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Little Paranoias
Is it a knock on the door, or a gust of wind? A trick of the light, or someone who’ll see what you’ve done?
Little Paranoias features twenty tales of the little things that drive our deepest fears. It tells the stories of terror and sorrow, lust at the end of the world and death as an unwanted second chance. It dives into the darkest corners of the minds of men, women, and children. It wanders into the forest and touches every corner of the capital. Everyone has something to fear — but after all, it’s those little paranoias that drive our day-to-day.
Little Paranoias features twenty tales of the little things that drive our deepest fears. It tells the stories of terror and sorrow, lust at the end of the world and death as an unwanted second chance. It dives into the darkest corners of the minds of men, women, and children. It wanders into the forest and touches every corner of the capital. Everyone has something to fear — but after all, it’s those little paranoias that drive our day-to-day.
141 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2019
44 people are currently reading
1663 people want to read
About the author
Sonora Taylor
35 books160 followersSonora Taylor is the award-winning author of Little Paranoias: Stories, Without Condition, The Crow’s Gift and Other Tales, Please Give, and Wither and Other Stories. Her short stories have appeared in multiple publications, including Camden Park Press’s Quoth the Raven, Kandisha Press’s Women of Horror Vol. 2: Graveyard Smash, The Sirens Call, Frozen Wavelets, Mercurial Stories, Tales to Terrify, and the Ladies of Horror fiction podcast. Her latest book, Seeing Things, is now available on Amazon. She lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
November 30, 2019
It's this reader's opinion and recommendation that the best way to get to know an author is through their short stories. An anthology will provide a banquet with a variety of authors to sample--when you read a story you particularly enjoyed, you can squirrel that juicy tidbit away for a time when you're binge buying books or creating a wishlist and you can get some books that author-knowing, you've already tasted the goods and determined the worth.
An author's short story collection will provide you with an understanding of an author's range and versatility! Maybe they can write in different styles, formats, genres, POVs, etc. and you get to sample from the whole pool of talent before deciding to commit more time to a novel.
After reading LITTLE PARANOIAS by Sonora Taylor, I would gladly invest time and money in her work. This collection boasts 20 pieces ranging from poetry and flash fiction to longer short stories (which were my favorites) WEARY BONES, ALWAYS IN MY EAR and QUADRAPOCALYPSE were all a little bit longer than the rest and I enjoyed my time with them.
The flash fiction stories were like 1-2 pages long and were so much fun! I love when nothing is as it seems--you're reading along and then "BAM" the author manages to pull one over on you at the end. Some of them were just fun, evil little stories with some twisty bits or shocking conclusions like, NEVER WALK ALONE or STICK FIGURE FAMILY.
Others were slightly more dramatic and insidious like CRUST and CRANBERRY--the readers come away from these stories with a heaviness in their hearts about what some women go through as they battle stereotypes or toxic/abusive relationships or maybe even just societal pressures like, HEARTS ARE "LIKES"; even though the story goes in an extreme direction, there's a stinging element of truth to the underlying message-what are the ways social media undermines our mental health? Answer: Probably more than anyone cares to admit. The story I mentioned earlier, ALWAYS IN MY EAR, reminded me of a Black Mirror episode because it explored the dangers of technology like so many Black Mirror episodes do--where do we create any boundaries in our real life and our online personas? Is who we are in real life the same as who we portray ourselves to be on the internet? Are we only passionate about our passions because we generate buzz around us and that gives us the fulfillment, not the actual thing we're passionate about? Food for thought.
So many of Sonora's tales were like holding a mirror up-my reflection seen in these pages caused me to question things that I don't often spend enough time thinking about. And that's a sign of good art. A talented artist makes something for others to engage with and they enjoy that interaction.
In the case of LITTLE PARANOIAS, I felt like I would love spending time in a coffee shop with Sonora digesting the themes of her stories.
I recommend this book to any horror fan who enjoys the following: Female protagonists, disturbing tales of horrible people doing horrible things, psychological horrors, short fiction, flash fiction, twisty endings, clever storytelling and a variety of narratives. I'm excited to read more from Sonora Taylor.
An author's short story collection will provide you with an understanding of an author's range and versatility! Maybe they can write in different styles, formats, genres, POVs, etc. and you get to sample from the whole pool of talent before deciding to commit more time to a novel.
After reading LITTLE PARANOIAS by Sonora Taylor, I would gladly invest time and money in her work. This collection boasts 20 pieces ranging from poetry and flash fiction to longer short stories (which were my favorites) WEARY BONES, ALWAYS IN MY EAR and QUADRAPOCALYPSE were all a little bit longer than the rest and I enjoyed my time with them.
The flash fiction stories were like 1-2 pages long and were so much fun! I love when nothing is as it seems--you're reading along and then "BAM" the author manages to pull one over on you at the end. Some of them were just fun, evil little stories with some twisty bits or shocking conclusions like, NEVER WALK ALONE or STICK FIGURE FAMILY.
Others were slightly more dramatic and insidious like CRUST and CRANBERRY--the readers come away from these stories with a heaviness in their hearts about what some women go through as they battle stereotypes or toxic/abusive relationships or maybe even just societal pressures like, HEARTS ARE "LIKES"; even though the story goes in an extreme direction, there's a stinging element of truth to the underlying message-what are the ways social media undermines our mental health? Answer: Probably more than anyone cares to admit. The story I mentioned earlier, ALWAYS IN MY EAR, reminded me of a Black Mirror episode because it explored the dangers of technology like so many Black Mirror episodes do--where do we create any boundaries in our real life and our online personas? Is who we are in real life the same as who we portray ourselves to be on the internet? Are we only passionate about our passions because we generate buzz around us and that gives us the fulfillment, not the actual thing we're passionate about? Food for thought.
So many of Sonora's tales were like holding a mirror up-my reflection seen in these pages caused me to question things that I don't often spend enough time thinking about. And that's a sign of good art. A talented artist makes something for others to engage with and they enjoy that interaction.
In the case of LITTLE PARANOIAS, I felt like I would love spending time in a coffee shop with Sonora digesting the themes of her stories.
I recommend this book to any horror fan who enjoys the following: Female protagonists, disturbing tales of horrible people doing horrible things, psychological horrors, short fiction, flash fiction, twisty endings, clever storytelling and a variety of narratives. I'm excited to read more from Sonora Taylor.
October 30, 2019
I read and adored Sonora Taylor’s novel WITHOUT CONDITION earlier this year and will likely read whatever she decides to put out from here on out. She isn’t afraid to write about the darkness that lurks inside the heart of (some) women and she has a skill for setting a scene and building a mood as well as creating her characters in a way that totally works for me.
Little Paranoias is a collection of flash fiction, poetry and short stories. There are twenty of them and they are all moody and while I liked some better than others, none of them were duds. I’ll highlight my favorites so I don’t write another book length review like I did for this one because no one has time for that!
Weary Bones was my absolute favorite and will be the only story with a paragraph all its own. Five skeletal stars. It begins with grief, love, with hope, and with the need to extend life as long as possible but some things shouldn’t be messed with and a well-intentioned idea turns into a nightmare. Very few people want to deal with the consequences and the responsibility falls on those with an extreme sense of empathy. This is such a moving story. Go read it before I end up spoiling it!
Never Walk Alone and Always In My Ear are morbid little morsels filled with dark secrets! Cranberry is also intense and felt so painfully real. It’s about callous and clueless parents and the daily hurts they inflict on their offspring while they go about their lives having no idea how damaging words can hurt. This story will resonate with anyone who ever felt the stab of their parents words in their most tender of spots. There are stories about rage, bullies, narcissists and nature fighting back (go Mother Nature!) and one that will have me giving the side-eye to all of those Stick Figure People I see on mini-vans! There’s a little something for any horror fan here.
What holds them all together is a writhing darkness whether it is an external force or one more intimate. At any rate, each tale bleeds black and it will make any dark fiction fan very happy.
Little Paranoias is a collection of flash fiction, poetry and short stories. There are twenty of them and they are all moody and while I liked some better than others, none of them were duds. I’ll highlight my favorites so I don’t write another book length review like I did for this one because no one has time for that!
Weary Bones was my absolute favorite and will be the only story with a paragraph all its own. Five skeletal stars. It begins with grief, love, with hope, and with the need to extend life as long as possible but some things shouldn’t be messed with and a well-intentioned idea turns into a nightmare. Very few people want to deal with the consequences and the responsibility falls on those with an extreme sense of empathy. This is such a moving story. Go read it before I end up spoiling it!
Never Walk Alone and Always In My Ear are morbid little morsels filled with dark secrets! Cranberry is also intense and felt so painfully real. It’s about callous and clueless parents and the daily hurts they inflict on their offspring while they go about their lives having no idea how damaging words can hurt. This story will resonate with anyone who ever felt the stab of their parents words in their most tender of spots. There are stories about rage, bullies, narcissists and nature fighting back (go Mother Nature!) and one that will have me giving the side-eye to all of those Stick Figure People I see on mini-vans! There’s a little something for any horror fan here.
What holds them all together is a writhing darkness whether it is an external force or one more intimate. At any rate, each tale bleeds black and it will make any dark fiction fan very happy.
November 23, 2020
This is such a solid little collection of short stories and flash fiction. I bought it on a whim after it was recommended to me based on another book I previously bought and I’m so glad I gave into that whim and discovered this author. I definitely plan on reading more of her work and I very much look forward to it! This collection has a little bit of everything for everyone, it dips into a lot of different horror themes and has a lot of variety. There’s a few stories that didn’t do much for me but they were few and far between and on the whole they were excellent. My favourites by far were Weary Bones and Hearts are “Likes” and if I was forced to pick I’d lean towards the latter. It had some Tell-Tale Heart by Poe vibes that I really adored! I definitely recommend this collection of stories to all horror fans, you don’t want to miss out on these.
January 9, 2020
I read Taylor’s novel, Without Condition, earlier this year and when she offered her latest collection, I couldn’t pass it up. I dig her clean writing, her wit, and her willingness to explore new things.
This collection contains 20 pieces ranging from short stories, to flash fiction, and poetry; all of them firmly ensconced in the horror genre. What follows are my favorites from the collection:
“Weary Bones” – hello horror with a dash of sci-fi flavoring. This is a hell of a way to start off a collection. A bit sad and a bit horrific, WB was definitely a favorite.
“Crust” – baking horror with a twist! I loved this piece of flash fiction. No more details here, this one is in my top three.
“Always in My Ear” – an exploration of social connectivity, murder, and technology. I feel rather like a broken record, but yet another fave here.
“Cranberry” – (CW – eating disorders and body dysmorphia) – This CW was provided by the author right at the beginning of the story and I think that is an amazing idea. Because although I do not have triggers, I can absolutely see this story being too much for someone who might.
“Hearts are Just Likes” – there really needs to be more social media horror fiction. I am sure it’s out there, but this is the first one I’ve experienced in written form. How far is too far? Check this one out.
“Seed” – A little bit apocalyptic, a little bit plant horror, this one grew on me, page by page. It isn’t the last story, next to, and again it’s perfect for this placement. I can tell that Taylor put thought into exactly where these stories should go. We start the collection diving into human nature, and towards the end, nature itself.
If you are looking for a good collection of fresh, unique horror, Little Paranoias is the book for you. From now on, Sonora Taylor is a must-read author for me.
This collection contains 20 pieces ranging from short stories, to flash fiction, and poetry; all of them firmly ensconced in the horror genre. What follows are my favorites from the collection:
“Weary Bones” – hello horror with a dash of sci-fi flavoring. This is a hell of a way to start off a collection. A bit sad and a bit horrific, WB was definitely a favorite.
“Crust” – baking horror with a twist! I loved this piece of flash fiction. No more details here, this one is in my top three.
“Always in My Ear” – an exploration of social connectivity, murder, and technology. I feel rather like a broken record, but yet another fave here.
“Cranberry” – (CW – eating disorders and body dysmorphia) – This CW was provided by the author right at the beginning of the story and I think that is an amazing idea. Because although I do not have triggers, I can absolutely see this story being too much for someone who might.
“Hearts are Just Likes” – there really needs to be more social media horror fiction. I am sure it’s out there, but this is the first one I’ve experienced in written form. How far is too far? Check this one out.
“Seed” – A little bit apocalyptic, a little bit plant horror, this one grew on me, page by page. It isn’t the last story, next to, and again it’s perfect for this placement. I can tell that Taylor put thought into exactly where these stories should go. We start the collection diving into human nature, and towards the end, nature itself.
If you are looking for a good collection of fresh, unique horror, Little Paranoias is the book for you. From now on, Sonora Taylor is a must-read author for me.
November 10, 2019
I've been really excited to check out Little Paranoias. Earlier this year I read Sonora Taylor's novel Without Condition, and I was looking forward to checking out more of her work. (She also published a story on the Ladies of Horror Fiction podcast so be sure to check that out!)
One thing I really loved about this collection was the varying lengths of all of the stories. From flash fiction to poetry to longer stories, it never felt repetitive, and I never got bogged down. I have a hard time sitting down with a collection or an anthology and reading it straight through. I didn't have that trouble at all with Little Paranoias. Each of the stories held on to my attention, and I flew through the collection.
Fall is the best time of year for reading short stories, and Little Paranoias is a solid collection I would recommend putting on your list.
Review copy provided by author
One thing I really loved about this collection was the varying lengths of all of the stories. From flash fiction to poetry to longer stories, it never felt repetitive, and I never got bogged down. I have a hard time sitting down with a collection or an anthology and reading it straight through. I didn't have that trouble at all with Little Paranoias. Each of the stories held on to my attention, and I flew through the collection.
Fall is the best time of year for reading short stories, and Little Paranoias is a solid collection I would recommend putting on your list.
Review copy provided by author
May 10, 2022
You can read my full review on the Night Worms Blog: https://nightworms.com/blogs/news/cas...
This was my first book by Sonora Taylor, although I was familiar with her and know her already through social media. Sometimes knowing authors before reading their work can be a little tricky; there’s always that worry that you may really dislike their writing, which could potentially make for an awkward situation along the lines – especially for book reviewers! Luckily, I’m happy to say that in this instance, there was no need for worry on my part – I really liked this collection, and I am totally sold on the author’s writing chops!
LITTLE PARANOIAS is a collection of 20 pieces of creative writing, ranging from spooky stories to short poems. While it may seem like 20 short pieces of fiction is a lot to pack into 140ish pages, Sonora manages to do it expertly, leaving just the right amount of length to each to have left me wanting more. I’d probably qualify some of these as flash fiction even, due to how brief but impactful they are.
There were a few stand-outs in the collection for me, but that isn’t to say the rest were weak. As a whole, the collection is an amazing showcase of the author’s abilities as a writer. Throughout these 20 stories and poems, we feel love, and loss, and regret, and desire. Between these pages are living skeletons, true crime podcasts, the end of the world. We’re introduced to characters that we think we know, only to have the scripts completely flipped a few paragraphs from the ending, leaving the reader unsteady and unsure.
That unsteadiness was probably my favorite part about this collection, and one of the things that a majority of the pieces had in common. I love a good unreliable narrator-type story, and so many of these went in directions I just wasn’t expecting at all. I went back to re-read some of the ones that caught me most off guard, and found that there were little details and bits of foreshadowing here and there that I’d missed the first time around. I really enjoy books and stories like this, so this was right up my alley.
Another thing I had a lot of fun with was the focus on female characters, especially in roles that women are typically not written into. I don’t want to say too much on this point without giving anything away or ruining any twists, but read it, and you’ll see what I mean!
While I would shelve this as a “horror” collection, I do also love the bits of science fiction scattered throughout. Not every horror collection has that sort of sci-fi flair to it, which is totally okay, but when I find one that does, oh boy! Having that influence really kicks things up a notch for me, and with stories like “Weary Bones” and “Quadropocalypse”, I had a lot of fun making my way through this book.
This was my first book by Sonora Taylor, although I was familiar with her and know her already through social media. Sometimes knowing authors before reading their work can be a little tricky; there’s always that worry that you may really dislike their writing, which could potentially make for an awkward situation along the lines – especially for book reviewers! Luckily, I’m happy to say that in this instance, there was no need for worry on my part – I really liked this collection, and I am totally sold on the author’s writing chops!
LITTLE PARANOIAS is a collection of 20 pieces of creative writing, ranging from spooky stories to short poems. While it may seem like 20 short pieces of fiction is a lot to pack into 140ish pages, Sonora manages to do it expertly, leaving just the right amount of length to each to have left me wanting more. I’d probably qualify some of these as flash fiction even, due to how brief but impactful they are.
There were a few stand-outs in the collection for me, but that isn’t to say the rest were weak. As a whole, the collection is an amazing showcase of the author’s abilities as a writer. Throughout these 20 stories and poems, we feel love, and loss, and regret, and desire. Between these pages are living skeletons, true crime podcasts, the end of the world. We’re introduced to characters that we think we know, only to have the scripts completely flipped a few paragraphs from the ending, leaving the reader unsteady and unsure.
That unsteadiness was probably my favorite part about this collection, and one of the things that a majority of the pieces had in common. I love a good unreliable narrator-type story, and so many of these went in directions I just wasn’t expecting at all. I went back to re-read some of the ones that caught me most off guard, and found that there were little details and bits of foreshadowing here and there that I’d missed the first time around. I really enjoy books and stories like this, so this was right up my alley.
Another thing I had a lot of fun with was the focus on female characters, especially in roles that women are typically not written into. I don’t want to say too much on this point without giving anything away or ruining any twists, but read it, and you’ll see what I mean!
While I would shelve this as a “horror” collection, I do also love the bits of science fiction scattered throughout. Not every horror collection has that sort of sci-fi flair to it, which is totally okay, but when I find one that does, oh boy! Having that influence really kicks things up a notch for me, and with stories like “Weary Bones” and “Quadropocalypse”, I had a lot of fun making my way through this book.
October 3, 2020
Updated as now live on STORGY Magazine -
Little Paranoias is a short story collection form horror author Sonora Taylor, a collection that is gripping, original and bang on the money for those that prefer the dark slice of horror.
What I loved about the collection is that it is a mixture of short stories and flash fiction and this device that is used by Taylor to great effect, helps to inject a readability to Little Paranoias that drives the reader through (I read this collection in a day), it’s like you’re ravenous and this is the food you have been waiting so long to taste, and once you’ve had that first bite, you then gorge yourself on this bountiful offering.
Little Paranoias is a stunning little collection and one that is highly original, there are not any stories in this that you think ‘oh, I’ve seen that before!’ everything is unique and told with delightfully beautiful prose, it showcases a writer perfectly, because that’s what I see collections as, an advert for a writer and on this offering Sonora Taylor will be one of those writers that I follow carefully from now on – I already have a novel by her called ‘Seeing Things’ and I’ll be looking to read anything else she puts out.
So on with the review.
Little Paranoias – The collection opens with the title piece which is a poem, it’s short, four very short sentences but gets across what this collection is going to be like, so strap yourselves in for the ride, it’s going to be bumpy!
‘She’d forever be in mourning, even when Cecily became nothing but dust. Skeletons were supposed to disappear in graveyards. Only memories were supposed to fade in houses.’
Weary Bones – What would we give for a second life, a chance to come back when we died? That’s what this story delves into, a miracle vial that can give its recipient a second life. Families with terminally ill children could have another chance, a child could live out the life they were robbed of, husbands and wives widowed could start over again and love the one they love again, those lost to cruel accidents could have yet another chance at life. But is the price of a second life worth the cost, because this vial has some strange side effects. Sometimes Dead is Better (to quote King). A beautiful story that keeps on giving long after you’ve finished.
‘She thought the serum would give them both a second life. Cecily lived, but Marion perpetually grieved, reminded every day of the daughter she’d lost.’
Never Walk Alone – is the first flash fiction piece and this centres on a paranoid girl walking home alone – this has everything I love about flash fiction, Sorona Taylor has crafted up a gem here with so little words it’s mind blowing… so much story for such a small slice of horror!
A Part Of You – Another slice of Flash Fiction – this time the theme is matricide (it’s not a spoiler) this piece is fast and weird and a beautiful atrocity. It’s familial horror which I love, something that sums this story up perfectly is something my mother used to say ‘I brought you into this world and I can damn sure take you out of it!’ – I never really got on with my mother.
Crust – Flash again is used to great affect. This one is about a daughter and mother, the daughter is always striving to appease her cantankerous judgemental mother. There is some familial hurt here again, the type of constant putting down which makes for some baking good horror. This story in particular had me reminiscing about the very best of Roald Dahl’s adult fiction and Sonora Taylor writes this story to within an inch of its life; a perfect piece of flash!
The Note on the Door – A strange note appears on a door which a commuter passes each day, she’s ignored it for a few days but now she’s going to see what it says. This is a short Venus flytrap of a story – I can’t elaborate more but I think you’ll get the analogy once you’ve read it. Another brilliant piece of flash.
Always in my Ear – A true Crime podcast that places it’s listeners in the driving seat / victim / witness / murderer; they can be anything they want to as long as they keep on listening to the voice that’s whispering in their ear. A deftly crafted story and when I was thinking about this story and how one would even conceive it, it just boggles the mind, because it’s masterful. Terrific imagination here and some gruesome bloody violence. It follows a childhood friendship that grows apart but their secret, their dark secret of killing, of looking death in the face remains.
As Quick As Poison – Honestly, I wasn’t a fan – it had a creepy Freddy Kruger type vibe (you know that rhyme – and now I’ve said it, good luck getting that out of your head today!), but for me, it was lacking something and didn’t seem to find a connection with it. But it’s poetry (I’m not a huge fan anyway) so I usually find myself not one to judge that.
Cranberry – This story come with a disclaimer at the very start, and for good reason. It strikes hard and wounds the reader, and in today’s society it makes for urgent reading. With what I see plastered all over YouTube and having two young girls, and with my wife working with young girls about body image and other such subject, this story is something I feel young people should be reading or have access to. This body image culture that YouTube and other social media outlets allow to pollute young girls and young boys minds about what they should look like and what is the perfect body and that anything that diverges from this ‘approved’ way of looking is an abomination needs to stop. This stories themes centre around a eating disorder and body image / body dysmorphia – it’s really powerful stuff.
Drops – The things left unsaid in this familial horror are quite hard to swallow, and had me asking a hell load of questions.
Snowfall – This was more a mythical horror, akin to something the Brothers Grimm would have written, it’s short and it had me wanting to know more about this almost folklore type situation. You could read this story two ways, straight laced horror or as I did, I took it down a more folklore vibe – I’m assuming either way you read it, it’ll blow your boots off!
Death is a Hunter – The forest comes to a young woman’s aid when she encounters a problem that she can’t get out of – I enjoyed it, but not as much as the other flash pieces so far.
Quadrapocalypse – The four elements; Earth, Fire, Wind and Water go to town in this masterful apocalyptic vision which is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. A very interesting vision and a take on the genre that’s brought to life superbly by Taylor, very enjoyable and highly original.
Hollow – Here we have the creepy doll trope used to great effect by Taylor, it’s again unique and fabulously rendered. A bullied girl fiercely protects her only friend a porcelain doll called Mrs. Sassafras.
Stick Figure Family – A creepy piece of flash and I’d say one of the best stories in the collection (for me) that had a devastating impact. Sonora Taylor has single handedly destroyed the way I will look at those stupid stick figure decals that people have stuck to their rear windows denoting who is in their family. Every time I will see one from now on I will think of this story – now how many times can you say that about a piece of fiction.
Hearts are just ‘’Likes’’ – This story reads like ‘The Tell Tale Heart’ for the YouTube / social media obsessed generation – such a powerful piece about finding your worth in likes online and how a social media presence can be a dangerous thing indeed if that becomes the place you find your value and your worth in life. A stunning short story and one of my favourite in the collection. As a father of two girls and who’s put his foot down to Tic Tock and other mind numbing rubbish, this story further cements my belief in chasing the approval of others online is a dark path I don’t want my children venturing into for as long as I can help it.
Perfection in Shadow – A man reflects about his past girlfriends, wishing he could create his own perfect woman from the shadows.
Salt – A wife gets a phone call she hadn’t expected from the police about her husband. This is a fabulously crafted tale that keeps the reader on tenterhooks – deftly crafted and grisly a little gem of a story.
Seed – Reminded me of Ali Shaw and ‘The Trees’. An apocalyptic nightmare where the plants have taken over the world, where what we used to harvest is reaping a harvest of its own. A very interesting and original take on the apocalypse and the world building in such a short story is brilliant. This one has some hot sex scenes in it too, which if that’s your thing, check it out. I like how this story mirrors what happens in Quadrapocalypse – could it be a continuation of that story, I guess I’ll never know.
He trapped my thoughts inside my head – Another poem to bookend the collection. As I said I’m not a huge fan of this type of poetry but a nice end to the collection.
A stunning offering from Taylor which showcases her immeasurable skill as a raconteur of all things horror. With prose that is often on fire this is a delightful and masterful slice of creepy / horror short fiction that will have you scratching at your arms once you’ve finished as you look for your next intoxicating hit of Sonora Taylor.
Little Paranoias is a short story collection form horror author Sonora Taylor, a collection that is gripping, original and bang on the money for those that prefer the dark slice of horror.
What I loved about the collection is that it is a mixture of short stories and flash fiction and this device that is used by Taylor to great effect, helps to inject a readability to Little Paranoias that drives the reader through (I read this collection in a day), it’s like you’re ravenous and this is the food you have been waiting so long to taste, and once you’ve had that first bite, you then gorge yourself on this bountiful offering.
Little Paranoias is a stunning little collection and one that is highly original, there are not any stories in this that you think ‘oh, I’ve seen that before!’ everything is unique and told with delightfully beautiful prose, it showcases a writer perfectly, because that’s what I see collections as, an advert for a writer and on this offering Sonora Taylor will be one of those writers that I follow carefully from now on – I already have a novel by her called ‘Seeing Things’ and I’ll be looking to read anything else she puts out.
So on with the review.
Little Paranoias – The collection opens with the title piece which is a poem, it’s short, four very short sentences but gets across what this collection is going to be like, so strap yourselves in for the ride, it’s going to be bumpy!
‘She’d forever be in mourning, even when Cecily became nothing but dust. Skeletons were supposed to disappear in graveyards. Only memories were supposed to fade in houses.’
Weary Bones – What would we give for a second life, a chance to come back when we died? That’s what this story delves into, a miracle vial that can give its recipient a second life. Families with terminally ill children could have another chance, a child could live out the life they were robbed of, husbands and wives widowed could start over again and love the one they love again, those lost to cruel accidents could have yet another chance at life. But is the price of a second life worth the cost, because this vial has some strange side effects. Sometimes Dead is Better (to quote King). A beautiful story that keeps on giving long after you’ve finished.
‘She thought the serum would give them both a second life. Cecily lived, but Marion perpetually grieved, reminded every day of the daughter she’d lost.’
Never Walk Alone – is the first flash fiction piece and this centres on a paranoid girl walking home alone – this has everything I love about flash fiction, Sorona Taylor has crafted up a gem here with so little words it’s mind blowing… so much story for such a small slice of horror!
A Part Of You – Another slice of Flash Fiction – this time the theme is matricide (it’s not a spoiler) this piece is fast and weird and a beautiful atrocity. It’s familial horror which I love, something that sums this story up perfectly is something my mother used to say ‘I brought you into this world and I can damn sure take you out of it!’ – I never really got on with my mother.
Crust – Flash again is used to great affect. This one is about a daughter and mother, the daughter is always striving to appease her cantankerous judgemental mother. There is some familial hurt here again, the type of constant putting down which makes for some baking good horror. This story in particular had me reminiscing about the very best of Roald Dahl’s adult fiction and Sonora Taylor writes this story to within an inch of its life; a perfect piece of flash!
The Note on the Door – A strange note appears on a door which a commuter passes each day, she’s ignored it for a few days but now she’s going to see what it says. This is a short Venus flytrap of a story – I can’t elaborate more but I think you’ll get the analogy once you’ve read it. Another brilliant piece of flash.
Always in my Ear – A true Crime podcast that places it’s listeners in the driving seat / victim / witness / murderer; they can be anything they want to as long as they keep on listening to the voice that’s whispering in their ear. A deftly crafted story and when I was thinking about this story and how one would even conceive it, it just boggles the mind, because it’s masterful. Terrific imagination here and some gruesome bloody violence. It follows a childhood friendship that grows apart but their secret, their dark secret of killing, of looking death in the face remains.
As Quick As Poison – Honestly, I wasn’t a fan – it had a creepy Freddy Kruger type vibe (you know that rhyme – and now I’ve said it, good luck getting that out of your head today!), but for me, it was lacking something and didn’t seem to find a connection with it. But it’s poetry (I’m not a huge fan anyway) so I usually find myself not one to judge that.
Cranberry – This story come with a disclaimer at the very start, and for good reason. It strikes hard and wounds the reader, and in today’s society it makes for urgent reading. With what I see plastered all over YouTube and having two young girls, and with my wife working with young girls about body image and other such subject, this story is something I feel young people should be reading or have access to. This body image culture that YouTube and other social media outlets allow to pollute young girls and young boys minds about what they should look like and what is the perfect body and that anything that diverges from this ‘approved’ way of looking is an abomination needs to stop. This stories themes centre around a eating disorder and body image / body dysmorphia – it’s really powerful stuff.
Drops – The things left unsaid in this familial horror are quite hard to swallow, and had me asking a hell load of questions.
Snowfall – This was more a mythical horror, akin to something the Brothers Grimm would have written, it’s short and it had me wanting to know more about this almost folklore type situation. You could read this story two ways, straight laced horror or as I did, I took it down a more folklore vibe – I’m assuming either way you read it, it’ll blow your boots off!
Death is a Hunter – The forest comes to a young woman’s aid when she encounters a problem that she can’t get out of – I enjoyed it, but not as much as the other flash pieces so far.
Quadrapocalypse – The four elements; Earth, Fire, Wind and Water go to town in this masterful apocalyptic vision which is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. A very interesting vision and a take on the genre that’s brought to life superbly by Taylor, very enjoyable and highly original.
Hollow – Here we have the creepy doll trope used to great effect by Taylor, it’s again unique and fabulously rendered. A bullied girl fiercely protects her only friend a porcelain doll called Mrs. Sassafras.
Stick Figure Family – A creepy piece of flash and I’d say one of the best stories in the collection (for me) that had a devastating impact. Sonora Taylor has single handedly destroyed the way I will look at those stupid stick figure decals that people have stuck to their rear windows denoting who is in their family. Every time I will see one from now on I will think of this story – now how many times can you say that about a piece of fiction.
Hearts are just ‘’Likes’’ – This story reads like ‘The Tell Tale Heart’ for the YouTube / social media obsessed generation – such a powerful piece about finding your worth in likes online and how a social media presence can be a dangerous thing indeed if that becomes the place you find your value and your worth in life. A stunning short story and one of my favourite in the collection. As a father of two girls and who’s put his foot down to Tic Tock and other mind numbing rubbish, this story further cements my belief in chasing the approval of others online is a dark path I don’t want my children venturing into for as long as I can help it.
Perfection in Shadow – A man reflects about his past girlfriends, wishing he could create his own perfect woman from the shadows.
Salt – A wife gets a phone call she hadn’t expected from the police about her husband. This is a fabulously crafted tale that keeps the reader on tenterhooks – deftly crafted and grisly a little gem of a story.
Seed – Reminded me of Ali Shaw and ‘The Trees’. An apocalyptic nightmare where the plants have taken over the world, where what we used to harvest is reaping a harvest of its own. A very interesting and original take on the apocalypse and the world building in such a short story is brilliant. This one has some hot sex scenes in it too, which if that’s your thing, check it out. I like how this story mirrors what happens in Quadrapocalypse – could it be a continuation of that story, I guess I’ll never know.
He trapped my thoughts inside my head – Another poem to bookend the collection. As I said I’m not a huge fan of this type of poetry but a nice end to the collection.
A stunning offering from Taylor which showcases her immeasurable skill as a raconteur of all things horror. With prose that is often on fire this is a delightful and masterful slice of creepy / horror short fiction that will have you scratching at your arms once you’ve finished as you look for your next intoxicating hit of Sonora Taylor.
October 15, 2019
5 stars! A great collection of stories both dark and gripping. Sonora Taylor has a way of writing that pulls you in and it seems effortless - but her words are definitely chosen carefully. I had to stop myself from tearing through this in one day because I wanted to allow myself time to absorb and fully feel the effects of the poems, short stories, and flash fiction. I am glad I chose to savor this over a few days instead because it gave me something to look forward to each day and also gave me a guarantee to be in my happy place because I knew that whatever I read would be great. Highly recommended!
October 23, 2019
I enjoy Sonora’s short story, flash, and poetic writing. I’ve read her full-length novel Without Condition but something draws me to her shorter pieces. I was excited to receive her collection Little Paranoias! I think we write somewhat similar: saying much in small spaces, similar themes – musings on death or the afterlife, surprise twists and endings, shocking amid the normal, and involving nature in our writing. I suppose the things I like to think about that end up in my writing is what I like about her short pieces because reading her pieces make me ponder life as well (when they aren’t shocking me).
I especially liked the opening piece “Weary Bones,” which takes us on a journey with skeletons who are, for lack of a better word, alive. It really was ingenious and made me think about how much we do forget our loved ones, in death, even in spirit, that we seem to need voice, warmth, skin. It was well-written and thought-provoking but also gave me a sadness. I only wished this story was longer and had more meat on its bones because it was over too soon and I feel there could have been more. I really felt I knew the character Brandon so well so soon, which is hard to pull off in shorter pieces.
“Crust” spoke deeply to me in a few hundred words and that’s all I’m going to say, but wow did it feature what I struggle with every single day. “Cranberry” scared the shit out of me. That’s some pent up rage and writing that holds nothing back. Many of the other stories dealt with killing of some sort whether a perpetrator, a family member, a spouse, the general populace. I am beginning to wonder if Sonora is a serial killer in her head. I’m joking (maybe….haha). I can dig it as some of my stories often kill off men and foe. Many pieces had surprise endings, often they showed clearly life issues which created characters crossing boundaries into raw, primal emotion, and others were creatively done and had such a unique flair.
I actually was completely unnerved and uncomfortable with “Stick Figure Family” – I mean, it actually made me ball up in anger and question a lot, but in a way I suppose that just means it was well-written enough to urge reaction of me as most horror stories should do.
Though I really enjoyed “Hearts are Just Likes” quite a bit – I found it inventive and fun and cool – my favorite story was “Quadrapocalypse,” which has the character starting off on the DC metro, and after, the story splitting off into four ways with four different scenes. I love techniques like this! Also, the nature lover and activist I am really enjoyed the theme of this one. Be good to nature, or it may get you back!!
My least favorite was the last story, “Seed.” I wanted to like it, due to its themes of nature, and I DID like parts of it and the overall plot and thought behind it, but I don’t like too much erotic content in my reads. Also, it was just unexpected because there wasn’t any in the rest of the book but by the end I “got” the animal correlation of it and why. I’d probably not have put it as the last piece, since that should be the blow away read. I’d have chosen “Quadrapocalypse!”
Overall, I really had fun reading a few of these stories a night during this annual spooky reading month! They made me think, made me cringe, made me scream, and even shocked me. Bite-sized morsels of fiction that feel like a meal, maybe your last meal or one that haunts you, but fiction that’ll chill you to your bones no matter the temperature. Highly recommended!
I especially liked the opening piece “Weary Bones,” which takes us on a journey with skeletons who are, for lack of a better word, alive. It really was ingenious and made me think about how much we do forget our loved ones, in death, even in spirit, that we seem to need voice, warmth, skin. It was well-written and thought-provoking but also gave me a sadness. I only wished this story was longer and had more meat on its bones because it was over too soon and I feel there could have been more. I really felt I knew the character Brandon so well so soon, which is hard to pull off in shorter pieces.
“Crust” spoke deeply to me in a few hundred words and that’s all I’m going to say, but wow did it feature what I struggle with every single day. “Cranberry” scared the shit out of me. That’s some pent up rage and writing that holds nothing back. Many of the other stories dealt with killing of some sort whether a perpetrator, a family member, a spouse, the general populace. I am beginning to wonder if Sonora is a serial killer in her head. I’m joking (maybe….haha). I can dig it as some of my stories often kill off men and foe. Many pieces had surprise endings, often they showed clearly life issues which created characters crossing boundaries into raw, primal emotion, and others were creatively done and had such a unique flair.
I actually was completely unnerved and uncomfortable with “Stick Figure Family” – I mean, it actually made me ball up in anger and question a lot, but in a way I suppose that just means it was well-written enough to urge reaction of me as most horror stories should do.
Though I really enjoyed “Hearts are Just Likes” quite a bit – I found it inventive and fun and cool – my favorite story was “Quadrapocalypse,” which has the character starting off on the DC metro, and after, the story splitting off into four ways with four different scenes. I love techniques like this! Also, the nature lover and activist I am really enjoyed the theme of this one. Be good to nature, or it may get you back!!
My least favorite was the last story, “Seed.” I wanted to like it, due to its themes of nature, and I DID like parts of it and the overall plot and thought behind it, but I don’t like too much erotic content in my reads. Also, it was just unexpected because there wasn’t any in the rest of the book but by the end I “got” the animal correlation of it and why. I’d probably not have put it as the last piece, since that should be the blow away read. I’d have chosen “Quadrapocalypse!”
Overall, I really had fun reading a few of these stories a night during this annual spooky reading month! They made me think, made me cringe, made me scream, and even shocked me. Bite-sized morsels of fiction that feel like a meal, maybe your last meal or one that haunts you, but fiction that’ll chill you to your bones no matter the temperature. Highly recommended!
April 30, 2021
I just got this book today and I HAD to finish it.
You don't make a book written by Sonora Taylor wait.
You get 20 different awesomely written short tales. My favorite ones being " Stick figure family", "The note on the door", and "Hearts are just 'likes' "
All of the the stories were incredibly well written, they were fast paced and I never got bored reading it.
Y'all should pick this one up and you can be like me questioning stick famlies, and afraid of the outdoors.
You don't make a book written by Sonora Taylor wait.
You get 20 different awesomely written short tales. My favorite ones being " Stick figure family", "The note on the door", and "Hearts are just 'likes' "
All of the the stories were incredibly well written, they were fast paced and I never got bored reading it.
Y'all should pick this one up and you can be like me questioning stick famlies, and afraid of the outdoors.
March 26, 2022
Taylor is masterful with short fiction, and there are so many examples of "less is more" executed to perfection in this collection.
I enjoyed the entire book, but I'll highlight a few favorite stories...
Weary Bones: I loved this story. Focusing on a caretaker of the lingering dead, it deals with themes of grief, memory, attachment, and how hard it is to let go.
Hearts are just Likes: A story befitting the social media age, this one showcases the hidden darkness behind Influencer culture. How we crave those likes & hearts...how they grow in the mind like malformed seeds.
I picked up a signed copy of this one from the author at STC...very happy I did!
I enjoyed the entire book, but I'll highlight a few favorite stories...
Weary Bones: I loved this story. Focusing on a caretaker of the lingering dead, it deals with themes of grief, memory, attachment, and how hard it is to let go.
Hearts are just Likes: A story befitting the social media age, this one showcases the hidden darkness behind Influencer culture. How we crave those likes & hearts...how they grow in the mind like malformed seeds.
I picked up a signed copy of this one from the author at STC...very happy I did!
February 28, 2021
Taylor is a unique and fresh voice in the horror community. This collection looks beyond horror tropes and creates something new for horror lovers. Each piece is surprising and original.
August 14, 2022
Can I just start with how much I love Sonora Taylor’s writing? She seemingly dances around your expectations and is great at twists you often won’t see coming. The fact that she manages to make flash fiction go unexpected directions is nothing short of impressive.
——————
“Brandon opened the door. A skeleton stood on his porch. It stood upright, its hollow eyes staring into Brandon’s face.”
—————-
There’s loads of stories (and a couple of poems) in this collection, but in short; here be sentient skeletons, serial killer bff’s, notes on doors better left alone, the elements made murderous & and hungry woods++
I’d stop reading here if you don’t want any (light) spoilers. “*” marks the ones that stood out to me:
-Weary Bones:*
“Brandon opened the door. A skeleton stood on his porch. It stood upright, its hollow eyes staring into Brandon’s face.”
-A serum promising a second life but with certain side effects; people turn into sentient skeletons. Deals with the aftermath of the invention and the emotional impact it has on society. Some (like Brandon) appreciate it and care for the living skeletons, others are unable to deal with it and send their loved ones to cemeteries resembling nursing homes. A bittersweet tale I could easily imagine as one of the better Twilight Zone or Black Mirror episodes.
-Never Walk Alone:
Touches on an all too common (and well founded) fear as a woman; that your evening walk home will be disrupted by something (someone) horrible. Did not see that twist coming, though.
-A Part of You:
Travis & Tristan have just killed their mother; or so they think. Breaking that maternal bond proves harder than they thought.
-Crust:
A daughter is desperately trying to make the perfect pie crust for her mother. A tale about overly critical parents & how those words sometimes linger long after they’re gone.
-The Note on the Door:
Rory walks by a stranger’s door on her way to work. She spots a handwritten note taped to it. It takes a few days but eventually curiosity gets the better of her. The note begs for someone to help them and points to where a key is hidden. This was probably a note better left alone, but for whom of them?
-Always in my Ear:*
A friendship forged in shared dark impulses. New tech catering to people’s addiction to true crime podcasts & enables the ease of manipulating the masses.
-For as gory it is, it’s not without its tenderness.
-As Quick as Poison:
A poem about a woman’s last moments alive.
-Cranberry:
A different Thanksgiving story; Christy’s parents ‘joke’ about her weight & she becomes obsessed with losing it. Another snide comment from her father has a surprising effect.
Turkey carving will never quite be the same.
An engaging story dealing with body dysmorphia & eating disorders.
-Drops:
You wouldn’t want to wake the mother of this story up. Less than 2 pages and could easily serve as an example in how you build suspense.
-Snowfall:
Stay out of the woods and don’t lie down in the snow. Brings a new meaning to “just inhale and exhale”.
-Death is a Hunter:
A young girl is lured into the forest by an older boy. She’s then confronted with a man who might have underestimated this would-be victim.
-Quadrapocalypse:
Told from multiple perspectives with characters all going through hell in very different ways; except the Metro people who gets it all and ties the events together.
An engaging read playing with the elements.
-Hollow:*
A bullied girl finds comfort in her favorite toy, a porcelain doll. Things turn dark when the one thing she had going for her is ruined by someone else.
-Stick Figure Family:
You know those stick figures to represent your family on cars? Yeah, this is not quite that. Waking Camila up would be a bad, bad idea. Possible link to Drops?
-Hearts are just “Likes”:
About being careful what you wish for.
Hailey lives for & on social media. A massive influencer, she’s happy when she begins to date someone like her. Or so she thinks. The cracks of the relationship start to show as her boyfriend isn’t liking her posts and her engagement drops. Eventually, things boil over.
A tragicomic zeitgeist tale. Many people seem to invest more time and effort on their online prescience & lose track of the things that matter.
-Perfection in Shadow:
Colin doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to find the perfect woman, so he makes her out of his own darkness. In this tale, darkness definitely consumes you.
-Salt:
A woman learns her husband is charged with murder and we work our way back to the why.
It’s nice to have a partner who puts food (meat) on the table, and this story ramps it up 1000-fold
-Seed:
Same universe as Quadrapocalypse?
Erotica/eco-horror; a woman finds herself increasingly isolated as people are either eaten by the trees or become them. That is, until a man shows up.
- stay away from those vines.
-He Trapped My Thoughts Inside my Head:
We began with a poem & we’ll end with a poem I read as a cautioning for men against trying to control us.
October 21, 2019
Little Paranoias is the second book I've read from Sonora Taylor, and she always tells entertaining stories. This is the first collection I've read from her (the first book I read was a novel), and I enjoyed it! This collection is a mix of short stories and poetry (mostly short stories), and there's a little something for everyone here.
My top 5 stories were Always in My Ear, Stick Figure Family, Hearts are Just "Likes", Perfection in Shadow, and He Trapped My Thoughts Inside My Head. There were several others I enjoyed, but these ones all got 5⭐ from me. My only issue with this book was that sometimes the endings of the stories fell a little flat. I liked the actual stories themselves, but a lot of them just didn't stick the landing for me.
Little Paranoias is out tomorrow 10/22, so pick it up if you need a fun short story collection! I'm looking forward to whatever Sonora Taylor does next.
My top 5 stories were Always in My Ear, Stick Figure Family, Hearts are Just "Likes", Perfection in Shadow, and He Trapped My Thoughts Inside My Head. There were several others I enjoyed, but these ones all got 5⭐ from me. My only issue with this book was that sometimes the endings of the stories fell a little flat. I liked the actual stories themselves, but a lot of them just didn't stick the landing for me.
Little Paranoias is out tomorrow 10/22, so pick it up if you need a fun short story collection! I'm looking forward to whatever Sonora Taylor does next.
September 6, 2019
4.5 stars rounded for Goodreads
Trying to accurately describe collections of short fiction can be intimidating. Even some of my favorite collections that I've read can be uneven. There's a certain obligation to mention which stories work and which ones can be skipped, and mention as many as possible. A difficult task becomes nearly impossible when the story counts hits twenty.
Fortunately, I'm delighted to report that Little Paranoias, by Sonora Taylor, sets itself apart from the typical collection of short fiction, combining poetry with longer-form stories with a lot of, what I came to think of as, vignettes. The bulk of these pieces establish a certain comfort in discomfort as Taylor seems to almost take pleasure in leading us down a certain path, and then viciously pulling the rug out from under our feet. After a while, the reader starts to feel, dare I say, paranoid, but it doesn't get any easier to guess where we'll end up.
Little Paranoias is bookended by short pieces of poetry, and Taylor uses the opening to welcome the reader to her world. Weary Bones drops us right into the thick of things, making sure we know why we came and that things are going to get dark and weird. One of the stories that worked best for me was Always in my Ear, a warped take on society's obsession with true crime podcasts. Quadrapocalypse is also intriguing, offering snapshots from differing viewpoints of the end of the world. Seed is the penultimate, and longest, story. It unfolds a post-apocalyptic tale whether Mother Nature really lets humanity have it.
If this collection were made up of just stories, I think I still would have enjoyed it, but what truly won me over were the pieces of flash fiction that almost serve as interludes. Each one is a glimpse of a character, a moment, or a situation containing darkness within. Some of the most powerful and/or memorable ones include Death is a Hunter, Stick Figure Family, Never Walk Alone, and Part of You. Deserving of a special mention is Salt, which contains the best twist in the whole book.
Little Paranoias comes out on October 22nd and is available to pre-order on e-book, but will also be released on paperback. There's a little something for everybody and the cover artwork by Doug Puller, is phenomenal. This is easily one of the most unique collections of the year, and one I will be revisiting from time to time.
Trying to accurately describe collections of short fiction can be intimidating. Even some of my favorite collections that I've read can be uneven. There's a certain obligation to mention which stories work and which ones can be skipped, and mention as many as possible. A difficult task becomes nearly impossible when the story counts hits twenty.
Fortunately, I'm delighted to report that Little Paranoias, by Sonora Taylor, sets itself apart from the typical collection of short fiction, combining poetry with longer-form stories with a lot of, what I came to think of as, vignettes. The bulk of these pieces establish a certain comfort in discomfort as Taylor seems to almost take pleasure in leading us down a certain path, and then viciously pulling the rug out from under our feet. After a while, the reader starts to feel, dare I say, paranoid, but it doesn't get any easier to guess where we'll end up.
Little Paranoias is bookended by short pieces of poetry, and Taylor uses the opening to welcome the reader to her world. Weary Bones drops us right into the thick of things, making sure we know why we came and that things are going to get dark and weird. One of the stories that worked best for me was Always in my Ear, a warped take on society's obsession with true crime podcasts. Quadrapocalypse is also intriguing, offering snapshots from differing viewpoints of the end of the world. Seed is the penultimate, and longest, story. It unfolds a post-apocalyptic tale whether Mother Nature really lets humanity have it.
If this collection were made up of just stories, I think I still would have enjoyed it, but what truly won me over were the pieces of flash fiction that almost serve as interludes. Each one is a glimpse of a character, a moment, or a situation containing darkness within. Some of the most powerful and/or memorable ones include Death is a Hunter, Stick Figure Family, Never Walk Alone, and Part of You. Deserving of a special mention is Salt, which contains the best twist in the whole book.
Little Paranoias comes out on October 22nd and is available to pre-order on e-book, but will also be released on paperback. There's a little something for everybody and the cover artwork by Doug Puller, is phenomenal. This is easily one of the most unique collections of the year, and one I will be revisiting from time to time.
December 5, 2019
*I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my fair and honest review.*
Sonora Taylor's 'Little Paranoias' is an eerie compilation of short stories that take a stark look at the complications of the human condition, that will leave you feeling paranoid and your skin crawling. Covering topics ranging from the after life to nature taking over the world, I dare anyone who says they have no paranoias to read this and not come out the other side a delightfully hot, twitchy, mess.
'Little Paranoias' by Sonora Taylor consists of 20 tales of the little things that drive our deepest fears. She tells of terror and sorrow, lust and death as a second chance. These works delve into the darkest corners of the mind, laying eggs that are ready to hatch and send you over the edge at any moment. Everyone has something to fear. And Sonora Taylor plays on those fears in her fun and creepy collection.
I was introduced to Sonora Taylor's work last year after reviewing 'Without Condition'- which is fantastic and you need to read it. Trust me. So I was thrilled to get the chance to review another piece of her work! My expectations were high, and she did not disappoint in the least!
Miss Taylor immediately puts you in your discomfort zone and your fears only grow from there as she slowly cranks up the dark, bizarre, and creepy to 11.
She starts out strong with a story titled “Weary Bones”, setting the tone for things to come. The story plays on the dark and the disturbing revelations of humanity. Taylor proves her worth as an amazing world builder in “Seed” and “Quadropacalypse”. Both stories are set in a natural background that is brought to life through Taylor's skill of crafting lush and beautiful world through her vivid imagery.
“Salt”, “Never Walk Alone”, and “Perfection in Shadow”, will all send a shiver up your spine and have you looking over your shoulder at every creek you hear. Honorable mentions go to “Death is a Hunter”, “Part of you”, “Crust”, “Always in Your Ear”, “Drops”,”Snowfall”, and “Stick Figure Family”. These take a look at perfectionism, our society's obsession with true crime, and our culture's obsession with social media and how we measure ourselves and self worth through “friends” and “likes”.
'Little Paranoias' is an entertaining and evocative compilation of stories in which Sonora Taylor uses your own little ticks against you. Taking pleasure at preying on your weaknesses. But, these tales of terror all come with a lesson to be learned. Taylor uses these cautionary tales to freak you out and learn a lesson along the way. This collection will either cure you of your fears, or create all new ones to join with the ones she's already amped up. A lesson well learned Miss Taylor. I'd say Thank you, but I can feel something crawling up my neck.......
Sonora Taylor's 'Little Paranoias' is an eerie compilation of short stories that take a stark look at the complications of the human condition, that will leave you feeling paranoid and your skin crawling. Covering topics ranging from the after life to nature taking over the world, I dare anyone who says they have no paranoias to read this and not come out the other side a delightfully hot, twitchy, mess.
'Little Paranoias' by Sonora Taylor consists of 20 tales of the little things that drive our deepest fears. She tells of terror and sorrow, lust and death as a second chance. These works delve into the darkest corners of the mind, laying eggs that are ready to hatch and send you over the edge at any moment. Everyone has something to fear. And Sonora Taylor plays on those fears in her fun and creepy collection.
I was introduced to Sonora Taylor's work last year after reviewing 'Without Condition'- which is fantastic and you need to read it. Trust me. So I was thrilled to get the chance to review another piece of her work! My expectations were high, and she did not disappoint in the least!
Miss Taylor immediately puts you in your discomfort zone and your fears only grow from there as she slowly cranks up the dark, bizarre, and creepy to 11.
She starts out strong with a story titled “Weary Bones”, setting the tone for things to come. The story plays on the dark and the disturbing revelations of humanity. Taylor proves her worth as an amazing world builder in “Seed” and “Quadropacalypse”. Both stories are set in a natural background that is brought to life through Taylor's skill of crafting lush and beautiful world through her vivid imagery.
“Salt”, “Never Walk Alone”, and “Perfection in Shadow”, will all send a shiver up your spine and have you looking over your shoulder at every creek you hear. Honorable mentions go to “Death is a Hunter”, “Part of you”, “Crust”, “Always in Your Ear”, “Drops”,”Snowfall”, and “Stick Figure Family”. These take a look at perfectionism, our society's obsession with true crime, and our culture's obsession with social media and how we measure ourselves and self worth through “friends” and “likes”.
'Little Paranoias' is an entertaining and evocative compilation of stories in which Sonora Taylor uses your own little ticks against you. Taking pleasure at preying on your weaknesses. But, these tales of terror all come with a lesson to be learned. Taylor uses these cautionary tales to freak you out and learn a lesson along the way. This collection will either cure you of your fears, or create all new ones to join with the ones she's already amped up. A lesson well learned Miss Taylor. I'd say Thank you, but I can feel something crawling up my neck.......
October 18, 2019
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
“Only memories were supposed to fade in houses.”
Sonora Taylor returns with her new collection of short stories and poems, and this is a strong collection that doesn’t disappoint.
I read ‘Without Condition’ previously by Taylor and was really surprised by how much I loved it. Going in I was worried that it might be a bit too much romancy for my tastes, but Sonora is such a solid writer that those fears went out the window quickly.
This collection opened with a short burst with the title story, “Little Paranoias,” but for me, the absolute high mark of this gathering of tales is story number 2; “Weary Bones.”
“Weary Bones” was both repulsive and heartbreaking. A serum was created that had unintended side effects. Now the living must deal with the dead in a way that nobody saw coming.
I can’t stop raving about the idea of this story, but also the execution. The story moved along so deftly but my goodness the FEELS! Gah. I’m so jealous at how amazing this story is and I hope this thing gets some serious consideration for awards.
From there, Taylor weaves her way with new horror after new horror. I found myself engrossed and flying through them. I read this over two sittings, but this could easily be handled in one sitting if you so choose.
“Never Walk Alone,” was a gruesome take on late-night strolls, “The Note on the Door,” also ensured you had no idea of how the story was going to end – until it did.
“Cranberry” was a brutal psychological story about body image issues and the fun “Quadrapocalypse” made sure that Taylor ended the world horrifically.
One last story I’ll mention is “A Part of You.” The descriptions are shockingly visceral and reading this story reminded me of the first time I ever watched the movie “Heavy Metal.”
Outstanding work by a massive rising star in the horror field and if Taylor isn’t on your “Must Read” list yet, it’s really time to change that.
“Only memories were supposed to fade in houses.”
Sonora Taylor returns with her new collection of short stories and poems, and this is a strong collection that doesn’t disappoint.
I read ‘Without Condition’ previously by Taylor and was really surprised by how much I loved it. Going in I was worried that it might be a bit too much romancy for my tastes, but Sonora is such a solid writer that those fears went out the window quickly.
This collection opened with a short burst with the title story, “Little Paranoias,” but for me, the absolute high mark of this gathering of tales is story number 2; “Weary Bones.”
“Weary Bones” was both repulsive and heartbreaking. A serum was created that had unintended side effects. Now the living must deal with the dead in a way that nobody saw coming.
I can’t stop raving about the idea of this story, but also the execution. The story moved along so deftly but my goodness the FEELS! Gah. I’m so jealous at how amazing this story is and I hope this thing gets some serious consideration for awards.
From there, Taylor weaves her way with new horror after new horror. I found myself engrossed and flying through them. I read this over two sittings, but this could easily be handled in one sitting if you so choose.
“Never Walk Alone,” was a gruesome take on late-night strolls, “The Note on the Door,” also ensured you had no idea of how the story was going to end – until it did.
“Cranberry” was a brutal psychological story about body image issues and the fun “Quadrapocalypse” made sure that Taylor ended the world horrifically.
One last story I’ll mention is “A Part of You.” The descriptions are shockingly visceral and reading this story reminded me of the first time I ever watched the movie “Heavy Metal.”
Outstanding work by a massive rising star in the horror field and if Taylor isn’t on your “Must Read” list yet, it’s really time to change that.
October 4, 2019
An interesting and varied collection, Little Paranoias gathers Sonora Taylor's poems, flash fics, and short stories into one volume. I liked the longer stories and couplet poems most, favorite stories being "Always in My Ear," "Hearts Are Just Likes," and especially "Weary Bones," a patient approach to the horror of familial loss, suicide, and death's lingering. It's a surprisingly somber tale as it's first, followed by many stories about murderers. Each poem felt like it was sneaking up on me. I wasn't a fan of the earlier flash fiction. The stronger ones come later, especially "Salt," which takes something genuine and heartfelt and then drags it through darkness. Many stories play with time, either offering parallels between past and present or bookending on a scene.
The collection's eclectic nature makes it likely most readers will both find things they like and dislike, but I think that's part of the fun of it. There's no telling what you'll get unless you try each.
The collection's eclectic nature makes it likely most readers will both find things they like and dislike, but I think that's part of the fun of it. There's no telling what you'll get unless you try each.
July 1, 2020
This was my first time reading anything from this author and I will now add her to my “read anything they write” list! This book contained short stories, poems and a few that I would consider flash fiction! These are dark, creepy, shocking, bizarre, murder is involved and acts of violence! Right up a horror lovers alley!
There were a few that stuck with me more then others-Always in my Ear, Hearts are Just “Likes”, Stick Figure Family, and the two I considered flash fiction-Drops and Snowfall! A couple of the stories dealt with trees, vines, nature growing out of control, taking over civilization-Quadrapocalypse and Seed. Really enjoyed these as I have a thing about weird looking tree roots! Read this to see which story speaks to you!
There were a few that stuck with me more then others-Always in my Ear, Hearts are Just “Likes”, Stick Figure Family, and the two I considered flash fiction-Drops and Snowfall! A couple of the stories dealt with trees, vines, nature growing out of control, taking over civilization-Quadrapocalypse and Seed. Really enjoyed these as I have a thing about weird looking tree roots! Read this to see which story speaks to you!
December 4, 2019
Horror isn't my go-to genre ... but if Taylor writes more, it just might be! This collection was enjoyable and creepy and ... agh! the twists at the end of some of the stories really caught me off guard! ('Stick Figures', lookin' at you ...) Pick this one up even if horror isn't your thing. You'll be happy you did!
June 21, 2021
I cant fault it at all. I was looking for a great short story collection and this is one of the best I've ever come across. Some of the most original stuff I've ever read. I'll definitely read more by Sonora.
January 7, 2020
This was quite an eclectic collection and a casual glance would make readers think they were looking at a hodgepodge, thrown together haphazardly--that is not the case at all with Little Paranoias.
Everything fit nicely; the flash fiction, the longer fiction, and the poems were all fastened together like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle to produce a polished volume that is definitely worth a read.
My view of "flash fiction" is traditional and most purveyors today don't have a clue about how to write it, but a few of Taylor's were very impressive and I enjoyed them. Conversely, there were several that missed the mark with no character or plot development. At least not that I could see.
The longer fiction was exceptional and I wish the entire book had been of longer, more in-depth stories like these.
Overall, this was a good, little book and I'd recommend it.
Everything fit nicely; the flash fiction, the longer fiction, and the poems were all fastened together like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle to produce a polished volume that is definitely worth a read.
My view of "flash fiction" is traditional and most purveyors today don't have a clue about how to write it, but a few of Taylor's were very impressive and I enjoyed them. Conversely, there were several that missed the mark with no character or plot development. At least not that I could see.
The longer fiction was exceptional and I wish the entire book had been of longer, more in-depth stories like these.
Overall, this was a good, little book and I'd recommend it.
July 19, 2022
Great collection of short horror stories! Who knew a 2 page story could pack a punch like some of these do!
October 20, 2019
This is Sonora Taylor at her most disturbed, and I mean that in the best possible way. Another great short story collection from this author that every horror fan will love. I enjoyed the various lengthens of stories, from the flash to the longer stories. The poems too, were a lot of creepy fun. I'm becoming a fan of this author for her well-thought-out and well-written tales. I love her unexpected endings. She truly has a twisted imagination. I love it!
August 27, 2021
Loved this! If you are looking for an anthology, look no further!
December 2, 2019
This collection was my first introduction to Sonora Taylor, and it was exceptional. Taylor has a strong, entertaining narrative voice, and so much versatility in her storytelling. She can break your heart, as in Weary Bones (which I think is still my favorite in this collection), make you angry (Cranberry, another favorite), twist all your expectations (Stick Figure Family, The Note), make you laugh, care, and cheer. These stories are wonderful, varied, and beautiful. There's a current of feminism, as well as femininity that run through this collection, and some excellent adaptations and horror homages. (Hearts are just likes). I highly recommend this collection to any horror fan, or just any fan of well-written short fiction.
August 24, 2023
I was hoping to like it more especially after it was recommended as a disturbing and scary read.
Sadly, I wasn't scared at all. In the synopsis, it says that the stories contain terror among other things but I wasn't terrified either. Maybe the stories were a little too short to actually pack a punch that would scare me or at least shiver me timbers... most of the stories made barely any sense to me and just went right over my head which wasn't fun.
Look, the author seems like a sweetheart, and best of luck to them but this just did not work for me.
Sadly, I wasn't scared at all. In the synopsis, it says that the stories contain terror among other things but I wasn't terrified either. Maybe the stories were a little too short to actually pack a punch that would scare me or at least shiver me timbers... most of the stories made barely any sense to me and just went right over my head which wasn't fun.
Look, the author seems like a sweetheart, and best of luck to them but this just did not work for me.
May 2, 2021
I enjoyed this a great deal. Such unique ideas and delicious little slices of horror.
September 13, 2020
Little Paranoias by Sonora Taylor is a killer collection of tales! This had such an awesome range; from the stories that will hit you with an emotional punch to the tales that will crawl under your skin.
I absolutely love Sonora Taylor’s writing style! Each tale was so wonderfully organized and paced. There were so many that had a wonderful twist at the very end that I especially loved!
Per usual with short story collections, here are my quick thoughts on each!
Weary Bones – 5/5
Oh my gosh! What an idea! Centered around a serum that people rush to get before the fully understand the results is terrifying. This story broke my heart, but I’m so glad that it centered around an amazingly compassionate main character.
Never Walk Alone – 5/5
Whoa! This one totally got me! While short, it packed a punch! The paranoia that comes with walking somewhere alone is spot on for me, especially at night.
A Part Of You – 5/5
Oh my! Another short one that packs a punch! Go Mom!
Crust – 4/5
Yikes! What a quest for perfection.
The Note On The Door – 4/5
Ah man, the curiosity was so strong here! I love how this one turned out!
Always In My Ear – 5/5
Phew! When true crime obsessions go too far… this one was wicked nerve-wracking.
I loved this passage so much:
“You have to whisper secrets. That way they always stay in your ear, and not in the air or they can fly and spread around.”
Brooke smiled, charmed by the thought of a secret zipping through the wind like a glittery moth, with red eyes and white crystal teeth to match its wings.
As Quick As Poison- 4/5
A wonderful little poem!
Cranberry – 5/5
Shout-out to the author for including the trigger warnings on this one because woof. This one was intense and so sad. It certainly triggered some crap that happened to me in childhood that I will never forget. People really need to stop commenting on other people’s weight!
Drops – 3/5
Ooh! Spooky! This one left me wanting just a smidge more because I wasn’t sure what was going on.
Snowfall – 4/5
Oofh! This poor girl!
Death Is A Hunter – 5/5
What a turn this one took!!
Quadrapocalypse – 5/5
Absolutely terrifying! I can’t decide which situation was the worst!
Hollow – 4/5
Phew! Dolls creep me out so much…
Stick Figure Family – 5/5
I will never look at the stick figure families on the back of cars the same again…
Hearts Are Just “Likes” – 4/5
My goodness! The obsession over social media always makes me so nervous! This one got intense very quickly!
Perfection In Shadow – 4/5
Yessss what a turn!
Salt – 5/5
Whoa! That was crazy!! What a perfectly organized short story!! What devotion between these two!
Seed – 4/5
Gosh the thought of plants and vines reclaiming the earth is so spooky!
He Trapped My Thoughts Inside My Head – 4/5
What a poem!!! And what a way to end this collection!
My Final Thoughts
I had so much fun reading this collection! I’m just kicking myself from taking so long to pick up this authors work. I cannot wait to dive into Seeing Things ASAP.
I absolutely love Sonora Taylor’s writing style! Each tale was so wonderfully organized and paced. There were so many that had a wonderful twist at the very end that I especially loved!
Per usual with short story collections, here are my quick thoughts on each!
Weary Bones – 5/5
Oh my gosh! What an idea! Centered around a serum that people rush to get before the fully understand the results is terrifying. This story broke my heart, but I’m so glad that it centered around an amazingly compassionate main character.
Never Walk Alone – 5/5
Whoa! This one totally got me! While short, it packed a punch! The paranoia that comes with walking somewhere alone is spot on for me, especially at night.
A Part Of You – 5/5
Oh my! Another short one that packs a punch! Go Mom!
Crust – 4/5
Yikes! What a quest for perfection.
The Note On The Door – 4/5
Ah man, the curiosity was so strong here! I love how this one turned out!
Always In My Ear – 5/5
Phew! When true crime obsessions go too far… this one was wicked nerve-wracking.
I loved this passage so much:
“You have to whisper secrets. That way they always stay in your ear, and not in the air or they can fly and spread around.”
Brooke smiled, charmed by the thought of a secret zipping through the wind like a glittery moth, with red eyes and white crystal teeth to match its wings.
As Quick As Poison- 4/5
A wonderful little poem!
Cranberry – 5/5
Shout-out to the author for including the trigger warnings on this one because woof. This one was intense and so sad. It certainly triggered some crap that happened to me in childhood that I will never forget. People really need to stop commenting on other people’s weight!
Drops – 3/5
Ooh! Spooky! This one left me wanting just a smidge more because I wasn’t sure what was going on.
Snowfall – 4/5
Oofh! This poor girl!
Death Is A Hunter – 5/5
What a turn this one took!!
Quadrapocalypse – 5/5
Absolutely terrifying! I can’t decide which situation was the worst!
Hollow – 4/5
Phew! Dolls creep me out so much…
Stick Figure Family – 5/5
I will never look at the stick figure families on the back of cars the same again…
Hearts Are Just “Likes” – 4/5
My goodness! The obsession over social media always makes me so nervous! This one got intense very quickly!
Perfection In Shadow – 4/5
Yessss what a turn!
Salt – 5/5
Whoa! That was crazy!! What a perfectly organized short story!! What devotion between these two!
Seed – 4/5
Gosh the thought of plants and vines reclaiming the earth is so spooky!
He Trapped My Thoughts Inside My Head – 4/5
What a poem!!! And what a way to end this collection!
My Final Thoughts
I had so much fun reading this collection! I’m just kicking myself from taking so long to pick up this authors work. I cannot wait to dive into Seeing Things ASAP.
December 2, 2019
I absolutely loved this collection. The first story, "Weary Bones," is such a great read. It starts out a little creepy, but evolves into a sad, moving tale that will stay with you.
"Always in My Ear" is a story that works well in this time of social media and needing to be connected to the world 24/7. It also shows how devoted some Podcast followers can be, no matter what the subject.
One of my favorite sub-genres is apocalypse horror, and "Quadrapocalypse" a creepy and fun one to read. Also, I am very claustrophobic, and have been on the metro line mentioned in the story. It really does go into an underwater tunnel, and I've always held my breath hoping the train wouldn't get stuck there. So even though the regular commuters in the story didn't bat an eye at all the delays, it made me shudder.
The rest of the stories are just as good. Two of my favorites that I have read before are "Hearts Are Just Likes," and "Stick Figure Family." They are both fun to read, and appeal to those of us with twisted senses of humor.
If you haven't read the author before, this is a great place to start. And if you have, then you know she is a great writer and you need to get this!
"Always in My Ear" is a story that works well in this time of social media and needing to be connected to the world 24/7. It also shows how devoted some Podcast followers can be, no matter what the subject.
One of my favorite sub-genres is apocalypse horror, and "Quadrapocalypse" a creepy and fun one to read. Also, I am very claustrophobic, and have been on the metro line mentioned in the story. It really does go into an underwater tunnel, and I've always held my breath hoping the train wouldn't get stuck there. So even though the regular commuters in the story didn't bat an eye at all the delays, it made me shudder.
The rest of the stories are just as good. Two of my favorites that I have read before are "Hearts Are Just Likes," and "Stick Figure Family." They are both fun to read, and appeal to those of us with twisted senses of humor.
If you haven't read the author before, this is a great place to start. And if you have, then you know she is a great writer and you need to get this!
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