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Inferno
"Follow me, and I shall guide you ..."Join us if you dare and step into Dante’s Inferno. Dive through his Nine Circles of sin and see what happens when you succumb to temptation and let your inner demons escape.Here are stories of the condemned and the damned, with leading indie author, Hailey Piper taking on Virgil’s cloak in her foreword.With contributions C.C. Adams, V. Castro, Cassie Daley, Stephanie Ellis, Alyson Faye, Shannon Felton, Lionel Ray Green, Kev Harrison, Irene Lofthouse, Lynn Love, Robert Allen Lupton, RJ Meldrum, G.A. Miller, TC Parker, Charlotte Platt, Daniel R. Robichaud, David Shakes, and Steve Stred
231 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2020
2 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Ellis
176 books117 followersStephanie Ellis writes dark speculative prose and poetry and has been published in a variety of magazines and anthologies. Her longer work includes the novels, The Five Turns of the Wheel, Reborn and The Woodcutter, and the novellas, Paused and Bottled. Her new post-apocalytpic/sci-fi/horror novel, The Barricade is due out this year!
She is a Rhysling and Elgin nominated poet, co-authoring the poetry collection, Foundlings, with Cindy O'Quinn, Lilith Rising with Shane Douglas Keene and solo work Metallurgy.
She can be found at https://stephanieellis.org
She is a Rhysling and Elgin nominated poet, co-authoring the poetry collection, Foundlings, with Cindy O'Quinn, Lilith Rising with Shane Douglas Keene and solo work Metallurgy.
She can be found at https://stephanieellis.org
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 8, 2020
The idea for this anthology is a trip through Dante's Inferno and the Nine Circles of Hell.
First Circle (Limbo)
Second Circle (Lust)
Third Circle (Gluttony)
Fourth Circle (Greed)
Fifth Circle (Wrath)
Sixth Circle (Heresy)
Seventh Circle (Violence)
Eighth Circle (Fraud)
Ninth Circle (Treachery)
Instead of the Roman poet, Virgil, your guide through this anthology are editors, Stephanie Ellis and Alyson Faye with a foreword, Stepping Into the Inferno by Hailey Piper. I absolutely loved this introduction-Hailey is an author I only discovered this year but I am already a huge fan. Anything she lends her voice to is lucky to have her.
As with most anthologies and collections, not every story is going to stick the landing with every reader, and such is the case here. I'll highlight the stories that were successful for me.
*LIMBO by Lynn Love- I enjoyed this story. A woman named Irene has been an in-home caretaker for a nasty old woman in a wheelchair for 15 years. One day, a mysterious visitor shows up and knocks on the door. Irene finds a glimmer of hope that her life could be different.
*HER KNIFE IS HUNGER, HER CUP IS THIRST by Shannon Felton- A spiritualist is investigating a dilapidated home where people have taken their own life in the bathtub. Felton brought some freshness to a familiar haunted house trope. I appreciated the unique direction the story took, even if it confused me a little at first. By the end, I was a fan. Creepy & unsettling.
*OFF COURSE by Cassie Daley- Emma has unhealthy thoughts and urges. She tries to suppress her unusual desires but they are always right there under the surface. Emma tries sex, love, and the distraction of a relationship to no avail. Daley has a naturally authentic storytelling voice. I found myself settling into the even tone and steady pace. Obviously, because this is a short story, the character development is a little thin, but I could see a full-length novel with similar themes in Daley's future.
*CERBERUS by TC Parker- I liked the style of this story. Switching back and forth from a present-day narrative to a flashback of how the protagonist met her lover was very compelling. I loved the ending.
*ELIXIR by Kev Harrison- This story resonated with me because I have actually known people who are/were this obsessed with herbal supplements. Of course, Harrison puts a horror twist on this otherwise true-to-life scenario. Another great ending too.
*AT THE BOTTOM OF MY LAKE OF BLOOD by V. Castro- An epic tale of a "goddess cast aside", she makes her way to a temple built by human worshippers in Yucatan, Mexico. The goddess commands her legion to unleash hell on the wicked, "creators of hatred, defilers of children, rapists & murderers" and then her desire is to take human form. Man, this is an unflinching story of raw, unadulterated power, strength, and vengeance.
*ALONE by Steve Stred- a haunting tale of a man's personal, relentless hell.
*FIRE-STARTER by Stephanie Ellis- possibly my favorite in the collection and featuring one of the foulest monsters I've ever read about, Geryon--preying on the weak (children) and those that won't be missed (prostitutes). Ellis perfectly nailed the dialects-and I'm not a huge fan of dialects, they tend to be distracting but I felt like they were perfectly employed here.
First Circle (Limbo)
Second Circle (Lust)
Third Circle (Gluttony)
Fourth Circle (Greed)
Fifth Circle (Wrath)
Sixth Circle (Heresy)
Seventh Circle (Violence)
Eighth Circle (Fraud)
Ninth Circle (Treachery)
Instead of the Roman poet, Virgil, your guide through this anthology are editors, Stephanie Ellis and Alyson Faye with a foreword, Stepping Into the Inferno by Hailey Piper. I absolutely loved this introduction-Hailey is an author I only discovered this year but I am already a huge fan. Anything she lends her voice to is lucky to have her.
As with most anthologies and collections, not every story is going to stick the landing with every reader, and such is the case here. I'll highlight the stories that were successful for me.
*LIMBO by Lynn Love- I enjoyed this story. A woman named Irene has been an in-home caretaker for a nasty old woman in a wheelchair for 15 years. One day, a mysterious visitor shows up and knocks on the door. Irene finds a glimmer of hope that her life could be different.
*HER KNIFE IS HUNGER, HER CUP IS THIRST by Shannon Felton- A spiritualist is investigating a dilapidated home where people have taken their own life in the bathtub. Felton brought some freshness to a familiar haunted house trope. I appreciated the unique direction the story took, even if it confused me a little at first. By the end, I was a fan. Creepy & unsettling.
*OFF COURSE by Cassie Daley- Emma has unhealthy thoughts and urges. She tries to suppress her unusual desires but they are always right there under the surface. Emma tries sex, love, and the distraction of a relationship to no avail. Daley has a naturally authentic storytelling voice. I found myself settling into the even tone and steady pace. Obviously, because this is a short story, the character development is a little thin, but I could see a full-length novel with similar themes in Daley's future.
*CERBERUS by TC Parker- I liked the style of this story. Switching back and forth from a present-day narrative to a flashback of how the protagonist met her lover was very compelling. I loved the ending.
*ELIXIR by Kev Harrison- This story resonated with me because I have actually known people who are/were this obsessed with herbal supplements. Of course, Harrison puts a horror twist on this otherwise true-to-life scenario. Another great ending too.
*AT THE BOTTOM OF MY LAKE OF BLOOD by V. Castro- An epic tale of a "goddess cast aside", she makes her way to a temple built by human worshippers in Yucatan, Mexico. The goddess commands her legion to unleash hell on the wicked, "creators of hatred, defilers of children, rapists & murderers" and then her desire is to take human form. Man, this is an unflinching story of raw, unadulterated power, strength, and vengeance.
*ALONE by Steve Stred- a haunting tale of a man's personal, relentless hell.
*FIRE-STARTER by Stephanie Ellis- possibly my favorite in the collection and featuring one of the foulest monsters I've ever read about, Geryon--preying on the weak (children) and those that won't be missed (prostitutes). Ellis perfectly nailed the dialects-and I'm not a huge fan of dialects, they tend to be distracting but I felt like they were perfectly employed here.
December 13, 2020
The quickest way to get this horror-loving reader to pick up an anthology is to start with a cool concept...stories written for each circle of Hell from Dante's Inferno from The Divine Comedy. I wasn't as familiar with them as the good ol' seven deadly sins and had to keep a browser tab open to follow along with which sins went with what circles, but not having them memorized isn't going to hinder anyone's enjoyment too much.
I've never reviewed an anthology before, so I wasn't sure the best way to write about this book. I think I'm just going to cover the stories that really worked for me:
HER KNIFE IS HUNGER. HER CUP IS THIRST by Shannon Felton: A priest and a spiritualist investigate an empty house where there's been a rash of suicides. This story went in an unexpected direction and creeped me out.
OFF COURSE by Cassie Daley: People lust for more than sex. Sometimes sex is just a substitute for something else. I really wanted to know how this one was going to end, because let's be honest, in a book based on circles of Hell it's not going to end well.
CERBERUS by TC Parker: Voracious appetites can be for more than just food. I enjoy non-linear storytelling and read this one twice.
ELIXER by Kev Harrison: Faustian and fun take on multilevel marketing/herbal supplements.
AT THE BOTTOM OF MY LAKE OF BLOOD by V. Castro: A tale of the rebirth of a goddess and her plans for the world. Viciously beautiful.
ALONE by Steve Stred: I was left thinking about the forrest in this story way after I finished reading about it.
FIRE-STARTER by Stephanie Ellis: A demon in disguise in London. This was my favorite story in the collection; I want to spend more time in this world and know what happens next.
LEX TALIONIS by Lionel Ray Green: A plague doctor arrives in a small village where there's more going on than the villagers are saying. I had a good time watching this play out to its conclusion.
All of the stories in INFERNO have something to offer horror fans. There's a lot to enjoy here, with 18 stories and an intro from Hailey Piper (read it again after you read the book; it was fun to mentally go back through the stories she hinted at). If you're even a little intrigued by the concept, you should check it out!
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
*I was provided an ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I've never reviewed an anthology before, so I wasn't sure the best way to write about this book. I think I'm just going to cover the stories that really worked for me:
HER KNIFE IS HUNGER. HER CUP IS THIRST by Shannon Felton: A priest and a spiritualist investigate an empty house where there's been a rash of suicides. This story went in an unexpected direction and creeped me out.
OFF COURSE by Cassie Daley: People lust for more than sex. Sometimes sex is just a substitute for something else. I really wanted to know how this one was going to end, because let's be honest, in a book based on circles of Hell it's not going to end well.
CERBERUS by TC Parker: Voracious appetites can be for more than just food. I enjoy non-linear storytelling and read this one twice.
ELIXER by Kev Harrison: Faustian and fun take on multilevel marketing/herbal supplements.
AT THE BOTTOM OF MY LAKE OF BLOOD by V. Castro: A tale of the rebirth of a goddess and her plans for the world. Viciously beautiful.
ALONE by Steve Stred: I was left thinking about the forrest in this story way after I finished reading about it.
FIRE-STARTER by Stephanie Ellis: A demon in disguise in London. This was my favorite story in the collection; I want to spend more time in this world and know what happens next.
LEX TALIONIS by Lionel Ray Green: A plague doctor arrives in a small village where there's more going on than the villagers are saying. I had a good time watching this play out to its conclusion.
All of the stories in INFERNO have something to offer horror fans. There's a lot to enjoy here, with 18 stories and an intro from Hailey Piper (read it again after you read the book; it was fun to mentally go back through the stories she hinted at). If you're even a little intrigued by the concept, you should check it out!
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
*I was provided an ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2020
The first thing that struck me about this anthology was its professional presentation and formatting.
A great cover, foreword by the talented Hailey Piper, ‘circles’ introduced by snippets from Dante’s Inferno, but most importantly, stories written by great authors, several of whom I had not read before. Overall, this was a very strong four and one of those occasions when I wished I could award an extra half a star.
I guess I say this every time I review an anthology, but some stories resonated more strongly with me than others. However, this was a matter of personal taste and not down to the quality of the writing. Trust me, there is not one weak story in here, and I enjoyed reading all of them.
I’d like to highlight a few strengths that struck a personal chord:
Limbo by Lynn Love, one of the outstanding stories for me. Superb imagery and an eye for detail with a whimsical feel. Some tender, beautiful moments which ended with a kick. I personally love that kind of contrast in horror.
Maxxed Out by Alyson Faye, a very visual story containing dark, comedic elements with a truly revolting protagonist.
Cerberus by T.C. Parker, flowed with ease. Such a smooth read.
Elixir by Kev Harrison, tongue in cheek with a hidden message and a great ending
At the Bottom of My Lake of Blood by V.Castro, loved the opening, such strong writing! Incredible imagery. Will definitely seek out more of her work.
Reunion by David Shakes, original, quiet horror that packs a punch. A story that managed to be both poignant and monstrous at the same time. This line... “John buried Maria in the garden she’d loved so much. Though his mind recoiled, he found the strength to drag the tin bath outside. He poured what was left of his beloved wife out into the salty earth, atop her bones.”
Alone by Steve Stred, a smattering of beautiful images and an ending I didn’t predict.
Fire-Starter by Stephanie Ellis, superb characterization, vividly portrayed setting. Evocative of all senses which immerses the reader in the story.
Hellfire by R.J. Meldrum, I wasn’t sure I was going to like this one at the beginning because I despised the protagonist (as intended). However, the mention of an antique shop caught my attention (I love browsing for quirky items) and the story grew on me. I loved the twisted ending.
Lex Talionis by Lionel Ray Green, loved the folklore feel and 'witchy' atmosphere. A story very well written
A great cover, foreword by the talented Hailey Piper, ‘circles’ introduced by snippets from Dante’s Inferno, but most importantly, stories written by great authors, several of whom I had not read before. Overall, this was a very strong four and one of those occasions when I wished I could award an extra half a star.
I guess I say this every time I review an anthology, but some stories resonated more strongly with me than others. However, this was a matter of personal taste and not down to the quality of the writing. Trust me, there is not one weak story in here, and I enjoyed reading all of them.
I’d like to highlight a few strengths that struck a personal chord:
Limbo by Lynn Love, one of the outstanding stories for me. Superb imagery and an eye for detail with a whimsical feel. Some tender, beautiful moments which ended with a kick. I personally love that kind of contrast in horror.
Maxxed Out by Alyson Faye, a very visual story containing dark, comedic elements with a truly revolting protagonist.
Cerberus by T.C. Parker, flowed with ease. Such a smooth read.
Elixir by Kev Harrison, tongue in cheek with a hidden message and a great ending
At the Bottom of My Lake of Blood by V.Castro, loved the opening, such strong writing! Incredible imagery. Will definitely seek out more of her work.
Reunion by David Shakes, original, quiet horror that packs a punch. A story that managed to be both poignant and monstrous at the same time. This line... “John buried Maria in the garden she’d loved so much. Though his mind recoiled, he found the strength to drag the tin bath outside. He poured what was left of his beloved wife out into the salty earth, atop her bones.”
Alone by Steve Stred, a smattering of beautiful images and an ending I didn’t predict.
Fire-Starter by Stephanie Ellis, superb characterization, vividly portrayed setting. Evocative of all senses which immerses the reader in the story.
Hellfire by R.J. Meldrum, I wasn’t sure I was going to like this one at the beginning because I despised the protagonist (as intended). However, the mention of an antique shop caught my attention (I love browsing for quirky items) and the story grew on me. I loved the twisted ending.
Lex Talionis by Lionel Ray Green, loved the folklore feel and 'witchy' atmosphere. A story very well written
December 15, 2020
I have only read the first of the short stories so far: "LIMBO" by Lynn Love, but if the rest are as good as this, then this will be a brilliant collection.
In "Limbo," the 3 female characters are all vastly different but utterly authentic and incredibly well drawn. I was completely engrossed by the insights into Irene's past and present, and the ending was a shocker! Such a powerful subject to have written about, too.
Great job, Ms Love!
In "Limbo," the 3 female characters are all vastly different but utterly authentic and incredibly well drawn. I was completely engrossed by the insights into Irene's past and present, and the ending was a shocker! Such a powerful subject to have written about, too.
Great job, Ms Love!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews