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Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging - Volume Blue
Tales for those who never outgrew goosebumps
Here are stories for lovers of chupacabras and hulders, griffins and gargoyles.
Here be darkly cheery tales of ancient creatures beneath still waters, in the attic, or the shadows right by the bed.
Herein an autistic hiker meets a cryptid who wants her camera; a Japanese tanuki seeks his fox daughter; and two women fall in love, never mind one's a swamp monster.
Here be stories of changelings, nix, and demons adopted, of hungry kraken and cryptids we'd see if only, if only we looked into treetops, behind doors, or in our own back gardens.
Here there be monsters.
Thank all the gods.
Here are stories for lovers of chupacabras and hulders, griffins and gargoyles.
Here be darkly cheery tales of ancient creatures beneath still waters, in the attic, or the shadows right by the bed.
Herein an autistic hiker meets a cryptid who wants her camera; a Japanese tanuki seeks his fox daughter; and two women fall in love, never mind one's a swamp monster.
Here be stories of changelings, nix, and demons adopted, of hungry kraken and cryptids we'd see if only, if only we looked into treetops, behind doors, or in our own back gardens.
Here there be monsters.
Thank all the gods.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 13, 2021
6 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 21, 2022
Five solid stars to Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging, an independently published, huge anthology of queer and delightfully woke tales of cryptids and things that go bump in the night.
It's so hard to rate anthologies, right? But I found every story in this collection chosen and written with care, with humorous satirical newspaper articles, faux interviews, and other mixed media included. It kept the collection refreshingly paced, and the shorter tales were no less evocative. I think the best I can do to review is highlight some of my favorites.
The first story, The Name of the River, was a charming child meets monster trope full of an interesting, dissociative prose, as if the entire story was an out of body experience for the water creature.
Gargoyles of Prague was a tear-invoking trip that asks what if creatures made of stone were more compassionate than flesh and blood humans?
Investigating the Sea-Hag Menace confronted stereotypical gender roles very satisfyingly. What happens when women stand up to bullying or threatening presences in their lives? When they leave their "posts" to become ethereal witches living where water meets land?
Coming Up from the Wilderness was one of my absolute favorites. A western tale of vengeance, spiced by sexual tension and lizardmen with a wholly pleasing conclusion.
The werewolf story, Cursebreaker, was one of the most phenomenal werewolf tales I've read, and I've read many. The idea of transformation into something more powerful under the light of the moon, paralleling a werewolf's human form gender transition, is something the trans community of Werewolf Twitter discusses a lot and I was delighted to see it reflected here. This was incredible and I cried - no words can describe the poignance of the bit about the True Name.
The Volcano and the Butterfly read like a modern romantic fable, including all the I Could Destroy You monsterfucking vibes but also the soft, protective urges. Brief and memorable.
There's a lot to love in this volume, from bickering creatures that live under your bed, to sexy Mothman, to bog hounds. It was so refreshing to read organic queer stories, where nothing feels shoehorned in and you're not afraid those characters will be fridged mere pages later.
I can't wait for volume two/silver, as a dear friend has contributed to that one. Certainly looking forward to more from Improbable Press.
It's so hard to rate anthologies, right? But I found every story in this collection chosen and written with care, with humorous satirical newspaper articles, faux interviews, and other mixed media included. It kept the collection refreshingly paced, and the shorter tales were no less evocative. I think the best I can do to review is highlight some of my favorites.
The first story, The Name of the River, was a charming child meets monster trope full of an interesting, dissociative prose, as if the entire story was an out of body experience for the water creature.
Gargoyles of Prague was a tear-invoking trip that asks what if creatures made of stone were more compassionate than flesh and blood humans?
Investigating the Sea-Hag Menace confronted stereotypical gender roles very satisfyingly. What happens when women stand up to bullying or threatening presences in their lives? When they leave their "posts" to become ethereal witches living where water meets land?
Coming Up from the Wilderness was one of my absolute favorites. A western tale of vengeance, spiced by sexual tension and lizardmen with a wholly pleasing conclusion.
The werewolf story, Cursebreaker, was one of the most phenomenal werewolf tales I've read, and I've read many. The idea of transformation into something more powerful under the light of the moon, paralleling a werewolf's human form gender transition, is something the trans community of Werewolf Twitter discusses a lot and I was delighted to see it reflected here. This was incredible and I cried - no words can describe the poignance of the bit about the True Name.
The Volcano and the Butterfly read like a modern romantic fable, including all the I Could Destroy You monsterfucking vibes but also the soft, protective urges. Brief and memorable.
There's a lot to love in this volume, from bickering creatures that live under your bed, to sexy Mothman, to bog hounds. It was so refreshing to read organic queer stories, where nothing feels shoehorned in and you're not afraid those characters will be fridged mere pages later.
I can't wait for volume two/silver, as a dear friend has contributed to that one. Certainly looking forward to more from Improbable Press.
January 12, 2022
4 ⭐ CW: transphobia/deadnaming, medical content, sexual assault, islamaphobia, animal death, human death, racism, domestic abuse mention
Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging-Volume Blue is a short story collection written by queer, BIPOC, disabled, and neurodivergent authors. I pre-ordered this, because my friend's story is in it!
These stories follow various cryptids, a lot of them from the cryptid's pov. I was pleasantly surprised to find that every single one of these stories is uplifting and adorable. We see cryptids being curious and friendly, who just want to play baseball, and the monster under the bed and in the closet runaway together. Several time while reading this I shouted "It's so cute!"
This is a great read if you're into cryptids, but want a less violent version of them where they are mostly misunderstood and/or exploited. It's also a great choice if you're looking for something light and heartwarming.
Here are a few of the stories that stood out to me:
The Name of the River
Investigating the Sea-Hag Menace
Slide
Special Interest
A Place Where Wings Can Spread
Bedroom Shadows
Cursebreaker
Paper Mite Revolution
The Volcano and the Butterfly
Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging-Volume Blue is a short story collection written by queer, BIPOC, disabled, and neurodivergent authors. I pre-ordered this, because my friend's story is in it!
These stories follow various cryptids, a lot of them from the cryptid's pov. I was pleasantly surprised to find that every single one of these stories is uplifting and adorable. We see cryptids being curious and friendly, who just want to play baseball, and the monster under the bed and in the closet runaway together. Several time while reading this I shouted "It's so cute!"
This is a great read if you're into cryptids, but want a less violent version of them where they are mostly misunderstood and/or exploited. It's also a great choice if you're looking for something light and heartwarming.
Here are a few of the stories that stood out to me:
The Name of the River
Investigating the Sea-Hag Menace
Slide
Special Interest
A Place Where Wings Can Spread
Bedroom Shadows
Cursebreaker
Paper Mite Revolution
The Volcano and the Butterfly
December 25, 2021
I started reading this anthology expecting it to while away the minutes between other tasks, like a pick-up-and-put-down kind of book. I did not expect to read it cover to cover in three sessions, putting it down twice, both times resenting the intrusion of real life into this finely crafted collection of fantasy.
I fell in love with an ageing lesbian swamp monster and her wife, coping with dementia. I wept over gargoyles who care for children who need more love in their lives. I giggled at the rules for cryptids using the lift, and at the logical thinking of paper mites.
I can hardly wait for Volume Silver to arrive.
I fell in love with an ageing lesbian swamp monster and her wife, coping with dementia. I wept over gargoyles who care for children who need more love in their lives. I giggled at the rules for cryptids using the lift, and at the logical thinking of paper mites.
I can hardly wait for Volume Silver to arrive.
January 8, 2022
Every single story in this anthology pulls its weight. And by “pulls its weight” I mean terrify, creep out, or send chills down my spine in the best way. It’s perfect for anyone who grew up loving Tales from the Crypt or Goosebumps and is chasing that “under the covers reading until way too late” feeling with scary stories. So glad I got this collection and would highly recommend to anyone who loves horror.
January 5, 2022
It is impossible to pick a favourite story (or cryptid) from this absolutely delightful volume full of heart and humour and beauty, each one radiating its own luminous hue of warmth, wonder and heartbreak. The gorgeous, vivid prose —from nibble-sized to the immersive— enchants from the very first page and keeps you hooked until the last, leaving your heart a little roomier than when you began and making you yearn for more winsome cryptid wholesomeness. Good thing there's more upcoming in the installation.
February 15, 2022
Reading this anthology, the word that springs to mind is "Quality". Every story in this book is top notch, and completely unpredictable and nuanced. The beauty of the anthology is how it explores culture, neurodivergence, and gender through the lens of fantasy, presenting challenging ideas in a way that everyone can easily approach.
Dark Cheer punches so far above its weight class that it stands toe-to-toe with the best professional genre publications in North America. I can't wait to read the next installment of Dark Cheer when it releases!
Dark Cheer punches so far above its weight class that it stands toe-to-toe with the best professional genre publications in North America. I can't wait to read the next installment of Dark Cheer when it releases!
December 6, 2021
You will enjoy getting to know all the cryptids and other characters in these short stories! Like with all collections, there are challenging stories, heartfelt stories, and laugh-out-loud stories.
I read this collection in the space of a weekend, so I recommend ordering the companion volume at the same time!
I read this collection in the space of a weekend, so I recommend ordering the companion volume at the same time!
January 21, 2022
Oh my lord this book is such a treasure! Full of sparkling jewels, little ones and large, so bright and beautiful. Every story different and perfect. Honestly, it’s rare to love every story in an anthology but every tale here is delicious and splendid.
(I have a story in it too, very tiny, and I like to hope that it is as good as the company it keeps.)
(I have a story in it too, very tiny, and I like to hope that it is as good as the company it keeps.)
August 4, 2022
(This review originally appeared at historythatneverwas.com.)
Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging Volume Blue edited by Atlin Merrick is a great collection of stories featuring an enormous variety of cryptid characters. With cryptids ranging from the familiar to one-of-a-kind, readers will certainly find stories that appeal to them.
I found several stories in the anthology that I enjoyed. The lead story in the anthology, “The Name of the River” by Bailey Baker, was a great story to kick things off, with an unusual narrator and and the humans they interacted with. This is Baker’s first published story, so I’ll be looking for more from her in the future! Kaitee Yaeko Tredway’s story, “Slide,” was a great story about a young cryptid just wanting to fit in, both as an unusual cryptid and as a teenage girl. “The Changeling” by David M. Donachie was very cutely told. And finally, Dan Fields’ story, “Halyards of Black and Silver,” was a delightful tale of a sea witch and the impact her particular brand of magic had on her community.
The stories in Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging Volume Blue range in length from very short flash fiction pieces to longer short stories, and the number of types of cryptid they include is abundant. There are a handful of stories that might garner R-ratings if they were a movie (generally for language or sex), so the anthology may not be appropriate for all ages, but there really is something for everyone in this anthology.
The editor provided me with a copy of this anthology in exchange for review consideration.
Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging Volume Blue edited by Atlin Merrick is a great collection of stories featuring an enormous variety of cryptid characters. With cryptids ranging from the familiar to one-of-a-kind, readers will certainly find stories that appeal to them.
I found several stories in the anthology that I enjoyed. The lead story in the anthology, “The Name of the River” by Bailey Baker, was a great story to kick things off, with an unusual narrator and and the humans they interacted with. This is Baker’s first published story, so I’ll be looking for more from her in the future! Kaitee Yaeko Tredway’s story, “Slide,” was a great story about a young cryptid just wanting to fit in, both as an unusual cryptid and as a teenage girl. “The Changeling” by David M. Donachie was very cutely told. And finally, Dan Fields’ story, “Halyards of Black and Silver,” was a delightful tale of a sea witch and the impact her particular brand of magic had on her community.
The stories in Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging Volume Blue range in length from very short flash fiction pieces to longer short stories, and the number of types of cryptid they include is abundant. There are a handful of stories that might garner R-ratings if they were a movie (generally for language or sex), so the anthology may not be appropriate for all ages, but there really is something for everyone in this anthology.
The editor provided me with a copy of this anthology in exchange for review consideration.
March 13, 2022
What a stunning collection. I've never read an anthology where I've loved so many of the stories so strongly. The experience for each one is like reading something a little creepy that makes you feel great in the end - either a thrilling rush or simply warm and fuzzy. Full of diverse voices and characters. Highly recommended.
February 22, 2022
I LOVED this book!!! I loved the "what if"... of it. I loved the fact that it wasn't just "evil, spooky, monster" stuff. I guess if I have only one complaint it is that some of these stories are short.....like half a page short. Still, it was an enjoyable read all around. These stories won't keep you up at night listening in terror for the click of claws or the rasp of wings but they will make you laugh, cheer,and if you're like me, get a little lump in your throat at times. That being said there are a couple that will leave you with an eerie feeling. But, most of all they will stir your imagination and make you think...what if?
June 18, 2022
The variety within this collection ranged from dark to uplifting, menacing to downright heartwarming, and every color and shade in between. The unifying theme was the sense of wonder about the things that loom just beyond the corner of your eye, the way the heart quickens when the thought comes, "Is it? No, it can't be. But IS IT?"
Each story was so fresh and unique, re-igniting old ghost stories and folk tales with new twists, turns and perspectives. There were so many stand outs for me. I loved the ecofeminist spin in The Sea Hag Menace and the romantic ending to the wintery Will o' the Whisp. I adored the exploration of the later-in-life love between a woman and her swamp monster wife with failing memory. Probably my favorite though? A short little flash of a story about a volcano in love with a butterfly. *Sigh*
So grab a copy of this collection, your favorite drink and a cozy blanket, turn the lights down low, let the shadows creep in, and let yourself be carried away.
Each story was so fresh and unique, re-igniting old ghost stories and folk tales with new twists, turns and perspectives. There were so many stand outs for me. I loved the ecofeminist spin in The Sea Hag Menace and the romantic ending to the wintery Will o' the Whisp. I adored the exploration of the later-in-life love between a woman and her swamp monster wife with failing memory. Probably my favorite though? A short little flash of a story about a volcano in love with a butterfly. *Sigh*
So grab a copy of this collection, your favorite drink and a cozy blanket, turn the lights down low, let the shadows creep in, and let yourself be carried away.
June 28, 2024
A heartwarming, adorable anthology with SO MANY stories!! Perfect for when my attention span is zero. While there were a few (very few) stories that were definitely NOT cheery and I'm not sure why they were included, they are the vast minority in a book of comforting spooks. If you love the idea of the monster under your bed protecting you from the scarier monsters in the world, or wonder how Mothman might get an apartment, or maybe just wanted to join the Thing That Runs Beside The Car, this is the place. This is definitely staying on my shelf for a re-read any time I'm feeling down.
January 23, 2023
This is wonderful anthology full of hope and weirdness (in the best way). There were a few stories in here that were not really my sort of thing but every single one was well written and the variety within the theme is unmatched. I read it a few stories at a time with my morning coffee and can only say that I'm so glad there's another volume (silver) so that this adventure into the myrid of cryptids is nowhere near over.
June 4, 2023
Such a fantastic read and a must-have for any speculative and/or literary library. Quite a diverse range of cryptids, monsters, and creatures within both volumes. Highly recommend reading them all and in order. So many different author voices to explore!
You'll also find my story in there somewhere too, about an estranged tanuki father trying to see his daughter with plenty of immersion in a near future Japan though sadly still beset with current day issues.
You'll also find my story in there somewhere too, about an estranged tanuki father trying to see his daughter with plenty of immersion in a near future Japan though sadly still beset with current day issues.
February 8, 2022
These stories hit the exact sweet spot between happily ever afters and creepy. I am so happy to read a cozy book about cryptids that I can trust from story to story won't leave me unable to sleep at night.
August 15, 2022
I love the idea and execution of this anthology! Each story is a little gift.
Note: I have a story included.
Note: I have a story included.
September 7, 2022
David Donaghie and Frank Oreto were the stand outs for me.
June 6, 2024
Love all the stories in this anthology. Can't believe it's taken me this long to rate it! Especially love "Investigating the Sea Hag Menace."
Disclaimer, I have a story in this.
Disclaimer, I have a story in this.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews