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How To Make A Monster: The Loveliest Shade of Red
One drink and one drug too many while on the job results in an unfortunate accident for a young woman with a once-promising future. She finds herself having to confront the demons of her past head-on, perhaps more literally than she would have hoped.
Bullied at school, beaten at home, a young man finds himself in a position where something’s got to give. Unfortunately, perhaps not for him, what may give is his sanity.
The last thing Freedom expects after telling his two best friends that he plans to propose to his girlfriend is to hear the word 'no'. Not from her, but from them. The problem? The men he hopes to make his groomsmen are about to tell him exactly what his wife-to-be would like best on their wedding night.
How To Make a Monster is an anthology of psychological torment that explores the thin line between humanity and monstrosity which exists inside us all. Containing eight stories, How To Make a Monster details how one wrong turn, one ill-timed hello, a goodbye that was planned too late… how any step we take can lead us down the path to monstrosity. With that in mind, please don’t judge the souls you will encounter between these pages too harshly. We never really know which side of the line between humanity and monstrosity we are truly on.
Bullied at school, beaten at home, a young man finds himself in a position where something’s got to give. Unfortunately, perhaps not for him, what may give is his sanity.
The last thing Freedom expects after telling his two best friends that he plans to propose to his girlfriend is to hear the word 'no'. Not from her, but from them. The problem? The men he hopes to make his groomsmen are about to tell him exactly what his wife-to-be would like best on their wedding night.
How To Make a Monster is an anthology of psychological torment that explores the thin line between humanity and monstrosity which exists inside us all. Containing eight stories, How To Make a Monster details how one wrong turn, one ill-timed hello, a goodbye that was planned too late… how any step we take can lead us down the path to monstrosity. With that in mind, please don’t judge the souls you will encounter between these pages too harshly. We never really know which side of the line between humanity and monstrosity we are truly on.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
397 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2019
10 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Felix I.D. Dimaro
18 books109 followersBorn in Nigeria, raised in Toronto, Felix I.D. Dimaro is an author of allegorical, dark, psychological fiction often centering around morality, mental health, societal conditions, the environment, or the real-life issues he has experienced. He has released eleven books to date, including the eco-thriller, “Black Bloom: A Story of Survival,” the extreme horror novel, “Humane Sacrifice: The Story of the Aztec Killer," and the tale of cat cloning gone wrong, "In the Darkness, Eyes and Teeth.”
When not writing, Dimaro is usually reading, watching professional wrestling, or running even though no one is chasing him.
To find out more about Dimaro and his books, head over to https://www.thingsthatkeepmeupatnight...
When not writing, Dimaro is usually reading, watching professional wrestling, or running even though no one is chasing him.
To find out more about Dimaro and his books, head over to https://www.thingsthatkeepmeupatnight...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 4, 2020
5 blood red stars!
How To Make A Monster is an anthology of psychological torment that explores the thin line between humanity and monstrosity which exists inside us all. It deals with the reasons that make humans cross the line and turn into monsters of different degrees of loathsomeness. One wrong turn, one stray look, one wrong word dropped at the wrong time, anything can act as a catalyst for a spiral straight down onto the path of monstrosity.
As with any other anthology I read and review, I'll take the stories in here one by one and rate them individually as I go.
Story no. 1 - The Loveliest Shade of Red
Monsters are very real. But they're not just creatures. Monsters are everywhere. They're people. They're nightmares... They are the things that we harbor within ourselves.
- C. Robert Cargill
And this story is a masterfully written example.
Raveena Reed, stage name Raven Red was a drop-dead gorgeous stripper. She was the fulfiller of fantasies. A walking dream. She could be all that men wanted her to be. For the right price. And to her, it was just as simple as that.
Booze, men, drugs and debauchery were her daily routine. She snorted, she smoked, she sucked back anything she could get her hands on and the casual observer would think it all went down with the job. Because being this kind of a disgusting monster comes with the territory when you're in Raveena's line of work.
But Raveena hadn't always been the monster she eventually became. And the booze and drugs... they were the only thing that kept the dark thoughts away.
Until one day when Raveena goes too far and is forced to face them head on.
For her heartbreaking story and the gripping way her pain jumps off the page, this tale gets a full 5 star rating from me. In the loveliest shade of red.
How to Make a Monster - Way no.1 - through nightmares and the dark things we harbor within ourselves. - poignantly rendered by this author here, in a way that will make your hair stand on end through vividly described scenes worthy of the creepiest horror movie.... The awesome kind, when you just KNOW shit's about to happen and you SEE the creepy coming and yet you cannot help that 'OMG'-reaction when it really does! Because of an awesome cinematic style that this author nails.
Story no. 2 - Spray Paint will provoke a completely different reaction. And yet, just as strong as the first. Or perhaps even stronger.
'We often forget our own sins when we have the chance to judge the sins of another.'
This is what lies at the core of this story. One about jealousy, racism and hate.
Everett Obada was one of a handful of blacks in the small town of Courtville. Despite being a lot more light skinned than the others, he would never be light enough for the town, no matter how much his mother insisted racism was a diminished thing. And one cannot help but get angry at the injustice and bullying he has had to face at the hands of those who call him 'nigger' or disguise their racism with mirth.
And yet, Everett is lucky. Because he gets to call one of the most beautiful white girls of the town his own. His girlfriend had ditched one of the richest and coolest white guys for him. And that was something neither the town nor the ex boyfriend would forgive.
Payback is given in the form of a fully trashed apartment, complete with a whole range of obscenities spray painted all over the walls. And Everett is bound to remember every single detail that had led to this.
Anger and hate are difficult to suppress, and one's own guilt is so easily disregarded when faced with that of another! A wrong step taken in anger and a single can of spray paint left behind in spite - these two little things turn more than one life upside down and shed a gory light on the real monster of this tale.
5 spray painted stars for a story that got under my skin. One that will remain with me for a long time after.
Story no. 3 - Casper
You can find my full review for it here
Story no. 4 - Choke me Hard is one that will make you reflect about all the different types of love out there.
Hard. Harsh. Violent. Sometimes this is love. Between two broken people, in their own fucked up broken way.
Love for a partner, love for a friend and ultimately, love for one self.
The last thing Freedom expects after telling his two best friends that he plans to propose to his girlfriend is to hear the word “no”. Not from her, but from them. The problem? The men he hopes to make his groomsmen are about to tell him exactly what his wife-to-be would like best on their wedding night.
This is the story in essence. But what the blurb doesn't tell you is what lies behind it all. Not one, but several ways to turn a perfectly normal human being into a monster. Addiction as the main culprit is laid out here by Dimaro in his usual straightforward way. Addiction of different types and degrees. Uncommon perhaps and very difficult to understand, but real addictions nonetheless. Ones that turn good people into monsters in the eyes of others. And reading this we just have to wonder at the reasons behind them.
But there is more here. This is a story of love after all. How far are we willing to go for the love of a friend? How much backlash are we willing to take from the one we need to bear a bad news to? When we know we're adding more cracks to something already so clearly damaged!?
Because 'it takes genuine love to go headlong into a situation knowing that you will have to bear the full brunt of someone's pain, their anger, maybe even their blame.'
And then you might end up always doubting and wondering. What if your interference has been the last drop? And what if it had been better to not say anything after all? Then what makes a monster after all.
4.5 stars for a masterfully outlined conundrum here.
Story no. 5 - Daily Special gives us another addiction. But this time, it's one we have all heard about. The addiction to fame. And sometimes, the obsession with fame can top that of any other. After all,
'The scariest monsters are human beings and what we will do to each other.'
Hubert Jenkies was an addict, a junkie, a man of continuous craving. Not for drugs or booze, but for fame. He wanted to be the most famous chef in the world. Alas, his cooking was only mediocre and despite managing to make a somewhat famous name for himself as well as own a little hotel, our Hubert couldn't be content. He wanted more. And he wanted it to the extent of obsession. But what will he do when his wish is fulfilled? And will he be willing to pay the price?
Creepy, bloody and hair-stand-on-end horrifying at times, this story will set into the spotlight how low human beings can sink. And I absolutely loved it! Not only because it features even the Red Raven from our first story, but because of the tale itself. Dark, imaginative and absolutely brilliant, this Daily Special is one in which Dimaro serves you several of the blackest shades of the human soul. And he pulls it off like a charm!
5 special stars for a story you will remember long after turning the last page.
Story no. 6 - The Man in Cell Number 6 is one worthy of a kickass episode of 'The Twilight Zone'
Everyone carries around his own monsters. And this tale here is a perfect example.
Bars and a bright light were the first 2 things the Man in Cell Number 6 noticed upon opening his eyes. He was in a cell and had no memory whatsoever of what could have led him there.
Alone and seemingly forgotten, wondering if he hadn't been left to rot in a timeless cell for a crime he could not remember, the Man - because he doesn't really have a name yet - is slowly overwhelmed by hunger, thirst, desperation and despair. And worse - withdrawal is hitting him hard.
The Man had been high and drinking very often. Practically daily to be more exact. So going cold turkey all of a sudden was quite a bit more than he could handle. Delirium Tremens is ravaging his body and this author did a brilliant job describing it here.
From the hysterical laugh of one who understands his mind is falling to pieces; to that thin line in between madness and sanity - being just sane enough to know that there is something wrong, but not crazy enough to stop giving a fuck. - It's all masterfully laid down.
The Man desperately wants to remember what led to him ending up in the cell. But, as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for; it may not be quite what you were hoping for.
Caught up in nightmarish hallucinations worthy of the creepiest horror movies, The Man in Cell Number 6 reveals the ugliest parts of not only himself but also many others.
And then that end!!! I'm telling you people! Twilight Zone at it's best!!
5 red light stars from me.
Story no. 7 - Girl 22 is another one that's difficult to read, because of the message it conveys.
'Rather than being able to have a healthy relationship with our own sexual imagination, we're driven into some dark corners by shame and embarrassment and guilt, and those dark corners breed all sorts of monsters.' - Alan Moore
Here Dimaro exposes in his usual direct 'rip the band-aid off the festering wound' way, a surefire proof way to become a horrible monster while driven by three of the most common human feelings: shame, embarrassment and guilt.
A.J. Diovelli is, in his own words, 'not a nice guy'. With the occasion of his 30th birthday he set himself a certain goal: to have meaningless sex with 30 women. Why? Because he's an idiot is what I would have said. An opinion he himself voices after going through girl number 25.
A.J. was determined to get to 30. His conscience be damned and consequences be damned too.... apparently.
But girl 22 had sort of put a hamper in his lucky streak. Something she had told him had set an unbelievable weight on A.J.'s shoulders. Something that he was trying his best to NOT think about and miserably failing at. And here is where you have to wonder: what if?! What if he had thought about it? And why?! Why is there so much shame, embarrassment and guilt involved?
If he manages to avoid the proverbial elephant in the room or crashes headlong into the stuff he so badly tries to NOT think about, I'll leave that for you to find out. But I bet you will NOT see that end coming.
5 dark stars for a story that shocks, challenges and provokes the reader to look deep down inside, regardless of how uncomfortable that may be. Because there may be dark corners within each and every one of us.
Story no. 8 - Footprints In The Dust was perhaps the most difficult to read for me. Not only because of a raw and graphic rape scene it describes, but also because of the pain, suffering and sorrow it so eloquently and compellingly depicts.
There is so much hurt in this tale, that it will make you wanna scream at the anguish of the victim. Because each time she thought she had gone through the worst of it, every time she thought that things could not possibly become more unbearable, she was exposed to a knew form of torture.
'It's incredible how the memory of an evil done to you can be even more painful than the deed itself.' And Dimaro has an unbelievably poignant way of expressing it.
I will not tell you a lot about the plot of this story, because I do not want to spoil. But know that it's a journal. The journal of Alexandria McAllister, who was witness to the end of the world.
She goes through hell and her journey is one wrought with unbelievable pain and suffering. Not at the hand of monsters. But at the hand of men. And I was moved beyond belief by her emotional journey. Living on the brink in between life and death; wishing either for one or the other. Her fear and terror were downright crushing. And perhaps because of that, her resolve was utterly inspiring. Which resolve, you ask?
The resolve soldiers have when they understand their time is up, and they refuse to go out with anything other than their dignity and pride.
This one gets 5 dauntless stars from me!
Sometimes monsters can be more horrible than monsters.
- Rick Riordan
And Felix Dimaro has a heck of a way of pointing it out!
How To Make a Monster - The Loveliest Shade of Red is a MUST READ for each and every one of us out there. It is a shocking reminder to every human being out there, that we can ALL suddenly veer down the path towards monstrosity.
We never really know which side of the line between humanity and monstrosity we are truly on. We all must balance on that thin knife edge at times, tilting to either one side or the other.
And this anthology clearly shows you, it can go both ways!
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
How To Make A Monster is an anthology of psychological torment that explores the thin line between humanity and monstrosity which exists inside us all. It deals with the reasons that make humans cross the line and turn into monsters of different degrees of loathsomeness. One wrong turn, one stray look, one wrong word dropped at the wrong time, anything can act as a catalyst for a spiral straight down onto the path of monstrosity.
As with any other anthology I read and review, I'll take the stories in here one by one and rate them individually as I go.
Story no. 1 - The Loveliest Shade of Red
Monsters are very real. But they're not just creatures. Monsters are everywhere. They're people. They're nightmares... They are the things that we harbor within ourselves.
- C. Robert Cargill
And this story is a masterfully written example.
Raveena Reed, stage name Raven Red was a drop-dead gorgeous stripper. She was the fulfiller of fantasies. A walking dream. She could be all that men wanted her to be. For the right price. And to her, it was just as simple as that.
Booze, men, drugs and debauchery were her daily routine. She snorted, she smoked, she sucked back anything she could get her hands on and the casual observer would think it all went down with the job. Because being this kind of a disgusting monster comes with the territory when you're in Raveena's line of work.
But Raveena hadn't always been the monster she eventually became. And the booze and drugs... they were the only thing that kept the dark thoughts away.
Until one day when Raveena goes too far and is forced to face them head on.
For her heartbreaking story and the gripping way her pain jumps off the page, this tale gets a full 5 star rating from me. In the loveliest shade of red.
How to Make a Monster - Way no.1 - through nightmares and the dark things we harbor within ourselves. - poignantly rendered by this author here, in a way that will make your hair stand on end through vividly described scenes worthy of the creepiest horror movie.... The awesome kind, when you just KNOW shit's about to happen and you SEE the creepy coming and yet you cannot help that 'OMG'-reaction when it really does! Because of an awesome cinematic style that this author nails.
Story no. 2 - Spray Paint will provoke a completely different reaction. And yet, just as strong as the first. Or perhaps even stronger.
'We often forget our own sins when we have the chance to judge the sins of another.'
This is what lies at the core of this story. One about jealousy, racism and hate.
Everett Obada was one of a handful of blacks in the small town of Courtville. Despite being a lot more light skinned than the others, he would never be light enough for the town, no matter how much his mother insisted racism was a diminished thing. And one cannot help but get angry at the injustice and bullying he has had to face at the hands of those who call him 'nigger' or disguise their racism with mirth.
And yet, Everett is lucky. Because he gets to call one of the most beautiful white girls of the town his own. His girlfriend had ditched one of the richest and coolest white guys for him. And that was something neither the town nor the ex boyfriend would forgive.
Payback is given in the form of a fully trashed apartment, complete with a whole range of obscenities spray painted all over the walls. And Everett is bound to remember every single detail that had led to this.
Anger and hate are difficult to suppress, and one's own guilt is so easily disregarded when faced with that of another! A wrong step taken in anger and a single can of spray paint left behind in spite - these two little things turn more than one life upside down and shed a gory light on the real monster of this tale.
5 spray painted stars for a story that got under my skin. One that will remain with me for a long time after.
Story no. 3 - Casper
You can find my full review for it here
Story no. 4 - Choke me Hard is one that will make you reflect about all the different types of love out there.
Hard. Harsh. Violent. Sometimes this is love. Between two broken people, in their own fucked up broken way.
Love for a partner, love for a friend and ultimately, love for one self.
The last thing Freedom expects after telling his two best friends that he plans to propose to his girlfriend is to hear the word “no”. Not from her, but from them. The problem? The men he hopes to make his groomsmen are about to tell him exactly what his wife-to-be would like best on their wedding night.
This is the story in essence. But what the blurb doesn't tell you is what lies behind it all. Not one, but several ways to turn a perfectly normal human being into a monster. Addiction as the main culprit is laid out here by Dimaro in his usual straightforward way. Addiction of different types and degrees. Uncommon perhaps and very difficult to understand, but real addictions nonetheless. Ones that turn good people into monsters in the eyes of others. And reading this we just have to wonder at the reasons behind them.
But there is more here. This is a story of love after all. How far are we willing to go for the love of a friend? How much backlash are we willing to take from the one we need to bear a bad news to? When we know we're adding more cracks to something already so clearly damaged!?
Because 'it takes genuine love to go headlong into a situation knowing that you will have to bear the full brunt of someone's pain, their anger, maybe even their blame.'
And then you might end up always doubting and wondering. What if your interference has been the last drop? And what if it had been better to not say anything after all? Then what makes a monster after all.
4.5 stars for a masterfully outlined conundrum here.
Story no. 5 - Daily Special gives us another addiction. But this time, it's one we have all heard about. The addiction to fame. And sometimes, the obsession with fame can top that of any other. After all,
'The scariest monsters are human beings and what we will do to each other.'
Hubert Jenkies was an addict, a junkie, a man of continuous craving. Not for drugs or booze, but for fame. He wanted to be the most famous chef in the world. Alas, his cooking was only mediocre and despite managing to make a somewhat famous name for himself as well as own a little hotel, our Hubert couldn't be content. He wanted more. And he wanted it to the extent of obsession. But what will he do when his wish is fulfilled? And will he be willing to pay the price?
Creepy, bloody and hair-stand-on-end horrifying at times, this story will set into the spotlight how low human beings can sink. And I absolutely loved it! Not only because it features even the Red Raven from our first story, but because of the tale itself. Dark, imaginative and absolutely brilliant, this Daily Special is one in which Dimaro serves you several of the blackest shades of the human soul. And he pulls it off like a charm!
5 special stars for a story you will remember long after turning the last page.
Story no. 6 - The Man in Cell Number 6 is one worthy of a kickass episode of 'The Twilight Zone'
Everyone carries around his own monsters. And this tale here is a perfect example.
Bars and a bright light were the first 2 things the Man in Cell Number 6 noticed upon opening his eyes. He was in a cell and had no memory whatsoever of what could have led him there.
Alone and seemingly forgotten, wondering if he hadn't been left to rot in a timeless cell for a crime he could not remember, the Man - because he doesn't really have a name yet - is slowly overwhelmed by hunger, thirst, desperation and despair. And worse - withdrawal is hitting him hard.
The Man had been high and drinking very often. Practically daily to be more exact. So going cold turkey all of a sudden was quite a bit more than he could handle. Delirium Tremens is ravaging his body and this author did a brilliant job describing it here.
From the hysterical laugh of one who understands his mind is falling to pieces; to that thin line in between madness and sanity - being just sane enough to know that there is something wrong, but not crazy enough to stop giving a fuck. - It's all masterfully laid down.
The Man desperately wants to remember what led to him ending up in the cell. But, as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for; it may not be quite what you were hoping for.
Caught up in nightmarish hallucinations worthy of the creepiest horror movies, The Man in Cell Number 6 reveals the ugliest parts of not only himself but also many others.
And then that end!!! I'm telling you people! Twilight Zone at it's best!!
5 red light stars from me.
Story no. 7 - Girl 22 is another one that's difficult to read, because of the message it conveys.
'Rather than being able to have a healthy relationship with our own sexual imagination, we're driven into some dark corners by shame and embarrassment and guilt, and those dark corners breed all sorts of monsters.' - Alan Moore
Here Dimaro exposes in his usual direct 'rip the band-aid off the festering wound' way, a surefire proof way to become a horrible monster while driven by three of the most common human feelings: shame, embarrassment and guilt.
A.J. Diovelli is, in his own words, 'not a nice guy'. With the occasion of his 30th birthday he set himself a certain goal: to have meaningless sex with 30 women. Why? Because he's an idiot is what I would have said. An opinion he himself voices after going through girl number 25.
A.J. was determined to get to 30. His conscience be damned and consequences be damned too.... apparently.
But girl 22 had sort of put a hamper in his lucky streak. Something she had told him had set an unbelievable weight on A.J.'s shoulders. Something that he was trying his best to NOT think about and miserably failing at. And here is where you have to wonder: what if?! What if he had thought about it? And why?! Why is there so much shame, embarrassment and guilt involved?
If he manages to avoid the proverbial elephant in the room or crashes headlong into the stuff he so badly tries to NOT think about, I'll leave that for you to find out. But I bet you will NOT see that end coming.
5 dark stars for a story that shocks, challenges and provokes the reader to look deep down inside, regardless of how uncomfortable that may be. Because there may be dark corners within each and every one of us.
Story no. 8 - Footprints In The Dust was perhaps the most difficult to read for me. Not only because of a raw and graphic rape scene it describes, but also because of the pain, suffering and sorrow it so eloquently and compellingly depicts.
There is so much hurt in this tale, that it will make you wanna scream at the anguish of the victim. Because each time she thought she had gone through the worst of it, every time she thought that things could not possibly become more unbearable, she was exposed to a knew form of torture.
'It's incredible how the memory of an evil done to you can be even more painful than the deed itself.' And Dimaro has an unbelievably poignant way of expressing it.
I will not tell you a lot about the plot of this story, because I do not want to spoil. But know that it's a journal. The journal of Alexandria McAllister, who was witness to the end of the world.
She goes through hell and her journey is one wrought with unbelievable pain and suffering. Not at the hand of monsters. But at the hand of men. And I was moved beyond belief by her emotional journey. Living on the brink in between life and death; wishing either for one or the other. Her fear and terror were downright crushing. And perhaps because of that, her resolve was utterly inspiring. Which resolve, you ask?
The resolve soldiers have when they understand their time is up, and they refuse to go out with anything other than their dignity and pride.
This one gets 5 dauntless stars from me!
Sometimes monsters can be more horrible than monsters.
- Rick Riordan
And Felix Dimaro has a heck of a way of pointing it out!
How To Make a Monster - The Loveliest Shade of Red is a MUST READ for each and every one of us out there. It is a shocking reminder to every human being out there, that we can ALL suddenly veer down the path towards monstrosity.
We never really know which side of the line between humanity and monstrosity we are truly on. We all must balance on that thin knife edge at times, tilting to either one side or the other.
And this anthology clearly shows you, it can go both ways!
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
September 4, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this debut collection of stories/novellas with some very dark themes. Books that feature people taking the wrong road in life are fascinating to me, probably because I've seen this happen to people I've known over the years. That's what connects the stories in How to Make a Monster: bad decisions that lead to tragic outcomes.
The book features well-developed characters and contains some seriously dark adult themes. If you're easily triggered, you may want to reach for another book (to his credit, Dimaro posts a trigger warning at the front of the book). If you can handle the material, the payoff is worth it. This is literary horror and suspense by a talented new voice in the genre.
My favorites include "Spray Paint," about an interracial couple dealing with aggressive racism and "The Man in Cell Number 6" about a man in the midst of alcohol withdrawal who must figure out how he got there before he loses his mind. It's got a Twilight Zone quality to it that kept me turning the pages to unravel the mystery.
The book concludes with a promise from the author to feature some of these characters in future works. I'm already looking forward to them.
The book features well-developed characters and contains some seriously dark adult themes. If you're easily triggered, you may want to reach for another book (to his credit, Dimaro posts a trigger warning at the front of the book). If you can handle the material, the payoff is worth it. This is literary horror and suspense by a talented new voice in the genre.
My favorites include "Spray Paint," about an interracial couple dealing with aggressive racism and "The Man in Cell Number 6" about a man in the midst of alcohol withdrawal who must figure out how he got there before he loses his mind. It's got a Twilight Zone quality to it that kept me turning the pages to unravel the mystery.
The book concludes with a promise from the author to feature some of these characters in future works. I'm already looking forward to them.
October 24, 2019
This debut collection of stories is unsettling and graphically violent. Dimaro has created dimensional characters facing tough choices and when they choose badly, the road they travel is very dark.
The opening story, The Loveliest Shade of Red, follows Raveena, a young woman struggling to find her way and the unfortunate souls who cross her path. This tale set the tone for this collection as it is both dark and violent. My favorite is The Man in Cell Number 6. A man wakes up in a jail cell with no memory of how he got there. His mental state is deteriorating as he tries to piece together what has happened. I couldn’t read this story fast enough!
I recommend this collection to horror readers who are not put off by graphic sex and violence. How to Make a Monster does not read like a first book. Dimaro has some serious skills and I am so impressed! Thank you so much for sending me your book Mr. Dimaro!
The opening story, The Loveliest Shade of Red, follows Raveena, a young woman struggling to find her way and the unfortunate souls who cross her path. This tale set the tone for this collection as it is both dark and violent. My favorite is The Man in Cell Number 6. A man wakes up in a jail cell with no memory of how he got there. His mental state is deteriorating as he tries to piece together what has happened. I couldn’t read this story fast enough!
I recommend this collection to horror readers who are not put off by graphic sex and violence. How to Make a Monster does not read like a first book. Dimaro has some serious skills and I am so impressed! Thank you so much for sending me your book Mr. Dimaro!
September 3, 2019
Everyone of these stories is brilliant in it's own way. They touch on subjects that most people wouldn't come near. Racism, sexual assault, child abuse, self harming, suicide, and substance abuse. Reading all of these subjects used in realistic settings, with life like characters, will keep you awake at night. The level of detail and style of writing that are in these stories makes you feel like Dimaro is sitting right in front of you, telling you this story. I have a hard time picking a favorite/least favorite story in this collection because I just love them all.
June 5, 2020
Warning: Book may contain disturbing language and scenes of a graphic violent and sexual nature. Adult discretion advised.
Dimaro’s collection of horror stories titled, How To Make a Monster, is a frightening and clever take on the horror genre. Each story takes on a terrifying conscious weaving a web of heart-racing fiction that shocks your soul.
Dimaro is a force to be reckoned with. I was incredibly impressed by this collection and loved reading the stories. I am a devout horror fan; I think the genre is fascinating, and Dimaro takes aspects of it to create stories that bring out the best of the genre.
The first story, “The Loveliest Shade of Red” sets the tone and standard for the rest of the book. It was a phenomenal story; a stripper battling with her inner demons is on the hunt for something better, or something worse. This is exactly what the horror genre is about; its not just about scaring people but bringing up emotions which are then explored through the genre. This tragic tale was a very emotional read.
Another story I enjoyed was “The Man in Cell Number 6”. In this story, a man wakes up in a cell unaware of why he’s there. Insanity takes over as he pieces together the events that led him to the cell. The protagonist’s decent into madness was intriguing to read.
My favourite story in this collection was “Casper”. A boy is bullied by many people in his life, eventually leading him down a dark path he cannot return from. As a reader, we can see the events unfolding in front of us; they are brutal and shocking, leaving a lasting impact.
All these stories in this collection are gripping, fast-paced and astonishingly brilliant. Dimaro brings out the worst in human nature and have this raw essence that drags you into the stories. Each story is imaginative and through it all, gives the sense that if everyone was just a little bit nicer to one another, the world would be a lot easier to live in. Even through all that horror and brutality, there are still lessons to be learned. That’s why this collection is so important.
A fantastic collection for fans of horror and the macabre
4.5/5 stars! #gothicbookwormreviews
Dimaro’s collection of horror stories titled, How To Make a Monster, is a frightening and clever take on the horror genre. Each story takes on a terrifying conscious weaving a web of heart-racing fiction that shocks your soul.
Dimaro is a force to be reckoned with. I was incredibly impressed by this collection and loved reading the stories. I am a devout horror fan; I think the genre is fascinating, and Dimaro takes aspects of it to create stories that bring out the best of the genre.
The first story, “The Loveliest Shade of Red” sets the tone and standard for the rest of the book. It was a phenomenal story; a stripper battling with her inner demons is on the hunt for something better, or something worse. This is exactly what the horror genre is about; its not just about scaring people but bringing up emotions which are then explored through the genre. This tragic tale was a very emotional read.
Another story I enjoyed was “The Man in Cell Number 6”. In this story, a man wakes up in a cell unaware of why he’s there. Insanity takes over as he pieces together the events that led him to the cell. The protagonist’s decent into madness was intriguing to read.
My favourite story in this collection was “Casper”. A boy is bullied by many people in his life, eventually leading him down a dark path he cannot return from. As a reader, we can see the events unfolding in front of us; they are brutal and shocking, leaving a lasting impact.
All these stories in this collection are gripping, fast-paced and astonishingly brilliant. Dimaro brings out the worst in human nature and have this raw essence that drags you into the stories. Each story is imaginative and through it all, gives the sense that if everyone was just a little bit nicer to one another, the world would be a lot easier to live in. Even through all that horror and brutality, there are still lessons to be learned. That’s why this collection is so important.
A fantastic collection for fans of horror and the macabre
4.5/5 stars! #gothicbookwormreviews
February 18, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up
Maybe there is a level of genius to why Felix's Instagram handle is 'Things that keep me up at night,' knowing full well that in the future, that if anyone ever asked his readers to rattle of a list of things that kept them up at night, the depravity found in his collection would be at the top of that list.
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Let's start with the positives. The human mind is a very difficult thing to understand, especially if you throw addiction and trauma into the mix. We don't make the smartest decisions with clear heads at the best of times, let alone with a cocktail of grief, despair, and drugs thrown in for good measures. I have been around the types of people in some of these stories and I must say Felix nailed them quite well. They felt real and fleshed out, even if they were giant pieces of shit. The real horror lies in the fact that these people really do exist and I am glad they felt so alive on the page.
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My favourites from the collection were 'the loveliest shade of red,' 'the writing on the wall,' and 'Choke me. Hard.' I found then to be the most engaging, although certainly not for the faint-hearted. I can see why this book comes with trigger warnings.
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I will be the first to admit that I am not a huge fan of short stories and never go into them fully expecting to love every single story, and that was the case with How To Make A Monster. That's not to say they are bad. Some of them address very dark situations that I think we aren't meant to find enjoyable. Especially when you know they are written from a place grounded in the reality of the author. To say I enjoyed the racism and abuse that certain characters felt, would be the wrong choice of words, I did however find them immersive and touching. The writing was wonderful and to the point ( that's a big plus for me) and I sincerely look forward watching Felix grow as a story teller and author.
Maybe there is a level of genius to why Felix's Instagram handle is 'Things that keep me up at night,' knowing full well that in the future, that if anyone ever asked his readers to rattle of a list of things that kept them up at night, the depravity found in his collection would be at the top of that list.
.
Let's start with the positives. The human mind is a very difficult thing to understand, especially if you throw addiction and trauma into the mix. We don't make the smartest decisions with clear heads at the best of times, let alone with a cocktail of grief, despair, and drugs thrown in for good measures. I have been around the types of people in some of these stories and I must say Felix nailed them quite well. They felt real and fleshed out, even if they were giant pieces of shit. The real horror lies in the fact that these people really do exist and I am glad they felt so alive on the page.
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My favourites from the collection were 'the loveliest shade of red,' 'the writing on the wall,' and 'Choke me. Hard.' I found then to be the most engaging, although certainly not for the faint-hearted. I can see why this book comes with trigger warnings.
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.
I will be the first to admit that I am not a huge fan of short stories and never go into them fully expecting to love every single story, and that was the case with How To Make A Monster. That's not to say they are bad. Some of them address very dark situations that I think we aren't meant to find enjoyable. Especially when you know they are written from a place grounded in the reality of the author. To say I enjoyed the racism and abuse that certain characters felt, would be the wrong choice of words, I did however find them immersive and touching. The writing was wonderful and to the point ( that's a big plus for me) and I sincerely look forward watching Felix grow as a story teller and author.
August 22, 2022
Warning: Book may contain disturbing language and scenes of a graphic violent and sexual nature. Adult discretion advised.
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How To Make a Monster was one of my most-anticipated reads of 2019, right behind Stephen King's upcoming The Institute and the final book in Dean Koontz's Jane Hawk series. With this collection of short stories and novellas, Felix Dimaro has exceeded any expectations from a first-time author. He has crafted very raw, even unsettling, stories proving that some of the greatest horrors walk on two legs and live among us.
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Dimaro has quickly discovered the ability to create characters the reader will feel strongly about, both protagonist and villian. His storylines have a sense of originality that grabs the reader's interest, and a frenetic pacing that continues until the tale's ending. Some of these stories share common characters, or continue from another character's punt of view. This actually aids those readers who always feel short-changed after reading shorter works.
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Dimaro, quit your day job. You are now officially an author. I cannot wait until your next work comes out.
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My Rating: 4.95/5 stars (nobody's perfect the first time out 😂)
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How To Make a Monster was one of my most-anticipated reads of 2019, right behind Stephen King's upcoming The Institute and the final book in Dean Koontz's Jane Hawk series. With this collection of short stories and novellas, Felix Dimaro has exceeded any expectations from a first-time author. He has crafted very raw, even unsettling, stories proving that some of the greatest horrors walk on two legs and live among us.
.
Dimaro has quickly discovered the ability to create characters the reader will feel strongly about, both protagonist and villian. His storylines have a sense of originality that grabs the reader's interest, and a frenetic pacing that continues until the tale's ending. Some of these stories share common characters, or continue from another character's punt of view. This actually aids those readers who always feel short-changed after reading shorter works.
.
Dimaro, quit your day job. You are now officially an author. I cannot wait until your next work comes out.
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My Rating: 4.95/5 stars (nobody's perfect the first time out 😂)
May 29, 2020
An impressive debut collection touching on the many different ways we can all be monsters in this world. Some are quite graphic, all cringe-worthy and right up my alley! The first story alone is like going on an acid trip in hell. 😈 Pull on your big person underwear and strap yourself in for this ride.
While I typically try and stay away from short story collections and such these days, I'm glad that I picked this up before I made that decision. These stories really vary, not just in length (some short story, some novella), but in each tale. While the central theme is about the monsters in all of us, there are some really deep subjects peppered within and I wouldn't expect less from this author.
If you like being take on a quite visceral ride in the macabre, dark world us horror lovers enjoy, pull up your big person underwear and strap yourself in for this ride.
While I typically try and stay away from short story collections and such these days, I'm glad that I picked this up before I made that decision. These stories really vary, not just in length (some short story, some novella), but in each tale. While the central theme is about the monsters in all of us, there are some really deep subjects peppered within and I wouldn't expect less from this author.
If you like being take on a quite visceral ride in the macabre, dark world us horror lovers enjoy, pull up your big person underwear and strap yourself in for this ride.
September 21, 2019
It has taken me an obscenely long time to collect my thoughts on this book and thats mainly down to the overwhelming amount of thoughts I've had about it. In 'How to Make a Monster' we get a collection of short stories that worm their way into your mind and stay there as you go about your daily routine.
I first read some of the stories shrinking away from the extreme violence and sexual content. But as time has gone by ive found myself comparing what ive read to other authors such as Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk and Stephen King. Where they would constantly push the boundaries of what you could get away with putting down on paper. Although Dimaro does put a disclaimer in the first few pages stressing that it is for mature audiences that can deal with having their boundaries pushed.
Some of the short stories are truely inspired, one called 'Daily Special' that focuses on one man's greed and the lenghts he will go for that little bit more. Another called 'The Man in Cell Number 6' about a man who wakes up in a jail cell with no memory of how he got there, is particularly good.
Most of the stories in this collection have a flavour of The Twilight Zone or Black Mirror about them. Each laced with a good handful of weird horror which has quite the aftertaste.
For a first time writer, Dimaro has produced a proper mind bender, not so much pushing his way into the industry, more kicking the door down and going full Ray Winstone, wielding a sock full of pool balls.
Thank you Felix for the advanced copy. Im honoured if not a little scared to be part of the journey.
I first read some of the stories shrinking away from the extreme violence and sexual content. But as time has gone by ive found myself comparing what ive read to other authors such as Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk and Stephen King. Where they would constantly push the boundaries of what you could get away with putting down on paper. Although Dimaro does put a disclaimer in the first few pages stressing that it is for mature audiences that can deal with having their boundaries pushed.
Some of the short stories are truely inspired, one called 'Daily Special' that focuses on one man's greed and the lenghts he will go for that little bit more. Another called 'The Man in Cell Number 6' about a man who wakes up in a jail cell with no memory of how he got there, is particularly good.
Most of the stories in this collection have a flavour of The Twilight Zone or Black Mirror about them. Each laced with a good handful of weird horror which has quite the aftertaste.
For a first time writer, Dimaro has produced a proper mind bender, not so much pushing his way into the industry, more kicking the door down and going full Ray Winstone, wielding a sock full of pool balls.
Thank you Felix for the advanced copy. Im honoured if not a little scared to be part of the journey.
December 27, 2020
How To Make A Monster is a debut book of short stories of extreme horror that chilled yet intrigued my bloodthirsty soul. The realism to each story is like diving into the seedy underbelly of the dark and insane.
You'll definitely want to sleep with the lights on.
Each story analyzes a different theme involving drugs and alcohol, racism, sex, and the trauma of such horrendous lives.
The characters are all very well developed and felt frighteningly real at times. Short stories can be difficult to become attached to characters but Dimaro has managed that and more.
I look forward to his further works and reading more about these characters.
You'll definitely want to sleep with the lights on.
Each story analyzes a different theme involving drugs and alcohol, racism, sex, and the trauma of such horrendous lives.
The characters are all very well developed and felt frighteningly real at times. Short stories can be difficult to become attached to characters but Dimaro has managed that and more.
I look forward to his further works and reading more about these characters.
January 21, 2021
This book was hard to read.
And I say that in the best of ways. It was a true, absolute, grim, gored, hard, nasty, read of pure horror. Hence the late ass review (well also cuz I burned myself out, but that's something else).
As I stated with his novel Bug Spray, Dimaro has this talent for creating such dark and eerie atmospheres. He takes concepts that would perfectly fit within the realms of a Twilight Zone episode, and makes it hard R.
However, that's not to say it's gritty for gritty sake. These stories are true to the read, to the characters, to the environment, to the situation he creates. In the title story (The Loveliest Shade of Red, because these are a collection of shorter stories) he dives you right into the world we're riding in. He gives you an exact taste of what the fuck he's doing and going to continue doing.
The best part is that he does this so seamlessly. The writing is at its best when its taking these weird, psychedelic turns into the macabre. Odd pieces of floating what-the-fuckery, he gives it this absolute tension filled atmosphere that we can grasp.
I know I have a habit of hyping up authors and stories, never seeming to give any bad reviews, but I genuinely believe that Dimaro is a fantastic author, working on creating the absolute best stories for the community, and is an absolute favorite at the moment.
And I say that in the best of ways. It was a true, absolute, grim, gored, hard, nasty, read of pure horror. Hence the late ass review (well also cuz I burned myself out, but that's something else).
As I stated with his novel Bug Spray, Dimaro has this talent for creating such dark and eerie atmospheres. He takes concepts that would perfectly fit within the realms of a Twilight Zone episode, and makes it hard R.
However, that's not to say it's gritty for gritty sake. These stories are true to the read, to the characters, to the environment, to the situation he creates. In the title story (The Loveliest Shade of Red, because these are a collection of shorter stories) he dives you right into the world we're riding in. He gives you an exact taste of what the fuck he's doing and going to continue doing.
The best part is that he does this so seamlessly. The writing is at its best when its taking these weird, psychedelic turns into the macabre. Odd pieces of floating what-the-fuckery, he gives it this absolute tension filled atmosphere that we can grasp.
I know I have a habit of hyping up authors and stories, never seeming to give any bad reviews, but I genuinely believe that Dimaro is a fantastic author, working on creating the absolute best stories for the community, and is an absolute favorite at the moment.
September 1, 2019
How to Make a Monster by Felix Dimaro is a collection of 8 stories that examines what events occur in people's lives that make them turn to monstrous acts and their tragic consequences.
The first story, The Loveliest Shade of Red, is about Raveena, a stripper with an addictions, who has the demons and horrors of her past revisit her as she searches for her next fix. In this story we learn what led her to become an adult entertainer as well as what led her down that path, and the tragic consequences that this life has, not only for her, but for those around her as well.
The second story, Spray Paint (or The Writing on the Wall), finds Catherine returning home from school with her boyfriend Everett (they are an interracial couple)to find her house vandalized with various racial slurs as well as damage to her property. A tragic accident arises from this act that shows how both Kyle and Everett became monsters.
The next story is Casper. Casper is an outcast at his high school who tries to fit in by entering a high stakes card game the cool kids are playing. Instead, he is subjected to bullying and extreme humiliation. Tormented further at home by an abusive stepfather, Casper's dark side is unleashed.
The fourth story, Choke Me. Hard., is about Freedom. He battles mental illness and self harms, but he has found what he believes is the love of his life, as evidenced by the ring box sitting on the table. His friends however know what Freedom's girlfriend is really like and try to convince him otherwise. Little did they know what their actions would lead to.
In Daily Special, Hubert Jenkins dreams of becoming a celebrity chef, despite a lack of talent and owning a less than successful restaurant. What we see here is the great lengths people will go to in order to achieve their dreams and also what people will do for greed and revenge. Also we see what happens to some mentally when they do achieve success and want to keep the story of how they achieved that success a secret.
The sixth story is The Man in Cell Number 6. He awakens in this cell, unsure of why he's there. Slowly he descends into madness as he tries to figure out why he is there. The memories of the night haunt him as he pieces the events together as horrific visions plague his deteriorating mental state.
Story number seven is Girl 22. A.J. is "celebrating" his 30th birthday by intending to have sex with 30 women before his 31st birthday. While at a club with his eye on bedding girl 26, A.J.'s thoughts drift back to girl 22, who he admits being infatuated with, however he moves on after the sex, ignoring her altogether. What happens when he ignores her attempts to contact him, he'll have to deal with for the rest of his life.
The final story is Footprints in the Dust. This one introduces us to Alexandria, a shooter girl at the club from the previous story as she details the events at the end of Girl 22 and how the world she wakes up in after those events is completely different, and how it impacts her in multiple ways and leads her on a journey to discover a new world.
All of these stories are very well written. You get to know the characters and feel sorry for some of them because of the terrible things they've endured. Others, you feel dislike for, but that of course is the author's intent. They wouldn't be the villains then, afterall. The pacing of the stories is also excellent. You're left wanting to know more about what happened to these characters to make them the way they are with every turn of the page.
I will say that this is not a light read (there are scenes of graphic violence and graphic sex) and some of the events that take place in the anthology are uncomfortable to read, and the author admits that himself, as well as that they were uncomfortable for him to write. If you like dark, psychological horror, I believe you'll enjoy it. My appreciation to Felix Dimaro for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The first story, The Loveliest Shade of Red, is about Raveena, a stripper with an addictions, who has the demons and horrors of her past revisit her as she searches for her next fix. In this story we learn what led her to become an adult entertainer as well as what led her down that path, and the tragic consequences that this life has, not only for her, but for those around her as well.
The second story, Spray Paint (or The Writing on the Wall), finds Catherine returning home from school with her boyfriend Everett (they are an interracial couple)to find her house vandalized with various racial slurs as well as damage to her property. A tragic accident arises from this act that shows how both Kyle and Everett became monsters.
The next story is Casper. Casper is an outcast at his high school who tries to fit in by entering a high stakes card game the cool kids are playing. Instead, he is subjected to bullying and extreme humiliation. Tormented further at home by an abusive stepfather, Casper's dark side is unleashed.
The fourth story, Choke Me. Hard., is about Freedom. He battles mental illness and self harms, but he has found what he believes is the love of his life, as evidenced by the ring box sitting on the table. His friends however know what Freedom's girlfriend is really like and try to convince him otherwise. Little did they know what their actions would lead to.
In Daily Special, Hubert Jenkins dreams of becoming a celebrity chef, despite a lack of talent and owning a less than successful restaurant. What we see here is the great lengths people will go to in order to achieve their dreams and also what people will do for greed and revenge. Also we see what happens to some mentally when they do achieve success and want to keep the story of how they achieved that success a secret.
The sixth story is The Man in Cell Number 6. He awakens in this cell, unsure of why he's there. Slowly he descends into madness as he tries to figure out why he is there. The memories of the night haunt him as he pieces the events together as horrific visions plague his deteriorating mental state.
Story number seven is Girl 22. A.J. is "celebrating" his 30th birthday by intending to have sex with 30 women before his 31st birthday. While at a club with his eye on bedding girl 26, A.J.'s thoughts drift back to girl 22, who he admits being infatuated with, however he moves on after the sex, ignoring her altogether. What happens when he ignores her attempts to contact him, he'll have to deal with for the rest of his life.
The final story is Footprints in the Dust. This one introduces us to Alexandria, a shooter girl at the club from the previous story as she details the events at the end of Girl 22 and how the world she wakes up in after those events is completely different, and how it impacts her in multiple ways and leads her on a journey to discover a new world.
All of these stories are very well written. You get to know the characters and feel sorry for some of them because of the terrible things they've endured. Others, you feel dislike for, but that of course is the author's intent. They wouldn't be the villains then, afterall. The pacing of the stories is also excellent. You're left wanting to know more about what happened to these characters to make them the way they are with every turn of the page.
I will say that this is not a light read (there are scenes of graphic violence and graphic sex) and some of the events that take place in the anthology are uncomfortable to read, and the author admits that himself, as well as that they were uncomfortable for him to write. If you like dark, psychological horror, I believe you'll enjoy it. My appreciation to Felix Dimaro for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2020
I can't get over how much I enjoyed this anthology.
There were 8 stories featured and they were a mixture of real life scenarios and some that were supernatural. I especially liked the fact that some of the stories actually connected to each other. All of this together made the book easy and fun to read. I had no problems completing the entire thing in about a day.
Here is a better breakdown of what the book contained and my opinions:
The Loveliest Shade of Red: 5 stars. In this one, we watch the moral decline of the character as she is guilty of being inactive and not taking proper responsibility for her transgressions. We witness as she progressively damns her soul and becomes something unspeakable.
Spray Paint: 4 stars. This is about a scenario that could easily happen in real life and is about an inter-racial couple. True life horror at its scariest.
Casper: 4 stars. I found this one to be in the same vein as Stephen King's Rage. It's about a deeply disturbed high school student and I loved the captivating 1st person perspective.
Choke. Me. Hard.: 3 stars. An unhealthy relationship that takes a turn for the worst.
Daily Special: 5 stars. I loved this one for multiple reasons. For one, it is tied to Loveliest Shade Of Red. For another, it's a supernatural story about a chef that sells his soul for fame and popularity. Awesome story. I can't stress that enough.
The Man In Cell #6: 4 stars. An interesting spin on what could be one's own personal hell.
Girl 22: 3 stars. A young man's personal conquests end up showing him that there is such a thing as bad karma.
Footprints In The Dust: 5 stars. A story that takes place in the post-apocalyptic world. This story breaks off from Girl 22 and is a mixture of horror and sci-fi. All I will mention here is that there is a dog named Darth Vader whom I still cry for.
I can honestly say that this was an amazing anthology and it makes me anxious to see what the author puts out in the future. Highly recommend this to all of those in the horror community.
There were 8 stories featured and they were a mixture of real life scenarios and some that were supernatural. I especially liked the fact that some of the stories actually connected to each other. All of this together made the book easy and fun to read. I had no problems completing the entire thing in about a day.
Here is a better breakdown of what the book contained and my opinions:
The Loveliest Shade of Red: 5 stars. In this one, we watch the moral decline of the character as she is guilty of being inactive and not taking proper responsibility for her transgressions. We witness as she progressively damns her soul and becomes something unspeakable.
Spray Paint: 4 stars. This is about a scenario that could easily happen in real life and is about an inter-racial couple. True life horror at its scariest.
Casper: 4 stars. I found this one to be in the same vein as Stephen King's Rage. It's about a deeply disturbed high school student and I loved the captivating 1st person perspective.
Choke. Me. Hard.: 3 stars. An unhealthy relationship that takes a turn for the worst.
Daily Special: 5 stars. I loved this one for multiple reasons. For one, it is tied to Loveliest Shade Of Red. For another, it's a supernatural story about a chef that sells his soul for fame and popularity. Awesome story. I can't stress that enough.
The Man In Cell #6: 4 stars. An interesting spin on what could be one's own personal hell.
Girl 22: 3 stars. A young man's personal conquests end up showing him that there is such a thing as bad karma.
Footprints In The Dust: 5 stars. A story that takes place in the post-apocalyptic world. This story breaks off from Girl 22 and is a mixture of horror and sci-fi. All I will mention here is that there is a dog named Darth Vader whom I still cry for.
I can honestly say that this was an amazing anthology and it makes me anxious to see what the author puts out in the future. Highly recommend this to all of those in the horror community.
March 28, 2021
A little more than a year ago, I read this book for the first time. I saw it on bookstagram, but I can’t remember now how I came across it. I stalked the author for a while, getting a sense of what he liked to read and debating with myself about reading his book, before finally deciding I was going to try it. And y’all...I was not prepared. This book immediately jumped to my list of all time top reads. The author, immediate auto-buy (I officially have all of his in both e-book and print form now). I recently read it again for the second time, and I loved it even more. I consider the stories in this collection to be horror of the truest kind. There are supernatural elements to some of them, but that is not where the true horror lies. The monsters found here are the realest of monsters - those found in all of us, those that we all have the capacity to become.
By the end, I was a little sick to my stomach, extremely heartbroken, and felt very raw and exposed. How to Make a Monster forces you to confront a variety of monsters and what they bring up for you. It’s graphic and intense and difficult and will break you in all the most important ways. In fact, I have never been so completely broken by a book before.
By the end, I was a little sick to my stomach, extremely heartbroken, and felt very raw and exposed. How to Make a Monster forces you to confront a variety of monsters and what they bring up for you. It’s graphic and intense and difficult and will break you in all the most important ways. In fact, I have never been so completely broken by a book before.
October 30, 2019
A well-written collection of short stories that at first glance only seem to have horror in common. As you read, clues and references link the stories together, some in subtle, and some in obvious ways. Standouts include The Loveliest Shade Of Red, Casper, and Daily Special, but all the stories have elements that stay with you. It's not an easy read, as warned by the author, with some characters doing truly awful things to each other, but it does make you think about how humans act and what makes a monster. The final story appears to be an introduction to a character that will be in a future book, one that I would gladly read, as, despite the darker elements of these stories, I thoroughly enjoyed the author's unique writing style.
December 31, 2019
Review soon!
April 12, 2020
This book will make you think and feel for the monsters in the world. A collection of short stories that could be more like novellas. This book comes with a warning label as soon as you open the book explaining that it has scenes that are hard to consume by some readers. Some of these scenes were hard to read but the author wrote them in a way to make you see these characters as products of the situations and people around them. Monsters make monsters. I will list some of my favorite stories from the book and give a small description.
The loveliest shade of red is about a woman who is a coked-out stripper. She didn't start off that way. She was a byproduct of how she was treated as a child. Her life after that were a whirlwind of terrible choices. By the end, I felt for her and was gripped by strong emotions.
“And each life that fell into her shadow was destined to be dimmed forever.”
Casper which is about home and school bulling. I of course being an emotional reader connected with this one as well. I also loved the ending and how it became a story of legions.
“If you never fully step out of the shadows, how do you expect to be seen?”
Footprints in the Dust. A post-apocalyptic read where the main character wakes up in a hospital bed not knowing what has happened to the world. This story took some getting into because the character is all alone and unknowing about what has happened around her. This left a lot to explain and discover. A certain scene in this story left me a wreck but I was so happy by the end of this story to find out it was a segue into another book that is soon to come. “Violet Sky”
“It’s incredible how the memory of an evil done to you can be even more painful than the evil deed itself.”
I really enjoyed that the stories tie into one another by featuring characters from other stories. There were some parts of this book that lulled for me and I had to break and come back to. As with every short story book there are stories that I really loved and some I just liked. It’s hard for me to love a short story book completely when I compare a story I finished to the one I just read. I also lean more toward the emotional reads but the other were still fun.
I want to thank the author for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.
The loveliest shade of red is about a woman who is a coked-out stripper. She didn't start off that way. She was a byproduct of how she was treated as a child. Her life after that were a whirlwind of terrible choices. By the end, I felt for her and was gripped by strong emotions.
“And each life that fell into her shadow was destined to be dimmed forever.”
Casper which is about home and school bulling. I of course being an emotional reader connected with this one as well. I also loved the ending and how it became a story of legions.
“If you never fully step out of the shadows, how do you expect to be seen?”
Footprints in the Dust. A post-apocalyptic read where the main character wakes up in a hospital bed not knowing what has happened to the world. This story took some getting into because the character is all alone and unknowing about what has happened around her. This left a lot to explain and discover. A certain scene in this story left me a wreck but I was so happy by the end of this story to find out it was a segue into another book that is soon to come. “Violet Sky”
“It’s incredible how the memory of an evil done to you can be even more painful than the evil deed itself.”
I really enjoyed that the stories tie into one another by featuring characters from other stories. There were some parts of this book that lulled for me and I had to break and come back to. As with every short story book there are stories that I really loved and some I just liked. It’s hard for me to love a short story book completely when I compare a story I finished to the one I just read. I also lean more toward the emotional reads but the other were still fun.
I want to thank the author for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2021
In this collection, 4 stories really stood out to me. They were sad, uncomfortable, horrifying, disgusting, and tragic. But the one story that haunts me the most is, The Loveliest Shade of Red. A young woman with a troubled past, becomes a star exotic dancer, addicted to drugs, alcohol, and other things, she finds herself haunted by people she knew, people she loved, people she betrayed...
Trigger warning: The content in this book is very difficult at times with death, murder, torture, SA, addiction, racism and prob some other stuff I'm forgetting. Coming from a complicated background myself, though it was uncomfortable in moments, I felt Dimaro wrote with humanity and felt those bits were crucial to the story. But everyone has different tolerances, which I respect.
This a short story collection that explores ways people become monsters. It’s a familiar trope but the stories are rich and complex. Each one is a tour into addictions, pain, selfishness, and revenge. We see the characters unfiltered and raw, observing each step they take closer to hell. The writing is clever and with a humanity that bleeds. The monsters felt fleshy and sweaty, almost alive. Being tethered to them was hard sometimes.
My favs were: The Loveliest Shade of Red, Casper, Daily Special, The Man in Cell Number 6, and Spraypaint.
The remaining stories didn't excite me as much, I felt they were good but didn't match the level of the others to me.
Trigger warning: The content in this book is very difficult at times with death, murder, torture, SA, addiction, racism and prob some other stuff I'm forgetting. Coming from a complicated background myself, though it was uncomfortable in moments, I felt Dimaro wrote with humanity and felt those bits were crucial to the story. But everyone has different tolerances, which I respect.
This a short story collection that explores ways people become monsters. It’s a familiar trope but the stories are rich and complex. Each one is a tour into addictions, pain, selfishness, and revenge. We see the characters unfiltered and raw, observing each step they take closer to hell. The writing is clever and with a humanity that bleeds. The monsters felt fleshy and sweaty, almost alive. Being tethered to them was hard sometimes.
My favs were: The Loveliest Shade of Red, Casper, Daily Special, The Man in Cell Number 6, and Spraypaint.
The remaining stories didn't excite me as much, I felt they were good but didn't match the level of the others to me.
August 19, 2020
This is a collection of 8 stories by Felix Dimaro, his debut. It is definitely dark and not going to be for the faint of heart or for people who can’t tolerate reading fiction with controversial topics such as rape, racism, etc. But for those who can, this was wonderful!
I am feeling a strong Stephen King influence. The writing is beautiful, flows well and is suspenseful. I had so many emotions reading these stories.
My favourites of the eight are: Casper, Footprints in the Dust (this one nearly made me cry) and the Loveliest Shade of Red. There wasn’t one I didn’t like, they’re all great. Some darker than others.
I enjoyed how some stories tied into each other.
My copy of his debut novel, Bug Spray arrived today. I’m looking forward to reading that as well.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves horror and doesn’t mind some hard to read topics/themes.
I am feeling a strong Stephen King influence. The writing is beautiful, flows well and is suspenseful. I had so many emotions reading these stories.
My favourites of the eight are: Casper, Footprints in the Dust (this one nearly made me cry) and the Loveliest Shade of Red. There wasn’t one I didn’t like, they’re all great. Some darker than others.
I enjoyed how some stories tied into each other.
My copy of his debut novel, Bug Spray arrived today. I’m looking forward to reading that as well.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves horror and doesn’t mind some hard to read topics/themes.
January 6, 2022
Very well written but also extremely dark collection of psychological horror stories. These are about people who end up im umfortunate situations, people who make poor choices, and people pushed to their breaking points. These stories inspire a a lot of talking points: How does one react when pushed to their breaking point? What sort of karmic justice does one deserve? How much leeway does past trauma give you? Can you summon empathy when you know how someone turned out this way? Dimaro includes a content warning and he is not exaggerating (possibly even undersells it). This book is very good but will absolutely not be for everyone. My favorite stories were Daily Special, Footprints in the Dust, and Choke Me Hard. This is good one for a buddy/group read. It's very thought provoking and hard to read alone. I will be reading more by this author.
December 29, 2019
(3.5 stars) This collection of stories is truly horrifying. Be warned: They focus on heavy subject matter like suicide, drug use, abuse (both sexual and physical). Some of the stories have a supernatural touch, others are terrifying just as they are. What I loved most about this collection is that it focuses on characters that often get overlooked in mainstream horror such as minorities. Overall, I recommend "How to Make a Monster" for horror genre lovers who aren't afraid of some vulgarity and enjoy a good "What the f**k?" kind of read.
Ironically, my biggest issue with this collection is the “heaviness”. It wasn’t a read I personally could binge. Instead, I found I needed breaks in between most of the stories to digest and process. Although I craved one or two more humorous or light-hearted stories to break up some of the darkness, Dimaro’s style does not allow for it. There is no sugar coating here.
That being said, this is still a solid read. The stories are well written and Dimaro’s beautiful prose makes the horror aspects more palatable. Some of my favorite tales are “Casper” and “The Man in Cell Number 6”. Make sure to pick up this collection if you’re looking for stories that are heart wrenching and unique. I promise most of these will stick with you long after you’ve closed the book.
Ironically, my biggest issue with this collection is the “heaviness”. It wasn’t a read I personally could binge. Instead, I found I needed breaks in between most of the stories to digest and process. Although I craved one or two more humorous or light-hearted stories to break up some of the darkness, Dimaro’s style does not allow for it. There is no sugar coating here.
That being said, this is still a solid read. The stories are well written and Dimaro’s beautiful prose makes the horror aspects more palatable. Some of my favorite tales are “Casper” and “The Man in Cell Number 6”. Make sure to pick up this collection if you’re looking for stories that are heart wrenching and unique. I promise most of these will stick with you long after you’ve closed the book.
January 16, 2020
This is Felix diMaro's first book.
It's a new voice in the contemporary horror genre. It's successful in that way. I think we need more people of color in the horror genre. It gets to the psychological tics of humans. Two of my favorite stories were "Spray paint" and "Casper". If you can't get through the other stories, please at least read these two because they are so impactful and leave you with "what the fuck." But in a good way.
Now I do have to be honest, if I didn't know the author from instagram, I probably would not have purchased this book. I found that, as much as the cover artwork is beautiful, it would not have been a cover I would have chosen for this collection. Another thing is that a lot of these stories are not that short, it would have been better to release them as novellas than all compiled like this. Why do I say this? Because I found that some were very long. Some descriptions that didn't really add anything to the story itself.
So that said, in these long stories there are really strong bones and I know there's so much more that Felix has in store.
It's a new voice in the contemporary horror genre. It's successful in that way. I think we need more people of color in the horror genre. It gets to the psychological tics of humans. Two of my favorite stories were "Spray paint" and "Casper". If you can't get through the other stories, please at least read these two because they are so impactful and leave you with "what the fuck." But in a good way.
Now I do have to be honest, if I didn't know the author from instagram, I probably would not have purchased this book. I found that, as much as the cover artwork is beautiful, it would not have been a cover I would have chosen for this collection. Another thing is that a lot of these stories are not that short, it would have been better to release them as novellas than all compiled like this. Why do I say this? Because I found that some were very long. Some descriptions that didn't really add anything to the story itself.
So that said, in these long stories there are really strong bones and I know there's so much more that Felix has in store.
December 4, 2019
Amazing Read!
How to Make a Monster is a collection of stories about a monster who can attack at any time, appear in any form, do unlimited damage, and is far scarier than anything found under the bed. His stories are about the worst monster of all: the one lurking inside all of us, just waiting for the right set of circumstances (earthly or otherwise) to set it free. These stories take you deep into the uncomfortable places we all know exist but like to pretend aren’t there, and are crafted so well that you don’t want the journey to end.
I’m deeply impressed by Felix Dimaro. My favorite authors are those who can string words together to make music, encouraging me to read passages over again to better enjoy the melody. Dimaro did this for me, all the more impressive given the dark subject matter of his stories.
How to Make a Monster is a collection of stories about a monster who can attack at any time, appear in any form, do unlimited damage, and is far scarier than anything found under the bed. His stories are about the worst monster of all: the one lurking inside all of us, just waiting for the right set of circumstances (earthly or otherwise) to set it free. These stories take you deep into the uncomfortable places we all know exist but like to pretend aren’t there, and are crafted so well that you don’t want the journey to end.
I’m deeply impressed by Felix Dimaro. My favorite authors are those who can string words together to make music, encouraging me to read passages over again to better enjoy the melody. Dimaro did this for me, all the more impressive given the dark subject matter of his stories.
October 18, 2019
The first story seemed promising. I liked a few of the characters quite a bit. But there’s a strong theme in every story that seems to suggest, not so subtly, that women who have sex are bad and should be punished. I don’t like men writing about women being sexual, and I definitely don’t like men writing about women being sexually abused. There was also way too many mentions of dicks getting hard or sucked, it eventually became boring more than repulsive.
Disappointing. The premise for a lot of the stories had real potential, but didn’t deliver.
December 2, 2020
This is a new author for me and mannnn am I impressed. This dude writes with such emotion and feeling I was left utterly exhausted when I finished this book,( Empath🤷)but in a good way. Now, I find out he has a few more books out there so what do I do?! Go purchase them right away.
I have one criticism. I want the stories longer. I know this was a short story collections, so these were a good length for that...but I want to see this author but his talent to a long novel soon. That's my hope. Will definitely tell everyone I know about this talented man.😉
I have one criticism. I want the stories longer. I know this was a short story collections, so these were a good length for that...but I want to see this author but his talent to a long novel soon. That's my hope. Will definitely tell everyone I know about this talented man.😉
May 8, 2020
Dimaro is a MASTER storyteller! I am astonished that this is his debut book! If you read only one book this year, this is the one to read. I honestly do not believe that I am going to read a better book this year.
Out of the eight stories included in this anthology, it is almost impossible for me to pick a favorite. Just when you think there is no way a story can be topped, the next one tops it! For instance, the first story, The Loveliest Shade of Red - a story about Raveena "Raven Red" Reed. I was blown away by this story, and I briefly wondered if it was smart to start the anthology with such a strong story. Would the others live up to this one? I need not have worried!
The next two stories - Spray Paint (the shortest story in the anthology) is quick, shocking, and brutal; while the story Casper messes with your emotions. You know where the story is going to go, but you are powerless to stop it!
Then along comes Choke Me. Hard.
This is where you truly realize that Dimaro has no limits; that there is no line that he won't cross.
Make sure that you eat your fill before reading Daily Special, as this story contains some mouth-watering dishes! There is also an additional "special treat" in this one - when you see that some of these stories are intertwined.
The final three stories - The Man in Cell Number 6 (truly nightmarish!), Girl 22 (a rapid-fire story), and Footprints in the Dust (where you feel like you are on a train that is about to hurtle off of a bridge) are just as good as the rest of the stories. There is no tapering off in this anthology.
Dimaro injects you directly into his stories and makes you feel as if you personally know his characters. He is a master at "what if" or "if only" and his visuals are exceptional. He is also great at dropping massive foreshadowing bombs! I am not sure that I have ever read such real/RAW stories. My highest recommendation!
Out of the eight stories included in this anthology, it is almost impossible for me to pick a favorite. Just when you think there is no way a story can be topped, the next one tops it! For instance, the first story, The Loveliest Shade of Red - a story about Raveena "Raven Red" Reed. I was blown away by this story, and I briefly wondered if it was smart to start the anthology with such a strong story. Would the others live up to this one? I need not have worried!
The next two stories - Spray Paint (the shortest story in the anthology) is quick, shocking, and brutal; while the story Casper messes with your emotions. You know where the story is going to go, but you are powerless to stop it!
Then along comes Choke Me. Hard.
This is where you truly realize that Dimaro has no limits; that there is no line that he won't cross.
Make sure that you eat your fill before reading Daily Special, as this story contains some mouth-watering dishes! There is also an additional "special treat" in this one - when you see that some of these stories are intertwined.
The final three stories - The Man in Cell Number 6 (truly nightmarish!), Girl 22 (a rapid-fire story), and Footprints in the Dust (where you feel like you are on a train that is about to hurtle off of a bridge) are just as good as the rest of the stories. There is no tapering off in this anthology.
Dimaro injects you directly into his stories and makes you feel as if you personally know his characters. He is a master at "what if" or "if only" and his visuals are exceptional. He is also great at dropping massive foreshadowing bombs! I am not sure that I have ever read such real/RAW stories. My highest recommendation!
November 16, 2020
What I like the most about this book is its originality, which I always look for and appreciate. Not only the stories within this anthology are original, but they are fairly different from each other, too.
The thin, dirty, red line that ties all of them together is the fact that they all feature "monsters", although not the kind that hide under our childhood's bed in the dark, but human ones.
There are no two ways about it: this book is bleak. I interview indie authors for an independent literary emag and one of my recurrent questions to horror writers is "Is there anything you wouldn't feel confident writing about?"
If I take the top 3 topics that I received as answers to that question, I realise that they all appear in these stories, all staring at you in the eyes, with no make-up on them.
Funnily enough, I think that buried underneath the grime there is a message of hope that tries its best to stay hidden, in the fashion of Bukowski's "Bluebird" poem.
As an extra touch of class, Dimaro collaborated with Toronto artist Katrina Canedo to bring some powerful illustration to accompany his prose, which I certainly have to see as dedication to his craft.
If I have to be irritatingly annoying and give you a couple of negatives, in my opinion Dimaro on some occasions managed to find some very good traits in order to make his characters feel real and then he goes slightly too heavy on it, almost as if to make sure you get their state of mind. The characters are still fleshed out very well, but he sort of does a disservice to his own talent. And I feel that sometimes the stories reveal themselves a little too much. Again, not in a way that ruins the experience, but it just makes the punch of the surprise not as powerful as it could be. This said, it doesn't happen often.
All in all, with this very fresh anthology Felix I. D. Dimaro debuts with a huge bang.
The thin, dirty, red line that ties all of them together is the fact that they all feature "monsters", although not the kind that hide under our childhood's bed in the dark, but human ones.
There are no two ways about it: this book is bleak. I interview indie authors for an independent literary emag and one of my recurrent questions to horror writers is "Is there anything you wouldn't feel confident writing about?"
If I take the top 3 topics that I received as answers to that question, I realise that they all appear in these stories, all staring at you in the eyes, with no make-up on them.
Funnily enough, I think that buried underneath the grime there is a message of hope that tries its best to stay hidden, in the fashion of Bukowski's "Bluebird" poem.
As an extra touch of class, Dimaro collaborated with Toronto artist Katrina Canedo to bring some powerful illustration to accompany his prose, which I certainly have to see as dedication to his craft.
If I have to be irritatingly annoying and give you a couple of negatives, in my opinion Dimaro on some occasions managed to find some very good traits in order to make his characters feel real and then he goes slightly too heavy on it, almost as if to make sure you get their state of mind. The characters are still fleshed out very well, but he sort of does a disservice to his own talent. And I feel that sometimes the stories reveal themselves a little too much. Again, not in a way that ruins the experience, but it just makes the punch of the surprise not as powerful as it could be. This said, it doesn't happen often.
All in all, with this very fresh anthology Felix I. D. Dimaro debuts with a huge bang.
November 22, 2020
When I was first thinking about how to write this review, I went through different ideas. Rating each story on their own—after all, they are individual stories. I hate the star rating system though. Coming up with an individual review for each separate story seemed too much, and you can read the blurb for them on your own.
But to rate this book as a whole might take away the power each story has. Some stories had a much bigger impact on me than others. That’s normal. Some stories were shorter than others but doesn’t mean they don’t pack a punch. For me, this book made me crumble by the time I was half way through. Hell, the first story alone had me gutted.
I went into this series knowing there were harder, real topics most people shy away from. People like their fiction as just that—fiction. But horror fiction isn’t always fiction is it? They often have themes based firmly in reality, don’t they? I suppose I wasn’t expecting to see so much of my life and my past in these pages. No way of knowing these words would expose so much of myself—flaws and attributes—combined into these stories of lust, love, atrocities and crimes.
Through these eight stories, Dimaro has incorporated incredibly thought provoking themes. Even though I may not have enjoyed every story in the same way, I appreciate how each one left me thinking and asking questions. I didn’t find myself going straight to the next story without giving myself time to mull over the previous events.
To say I liked this book is a huge understatement. I adored it. I think I may have actually hugged it. It gave me more than a few emotions and I highly recommend any book which leaves me thinking about it days after I’ve finished.
But to rate this book as a whole might take away the power each story has. Some stories had a much bigger impact on me than others. That’s normal. Some stories were shorter than others but doesn’t mean they don’t pack a punch. For me, this book made me crumble by the time I was half way through. Hell, the first story alone had me gutted.
I went into this series knowing there were harder, real topics most people shy away from. People like their fiction as just that—fiction. But horror fiction isn’t always fiction is it? They often have themes based firmly in reality, don’t they? I suppose I wasn’t expecting to see so much of my life and my past in these pages. No way of knowing these words would expose so much of myself—flaws and attributes—combined into these stories of lust, love, atrocities and crimes.
Through these eight stories, Dimaro has incorporated incredibly thought provoking themes. Even though I may not have enjoyed every story in the same way, I appreciate how each one left me thinking and asking questions. I didn’t find myself going straight to the next story without giving myself time to mull over the previous events.
To say I liked this book is a huge understatement. I adored it. I think I may have actually hugged it. It gave me more than a few emotions and I highly recommend any book which leaves me thinking about it days after I’ve finished.
April 12, 2020
This book came to my awareness via social media, and I purchased a copy same day. I love darker stories that haunt me, and leave me riddled with questions about myself and life. This publications has done just that. Written well enough to create and transport one to these dark worlds, vivid and terrifying and engulfing. And still easily read in a single sitting. Which I would recommend. There are the tiniest of trinkets that are shared by many of the stories. (But you have to search for them. You'll smirk like I did when you note them.)
There are relatable atrocities many of us have faced in our lives. I felt often like this was written by someone I had confessed some of the tragic events of my life to. Or some of the secrets of how awful I believe I am or how deadly I could be, given the right push or excuse. Like sympathy culling, self defense, or utter revenge. Pick your poison, or embrace them all.
If one could complain about this compilation, it would only be that it is quite long for a book of novellas/short stories. Those aren't the types of things worthy of naysaying, though, are they?
I have to say that a few extra pages of this book is nothing to balk at, however. How To Make A Monster is the kind of book that is necessary for anyone who wants to know more about themselves. Layered with a good dose of macabre, lust and sex, fallout, grief, and littered with enough evidence to blow the nature vs nurture debate to atoms. This work will turn you on, turn your stomach, and quicken your pulse. And if you are anything like me, it'll leave you questioning your need for a therapist. Enjoy.
There are relatable atrocities many of us have faced in our lives. I felt often like this was written by someone I had confessed some of the tragic events of my life to. Or some of the secrets of how awful I believe I am or how deadly I could be, given the right push or excuse. Like sympathy culling, self defense, or utter revenge. Pick your poison, or embrace them all.
If one could complain about this compilation, it would only be that it is quite long for a book of novellas/short stories. Those aren't the types of things worthy of naysaying, though, are they?
I have to say that a few extra pages of this book is nothing to balk at, however. How To Make A Monster is the kind of book that is necessary for anyone who wants to know more about themselves. Layered with a good dose of macabre, lust and sex, fallout, grief, and littered with enough evidence to blow the nature vs nurture debate to atoms. This work will turn you on, turn your stomach, and quicken your pulse. And if you are anything like me, it'll leave you questioning your need for a therapist. Enjoy.
April 18, 2020
For the past couple weeks, I've gotten to break up the boredom with this collection. Instantly, I was taken by the uniquely horrific/clever ideas with characters you both loath and root for. It's always impressive when an author can make me hate AND sympathize with a character, so I have to give major props to Dimaro for igniting so many emotions. Up front, I must warn potential readers that this collection features graphic rape (in the last story), animal death (also in the last story), sex, violence, and generally disturbing content. If you aren't comfortable with any of the aforementioned, this probably isn't the book for you. But if you can withstand gritty, darker storytelling, Dimaro paints very interesting, vivid worlds and horror. I personally consider horror one of the hardest genres to write, so I was impressed by how Dimaro not only managed to draw me into the worlds, but kept me guessing. A lot of horror is repetitive, so it was refreshing to read about new ideas/different takes. For me, horror stories that hold a touch of realism are the most unsettling, so quite a few of these stuck with me for days afterward. I also loved how some of the stories connected to the others. Overall, I definitely recommend this, if you can stomach the unsettling nature! I admittedly limited myself to one story a day.
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