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Blood and Betrayal - A Zasra Press Anthology
Blood taints the hands of many…
From dryads, wizards, and flesh-eating sirens, to dragons, bounty hunters, and more, partake in a journey of blood and deceit. This collection features stories from seven authors who have descended into the depths of darkness to bring you stories both chilling and enchanting. There is a story for everyone who enjoys the grimdark and macabre.
So grab your cloak and lantern and step into the shadows with us...
From dryads, wizards, and flesh-eating sirens, to dragons, bounty hunters, and more, partake in a journey of blood and deceit. This collection features stories from seven authors who have descended into the depths of darkness to bring you stories both chilling and enchanting. There is a story for everyone who enjoys the grimdark and macabre.
So grab your cloak and lantern and step into the shadows with us...
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 29, 2021
5 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 15, 2022
This was a wonderful anthology to read and it served as a compelling introduction to the genre for me. Dark fantasy works operate both as narrative & story, but also unfold in those liminal regions of the psyche where dreams and the unconscious reveal secret truths about ourselves. I couldn't help but feel I was exploring my own dark matter as I read the collection.
The theme here of Blood & Betrayal is the through line that unites each individual tale. I was really surprised how my understanding of the theme evolved as I read through the anthology. Each author was able to expertly weave the theme into the matrix of their stories without it feeling stale or repetitious - it just accrued more power and nuance as the darkness seduced and embraced me as a reader. I watched my loyalty flip allegiances between the characters, as the larger questions of hero and villain became blurred for me... I found myself feeling somewhat culpable in the unfolding as I read. What dark revelations about my own inner mind did I unlock?
I had initially started reading the anthology a few stories at a time, taking pause to reflect on the various stories and to appreciate the stylistic differences & unique worlds created by each author. But something happened around the mid point. The pacing and intensity of each tale drew me deeper into the work as a whole, and I started perceiving the presence of a larger unwritten narrative that was itself a meditation on the theme. I couldn't put it down and read the latter half straight through. What a wonderful experience.
As I contemplate that experience I must give credit to the editors who compiled these works and sequenced the tales. The pacing was part of their design, and they created the conditions that allowed for the development of that thematic arc that felt like its own magical wordless narrative. How they managed to commandeer such imaginative space within my mind is a mystery - but it made me feel like a participant in the dark and sticky journey of the theme.
I'm very excited to learn that this anthology is the first in a series. I am also very excited to have been introduced to some really great young (and for some, first time published) writers. I hope they all get an opportunity to continue with the series and we get to journey deeper into their magical realms. I gave this anthology a 5 out of 5 star rating - it was the perfect introduction to dark fantasy for me. Well done all.
The theme here of Blood & Betrayal is the through line that unites each individual tale. I was really surprised how my understanding of the theme evolved as I read through the anthology. Each author was able to expertly weave the theme into the matrix of their stories without it feeling stale or repetitious - it just accrued more power and nuance as the darkness seduced and embraced me as a reader. I watched my loyalty flip allegiances between the characters, as the larger questions of hero and villain became blurred for me... I found myself feeling somewhat culpable in the unfolding as I read. What dark revelations about my own inner mind did I unlock?
I had initially started reading the anthology a few stories at a time, taking pause to reflect on the various stories and to appreciate the stylistic differences & unique worlds created by each author. But something happened around the mid point. The pacing and intensity of each tale drew me deeper into the work as a whole, and I started perceiving the presence of a larger unwritten narrative that was itself a meditation on the theme. I couldn't put it down and read the latter half straight through. What a wonderful experience.
As I contemplate that experience I must give credit to the editors who compiled these works and sequenced the tales. The pacing was part of their design, and they created the conditions that allowed for the development of that thematic arc that felt like its own magical wordless narrative. How they managed to commandeer such imaginative space within my mind is a mystery - but it made me feel like a participant in the dark and sticky journey of the theme.
I'm very excited to learn that this anthology is the first in a series. I am also very excited to have been introduced to some really great young (and for some, first time published) writers. I hope they all get an opportunity to continue with the series and we get to journey deeper into their magical realms. I gave this anthology a 5 out of 5 star rating - it was the perfect introduction to dark fantasy for me. Well done all.
June 24, 2021
I didn’t realise when I download this one that it was only a sample.
It included two of the stories. SEAWHISPERS by R. L. DAVENNOR and HARVEST by CHRISTIANA MATTHEWS
I really enjoyed them both and was disappointed that I didn’t have the others to hand. After checking, I found this book is available on pre-order.
If the remaining stories are of the same quality, then this is sure to be a great collection. Of the two reads, both had female main characters. Agathe, an aged witch who sings with the sirens, and Mitera, a Dryad in search of a replacement.
The anthology title Blood and Betrayal fit them both very well!
It included two of the stories. SEAWHISPERS by R. L. DAVENNOR and HARVEST by CHRISTIANA MATTHEWS
I really enjoyed them both and was disappointed that I didn’t have the others to hand. After checking, I found this book is available on pre-order.
If the remaining stories are of the same quality, then this is sure to be a great collection. Of the two reads, both had female main characters. Agathe, an aged witch who sings with the sirens, and Mitera, a Dryad in search of a replacement.
The anthology title Blood and Betrayal fit them both very well!
July 1, 2021
I loved this anthology. This is a collection of great authors that have come together to give us an awesome collection of stories that will take you on dark adventures. There is something for everyone in this and you won't regret picking it up. My favorite story is by Aisling Wilder. It is a story that pulled me in from the start and it certainly kept me engaged to the end. I had a hard time putting it down. It brought various emotions for me and you don't want to miss this ending. The other stories are just as great and are full of action and magic. I found each story to be fast paced and full of adventure. I am glad I picked this book up and I highly recommend this must read.
December 31, 2021
Thank you to my friend who give this book to me a a gift. I did not want the short stories to end. A great collection of short stories that show love, loss, lessons and obviously betrayals. I liked that they all slowly got creepy as trust was being built with the characters only to be blindsided at the very end by the betrayals. Must read if you want to be left wide eyed, jaw dropped and looking at your room wall, blank after reading each story.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews