been sorted by author or genre; this is the first and only one I’ve seen that was crafted around a character archetype. It was so fascinating to see eight authors, each with such solid and disparate styles, tones, and genres, all tackle the same idea. It made for a really interesting read—the book seemed to fit and flow together as an entity in itself, instead of merely being a cobbled-together collection of snippets. I really appreciated that.

As for the stories themselves—

-Wolf At The Door by Kyle Robert Shultz starts this anthology off with a bang. It tells the tale of Wilhelmina Grimm, a sorceress, historian, and occasional monster-slayer. She arrives in the Black Forest, investigating a village that is plagued by the nightmarish Neverwolves. But, as she begins to record the village’s story, it begins to become clear that nothing is quite what it first looked like.

This story made me put the book down and stare at the wall in awe and amazement for about 5 minutes. It’s a fascinating and surprisingly emotional retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that somehow manages to incorporate almost all the elements of the original fairy tale while still being completely its own story, artfully told and with a twist that made my jaw drop.

-Vengeance Hunter, by Hannah Heath, follows Ishtaka, a Blood Hunter. In a society where fresh blood is a vital resource to stave off the deadly Hunger, Ishtaka takes kill orders for criminals, hunting them down and draining their blood to feed her people. But in spite of the Hunger, there are some who claim that the blood is not necessary at all—that refraining from it will, eventually, end the Hunger for good. In a world where any choice could prove deadly, Ishtaka must choose what to believe—and choose well.

Firstly: Vampire!!!! Bounty hunter!!!! *flails happily* I’m still geeking out about that.
Anyway, this story is probably one of my favorite iterations of vampire lore. The desert setting, the lavish portrayal of vampire culture and religion, and the complexity of the world it’s set in all work together to bring a lot of interest on their own. Even aside from the worldbuilding, though, this was a really fascinating story about someone forced to seriously question their worldview, their motives, and their past actions. I really loved Ishtaka’s internal struggle; it was realistic and compelling. She’s such a solid character from the get-go, and only gains dimensions and interest as the story continues.

-The Word Thrower, by Beth Wangler, introduces us to a world in which words are (literally) magical. Dax, our main character, is being trained how to use his ability to ‘throw’ words—he can speak, and change his surroundings at will. A word thrower can also influence other people, an ability as unethical to use as it is uncomfortable to think about. When Dax begins to suspect that another school may be teaching its students to throw words at people, he enrolls in that school to spy—but fitting in comes at a price.

This story surprised me, to be honest. It probably has the lowest stakes of any of the stories—there is no deadly peril of any kind—and yet I found myself truly disturbed by the grey morality and uncertainty of it. The notion of betraying an ideal to accomplish a goal really fit in with the Antihero tradition well, and got me thinking. Also, I love the stress the story puts on preserving the solidity of words and language.

-The Astoundingly Mortal Peril Of Denna Dorwen, by Nate Philbrick, begins with Denna, a shop-keeper and occasional rapscallion, late on her payments and hanging from a peg on the wall. Not the most enviable position.
How she ended up in this position is another story—a story Denna tells to one of her customers over a cup of mint tea. It’s a tale full of intrigue and assassins and the click-clacking creatures that hide under the streets and buildings of the city, and some of it is even true.

This story had me in stitches! Denna is an absolutely glorious character, and Nate’s writing style, while entirely his own, always gives me nostalgia for Lloyd Alexander with its playful phrasing, dynamic characters, and cozily fantastical settings. This story is hilarious and just plain fun. I loved the complexity of its setup, and how every part of the story laid the foundations for an ending that still surprised me.

-Stealing Freedom, by J.E. Purazzi, begins with Koya, a cyborg trying to live a normal life without being used as either a weapon or a lab experiment. But with the political scene that allows him even this small amount of leeway well on its way to changing, Koya has to act—even if no action seems like it will grant him the freedom he needs.

I really, really loved Koya’s characterization. He was such a solid presence throughout the story, and the sense of claustrophobia—of being unable to see a real way out—that he felt was visceral. I also loved how his augmentations were described—I could really picture them. I loved how he kept fighting, even in the bad situations he was landed in. I had a bit of a hard time really grasping the bent of all the political machinations that were effecting the plot, but Koya’s character arc came through clearly.

Gynoid, by K. L. + Pierce, follows Jacelyn—a gynoid attempting to reconcile two conflicting sets of programming.

This story was a really interesting look at the nature of humanity and free will. I didn’t completely understand all of it, but I really liked how Jacelyn’s constant counterbalancing of two separate programmed directives eventually led to her gaining (or perhaps rediscovering) a will of her own.

Striker, by E.B. Dawson, introduces us to a boy on the brink of a decision. Danny Keane has spent years nursing a need for revenge. A slaughtered village lingers in his past, crying for justice, and he intends to get it—whatever it takes, no matter what stands in his way. Danny gets himself turned into a Striker—one of an elite force of superpowered soldiers, meant to guard corrupt members of a tyrannical government.
Instead of revenge, Danny finds himself caught up in a coup; but after all—revenge can only take you so far.

I LOVED the idea of a Striker. The way Danny’s powers are described had me vibrating with excitement. I was really rooting for Danny to get his revenge, but I loved the turnaround here—the way his destructive cause is replaced by a slightly more constructive one. It’s a fascinating story and a fun look at what sci-fi can be.

Overall, I’ve been having to push down the urge to physically push copies of this book at strangers while shouting ‘read it! Read it now!’, which is always evidence of a worthwhile read for me. Antiheroes is a joyride of a collection, full of a vast variety of settings and subgenres and characters, and I loved every minute of it :D

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

My God. Guys, this anthology blew me away. I hadn't read anything from any of these authors before, and to be honest, I wasn't expecting much. I downloaded it on a whim because someone recommended one of the stories to me. And I'm so glad I did.

Without further ado, let's break down what I loved (and maybe what I didn't) about each of these stories.

"The Wolf at the Door" by Kyle Robert Shultz
This was SUCH a strong beginning to this anthology. It's a brilliant, innovative retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and the Brothers Grimm--and y'all know I'm not a big fan of retellings. But this one wowed me throughout. All of the characters had so much heart, wit, and personality, from Malcolm to Mina to Helga. Overall, this is the strongest cast I can ever remember reading in a short story. The worldbuilding was truly unique, particularly in the clever integration of different mythologies, and the twists and turns were brilliant. This is one of the best short stories I have ever read. I will 100% be reading more works by this author, and I can't wait. 5/5 stars.

"Vengeance Hunter" by Hannah Heath
I have to admit, I wasn't expecting too much from this story. I've tried to read Heath's writing before, and I never liked it all that much. But this story sucked (hah. (it's about vampires.)) me in pretty quickly. Again, I loved all the main characters. (And I am STILL upset about That Death. You know the one, Heath.) There was so much thoughtful worldbuilding that went into "Vengeance Hunter" as well, but my one minor beef with this story is that there were a few worldbuilding elements that were never adequately explained. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed "Vengeance Hunter," especially the ending. It was perfectly bittersweet. 4.8/5 stars.

"The Word Thrower" by Beth Wangler
I'm going to say it up front: this was probably my least favorite story. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it, however! I liked it plenty, just less than all the other ones. I liked Dax, the MC, a lot, as well as the political + historical worldbuilding (though I'd have loved more!). The plot was a little simplistic--nothing surprising really happened--and nothing about the writing grabbed me. I still enjoyed reading it, however, and there were several moments that sent my heart racing a million miles an hour. 4/5 stars.

"The Astonishingly Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen" by Nate Philbrick
WELL. HERE IT IS. MY CURRENT FAVORITE THING IN ALL OF EXISTENCE. This was the story that caused me to pick up the anthology in the first place, and it somehow managed to beat "The Wolf at the Door" to become my very favorite. I almost can't believe this was written by a new, young author. The writing is incredible, and Denna Dorwen is a fabulous character. Lovable, hilarious, mischievous--the whole nine yards.

"When six o’clock tea-time settled over the Dragon Tooth Curiosity Shop, Denna Dorwen found herself suspended by the blouse from a peg on the wall, contemplating her own imminent doom."

I was in love from the first line, and I stayed hooked until the end. From Sutton to Mistress Prow, Denna is assisted in her adventures by a cast of characters just as funny and endearing as she is. And the plot twist at the end was amazing. I'm stopping myself now because otherwise I will continue talking about this story for a million and five years. And @ Nate Philbrick, I will pay you most of my life savings for another Denna Dorwen story. That is all. 5 out of freaking 5 stars.

"Stealing Freedom" by J.E. Purrazzi
Purrazzi is an author I've seen recommended a lot, but I had yet to pick up any of her work. (Primarily because it's sci-fi, and I am not generally a fan of sci-fi.) "Stealing Freedom" was a great introduction to what I'm sure is an equally great larger body of work. Since I don't tend to read sci-fi, I don't have much of a pulse for what's innovative or cookie-cutter in the genre. But personally, I thought her concept of a futuristic world was incredibly creative. Koya was probably my favorite main character besides Denna. His personality, bonds, quirks, aspirations, and everything in between were written so well. And that ending? It was absolutely perfect, and it broke my freaking heart. 4/5 stars.

"Gynoid" by K.L. + Pierce
"Gynoid" was the most cleverly formatted story by far. It's from the point of view of a gynoid named Jacelyn, and the way Pierce experiments with formatting and POV to show Jacelyn's robotic nature is very well-done. Despite my like for Jacelyn, the star of the show to me was her human counterpart, Adrianna. She is sweet, strong, brave, and unconditionally loving. She knows when she's afraid or outmatched and has the courage to both ask for help and keep fighting even if none comes. She's a breath of fresh air in YA lit, and I really enjoyed reading her interactions with Jacelyn and following them along their doomed path. Although I must say I still don't understand that path particularly well? I was definitely the most confused by the worldbuilding in this one. Lots of acronyms were thrown around without much explanation, and many other elements of the modern world weren't explained, either. With some clarity, though, this would easily have been my favorite of the sci-fi stories. 4/5 stars.

Note: This is the only story within Antiheroes to contain explicitly Christian content. As an agnostic reader, I have no complaints. I didn't feel preached at, and I actually liked watching Adrianna interact with her faith. The religious content and, furthermore, the emphasis the Phoenix Fiction Writers place on writing clean and virtuous fiction should not deter any agnostics or atheists from picking up this anthology.

"Striker" by E.B. Dawson
Guys this is the last one I promise you're almost free of me.
"Striker" takes the traditional plot of someone out for vengeance for the death of their loved ones and turns it into something unique and memorable. Danny is a great narrator and character, as is the rest of the cast, from Madigan to Biak. (The only one I was a little disappointed in was Moira--she seemed pretty static and 2D, but this is, after all, a rather short story.) Dawson also took the traditional space empire setting and added enough creative locations and memorable characters to make it feel both fresh and familiar. The action kept me fixated, and I'd enjoy reading more short stories about the further adventures of Danny and the rebellion. 4.5/5 stars.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this anthology to everyone who likes an good antihero and even a few who don't. From Koya to Denna to Dax, there's bound to be somebody in here who'll change your mind. And kudos to all of the Phoenix Fiction Writers for a job spectacularly done. Next time I underestimate indie authors, somebody throw this review back in my face. Thanks.

[Azelyn Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Review originally found on Word Storm .)

I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I want to thank the Phoenix Fiction Writers for their anthology and for helping me practice how to properly spell the word “antiheroes.” (Nailed it!) All opinions are my own.

As this book is not a traditional novel but rather a short story anthology, I found myself confronted with the unique pursuit that was writing a review. With so many different authors and stories, it hardly seems adequate to evaluate one story based on another. So, I thought I’d break up my review in a similar fashion to the short stories with mini reviews and a precursor review of the book as a whole.

Some of the stories work well as stand alone narratives, referencing but not depending on other novels, other stories are a little harder for me to grasp. Overall, the fantasy stories made more sense, not that the science fiction ones were bad. I’m just saying that, as independent stories with unique world building and character development, the fantasy ones worked better for me.

FANTASY

“The Wolf at the Door” by Kyle Robert Shultz

“Don’t read this. Don’t look at a single word past this introduction.”

I’m sorry to say I followed the advice, at least for a few minutes. I was sitting at my computer when I first downloaded the e-book, then moved to my bed for more comfortable reading. Author of the Beaumont and Beasley series, Shultz is brilliant at writing fairy tale retellings. Though this story references characters from the series, it can be understood and read on its own.

Reminiscent of the tale of Red Riding Hood, the story follows one Wilhelmina Grimm to a village in the woods. And that ending, though! I definitely didn’t expect that.

Overall Thoughts: Best Plot Twist

“Vengeance Hunter” by Hannah Heath

“Quila turned away. ‘I would rather starve than live on the blood of innocents.’”

I don’t usually read stories about vampires, but wow! That one was good.

I was first introduced to Heath’s writing by her short story “Skies of Dripping Gold”, and I’ve been hooked on her stories ever since. Her themes are amazing. Yes, even in a story told from the perspective of an antihero who harvests blood for her people. Creepy. *shudders*

My only question: is it plausible to harvest blood from a person after they’re dead without compromising the blood? I mean, sure, it’s a story about vampires, but still.

Overall Thoughts: Best Themes

“The Word Thrower” by Beth Wangler

“Words are sharp; wield them kindly.”

Several of Wangler’s books are on my TBR list, but I haven’t read much more than her short stories. While I may not have much to compare Wangler’s work to (yet), I still enjoyed this story and the way it explores how words have power and how they might have even more power if certain people have the ability to speak and have their words become reality.

I’m still not sure whether or not Dax counts as an antihero, though. I mean, I’m pretty sure I get what the author is going for, but still. *shrugs*

Overall Thoughts: Most Thought Provoking

“The Astounding Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen” by Nate Philbrick

“When six o’clock tea-time settled over the Dragon Tooth Curiosity Shop, Denna Dorwen found herself suspended by the blouse from a peg on the wall, contemplating her own imminent doom.”

Well that was entertaining! I was first introduced to Philbrick’s work when I read his novel Where the Woods Grow Wild, a light-hearted fantasy adventure with great characters. Philbrick doesn’t disappoint with this short story, either. His writing style is witty and entrancing, and the plot twists took me by surprise. Seriously, I should have seen that coming!

The only thing is that I’m not sure whether to root for Denna or not. I’m leaning toward not. Antiheroes are so complicated.

Overall Thoughts: Best Antihero

SCIENCE FICTION

“Stealing Freedom” by J.E. Purrazzi

I’m sorry to say I don’t remember this one very much. I like the idea that Koya seems to be some sort of cyborg with some pretty cool abilities, but nobody seems to view his physical appearance in a positive light. That and he doesn’t seem to take a very active role in his own story. The story ended on a sort of cliffhanger, though, so perhaps there’s more to be told.

Overall Thoughts: Most International

“Gynoid” by K.L.+Pierce

This story is about a balance between logic and emotion, human and artificial intelligence. I liked the uniqueness of the writing style. Though it threw me off at first, I came to appreciate it more as the story went on. And the narrative introduced me to some terms I hadn’t understood before.

I’m not sure I fully understand this story. There were organizations I’m quite sure what their purpose was, much less what their acronyms stand for. Perhaps it’s meant to be a part of another novel I haven’t read?

Overall Thoughts: Most Scientific

“Striker” by E.B. Dawson

“I may not be religious, but I think my mother would have said that no scientific procedure can remove a man’s soul; he has to give it up willingly. And I’m not gonna do that.”

I had read one of Dawson’s novels before and didn’t care for it, but her short story in this anthology had to be my favorite in the sci-fi category. The plot follows Danny, a government agent with enhanced abilities known as a Striker, as he goes rouge and embarks on a self-imposed mission of vengeance. With stellar world building (pun intended), well-developed characters, and thought-provoking themes, this story is everything I enjoy about sci-fi.

My only complaint is the cliffhanger. I need more!

Overall Thoughts: Best Suspense

In all, I gave the Antiheroes anthology 4/5 stars for some great stories and some confusing ones, some heroic actions and some less than heroic. But hey, we’re talking about antiheroes here. Whoever asked for perfection? I’d recommend this anthology to readers of science fiction and fantasy looking for some interesting and thought-provoking stories.

[Beth Wangler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology is fantastic! On every page, it's clear that each author poured so much time and attention into their story. I was pleasantly surprised by how many different directions these stories, which all started in the same place—antiheroes—ended up with such vastly different approaches and themes. Each one was a gem.

My favorite parts:

The Wolf at the Door The opening and closure made this story feel too real in a way that made the nerdy fangirl part of me sparkle with delight. Plus, there's amazing nuance in the way Shultz deals with the hero-antihero-villain dynamic.

Vengeance Hunger OH MY GOODNESS there was a STELE! And so much Aztec-inspired gorgeousness! This one is very gory, but it was breathtaking and I loved every moment.

The Word Thrower The whole thing was perfect. Dax is a cinnamon roll. The premise is so cool, and the setting is amazingly real, and the themes are thought-provoking (and I'm not the least bit biased, why would you suggest that? hehe).

The Astoundingly Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen The wit. The plot twist. The mint tea. This was truly fantastic, and I'm so excited to read the Broken City of Crows trilogy!

Stealing Freedom Koya—I just want to hug him. The spider legs were really cool, and really creepy. It played out in my head like a movie!

Gynoid Having a robot MC was a really cool way to explore the challenges of balancing emotion with a more logical personality!

Striker Okay, the concept of Strikers is so cool and visually stunning. I loved Danny's struggle in this story, and I just want to take kid-Danny under my wing and protect him. The worldbuilding is beautiful and creative, and every time I reread it, I notice more symbolism and connections.

I can't wait to read more by these authors!

[J.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm gonna be honest here, I don't have the time or energy to try to remember and rate every story in this anthology.
Lets just leave it here: I rarely read all the way through anthologies. I generally dislike them. They are a great opportunity for authors and for thrifty readers, but often I find that I rarely like more than 1 or 2 stories well enough to read them through.
In this anthology, my excitement built with each new story. I can't say how proud I am to be part of it.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This was a treat. Multiple authors, some I’ve read before and others I just got my first taste of their work.

I always enjoy the sass that comes inherent with Kyle Robert Shultz’s afterverse stories. The vibrant descriptions in Hannah Heath’s story were awesome. I enjoyed the meandering storytelling style of Nate Philbrick’s tale of “mortal peril”... I’m looking forward to seeing more of E. B. Dawson’s work, too.

Each story intrigued me and made me want to see more of the tale than the snippet of a short story. Well done!!!

[Rapier Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book a while back, got busy, and then remembered I never finished it. I reread some of my favorite stories. The best ones in my opinion were The Wolf at the Door, Gynoid, and the hilarious story of The Astounding Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen.

[Madeline J. Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

AGH I LOVED IT SO MUCH.

The Wolf at the Door // 4.5/5
I looooove Kyle's writing style, and this was SUCH a fun story! The characters were interesting, the setting was really, really cool, and that little twist at the end. AGH. Made me shudder. I think the only way I could have liked this even better is if I was clued in on who exactly is Malcolm Blackfire. I really need to read Kyle's books...

Vengeance Hunter // 5/5
This story is ROUGH. But I L-O-V-E it. Seeing the struggles Ishtaka goes through, seeing the harsh, unforgiving world that she lives in, it punched me in the gut. I am blown away by how amazing the worldbuilding is for a short story! It fits so much into only a few pages, and it's a fascinating world. That ending though... *cries*

The Word Thrower // 4/5
This was a really interesting concept! The idea that words have special power to them, they can make you do things, make things happen. I would have loved a whole book about this! As it stands as a short story, it feels much more like a snapshot of a much larger story rather than a short story. I thought the references to movies and shows like Spiderman and Invader Zim were a fun touch though. And the characters are really great too.

The Astoundingly Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen // 5/5
THE WRITING STYLE. I don't normally like stories where there are unnecessarily longwinded words, or where the characters talk very proper. But in this case, it was SOOO well done. The characters flew off the page and it felt like the kind of story you would sit down in a cozy chair by the fireplace with a mug of hot tea and just read and read. It was so quirky, entertaining, and that ending was perfection.

Stealing Freedom // 5/5
I don't normally read sci-fi, but man. If there are stories like this, I want to read more of them. Such an interesting main character, a great setting, lots of action, but also emotional pull. I love the whole idea of cyborgs and this story takes it to another level. Koya isn't just a cyborg. He's a really cool one. (Even though I feel bad for him but shh...) And that ENDING. AGH.

Gynoid // 3/5
Out of all of the stories, this was probably the one that was most problematic to me. The writing style was really fascinating, seeing into the POV of a gynoid, a humanoid robot. It was really interesting seeing her personal logs and seeing her inner struggle. The main problem I had was...I wasn't ever really sure what her inner struggle was. I understood that she was working for both AIHA and REPL, but as the story went on, I became more and more confused as to who she was really working/rooting for. The ending was quite chilling, but I feel it would have had more of a punch if I had known...what Jacelyn was trying to accomplish. But overall, it was a really interesting story.

Striker // 5/5
This story. Oh. My. Gosh. This story. This story could honestly be my favorite one in the whole book. I surprise myself even saying this, since there were four AMAZING fantasy stories, but this could really be it. It had such a good setup, such a good build to the climax, and by the time I finished the story, I was so devastated knowing that there was no more amazing story to read. Danny was such a good, complex character, his motives are understandable, dastardly though they are, and the whole concept of being a Striker, with technology rivaling magic in it's power was SO COOL to see. I could literally go on and on about how much I love this story, but that would take a while...so just know that IT'S REALLY GOOD.

So yeah. Overall, I highly recommend this book, if you're a sci-fi fan, a fantasy fan, or both. Just don't not read it. Because it is seriously good.
5/5.

[Deborah Kelty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blog Review:
https://deborahkeltywriter.blogspot.com/2019/02/indie-book-review-antiheroes-by-kyle.html

[Mary Emma Sivils · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you pick up an anthology dedicated to antiheroes, be prepared for some unexpected twists!
Because the main characters, well, they're ANTIheroes, meaning...not villains, but not your typical heroes, either.
I think that element of unpredictability was what I enjoyed the most. Some of the stories didn't have as much resolution as I'd hoped. Overall, though, this was a quick, fun read to add to my Phoenix Fiction Writers collection!

(Note: I opted to skip Vengeance Hunter. This is no reflection on the author, who I think is very talented. It's simply my preference not to read about blood-drinking.)

My favorites:

-The Wolf at the Door by Kyle Robert Shultz

-The Word Thrower by Beth Wangler

-The Astoundingly Mortal Peril of Denna Dorwen by Nate Philbrick

(Okay, this one may have been my top favorite. I would read more about Denna Dorwen in a heartbeat.)

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like with any short story collection I read, there were some stories I liked more than others. That being said, I really enjoyed this collection as a whole! Each writer had a unique take on their subject, and it was a pleasure to read all of them. I'm so glad I picked this up!

[Merenwen Inglorion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rtc! Overall 5 stars.