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Shadow Atlas: Dark Landscapes of the Americas
*ANTHOLOGY*
Ancient peoples knew there were lands given over to shadow and spirit. The world is full of haunted places that exact a terrible toll on trespassers. Our forebears paid a heavy price to earn the wisdom and the warning they bequeathed to future generations.
Time transformed their precious knowledge into superstition, but there are those whose hearts beat in rhythm with the past and whose vision is not clouded by modernity. Seeking to reclaim humanity’s early secrets, the Umbra Arca Society was forged. For centuries, this private league of explorers dedicated their lives to uncovering the oldest mysteries of the Americas. Armed with boldness and guile, and equipped with only a compass, a journal, and devotion to truth, these adventurers braved cursed landscapes, dared unnatural adversaries, and exposed hidden civilizations.
Many did not survive.
None were forgotten.
Their stories are maps revealing the topography and contours of landscapes unimaginable and dark. The Shadow Atlas collects their adventures.
Edited by authors and folklore enthusiasts Carina Bissett and Hillary Dodge, and four-time Colorado Book Award finalist, Joshua Viola.
With fiction and poetry by Mario Acevedo, Colleen Anderson, Kay Chronister, Sara Cleto, David Davies, Sean Eads, Anastasia Garcia, Owl Goingback, Maxwell I. Gold, Warren Hammond, Angie Hodapp, Jimena Jurado, Starlene Justice, Gwendolyn Kiste, Gerri Leen, Josh Malerman, Juliana Spink Mills, Tiffany Morris, Lee Murray, Annie Neugebauer, Gerardo Horacio Porcayo, Cameron E. Quinn, Sarah Read, Kathryn Reilly, Julia Rios, Betty Rocksteady, Marge Simon, Angela Yuriko Smith, Christina Sng, Jeanne C. Stein, Tim Waggoner, Brittany Warman, Christa Wojciechowski, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Mercedes M. Yardley, Jane Yolen, E. Lily Yu, and Alvaro Zinos-Amaro.
Illustrated by Aaron Lovett.
Ancient peoples knew there were lands given over to shadow and spirit. The world is full of haunted places that exact a terrible toll on trespassers. Our forebears paid a heavy price to earn the wisdom and the warning they bequeathed to future generations.
Time transformed their precious knowledge into superstition, but there are those whose hearts beat in rhythm with the past and whose vision is not clouded by modernity. Seeking to reclaim humanity’s early secrets, the Umbra Arca Society was forged. For centuries, this private league of explorers dedicated their lives to uncovering the oldest mysteries of the Americas. Armed with boldness and guile, and equipped with only a compass, a journal, and devotion to truth, these adventurers braved cursed landscapes, dared unnatural adversaries, and exposed hidden civilizations.
Many did not survive.
None were forgotten.
Their stories are maps revealing the topography and contours of landscapes unimaginable and dark. The Shadow Atlas collects their adventures.
Edited by authors and folklore enthusiasts Carina Bissett and Hillary Dodge, and four-time Colorado Book Award finalist, Joshua Viola.
With fiction and poetry by Mario Acevedo, Colleen Anderson, Kay Chronister, Sara Cleto, David Davies, Sean Eads, Anastasia Garcia, Owl Goingback, Maxwell I. Gold, Warren Hammond, Angie Hodapp, Jimena Jurado, Starlene Justice, Gwendolyn Kiste, Gerri Leen, Josh Malerman, Juliana Spink Mills, Tiffany Morris, Lee Murray, Annie Neugebauer, Gerardo Horacio Porcayo, Cameron E. Quinn, Sarah Read, Kathryn Reilly, Julia Rios, Betty Rocksteady, Marge Simon, Angela Yuriko Smith, Christina Sng, Jeanne C. Stein, Tim Waggoner, Brittany Warman, Christa Wojciechowski, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Mercedes M. Yardley, Jane Yolen, E. Lily Yu, and Alvaro Zinos-Amaro.
Illustrated by Aaron Lovett.
- GenresHorrorFantasyAnthologies
440 pages, ebook
First published November 28, 2021
5 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Carina Bissett
55 books52 followersCarina Bissett is a writer and poet working primarily in the fields of dark fiction and fabulism. She is the author of numerous shorts stories, which are featured in her debut collection Dead Girl, Driving and Other Devastations (2024), and she is also a co-editor of the award-winning anthology Shadow Atlas: Dark Landscapes of the Americas. Links to her work can be found at http://carinabissett.com.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 28, 2022
I definitely took my time with this one, and I’m super glad I did! This anthology of stories is super unique, especially the concept of the Shadow Atlas and the Umbra Arca. The introduction explaining their secrecy is intriguing, and the stories are beautiful and fascinating! The emails also add a nice touch, and many of the stories read as if they were originally oral stories.
I will say that owning a physical copy of this book would be much better than owning the ebook. Although the content is interesting, I have a strong feeling that it is presented better in a physical book.
Note: Thank you to Netgalley & publishers for allowing me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review! Please note that all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I will say that owning a physical copy of this book would be much better than owning the ebook. Although the content is interesting, I have a strong feeling that it is presented better in a physical book.
Note: Thank you to Netgalley & publishers for allowing me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review! Please note that all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
November 19, 2021
Shadow Atlas: Dark Landscapes of the Americas edited by Carina Bissett, Hillary Dodge, and Joshua Viola is forthcoming from Hex Publishers at the end of November. They were kind enough to send me an advance copy, and let me say first off, this books is really wonderful as a physical object. If you’re the sort of person who likes books-as-objects, then I definitely recommend snagging a print copy of this one. The conceit of the anthology is that it collects various legends and hidden histories from across the Americas. These documents, gathered by the Umbra Arca Society, include case files, illustrations from agents in the field, and even blank pages for readers to contribute their own notes and thoughts to the titular Shadow Atlas. The cover wrap under the dust jacket is even designed to look like a leather-bound tome, complete with a mysterious clasp, which may or may not open of its own accord.
Authors contributing to the volume include Gwendolyn Kiste, Josh Malerman, Julia Rios, E. Lily Yu, and Kay Chronister, among many others. Interspersed among the stories and poems there are also snippets of history and maps in addition to the above-mentioned illustrations, case notes, and blank journal pages. Even when the stories themselves get dark, the anthology’s design is light-hearted and fun, and it’s a pleasure to flip through its pages.
While many of the stories draw on existing mythologies and legends, others rely on a more personal kind of mythology, or weird and inexplicable happenings encountered by one or two people. I’m a sucker for hidden histories, mythology, and folktales, and this loose theme gives authors a wide field to play with. A few of the stories really stood out to me, and they are highlighted below.
Moon-Eyed Women by Kay Chronister is the story of a Welsh immigrant living in America whose father has arranged for him to have a true Welsh bride. The moon-eyed women of the title are rumored to be descendants of the mythological Madoc, though descendant is a tricky term in this case as the women are constructed in the model of Blodeudwedd of Welsh myth who was built out of flower petals by the magicians Math and Gwydion. Chronister’s eerie tale explores the dark side of what it might mean to belong to someone, and to have someone belong to you, as well as exploring the idea of purity. It also follows the implications of what it means to have compliant, constructed wife to a logical and unsettling conclusion.
Things to Do in Playland When You’re Dead by Gwendolyn Kiste is an ode to the past, where the America-that-was is in itself a ghost. The story nests haunting upon haunting, but these hauntings are more melancholy than frightening as a ghost wanders through the soon-to-be closed Playland exploring its fading glory, contemplating San Francisco’s history, and searching for their purpose in the afterlife. There is a sense of nostalgia to the story, but it also reckons with the darker side of San Francisco’s history – its earthquakes, its murders, its overdoses, and its heartbreak. Kiste strikes just the right balance of sorrow and hope in this short yet satisfying tale.
You Ought Not Smile As You Walk These Woods by Annie Neugebauer caused me to wonder whether a story can be simultaneously cute and horrifying. This one certainly feels like it strikes that balance with its dark sense of humor and a classic (in the violent and bloody sense) fairy tale feel. A grandson goes to visit his grandmother and isn’t wise enough to heed her advice. Being the typical arrogant, greedy, and not too bright youth of fairy tales, he steals what he shouldn’t and even though he tries to gift what he steals to his grandmother out of kindness, the results are still horrifying. Like all good fairy tales, this one comes with a moral: Always listen to your elders, respect nature, and never think you’re cleverer than a fairy – especially one with a fondness for teeth.
Xtabay by Julia Rios presents readers with a series of stories nested within stories, evoking mythology, urban legends, and ghostly tales. A young girl grapples with her family history, in particular the history of her Mexican father who spent his life desperately trying to fit in and be something he wasn’t. As a young man, his cousin constantly teased him about his virginity, which led to an unwise relationship with a mysterious girl. Rather than doing what he knew in his heart to be right, he allowed himself to give into pressure, resulting in tragedy and a curse that followed him for the rest of his life. The story deftly explores themes of racism, class, and the expectations society places on men vs. women, where women must remain pure, while men are mocked for not making sexual “conquests”. Rios shows the way these gendered expectations tie back to issues of class, race, and colonization with the idea that lower-class women are expendable and good enough to fuck, but not worthy of marriage, and showing how constantly trying to fit into someone else’s image of what and who you should be slowly erodes you from the inside out.
Blood Sisters by Christa Wojciechowski weaves together personal mythology and local legends as a pair of childhood friends travel to Columbia on a last girls trip before one of them gets married. Tina is afraid of things changing and brings Beats to a supposedly cursed mountain where standing at the top as an unmarried person dooms you to always to be alone. On their last night in Columbia, they go drinking with two local men, one of whom reveals the mountain’s nature to Beats, and thus also reveals Tina’s betrayal. The story realistically captures the way friendships can drift apart as people grow, from a time in your life where you know everything about the other person and they’re you’re entire world, to a time where you just exchange emails occasionally, and how scary that transition can be. It’s not about a friendship breaking or anything dramatic happening, simply the way things change over time. Tina’s feelings of jealously feel very real and grounded, as does her fear of change leading to destructive behavior. The story also offers an interesting exploration of belief and the power it has over people. Sometimes simply knowing about a supposed curse is enough to bring it about, whether the curse is “real” in any objective sense or not.
Keep an eye out for this anthology when it releases at the end of the November, and if it sounds like it’s up your alley, consider pre-ordering it now!
Authors contributing to the volume include Gwendolyn Kiste, Josh Malerman, Julia Rios, E. Lily Yu, and Kay Chronister, among many others. Interspersed among the stories and poems there are also snippets of history and maps in addition to the above-mentioned illustrations, case notes, and blank journal pages. Even when the stories themselves get dark, the anthology’s design is light-hearted and fun, and it’s a pleasure to flip through its pages.
While many of the stories draw on existing mythologies and legends, others rely on a more personal kind of mythology, or weird and inexplicable happenings encountered by one or two people. I’m a sucker for hidden histories, mythology, and folktales, and this loose theme gives authors a wide field to play with. A few of the stories really stood out to me, and they are highlighted below.
Moon-Eyed Women by Kay Chronister is the story of a Welsh immigrant living in America whose father has arranged for him to have a true Welsh bride. The moon-eyed women of the title are rumored to be descendants of the mythological Madoc, though descendant is a tricky term in this case as the women are constructed in the model of Blodeudwedd of Welsh myth who was built out of flower petals by the magicians Math and Gwydion. Chronister’s eerie tale explores the dark side of what it might mean to belong to someone, and to have someone belong to you, as well as exploring the idea of purity. It also follows the implications of what it means to have compliant, constructed wife to a logical and unsettling conclusion.
Things to Do in Playland When You’re Dead by Gwendolyn Kiste is an ode to the past, where the America-that-was is in itself a ghost. The story nests haunting upon haunting, but these hauntings are more melancholy than frightening as a ghost wanders through the soon-to-be closed Playland exploring its fading glory, contemplating San Francisco’s history, and searching for their purpose in the afterlife. There is a sense of nostalgia to the story, but it also reckons with the darker side of San Francisco’s history – its earthquakes, its murders, its overdoses, and its heartbreak. Kiste strikes just the right balance of sorrow and hope in this short yet satisfying tale.
You Ought Not Smile As You Walk These Woods by Annie Neugebauer caused me to wonder whether a story can be simultaneously cute and horrifying. This one certainly feels like it strikes that balance with its dark sense of humor and a classic (in the violent and bloody sense) fairy tale feel. A grandson goes to visit his grandmother and isn’t wise enough to heed her advice. Being the typical arrogant, greedy, and not too bright youth of fairy tales, he steals what he shouldn’t and even though he tries to gift what he steals to his grandmother out of kindness, the results are still horrifying. Like all good fairy tales, this one comes with a moral: Always listen to your elders, respect nature, and never think you’re cleverer than a fairy – especially one with a fondness for teeth.
Xtabay by Julia Rios presents readers with a series of stories nested within stories, evoking mythology, urban legends, and ghostly tales. A young girl grapples with her family history, in particular the history of her Mexican father who spent his life desperately trying to fit in and be something he wasn’t. As a young man, his cousin constantly teased him about his virginity, which led to an unwise relationship with a mysterious girl. Rather than doing what he knew in his heart to be right, he allowed himself to give into pressure, resulting in tragedy and a curse that followed him for the rest of his life. The story deftly explores themes of racism, class, and the expectations society places on men vs. women, where women must remain pure, while men are mocked for not making sexual “conquests”. Rios shows the way these gendered expectations tie back to issues of class, race, and colonization with the idea that lower-class women are expendable and good enough to fuck, but not worthy of marriage, and showing how constantly trying to fit into someone else’s image of what and who you should be slowly erodes you from the inside out.
Blood Sisters by Christa Wojciechowski weaves together personal mythology and local legends as a pair of childhood friends travel to Columbia on a last girls trip before one of them gets married. Tina is afraid of things changing and brings Beats to a supposedly cursed mountain where standing at the top as an unmarried person dooms you to always to be alone. On their last night in Columbia, they go drinking with two local men, one of whom reveals the mountain’s nature to Beats, and thus also reveals Tina’s betrayal. The story realistically captures the way friendships can drift apart as people grow, from a time in your life where you know everything about the other person and they’re you’re entire world, to a time where you just exchange emails occasionally, and how scary that transition can be. It’s not about a friendship breaking or anything dramatic happening, simply the way things change over time. Tina’s feelings of jealously feel very real and grounded, as does her fear of change leading to destructive behavior. The story also offers an interesting exploration of belief and the power it has over people. Sometimes simply knowing about a supposed curse is enough to bring it about, whether the curse is “real” in any objective sense or not.
Keep an eye out for this anthology when it releases at the end of the November, and if it sounds like it’s up your alley, consider pre-ordering it now!
December 15, 2021
I do believe that this is the first 5 I have awarded an ARC. Even books I think are really great, I typically score a 4; 5s are for the books that absolutely blow me away. I stumbled upon Shadow Atlas when perusing the NetGalley site to see if my favorite authors had any new books coming out. I searched both Josh Malerman and Owl Goingback so I was twice thrilled, even more thrilled when this request was approved.
All I can say is wow, wow, WOW. I just loved everything about this book. This collection was magical to me because it's just so unique. From the "emails" to the poetry; from the short stories to the "case files." And the artwork! I absolutely loved the artistic components of this book, both the wordful and the pictures. I read a lot, but it's not often I can lose myself in a book. When reading Shadow Atlas, I became enveloped by it and engrossed by it.
A collection by various authors with their own styles, each piece of Shadow Atlas fits together like an intricate and beautiful jigsaw puzzle . . .
I loved it!
All I can say is wow, wow, WOW. I just loved everything about this book. This collection was magical to me because it's just so unique. From the "emails" to the poetry; from the short stories to the "case files." And the artwork! I absolutely loved the artistic components of this book, both the wordful and the pictures. I read a lot, but it's not often I can lose myself in a book. When reading Shadow Atlas, I became enveloped by it and engrossed by it.
A collection by various authors with their own styles, each piece of Shadow Atlas fits together like an intricate and beautiful jigsaw puzzle . . .
I loved it!
Read
January 21, 2022i do not have the brains for this right now but trust I WILL come back to finish it. it looks incredibly interesting.
December 21, 2021
Some lands belong to shadows and spirits, and these haunted places are not for the living. They exact a terrible price and those who explored them in the past left behind instructions for the living, which eventually became superstition and ghost stories. To reclaim this lost knowledge, the Umbra Arca Society was created and maps were drawn of the explorers' travels.
This collection of short stories and poetry is edited by Carina Bissett, Hillary Dodge, and Joshua Viola. Cover and interior art are from Aaron Lovett. The authors are well known for writing fiction and fantasy; Amazon lists this anthology as horror. The memos, notes, and such within the text of the book reminds me of the novel House of Leaves, in the sense of a story-within-a-story-within-a-story framework, with typographic changes for different layers, and a sense of unease permeating them. (wanna get freaked out? Try that book. Seriously, it'll twist your brain inside out.)
Over the course of the book, we're introduced to the Umbra Arca, the collection materials, and the legends themselves within the text of the stories. They do carry the creepy and faintly horror-laden atmosphere of legends. Wives that don't die, people that go missing, creatures from stories that are indeed real, the will o' the wisp, etc. I have a hard time picking out which is my favorite because the stories are all well done, and I liked the drawings highlighting the stories. While reading the book I lost track of time, absorbed in the collection's premise of being a collection of true stories collected by a number of talented authors. It's not just the myths of the United States involved, but other parts of the world as well. I really enjoyed the spooky atmosphere and legends that were written about.
This collection of short stories and poetry is edited by Carina Bissett, Hillary Dodge, and Joshua Viola. Cover and interior art are from Aaron Lovett. The authors are well known for writing fiction and fantasy; Amazon lists this anthology as horror. The memos, notes, and such within the text of the book reminds me of the novel House of Leaves, in the sense of a story-within-a-story-within-a-story framework, with typographic changes for different layers, and a sense of unease permeating them. (wanna get freaked out? Try that book. Seriously, it'll twist your brain inside out.)
Over the course of the book, we're introduced to the Umbra Arca, the collection materials, and the legends themselves within the text of the stories. They do carry the creepy and faintly horror-laden atmosphere of legends. Wives that don't die, people that go missing, creatures from stories that are indeed real, the will o' the wisp, etc. I have a hard time picking out which is my favorite because the stories are all well done, and I liked the drawings highlighting the stories. While reading the book I lost track of time, absorbed in the collection's premise of being a collection of true stories collected by a number of talented authors. It's not just the myths of the United States involved, but other parts of the world as well. I really enjoyed the spooky atmosphere and legends that were written about.
August 14, 2024
A well put-together and evocative anthology built around the idea of a secret order in search of the true history about the Americas. I’ve learned more about myths and legends than I could have expected. So rich in lore. Here you’ll find (among other things): Native American lore, mermaids of the Mississippi River, cunning matchmakers & wives made of plants for lonely men.
Aside from some genuinely great stories and clever concept, the book itself is also beautifully illustrated with artwork by Aaron Lovett and worth getting on that account as well.
An overview of the stories below (favorites of mine have been marked with a “*”)
Favs: Moon-Eyed Women:*
“No shortage of men wanting to be married into the land”, she tells them. “But I hope you know what you’re getting.” (Blodeuwedd; made of flowers for a man cursed to never marry a human woman).
-The Keeper by Angie Hodapp:*
A young woman’s left alone in the world as her mother dies; or so she thinks, until she meets her mom’s mysterious cousin at the service. Her mom wanted her to promise to never go to the island she hailed from; this cousin of hers seems intent to make her promise that she will. Curiosity and a promise sees Sophie heading towards the place. They’re the keepers of lutins (‘the little people’ who need Sophie to guide them home from their adventures lest they cease to exist).
-The Man Who Wasn’t There by Betty Rocksteady:**
Anigonish (of the poem) meets Lovecraftian vibes in this story about a nursing student struggling with mental health, specifically intrusive thoughts about killing patients & a recurring (living) dream about stairs that cannot be and the man on them. A tense and amazing. read that does a great job tapping into the descent into mental illness and desperately trying to control it until it’s impossible.
-God Spelled Backward (Tim Waggoner):
Wagoner offers up this tale about an Ohioan cryptid, the dogman. Malcolm is man who’s felt stalked by men (?) dressed as dogs. The tale itself incorporates childhood trauma (attacked by his real life dog) and a scary movie about dogmen. Hard to tell what’s real or not.
-The Time that is Left by Sarah Read:*
Allie & Maddie are making their way to a lake island with their father’s ashes when find themselves on a strange lake place in order to avoid the promise of bad weather and an odd lake creature in the water; something big. Back in time; sea, giant bugs and a giant prehistoric fish. About loss, sacrifice and literally trying to outrun the past in order to have a future. Learned what a dunkleosteus was. Heartbreaking. Clever take on the sea monster trope
-Cinnabar by Colleen Anderson:**
I’m not big on poems; mainly because I don’t have much experience with them but I loved this one. So atmospheric and enticing (about a murdered prostitute and the never-to-find-rest-murderer) that I now want to visit Fan Tan Alley.
-Things to Do in Playland When You’re Dead by Gwendolyn Kiste:
A ghost takes the rides in an amusement park for the last time. Not remembering who they are, only that they shouldn’t turn back to look, we’re offered a nostalgic and almost melancholic tale as we join in for the ride. Ends with the ghost absorbing the other specters so they won’t be alone.
-Sand and Salt by Mercedes M. Yardley:
A desert girl is hounded by a banshee; as her family was until it drove her father to murder. Longing to join her family, the banshee couldn’t help even if she wanted to, but there are older things in this desert and other ways (rebirth).
-A Nugget of Wisdom by Sean Eads:
The legend of a mine promising vast riches haunts this land & Russ has been hired by an old man to take him on a round trip experience in the mountains. The mine holds riches of a sort; the souls and therefore the wisdom of people obsessed in life with this mine become trapped and a source of life everlasting. Lives like Russ’ father’s + his own when he dies.
-You Ought Not Smile as You Walk These Woods by Annie Neugebauer:
A young man stays with his superstitious grandma. Wanting to take a walk in the woods, he’s warned against smiling (lest the ‘teeth’ fairies take his teeth as they like to decorate with them). He steals a gold filling from a fairy, gifts it to his grandmother and that’s how I learn that there are worse things than tooth pulling; f.ex tooth insertions (grandma wakes up with a throbbing head and a new set of teeth that don’t exactly fit).
-Xipe Totec by Mario Acevedo:*
A Coyote, his scummy colleagues and the people they lead through the desert won’t be making it to the US border as someone(thing) has other plans for them and he starts seeing specters of the past.
Aztec legend comes alive in this story where heat stroke, the dangers of the desert & paranoia boils over. The Aztec god of death rules here.
-The Hollow Place by Gerardo Horacio Porcayo:
The rise and fall of thr hollow pyramid for the serpent god. All things pass into new ones that then also fall. Circle of life (death). 2 pages long; captures a lot of history on those few pages, as well as the hardships the indigenous people of this land has suffered at the hands of conquerors and faith alike.
-Blood of Angels by Owl Goingback:
Hadn’t realized how much Filipino aswang have in common with Tlahuelpuchi (sep body, flies and feed on babies).
-Xtabay by Julia Rios:*
Puts the tale of Xkeban and Utz-colel into a modern setting.
A girl finds herself where her dad grew up in Yucatán while he undergoes treatment for a heart issue. While there she learns more about one of his secrets previously only hinted at and how his cousin really died in that car accident. His first love did not end well and was responsible for the cousin dying. Deals with misogyny and identity (specifically repressing one’s indigenous heritage)
-The Sugar Castle of St. Lucia by E. Lily Yu:
An old woman on a boat tour relates to a story told on a boat tour more than one would expect. Having had her life sapped out through a long life, a bad marriage and putting everyone but herself first, Gloria is finally on a holiday. On a cruise, she takes a fateful boat trip off the island. The story told details a centuries old quest for vengeance and the resulting ‘sugar castle’. Sugar trade, rich man taking advantage of a woman leaving her with child and her seeking vengeance through the ultimate offering to Mami Wata.
-Blood Sisters by Christa Wojciechowski:
A special friendship between two women about to change as one of them is to marry and the misadventurous trip they take before the wedding. Old gods vs. just a friend unwilling (or unable) to accept the change of dynamics. A planned or accidental trip to a cursed rock that promises anyone who goes there that they’ll be cursed to be alone for life. Toxic friendship.
-Diablo Ballena by Jeanne C. Stein:
A newlywed anthropologist couple on assignment in Colombia. The husband soon learns that his wife is pregnant, that the child isn’t his . & she only married him in order to keep up the affair she was having with a professor who’s also there with them. Additionally, it’s said that a monster inhabits the local lake.
Thirsting for vengeance, he thinks he’ll be able to combine his revenge with this legend.
-Taste of Sorrow by Warren Hammond:
An old collector of rum has snuck away from an unfortunate lawsuit involving a couple of youths and some tainted rum they helped themselves to. Looking to learn the secret behind the ultimate (vision inducing) rum he once sampled, he finds himself in Guyana. The almondy secret? Jonestown kool aid.
-The Scarlet Tanager by Starlene Justice:
A heartbreaking short story about two sisters and the town obliterated by an earthquake and the town being crushed by land- and ice slide.
-Ya-te-veo by Anastasia Garcia:*
A small village of indigenous people by the Amazon River pray desperately for better days as they’re all near starvation. Through the eyes of a child we’re granted a look into what the adults have been praying to; I love trees, but this is not a tree I’d like to come across. Hungry for human flesh and with roots going deep, it’s been snuffing out their crops so that they’ll have to feed it increasingly more. The child is the only one wise to this and goes there to end it (sets the tree on fire)
-Moon Under Mangroves by Juliana Spina Mills:
An old woman has made her way to the coastal and mangrove covered swamp area in Brazil where her great-grandfather died while working on the railways, his body never recovered. Having felt a mysterious pull towards this place and with a strange compass in hand, she’s told A legend about a crab prince ever digging along the mangroves for his lost love. Gets eaten and reformed by a swarm of crabs to some unknown end.
-Door to Door by Josh Malerman:*
A mother is reeling from another one of presumably many run-ins with her son when there’s a knock at the door. Warned against opening it by her daughter, the mom sees a seller who presents himself as Senhor Homem and what he’s offering is a solution to her misbehaving boy. The man is The Sack Man; a bogeyman who takes away misbehaving children. The real horror is how willing the mom is to rid herself of the boy.
Aside from some genuinely great stories and clever concept, the book itself is also beautifully illustrated with artwork by Aaron Lovett and worth getting on that account as well.
An overview of the stories below (favorites of mine have been marked with a “*”)
Favs: Moon-Eyed Women:*
“No shortage of men wanting to be married into the land”, she tells them. “But I hope you know what you’re getting.” (Blodeuwedd; made of flowers for a man cursed to never marry a human woman).
-The Keeper by Angie Hodapp:*
A young woman’s left alone in the world as her mother dies; or so she thinks, until she meets her mom’s mysterious cousin at the service. Her mom wanted her to promise to never go to the island she hailed from; this cousin of hers seems intent to make her promise that she will. Curiosity and a promise sees Sophie heading towards the place. They’re the keepers of lutins (‘the little people’ who need Sophie to guide them home from their adventures lest they cease to exist).
-The Man Who Wasn’t There by Betty Rocksteady:**
Anigonish (of the poem) meets Lovecraftian vibes in this story about a nursing student struggling with mental health, specifically intrusive thoughts about killing patients & a recurring (living) dream about stairs that cannot be and the man on them. A tense and amazing. read that does a great job tapping into the descent into mental illness and desperately trying to control it until it’s impossible.
-God Spelled Backward (Tim Waggoner):
Wagoner offers up this tale about an Ohioan cryptid, the dogman. Malcolm is man who’s felt stalked by men (?) dressed as dogs. The tale itself incorporates childhood trauma (attacked by his real life dog) and a scary movie about dogmen. Hard to tell what’s real or not.
-The Time that is Left by Sarah Read:*
Allie & Maddie are making their way to a lake island with their father’s ashes when find themselves on a strange lake place in order to avoid the promise of bad weather and an odd lake creature in the water; something big. Back in time; sea, giant bugs and a giant prehistoric fish. About loss, sacrifice and literally trying to outrun the past in order to have a future. Learned what a dunkleosteus was. Heartbreaking. Clever take on the sea monster trope
-Cinnabar by Colleen Anderson:**
I’m not big on poems; mainly because I don’t have much experience with them but I loved this one. So atmospheric and enticing (about a murdered prostitute and the never-to-find-rest-murderer) that I now want to visit Fan Tan Alley.
-Things to Do in Playland When You’re Dead by Gwendolyn Kiste:
A ghost takes the rides in an amusement park for the last time. Not remembering who they are, only that they shouldn’t turn back to look, we’re offered a nostalgic and almost melancholic tale as we join in for the ride. Ends with the ghost absorbing the other specters so they won’t be alone.
-Sand and Salt by Mercedes M. Yardley:
A desert girl is hounded by a banshee; as her family was until it drove her father to murder. Longing to join her family, the banshee couldn’t help even if she wanted to, but there are older things in this desert and other ways (rebirth).
-A Nugget of Wisdom by Sean Eads:
The legend of a mine promising vast riches haunts this land & Russ has been hired by an old man to take him on a round trip experience in the mountains. The mine holds riches of a sort; the souls and therefore the wisdom of people obsessed in life with this mine become trapped and a source of life everlasting. Lives like Russ’ father’s + his own when he dies.
-You Ought Not Smile as You Walk These Woods by Annie Neugebauer:
A young man stays with his superstitious grandma. Wanting to take a walk in the woods, he’s warned against smiling (lest the ‘teeth’ fairies take his teeth as they like to decorate with them). He steals a gold filling from a fairy, gifts it to his grandmother and that’s how I learn that there are worse things than tooth pulling; f.ex tooth insertions (grandma wakes up with a throbbing head and a new set of teeth that don’t exactly fit).
-Xipe Totec by Mario Acevedo:*
A Coyote, his scummy colleagues and the people they lead through the desert won’t be making it to the US border as someone(thing) has other plans for them and he starts seeing specters of the past.
Aztec legend comes alive in this story where heat stroke, the dangers of the desert & paranoia boils over. The Aztec god of death rules here.
-The Hollow Place by Gerardo Horacio Porcayo:
The rise and fall of thr hollow pyramid for the serpent god. All things pass into new ones that then also fall. Circle of life (death). 2 pages long; captures a lot of history on those few pages, as well as the hardships the indigenous people of this land has suffered at the hands of conquerors and faith alike.
-Blood of Angels by Owl Goingback:
Hadn’t realized how much Filipino aswang have in common with Tlahuelpuchi (sep body, flies and feed on babies).
-Xtabay by Julia Rios:*
Puts the tale of Xkeban and Utz-colel into a modern setting.
A girl finds herself where her dad grew up in Yucatán while he undergoes treatment for a heart issue. While there she learns more about one of his secrets previously only hinted at and how his cousin really died in that car accident. His first love did not end well and was responsible for the cousin dying. Deals with misogyny and identity (specifically repressing one’s indigenous heritage)
-The Sugar Castle of St. Lucia by E. Lily Yu:
An old woman on a boat tour relates to a story told on a boat tour more than one would expect. Having had her life sapped out through a long life, a bad marriage and putting everyone but herself first, Gloria is finally on a holiday. On a cruise, she takes a fateful boat trip off the island. The story told details a centuries old quest for vengeance and the resulting ‘sugar castle’. Sugar trade, rich man taking advantage of a woman leaving her with child and her seeking vengeance through the ultimate offering to Mami Wata.
-Blood Sisters by Christa Wojciechowski:
A special friendship between two women about to change as one of them is to marry and the misadventurous trip they take before the wedding. Old gods vs. just a friend unwilling (or unable) to accept the change of dynamics. A planned or accidental trip to a cursed rock that promises anyone who goes there that they’ll be cursed to be alone for life. Toxic friendship.
-Diablo Ballena by Jeanne C. Stein:
A newlywed anthropologist couple on assignment in Colombia. The husband soon learns that his wife is pregnant, that the child isn’t his . & she only married him in order to keep up the affair she was having with a professor who’s also there with them. Additionally, it’s said that a monster inhabits the local lake.
Thirsting for vengeance, he thinks he’ll be able to combine his revenge with this legend.
-Taste of Sorrow by Warren Hammond:
An old collector of rum has snuck away from an unfortunate lawsuit involving a couple of youths and some tainted rum they helped themselves to. Looking to learn the secret behind the ultimate (vision inducing) rum he once sampled, he finds himself in Guyana. The almondy secret? Jonestown kool aid.
-The Scarlet Tanager by Starlene Justice:
A heartbreaking short story about two sisters and the town obliterated by an earthquake and the town being crushed by land- and ice slide.
-Ya-te-veo by Anastasia Garcia:*
A small village of indigenous people by the Amazon River pray desperately for better days as they’re all near starvation. Through the eyes of a child we’re granted a look into what the adults have been praying to; I love trees, but this is not a tree I’d like to come across. Hungry for human flesh and with roots going deep, it’s been snuffing out their crops so that they’ll have to feed it increasingly more. The child is the only one wise to this and goes there to end it (sets the tree on fire)
-Moon Under Mangroves by Juliana Spina Mills:
An old woman has made her way to the coastal and mangrove covered swamp area in Brazil where her great-grandfather died while working on the railways, his body never recovered. Having felt a mysterious pull towards this place and with a strange compass in hand, she’s told A legend about a crab prince ever digging along the mangroves for his lost love. Gets eaten and reformed by a swarm of crabs to some unknown end.
-Door to Door by Josh Malerman:*
A mother is reeling from another one of presumably many run-ins with her son when there’s a knock at the door. Warned against opening it by her daughter, the mom sees a seller who presents himself as Senhor Homem and what he’s offering is a solution to her misbehaving boy. The man is The Sack Man; a bogeyman who takes away misbehaving children. The real horror is how willing the mom is to rid herself of the boy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2022
The Shadow Atlas--Mythology, Folklore, Fantasy & Fabulous Possibilities
--In 1972, a book of esoteric knowledge found by D.S. of Harvard titled, The Shadow Atlas, and credited to the mysterious Umbra Arca Society, found its way into the office of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. Concerned that the book was the work of enemy agents, Hoover immediately launched an investigation into the origins of the Atlas with Field Agents in Denver and Boston in pursuit. “…Calling history myth, and arguing that facts are fiction, is the ultimate conspiracy theory to distract us from the innate strangeness of the universe and, even more importantly, the untapped capabilities of our psyches.”
Esoteric knowledge and occult, secretive facts hinting at unknown legends compelled me to search out “The Shadow Atlas” just as it did the FBI—although not for the same reasons. “…You have agency enough to alter the cosmos itself through the power of your beliefs.”
Atmospheric, lush, spiritual, and haunting, the “Atlas” is rich with tales, art, and verses from indigenous North American and Mesoamerican oral histories and traditions. It’s a treasure of proverbs and insightful messages to savor and linger over. “The Shadow Atlas” contains an alternative history of the Americas taken from a plethora of sources, as well as intriguing information about ‘hidden realms’ and ‘shocking truths.” I was ecstatic when I read the title description and wasn’t disappointed. It’s a mesmerizing adventure through unknown possibilities. You’re entering the Twilight Zone History of the Americas! Oh, what fun!
“…Don’t make the mistake of thinking that ink ever tells the full story and that a blank space is truly empty. The oath of the Umbra Arca implores us to remember the power we hold within.”
--In 1972, a book of esoteric knowledge found by D.S. of Harvard titled, The Shadow Atlas, and credited to the mysterious Umbra Arca Society, found its way into the office of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. Concerned that the book was the work of enemy agents, Hoover immediately launched an investigation into the origins of the Atlas with Field Agents in Denver and Boston in pursuit. “…Calling history myth, and arguing that facts are fiction, is the ultimate conspiracy theory to distract us from the innate strangeness of the universe and, even more importantly, the untapped capabilities of our psyches.”
Esoteric knowledge and occult, secretive facts hinting at unknown legends compelled me to search out “The Shadow Atlas” just as it did the FBI—although not for the same reasons. “…You have agency enough to alter the cosmos itself through the power of your beliefs.”
Atmospheric, lush, spiritual, and haunting, the “Atlas” is rich with tales, art, and verses from indigenous North American and Mesoamerican oral histories and traditions. It’s a treasure of proverbs and insightful messages to savor and linger over. “The Shadow Atlas” contains an alternative history of the Americas taken from a plethora of sources, as well as intriguing information about ‘hidden realms’ and ‘shocking truths.” I was ecstatic when I read the title description and wasn’t disappointed. It’s a mesmerizing adventure through unknown possibilities. You’re entering the Twilight Zone History of the Americas! Oh, what fun!
“…Don’t make the mistake of thinking that ink ever tells the full story and that a blank space is truly empty. The oath of the Umbra Arca implores us to remember the power we hold within.”
April 17, 2022
An anthology that according to unknown documents the Umbra Arca Society has compiled legends and myths forever — at least as long the Society has existed. Supposedly the Society has a book for every corner of the world. This book focuses on the Americas. It includes short fiction stories and poetry. The stories are written usually as the hero or heroine must confront an otherworldly (revengeful) being or something else. A vast array of talented writers raise this collection with their prose. Contemporary artwork whether grotesque, threatening creatures will astound.
The excellent authors/writers and settings have created an excellent anthology. I loved how each story seamed together that made me think I was reading a novel at times. The stories and poetry flowed perfectly from one to the next. This is an anthology is not to be missed.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The excellent authors/writers and settings have created an excellent anthology. I loved how each story seamed together that made me think I was reading a novel at times. The stories and poetry flowed perfectly from one to the next. This is an anthology is not to be missed.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
April 10, 2022
Shadow Atlas is a paranormal horror anthology. As with any collection of short stories, it’s a little bit of a mixed bag. Some of the stories are brilliant, while others are just fine. As a whole, it has a nice vibe, and I like the an air of mystery it cultivates around itself. I really like the central conceit, that there is a secret organisation recording these tales, as well as the way it is presented through letters and emails. Also, all the art in the book is absolutely fantastic. I especially like the piece made for Moon-Eyed Women. Between the artwork, the presentation of the origin of the stories, and to an extent the stories themselves, this anthology reminds me (in a good way) of The House of Eternal Return, an art exhibit by Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. I may have to get a physical copy of this some time down the line, it’s such a pretty book.
March 8, 2022
This was an interesting premise for a collection of short stories. Readers can navigate to a specific story via the table of contents or by using the "Map of Occurrences" which is a neat tool.
Some of the stories & poetry were really very good, others were not my cup of tea at all. Pretty common problem for anthologies but also a reason I gravitate to collections like these: usually, there's something to appeal to everyone. The ratio just wasn't on my side.
My only real complaint would be that I really didn't see a tie in to the Shadow Atlas or the Umbra Arca. It felt like it was just an excuse/ half-hearted plot device to round up North & South American short stories based on folk-lore. I would have been just as happy without the secret society / mystical mystery element.
Some of the stories & poetry were really very good, others were not my cup of tea at all. Pretty common problem for anthologies but also a reason I gravitate to collections like these: usually, there's something to appeal to everyone. The ratio just wasn't on my side.
My only real complaint would be that I really didn't see a tie in to the Shadow Atlas or the Umbra Arca. It felt like it was just an excuse/ half-hearted plot device to round up North & South American short stories based on folk-lore. I would have been just as happy without the secret society / mystical mystery element.
Want to Read
January 6, 2022I was interested in this collection because it has stories from a few of my favorite authors (Josh Malerman, Gwendolyn Kiste, Sarah Read, and a few others). The entire book is great! Almost every story really resonated with me, and only a two or three were less than perfect, and the poetry was splendid as well. The book is beautifully assembled with gorgeous design, outstanding artwork by Aaron Lovett and lots of interesting additions like notes and details that add wonderful finishing touches. The way each story integrates with the next in a larger overall narrative works really well. This is one of the best put together anthologies I have ever read.
February 23, 2022
I’m finding this book hard to describe. It’s a collection of short stories about folklore throughout the Americas told through a special book called the Shadow Atlas. There are illustrations and some of it is written like emails or memos. Most of the stories are creepy but not scary. There are monsters and anomalies described that are chilling and each story has it’s own. If you don’t like one, there is sure to be another coming along that you will. Each one will fill you with dread, think Poe.
I really enjoyed reading this and some of these stories will stay with me awhile.
I really enjoyed reading this and some of these stories will stay with me awhile.
February 26, 2022
Wow, this was amazing.
Sometimes anthologies feel messily put together but this one was amazing! Honestly the construction of this book is nearly flawless. The multi-media perspectives was a game changer reading this and added so much magic and character to the stories as they unfolded. I also think the concept of a archive of stories is just amazing. Honestly I wish real history was told this way - how incredibly fascinating would it be to learn about our pasts this way!
If you're not a fan of horror, don't let that drive you away from this story. While there are a few creepy aspects, nothing is truly scary. It's more so a foreboding atmosphere than anything else. You can see the bad things coming and that's what makes it "horrifying". But I think that's true for real life historical studies as well. We read the things that happened in the past and we think "wow that's horrible, how did we ever let it come to pass." This book evokes that same sense of dread and wishing for a time machine.
Amazing, truly amazing. The authors and editor(s) did a fantastic job!
Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for the ebook copy.
Sometimes anthologies feel messily put together but this one was amazing! Honestly the construction of this book is nearly flawless. The multi-media perspectives was a game changer reading this and added so much magic and character to the stories as they unfolded. I also think the concept of a archive of stories is just amazing. Honestly I wish real history was told this way - how incredibly fascinating would it be to learn about our pasts this way!
If you're not a fan of horror, don't let that drive you away from this story. While there are a few creepy aspects, nothing is truly scary. It's more so a foreboding atmosphere than anything else. You can see the bad things coming and that's what makes it "horrifying". But I think that's true for real life historical studies as well. We read the things that happened in the past and we think "wow that's horrible, how did we ever let it come to pass." This book evokes that same sense of dread and wishing for a time machine.
Amazing, truly amazing. The authors and editor(s) did a fantastic job!
Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for the ebook copy.
January 17, 2022
Stories populated with weird creatures. Stories awash in intrigue and myths. Favorites: Tim Waggoner's "God Spelled Backward," Gwendolyn Kiste's "Things to Do in Playland when You're Dead," and Josh Malerman's "Door to Door.”
October 15, 2021
Of course, I am the editor, but this book is filled with beautiful and terrifying stories from many amazing authors.
May 16, 2022
Not necessarily my type of book, but interesting. A book full of folktales, some interesting, too many depressing and full of dark sadness for me to enjoy.
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