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Betty Bites Back: Stories to Scare the Patriarchy
FEMINIST FICTION TO FRIGHTEN THE PATRIARCHY!
Behind every successful man is a strong woman... but in these stories, she might be about to plant a knife in his spine. The characters in this anthology are fed up - tired of being held back, held down, held accountable - by the misogyny of the system. They're ready to resist by biting back in their own individual ways, be it through magic, murder, technology, teeth, pitfalls and even... potlucks. Join sixteen writers as they explore feminism in fantasy, science-fiction, fractured fairy-tales, historical settings, and the all-too-familiar chauvinist contemporary world.
Introduction by the Editors
The news in the past few years has been full of women - nasty women, angry women, persistent women, women in pink knitted hats. There’s been pushback, but there’s also been overwhelming support. With this anthology we wanted to add our own encouragement. This collection of sixteen tales comes from writers who picked up their pens to add their words to the resistance.
You're helping, too. By buying this book - and reading it - you're allowing our words to find a space inside your head, to plant a seed, and to offer a different perspective. We hope you enjoy these tales, but more importantly, we hope they make you think about the position of women in the world, how our everyday lives are different from a man's - and in many ways, even different from each other's experiences.
We all have our own tale. A cat-call. An unwanted touch. A joke at the water cooler... and those are just the micro-aggressions. Other stories make the news. But we're making our own headlines now, with marches, demonstrations and - in our own small way - this book.
Thank you for joining us as we bite back.
- Mindy McGinnis, Demitria Lunetta, and Kate Karyus Quinn
Behind every successful man is a strong woman... but in these stories, she might be about to plant a knife in his spine. The characters in this anthology are fed up - tired of being held back, held down, held accountable - by the misogyny of the system. They're ready to resist by biting back in their own individual ways, be it through magic, murder, technology, teeth, pitfalls and even... potlucks. Join sixteen writers as they explore feminism in fantasy, science-fiction, fractured fairy-tales, historical settings, and the all-too-familiar chauvinist contemporary world.
Introduction by the Editors
The news in the past few years has been full of women - nasty women, angry women, persistent women, women in pink knitted hats. There’s been pushback, but there’s also been overwhelming support. With this anthology we wanted to add our own encouragement. This collection of sixteen tales comes from writers who picked up their pens to add their words to the resistance.
You're helping, too. By buying this book - and reading it - you're allowing our words to find a space inside your head, to plant a seed, and to offer a different perspective. We hope you enjoy these tales, but more importantly, we hope they make you think about the position of women in the world, how our everyday lives are different from a man's - and in many ways, even different from each other's experiences.
We all have our own tale. A cat-call. An unwanted touch. A joke at the water cooler... and those are just the micro-aggressions. Other stories make the news. But we're making our own headlines now, with marches, demonstrations and - in our own small way - this book.
Thank you for joining us as we bite back.
- Mindy McGinnis, Demitria Lunetta, and Kate Karyus Quinn
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2019
27 people are currently reading
962 people want to read
About the author
Mindy McGinnis
29 books4,302 followersMindy McGinnis is an Edgar Award-winning novelist who writes across multiple genres, including post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy.
While her settings may change, you can always count on Mindy’s books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
January 18, 2021
There will be blood.
Sixteen combined short stories and poems in the vein of extreme feminism.
More horror than thriller, with the standouts for me being The Guardians, Good Sister Bad Sister, and Vigilante Lane.
I felt that it was more YA with magical realism and younger characters but that didn't detract from my enjoyment. A few of the stories were waaaaaay out of my wheelhouse so it's difficult to rate this book.
12/13/20 ETA: I'm not much for poetry used to impart a story so that was a detractor for me. Some may like it but that's what I meant about it being out of my realm.
Sixteen combined short stories and poems in the vein of extreme feminism.
More horror than thriller, with the standouts for me being The Guardians, Good Sister Bad Sister, and Vigilante Lane.
I felt that it was more YA with magical realism and younger characters but that didn't detract from my enjoyment. A few of the stories were waaaaaay out of my wheelhouse so it's difficult to rate this book.
12/13/20 ETA: I'm not much for poetry used to impart a story so that was a detractor for me. Some may like it but that's what I meant about it being out of my realm.
September 17, 2019
EXCERPT: It started with a hashtag.
Well, it started about five years earlier - the first time Billy Ruperts noticed that I'd hit puberty. We were sitting in the hallway, working with a few of our friends on our final history project of Grade seven. He looked at me, then at my chest.
'Savvy, you're growing.' He leaned forward and flicked my pint-sized breast.
That was the first time I felt it. That subtle stomach-churning twirl of rage. I shoved him into the lockers. He split his forehead open on a rusted hinge.
I got an in-school suspension, even after I told them what he did.
Billy got stitched up and a break from homework for the rest of the week. (excerpt taken from 'The Guardians 1792 by Jenna Lehne)
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Behind every successful man is a strong woman... but in these stories, she might be about to plant a knife in his spine. The characters in this anthology are fed up - tired of being held back, held down, held accountable - by the misogyny of the system. They're ready to resist by biting back in their own individual ways, be it through magic, murder, technology, teeth, pitfalls and even... potlucks. Join sixteen writers as they explore feminism in fantasy, science-fiction, fractured fairy-tales, historical settings, and the all-too-familiar chauvinist contemporary world.
(While most of the content is YA appropriate, please note the editors recommend this anthology for 16+.)
Authors:
Liz Coley
Shannon Green
Elaine Griffin
Lindsey Klingele
Kamerhe Lane
Jenna Lehne
Demitria Lunetta
Emilee Martell
Tracie Martin
Cori McCarthy
Kyrie McCauley
Mindy McGinnis
Kate Karyus Quinn
Melody Simpson
Amanda Sun
MY THOUGHTS: As with most short story collections, there were stories I liked, and stories I didn't like. 'The Guardians 1792' was a particular favorite of mine; as were 'What She Left Behind' by E R Griffin and 'We Have But Lingered Here' by Liz Coley. There were a couple I couldn't finish, and the remainder were, for my reading palate, decidedly meh. Some were just too extreme.
An interesting collection.
#BettyBitesBackStoriesToScareThe Patriarchy #NetGalley
***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR/EDITOR: Mindy McGinnis is an Edgar Award-winning novelist who writes across multiple genres, including post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy.
While her settings may change, you can always count on Mindy’s books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Mindy McGinnis, Dimitria Lunetta and Kate Karyus Quinn via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Betty Bites Back for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on Sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Well, it started about five years earlier - the first time Billy Ruperts noticed that I'd hit puberty. We were sitting in the hallway, working with a few of our friends on our final history project of Grade seven. He looked at me, then at my chest.
'Savvy, you're growing.' He leaned forward and flicked my pint-sized breast.
That was the first time I felt it. That subtle stomach-churning twirl of rage. I shoved him into the lockers. He split his forehead open on a rusted hinge.
I got an in-school suspension, even after I told them what he did.
Billy got stitched up and a break from homework for the rest of the week. (excerpt taken from 'The Guardians 1792 by Jenna Lehne)
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Behind every successful man is a strong woman... but in these stories, she might be about to plant a knife in his spine. The characters in this anthology are fed up - tired of being held back, held down, held accountable - by the misogyny of the system. They're ready to resist by biting back in their own individual ways, be it through magic, murder, technology, teeth, pitfalls and even... potlucks. Join sixteen writers as they explore feminism in fantasy, science-fiction, fractured fairy-tales, historical settings, and the all-too-familiar chauvinist contemporary world.
(While most of the content is YA appropriate, please note the editors recommend this anthology for 16+.)
Authors:
Liz Coley
Shannon Green
Elaine Griffin
Lindsey Klingele
Kamerhe Lane
Jenna Lehne
Demitria Lunetta
Emilee Martell
Tracie Martin
Cori McCarthy
Kyrie McCauley
Mindy McGinnis
Kate Karyus Quinn
Melody Simpson
Amanda Sun
MY THOUGHTS: As with most short story collections, there were stories I liked, and stories I didn't like. 'The Guardians 1792' was a particular favorite of mine; as were 'What She Left Behind' by E R Griffin and 'We Have But Lingered Here' by Liz Coley. There were a couple I couldn't finish, and the remainder were, for my reading palate, decidedly meh. Some were just too extreme.
An interesting collection.
#BettyBitesBackStoriesToScareThe Patriarchy #NetGalley
***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR/EDITOR: Mindy McGinnis is an Edgar Award-winning novelist who writes across multiple genres, including post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy.
While her settings may change, you can always count on Mindy’s books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Mindy McGinnis, Dimitria Lunetta and Kate Karyus Quinn via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Betty Bites Back for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on Sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
March 14, 2024
"A quick glance around shows the place filthy, but empty, the roof open to the night sky, the stars above, and that full and fat moon.
A beautiful night for vigilante justice."
I"f someone were to walk in right now, they would think I am the sociopath, the demon, the monster. They would think I am the sick and twisted one. But it’s not me, it’s him.
It’s him."
A beautiful night for vigilante justice."
I"f someone were to walk in right now, they would think I am the sociopath, the demon, the monster. They would think I am the sick and twisted one. But it’s not me, it’s him.
It’s him."
August 12, 2019
Betty Bites Back: Stories to Scare the Patriarchy is a truly inspired anthology of feminist horror. The sixteen stories and poems run the gamut, from short to long, from sly to gory, from snarky to spine-tingling scary. The one thing every last one of these works has in common is that at least one girl, woman, or non-binary person has had it up to their scalps with patriarchal, misogynist BS. Sometimes the protagonists win and sometimes they lose. All of them, however, have some fight in them.
In Betty Bites Back, women are just as likely to be villains as men. Patriarchy cannot thrive without women who are willing to live by and enforce its standards. Weapons range from plastic surgery to witchcraft to fangs and claws to the sisterhood of women who've just plain taken all they're going to take.
Even if you are sympathetic to feminism, not every story or poem will be to your taste. Like most anthologies, it's a literary chocolate box, and even the most perfect pecan turtle will be met by someone who can't stand nuts or caramel. However, the next one may be right up your alley. Each entry is followed by the writer's inspiration and favorite feminist authors.
Of the 16 entries, my favorites are:
* "What She Left Behind", by E.R. Griffin. A troubled teenage girl learns that the house she and her mother recently moved into was once inhabited by a girl who'd been murdered decades ago.
* "Shadows" by Demitra Lunetta. An anthropologist follows her missing colleague's lead about an all-female tribe in the Amazon.
* "Good Sister, Bad Sister" by Azzurra Nox. A teenage Muslim girl who is constantly being compared negatively to her smart, gentle older sister shows the world that she's even badder than anyone could have ever guessed.
* "Whispers", by Lindsey Klingele. A group of headstrong, fun-loving young women in a small town in the late 1800s/early 1900s is literally silenced.
Betty Bites Back is highly recommended for any man who truly wants to know why the women in his life get so angry, and of course, for every woman and girl who knows exactly why.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
In Betty Bites Back, women are just as likely to be villains as men. Patriarchy cannot thrive without women who are willing to live by and enforce its standards. Weapons range from plastic surgery to witchcraft to fangs and claws to the sisterhood of women who've just plain taken all they're going to take.
Even if you are sympathetic to feminism, not every story or poem will be to your taste. Like most anthologies, it's a literary chocolate box, and even the most perfect pecan turtle will be met by someone who can't stand nuts or caramel. However, the next one may be right up your alley. Each entry is followed by the writer's inspiration and favorite feminist authors.
Of the 16 entries, my favorites are:
* "What She Left Behind", by E.R. Griffin. A troubled teenage girl learns that the house she and her mother recently moved into was once inhabited by a girl who'd been murdered decades ago.
* "Shadows" by Demitra Lunetta. An anthropologist follows her missing colleague's lead about an all-female tribe in the Amazon.
* "Good Sister, Bad Sister" by Azzurra Nox. A teenage Muslim girl who is constantly being compared negatively to her smart, gentle older sister shows the world that she's even badder than anyone could have ever guessed.
* "Whispers", by Lindsey Klingele. A group of headstrong, fun-loving young women in a small town in the late 1800s/early 1900s is literally silenced.
Betty Bites Back is highly recommended for any man who truly wants to know why the women in his life get so angry, and of course, for every woman and girl who knows exactly why.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 12, 2019
I quite enjoyed this collection of short stories with both feminist and horror themes. I thought it was a really cool take on an anthology; I've read feminist lit collections before, as well as horror anthologies, but the two genres work really, really well together, especially in our current political climate.
There were definitely some stories I enjoyed a bit more than others, but that's the nature of a collection like this. There is a story for everyone in this book, no matter your reading preferences! There are tales of ghosts, werewolves, vigilantes, and so much more. My personal favorites were "What She Left Behind" by E.R. Griffin and "Shadows" by Demitria Lunetta. If you're ambivalent about horror, I think this collection is a great way to get your feet wet in the genre. Most of the stories aren't super gory or nightmare-inducing. Rather, a lot of them feel more psychological or supernatural in nature--that's the kind of horror I tend to like a bit more.
All in all, I recommend giving this book a try. I'm looking forward to checking out these authors' other works!
There were definitely some stories I enjoyed a bit more than others, but that's the nature of a collection like this. There is a story for everyone in this book, no matter your reading preferences! There are tales of ghosts, werewolves, vigilantes, and so much more. My personal favorites were "What She Left Behind" by E.R. Griffin and "Shadows" by Demitria Lunetta. If you're ambivalent about horror, I think this collection is a great way to get your feet wet in the genre. Most of the stories aren't super gory or nightmare-inducing. Rather, a lot of them feel more psychological or supernatural in nature--that's the kind of horror I tend to like a bit more.
All in all, I recommend giving this book a try. I'm looking forward to checking out these authors' other works!
October 11, 2021
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Betty Bites Back: Stories to Scare the Patriarchy is a collection of short stories and poems. Each story is a different narration of what happens to women on a daily basis. Most of these tales crept me out. I know they are a clear representation of the modern world and it scares me. We are barely moving forward.
Vagina Dentata by Mindy McGinnis ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It is the greatest of beginnings for the anthology: short, purposeful, affecting in all the right ways.
You Wake With Him Beside You by Cori McCarthy ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It’s a complex poem of justice and reclaiming one’s life back, so exquisitely crafted that you feel as suffocated as the main character is.
The Weight of Iron by Amanda Sun ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I’m not sure I’m fully capable of conveying how meaningful this story can be.
Galen is a normal girl, trying to live her life, but she cannot even do that as men are useless dirt bags. She is harassed, humiliated, raped and to add insult to injury, she is called a witch and condemned to death. She is shackled and left to die in the forest where a mysterious creature is said to kill the penitents.
What She Left Behind by E.R. Griffin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This powerful story kept my eyes glued to the screen. The entangled tale of two similarly tormented lives. A summer night Erin Wilcox disappears, forty years later Mel discovers her diary and her story.
After The Foxes Have Their Say by Tracie Martin ⭐⭐⭐
A story of retaliation, of taking back control from men. Initially, I thought the Warden would learn something, but, alas, he didn’t.
Shadows by Demitria Lunetta ⭐
Confronting it to previous and subsequent stories, I don’t appreciate it as much.
@Theguardians1972 by Jenna Lehne ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just beginning to read this story will surely enrage you. Every time I read any of the guys’ sentences I had to stop reading because of the disgust I felt. By the end of it, you’ll either be torn between right or wrong, or be strangely accepting of some events.
Gravity by Kyrie McCauley ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A tale simultaneously eerie and light. A curse burdens every woman in a family from birth: an untruthful smile fixed on their face and a weightless body until they are sixteen. I particularly liked the ending: I felt the main character’s excitement and pain when she finally regained her control.
The Guardrail Disappears by Melody Simpson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I didn’t know what I was getting into with this story, but it sure was a hell of a ride.
Good Sister. Bad Sister by Azzurra Nox ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sweet, sweet revenge is all I’m saying.
Vigilante Lane by S.E. Green ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Creepy, gruesome and raw. Fantastically dark.
We Have But Lingered Here by Liz Coley ⭐⭐⭐
A ghost story with an engaging twist.
The Whispers by Lindsey Klingele ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It was incredible. One of the reasons I really like anthologies is because of stories like this one. It managed to completely involve me and make me feel what the girls felt, the rage they shared and the will to get back at those disgusting pricks.
Smile by Emilee Martell ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Short and frightening in the best way.
Potluck by Kamerhe Lane ⭐⭐⭐
I particularly liked the choice of narration and how the intrinsic complexity of a regular event was described.
The Change by Kate Karyus Quinn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Powerful and splendid.
Betty Bites Back: Stories to Scare the Patriarchy is a collection of short stories and poems. Each story is a different narration of what happens to women on a daily basis. Most of these tales crept me out. I know they are a clear representation of the modern world and it scares me. We are barely moving forward.
Vagina Dentata by Mindy McGinnis ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It is the greatest of beginnings for the anthology: short, purposeful, affecting in all the right ways.
You Wake With Him Beside You by Cori McCarthy ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It’s a complex poem of justice and reclaiming one’s life back, so exquisitely crafted that you feel as suffocated as the main character is.
The Weight of Iron by Amanda Sun ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I’m not sure I’m fully capable of conveying how meaningful this story can be.
Galen is a normal girl, trying to live her life, but she cannot even do that as men are useless dirt bags. She is harassed, humiliated, raped and to add insult to injury, she is called a witch and condemned to death. She is shackled and left to die in the forest where a mysterious creature is said to kill the penitents.
What She Left Behind by E.R. Griffin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This powerful story kept my eyes glued to the screen. The entangled tale of two similarly tormented lives. A summer night Erin Wilcox disappears, forty years later Mel discovers her diary and her story.
After The Foxes Have Their Say by Tracie Martin ⭐⭐⭐
A story of retaliation, of taking back control from men. Initially, I thought the Warden would learn something, but, alas, he didn’t.
Shadows by Demitria Lunetta ⭐
Confronting it to previous and subsequent stories, I don’t appreciate it as much.
@Theguardians1972 by Jenna Lehne ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just beginning to read this story will surely enrage you. Every time I read any of the guys’ sentences I had to stop reading because of the disgust I felt. By the end of it, you’ll either be torn between right or wrong, or be strangely accepting of some events.
Gravity by Kyrie McCauley ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A tale simultaneously eerie and light. A curse burdens every woman in a family from birth: an untruthful smile fixed on their face and a weightless body until they are sixteen. I particularly liked the ending: I felt the main character’s excitement and pain when she finally regained her control.
The Guardrail Disappears by Melody Simpson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I didn’t know what I was getting into with this story, but it sure was a hell of a ride.
Good Sister. Bad Sister by Azzurra Nox ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sweet, sweet revenge is all I’m saying.
Vigilante Lane by S.E. Green ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Creepy, gruesome and raw. Fantastically dark.
We Have But Lingered Here by Liz Coley ⭐⭐⭐
A ghost story with an engaging twist.
The Whispers by Lindsey Klingele ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It was incredible. One of the reasons I really like anthologies is because of stories like this one. It managed to completely involve me and make me feel what the girls felt, the rage they shared and the will to get back at those disgusting pricks.
Smile by Emilee Martell ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Short and frightening in the best way.
Potluck by Kamerhe Lane ⭐⭐⭐
I particularly liked the choice of narration and how the intrinsic complexity of a regular event was described.
The Change by Kate Karyus Quinn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Powerful and splendid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2019
I would like to start by stating I don’t think I’m the target audience, I’m male and i am pretty old, I would caveat that by saying I don’t think this book should have a “target audience” it should be be read, by everyone, I can see some accusing the book of misandry, i don’t think it is that, it’s not comfortable reason for an old man like me (or any man really) but it is worth reading
September 30, 2019
The title of this book won me over right away and I had to request it! And I'm glad I did!
This was a really nice collection of short little feminist stories! I loved how they all stuck with the theme and really enjoyed the notes afterward where the authors talked about their influences and authors they liked.
I've got a bunch of new authors to follow now!
Also, the cover art is amazing!
This was a really nice collection of short little feminist stories! I loved how they all stuck with the theme and really enjoyed the notes afterward where the authors talked about their influences and authors they liked.
I've got a bunch of new authors to follow now!
Also, the cover art is amazing!
August 30, 2019
"You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever."
(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through NetGalley. Trigger warning for misogyny and violence against women, including rape.)
The second I saw Mindy McGinnis's name on this book, I hit "request" without knowing anything else about it. As it turns out, I got extra lucky, because feminist horror stories? Are my peanut butter, jam, and jelly. Incidentally, Betty Bites Back: Stories to Scare the Patriarchy (that title! gives me goosebumps!) started its life as a Kickstarter campaign - the funding of which made the world just a wee bit richer.
This anthology is every bit as awesome as it sounds. Inspired by, uh, let's just say "events" (current, past, and future), the women who populate these stories have had enough: of the cat-calling, non-consensual sharing of nude pics, and bullying. Of sexual harassment and assault. Of being gaslighted, dismissed, silenced, and ignored. Of being told to smile, or not; to laugh, or not. Of being mistreated because of their gender in a supposedly equal world. And they're fixing for revenge. Let's do some vicarious living, shall we? Bonus points if some of this badassery spills out into the "real" world.
So, listen. Did I love some stories more than others? Sure, but that's an anthology for you. There was really only one story I didn't much care for; the rest are entertaining at worst, downright life changing at best. If you do nothing else, read it for editor Kate Karyus Quinn's "The Change," which needs to be a summer blockbuster like yesterday.
"Vagina Dentata" by Mindy McGinnis - ?/5
A woman walks into a plastic surgeon's office (one of maaaany) and requests dental implants in her vag. It's an exciting concept, but at barely a page long, the story ends before it even begins. This made me extra-sad seeing as McGinnis is one of my favorites, an insta-read, and I would have wanted more even if the story was 1000 pages long.
"You Wake With Him Beside You" by Cori McCarthy - 4/5
An unexpected and cutting poem about escaping one unhealthy relationship only to become trapped in another: "you wonder about the Titanic, was it so bad? / you’re drunk on melancholy, and it’s not even eight AM." I think we've all been there, yeah?
"The Weight of Iron" by Amanda Sun - 3.5/5
Accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death as a sacrifice for "seducing" the innkeeper (read: being sexually assaulted by the innkeeper), Galen finds redemption, understanding, and revenge in the most unlikely of places - her would-be executioner. This story gets a little weird, but the ending is lovely and delicious.
"What She Left Behind" by E.R. Griffin - 4/5
In 1976, a young woman named Erin Wilcox vanishes from her bedroom; the only clue, a faux diamond earring discarded in the dirt below her window. Forty-two years later, her ghost reaches out to the home's newest resident, a girl named Mel who understands Erin's trauma all too well. I think my favorite part of this story is the multitude of baddies - or rather, how Griffin guts the Nice Guy (tm) trope.
"After the Foxes Have Their Say" by Tracie Martin - ?/5 WTF happened
There's a prison in the desert. A Warden who takes a wife who takes off with a caravan of orphans, on account of they're girls and she doesn't like how the men folk are eyeing them. And then there's a daughter. Honestly, I have no idea what this story is about, though the imagery of your heart waltzing around in someone else's rib cage will strike a chord with anyone who's loved and lost.
"Shadows" by Demitria Lunetta - 5/5
When Dr. Janet Sayre's colleague, Dr. Peter Harvey, disappears while studying an isolated South American tribe, she travels into the Amazon rainforest in search of him. Here, she encounters the Ayhua, a community made up exclusively of women:
Though there are many children present - children who are mothered communally - Sayre and her companion, a linguist named Cassie, cannot figure out how the women are becoming pregnant. Nor do they know what becomes of the male babies. As she becomes closer to the women who have so generously welcomed them into their home - chieftess/medicine woman Chira in particular - Sayre must decide to what lengths she'll go in order to protect her adopted family.
This story a) is bonkers; b) has the potential to become a racist, imperialist mess; c) is handled with care; and d) would make an amazing horror film, but only in the hands of screenwriters and directors and producers who would nurture it with an equal amount of care. This is easily one of my favorite stories in the book, and the length makes me feel like Golilocks discovering that perfectly sized bed.
"@Theguardians1792" by Jenna Lehne - 4/5
Kind of like The Chain, but swap out the land lines for twitter and kidnapped children for humiliated/injured/murdered misogynists.
"Gravity" by Kyrie McCauley - 5/5
All of the girls in the narrator's family are cursed:
She has to wear weights to keep her tethered to the earth, and the only time she can connect with her negative emotions is when she's submerged in a large body of water. Her sweet, unassuming demeanor is a curse, but also a defense mechanism, meant to camouflage her from predators (nothing to see here), i.e. men. But her best friend Odette is the only one she cares about.
"Gravity" is a beautiful, surreal F/F romance story that "feels like braids coming undone." I'm counting down the days until the release of McCauley's upcoming debut novel, If These Wings Could Fly.
"The Guardrail Disappears" by Melody Simpson - 3.5/5
This is your standard Law & Order: SVU episode wherein a young woman realizes that she's been kidnapped and raised by a stranger - but in a not-so-distant future, complete with autonomous vehicles.
"Good Sister, Bad Sister" by Azzurra Nox - 3/5
"Good Sister, Bad Sister" is a like your classic YA werewolf story, only the protagonist is a young Muslim woman whose mother is pressuring her to wear a hijab, and instead of using her newfound powers to dominate the basketball court and woo her crush, Dilay gets revenge on the dude who assaulted her older sister Sanem. I really dig the idea, but the writing feels a bit clumsy in places.
"Vigilante Lane" by S. E. Green - 4/5
The protagonist of this story is a close cousin of Alex Craft, she of Mindy McGinnis's The Female of the Species. But with a little more gore.
"We Have But Lingered Here" by Liz Coley - 4/5
In which a nonbinary fight choreographer named Jules drafts the recently summoned spirits of Shakespeare's plays to help her slay a demon - namely, her abusive father. This is a great story on its own, but I REALLY wanted to see the fallout.
"The Whispers" by Lindsey Klingele - 5/5
Inspired by the Suffragettes, the young women of Little Falls have run amok: refusing perfectly good marriage proposals; announcing their intentions to remain single; laughing and cavorting in public; and just generally flouting decency and societal norms. And so the men of the town devise a modest solution: cut out their voice boxes so that they need not be heard. It's no wonder that, before long, the Falls will run red with blood. This is another gem that needs to grace the big screen, shut up and take my money please!
"Smile" by Emilee Martell - 4/5
This story is best summed up by that one Broad City "smile" gif + the movie Teeth. File alongside "Vagina Dentata" as a story that's freaking amazing, but entirely too short for civility.
Also, while we're talking gifs, I went searching in my blogging folder for "betty," to find the cover image for this book. A Betty White gif also popped up and now I cannot think of Betty Bites Back without also thinking of this.
You're welcome.
"Potluck" by Kamerhe Lane - 4.5/5
A story of a wake, told by the foods prepared for it. Or, perhaps more accurately, by the female hands that made the food.
Very weird and experimental but, ultimately, fierce AF.
"The Change" by Kate Karyus Quinn - 5/5 holy shit
This story, y'all. WOW. What a note to end on.
A little bit Children of Men, a little bit Wilder Girls , "The Change" takes place in a near-future dystopia in which the next generation of young women, upon reaching puberty, sprout spikes and scales and quills and wings and fangs. Like the levity in "Gravity," these biological weapons are defense mechanisms that women can use against their most dangerous predators: men. Only Mother Nature's attempt to level the playing field backfires, and women become regulated, restricted, hunted.
Except. When our unnamed narrator gets her period, nothing happens: “I changed, but nothing changed.” As news of her existence spreads and she and Mother are beset by men who want her to bear their children, to make more of her - sweet, docile, unarmed women - they go into hiding. But they cannot outrun Adam’s Soldiers ("To be a member / they removed the same rib given to Eve.") ... but maybe that's not a bad thing? Only by confronting the patriarchy does Eve's daughter discover her true power.
Side note: I would love for Betty White to play Daughter's ill-fated driver in the movie adaptation of this, for reasons.
http://www.easyvegan.info/2019/09/17/...
(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through NetGalley. Trigger warning for misogyny and violence against women, including rape.)
I found out that there was much knowledge that Chira had kept from me. The women of the village knew that a man was necessary for procreation; they just did not see his value for anything else.
("Shadows" by Demitria Lunetta)
Most women didn’t smile. Those that would usually kept walking, a little faster than before. But this one stood directly in front of them, a tremendous grin on her face as though nothing pleased her more. The men felt triumphant.
Except several moments passed and she was still standing there, smiling wider and wider. One of the men coughed. The other smiled back, weakly.
“You need something else, hon?”
She said nothing. Her smile kept growing. Grotesque now, her lips stretched as far as they could go, teeth shining in the morning sun.
("Smile" by Emilee Martell)
It may look like we are scared. Like we are running. But we are not. I am not. Not anymore.
("The Change" by Kate Karyus Quinn)
The second I saw Mindy McGinnis's name on this book, I hit "request" without knowing anything else about it. As it turns out, I got extra lucky, because feminist horror stories? Are my peanut butter, jam, and jelly. Incidentally, Betty Bites Back: Stories to Scare the Patriarchy (that title! gives me goosebumps!) started its life as a Kickstarter campaign - the funding of which made the world just a wee bit richer.
This anthology is every bit as awesome as it sounds. Inspired by, uh, let's just say "events" (current, past, and future), the women who populate these stories have had enough: of the cat-calling, non-consensual sharing of nude pics, and bullying. Of sexual harassment and assault. Of being gaslighted, dismissed, silenced, and ignored. Of being told to smile, or not; to laugh, or not. Of being mistreated because of their gender in a supposedly equal world. And they're fixing for revenge. Let's do some vicarious living, shall we? Bonus points if some of this badassery spills out into the "real" world.
So, listen. Did I love some stories more than others? Sure, but that's an anthology for you. There was really only one story I didn't much care for; the rest are entertaining at worst, downright life changing at best. If you do nothing else, read it for editor Kate Karyus Quinn's "The Change," which needs to be a summer blockbuster like yesterday.
"Vagina Dentata" by Mindy McGinnis - ?/5
A woman walks into a plastic surgeon's office (one of maaaany) and requests dental implants in her vag. It's an exciting concept, but at barely a page long, the story ends before it even begins. This made me extra-sad seeing as McGinnis is one of my favorites, an insta-read, and I would have wanted more even if the story was 1000 pages long.
"You Wake With Him Beside You" by Cori McCarthy - 4/5
An unexpected and cutting poem about escaping one unhealthy relationship only to become trapped in another: "you wonder about the Titanic, was it so bad? / you’re drunk on melancholy, and it’s not even eight AM." I think we've all been there, yeah?
"The Weight of Iron" by Amanda Sun - 3.5/5
Accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death as a sacrifice for "seducing" the innkeeper (read: being sexually assaulted by the innkeeper), Galen finds redemption, understanding, and revenge in the most unlikely of places - her would-be executioner. This story gets a little weird, but the ending is lovely and delicious.
"What She Left Behind" by E.R. Griffin - 4/5
In 1976, a young woman named Erin Wilcox vanishes from her bedroom; the only clue, a faux diamond earring discarded in the dirt below her window. Forty-two years later, her ghost reaches out to the home's newest resident, a girl named Mel who understands Erin's trauma all too well. I think my favorite part of this story is the multitude of baddies - or rather, how Griffin guts the Nice Guy (tm) trope.
"After the Foxes Have Their Say" by Tracie Martin - ?/5 WTF happened
There's a prison in the desert. A Warden who takes a wife who takes off with a caravan of orphans, on account of they're girls and she doesn't like how the men folk are eyeing them. And then there's a daughter. Honestly, I have no idea what this story is about, though the imagery of your heart waltzing around in someone else's rib cage will strike a chord with anyone who's loved and lost.
"Shadows" by Demitria Lunetta - 5/5
When Dr. Janet Sayre's colleague, Dr. Peter Harvey, disappears while studying an isolated South American tribe, she travels into the Amazon rainforest in search of him. Here, she encounters the Ayhua, a community made up exclusively of women:
The women of this small village have developed a society completely devoid of male influence. Women provide everything for themselves and take the responsibilities that other native tribes have delegated to men, including hunting, protection, and all leadership roles. They have remained undiscovered and untouched from modern ideas and ideals. They live their entire lives within a twenty-mile radius of their birthplace, and they seem to exhibit no curiosity about the outside world. They are exceptional among all other cultures and present us with a unique opportunity to study what has in the past only been a hypothetical: What path would a society take if it were women, and not men, who ruled the world?
Though there are many children present - children who are mothered communally - Sayre and her companion, a linguist named Cassie, cannot figure out how the women are becoming pregnant. Nor do they know what becomes of the male babies. As she becomes closer to the women who have so generously welcomed them into their home - chieftess/medicine woman Chira in particular - Sayre must decide to what lengths she'll go in order to protect her adopted family.
This story a) is bonkers; b) has the potential to become a racist, imperialist mess; c) is handled with care; and d) would make an amazing horror film, but only in the hands of screenwriters and directors and producers who would nurture it with an equal amount of care. This is easily one of my favorite stories in the book, and the length makes me feel like Golilocks discovering that perfectly sized bed.
"@Theguardians1792" by Jenna Lehne - 4/5
Kind of like The Chain, but swap out the land lines for twitter and kidnapped children for humiliated/injured/murdered misogynists.
"Gravity" by Kyrie McCauley - 5/5
All of the girls in the narrator's family are cursed:
We bear the curse of levity. Laughter. Humor and mirth. But we cannot stop it, so even when things go wrong, a feeling of joy surges over us, like a wave obliterating a sand castle. One crest of foaming water, and our pain is erased from the world forever. That is how our sadness feels. Temporary. Gone before it ever reaches the surface. Also, we float.
She has to wear weights to keep her tethered to the earth, and the only time she can connect with her negative emotions is when she's submerged in a large body of water. Her sweet, unassuming demeanor is a curse, but also a defense mechanism, meant to camouflage her from predators (nothing to see here), i.e. men. But her best friend Odette is the only one she cares about.
"Gravity" is a beautiful, surreal F/F romance story that "feels like braids coming undone." I'm counting down the days until the release of McCauley's upcoming debut novel, If These Wings Could Fly.
"The Guardrail Disappears" by Melody Simpson - 3.5/5
This is your standard Law & Order: SVU episode wherein a young woman realizes that she's been kidnapped and raised by a stranger - but in a not-so-distant future, complete with autonomous vehicles.
"Good Sister, Bad Sister" by Azzurra Nox - 3/5
"Good Sister, Bad Sister" is a like your classic YA werewolf story, only the protagonist is a young Muslim woman whose mother is pressuring her to wear a hijab, and instead of using her newfound powers to dominate the basketball court and woo her crush, Dilay gets revenge on the dude who assaulted her older sister Sanem. I really dig the idea, but the writing feels a bit clumsy in places.
"Vigilante Lane" by S. E. Green - 4/5
The protagonist of this story is a close cousin of Alex Craft, she of Mindy McGinnis's The Female of the Species. But with a little more gore.
"We Have But Lingered Here" by Liz Coley - 4/5
In which a nonbinary fight choreographer named Jules drafts the recently summoned spirits of Shakespeare's plays to help her slay a demon - namely, her abusive father. This is a great story on its own, but I REALLY wanted to see the fallout.
"The Whispers" by Lindsey Klingele - 5/5
Inspired by the Suffragettes, the young women of Little Falls have run amok: refusing perfectly good marriage proposals; announcing their intentions to remain single; laughing and cavorting in public; and just generally flouting decency and societal norms. And so the men of the town devise a modest solution: cut out their voice boxes so that they need not be heard. It's no wonder that, before long, the Falls will run red with blood. This is another gem that needs to grace the big screen, shut up and take my money please!
"Smile" by Emilee Martell - 4/5
This story is best summed up by that one Broad City "smile" gif + the movie Teeth. File alongside "Vagina Dentata" as a story that's freaking amazing, but entirely too short for civility.
Also, while we're talking gifs, I went searching in my blogging folder for "betty," to find the cover image for this book. A Betty White gif also popped up and now I cannot think of Betty Bites Back without also thinking of this.
You're welcome.
"Potluck" by Kamerhe Lane - 4.5/5
A story of a wake, told by the foods prepared for it. Or, perhaps more accurately, by the female hands that made the food.
"To Mary," someone says. Or maybe they all say. Hard to tell. "She’s free."
Very weird and experimental but, ultimately, fierce AF.
"The Change" by Kate Karyus Quinn - 5/5 holy shit
This story, y'all. WOW. What a note to end on.
A little bit Children of Men, a little bit Wilder Girls , "The Change" takes place in a near-future dystopia in which the next generation of young women, upon reaching puberty, sprout spikes and scales and quills and wings and fangs. Like the levity in "Gravity," these biological weapons are defense mechanisms that women can use against their most dangerous predators: men. Only Mother Nature's attempt to level the playing field backfires, and women become regulated, restricted, hunted.
Except. When our unnamed narrator gets her period, nothing happens: “I changed, but nothing changed.” As news of her existence spreads and she and Mother are beset by men who want her to bear their children, to make more of her - sweet, docile, unarmed women - they go into hiding. But they cannot outrun Adam’s Soldiers ("To be a member / they removed the same rib given to Eve.") ... but maybe that's not a bad thing? Only by confronting the patriarchy does Eve's daughter discover her true power.
Side note: I would love for Betty White to play Daughter's ill-fated driver in the movie adaptation of this, for reasons.
http://www.easyvegan.info/2019/09/17/...
October 30, 2025
This collection really was excellent. The writing was on-point and intelligent while the stories were contemporary and engaging. Scary? A bit. Wise? You bet. Highly recommended.
August 20, 2019
**Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for a free e-copy of Betty Bites Back: Stories to Scare the Patriarchy in exchange for an honest review.**
I really enjoyed this anthology. It's laid out really nicely; there are long stories, short ones, and even poetry. Some are eerie and some are gruesome. But in all of them, misogyny is encountered and dealt with. As a woman, there were definitely moments in most of the stories I could relate to. If you're looking for a fun yet thought-provoking anthology, give this one a try!
I really enjoyed this anthology. It's laid out really nicely; there are long stories, short ones, and even poetry. Some are eerie and some are gruesome. But in all of them, misogyny is encountered and dealt with. As a woman, there were definitely moments in most of the stories I could relate to. If you're looking for a fun yet thought-provoking anthology, give this one a try!
April 3, 2021
This collection is SO FUCKING SATISFYING and is one of the best collections of short stories I’ve read in a while. Fury + vengeance + feminist writers. Be still my bloody, rage-filled heart.
Some of my faves:
* Smile (Emilee Martell) - the next time some asshole on the street tells you to smile, think of this story and try *not* to smile - a real big one, with all of your teeth.
* The Whispers (Lindsey Klingele) - “vengeful suffragettes with scalpels”
* @theguardians1792 (Jenna Lehne) - a teenage girl uses Twitter to enlist the help of the #FeministArmy to get back at shitty dudes
* Vagina Dentata (Mindy McGinnis) - BRILLIANT (I think you can guess what it’s about, and holy cats it’s delightful)
* What She Left Behind (E.R. Griffin) - a girl dealing with trauma encounters a ghost seeking revenge
* Shadows (Demitria Lunetta) - an anthropologist’s exploration of an all-female society (spoiler: they aren’t just braiding each other’s hair)
* Vigilante Lane (S.E. Green) - what should happen to each and every pedophile
* We Have But Lingered Here (Liz Coley) - theater fight coordinator/ superstitions/ghosts?
* The Change (Kate Karyus Quinn) - “Don’t be afraid... The change is happening. The change is here.”
This is available on Kindle Unlimited and was so good. There’s a second (YA!) anthology by the same editors called Among the Shadows: Thirteen Stories of Darkness & Light that I’m putting in the queue.
Some of my faves:
* Smile (Emilee Martell) - the next time some asshole on the street tells you to smile, think of this story and try *not* to smile - a real big one, with all of your teeth.
* The Whispers (Lindsey Klingele) - “vengeful suffragettes with scalpels”
* @theguardians1792 (Jenna Lehne) - a teenage girl uses Twitter to enlist the help of the #FeministArmy to get back at shitty dudes
* Vagina Dentata (Mindy McGinnis) - BRILLIANT (I think you can guess what it’s about, and holy cats it’s delightful)
* What She Left Behind (E.R. Griffin) - a girl dealing with trauma encounters a ghost seeking revenge
* Shadows (Demitria Lunetta) - an anthropologist’s exploration of an all-female society (spoiler: they aren’t just braiding each other’s hair)
* Vigilante Lane (S.E. Green) - what should happen to each and every pedophile
* We Have But Lingered Here (Liz Coley) - theater fight coordinator/ superstitions/ghosts?
* The Change (Kate Karyus Quinn) - “Don’t be afraid... The change is happening. The change is here.”
This is available on Kindle Unlimited and was so good. There’s a second (YA!) anthology by the same editors called Among the Shadows: Thirteen Stories of Darkness & Light that I’m putting in the queue.
September 17, 2019
Ever since I read The Female of the Species, if you put anything with the words "Mindy McGinnis" and "feminism" in front of me, you can be damn sure I'll want to read it. Because I loved that book and the way it portrays rape culture. So stories to scare the patriarchy, with Mindy's approval? HECK YES.
First, I would like to congratulate the people who worked on the cover because I'm in love with this vintage horror comics look. Kudos, you hit it out of the park.
As to the stories, I'm astounded I loved almost all of them. And not just in a "this is nice" way, I mean in a "HOLY CRAP THIS IS AWESOME" way. I'm sold. So much that I genuinely think several of them are absolutely perfect and I can't pick only one favourite. If I had to describe the book, I think I'd say feminist Tales From The Crypt.
Get ready for urban legends, vaginas with teeth, vengeful ghosts, witches and creatures, macabre humour, blood, brutal justice, thrilling terror, but mostly sisterhood, community and women watching out for other women. Betty bites back, but she comes with a pack and preadatory men should be on their guard lest they become the prey. Oh my, what a ride it was!
Would I buy a copy? Hell yes. And I'd recommend it to any girl who liked their feminism a little bloody. Read it, now, for Halloween, hell, I can even think of a few people in my life to gift a copy to for Christmas. But give it a chance, you won't regret it.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and Xpresso book tours for this free copy!
First, I would like to congratulate the people who worked on the cover because I'm in love with this vintage horror comics look. Kudos, you hit it out of the park.
As to the stories, I'm astounded I loved almost all of them. And not just in a "this is nice" way, I mean in a "HOLY CRAP THIS IS AWESOME" way. I'm sold. So much that I genuinely think several of them are absolutely perfect and I can't pick only one favourite. If I had to describe the book, I think I'd say feminist Tales From The Crypt.
Get ready for urban legends, vaginas with teeth, vengeful ghosts, witches and creatures, macabre humour, blood, brutal justice, thrilling terror, but mostly sisterhood, community and women watching out for other women. Betty bites back, but she comes with a pack and preadatory men should be on their guard lest they become the prey. Oh my, what a ride it was!
Would I buy a copy? Hell yes. And I'd recommend it to any girl who liked their feminism a little bloody. Read it, now, for Halloween, hell, I can even think of a few people in my life to gift a copy to for Christmas. But give it a chance, you won't regret it.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and Xpresso book tours for this free copy!
September 10, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this anthology in exchange for a honest review! I found this to be a well put together collection of stories where (at their very core) they’re about the power women can have and that’s definitely not something that should be underestimated.
August 27, 2019
The overall collection is definitely worth looking into. There wasn't a single story I disliked.
⦁ Vagina Dentata, By Mindy Mcginnis: 5 Stars, a perfect bite size piece to start off this collection.
⦁ You Wake With Him Beside You, By Cori McCarthy: 3 Stars
⦁ The Weight Of Iron, By Amanda Sun: 4 Stars, I really loved the mixture of space and sea
imagery.
⦁ What She Left Behind, By E.R. Griffin: 5 Stars
⦁ After The Foxes Have Their Say, By Tracie Martin: 4 Stars
⦁ Shadows, By Demitria Lunetta: 5 Stars. This story was unpredictable and felt raw. I was
completely immersed in it.
⦁ @Theguardians1792, By Jenna Lehne: 3 Stars
⦁ Gravity, By Kylie McCauley: 5 Stars. A really sweet and sincere piece filled with whimsy. Perfect
to break up some of these harder hitting stories.
⦁ The Guardrail Disappears, By Melody Simpson: 4 Stars
⦁ Good Sister, Bad Sister, By Azzura Nox: 4 Stars
⦁ Vigilante Lane, By S.E. Green: 4 Stars
⦁ We Have But Lingered Here, By Liz Coley: 3 Stars
⦁ The Whispers, By Lindsey Klingele: 4 Stars
⦁ Smile, By Emilee Martell: 4 Stars
⦁ Potluck, By Kamerhe Lane: 5 Stars. This story felt very real. These women were people I could
very easily meet in my day to day life.
⦁ The Change, By Kate Karyus Quinn: 5 Stars. I loved the descriptions and creativity in this one.
⦁ Vagina Dentata, By Mindy Mcginnis: 5 Stars, a perfect bite size piece to start off this collection.
⦁ You Wake With Him Beside You, By Cori McCarthy: 3 Stars
⦁ The Weight Of Iron, By Amanda Sun: 4 Stars, I really loved the mixture of space and sea
imagery.
⦁ What She Left Behind, By E.R. Griffin: 5 Stars
⦁ After The Foxes Have Their Say, By Tracie Martin: 4 Stars
⦁ Shadows, By Demitria Lunetta: 5 Stars. This story was unpredictable and felt raw. I was
completely immersed in it.
⦁ @Theguardians1792, By Jenna Lehne: 3 Stars
⦁ Gravity, By Kylie McCauley: 5 Stars. A really sweet and sincere piece filled with whimsy. Perfect
to break up some of these harder hitting stories.
⦁ The Guardrail Disappears, By Melody Simpson: 4 Stars
⦁ Good Sister, Bad Sister, By Azzura Nox: 4 Stars
⦁ Vigilante Lane, By S.E. Green: 4 Stars
⦁ We Have But Lingered Here, By Liz Coley: 3 Stars
⦁ The Whispers, By Lindsey Klingele: 4 Stars
⦁ Smile, By Emilee Martell: 4 Stars
⦁ Potluck, By Kamerhe Lane: 5 Stars. This story felt very real. These women were people I could
very easily meet in my day to day life.
⦁ The Change, By Kate Karyus Quinn: 5 Stars. I loved the descriptions and creativity in this one.
Want to read
August 13, 2019I'm so excited for this!
September 9, 2019
This was a really well done compilation of feminist short stories and poems. I especially liked that after every story or poem, there was an exert from the author, explaining not only their inspiration and choices for the story/poem but also their feminist reading recommendations, so definitely read this with a notebook and pen so you can write them down!
The stories were a mixture of contemporary, fantasy, historical and sci-fi which was really interesting as each story was different and added a new layer to the book. I really enjoyed the majority of the stories which is really rare for me when its a collection of short stories, and I would love to see full novels from some of these stories because they left me wanting more.
- Vagina Dentata 4/5
- You Wake With Him Beside You 5/5
- The Weight of Iron 5/5
- What She Left Behind 5/5
- After The Foxes Have Their Say 3/5
- Shadows 3/5
- @Theguardian1792 4/5
- Gravity 3/5
- The Guardrail Disappears 2/5
- Good Sister, Bad Sister 3/5
- Vigilante Lane 4/5
- We Have But Lingered Here 3/5
- The Whispers 4/5
- Smile 4/5
- Potluck 3/5
- The Change 2/5
I will have detailed synopsis's with spoilers for each story/poem on my blog post, so as not to spoil it here.
I really do recommend this book, especially if you're in the angry feminist killjoy mood.
Trigger warnings for; sexual abuse, sexual assault, self harm, rape, emotional abuse, sexual harassment, gore, blood, and mutilation.
The stories were a mixture of contemporary, fantasy, historical and sci-fi which was really interesting as each story was different and added a new layer to the book. I really enjoyed the majority of the stories which is really rare for me when its a collection of short stories, and I would love to see full novels from some of these stories because they left me wanting more.
- Vagina Dentata 4/5
- You Wake With Him Beside You 5/5
- The Weight of Iron 5/5
- What She Left Behind 5/5
- After The Foxes Have Their Say 3/5
- Shadows 3/5
- @Theguardian1792 4/5
- Gravity 3/5
- The Guardrail Disappears 2/5
- Good Sister, Bad Sister 3/5
- Vigilante Lane 4/5
- We Have But Lingered Here 3/5
- The Whispers 4/5
- Smile 4/5
- Potluck 3/5
- The Change 2/5
I will have detailed synopsis's with spoilers for each story/poem on my blog post, so as not to spoil it here.
I really do recommend this book, especially if you're in the angry feminist killjoy mood.
Trigger warnings for; sexual abuse, sexual assault, self harm, rape, emotional abuse, sexual harassment, gore, blood, and mutilation.
August 22, 2019
I wish men knew what it meant for a compliment to feel like a threat.
This may end up high up on my favorite releases of 2019.
Betty Bites Back is an anthology of feminist horror, and anyone that knows me knows that I’m a fan of all things horror, so when I saw ‘feminist’ and ‘horror’ in the same sentence, I clicked that request button faster than you would believe.
In these sixteen short stories there is quite literally something for everyone. Really short stories, longer stories, poetry, gore, ghosts, an all female tribe, etc. Some are stronger than others, as with all anthologies, but they all serve their purpose. The only thing that bothered me about this anthology was the lack of intersectionality. I can only remember one main character of color and one non-cis character.
I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to give anything away about any of these stories. I think everyone should experience this for themselves. I want everyone to go into this knowing very little. It’s more special that way, in my opinion.
My favorites include:
What She Left Behind by E.R. Griffin
Shadows by Demitria Lunetta
Gravity by Kyrie McCauley
Good Sister, Bad Sister by Azzurra Nox
The Whispers by Lindsey Klingele
The Change by Kate Karyus Quinn
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This may end up high up on my favorite releases of 2019.
Betty Bites Back is an anthology of feminist horror, and anyone that knows me knows that I’m a fan of all things horror, so when I saw ‘feminist’ and ‘horror’ in the same sentence, I clicked that request button faster than you would believe.
In these sixteen short stories there is quite literally something for everyone. Really short stories, longer stories, poetry, gore, ghosts, an all female tribe, etc. Some are stronger than others, as with all anthologies, but they all serve their purpose. The only thing that bothered me about this anthology was the lack of intersectionality. I can only remember one main character of color and one non-cis character.
I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to give anything away about any of these stories. I think everyone should experience this for themselves. I want everyone to go into this knowing very little. It’s more special that way, in my opinion.
My favorites include:
What She Left Behind by E.R. Griffin
Shadows by Demitria Lunetta
Gravity by Kyrie McCauley
Good Sister, Bad Sister by Azzurra Nox
The Whispers by Lindsey Klingele
The Change by Kate Karyus Quinn
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2023
A fun little feminist short story collection!
Vagina Dentata- 4⭐️
You Wake With Him Beside You- 3⭐️
The Weight of Iron- 2⭐️
What She Left Behind- 4⭐️
After the Foxes Have Their Say- 3⭐️
Shadows- 4⭐️
@theguardians1792- 3⭐️
Gravity- 3⭐️
The Guardrail Disappears- 3⭐️
Good Sister, Bad Sister- 4 ⭐️
Vigilante Lane- 3 ⭐️
We Have But Lingered Here- 2⭐️
The Whispers- 5 ⭐️
Smile- 4⭐️
Potluck- 3⭐️
The Change- 4 ⭐️
Vagina Dentata- 4⭐️
You Wake With Him Beside You- 3⭐️
The Weight of Iron- 2⭐️
What She Left Behind- 4⭐️
After the Foxes Have Their Say- 3⭐️
Shadows- 4⭐️
@theguardians1792- 3⭐️
Gravity- 3⭐️
The Guardrail Disappears- 3⭐️
Good Sister, Bad Sister- 4 ⭐️
Vigilante Lane- 3 ⭐️
We Have But Lingered Here- 2⭐️
The Whispers- 5 ⭐️
Smile- 4⭐️
Potluck- 3⭐️
The Change- 4 ⭐️
September 2, 2021
5⭐: Gravity; Good Sister, Bad Sister; You Wake with Him Beside You; The Whispers; Smile; Potluck; The Change
4⭐: Vagina Dentata
3⭐: The Weight of Iron
2⭐: The Guardrail; @theguardians1792; After the Foxes Have Their Way
1⭐: Vigilante Lane; We Have but Lingered Here
DNF/skimmed: What She Left Behind; Shadows
4⭐: Vagina Dentata
3⭐: The Weight of Iron
2⭐: The Guardrail; @theguardians1792; After the Foxes Have Their Way
1⭐: Vigilante Lane; We Have but Lingered Here
DNF/skimmed: What She Left Behind; Shadows
September 10, 2019
I received an arc of this from netgalley for an honest review.
The beginning of it was interesting enough, but then around 60% through the book I noticed that I didn't enjoy the stories as often. To the point that there was a number of them that I skipped. It's an interesting premise to write an anthology about, and some of the stories were executed well. However I don't think all of them necessarily lived up to it. In my opinion, only about half of them interested me.
The beginning of it was interesting enough, but then around 60% through the book I noticed that I didn't enjoy the stories as often. To the point that there was a number of them that I skipped. It's an interesting premise to write an anthology about, and some of the stories were executed well. However I don't think all of them necessarily lived up to it. In my opinion, only about half of them interested me.
August 17, 2019
This was a great read. First and foremost it was a really well compiled anthology with a good mix of length, tone, narrator voice, and poetry v. prose. The stories were both enjoyable and relevant, looking at modern issues from various lenses. The only thing I would have liked to see is a little more obvious diversity. While the shortness of the pieces means that there were definitely constraints on how much various characters could be shown to be non-white, non-cis, etc. it would have been nice to see that intersectional representation. Off the top.of my head I can only think of one poc main, one non-cis, and one queer main character
October 8, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Betty Bites Back: Stories to Scare the Patriarchy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings: Rape
Like the next person, I love me a good ol’ feminist book. Especially one that rests in the horror genre. Betty Bites Back: Stories to Scare the Patriarchy tells tales of werewolves, ghosts & everything in between; all with a feminist twist. We get insight on different issues women have to deal with: being told to smile more, random creepy messages from men online, the fear of being raped — you get the jist.
I really enjoyed the direction Betty Bites Back took, however, a lot of the stories fell flat for me. In fact, a few of them I barely remember & if it wasn’t for taking notes, I’d be 100% screwed right now. The one story that really sticks out & is probably the shortest in the collection is called Smile by Emilee Martell. For being so short, it still lands with major impact & is easy to visually imagine.
Following each story, the author addresses their inspiration for that particular story, along with their own favorite feminist reads. This is probably my favorite portion of the collection, because I love being able to see inside the minds of authors.
I really wanted to enjoy this more — it wasn’t a horrible read, but it definitely wasn’t something that’s going to stick with me.
Content Warnings: Rape
Like the next person, I love me a good ol’ feminist book. Especially one that rests in the horror genre. Betty Bites Back: Stories to Scare the Patriarchy tells tales of werewolves, ghosts & everything in between; all with a feminist twist. We get insight on different issues women have to deal with: being told to smile more, random creepy messages from men online, the fear of being raped — you get the jist.
I really enjoyed the direction Betty Bites Back took, however, a lot of the stories fell flat for me. In fact, a few of them I barely remember & if it wasn’t for taking notes, I’d be 100% screwed right now. The one story that really sticks out & is probably the shortest in the collection is called Smile by Emilee Martell. For being so short, it still lands with major impact & is easy to visually imagine.
Following each story, the author addresses their inspiration for that particular story, along with their own favorite feminist reads. This is probably my favorite portion of the collection, because I love being able to see inside the minds of authors.
I really wanted to enjoy this more — it wasn’t a horrible read, but it definitely wasn’t something that’s going to stick with me.
August 18, 2019
A really fantastic collection of short stories! I loved the idea that brought these stories together, and yeah, it just infuriates me! Such great stories!
September 4, 2019
If I could give this book more than five stars , I absolutely would. Short story collections are usually a bit hit and miss for me, I might find one or two stories I loved, a couple that are ok and usually at least one I hate, but this collection did not have a single weak link. This is collection of feminist horror stories ,featuring women who are ready to stand up for themselves and fight back, Within the collection you will find fairy tale retellings, , science fiction , a take on the pulpy jungle exploration tale, gore, ghosts and so much more, so there is definitely something for everyone, It is the perfect book to dip into whenever you have a few minutes to spare, with stories of varying lengths and some pieces of poetry , you should definitely find something to suit, It is also a very timely collection and one that I would recommend to all women and older teens. Particular standouts for me were You Wake With Him Beside You, by Cori McCarthy, one of the poetry pieces, Shadows by Demetria Lunetta , The Whispers by Lindsey Klingele and The Change by Kate Karyus Quinn, but as I said , I liked every piece included in the collection
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
October 7, 2019
FEMINIST FICTION TO FRIGHTEN THE PATRIARCHY!
Behind every successful man is a strong woman... but in these stories, she might be about to plant a knife in his spine. The characters in this anthology are fed up - tired of being held back, held down, held accountable - by the misogyny of the system. They're ready to resist by biting back in their own individual ways, be it through magic, murder, technology, teeth, pitfalls and even... potlucks. Join sixteen writers as they explore feminism in fantasy, science-fiction, fractured fairy-tales, historical settings, and the all-too-familiar chauvinist contemporary world.
Fabulous set of short stories this was.
Each plot and story line is very well written and kept me engaged throughout.
The characters are very well written and fleshed out.
Top notch horror with some blood and gore!
Really enjoyed reading each one!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Behind every successful man is a strong woman... but in these stories, she might be about to plant a knife in his spine. The characters in this anthology are fed up - tired of being held back, held down, held accountable - by the misogyny of the system. They're ready to resist by biting back in their own individual ways, be it through magic, murder, technology, teeth, pitfalls and even... potlucks. Join sixteen writers as they explore feminism in fantasy, science-fiction, fractured fairy-tales, historical settings, and the all-too-familiar chauvinist contemporary world.
Fabulous set of short stories this was.
Each plot and story line is very well written and kept me engaged throughout.
The characters are very well written and fleshed out.
Top notch horror with some blood and gore!
Really enjoyed reading each one!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 27, 2019
BETTY BITES BACK is one of the books I've felt most proud of reading on the train. It's a fantastic collection of stories with a feminist bite. All of the women in this anthology have been beaten down, humiliated, assaulted, and just demoralized by men, both familiar and strange. Though many of these stories are extraordinary and deal with supernatural elements, there are a lot of very familiar scenarios that women of all ages have suffered through. The stories are terrifying in their familiarity but they're also cathartic. Like with any anthology, some installments are stronger than others, but all of the ones here are definitely worth reading.
Thanks to one of the contributing authors (and one of my friends), Tracie Martin, for gifting me my copy.
Thanks to one of the contributing authors (and one of my friends), Tracie Martin, for gifting me my copy.
March 19, 2020
I have only read a few short story collections and I have never been a huge fan of those collections but that changed when I read this anthology.
This collection contains a lot of tough topics such as murder, rape, and so much more.
Although this did cover a lot of harsh topics I truly enjoyed this story and saw women fight back for their lives, for respect and for what they deserve.
Each of these authors have amazing and beautiful writing and I really want to check out more from all of these authors. Some ⁷of these stories were very short and others were super long, very detailed and horrific but I really liked how varied in length all the stories were.
In Betty Bites Back the women in these stories are just as bad villains as men can be in other stories which I really loved. Some win others lose in this collection which is very realistic but these women do not go out with a fight.
Throughout these stories there is a lot of diversity which I really appreciated and can not recommend this collection enough! FIVE STARS ALL ROUND.
This collection contains a lot of tough topics such as murder, rape, and so much more.
Although this did cover a lot of harsh topics I truly enjoyed this story and saw women fight back for their lives, for respect and for what they deserve.
Each of these authors have amazing and beautiful writing and I really want to check out more from all of these authors. Some ⁷of these stories were very short and others were super long, very detailed and horrific but I really liked how varied in length all the stories were.
In Betty Bites Back the women in these stories are just as bad villains as men can be in other stories which I really loved. Some win others lose in this collection which is very realistic but these women do not go out with a fight.
Throughout these stories there is a lot of diversity which I really appreciated and can not recommend this collection enough! FIVE STARS ALL ROUND.
September 19, 2019
I wasn't sure about this anthology at first. The only reason I requested it was for Mindy McGinnis and her story was one of the shortest which was a little disappointing. But I ended up really enjoying it. The stories were fun and often over far too soon for my liking. I really enjoyed the variety of stories. Some were horror, some paranormal, some just plain spooky. I liked the few that were written in verse. Each story sent it's own message, though some of them I thought were a little unclear with their feminist message. Overall, I really enjoyed this anthology. The writing was good, the stories kept me interesting and the overall message was excellent.
October 13, 2019
This is a book of stories, some good and some horrible, all with some radical ideas of women. The second story was unreadable. Beyond this, most stories contained vaginas with teeth and other atrocities. I loved the 3rd story. Most others were from okay to OMG, I cannot believe how bad and hateful this is. I love anthologies and I am a woman and support women, but I do not support such hatred and the self-centered push of today's women and many of these stories. To be equal, you cannot become an overlord.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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