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Hunger Pangs
"Thinking is like life, some insatiable hunger you'll never quite satisfy."
• 1959: A grieving lawman bargains with darkness to reunite his family.
• 1960: A traveling exorcist takes a case where the traditional means of expelling evil have failed.
• 1969: A haunted widower picks up a hitchhiking hippie.
• 1985: Siblings flee their horrid past—and the curse in their blood.
• 2020: An immortal longs for her life in the sun.
In his debut collection, Scott J. Moses presents thirteen tales of supernatural horror and everyday woe.
• 1959: A grieving lawman bargains with darkness to reunite his family.
• 1960: A traveling exorcist takes a case where the traditional means of expelling evil have failed.
• 1969: A haunted widower picks up a hitchhiking hippie.
• 1985: Siblings flee their horrid past—and the curse in their blood.
• 2020: An immortal longs for her life in the sun.
In his debut collection, Scott J. Moses presents thirteen tales of supernatural horror and everyday woe.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 2, 2020
13 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
Scott J. Moses
13 books115 followersScott J. Moses is the author of Our Own Unique Affliction (Shortwave Books). An Active member of the Horror Writers Association, his work has appeared in Cosmic Horror Monthly, The NoSleep Podcast, Planet Scumm, and elsewhere. He also edited What One Wouldn’t Do: An Anthology on the Lengths One Might Go To. He is Japanese American and lives in Maryland. You can find him on Instagram or scottjmoses.com. He is represented by IAG for TV/Film.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
December 14, 2020
In this debut short story collection, Scott J. Moses impresses his audience with a flare for supernatural horror and tales of grief and loss. With a baker's dozen of stories here, there is a story or two that will stick the landing for a wide variety of readers who enjoy genre-specific subjects. This was my first time reading this author and my personal favorite aspect was the author's notes before each story. I found those to be especially helpful in helping me connect to the stories.
From my LitReactor article, BEST SELF-PUBLISHED BOOKS of 2020 SO FAR
https://litreactor.com/columns/best-s...
From my LitReactor article, BEST SELF-PUBLISHED BOOKS of 2020 SO FAR
https://litreactor.com/columns/best-s...
May 6, 2021
Feels so good when you take a chance on a three dollar kindle and it turns out to be something special. ‘Hunger Pangs’ is a debut collection of stories. Not all of the stories are horror. Some are about loss, some about grief, and some about anger. Even the horror stories here are not traditional horror stories, but stories in which the dread and worry are so cleverly placed just beyond our reach, just out of our sight. True horror is not out there. It is inside us. ‘Hunger Pangs’ helps you get to know it.
October 10, 2020
This was an excellent anthology! If you’re thinking of picking this up, I’d suggest not going into it thinking of it as a horror anthology. Although they all have horror elements, they’re more of a discussion on loss, grief, depression and how people deal with those things differently.
Just like any anthology, there were some I loved and others I didn’t really care for. Fortunately, the majority of them ended up being stories I really enjoyed. Some of my favorites are: Nowhere Louisiana, What’s In Your Name and The Scent Of Souls.
All of them were unique while still keeping a similar theme. All very intriguing and thought provoking. And all beautifully written. I would actually love to see some of these short stories be made into full novels. This author has a real talent in writing and deserves more recognition than he has. Looking forward to reading more of this authors work in the future!
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!:)
Just like any anthology, there were some I loved and others I didn’t really care for. Fortunately, the majority of them ended up being stories I really enjoyed. Some of my favorites are: Nowhere Louisiana, What’s In Your Name and The Scent Of Souls.
All of them were unique while still keeping a similar theme. All very intriguing and thought provoking. And all beautifully written. I would actually love to see some of these short stories be made into full novels. This author has a real talent in writing and deserves more recognition than he has. Looking forward to reading more of this authors work in the future!
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!:)
December 9, 2020
I am sucker for a great horror collection with a beautiful cover, and this one certainly did not disappoint. Not only is the book beautiful, but the words within it's pages hold a certain beauty as well. The shear power, craft, and skill that went into these short stories is impressive, and it is evident that Scott J. Moses is one to watch!
This would certainly be something that I classify more as a quiet horror...not that overt, shocking, in your face kind of horror, but that horror that sits and ruminates in your head for a while before you grasp the depth and brevity of the terror. One thing that I absolutely love is when authors add their own notes explaining the inspiration for each story, or just providing a little background before you dive in. The author's notes included before each of these shorts helped to provide a little window overlooking his writing desk.
A few of my favorites:
'NOWHERE, LOUSIANA'
I loved this opening story that explored one man's grief over losing someone very dear to him. We see the lengths that someone may go to in order to hold on. OH, and there's some Voodoo, which is always an interesting topic to explore.
'WHAT'S IN YOUR NAME'
If you like grief horror, this collection is certainly for you, and I assure you that this story in particular will be a favorite. The viewpoint that you get, seeing everything through the eyes of a ghost of sorts, was so well put together and intriguing, and the story itself will leave you with so many feelings. This story had so much depth, and I'm still thinking about it. I cannot even imagine how anyone "deals" with the death of a child, but I imagine it would go something like what this story captures.
'OF TURBULENT SEAS'
This was such a heartbreaking story. Moses wrote that this story was based on a dream that he had, and I can imagine it being one of those dreams that you wake up from, thoroughly confused, heart pounding, and palms sweaty. Wow! This one packed a punch in one a few pages.
Loss, grief, and longing are explored with such expertise and elegance that this book honestly left me hungering for more. The horror in this collection if more subtle and literary, and goodness can Moses write. Any lovers of grief horror and great writing should certainly check this one out!
**Thank you to Scott J. Moses for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
This would certainly be something that I classify more as a quiet horror...not that overt, shocking, in your face kind of horror, but that horror that sits and ruminates in your head for a while before you grasp the depth and brevity of the terror. One thing that I absolutely love is when authors add their own notes explaining the inspiration for each story, or just providing a little background before you dive in. The author's notes included before each of these shorts helped to provide a little window overlooking his writing desk.
A few of my favorites:
'NOWHERE, LOUSIANA'
I loved this opening story that explored one man's grief over losing someone very dear to him. We see the lengths that someone may go to in order to hold on. OH, and there's some Voodoo, which is always an interesting topic to explore.
'WHAT'S IN YOUR NAME'
If you like grief horror, this collection is certainly for you, and I assure you that this story in particular will be a favorite. The viewpoint that you get, seeing everything through the eyes of a ghost of sorts, was so well put together and intriguing, and the story itself will leave you with so many feelings. This story had so much depth, and I'm still thinking about it. I cannot even imagine how anyone "deals" with the death of a child, but I imagine it would go something like what this story captures.
'OF TURBULENT SEAS'
This was such a heartbreaking story. Moses wrote that this story was based on a dream that he had, and I can imagine it being one of those dreams that you wake up from, thoroughly confused, heart pounding, and palms sweaty. Wow! This one packed a punch in one a few pages.
Loss, grief, and longing are explored with such expertise and elegance that this book honestly left me hungering for more. The horror in this collection if more subtle and literary, and goodness can Moses write. Any lovers of grief horror and great writing should certainly check this one out!
**Thank you to Scott J. Moses for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
September 21, 2022
I went into this expecting horror and instead I got super emotional with it. It was a good collection of short stories that really make you think and feel a wide range of emotions. The writing style is super unique and there are moments where you can’t explain what’s happening as much as you can explain the feelings that come with the story.
January 29, 2021
I never thought I could be so wowed by tales of grief, loss, and pain. But Scott Moses delivered me something I didn't know I needed or that I don't even know how my heart survived. This short story collection is beautifully written and each story has a little blurb beforehand that explains either when or why it was written. One of the blurbs almost made me cry ("Blues Exorcist," I am looking at you)! There is not a single story I did not enjoy reading, but my favorites are "Nowhere, Louisiana," "Blues Exorcist," "What's In Your Name," and "Hunger Pangs." This collection has stories everyone will hone in and and love, but I think each reader will have a different subset of favorites due to their own personal experiences and their connections to grief and loss. With incredible cover art from Daniele Serra, Hunger Pangs is a collection that you can ravage up in one sitting or that you can spread over a few days to fully absorb all that's within. 4 stars!
September 1, 2020
4 1/2
Hunger Pangs does not feel like a collection of horror stories, nor a collection of dark fiction, or anything I could potentially classify it under. No, Hunger Pangs feels like something different, something that to define it would be a true injustice. It's a pouring out of emotion, rich and deep. It feels as if we are reading a mans soul, his torments, his insecurities, his fears, it's looking into an intimate part of someones consciousness, a place most of us would never let a stranger transgress. We are given art within Hunger Pangs, a selection of stories curated and perfected by an artist.
These stories are focused primarily on loss; the melancholy, the sadness, and the ever-persistent question "why?" that generally follows or often precedes it. The emotion that powers the words that we read on these pages is evident to the point that if this book could cry, than my hands would have pruned. It's an amazingly sad and emotionally conflicted read, one that you should venture to, everyone needs a good cry or exorcism.
Hunger Pangs does not feel like a collection of horror stories, nor a collection of dark fiction, or anything I could potentially classify it under. No, Hunger Pangs feels like something different, something that to define it would be a true injustice. It's a pouring out of emotion, rich and deep. It feels as if we are reading a mans soul, his torments, his insecurities, his fears, it's looking into an intimate part of someones consciousness, a place most of us would never let a stranger transgress. We are given art within Hunger Pangs, a selection of stories curated and perfected by an artist.
These stories are focused primarily on loss; the melancholy, the sadness, and the ever-persistent question "why?" that generally follows or often precedes it. The emotion that powers the words that we read on these pages is evident to the point that if this book could cry, than my hands would have pruned. It's an amazingly sad and emotionally conflicted read, one that you should venture to, everyone needs a good cry or exorcism.
December 12, 2020
Scott Moses’s short story collection might, based on the cover alone, lead you think it’s seated in horror. That’s only partly true. Horror has many guises. It can be a full on, in-your-face-all-out-gore-fest forged for one purpose only; to shock the reader. There are thrillers that lean toward horror, stories of haunted houses, possession, splatterpunk, gothic, paranormal, body horror, the list goes on. But for me HUNGER PANGS sits outside all these sub-genres. It’s horror with heart. In truth, I would class Scott as a literary writer who fell into horror by mistake, because his prose, at times, is richly layered with poetic flourishes. I say all this because if you’re buying this book, and you certainty should, don’t go expecting a bloodbath. Instead, and keeping with this theme for a little longer, if each of these stories were vials of blood put into a centrifuge, what separates from the plasma is pure, one hundred percent emotion.
I went into this book knowing very little about Scott Moses. I didn’t know if he was American, English or Australian. I’d seen Hunger Pangs getting a lot of attention from people I respect in the literary world, and that was about it. However, I believe anyone who reads this collection will get to know Scott for the simple reason he is ever present in each of his characters. I may be wrong, but for him writing seems no different to sitting in a sharing circle; he’s exorcising his demons, off loading fears and anxieties. He is purging himself of all things he keeps hidden. And, personally, I’m happy he has. In doing so he’s created a collection of shorts that run the full gamut. And what skews most together, the golden thread piercing each of their hearts, is loss, be it that of a wife, a child, the mind, or hope. That horror is the backcloth to these stories is inconsequential, for each could sit in other genres and still work. However, the darkness fettered to the genre does enrich them. It adds to the gravity of his words.
As with all short story collections, there are always going to be some stories that resonate more than others, either because you relate to the subject or the characters, or the style of writing. And I’m not going to lie when I say all were strong in this book. I’ve never read a collection, either from such literary giants like Stephen King, where all the stories are equal in their appeal. But I will say there are more good to great stories than mediocre in Hunger Pangs. For me, stand outs were NOWHERE, LOUISIANA, WHAT’S IN YOUR NAME, BLUES EXORCIST and QUESTIONING THE PROFESSOR.
Scott Moses is definitely a writer you need to pay attention to. His style is effortless and richly layered with pathos, and after reading Hunger Pangs, I can guarantee each of the worlds he’s created will be sewn into the fabric of your consciousness.
I went into this book knowing very little about Scott Moses. I didn’t know if he was American, English or Australian. I’d seen Hunger Pangs getting a lot of attention from people I respect in the literary world, and that was about it. However, I believe anyone who reads this collection will get to know Scott for the simple reason he is ever present in each of his characters. I may be wrong, but for him writing seems no different to sitting in a sharing circle; he’s exorcising his demons, off loading fears and anxieties. He is purging himself of all things he keeps hidden. And, personally, I’m happy he has. In doing so he’s created a collection of shorts that run the full gamut. And what skews most together, the golden thread piercing each of their hearts, is loss, be it that of a wife, a child, the mind, or hope. That horror is the backcloth to these stories is inconsequential, for each could sit in other genres and still work. However, the darkness fettered to the genre does enrich them. It adds to the gravity of his words.
As with all short story collections, there are always going to be some stories that resonate more than others, either because you relate to the subject or the characters, or the style of writing. And I’m not going to lie when I say all were strong in this book. I’ve never read a collection, either from such literary giants like Stephen King, where all the stories are equal in their appeal. But I will say there are more good to great stories than mediocre in Hunger Pangs. For me, stand outs were NOWHERE, LOUISIANA, WHAT’S IN YOUR NAME, BLUES EXORCIST and QUESTIONING THE PROFESSOR.
Scott Moses is definitely a writer you need to pay attention to. His style is effortless and richly layered with pathos, and after reading Hunger Pangs, I can guarantee each of the worlds he’s created will be sewn into the fabric of your consciousness.
December 16, 2020
Review coming to Kendall Reviews
December 6, 2022
Hoping this resonates with some of you, and I’m so grateful you took a chance on my debut.
To understanding one another,
- Scott
To understanding one another,
- Scott
August 19, 2020
4.5 Stars
When I first spoke to Scott on Instagram two months back, we found that we understood one another’s hunger to rewrite and improve our work over time. As we discussed the process of giving stories new polishes years later, Scott said, “It’s like the work is never truly finished. We could edit ourselves into eternity.” He’s absolutely right. That being said, I can’t imagine this collection needing much of an edit moving forward. It’s already so damn good.
It is rare for me to read a book in a single day, but that’s just what I did with Hunger Pangs. I started it in the morning while my car got fixed, and finished it by that night at home in the midst of formatting an interior file. I frequently found myself lost in its pages, not wanting to stop. As such, I decided to design this review around the notes I took throughout the day, only editing them a bit for structure:
1 - Nowhere, Louisiana - This was my proper introduction to Scott's fiction. He's got a proficient style of narration, all the while creating an uneasy atmosphere for what's to come. I rather enjoyed this story and its setting.
2 - A Haunting - This piece of microfiction was too familiar.
3 - Cruel, Baying Adolescence - I liked the mystery underlying here. I wanted to know more about the curse and the family. I wanted to know if the sister changed into a monster, how it worked, and why they seemed to have a time limit to hurry her death. I wanted a book out of this one.
4 - Blues Exorcist - Great story. Want more again. I hope this character returns elsewhere. Moses could do a series on him.
5 - Questioning the Professor - I'm all for mental masturbation in trying to express the turmoil in our heads (this one being about God and how shit that happens in the world makes little sense), but I didn't feel like this worked as a story. As such, it seemed a little out of place in this collection. Well-written and provocative, though.
6 - Adelaide - Again, I want to know more. I need some full-length Moses stories, it would seem!
7 - She Walks - Not my sort of thing, but well-written.
8 - What's in Your Name - Fantastic novelette. I loved how the power of your name acted as a repellent against the demon. I liked how the character was stuck where their ashes remained, and had to haunt the house to scare off people in order to protect them from the demon looking for a body to possess. Emotional and gripping. Top shelf story.
9 - The Scent of Souls - Entertaining and strange, but I didn't follow it all that clearly.
10 - Of Turbulent Seas - Though this one didn't do it for me - maybe I was just in the mood for something exciting - it was still wonderfully written.
11 - There's No Going Back to Absit Gorge - Haunting. Works as a short, but I would love it revisited in longer form.
12 - Waning Plumes of Frostbitten Air - Revolving around depression - a very familiar piece of my life - this short reads like a dark poem that, in its final moments, blooms with hope.
13 - Hunger Pangs - I could read a novel on this character, no problem, and I don't even like vampires.
As you can see, I had little to complain about during this ride. Hunger Pangs had me hooked right out the gate. I sat down at four different stations of the day to read this, and each time I was left thinking, Damn, Scott can write. I think I’ve found a new favorite with this release. Hunger Pangs is an emotionally charged, thoughtful, and gripping collection of stories. Though horror-based, it is also speculative and literary throughout. I highly recommend this one - this is the sort of fiction I want to write.
Review by Aiden Merchant
www.aidenmerchant.com (Also on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Amazon)
contact@aidenmerchant.com (Message for review consideration)
When I first spoke to Scott on Instagram two months back, we found that we understood one another’s hunger to rewrite and improve our work over time. As we discussed the process of giving stories new polishes years later, Scott said, “It’s like the work is never truly finished. We could edit ourselves into eternity.” He’s absolutely right. That being said, I can’t imagine this collection needing much of an edit moving forward. It’s already so damn good.
It is rare for me to read a book in a single day, but that’s just what I did with Hunger Pangs. I started it in the morning while my car got fixed, and finished it by that night at home in the midst of formatting an interior file. I frequently found myself lost in its pages, not wanting to stop. As such, I decided to design this review around the notes I took throughout the day, only editing them a bit for structure:
1 - Nowhere, Louisiana - This was my proper introduction to Scott's fiction. He's got a proficient style of narration, all the while creating an uneasy atmosphere for what's to come. I rather enjoyed this story and its setting.
2 - A Haunting - This piece of microfiction was too familiar.
3 - Cruel, Baying Adolescence - I liked the mystery underlying here. I wanted to know more about the curse and the family. I wanted to know if the sister changed into a monster, how it worked, and why they seemed to have a time limit to hurry her death. I wanted a book out of this one.
4 - Blues Exorcist - Great story. Want more again. I hope this character returns elsewhere. Moses could do a series on him.
5 - Questioning the Professor - I'm all for mental masturbation in trying to express the turmoil in our heads (this one being about God and how shit that happens in the world makes little sense), but I didn't feel like this worked as a story. As such, it seemed a little out of place in this collection. Well-written and provocative, though.
6 - Adelaide - Again, I want to know more. I need some full-length Moses stories, it would seem!
7 - She Walks - Not my sort of thing, but well-written.
8 - What's in Your Name - Fantastic novelette. I loved how the power of your name acted as a repellent against the demon. I liked how the character was stuck where their ashes remained, and had to haunt the house to scare off people in order to protect them from the demon looking for a body to possess. Emotional and gripping. Top shelf story.
9 - The Scent of Souls - Entertaining and strange, but I didn't follow it all that clearly.
10 - Of Turbulent Seas - Though this one didn't do it for me - maybe I was just in the mood for something exciting - it was still wonderfully written.
11 - There's No Going Back to Absit Gorge - Haunting. Works as a short, but I would love it revisited in longer form.
12 - Waning Plumes of Frostbitten Air - Revolving around depression - a very familiar piece of my life - this short reads like a dark poem that, in its final moments, blooms with hope.
13 - Hunger Pangs - I could read a novel on this character, no problem, and I don't even like vampires.
As you can see, I had little to complain about during this ride. Hunger Pangs had me hooked right out the gate. I sat down at four different stations of the day to read this, and each time I was left thinking, Damn, Scott can write. I think I’ve found a new favorite with this release. Hunger Pangs is an emotionally charged, thoughtful, and gripping collection of stories. Though horror-based, it is also speculative and literary throughout. I highly recommend this one - this is the sort of fiction I want to write.
Review by Aiden Merchant
www.aidenmerchant.com (Also on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Amazon)
contact@aidenmerchant.com (Message for review consideration)
November 1, 2021
I first came across Scott’s work in his Anthology “What one wouldn’t do”, a collection of wonderful stories by some of Horror’s brightest and finest. His own piece “The witch of Flora Pass” set a tone that resonated, but left me bereft – and proved to be typical in tone to the pieces contained within Hunger Pangs. Though the stories contained within the book all have their own cadence, rhythm, mood, and voice, there is one word that summarizes the entire experience, and that word is “Bleak”.
Moses’ horror strips away hope. It drops the reader to the bottom of the horror emotional whirlpool. It is exquisite in its journey, my notes contained several instances of
“Literal quality to the writing – sublime, yet bleak.”
– you can’t help but admire the mind behind the stories yet at the same time, worry for the man from which they came. It is a journey through a darker side of Horror – one in which the monsters and vampires and killers contained within the pages, hold no peace. There is not one piece in this collection from which I did not despair to an extent – either for the situations the protagonists found themselves in, or the state of mind in which the author must have been in to conceive of them. It is like watching a friend on the edge of despair. Moses clarifies in notes where he was when he wrote the stories, often in pain, often on the edge of life-changing events. This novel then seems to be literal cries in the dark, places, and people that could be found nowhere else but teetering on the precipice.
As I said, Bleak.
But the beauty of Scott’s prose provides light in the darkness. Pretty much in the same way as Greek tragedies, the outcomes to the stories are almost always foreseeable, unavoidable, yet that narrator’s voice, the lyricism, and self-deprecating honesty of Scott’s prose bleed off the page.
It leaves you just wanting to hug the man.
Hunger Pangs is not an easy book to read. It demands time, calm, reflection, it needs to settle on your soul. It doesn’t offer humor or morality, it simply offers honesty, and courage, and raw pain. It’s the kind of book that is going to move you. Make you aware of the tragedy in other people’s lives. Make you aware that you never know what is going on in another person’s life, but despite whatever problem you are experiencing, there are people in the world out there suffering more, and sometimes we need to see that. Take a good honest look at them, and reevaluate our lives accordingly.
A hard-fought 4 ⭐’s from me, my deepest respect to the Author, and my need to tell Scott that no matter what pain he is going through, no matter how low he might feel in his life, his work, his family, that he is worth every moment It took to read this collection of heart-breaking, emotion-bleeding horror. I have no idea what this collection cost you, Scott, but you have our thanks.
Shout out to the wonderful (as ever) cover by Daniele Sera , who captured the tone of this book.
Moses’ horror strips away hope. It drops the reader to the bottom of the horror emotional whirlpool. It is exquisite in its journey, my notes contained several instances of
“Literal quality to the writing – sublime, yet bleak.”
– you can’t help but admire the mind behind the stories yet at the same time, worry for the man from which they came. It is a journey through a darker side of Horror – one in which the monsters and vampires and killers contained within the pages, hold no peace. There is not one piece in this collection from which I did not despair to an extent – either for the situations the protagonists found themselves in, or the state of mind in which the author must have been in to conceive of them. It is like watching a friend on the edge of despair. Moses clarifies in notes where he was when he wrote the stories, often in pain, often on the edge of life-changing events. This novel then seems to be literal cries in the dark, places, and people that could be found nowhere else but teetering on the precipice.
As I said, Bleak.
But the beauty of Scott’s prose provides light in the darkness. Pretty much in the same way as Greek tragedies, the outcomes to the stories are almost always foreseeable, unavoidable, yet that narrator’s voice, the lyricism, and self-deprecating honesty of Scott’s prose bleed off the page.
It leaves you just wanting to hug the man.
Hunger Pangs is not an easy book to read. It demands time, calm, reflection, it needs to settle on your soul. It doesn’t offer humor or morality, it simply offers honesty, and courage, and raw pain. It’s the kind of book that is going to move you. Make you aware of the tragedy in other people’s lives. Make you aware that you never know what is going on in another person’s life, but despite whatever problem you are experiencing, there are people in the world out there suffering more, and sometimes we need to see that. Take a good honest look at them, and reevaluate our lives accordingly.
A hard-fought 4 ⭐’s from me, my deepest respect to the Author, and my need to tell Scott that no matter what pain he is going through, no matter how low he might feel in his life, his work, his family, that he is worth every moment It took to read this collection of heart-breaking, emotion-bleeding horror. I have no idea what this collection cost you, Scott, but you have our thanks.
Shout out to the wonderful (as ever) cover by Daniele Sera , who captured the tone of this book.
November 2, 2020
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy for review.
I really liked this collection. It felt very cohesive and plenty of stories had that emotional punch. I also enjoyed the small introductions to each story with the backstory and inspiration behind each story. A lot of them were quite vulnerable and really added to the experience. I loved the Blues Exorcist and Nowhere, Louisiana the best. Excited to see more from this author.
I really liked this collection. It felt very cohesive and plenty of stories had that emotional punch. I also enjoyed the small introductions to each story with the backstory and inspiration behind each story. A lot of them were quite vulnerable and really added to the experience. I loved the Blues Exorcist and Nowhere, Louisiana the best. Excited to see more from this author.
June 30, 2021
Wandering around in Moses’ head through these tales feels strangely fitting during this 90+ degree summer…
December 29, 2020
I'm not typically a fan of short story collections. I don't know why, I'm just not. I can count on one hand the number of collections that I've enjoyed every story and that's typically what puts me off, there's, basically always, a clunker or two. Not here.
Scott Moses has put together a collection of 13 stories that I enjoyed from cover to cover. There was no story that made me want to put the book down and my favorite one of the bunch was the last, the titular Hunger Pangs, about one of my new favorite vampires. Other favorites include, What's in your Name, Adelaide and Nowhere, Louisiana but, honestly, there's nothing here that I didn't like. There are some that I liked much more than others but overall, Hunger Pangs is definitely a collection to check out.
Scott Moses has put together a collection of 13 stories that I enjoyed from cover to cover. There was no story that made me want to put the book down and my favorite one of the bunch was the last, the titular Hunger Pangs, about one of my new favorite vampires. Other favorites include, What's in your Name, Adelaide and Nowhere, Louisiana but, honestly, there's nothing here that I didn't like. There are some that I liked much more than others but overall, Hunger Pangs is definitely a collection to check out.
April 19, 2022
The stories Moses collected into Hunger Pangs are all impactful and resonated with me long after I set the book down. The writing and conveyance of emotion are it’s greatest achievement, and I’m consistently in awe at how Moses can craft such dynamic characters in short form. A rare collection where each story is enjoyable, but some hit me harder than others (as with every collection), and I find myself thinking of them often.
Gripping and emotive, do not miss this. I’d wager to say this is more literary horror and that, my friends, is a great thing.
Standouts: “Blues Exorcist”, “What’s In Your Name”, “Nowhere, Louisiana”, “Cruel, Baying Adolescence”, and “Hunger Pangs”.
Gripping and emotive, do not miss this. I’d wager to say this is more literary horror and that, my friends, is a great thing.
Standouts: “Blues Exorcist”, “What’s In Your Name”, “Nowhere, Louisiana”, “Cruel, Baying Adolescence”, and “Hunger Pangs”.
August 21, 2020
The aptly titled Hunger Pangs is a collection of tales filled with hunger. Hunger for what might have been, hunger for what can never be, hunger for human flesh, and in the title story a hunger for blood. Most are filled with themes of loss, and the horror of grieving that loss.
All were well written and quite original although not necessarily as scary as I had hoped. I would recommend it for fans of dark fiction but perhaps not for hard core horror fans.
4 out of 5 stars I received an advance copy for review
All were well written and quite original although not necessarily as scary as I had hoped. I would recommend it for fans of dark fiction but perhaps not for hard core horror fans.
4 out of 5 stars I received an advance copy for review
August 19, 2020
Review to come
August 15, 2020
Hunger Pangs is the debut collection from Scott J. Moses, a new voice in horror for me but a collection that dredges the very depths of horror, you can tell from reading this varied collection that Moses is a person that has been moulded by horror his entire life. There are stories that are vampiric in nature, that deal with lycanthopy, the living dead, voodoo and paranormal; then you get your generic haunting stories but given new life, possession stories but not like you’ve read before and a whole host of other dark and macabre offerings.
The collection for me works on so many different levels given the varying lengths of short story with some flash fiction too, but each offering is a bite-sized terror that needs to be eagerly consumed.
Now, with all collections there are stories that affect the reader more than others, but with Hunger Pangs, every story pretty much hits its mark (although there were a few stories that seemed similar, stories that shared the same tropes of the genre, but I enjoyed them nevertheless) – also what I found to be one of the best bits about this collection was that before each story Moses details to us where the story came from and when he wrote it – this personal aspect of the book really helped to give me a glimpse of this new talent and showcased that from the normal, the mundane, horror can issue forth at any given moment, you just have to capture it – and that’s what Moses does, time and time again!
As with all my reviews that focus on collections, I will pick a handful of stories to discuss, given the length and the number in the collection. It would do a disservice to the collection and the author if I spend too much time discussing his crafted tales and spoil the enjoyment for you, the reader (this is what I hope to be a spoiler free review). So below are a couple of the stories that I loved, it was hard to pick but these were the few that floated to the surface for me!
Nowhere, Louisiana – for me this story read like early Stephen King (come on we all know that’s his best patch) and this particular story had me reminiscing about Pet Sematary (it’s a fabulously dark and creepy tale to start the collection). It bowled me over, I loved the whole aspect of this dastardly tale – as we get the old hitchhiker trope which has been flogged to death in the horror genre (both in film and literature) but Moses creates something new here, breathes new life into this warn out trope and creates something that is emotionally charged whilst also dredging the very depths of the soul and our internal yearnings. Moses also weaves into the story an element of Voodoo, leaving much to the readers mind (he doesn’t sugarcoat anything for us here) and in doing so has created quite the uncanny tale. I love what we learn through the prose and the hinted backstory without having it all spelled out for us, and in keeping things hidden, and the slow understanding we come realise, we see that Moses has created an eerie tale that kick-starts a memorable collection.
‘Before she left for the bathroom, my sister asked me to murder her.’
Cruel, Baying Adolescence – When I finished this story I had to reach out to Moses and tell him how good it was (it’s important for me to tell writers what I love about there work – as a writer myself when someone reaches out personally and tells me about a story of mine, it blows me away – so this is something I tend to do quite often). What I didn’t count on was that I was the first person to actually guess what the story was about and what one of the main protagonist was. It’s a familial tale, that deals with lycanthropy (it’s not a spoiler as it’s right there in the prose) but again Moses does a great job of hiding his brilliance, and letting the reader come up with their own thoughts (as sometimes these inner thoughts can be worse than what’s on the page) and Moses gets this, all his stories have that hidden quality and it shows that Moses also understands the old phrase of what you don’t see is often scarier than what you do see. But Cruel, Baying Adolescence adds to the lycanthropy myth in ways that have not been seen before, it’s quite brilliant and oh so refreshing. I found that the brother and sister relationship were perfectly rendered and believable; dysfunctional in a way that most brother and sister relationships are, and their chatting the fat was also masterfully rendered and it had me thinking of late 80’s early 90’s horror films – it’s fabulous and I loved it… it’s got a readability to it that swallows you whole, like many of the stories in the collection; and I feel that this particular story if Moses wishes could be expanded to make a great novella or novel.
Hunger Pangs – There is an author note at the beginning of this story, like all the stories within the collection and this note details that this particular story was rejected for not being horror enough and was then rejected for being too literary (how many times do we hear of greatness not being recognised – and that is what is happening here, I have no doubt about it) but if I were to offer one piece of advice to Moses it would be not to listen to the crowd, because this was one mighty fine offering and I for one am thirsty, or should I say hungry for more! Hunger Pangs contains some of the best writing in the collection, it’s a vampiric story but with a very different take on that trope of the horror genre. It was the perfect blend of Ann Rice, Lindqvist and What We Do In The Shadows, adding wonderfully to the genre but whilst also making it a unique offering. I’d personally read a whole book based on the premise that he gets across in this tremendous story. The characters were perfect and I just wanted to know more about the snippets of information that Moses deftly places within his prose and narrative – so please Moses turn this into a novella or a novel or even a series!
Hunger Pangs is a great introduction to Scott J. Moses and with many of the stories within the collection making me want more from him as a writer, I for one can’t wait to see what he does with a novella or a novel. Many of the stories within this collection are ripe and worthy of being extended, so I wouldn’t be too shocked to see some of these given a longer outing in the near future – and I for one would champion that, and I’d be the first in line to grab a copy. On the whole Hunger Pangs is a great debut collection with some fabulous stories thrown into the mix, that showcase perfectly a writer with a bright future in horror writing.
The collection for me works on so many different levels given the varying lengths of short story with some flash fiction too, but each offering is a bite-sized terror that needs to be eagerly consumed.
Now, with all collections there are stories that affect the reader more than others, but with Hunger Pangs, every story pretty much hits its mark (although there were a few stories that seemed similar, stories that shared the same tropes of the genre, but I enjoyed them nevertheless) – also what I found to be one of the best bits about this collection was that before each story Moses details to us where the story came from and when he wrote it – this personal aspect of the book really helped to give me a glimpse of this new talent and showcased that from the normal, the mundane, horror can issue forth at any given moment, you just have to capture it – and that’s what Moses does, time and time again!
As with all my reviews that focus on collections, I will pick a handful of stories to discuss, given the length and the number in the collection. It would do a disservice to the collection and the author if I spend too much time discussing his crafted tales and spoil the enjoyment for you, the reader (this is what I hope to be a spoiler free review). So below are a couple of the stories that I loved, it was hard to pick but these were the few that floated to the surface for me!
Nowhere, Louisiana – for me this story read like early Stephen King (come on we all know that’s his best patch) and this particular story had me reminiscing about Pet Sematary (it’s a fabulously dark and creepy tale to start the collection). It bowled me over, I loved the whole aspect of this dastardly tale – as we get the old hitchhiker trope which has been flogged to death in the horror genre (both in film and literature) but Moses creates something new here, breathes new life into this warn out trope and creates something that is emotionally charged whilst also dredging the very depths of the soul and our internal yearnings. Moses also weaves into the story an element of Voodoo, leaving much to the readers mind (he doesn’t sugarcoat anything for us here) and in doing so has created quite the uncanny tale. I love what we learn through the prose and the hinted backstory without having it all spelled out for us, and in keeping things hidden, and the slow understanding we come realise, we see that Moses has created an eerie tale that kick-starts a memorable collection.
‘Before she left for the bathroom, my sister asked me to murder her.’
Cruel, Baying Adolescence – When I finished this story I had to reach out to Moses and tell him how good it was (it’s important for me to tell writers what I love about there work – as a writer myself when someone reaches out personally and tells me about a story of mine, it blows me away – so this is something I tend to do quite often). What I didn’t count on was that I was the first person to actually guess what the story was about and what one of the main protagonist was. It’s a familial tale, that deals with lycanthropy (it’s not a spoiler as it’s right there in the prose) but again Moses does a great job of hiding his brilliance, and letting the reader come up with their own thoughts (as sometimes these inner thoughts can be worse than what’s on the page) and Moses gets this, all his stories have that hidden quality and it shows that Moses also understands the old phrase of what you don’t see is often scarier than what you do see. But Cruel, Baying Adolescence adds to the lycanthropy myth in ways that have not been seen before, it’s quite brilliant and oh so refreshing. I found that the brother and sister relationship were perfectly rendered and believable; dysfunctional in a way that most brother and sister relationships are, and their chatting the fat was also masterfully rendered and it had me thinking of late 80’s early 90’s horror films – it’s fabulous and I loved it… it’s got a readability to it that swallows you whole, like many of the stories in the collection; and I feel that this particular story if Moses wishes could be expanded to make a great novella or novel.
Hunger Pangs – There is an author note at the beginning of this story, like all the stories within the collection and this note details that this particular story was rejected for not being horror enough and was then rejected for being too literary (how many times do we hear of greatness not being recognised – and that is what is happening here, I have no doubt about it) but if I were to offer one piece of advice to Moses it would be not to listen to the crowd, because this was one mighty fine offering and I for one am thirsty, or should I say hungry for more! Hunger Pangs contains some of the best writing in the collection, it’s a vampiric story but with a very different take on that trope of the horror genre. It was the perfect blend of Ann Rice, Lindqvist and What We Do In The Shadows, adding wonderfully to the genre but whilst also making it a unique offering. I’d personally read a whole book based on the premise that he gets across in this tremendous story. The characters were perfect and I just wanted to know more about the snippets of information that Moses deftly places within his prose and narrative – so please Moses turn this into a novella or a novel or even a series!
Hunger Pangs is a great introduction to Scott J. Moses and with many of the stories within the collection making me want more from him as a writer, I for one can’t wait to see what he does with a novella or a novel. Many of the stories within this collection are ripe and worthy of being extended, so I wouldn’t be too shocked to see some of these given a longer outing in the near future – and I for one would champion that, and I’d be the first in line to grab a copy. On the whole Hunger Pangs is a great debut collection with some fabulous stories thrown into the mix, that showcase perfectly a writer with a bright future in horror writing.
December 13, 2020
Scott Moses was kind enough to send me a copy of his debut collection, Hunger Pangs, for review. And I’m so glad he did. I’d seen his name around the twittersphere and had the book on my radar, but there’s just so much out there and it’s easy enough to get lost. Inside the front cover, Scott signed it “To understanding one another.” An apt inscription if I ever saw one.
Moses’ writing is good. A simple sentence, I know. I’m sorry, but I found myself drawn in immediately and unable to pin down exactly what it was. Part of it, I believe, is his writer’s voice. It reads like an author from a bygone era. An old and kind soul, guiding you through troubled waters. Sensory description is another piece that Moses uses to his advantage frequently. The door never opens. A rusty creaks cuts the silence of the room as the door swings inward. Moses employs sight and sound, but is sure to include lesser used senses like smell, frequently as well. One other potential reason for my love of this collection might be the innate beauty with which Moses writes. No matter what terrible thing is happening, you can’t help but be held in awe at the way you’re watching it play out.
As with any collection, not every story was for me, but I found a takeaway in every piece, an example of something that I believed would appeal to some reader out there.
I’m a sucker for a well-planned collection, where I can tell the author/editor put a lot of time and care into the placement of stories. “Nowhere, Lousiana”, especially in retrospect, was the only choice for the opener. An atmospheric story that puts on display the type of horror writing that Moses excels at.
“Questioning the Professor” is a gorgeous, open-ended story that allows me to pinpoint one more thing I enjoyed about Hunger Pangs. The author’s notes that precede each story hold nothing back, Moses baring his soul and creating a deeper understanding between author and reader. There’s that word again.
“What’s in your Name” is a special story that will stick with me for a long time. The strongest story in the collection, it’s powerful, poignant piece that’s charged with emotion and takes a look at real, inexplicable evil. Stories where the character must make an impossible choice and we see the aftermath of the consequence will always hit me hard, and this one pulled it off masterfully.
“Hunger Pangs”, the titular story, is as perfect a choice for the final story as “Nowhere, LA” was for the opening. Moses tells us it has a history of rejection - being too horror for the literary crowd and too literary for the horror crowd. Maybe it didn’t find a good fit in any particular anthology, but it’s a terrific example of Moses’ style. Mixing horror with literary.
The collection worked for me. I feel like I’ve been pretty clear on that. I could, however, see some readers looking for more straightforward and gritty horror not connecting fully here. That’s not say Moses can’t or doesn’t bring the violence. It’s there, but it’s not always the focal point. If you like your horror with a bit of depth, soul, and a hint of poetry, even in the pieces that aren’t poetry, there’s a lot to like in this collection.
I received a copy from the author for review consideration
Moses’ writing is good. A simple sentence, I know. I’m sorry, but I found myself drawn in immediately and unable to pin down exactly what it was. Part of it, I believe, is his writer’s voice. It reads like an author from a bygone era. An old and kind soul, guiding you through troubled waters. Sensory description is another piece that Moses uses to his advantage frequently. The door never opens. A rusty creaks cuts the silence of the room as the door swings inward. Moses employs sight and sound, but is sure to include lesser used senses like smell, frequently as well. One other potential reason for my love of this collection might be the innate beauty with which Moses writes. No matter what terrible thing is happening, you can’t help but be held in awe at the way you’re watching it play out.
As with any collection, not every story was for me, but I found a takeaway in every piece, an example of something that I believed would appeal to some reader out there.
I’m a sucker for a well-planned collection, where I can tell the author/editor put a lot of time and care into the placement of stories. “Nowhere, Lousiana”, especially in retrospect, was the only choice for the opener. An atmospheric story that puts on display the type of horror writing that Moses excels at.
“Questioning the Professor” is a gorgeous, open-ended story that allows me to pinpoint one more thing I enjoyed about Hunger Pangs. The author’s notes that precede each story hold nothing back, Moses baring his soul and creating a deeper understanding between author and reader. There’s that word again.
“What’s in your Name” is a special story that will stick with me for a long time. The strongest story in the collection, it’s powerful, poignant piece that’s charged with emotion and takes a look at real, inexplicable evil. Stories where the character must make an impossible choice and we see the aftermath of the consequence will always hit me hard, and this one pulled it off masterfully.
“Hunger Pangs”, the titular story, is as perfect a choice for the final story as “Nowhere, LA” was for the opening. Moses tells us it has a history of rejection - being too horror for the literary crowd and too literary for the horror crowd. Maybe it didn’t find a good fit in any particular anthology, but it’s a terrific example of Moses’ style. Mixing horror with literary.
The collection worked for me. I feel like I’ve been pretty clear on that. I could, however, see some readers looking for more straightforward and gritty horror not connecting fully here. That’s not say Moses can’t or doesn’t bring the violence. It’s there, but it’s not always the focal point. If you like your horror with a bit of depth, soul, and a hint of poetry, even in the pieces that aren’t poetry, there’s a lot to like in this collection.
I received a copy from the author for review consideration
October 30, 2020
Hunger Pangs is not just an original debut horror anthology, or a writers first attempt at connecting with a wider audience. These pages are the culmination of several years of dedication to the art of crafting a story, of creating characters, and of connecting with the reader in an intimate way. Each short delivers its own collection of neurosis and traumas, weather they be of a psychological nature, or emotional distress, in a way which leaves the reader with the weight of necessary introspection left squarely upon their shoulders. The subject of suffering due to loss is one of the most uncomfortably intimate, due not just to the variety, and expanse of its reach, but the inevitability it holds over us all. By it’s very nature, it removes crucial strands from the safety net intended to support those suffering its sting. The very person or thing that could act as a salve for ones distress, can often be the very reason for that distress. These darkest parts of the human psyche are unapologetically explored, both with fear, and sorrow, in the pages of Hunger Pangs; even leaving room for the redemption of monsters, and the nuance of circumstance.
As one of the privileged close friends of Scott J. Moses, I have seen with my eyes the work and dedication this collection has received over the years. The hyperbolic blood sweat and tears the author has poured from his personal life, and his creative mind, have paid off. As a first time reader of the finished product, the taste of iron and salt is potent in every page. A passionately written book, for passionate readers, absolutely worth your time.
As one of the privileged close friends of Scott J. Moses, I have seen with my eyes the work and dedication this collection has received over the years. The hyperbolic blood sweat and tears the author has poured from his personal life, and his creative mind, have paid off. As a first time reader of the finished product, the taste of iron and salt is potent in every page. A passionately written book, for passionate readers, absolutely worth your time.
November 7, 2020
Seldom have I run across an anthology so aptly named as Hunger Pangs.
2020 has been the year for reading. I've been using books as distractions from the horrors and loneliness of the real world to keep myself afloat this year. Sometimes books like this, books that focus more on the empathy than the fears themselves, are a good reminder that it is okay to feel those emotions we'd sooner shove away.
The book was beautiful. The writing has a very literary quality that I'm glad to see has not fallen entirely out of style, and even the layout was something to savor. I appreciated that they stories were annotated, also. With single author anthologies, I've found that there are always pieces that seem to speak to me much clearer than others, but the notes about where the other pieces were written and why they were included helped me appreciate even the entries that didn't move me in the same way as the others. They were a nice touch for a collection that was, at its core, about understanding.
There aren't any outright scares in this book. There was nothing that made me flinch away, nothing to chill my spine. The horror comes in at a very human level. The discomfort comes from loneliness and loss. It reminds us what it is to feel empty, to experience those pangs of hunger.
2020 has been the year for reading. I've been using books as distractions from the horrors and loneliness of the real world to keep myself afloat this year. Sometimes books like this, books that focus more on the empathy than the fears themselves, are a good reminder that it is okay to feel those emotions we'd sooner shove away.
The book was beautiful. The writing has a very literary quality that I'm glad to see has not fallen entirely out of style, and even the layout was something to savor. I appreciated that they stories were annotated, also. With single author anthologies, I've found that there are always pieces that seem to speak to me much clearer than others, but the notes about where the other pieces were written and why they were included helped me appreciate even the entries that didn't move me in the same way as the others. They were a nice touch for a collection that was, at its core, about understanding.
There aren't any outright scares in this book. There was nothing that made me flinch away, nothing to chill my spine. The horror comes in at a very human level. The discomfort comes from loneliness and loss. It reminds us what it is to feel empty, to experience those pangs of hunger.
October 23, 2020
4.5 rounded up! This is a beautifully written collection of dark fiction, I enjoyed every single story! A common theme of grief and loss simmer underneath the overt, dangerous dealings with ghosts, vampires and otherworldly creatures. This collection is a melancholic, thoughtful exploration of what it means to be alive.
I really liked the succinct writing; each word perfectly placed so that nothing is wasted. The characters come alive on the page. They deal with deaths, longing, and the what ifs in different ways, sometimes to terrible ends. But while there’s despair, there’s also hope.
It’s hard to pick favourites but my picks are Blues Exorcist, a subversive look at an exorcism; What’s In Your Name, a dark haunting from the eyes of the ghost; and The Scent of Souls; a witchy haunted house tale. I also appreciate that an author’s note is included for all the stories. Highly recommended!
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I really liked the succinct writing; each word perfectly placed so that nothing is wasted. The characters come alive on the page. They deal with deaths, longing, and the what ifs in different ways, sometimes to terrible ends. But while there’s despair, there’s also hope.
It’s hard to pick favourites but my picks are Blues Exorcist, a subversive look at an exorcism; What’s In Your Name, a dark haunting from the eyes of the ghost; and The Scent of Souls; a witchy haunted house tale. I also appreciate that an author’s note is included for all the stories. Highly recommended!
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December 14, 2020
Hunger pangs was an absolute delight to read. A short story collection influenced by death and grief. The favourite for me was What's in Your Name - the concept was ingenious and it was executed phenomenonally. What also stood out for me was the authors notes before each story givinh a background which heightened my experience. I wouldn't necessarily say its a horror but definitely dark fiction and highly recommended.
August 19, 2020
This is a great collection of soulful stories dealing with grief and loss. The author does a wonderful job bringing his stories to life with his vividly painted scenes as he delivers his supernatural reads. Each story is well written,moves fluidly and are enjoyable reads.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
January 11, 2021
This was an OK collection of stories. Some were perfect for their size, others had me confused, some were just too long and had me being distracted by other things, and others were just too short and I would like to read more of. Some were a bit too gory for the me of now, but I am sure my then me would have liked it. I thought this would be mostly horror and while a lot of stories were spooky or creepy (and some downright wtf) some were just sad (like the man who wonder why his little girl is sick). I love that this took place over various times. I am happy I read this book.
July 21, 2020
I was lucky enough to snag a paperback ARC of Hunger Pangs from the author, Scott J. Moses, in exchange for my honest review, which follows below. I thank him for this opportunity.
I rated this 5 stars.
I came to this decision for several reasons, which all really boil down to different ways that I enjoyed this collection. The stories promise to be ‘thirteen tales of supernatural horror and everyday woe’ and I found them to be exactly that; either singularly so or intrinsically woven together. I thought each story was structured well, flowing nicely, and even if I wished for more; ending where it should. Recommending this for readers of dark fiction, grieving horror (which is a category I think I just made up), supernatural and Gothic horror, and written scenes that flutter in your minds eye when you least expect it. I can see giving this collection as a gift, and I will be rereading these stories.
I also appreciated the author notes placed before each story. Not every author chooses to include them, and that’s okay as well. I really liked them being at the beginning instead of after; going into the story already knowing the author’s mindset felt like I had unlocked a secret level for each story. My husband, who checks over my reviews for errors before I post them; just one of the many reasons I love him, says this kind of communication in papers is “front-loading.” He did it in law school and still does it for research papers as a grad student. I do it with my star rating for reviews because he suggested it, as he put it “I’m not writing a mystery novel, so I don’t need to hide my results till the end”; the easy explanation of front-loading. I liked how it affected my reading experience for this collection of stories.
I wanted to be sure to mention the cover art, which I think is beautiful and perfect for this collection, is by the artist Daniele Serra. The title, Hunger Pangs, is also the name of the last story you will read; the cover is based on a character from that story.
I am going to review this as spoiler free as possible, because you should buy it and read it for yourself when it’s released. I’m going to buy myself a copy, because it’s that good and I love the cover. We have to feed the writers if we want more books from the writers.
Nowhere, Louisiana – The first time I had ever heard the term Gris-Gris was reading Laurel K. Hamilton’s The Laughing Corpse; the first author I discovered on my own, browsing the shelves at a Hasting’s. I believe she imparted the power of that item well. What happens to ‘when you love something let it go’, when what you love is taken by mortality and not just ‘consciously uncoupling’ for a bit? I could see the desperate appeal, the last ditch chance to have a lost loved one back again. But to quote a lovable old man from Pet Sematary, “Sometimes dead is better.” Right? Got me right in the happily married feels.
A Haunting – The author referred to this as a piece of micro-fiction, and it is less than a paragraph. There isn’t really a way to talk about it without giving it all away; but I will say the last sentence could be the best supernatural shower thought ever.
Cruel, Baying Adolescence – I thought this was a great one to follow so close after Nowhere, Louisiana. It has a different type of relationship, still connected by an almost unbreakable love; how the narrator cumulatively shows it, way on the other end of the spectrum from the first story. This won’t be the only story where the author touches on the subject family specific issues. It made me introspective and question whether I would be able to remain as stalwart to the end if ever placed in a similar situation. I worry I might fail the greater good, as it were.
Blues Exorcist - This may have been my favorite in this collection, because it takes a horror trope I felt I knew pretty well and turned it upside down. Arthur the exorcist (who I would watch in any form of television program if I could just see him solving problems with his particular grit and savvy) is sent to perform an exorcism already attempted and failed. What he finds inside Greer is not the usual fare. Loved, loved, loved it.
Questioning the Professor – So if the last story gave me a lighthearted moment, even if unintentional, I was thrown right back under the emotional bus of agony and bereavement with this one. The reader is with a man in a hospital waiting room, listening to his inner monologue to the great professor in the sky, if He is indeed up there. That is never a good scene to open up to, being in a hospital is rarely for a good reason. This brought up a memory from when my sister had to put her cat down. She was 15, because I drove her to the vet, and I couldn’t drive until I was 18. We each got one kitten from my aunt, mine was a long hair gray, and hers was a long hair black fluffy, Heinz 57 (which meant my aunt had no clue what breed); they had extra toes on each foot, we loved them. We were able to have them if we took care of them totally, no parent help, which we did. You know those jokes, did you grow up in a happy home or are you funny? We are very funny. So her cat gets older, gets sick. Feline diabetes. She is working part time to pay for the insulin and giving it to the cat herself, my parents won’t help, even though my dad can start IVs due to his job. Her cat starts to go blind, she still takes care of her, until she thinks her cat is hurting too much. She asks me to take her and the cat to the vet, parents had already said no because they had plans. Of course I took her, when we got there she wanted to go in by herself. Almost an hour later she comes out alone, I could tell she had been crying. I found out later the vet hadn’t been very good at bedside manner, or at putting animals to sleep. My sister is 36 now but has not had a pet for herself since, she told me it hurts too much. She gets pets for her kids, and shows them how to love them and take care of them, but she won’t let herself bond with an animal again like she ever did with her childhood pet. I know this is way off subject from the story the author wrote, but when reading it, this is what I thought about, and how cruel I always thought it was a child had to say goodbye to her pet alone. This story connected to me, I’m crying while typing this. My sister lost a something she loved that has affected her forever, which is not so different in the end.
Adelaide – I wish I could have more of this story, good ones do that; you never want them to end. I loved the X-Files growing up; the brief view of the world created for this story leads me to believe I would enjoy reading/watching more of it. But only if I get the partners solving those off the book cases before this story was written.
She Walks – This read so beautifully. I could see this as a series of watercolors, or mosaic art pieces while the story is spoken aloud; passing on to the next generation. This is one where the imagery would creep in when I would be doing something else; a flash of red here, a spray of gray and blue. Even the elemental scent of the earth or salt could place you there. Just beautiful.
What’s in Your Name – This story has a family illness, remember when I mentioned the author wasn’t done with those? Nicholas lost his mother to breast cancer; she had a mutation, the BRCA2 gene. This makes her children, Nick and his sister Kasey, pre-disposed to getting the same cancer; Nick is found to be one of the youngest males ever diagnosed. A late night dark web search for alternate cures gives him more than he asked for; the next thing he is aware of is his own funeral. I felt this took a ghost story and gave it a truly unique take. I also appreciate how the author believes in the inherent goodness in people; it comes through in his writing by the characters he writes. Nicholas may be dead, but he is not done trying to help those that need it.
The Scent of Souls – Strange houses terrify and call to me in almost equal measure. So while I know I am not supposed to be interested in walking the halls of the house Matt find himself in, following the odd Viola, I very much find that I do. I think this is one I will read many times, there is something so strong about the ending. The whole regaling of the family history, told by Viola, was very disjointed and somewhat frantic. Which, if you think about if being told by a child, makes a lot of sense. I just really liked how this story unfolded.
Of Turbulent Seas – This was rough to read. I’m lucky, I’ve had 10 years of marriage with my hubby, and we get along; that bodes well for the long run, because we are bound by law. And love, always love. But I don’t know what I would do if one day that was just, done with. I’d like to think there would be warning signs, communication, chances to fix issues. But to some people, everything changes like a switch being thrown, one that they couldn’t even see and now they are alone in the dark. Hard read because I’ve known people like this, and it never got easier for them.
There’s No Going Back to Absit Gorge – One line that stuck with me from Stranger Things was the Sheriffs definition for compromise. “Compromise is something kinda in-between, it’s like half-way happy.” Because my memory sucks, until I looked it up just now, how we really said it in our house was ‘compromise, where everybody is a little unhappy, nobody wins’. When I read about Alan, this crossed my mind; he’s no fool, he is willing to compromise. Another story I wanted more from, just a few more pages.
Waning Plumes of Frostbitten Air – This hit on a personal level; I too have depression. Been fighting it most of my life; it runs in the family. Reading this was empowering, I loved the visuals he created; depression is an invader, it does not belong even though it can be so much bigger than us at times. I think he captured that perfectly.
Hunger Pangs – The final story, the titular tale. Alice Ann, who graces the cover, guides us through the night as she searches for some of that liquid diet particular to her and her sister, Hannah Grace. Even if you don’t really miss doing something, the minute you are told you can’t, you find you kinda want to right? I personally don’t think I would miss the sun that much, but at the same time, I like reading out in it when it’s not too hot. I liked the walls coming down feel, she gets to talk about herself unguarded, and she shares a moment with someone. There was a melancholy to this, but also a healing. The perfect ending to this collection in my opinion.
I rated this 5 stars.
I came to this decision for several reasons, which all really boil down to different ways that I enjoyed this collection. The stories promise to be ‘thirteen tales of supernatural horror and everyday woe’ and I found them to be exactly that; either singularly so or intrinsically woven together. I thought each story was structured well, flowing nicely, and even if I wished for more; ending where it should. Recommending this for readers of dark fiction, grieving horror (which is a category I think I just made up), supernatural and Gothic horror, and written scenes that flutter in your minds eye when you least expect it. I can see giving this collection as a gift, and I will be rereading these stories.
I also appreciated the author notes placed before each story. Not every author chooses to include them, and that’s okay as well. I really liked them being at the beginning instead of after; going into the story already knowing the author’s mindset felt like I had unlocked a secret level for each story. My husband, who checks over my reviews for errors before I post them; just one of the many reasons I love him, says this kind of communication in papers is “front-loading.” He did it in law school and still does it for research papers as a grad student. I do it with my star rating for reviews because he suggested it, as he put it “I’m not writing a mystery novel, so I don’t need to hide my results till the end”; the easy explanation of front-loading. I liked how it affected my reading experience for this collection of stories.
I wanted to be sure to mention the cover art, which I think is beautiful and perfect for this collection, is by the artist Daniele Serra. The title, Hunger Pangs, is also the name of the last story you will read; the cover is based on a character from that story.
I am going to review this as spoiler free as possible, because you should buy it and read it for yourself when it’s released. I’m going to buy myself a copy, because it’s that good and I love the cover. We have to feed the writers if we want more books from the writers.
Nowhere, Louisiana – The first time I had ever heard the term Gris-Gris was reading Laurel K. Hamilton’s The Laughing Corpse; the first author I discovered on my own, browsing the shelves at a Hasting’s. I believe she imparted the power of that item well. What happens to ‘when you love something let it go’, when what you love is taken by mortality and not just ‘consciously uncoupling’ for a bit? I could see the desperate appeal, the last ditch chance to have a lost loved one back again. But to quote a lovable old man from Pet Sematary, “Sometimes dead is better.” Right? Got me right in the happily married feels.
A Haunting – The author referred to this as a piece of micro-fiction, and it is less than a paragraph. There isn’t really a way to talk about it without giving it all away; but I will say the last sentence could be the best supernatural shower thought ever.
Cruel, Baying Adolescence – I thought this was a great one to follow so close after Nowhere, Louisiana. It has a different type of relationship, still connected by an almost unbreakable love; how the narrator cumulatively shows it, way on the other end of the spectrum from the first story. This won’t be the only story where the author touches on the subject family specific issues. It made me introspective and question whether I would be able to remain as stalwart to the end if ever placed in a similar situation. I worry I might fail the greater good, as it were.
Blues Exorcist - This may have been my favorite in this collection, because it takes a horror trope I felt I knew pretty well and turned it upside down. Arthur the exorcist (who I would watch in any form of television program if I could just see him solving problems with his particular grit and savvy) is sent to perform an exorcism already attempted and failed. What he finds inside Greer is not the usual fare. Loved, loved, loved it.
Questioning the Professor – So if the last story gave me a lighthearted moment, even if unintentional, I was thrown right back under the emotional bus of agony and bereavement with this one. The reader is with a man in a hospital waiting room, listening to his inner monologue to the great professor in the sky, if He is indeed up there. That is never a good scene to open up to, being in a hospital is rarely for a good reason. This brought up a memory from when my sister had to put her cat down. She was 15, because I drove her to the vet, and I couldn’t drive until I was 18. We each got one kitten from my aunt, mine was a long hair gray, and hers was a long hair black fluffy, Heinz 57 (which meant my aunt had no clue what breed); they had extra toes on each foot, we loved them. We were able to have them if we took care of them totally, no parent help, which we did. You know those jokes, did you grow up in a happy home or are you funny? We are very funny. So her cat gets older, gets sick. Feline diabetes. She is working part time to pay for the insulin and giving it to the cat herself, my parents won’t help, even though my dad can start IVs due to his job. Her cat starts to go blind, she still takes care of her, until she thinks her cat is hurting too much. She asks me to take her and the cat to the vet, parents had already said no because they had plans. Of course I took her, when we got there she wanted to go in by herself. Almost an hour later she comes out alone, I could tell she had been crying. I found out later the vet hadn’t been very good at bedside manner, or at putting animals to sleep. My sister is 36 now but has not had a pet for herself since, she told me it hurts too much. She gets pets for her kids, and shows them how to love them and take care of them, but she won’t let herself bond with an animal again like she ever did with her childhood pet. I know this is way off subject from the story the author wrote, but when reading it, this is what I thought about, and how cruel I always thought it was a child had to say goodbye to her pet alone. This story connected to me, I’m crying while typing this. My sister lost a something she loved that has affected her forever, which is not so different in the end.
Adelaide – I wish I could have more of this story, good ones do that; you never want them to end. I loved the X-Files growing up; the brief view of the world created for this story leads me to believe I would enjoy reading/watching more of it. But only if I get the partners solving those off the book cases before this story was written.
She Walks – This read so beautifully. I could see this as a series of watercolors, or mosaic art pieces while the story is spoken aloud; passing on to the next generation. This is one where the imagery would creep in when I would be doing something else; a flash of red here, a spray of gray and blue. Even the elemental scent of the earth or salt could place you there. Just beautiful.
What’s in Your Name – This story has a family illness, remember when I mentioned the author wasn’t done with those? Nicholas lost his mother to breast cancer; she had a mutation, the BRCA2 gene. This makes her children, Nick and his sister Kasey, pre-disposed to getting the same cancer; Nick is found to be one of the youngest males ever diagnosed. A late night dark web search for alternate cures gives him more than he asked for; the next thing he is aware of is his own funeral. I felt this took a ghost story and gave it a truly unique take. I also appreciate how the author believes in the inherent goodness in people; it comes through in his writing by the characters he writes. Nicholas may be dead, but he is not done trying to help those that need it.
The Scent of Souls – Strange houses terrify and call to me in almost equal measure. So while I know I am not supposed to be interested in walking the halls of the house Matt find himself in, following the odd Viola, I very much find that I do. I think this is one I will read many times, there is something so strong about the ending. The whole regaling of the family history, told by Viola, was very disjointed and somewhat frantic. Which, if you think about if being told by a child, makes a lot of sense. I just really liked how this story unfolded.
Of Turbulent Seas – This was rough to read. I’m lucky, I’ve had 10 years of marriage with my hubby, and we get along; that bodes well for the long run, because we are bound by law. And love, always love. But I don’t know what I would do if one day that was just, done with. I’d like to think there would be warning signs, communication, chances to fix issues. But to some people, everything changes like a switch being thrown, one that they couldn’t even see and now they are alone in the dark. Hard read because I’ve known people like this, and it never got easier for them.
There’s No Going Back to Absit Gorge – One line that stuck with me from Stranger Things was the Sheriffs definition for compromise. “Compromise is something kinda in-between, it’s like half-way happy.” Because my memory sucks, until I looked it up just now, how we really said it in our house was ‘compromise, where everybody is a little unhappy, nobody wins’. When I read about Alan, this crossed my mind; he’s no fool, he is willing to compromise. Another story I wanted more from, just a few more pages.
Waning Plumes of Frostbitten Air – This hit on a personal level; I too have depression. Been fighting it most of my life; it runs in the family. Reading this was empowering, I loved the visuals he created; depression is an invader, it does not belong even though it can be so much bigger than us at times. I think he captured that perfectly.
Hunger Pangs – The final story, the titular tale. Alice Ann, who graces the cover, guides us through the night as she searches for some of that liquid diet particular to her and her sister, Hannah Grace. Even if you don’t really miss doing something, the minute you are told you can’t, you find you kinda want to right? I personally don’t think I would miss the sun that much, but at the same time, I like reading out in it when it’s not too hot. I liked the walls coming down feel, she gets to talk about herself unguarded, and she shares a moment with someone. There was a melancholy to this, but also a healing. The perfect ending to this collection in my opinion.
September 1, 2020
What do I want to see when I read short story collections? I want twist endings I don't expect, stories that delve into human nature without staying shallow, and a variety of story types/plots. I am happy to announce that HUNGER PANGS by Scott J. Moses delivers on all those accounts! Oh and for bonus points he also adds a brief personal note before each story, detailing some of the inspiration or process behind the tale. I LOVE when authors do that in their short story collections!
Besides the obvious chills and thrills, I feel like these stories have a lot going on beneath the surface. Whether its vampires, ghosts, monsters, or human beings everyone has hunger pangs for life. There's also a constant thread of people who don't necessarily live great lives, but who realize life can be great. Unfortunately they've often done something wrong or lost someone and now the greatness of life lies tainted and twisted. And while there are plenty of monsters, it's often the painful memories, trauma, and grief that are truly dangerous and threaten to consume us
Overall this collection of stories is very good. Moses is an excellent writer, and I really appreciated the variety of stories presented. I can't wait to see what else he has in store!
My favorite stories:
“Blues Exorcist”
“What’s in Your Name”
“The Scent of Souls”
“Hunger Pangs”
Check out my spoiler-free thoughts on every story on my blog!
Besides the obvious chills and thrills, I feel like these stories have a lot going on beneath the surface. Whether its vampires, ghosts, monsters, or human beings everyone has hunger pangs for life. There's also a constant thread of people who don't necessarily live great lives, but who realize life can be great. Unfortunately they've often done something wrong or lost someone and now the greatness of life lies tainted and twisted. And while there are plenty of monsters, it's often the painful memories, trauma, and grief that are truly dangerous and threaten to consume us
Overall this collection of stories is very good. Moses is an excellent writer, and I really appreciated the variety of stories presented. I can't wait to see what else he has in store!
My favorite stories:
“Blues Exorcist”
“What’s in Your Name”
“The Scent of Souls”
“Hunger Pangs”
Check out my spoiler-free thoughts on every story on my blog!
August 23, 2020
I've just finished this collection which author Scott J Moses was kind enough to send me. Having never read his work before, I went in not knowing what to expect.
Are these stories horror? Sometimes. Are they gory, bloody, spine tingling? Sometimes. Are they well-written, varied, thought provoking? Always.
As with any short story collection, some are great and some are so-so. My favorites were the unusual twist of 'Blues Exorcism', the surprising strength of 'What's in Your Name', and the titular story, 'Hunger Pangs', which shows an odd sort of hope in a bleak world.
I found the title of this collection immensely appropriate. Each story featured a character hungering for something - a person, a feeling, a reason, an answer, a little bit of happiness, please. Moses speaks in the story introductions about his own struggle with depression and search for a purpose, and the author's own dissatisfaction with life practically bleeds off the pages of his work.
The stories are often bleak, full of despairing and desperate people, longings with no real closure, a darkness that surrounds you til you want to close the book and stop reading...and then, an occasional burst of light and hope breaks through and you breathe easier and keep reading.
These are not tales that will leave you happy or excited. They are horrors of a dark, sad sort. They are stories that will leave you quiet, thoughtful, and maybe...a little bit haunted.
Are these stories horror? Sometimes. Are they gory, bloody, spine tingling? Sometimes. Are they well-written, varied, thought provoking? Always.
As with any short story collection, some are great and some are so-so. My favorites were the unusual twist of 'Blues Exorcism', the surprising strength of 'What's in Your Name', and the titular story, 'Hunger Pangs', which shows an odd sort of hope in a bleak world.
I found the title of this collection immensely appropriate. Each story featured a character hungering for something - a person, a feeling, a reason, an answer, a little bit of happiness, please. Moses speaks in the story introductions about his own struggle with depression and search for a purpose, and the author's own dissatisfaction with life practically bleeds off the pages of his work.
The stories are often bleak, full of despairing and desperate people, longings with no real closure, a darkness that surrounds you til you want to close the book and stop reading...and then, an occasional burst of light and hope breaks through and you breathe easier and keep reading.
These are not tales that will leave you happy or excited. They are horrors of a dark, sad sort. They are stories that will leave you quiet, thoughtful, and maybe...a little bit haunted.
October 31, 2020
“Thinking is like life, some insatiable hunger you’ll never quite satisfy.”
Hunger Pangs is a brilliant horror short story collection.
Each story is introduced with a personal note from the author, and I always enjoy gaining insight into an author’s process. What I really love in in these stories is not only are they at times chilling and gruesome, but always literary. Each of the characters experience some sort of grief or loss and Moses crafts each tale to present these universal themes in unique and remarkable ways. I adored the writing style, characters, and range of strong emotions I felt while reading this collection. If I had to choose a favorite story, I’d probably go with Blues Exorcist, but they’re truly all fantastic and have much to offer.
I would definitely recommend Hunger Pangs to a variety of readers, as these stories have wide appeal. Thanks so much to the author for sending me a copy for review!
Hunger Pangs is a brilliant horror short story collection.
Each story is introduced with a personal note from the author, and I always enjoy gaining insight into an author’s process. What I really love in in these stories is not only are they at times chilling and gruesome, but always literary. Each of the characters experience some sort of grief or loss and Moses crafts each tale to present these universal themes in unique and remarkable ways. I adored the writing style, characters, and range of strong emotions I felt while reading this collection. If I had to choose a favorite story, I’d probably go with Blues Exorcist, but they’re truly all fantastic and have much to offer.
I would definitely recommend Hunger Pangs to a variety of readers, as these stories have wide appeal. Thanks so much to the author for sending me a copy for review!
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