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Teenage Grave
Featuring Jo Quenell, Sam Richard, Brendan Vidito, and Justin Lutz, Teenage Grave brings together four of the most brutally frank and intricately surreal fictions from the modern horror underground. Combining elements of splatterpunk, body horror, and transgressive fiction. Teenage Grave will lay you bare before severing your nerves. Smiling a little too much while doing it.
92 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2021
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537 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 10, 2024
Four solid short stories by four different authors dealing with strong themes. Stale Air by Jo Quenell is a tale of morbid redemption, reuniting a long estranged father and son. I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray by Sam Richard is a thoroughly heartbreaking account about loss. I still shiver thinking about it. Apate's Children by Brendan Vidito is a creepy tale of guilt and grief, with images that are hard to forget. Finally, Start Today by Justin Lutz is a story of body horror with painful confidence-building exercises that will be hard to forget. All in all, an excellent, imaginative and edgy collection.
I read and reviewed this book on 4/7/21 (please see above). Today I reread it, and this is today's review (6/10/24):
This was my second time reading these four gutwrenching stories, which were even more powerful as I ran the gauntlet again. The four authors seasoned my senses and now I am ready to read Teenage Grave 2, available next month (July 2024). Get ready. Find your fear. Then kill it.
I read and reviewed this book on 4/7/21 (please see above). Today I reread it, and this is today's review (6/10/24):
This was my second time reading these four gutwrenching stories, which were even more powerful as I ran the gauntlet again. The four authors seasoned my senses and now I am ready to read Teenage Grave 2, available next month (July 2024). Get ready. Find your fear. Then kill it.
April 1, 2021
There is nothing I didn't enjoy about TEENAGE GRAVE.
First, let me set some reader expectations:
There's this great cover, right? A seemingly joyful young girl or woman wearing a warm, fuzzy sweater, high-waisted mom jeans, and a big smile. She has reddish blonde hair that falls to her shoulders evenly in a blunt cut.
Her eyes are scratched out. The title "TEENAGE GRAVE" in a gothic, horror-inspired font stretches across the cover. There's a faux sticker in the corner with peeling edges that reads, "New Release".
There are 4 short stories in this slim, well-designed little book.
Nothing to do with teenagers really but everything to do with transgressive, underground horror from four distinct voices.
STALE AIR by Jo Quenell is the story of a young man visiting the home of his estranged father. Their conversation is so strained, it's uncomfortable and unsettling right away. The tension in their relationship acts as a smokescreen for something far more disturbing. I loved the unexpected elements of this strange, little story.
I KNOW NOT THE NAMES OF THE GODS TO WHOM I PRAY by Sam Richard
This is a haunting, beautiful, existential story about a man struggling with grief after the loss of his lover and partner. Profoundly intimate; painfully tragic.
APATE’S CHILDREN was what I have come to expect from Vidito. Apate, in Greek mythology, is the personification of deceit. In this tale, a man riddled with guilt and shame due to infidelity is subjected to insurmountable pain and suffering at the hands of, well...personification (for fear of spoilers). There are some seriously creepy scenes in this one.
START TODAY by Justin Lutz
I won’t say they saved the best for last because all the stories are equally good but this one is perhaps my favorite just because it made me grimace and cringe. It physically unnerved me. The main character is given the nickname, Mat (short for doormat) because he is seen as less than. Everyone thinks he’s less than; even himself. One day he finds an emotional support group for men and his life is transformed.
I’ll only say this: Gruesome body horror at its absolute finest. Shocking. Loved it!
First, let me set some reader expectations:
There's this great cover, right? A seemingly joyful young girl or woman wearing a warm, fuzzy sweater, high-waisted mom jeans, and a big smile. She has reddish blonde hair that falls to her shoulders evenly in a blunt cut.
Her eyes are scratched out. The title "TEENAGE GRAVE" in a gothic, horror-inspired font stretches across the cover. There's a faux sticker in the corner with peeling edges that reads, "New Release".
There are 4 short stories in this slim, well-designed little book.
Nothing to do with teenagers really but everything to do with transgressive, underground horror from four distinct voices.
STALE AIR by Jo Quenell is the story of a young man visiting the home of his estranged father. Their conversation is so strained, it's uncomfortable and unsettling right away. The tension in their relationship acts as a smokescreen for something far more disturbing. I loved the unexpected elements of this strange, little story.
I KNOW NOT THE NAMES OF THE GODS TO WHOM I PRAY by Sam Richard
This is a haunting, beautiful, existential story about a man struggling with grief after the loss of his lover and partner. Profoundly intimate; painfully tragic.
APATE’S CHILDREN was what I have come to expect from Vidito. Apate, in Greek mythology, is the personification of deceit. In this tale, a man riddled with guilt and shame due to infidelity is subjected to insurmountable pain and suffering at the hands of, well...personification (for fear of spoilers). There are some seriously creepy scenes in this one.
START TODAY by Justin Lutz
I won’t say they saved the best for last because all the stories are equally good but this one is perhaps my favorite just because it made me grimace and cringe. It physically unnerved me. The main character is given the nickname, Mat (short for doormat) because he is seen as less than. Everyone thinks he’s less than; even himself. One day he finds an emotional support group for men and his life is transformed.
I’ll only say this: Gruesome body horror at its absolute finest. Shocking. Loved it!
April 2, 2021
This is a nice and tight anthology, coming in at just 70 pages, and can easily be read in one sitting. Every paragraph is compelling, and each story is paced nicely, with good payoff endings.
Jo Quenell hits it out of the park, as always, with “Stale Air.” Creepy and sad.
Sam Richard’s “I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray” is a look at visceral grief and bereavement after the death of a romantic and sexual partner. Sam’s writing punches you right in the gut, over and over, and his descriptions of gore are always fantastic.
“Apate’s Children” is the first work I’ve read by Brendan Vidito, and I really enjoyed it. Creative interpretation of guilt and atonement. Really imaginative use of mythological reference here, too.
Justin Lutz's "Start Today" gave made my stomach churn, gave me chills, and left me with my jaw hangin' on the floor, in that order. Loved it. Great way to end.
Jo Quenell hits it out of the park, as always, with “Stale Air.” Creepy and sad.
Sam Richard’s “I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray” is a look at visceral grief and bereavement after the death of a romantic and sexual partner. Sam’s writing punches you right in the gut, over and over, and his descriptions of gore are always fantastic.
“Apate’s Children” is the first work I’ve read by Brendan Vidito, and I really enjoyed it. Creative interpretation of guilt and atonement. Really imaginative use of mythological reference here, too.
Justin Lutz's "Start Today" gave made my stomach churn, gave me chills, and left me with my jaw hangin' on the floor, in that order. Loved it. Great way to end.
January 14, 2022
"What does the violence say to you? She asked as I drank deeply from the endless wells of her grey eyes. This was the first time we died together; it wouldn’t be the last."
Ira Rat was one of those authors that I stumbled upon and I have no idea how that came to be. It's like a drunken fog has taken over that part of my brain.
This caught my attention due to the cover. It reminded me of an old television series where someone has gone missing and they had to conceal the identity of their children. Somewhere along the lines of, this was a perfect family until it wasn't. Brillant!! I was sold because I knew that the cover meant one thing, that this was going to be fucked up and it definitely was.
Teenage Grave contains four short stories and they seemed to get more intense as each story raises its head from the deep. Some of them I had to reread because I couldn't believe what I was reading. Every single story was amazing.
Now, this is what I call bizarro at its finest!!!
Ira Rat was one of those authors that I stumbled upon and I have no idea how that came to be. It's like a drunken fog has taken over that part of my brain.
This caught my attention due to the cover. It reminded me of an old television series where someone has gone missing and they had to conceal the identity of their children. Somewhere along the lines of, this was a perfect family until it wasn't. Brillant!! I was sold because I knew that the cover meant one thing, that this was going to be fucked up and it definitely was.
Teenage Grave contains four short stories and they seemed to get more intense as each story raises its head from the deep. Some of them I had to reread because I couldn't believe what I was reading. Every single story was amazing.
Now, this is what I call bizarro at its finest!!!
December 9, 2023
My main critique is that I wanted there to be 4 more stories. That’s pretty much all you can ask for in a fiction anthology.
May 2, 2022
Teenage Grave is a tiny 68-page thing, comprised of 4 tales of disgust and depravity. Each story brings a unique element to the anthology, leaving the reader with the heebie jeebies one way or another. Here’s what I think of each one individually (without divulging a lot bc these are rlly short):
Stale Air by Jo Quenell:
A touching family reunion, solidified by the presence of something supernatural (and stinky). Loved the imagery surrounding the supernatural element + the implication that Jason better get ready to fill his dad’s shoes. Nice.
I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray by Sam Richard:
A cycle, repeating, forever. The body horror depicted was impactful for such a short story. The prose creates its own aesthetic, which is only amplified by the gore.
Apate’s Children by Brendan Vidito:
Guilt over betraying a loved one alone is hard to bear. What if another force was there to ensure you paid the price? Apate and her children were terrifying to visualize, but I loved doing it all the same.
Start Today by Justin Lutz:
Join a support group to rid yourself of your insecurities! Become a REAL MAN. What could go wrong? What a wild concept, I wasn’t expecting what lie ahead for Miles and I never would have. Gross and very fun.
Buy this book! The cover is sick and the stories are sicker. If you’re unsure about horror anthologies but, want to get into them, I’d go with this quick one to start.
Stale Air by Jo Quenell:
A touching family reunion, solidified by the presence of something supernatural (and stinky). Loved the imagery surrounding the supernatural element + the implication that Jason better get ready to fill his dad’s shoes. Nice.
I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray by Sam Richard:
A cycle, repeating, forever. The body horror depicted was impactful for such a short story. The prose creates its own aesthetic, which is only amplified by the gore.
Apate’s Children by Brendan Vidito:
Guilt over betraying a loved one alone is hard to bear. What if another force was there to ensure you paid the price? Apate and her children were terrifying to visualize, but I loved doing it all the same.
Start Today by Justin Lutz:
Join a support group to rid yourself of your insecurities! Become a REAL MAN. What could go wrong? What a wild concept, I wasn’t expecting what lie ahead for Miles and I never would have. Gross and very fun.
Buy this book! The cover is sick and the stories are sicker. If you’re unsure about horror anthologies but, want to get into them, I’d go with this quick one to start.
April 22, 2021
This super short anthology gives so many great moments of deep psychological horror and atmospheric scenes---love love love.
STALE AIR was unique and had an unexpected ending. This story was the one that made me stop eating while reading it because it had a gross moment. Love when a story gets me to react like that 😝
I KNOW NOT THE NAMES OF THE GODS TO WHOM I PRAY is almost romantic in a super gory and tragic kind of way. I had to read a couple times because the first time I read it it went way over my head. This story is a super smart one and so heartbreaking.
APATE'S CHILDREN is also unique and had pretty graphic moments. I enjoyed the craziness of this one.
START TODAY was probably my favorite. The story sucked me in immediately and the ending was so unexpected. Very fulfilling from start to finish.
TEENAGE GRAVE is all about people accepting the next chapters in their lives whether they want to or not. For being such a short book, it really packed a punch with it's underlying meanings and truly unsettling scenes that I will always remember.
I look forward to reading more from this publisher and these authors.
*Content warnings galore.
5⭐/5
STALE AIR was unique and had an unexpected ending. This story was the one that made me stop eating while reading it because it had a gross moment. Love when a story gets me to react like that 😝
I KNOW NOT THE NAMES OF THE GODS TO WHOM I PRAY is almost romantic in a super gory and tragic kind of way. I had to read a couple times because the first time I read it it went way over my head. This story is a super smart one and so heartbreaking.
APATE'S CHILDREN is also unique and had pretty graphic moments. I enjoyed the craziness of this one.
START TODAY was probably my favorite. The story sucked me in immediately and the ending was so unexpected. Very fulfilling from start to finish.
TEENAGE GRAVE is all about people accepting the next chapters in their lives whether they want to or not. For being such a short book, it really packed a punch with it's underlying meanings and truly unsettling scenes that I will always remember.
I look forward to reading more from this publisher and these authors.
*Content warnings galore.
5⭐/5
December 5, 2022
“Stale Air” by Jo Quenell - a young man visits his absent father to work out some resentments, and discovers something both horrifying and miraculous. Excellent dialogue and tension-building, plus a creepy twist and some gross out horror!
“I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray” by @sammytotep - a man struggling to deal with grief and heartache over the loss of a loved one. It’s graphically violent, poetic, and achingly beautiful.
“Apate’s Children” by @brendanvidito - a man must deal over and over with shame of infidelity, his guilt manifesting in a series of increasingly bizarre and brutal horrors. To say more would be too much, but it’s genuinely weird and frightening. Possibly my favorite of the collection.
“Start Today” by @loseyourghost - a man who struggles with self-esteem joins a support group for guys who want to become better versions of themselves. This one holds its cards close in the first half, then turns to grimace-inducing body horror in the second half. Loved it.
All four of these stories are 5 ⭐️ reads, making this a collection that’s easy to recommend. It’s a tiny-but-powerful book. Loved the variety of ideas and writing styles, and these stories are ripe for further readings.
“I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray” by @sammytotep - a man struggling to deal with grief and heartache over the loss of a loved one. It’s graphically violent, poetic, and achingly beautiful.
“Apate’s Children” by @brendanvidito - a man must deal over and over with shame of infidelity, his guilt manifesting in a series of increasingly bizarre and brutal horrors. To say more would be too much, but it’s genuinely weird and frightening. Possibly my favorite of the collection.
“Start Today” by @loseyourghost - a man who struggles with self-esteem joins a support group for guys who want to become better versions of themselves. This one holds its cards close in the first half, then turns to grimace-inducing body horror in the second half. Loved it.
All four of these stories are 5 ⭐️ reads, making this a collection that’s easy to recommend. It’s a tiny-but-powerful book. Loved the variety of ideas and writing styles, and these stories are ripe for further readings.
October 27, 2023
Pushing its hand into the puncture wound, the child pulled out a cluster of veins and sinew. It shone wetly, strands of bright white standing out among threads of brown and crimson. To Caiden it looked absurdly like an inverted bouquet of roses.
Comprised of 4 extremely short stories, Teenage Grave is a head first dive into the depths of the visceral and upsetting. This tiny little anthology of extremely transgressive and experimental horror is an imaginative rollercoaster. Atonement. Guilt. Grief. The three pulsating pillars at the heart of these tales, tying them together, creating a grotesque, disgusting, depraved thing that almost blends into one singular being.
Although this is a miniature book, it has some mighty teeth. What a wonderfully shocking and affecting book this is, each tale is so hauntingly intimate and so, so stressful to read. It's painful really, poetically tragic. These are tales designed to be actively anxiety inducing, to make the reader cringe, to suffer some form of physical and emotional reaction. Since this petite little novella only clocks in at 88 pages, let's take a brief glance at each of the stories it has to offer.
In Stale Air, a father and son are reunited, deep-seated hatred is unearthed, a morbid sense of redemption punctures the stench of rotting fish. I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray depicts death in one of the most unflinchingly gorgeous, achingly beautiful and grueling ways ever penned. Apate's Children renders betrayal as imagery savage enough to steal away the air you breathe, and Start Today conceals sickening, repulsive body horror behind the false smiles of a self-help club for broken men. Sounds rather delightful, don't you think?
Difficult to forget and impossible to ignore, Teenage Grave is an iconic collection of new-age horror tales to take you to places you could never believe.
He raised the tool in his shiny, scarred arms. Miles brought the hammer down on his own face until it was a bowl made of bone full of nothing but pulp.
Comprised of 4 extremely short stories, Teenage Grave is a head first dive into the depths of the visceral and upsetting. This tiny little anthology of extremely transgressive and experimental horror is an imaginative rollercoaster. Atonement. Guilt. Grief. The three pulsating pillars at the heart of these tales, tying them together, creating a grotesque, disgusting, depraved thing that almost blends into one singular being.
Although this is a miniature book, it has some mighty teeth. What a wonderfully shocking and affecting book this is, each tale is so hauntingly intimate and so, so stressful to read. It's painful really, poetically tragic. These are tales designed to be actively anxiety inducing, to make the reader cringe, to suffer some form of physical and emotional reaction. Since this petite little novella only clocks in at 88 pages, let's take a brief glance at each of the stories it has to offer.
"I felt lucky that I had her there with me, that first time I was caressed by death; guiding me, holding me, loving me. The knife pierced into my heart like a stake through soft soil, only slightly jarring, and I could feel myself letting go, not just of her but everything. Stay with me she whispered, don't go until I'm ready, too."
In Stale Air, a father and son are reunited, deep-seated hatred is unearthed, a morbid sense of redemption punctures the stench of rotting fish. I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray depicts death in one of the most unflinchingly gorgeous, achingly beautiful and grueling ways ever penned. Apate's Children renders betrayal as imagery savage enough to steal away the air you breathe, and Start Today conceals sickening, repulsive body horror behind the false smiles of a self-help club for broken men. Sounds rather delightful, don't you think?
Difficult to forget and impossible to ignore, Teenage Grave is an iconic collection of new-age horror tales to take you to places you could never believe.
He raised the tool in his shiny, scarred arms. Miles brought the hammer down on his own face until it was a bowl made of bone full of nothing but pulp.
March 23, 2023
This was such a good little selection of short stories!
'I Know Not The Names of The Gods To Whom I Pray' by Sam Richard was incredible. The imagery the metaphor. Superb, honestly. So beautifully written.
The final story, 'Start Today' by Justin Lutz, was also pretty great. I think if it had been fleshed out more (pun intended) it would be a fantastic read. I just wish there was more of it really!
'I Know Not The Names of The Gods To Whom I Pray' by Sam Richard was incredible. The imagery the metaphor. Superb, honestly. So beautifully written.
The final story, 'Start Today' by Justin Lutz, was also pretty great. I think if it had been fleshed out more (pun intended) it would be a fantastic read. I just wish there was more of it really!
September 17, 2021
A one-sitting horror read with four short stories from different authors.
I am not really sure what theme brings this collection together or what any of them have to do with teenage graves, but in the end, I don't really care! Each story housed its own gory darkness and introduced me to a new author I hadn't read before.
I was most impressed by Jo Quenell's story "Stale Air" about an estranged father and son and something weird that's waiting in the bathtub and Justin Lutz's story "Start Today" about a self-help group that aids members in getting rid of their old selves.
Filthy Loot is a unique boutique publisher focusing on what they call "misfit fiction" and I am here for more.
I am not really sure what theme brings this collection together or what any of them have to do with teenage graves, but in the end, I don't really care! Each story housed its own gory darkness and introduced me to a new author I hadn't read before.
I was most impressed by Jo Quenell's story "Stale Air" about an estranged father and son and something weird that's waiting in the bathtub and Justin Lutz's story "Start Today" about a self-help group that aids members in getting rid of their old selves.
Filthy Loot is a unique boutique publisher focusing on what they call "misfit fiction" and I am here for more.
March 29, 2023
A haymaker swing delivering some of the worlds that emerge from Filthy Loot. 4 great stories, unique in their expression, unified nicely in this collection.
June 13, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quick novella of 4 dark stories by 4 different authors - all of which were pretty good. Recommend as a sample of 4 differently talented author’s work.
Quick novella of 4 dark stories by 4 different authors - all of which were pretty good. Recommend as a sample of 4 differently talented author’s work.
October 29, 2023
This was an okay read for halloween but Brendan has produced better work . Exactly what you'd expect from a body horror book
January 8, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ unfortunately judged the book too much on the cover
Read
June 16, 2025I went into this blind, and came out of it scarred.
September 3, 2025
“Stale Air” by Jo Quenell - 4/5
“I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray” by Sam Richard - 5/5
“Apate’s Children” by Brendan Vidito - 3/5
“Start Today” by Justin Lutz - 5/5
“I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray” by Sam Richard - 5/5
“Apate’s Children” by Brendan Vidito - 3/5
“Start Today” by Justin Lutz - 5/5
February 19, 2026
filthy, visceral, liminal. excellent little selections right here.
October 16, 2021
Tiny book that packs a punch
December 20, 2021
Likes:
- Creepy and scary vibes
- Writing styles were enjoyable
- Decent pacing throughout all stories
- Very creative
- Easy to read
- Left me feeling uncomfy, which is what a good horror book should do
Dislikes:
- Endings were a little too ambiguous for me
- Some of these were a little confusing and hard to understand
- Creepy and scary vibes
- Writing styles were enjoyable
- Decent pacing throughout all stories
- Very creative
- Easy to read
- Left me feeling uncomfy, which is what a good horror book should do
Dislikes:
- Endings were a little too ambiguous for me
- Some of these were a little confusing and hard to understand
July 31, 2022
* Review on Ginger Nuts of Horror: https://gingernutsofhorror.com/fictio... *
Teenage Grave is a quartet of short stories of edgy, dare I say artisan horror, that are heavy on the gore without being overly saturated with it. On first glance, the four stories seem to have nothing in common, but upon closer inspection, Grave is a contemporary collection of morality tales, each addressing a venial (perhaps even mortal) sin: vengeance, obsessive love, betrayal, lust, cowardice, and masochism. As one story so eloquently points out, “Nevertheless, he had no other choice. Such was the nature of his punishment.” The horror develops as each of the stories’ protagonists become trapped in their own acts of contrition.
In “Stale Air” by Jo Quenell, Jason visits his estranged father after the loss of his mother. “Dad’s house reeked of rotten fish,” and the décor is straight out of bachelor pad central casting. The son wants an answer to why his parent abandoned the family, but what he learns is much more bizarre in this well-paced romp into magical realism. “I Know Not the Name of the Gods to Whom I Pray” by Sam Richard is a surrealist painting of a man’s inability to live without his lover and the agreement he forges to rectify his loss. The Orpheus myth has nothing on this tale, a painfully sad and gruesome embodiment of the phrase “hell is repetition.”
Keeping with the theme of mythology, in the Greek tradition, Apate was the spirit of deceit. My favorite story of the foursome, “Apate’s Children” by Brendan Vidito, is an allegorical tale of the emotional turmoil a betrayer endures after he confesses to his transgression. The story is one you’ll reread just to gleefully collect the meticulously crafted details. Finally, if you thought Chuck Palahniuk’s underground fight clubs were bloody, check out the secret men’s organization in “Start Today” by Justin Lutz. Miles is a pushover, a rapidly regressing “spineless worm” whose girlfriend leaves him after tiring of using him as her personal verbal punching bag. Miles discovers the print ad for the group Start Today, which promises, “Find your inner alpha, harness your confidence.” All it will cost him is a few flayings of his flesh.
Editor Ira Rat proves himself to be a shrewd curator of captivating, sometimes transgressive, always unusual tales. This is the second publication I have read from indie house Filthy Loot, and I am blown away by the press’ ability to fold such an abundance of talent into a small package: Grave is a mere 70 pages from start to finish. Loot’s publications are thoughtfully constructed to be able to be read satisfactorily in one sitting: perfect for plane rides (they are coming back slowly but surely, CoVid!) and bedtime reading (if you dare!), and I will be checking out the rest of their catalog, and their arsenal of talented authors, for certain.
Teenage Grave is a quartet of short stories of edgy, dare I say artisan horror, that are heavy on the gore without being overly saturated with it. On first glance, the four stories seem to have nothing in common, but upon closer inspection, Grave is a contemporary collection of morality tales, each addressing a venial (perhaps even mortal) sin: vengeance, obsessive love, betrayal, lust, cowardice, and masochism. As one story so eloquently points out, “Nevertheless, he had no other choice. Such was the nature of his punishment.” The horror develops as each of the stories’ protagonists become trapped in their own acts of contrition.
In “Stale Air” by Jo Quenell, Jason visits his estranged father after the loss of his mother. “Dad’s house reeked of rotten fish,” and the décor is straight out of bachelor pad central casting. The son wants an answer to why his parent abandoned the family, but what he learns is much more bizarre in this well-paced romp into magical realism. “I Know Not the Name of the Gods to Whom I Pray” by Sam Richard is a surrealist painting of a man’s inability to live without his lover and the agreement he forges to rectify his loss. The Orpheus myth has nothing on this tale, a painfully sad and gruesome embodiment of the phrase “hell is repetition.”
Keeping with the theme of mythology, in the Greek tradition, Apate was the spirit of deceit. My favorite story of the foursome, “Apate’s Children” by Brendan Vidito, is an allegorical tale of the emotional turmoil a betrayer endures after he confesses to his transgression. The story is one you’ll reread just to gleefully collect the meticulously crafted details. Finally, if you thought Chuck Palahniuk’s underground fight clubs were bloody, check out the secret men’s organization in “Start Today” by Justin Lutz. Miles is a pushover, a rapidly regressing “spineless worm” whose girlfriend leaves him after tiring of using him as her personal verbal punching bag. Miles discovers the print ad for the group Start Today, which promises, “Find your inner alpha, harness your confidence.” All it will cost him is a few flayings of his flesh.
Editor Ira Rat proves himself to be a shrewd curator of captivating, sometimes transgressive, always unusual tales. This is the second publication I have read from indie house Filthy Loot, and I am blown away by the press’ ability to fold such an abundance of talent into a small package: Grave is a mere 70 pages from start to finish. Loot’s publications are thoughtfully constructed to be able to be read satisfactorily in one sitting: perfect for plane rides (they are coming back slowly but surely, CoVid!) and bedtime reading (if you dare!), and I will be checking out the rest of their catalog, and their arsenal of talented authors, for certain.
May 24, 2021
A great read. I enjoyed all of the stories. I highly recommend.
July 5, 2021
Every story (4) in this tiny book is a solid 5 stars. Metaphorically dark and impeccably written, this little beauty is filled with emotional, gut wrenching prose. I really loved how each story seemed to focus on transformation, or the idea of change in the midst of turmoil. Super unsettling moments of violence and grossness. Loved it, and you will too 🖤!
February 5, 2023
What a great little collection of stories. Four (very) short grim tales are collected in this tiny book released by Ira Rat's Filthy Loot. I love the cover, and I love the stories. Really nothing else to say.
July 3, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
Stale Air: 3.75 ⭐️
I really enjoyed Quenell’s story craft and found the siren to be quite fascinating. I just felt there was a little left to be desired—we don’t get to know why this ‘angel’ can’t heal Dad, nor did I get a sense of closure. I would have liked another page or two, at the least.
I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray: 2 ⭐️
I couldn’t really find a sense of place, and I get the idea is to be lost in this never ending death and bloodshed, but I still would have liked at least one scene where I felt grounded. It kind of had a grip at the end, but it still wasn’t enough for me to get into this story at all. Cool concept though.
Apate’s Children: 3 ⭐️
I had to look up the mythology behind this before I could appreciate what I was reading, but it still didn’t really fit what I think the author was trying to achieve. I think it would have been neat if Apate appeared as a haggard form of his mistress, as that would have added more layers to this story as well as pay more homage to the Apate mythology, but that’s just my thoughts on it.
Start Today!: 5 💫
This one was whack and I loved every second of it. I think it was a really fascinating concept and I would have loved to have more pages in this story, but it also is just perfect as it is. I really could picture everything going on and I found myself cringing from some of the mutilation—but that’s definitely a good thing! I want to read more from Lutz for sure.
Stale Air: 3.75 ⭐️
I really enjoyed Quenell’s story craft and found the siren to be quite fascinating. I just felt there was a little left to be desired—we don’t get to know why this ‘angel’ can’t heal Dad, nor did I get a sense of closure. I would have liked another page or two, at the least.
I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray: 2 ⭐️
I couldn’t really find a sense of place, and I get the idea is to be lost in this never ending death and bloodshed, but I still would have liked at least one scene where I felt grounded. It kind of had a grip at the end, but it still wasn’t enough for me to get into this story at all. Cool concept though.
Apate’s Children: 3 ⭐️
I had to look up the mythology behind this before I could appreciate what I was reading, but it still didn’t really fit what I think the author was trying to achieve. I think it would have been neat if Apate appeared as a haggard form of his mistress, as that would have added more layers to this story as well as pay more homage to the Apate mythology, but that’s just my thoughts on it.
Start Today!: 5 💫
This one was whack and I loved every second of it. I think it was a really fascinating concept and I would have loved to have more pages in this story, but it also is just perfect as it is. I really could picture everything going on and I found myself cringing from some of the mutilation—but that’s definitely a good thing! I want to read more from Lutz for sure.
October 20, 2022
Teenage Grave is a compact 68-page horror anthology from indie publisher, Filthy Loot. There are four short stories within this extremely well-designed piece, each focusing on the hallmark qualities of indie, underground horror.
STALE AIR - Jo Quenell.
Starts with an estranged family reunion chock-full of unsettling tension, ends with something disturbing and slimy. Unexpected!
I KNOW NOT THE NAMES OF THE GODS TO WHOM I PRAY - Sam Richard.
Intimate and tragic portrayal of grief. Sam Richard shows us how grief can be tortuously cyclical.
APATE’S CHILDREN - Brendan Vidito.
Atonement and grief, as told through a bite-sized Greek retelling of Apate. Gore and desperation lived within this short’s pages.
START TODAY - Justin Lutz.
Start Today’s main character stumbles upon an emotional support group for men, aiming to transform his life into something of his own design. Body horror for the gods.
Teenage Grave is a perfect taste of indie horror, for new and seasoned horror readers.
Start Today was my favorite within this collection, but there is a little something for everyone.
STALE AIR - Jo Quenell.
Starts with an estranged family reunion chock-full of unsettling tension, ends with something disturbing and slimy. Unexpected!
I KNOW NOT THE NAMES OF THE GODS TO WHOM I PRAY - Sam Richard.
Intimate and tragic portrayal of grief. Sam Richard shows us how grief can be tortuously cyclical.
APATE’S CHILDREN - Brendan Vidito.
Atonement and grief, as told through a bite-sized Greek retelling of Apate. Gore and desperation lived within this short’s pages.
START TODAY - Justin Lutz.
Start Today’s main character stumbles upon an emotional support group for men, aiming to transform his life into something of his own design. Body horror for the gods.
Teenage Grave is a perfect taste of indie horror, for new and seasoned horror readers.
Start Today was my favorite within this collection, but there is a little something for everyone.
May 6, 2022
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January 4, 2023
Pretty decent compilation of some short horror stories brought to you by Filthy Loot.
I'm going to re-read this soon. I feel I did myself a disservice by reading this when I was tired and I feel I missed a lot of nuance in a few of the stories. My three star rating is, in theory, only temporary.
I'm going to re-read this soon. I feel I did myself a disservice by reading this when I was tired and I feel I missed a lot of nuance in a few of the stories. My three star rating is, in theory, only temporary.
January 18, 2023
All four of these short tales pack a different kind of punch. Unique, disturbing, dark. Loved it.
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