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Hell Hath No Sorrow like a Woman Haunted
The Black women in these tales are women we all know. The mothers, wives, business owners, creatives, and more, that we see in everyday life. They perform the impossible and hold all ends together.
Sometimes, they’re an open book, their stories written in the beloved lines of their faces and the varied bodies they wear with pride or weariness.
Other times, their secrets squirm beneath the surface, aching for release and discovery while beckoning others to lean in. They whisper the horror of their predicaments, closer to home than you realize.
These Black women are more than we know. They’re also victims, monsters…and often, a little of both.
Sometimes, they’re an open book, their stories written in the beloved lines of their faces and the varied bodies they wear with pride or weariness.
Other times, their secrets squirm beneath the surface, aching for release and discovery while beckoning others to lean in. They whisper the horror of their predicaments, closer to home than you realize.
These Black women are more than we know. They’re also victims, monsters…and often, a little of both.
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Published August 7, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 2, 2022
These stories go right under the skin!!!
Twenty-four horror shorties which rest on the same footing of horror through the lens of a Black mother/woman in the USA, but offer very varied, very different kinds of scares – from slavery to Dorian Gray re-interpreted, to the blood-sucking, flesh-consuming reality of motherhood, to domestic violence, relationship problems solved in blood and bitterness, to cursed jewelry, monsters, monster-people,magic, demon-slayers and even aliens... There were so many stories here that I wanted to continue - these bite-sized stories absolutely make hungry for more.
My personal favorites are “House of Haints” which offers a different approach in dealing with haunted places; “Keep on Trucking” because I can't emphasize enough how much I enjoy trucker horror – isolation, police and hidden night creatures on the highway; “I Will Only Love You Better After Death” the story of the tragic love between two slave women and finally “'Til Death Do Us Part” - a vow that takes on a menacing meaning here.
Hell Hath No Sorrow Like a Woman Haunted is possibly one of the best short story collections I have read this year, definitely highly recommended.
Twenty-four horror shorties which rest on the same footing of horror through the lens of a Black mother/woman in the USA, but offer very varied, very different kinds of scares – from slavery to Dorian Gray re-interpreted, to the blood-sucking, flesh-consuming reality of motherhood, to domestic violence, relationship problems solved in blood and bitterness, to cursed jewelry, monsters, monster-people,magic, demon-slayers and even aliens... There were so many stories here that I wanted to continue - these bite-sized stories absolutely make hungry for more.
My personal favorites are “House of Haints” which offers a different approach in dealing with haunted places; “Keep on Trucking” because I can't emphasize enough how much I enjoy trucker horror – isolation, police and hidden night creatures on the highway; “I Will Only Love You Better After Death” the story of the tragic love between two slave women and finally “'Til Death Do Us Part” - a vow that takes on a menacing meaning here.
Hell Hath No Sorrow Like a Woman Haunted is possibly one of the best short story collections I have read this year, definitely highly recommended.
April 18, 2025
one of the best books I've ever read with including several authors some of which I had no previous knowledge of but since finishing this book I've purchased any and all the books I could afford from several authors no story was like anything else I ever read very interesting and I believe they are all woman of color regarding the authors I was very excited to come across a find that actually kept my attention and that I actually finished I've found lately that I can't get through most of the books I'm attempting to read lately and that is a big deal to me since I love reading...
July 19, 2022
First things first, I am a sucker for collections that actually fit their title. That isn’t to say that I don’t want authors to stretch their writing muscles and give me the unexpected! But, show me your depth and still stay within your stated theme? Love it. Every time. All of the stories in this collection are about women haunted. No two stories are alike, either. Some are supernatural, some are magical realism, some are just every day occurrences, but each are told masterfully and quite frankly, terrifyingly, proving that horror is being a woman. Every story is about the sacrifices women make every day: for their children, for their family, for their significant other. Sacrifices made despite the harm to themselves, and those sacrifices are written on their souls, and in their scars. I loved every story, but for the record, Conflict Resolution was my favorite.
October 30, 2022
RJ Joseph's short fiction debut, Hell Hath No Sorrow like a Woman Haunted, cuts deep and often. If you've ever read a short story and wondered if the author was pulling their punches, you won't have that concern with this one. Every story seeks to tear back the skin and pour salt in the wound, capturing a variety of black and female experiences in a way that grabs the reader by the shirt collar, shakes them, and screams 'pay attention!'
November 6, 2022
Brilliant storytelling! Rarely do I fall in love with every story in a collection, but this book was different. There wasn’t a single story I would have lifted out. Oh sure, I have favorites: Left Hand Torment, House of Haints, Queen of Monsters, Keep on Trucking, A Woman’s Work, and ‘Til Death Do Us Part. RJ Joseph pulled no punches, each one landed and left me breathless. These are the stories you’ve been looking for.
August 15, 2022
The first story, ‘Left Hand Torment,’ tugged on my heartstrings as I knew it would, a story of a woman of colour, Dominique Aimee Beaulieu, born and raised in New Orleans, a placée. In antebellum Louisiana, the relationships of women like her with white men, mostly consensual, were very common despite the Code Noir and other legal provisions that sought to thwart such unions. I promised myself that I wouldn’t bore readers with the historical research into quadroon balls I have done, so I will stop at saying simply that I am an aficionado of the setting and universe in which the author has set this tale as well as the details of the character’s relationships.
‘Angela Eternal’ starts off with an artist’s exhibition that generates a lot of buzz. It turns into a tale of a woman desperate to become a mother only to face another life-threatening health issue who discovers a disturbing link to the painting at the start of the story.
‘House of Haints’ centers on a woman who needs to repair a house, much like herself, after a painful divorce. She thinks she’s seeing things when she glimpses an older woman in the parlor of the house and gets to work setting things up. She encounters a series of ghosts, each more terrifying than the last.
In ‘Mama’s Babies,’ the protagonist laments the lack of support from her husband in taking care of their children and dog. It also sets up one of the recurring themes in the author’s work, Black motherhood and trauma. When two of the girls come home with a virus that makes their eyes look like they’re bleeding tears, things take a turn for the worse. They need to go to the emergency room, but the protagonist’s husband disagrees. The transformations of the children and the protagonist’s decision at the end show the depths of a mother’s love.
‘Conflict Resolution’ is a zombie-like tale of a fearsome creature and a couple’s decisions on what to do, faced with mortal danger. Dealing with an abusive mother and a history of sexual abuse is heart-rending territory, and one of the other themes explored in the author’s work. The protagonist’s only respite seems to be her boyfriend, Brandon. At first, their situation with a creature they have discovered gives the impression of being a great boon, but as the old saying goes, everything comes with a price.
One of my other favourite stories, ‘Bad Feet,’ starts off with Minerva Pitts, who the author describes as having an old lady name and old lady bad feet. She looks younger for her age, but her feet are a source of misery. The story gives new meaning to the phrase ‘happy feet.’ She grew up loving to dance, but her parents couldn’t afford ballet lessons. When they experience upfront the damage her feet can do, it’s an understatement to say they’re terrified. Later on, Minerva’s talents attract negative attention from her teammates at school. On a trip, she encounters vicious colourism from one of the lighter-complexioned girls. The story is also significant for its concept of females as leaning into what’s seen as more villainous territory, and using that as affirmation. It’s a tremendous tale, expertly woven.
‘I Want to Be Free’ also deals with abusive parents, this time placing that role on the father of the family. It’s a body horror tale that also emphasizes the theme of being careful what one wishes for. Even though there are monstrous selves present here, the metaphors run deeper and represent intergenerational trauma.
‘I Get Mad, Too, Sometimes’ follows the protagonist on her search for gold wedding rings that show up in a bayou. It revisits the theme of men who seem like they are going to be good and decent but who turn out to be philanderers, or stick with one partner until thier educational and job mobility improves, then abandon their wives and children.
In ‘I Will Only Love You Better After Death,’ readers will explore a queer love story of of a formerly enslaved woman who was the servant of her plantation master’s daughter, Emily. It’s another of my favourite stories. When her secret is found, she’s sold to another plantation owner. There, she stays with the root woman, Odessa, who the planter referred to as a midwife. She also meets Deecy, who the master describes as barren, and thus a disappointment to him because she cannot give birth to children. It’s one of the saddest and most gut-punching of all the stories, and I can’t say sing its praises enough.
Historical fiction set in the antebellum South, particularly from the perspective of Black voices, is something that we need more of in horror. Readers seeking more authors of this type of material should flock to the author’s work.
‘Paid in Full’ explores a woman asking to get her hair back. She has lost most of it from menopause, and the woman she is asking for assistance demands payment to Mama Ziti. As with the previous tales, the protagonist learns the hard way that everything comes with a price.
In ‘All Who are Sleeping Will Not be Awakened’, readers contend with the protagonists who are not welcome to the neighbourhood because TL;DR racism, and even though they keep out of the way as much as possible, one neighbour in particular, Elizabeth Barton, hates them. It’s a tale of Black people being made to feel unwelcome in so-called ‘white’ neighbourhoods, some of whom do their best to show that they are sorry for the misbehaviour of those like Elizabeth. But the protagonist knows the score. It speaks to contemporary issues of redlining, of Black people being resented by racists, especially whites, who do not think a Black woman like Zion should be able to afford a nice house.
Elizabeth is a character who, much like her real-life counterparts, has so much white fragility. If someone were to point out her outrageous racism and micro aggressions as well as her misguided and harmful beliefs, she would shriek like a banshee and deny it rather than take any time to make meaningful reflections on her actions.
‘To Give Her Whatsoever She May Ask’ goes into religious horror territory with a protagonist who prays for a child. One night, she sees a glowing orb that a neighbour, Mr. Frank, warns her about. He tells her that it’s a malevolent creature trying to make her think that it’s a baby that has come to her as if in answer to her prayers. It shows the lengths some people will go to for their wishes, and the consequences of ‘be careful what you wish for.’
In ‘Queen of Monsters,’ it starts off with someone delivering children to a monster and it goes downhill from there. Again, there’s a strong element of religious horror and the body horror is at its most extreme. More stories need to highlight women embracing villainy and getting revenge rather than being apologetic and meek about it, as we have also seen in the work of V Castro.
‘Keep on Trucking’ is about a pair who have seen some things in their day, which is putting it mildly. Although there are supernatural frights, there’s also the real terror of driving while Black. A police officer tells the protagonist to get out of the truck, not sure if he or the monster are the worse threat. What follows is a surreal horror tale.
In ‘The Lost,’ an artist fires her manager after having needed to do so for a long time. What ensues is more difficulty from being with her husband, with whom she is having a child, but then a supernatural twist complicates matters.
‘Bloodline’ is another story of a pregnant mother with vivid nightmares. There’s a disturbing family history at play but with a deep connection to a swamp. There’s a sick saying within the family, as well, and it’s one of the most memorable tales of the bunch.
‘A Woman’s Work’ starts off with a bad relationship between a couple. Their children need new clothes and bedding, and their mother doesn’t know how the money is going to come to take care of those things. She has an interesting relationship with an ex-boyfriend who she goes to see. An empowering transformation follows, which makes this another great tale.
In ”Til Death Do Us Part,’ a woman with few options in life marries the first man she has a horrible relationship with. She dreams of escaping to Los Angeles or Australia and longs for a different kind of life. One of the most graphic and traumatic of all of the stories and very powerful.
Stories that I read in other anthologies including ‘Soulmates’ and ‘An Old-Fashioned Type of Girl.’ They are phenomenal, and I cannot wait for more readers to discover them.
Another interesting tale was ‘Into the Nothingness,’ which shifts the most prevalent setting of the author’s work from the heat of Texas and the South to ice and freezing temperatures. The protagonist is the only Black person on campus who doesn’t run into very many writers of color. It highlights the racial disparities within academia and is also a very well-told story.
The tireless work and decidation of Black horror authors needs far better representation. This needs to be reflected not only in award considerations and nominations, but also in library acquisitions and displays, talks and events, lecture series, conventions and invited guests, bookstore stock, and book festivals, writing residencies, and any other opportunity that can provide financial as well as other forms of support. My hope is that this collection, Hell Hath No Sorrow Like a Woman Haunted, will allow far more horror readers to discover the brilliance and genius of Rhonda Jackson Joseph’s works and to reflect more critically on writers like her who deserve far, far greater recognition for her works.
‘Angela Eternal’ starts off with an artist’s exhibition that generates a lot of buzz. It turns into a tale of a woman desperate to become a mother only to face another life-threatening health issue who discovers a disturbing link to the painting at the start of the story.
‘House of Haints’ centers on a woman who needs to repair a house, much like herself, after a painful divorce. She thinks she’s seeing things when she glimpses an older woman in the parlor of the house and gets to work setting things up. She encounters a series of ghosts, each more terrifying than the last.
In ‘Mama’s Babies,’ the protagonist laments the lack of support from her husband in taking care of their children and dog. It also sets up one of the recurring themes in the author’s work, Black motherhood and trauma. When two of the girls come home with a virus that makes their eyes look like they’re bleeding tears, things take a turn for the worse. They need to go to the emergency room, but the protagonist’s husband disagrees. The transformations of the children and the protagonist’s decision at the end show the depths of a mother’s love.
‘Conflict Resolution’ is a zombie-like tale of a fearsome creature and a couple’s decisions on what to do, faced with mortal danger. Dealing with an abusive mother and a history of sexual abuse is heart-rending territory, and one of the other themes explored in the author’s work. The protagonist’s only respite seems to be her boyfriend, Brandon. At first, their situation with a creature they have discovered gives the impression of being a great boon, but as the old saying goes, everything comes with a price.
One of my other favourite stories, ‘Bad Feet,’ starts off with Minerva Pitts, who the author describes as having an old lady name and old lady bad feet. She looks younger for her age, but her feet are a source of misery. The story gives new meaning to the phrase ‘happy feet.’ She grew up loving to dance, but her parents couldn’t afford ballet lessons. When they experience upfront the damage her feet can do, it’s an understatement to say they’re terrified. Later on, Minerva’s talents attract negative attention from her teammates at school. On a trip, she encounters vicious colourism from one of the lighter-complexioned girls. The story is also significant for its concept of females as leaning into what’s seen as more villainous territory, and using that as affirmation. It’s a tremendous tale, expertly woven.
‘I Want to Be Free’ also deals with abusive parents, this time placing that role on the father of the family. It’s a body horror tale that also emphasizes the theme of being careful what one wishes for. Even though there are monstrous selves present here, the metaphors run deeper and represent intergenerational trauma.
‘I Get Mad, Too, Sometimes’ follows the protagonist on her search for gold wedding rings that show up in a bayou. It revisits the theme of men who seem like they are going to be good and decent but who turn out to be philanderers, or stick with one partner until thier educational and job mobility improves, then abandon their wives and children.
In ‘I Will Only Love You Better After Death,’ readers will explore a queer love story of of a formerly enslaved woman who was the servant of her plantation master’s daughter, Emily. It’s another of my favourite stories. When her secret is found, she’s sold to another plantation owner. There, she stays with the root woman, Odessa, who the planter referred to as a midwife. She also meets Deecy, who the master describes as barren, and thus a disappointment to him because she cannot give birth to children. It’s one of the saddest and most gut-punching of all the stories, and I can’t say sing its praises enough.
Historical fiction set in the antebellum South, particularly from the perspective of Black voices, is something that we need more of in horror. Readers seeking more authors of this type of material should flock to the author’s work.
‘Paid in Full’ explores a woman asking to get her hair back. She has lost most of it from menopause, and the woman she is asking for assistance demands payment to Mama Ziti. As with the previous tales, the protagonist learns the hard way that everything comes with a price.
In ‘All Who are Sleeping Will Not be Awakened’, readers contend with the protagonists who are not welcome to the neighbourhood because TL;DR racism, and even though they keep out of the way as much as possible, one neighbour in particular, Elizabeth Barton, hates them. It’s a tale of Black people being made to feel unwelcome in so-called ‘white’ neighbourhoods, some of whom do their best to show that they are sorry for the misbehaviour of those like Elizabeth. But the protagonist knows the score. It speaks to contemporary issues of redlining, of Black people being resented by racists, especially whites, who do not think a Black woman like Zion should be able to afford a nice house.
Elizabeth is a character who, much like her real-life counterparts, has so much white fragility. If someone were to point out her outrageous racism and micro aggressions as well as her misguided and harmful beliefs, she would shriek like a banshee and deny it rather than take any time to make meaningful reflections on her actions.
‘To Give Her Whatsoever She May Ask’ goes into religious horror territory with a protagonist who prays for a child. One night, she sees a glowing orb that a neighbour, Mr. Frank, warns her about. He tells her that it’s a malevolent creature trying to make her think that it’s a baby that has come to her as if in answer to her prayers. It shows the lengths some people will go to for their wishes, and the consequences of ‘be careful what you wish for.’
In ‘Queen of Monsters,’ it starts off with someone delivering children to a monster and it goes downhill from there. Again, there’s a strong element of religious horror and the body horror is at its most extreme. More stories need to highlight women embracing villainy and getting revenge rather than being apologetic and meek about it, as we have also seen in the work of V Castro.
‘Keep on Trucking’ is about a pair who have seen some things in their day, which is putting it mildly. Although there are supernatural frights, there’s also the real terror of driving while Black. A police officer tells the protagonist to get out of the truck, not sure if he or the monster are the worse threat. What follows is a surreal horror tale.
In ‘The Lost,’ an artist fires her manager after having needed to do so for a long time. What ensues is more difficulty from being with her husband, with whom she is having a child, but then a supernatural twist complicates matters.
‘Bloodline’ is another story of a pregnant mother with vivid nightmares. There’s a disturbing family history at play but with a deep connection to a swamp. There’s a sick saying within the family, as well, and it’s one of the most memorable tales of the bunch.
‘A Woman’s Work’ starts off with a bad relationship between a couple. Their children need new clothes and bedding, and their mother doesn’t know how the money is going to come to take care of those things. She has an interesting relationship with an ex-boyfriend who she goes to see. An empowering transformation follows, which makes this another great tale.
In ”Til Death Do Us Part,’ a woman with few options in life marries the first man she has a horrible relationship with. She dreams of escaping to Los Angeles or Australia and longs for a different kind of life. One of the most graphic and traumatic of all of the stories and very powerful.
Stories that I read in other anthologies including ‘Soulmates’ and ‘An Old-Fashioned Type of Girl.’ They are phenomenal, and I cannot wait for more readers to discover them.
Another interesting tale was ‘Into the Nothingness,’ which shifts the most prevalent setting of the author’s work from the heat of Texas and the South to ice and freezing temperatures. The protagonist is the only Black person on campus who doesn’t run into very many writers of color. It highlights the racial disparities within academia and is also a very well-told story.
The tireless work and decidation of Black horror authors needs far better representation. This needs to be reflected not only in award considerations and nominations, but also in library acquisitions and displays, talks and events, lecture series, conventions and invited guests, bookstore stock, and book festivals, writing residencies, and any other opportunity that can provide financial as well as other forms of support. My hope is that this collection, Hell Hath No Sorrow Like a Woman Haunted, will allow far more horror readers to discover the brilliance and genius of Rhonda Jackson Joseph’s works and to reflect more critically on writers like her who deserve far, far greater recognition for her works.
October 4, 2022
This collection is not an easy read. It is gonna hurt you, make you think, scare you, and it will definitely haunt you. I found myself having to stop a few times, when a story hit close to home, but I finished because in my opinion, the stories need to be read and thought about. It's clear the writer knows pain, and what it's like to be afraid. There is a lot going on in here. Maybe you think you know what's going on on the surface, but if you dip your head just below it, you'll see there is a shit ton of scary things just beneath! Rhonda is a treasure, and her stories are too. I implore you to take a dive into this collection. Maybe stop if you need to, take a breath or a think, but then continue on to the end. You won't regret it. I promise.
February 4, 2023
4.5 stars. Great collection.
March 19, 2024
Uncompromising. Unapologetic. These stories grab you by the throat and don’t let go. This author explores the often monstrous conditions that mark the lives of many Black women. She expands the horror genre in how her characters navigate the complex situations they find themselves in. Great twists in many of the stories. I really enjoyed this collection.
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September 20, 2022I've read a lot of REALLY good books recently yet Hell Hath No Sorrow like a Woman Haunted may be one of my recent favorites. RJ Joseph's writing is EXTRAORDINARY! This book is a MUST for anyone who wants a vulnerable woman's perspective as it touches on many aspects of motherhood, relationships and abuse. While the stories are short, the impact of the stunning writing is lasting as it poetically punches the reader in the gut.
I am also publishing this review on my blog: http://glamorousbookgal.blogspot.com/...
I am also publishing this review on my blog: http://glamorousbookgal.blogspot.com/...
November 1, 2023
In her short story collection Hell Hath No Sorrow like a Woman Haunted, RJ Joseph explores the intersection between misogyny and racism Black women endure as they fight both real world cruelties and supernatural threats.
Joseph’s debut collection, Hell Hath No Sorrow like a Woman Haunted, is an insightful, visceral exploration of the unique horrors, loves, and griefs her Black female protagonists experience. Every story starts out strong, hooking the reader and pulling them into the narrative. Joseph has a gift for establishing her characters’ situations and mindsets with just a few sentences. She makes their very human motivations (usually love, vengeance, and desperation) clear, and those motivations drive the plot. When you read these stories, you’ll feel what her characters feel.
Joseph has a vivid imagination, and I love her adaptation of familiar lore into something new. For example, one of my favorite stories, “To Give Her Whatsoever She May Ask,” features a striking take on the legendary Soucouyant. She’s an author skilled with sudden twists, and her stories often go to a more extreme and creative place than I initially anticipated (such as in “Left Hand Torment” and “Bloodline”).
Though some of Joseph’s stories have more open or even upbeat endings (such as “Bad Feet”), many are dark without a glimmer of hope. This collection deals with serious issues, including sexual abuse and child endangerment and death (be cautioned if this is triggering for you). Her depictions of violence aren’t gratuitous; rather, her writing is unflinching and truthful. It shines light on the darkest parts of the human experience. This makes her stories cathartic as well as terrifying because they validate many legitimate fears mainstream society tries to ignore or downplay, particularly domestic abuse and the intersection of racism and sexism Black women can experience.
Many of the protagonists in Joseph’s collection are mothers or wish to be mothers. These stories delve into how vulnerable and isolating motherhood can be for people threatened by difficult circumstances or abusive partners. As someone who has always been afraid of having children, who has been unsure whether or not I’d be able to protect them and myself, these stories really spoke to me.
That’s not to say that all the protagonists in the collection are mothers or women running from oppressors. Many of Joseph’s characters are amoral or even villainous, willing to hurt others to achieve their own goals (such as in “Conflict Resolution” and “Paid in Full”). Others are not particularly good or bad but make a single fatal decision. Due to the varying protagonists and Joseph’s gift for quickly immersing the reader in the story, I found myself constantly on edge as I read, anxious to know what would happen next.
In Hell Hath No Sorrow, looming over the individual abusers, monsters, and decent people who make mistakes, is another more sinister threat: our patriarchal culture immersed in violence and racism. This comes across most damningly in the final story in the collection, “Into the Nothingness.” Though monsters are terrifying, the supposedly mundane world is the most haunted thing Joseph’s characters (and all of us) must face.
Joseph’s debut collection, Hell Hath No Sorrow like a Woman Haunted, is an insightful, visceral exploration of the unique horrors, loves, and griefs her Black female protagonists experience. Every story starts out strong, hooking the reader and pulling them into the narrative. Joseph has a gift for establishing her characters’ situations and mindsets with just a few sentences. She makes their very human motivations (usually love, vengeance, and desperation) clear, and those motivations drive the plot. When you read these stories, you’ll feel what her characters feel.
Joseph has a vivid imagination, and I love her adaptation of familiar lore into something new. For example, one of my favorite stories, “To Give Her Whatsoever She May Ask,” features a striking take on the legendary Soucouyant. She’s an author skilled with sudden twists, and her stories often go to a more extreme and creative place than I initially anticipated (such as in “Left Hand Torment” and “Bloodline”).
Though some of Joseph’s stories have more open or even upbeat endings (such as “Bad Feet”), many are dark without a glimmer of hope. This collection deals with serious issues, including sexual abuse and child endangerment and death (be cautioned if this is triggering for you). Her depictions of violence aren’t gratuitous; rather, her writing is unflinching and truthful. It shines light on the darkest parts of the human experience. This makes her stories cathartic as well as terrifying because they validate many legitimate fears mainstream society tries to ignore or downplay, particularly domestic abuse and the intersection of racism and sexism Black women can experience.
Many of the protagonists in Joseph’s collection are mothers or wish to be mothers. These stories delve into how vulnerable and isolating motherhood can be for people threatened by difficult circumstances or abusive partners. As someone who has always been afraid of having children, who has been unsure whether or not I’d be able to protect them and myself, these stories really spoke to me.
That’s not to say that all the protagonists in the collection are mothers or women running from oppressors. Many of Joseph’s characters are amoral or even villainous, willing to hurt others to achieve their own goals (such as in “Conflict Resolution” and “Paid in Full”). Others are not particularly good or bad but make a single fatal decision. Due to the varying protagonists and Joseph’s gift for quickly immersing the reader in the story, I found myself constantly on edge as I read, anxious to know what would happen next.
In Hell Hath No Sorrow, looming over the individual abusers, monsters, and decent people who make mistakes, is another more sinister threat: our patriarchal culture immersed in violence and racism. This comes across most damningly in the final story in the collection, “Into the Nothingness.” Though monsters are terrifying, the supposedly mundane world is the most haunted thing Joseph’s characters (and all of us) must face.
August 25, 2022
I was so thrilled to get an early look at Hell Hath No Sorrow like a Woman Haunted*, by RJ Joseph. She's such a great writer, so much fun to talk to, and she has absolutely hit the nail on the head with this collection!
At a time when women's rights and health are in such a dangerous place, the monsters in this collection (both human and supernatural), are especially terrifying. Time and time again, RJ finds new and eerie ways to show how women find themselves on the receiving end of violence simply because of their gender, race, and/or sexuality. The most fundamental parts of their identities paint large, neon targets on their backs, and it becomes the eternal struggle of fight or flight.
Luckily for her characters, RJ clearly excels at writing beautiful, badass women who dig deep to find what it takes to beat the odds. One of my favorite stories is I Will Only Love You Better After Death, specifically for that reason. Ru uses every tool in her arsenal to ensure that she and her love will truly be together forever, and brutally takes her sweet, sweet revenge in the process!
I strongly feel that a large part of why her horror is so effective, is that even the supernatural stories have so many basic human emotions, faults, and struggles so deeply entwined in their DNA. Not just feelings we can relate to, but the most organic, primitive sensations and survival instincts that still exist somewhere in all of us. These elements bring even the most ghostly and monstrous of creations a level of realism that sends chills down your spine.
Long story short... everyone needs to give this collection a read! As a woman, it stoked the internal flames already burning. My heart bled for these characters and the suffering so many were born into, and made me desperate for every form justice and fairness that has never existed in this world.
At a time when women's rights and health are in such a dangerous place, the monsters in this collection (both human and supernatural), are especially terrifying. Time and time again, RJ finds new and eerie ways to show how women find themselves on the receiving end of violence simply because of their gender, race, and/or sexuality. The most fundamental parts of their identities paint large, neon targets on their backs, and it becomes the eternal struggle of fight or flight.
Luckily for her characters, RJ clearly excels at writing beautiful, badass women who dig deep to find what it takes to beat the odds. One of my favorite stories is I Will Only Love You Better After Death, specifically for that reason. Ru uses every tool in her arsenal to ensure that she and her love will truly be together forever, and brutally takes her sweet, sweet revenge in the process!
I strongly feel that a large part of why her horror is so effective, is that even the supernatural stories have so many basic human emotions, faults, and struggles so deeply entwined in their DNA. Not just feelings we can relate to, but the most organic, primitive sensations and survival instincts that still exist somewhere in all of us. These elements bring even the most ghostly and monstrous of creations a level of realism that sends chills down your spine.
Long story short... everyone needs to give this collection a read! As a woman, it stoked the internal flames already burning. My heart bled for these characters and the suffering so many were born into, and made me desperate for every form justice and fairness that has never existed in this world.
October 9, 2022
All the stars...I've been anticipating this collection since I first saw it announced. I've read RJ Joseph's short fiction wherever I could find it, ever since catching her haunting story in TWISTED ANATOMY. Every story between these (gorgeous) covers is strongly written in Joseph's inimitable voice. An ongoing theme of motherhood and lived experiences turned toward horror in every conceivable way. Hard to choose favorites here, but ones that stood out especially were LEFT HAND TORMENT, I GET MAD, TOO, SOMETIMES, I WOULD HAVE RESCUED THEM ALL, and KEEP ON TRUCKING (which I got to hear the author read at the Ghoulish Book Fest, and loved as much the second time around.)
October 8, 2022
Hell Hath No Sorrow Like A Woman Haunted is a short story collection featuring unique stories that the horror genre is in desperate need of. Centering the lives and struggles of black women Hell Hath No Sorrow Like A Woman Haunted is a fresh take on horror drawing on subjects like motherhood, abusive relationships, history, sexism, racism, and family. Through it all, Hell Hath No Sorrow Like A Woman Haunted is authentically black in a way that doesn’t apologize for not being written in a way that is palatable to a large non-black audience, and I appreciate when bipoc authors take this approach to their narratives.
This book features stories that are truly excellent with some of my favorites being Conflict Resolution, Bad Feet, I will Only Love You Better After Death, and Queen of Monsters.
My only complaint is the amount of violence against black women was truly excessive and maybe even gratuitous at times. Like A LOT of this book is basically black women suffering through various abusive relationships. While I thought a lot of the commentary on this matter and the lense this was explored through from a horror perspective was interesting, I don’t know that so much of it was necessary or always came together in a way that warranted that much on page violence against women. I say that, but some of my favorites from the collection definitely feature violence against black women. But like I said, sometimes it felt warranted and necessary other times it did not.
This book tackles A LOT of tough topics so this book has plenty of potential triggers (physical violence against women, sexual violence against women, slavery, rape) so please consider this before reading.
Overall, a stunning and fresh horror collection that I am so glad I found and read.
Here’s a list of my ratings for each individual short story:
Left Hand Torment: 3.5⭐️
Angela Eternal: 3⭐️
House of Haints: 2.5⭐️
Mama’s Babies: 3.5⭐️
Conflict Resolution: 5⭐️
Flesh of My Flesh: 3⭐️
Bad Feet: 5⭐️
I want to Be Free: 3.5⭐️
I get mad, too, sometimes: 3⭐️
I will only love you better after death: 5⭐️
Paid in Full: 4⭐️
All Who Are Sleeping Will Not Be Awakened: 4⭐️
To Give Her Whatsoever She May Ask: 3.5 ⭐️
Queen of Monsters: 5⭐️
I would Have Rescued Them All: 3.5⭐️
Keep On Trucking: 4⭐️
The Lost: 4⭐️
Bloodline: 4⭐️
A woman’s work: 3.5 ⭐️
A monster by any other name: 2.5⭐️
Till Death Do Us Part: 3⭐️
Soulmates: 4⭐️
An Old Fashioned Type of Girl: 3.5⭐️
Into the Nothingness: 4⭐️
This book features stories that are truly excellent with some of my favorites being Conflict Resolution, Bad Feet, I will Only Love You Better After Death, and Queen of Monsters.
My only complaint is the amount of violence against black women was truly excessive and maybe even gratuitous at times. Like A LOT of this book is basically black women suffering through various abusive relationships. While I thought a lot of the commentary on this matter and the lense this was explored through from a horror perspective was interesting, I don’t know that so much of it was necessary or always came together in a way that warranted that much on page violence against women. I say that, but some of my favorites from the collection definitely feature violence against black women. But like I said, sometimes it felt warranted and necessary other times it did not.
This book tackles A LOT of tough topics so this book has plenty of potential triggers (physical violence against women, sexual violence against women, slavery, rape) so please consider this before reading.
Overall, a stunning and fresh horror collection that I am so glad I found and read.
Here’s a list of my ratings for each individual short story:
Left Hand Torment: 3.5⭐️
Angela Eternal: 3⭐️
House of Haints: 2.5⭐️
Mama’s Babies: 3.5⭐️
Conflict Resolution: 5⭐️
Flesh of My Flesh: 3⭐️
Bad Feet: 5⭐️
I want to Be Free: 3.5⭐️
I get mad, too, sometimes: 3⭐️
I will only love you better after death: 5⭐️
Paid in Full: 4⭐️
All Who Are Sleeping Will Not Be Awakened: 4⭐️
To Give Her Whatsoever She May Ask: 3.5 ⭐️
Queen of Monsters: 5⭐️
I would Have Rescued Them All: 3.5⭐️
Keep On Trucking: 4⭐️
The Lost: 4⭐️
Bloodline: 4⭐️
A woman’s work: 3.5 ⭐️
A monster by any other name: 2.5⭐️
Till Death Do Us Part: 3⭐️
Soulmates: 4⭐️
An Old Fashioned Type of Girl: 3.5⭐️
Into the Nothingness: 4⭐️
August 30, 2022
Very interesting collection. Domestic abuse and sexual violence seem to the the overall themes, and the collection is very tightly focused on those themes. Some stories have Southern Gothic elements but are more minimalist than that term usually suggests. Some standouts included "Left Hand Torment," "I Will Only Love You Better After Death," "Mama's Babies," and "I Want to Be Free." I have been recommending this book a lot, as it seems very unique.
September 5, 2022
The stories in this book are straight punches to the heart. They're not easy reads, but they will stick to you forever. Particular standouts for me include, "Conflict Resolution," (which I remember hearing on Nightlight Podcast), "I Will Only Love You Better After Death," "Keep on Trucking," "Bloodline," and "And Old-Fashioned Type of Girl." What an incredible writer!
November 5, 2022
A perfectly titled collection of horror focused on Black women haunted by human and literal monsters, the ambivalent specter of motherhood, racism, exhaustion, and even the ancestors whose ghosts keep them alive.
Sad, bloody, sometimes bleakly funny, and vital though weary. A treat.
Sad, bloody, sometimes bleakly funny, and vital though weary. A treat.
January 23, 2025
This collection is so rich and diverse, with new and
modern looks at our favorite tropes.
The first story left Hand Torment is a sultry and truly frightening vampire story. Mama’s Babies breaks your heart with zombies. House of Haints was joyous in its despair. An Old-Fashioned Type of Girl creeped me out yet made me smile with a sort of vengeful happiness. Conflict Resolution is eldritch horror that makes you question your own jealous darkness.
Most stories are told from a black woman’s perspective, sometimes in first person. The last story, Into the Nothingness, tells the story of a black woman starting grad school in Chicago and how she is overwhelmed by the whiteness of the snow. This story is CRUSHING.
So many wonderful stories, some compact and hard-hitting in just a few paragraphs, others longer and equally devastating.
modern looks at our favorite tropes.
The first story left Hand Torment is a sultry and truly frightening vampire story. Mama’s Babies breaks your heart with zombies. House of Haints was joyous in its despair. An Old-Fashioned Type of Girl creeped me out yet made me smile with a sort of vengeful happiness. Conflict Resolution is eldritch horror that makes you question your own jealous darkness.
Most stories are told from a black woman’s perspective, sometimes in first person. The last story, Into the Nothingness, tells the story of a black woman starting grad school in Chicago and how she is overwhelmed by the whiteness of the snow. This story is CRUSHING.
So many wonderful stories, some compact and hard-hitting in just a few paragraphs, others longer and equally devastating.
November 21, 2022
Hell Hath No Sorrow Like A Woman Haunted is an incredible collection of dark stories and characters, serious themes, and terrifying scenes that will leave you thinking about the beautiful words you just read. I loved this collection, and it's amazing how every tale leaves you with something to reflect on at the same time that it scares you. My favorite story was All Who Are Sleeping Will Not Be Awakened. I thought it was perfect; the message is sad and realistic, and I think the theme is relatable and could resonate with almost everyone. This book is beautiful, and I really hope more people read it because the themes are important and each tale was shocking and terrifying. I can't recommend it enough!
April 25, 2023
I loved this collection of wonderfully macabre and creepy stories. R.J. is a master at the craft! She pulls you into an unsettling world and disturbing monsters. Sometimes you find the monsters are more sympathetic than your own family members. Most of these stories are pretty short, but they carry a LOT of weight nonetheless. I was fortunate enough to have seen R.J. do a live reading of her work, and I strongly encourage everyone to do the same if you ever get the opportunity. Hearing her stories in her own voice is a wonderful treat. Afterward, I can hear her voice as I read these stories to myself. Love it! I can't wait for her next collection!
I highly recommend Hell Hath No Sorry like a Woman Haunted!
MLD
I highly recommend Hell Hath No Sorry like a Woman Haunted!
MLD
October 7, 2024
This year I’ve read several outstanding collections of short stories, mainly from writers I’ve come to enjoy already. This collection from a writer I just discovered stands out all the same. RJ writes with a style that is both literary and accessible, emotive yet direct.
The stories illustrate struggles and obstacles with which I’m generally unfamiliar (privileged and thankful for that), but presented in such a compelling way that I was able to relate to the events, stay embedded in the settings and empathize with the characters. Add to that, each story is distinct, and together they cover a variety of themes and topics without becoming tedious or repetitive.
If none of that tempts you to read it, I’ll add one important point. These stories are scary as hell.
The stories illustrate struggles and obstacles with which I’m generally unfamiliar (privileged and thankful for that), but presented in such a compelling way that I was able to relate to the events, stay embedded in the settings and empathize with the characters. Add to that, each story is distinct, and together they cover a variety of themes and topics without becoming tedious or repetitive.
If none of that tempts you to read it, I’ll add one important point. These stories are scary as hell.
October 30, 2022
This was an AMAZING collection of short stories. I love every one which, if you're a regular reader of my reviews, you will know is not part for the course. This is unapologetic horror at its finest and by that I mean the monsters are real, they embrace it fully, and no punches are pulled in this. If you read this and say to yourself that it will not go in the direction that you're thinking of, chances it will. This is definitely one that I will pick up and re-read in the future, either in its entirety or picking the stories based on the mood I'm on. HIGHLY recommend.
November 8, 2022
HELL HATH NO SORROW LIKE A WOMAN HAUNTED has a story for everyone, whether we haunt or are haunted. Terrors run thru these pages: it never shies away from its frank, forthright recounting of horrors. But always, love, strength, and humanity bleed over it all.
The stories are brutal, sad, scary, heartfelt. They deal with issues of personhood, domesticity, race, queerness, and trauma, firmly rooted in black experience. Dark and imaginative, with monsters galore, Rhonda J. Garcia (writing as R.J. Joseph) has written a vital, bloody, beautiful book of survival.
The stories are brutal, sad, scary, heartfelt. They deal with issues of personhood, domesticity, race, queerness, and trauma, firmly rooted in black experience. Dark and imaginative, with monsters galore, Rhonda J. Garcia (writing as R.J. Joseph) has written a vital, bloody, beautiful book of survival.
April 7, 2023
An interesting, varied collection
This was a genuinely thought-provoking collection of stories that often tackled very difficult subject matter either thematically or directly, often through the guise of monsters and magic.
It took me a little while to get going with it, but from about a quarter of the way through, I really found my footing with the style and raced through reading the rest. It’s a challenging book for sure, dealing often with the ugliest aspects of life, but that makes Hell Hath No Sorrow like a Woman Haunted a searingly necessary collection.
This was a genuinely thought-provoking collection of stories that often tackled very difficult subject matter either thematically or directly, often through the guise of monsters and magic.
It took me a little while to get going with it, but from about a quarter of the way through, I really found my footing with the style and raced through reading the rest. It’s a challenging book for sure, dealing often with the ugliest aspects of life, but that makes Hell Hath No Sorrow like a Woman Haunted a searingly necessary collection.
March 31, 2024
A fantastic collection from one of the best writers in horror fiction today.
These stories all deal with the BIPOC woman's experience in the modern day and all the ugliness that comes with it. Not for the squeamish! Joseph tackles domestic violence, sexual assault, childbirth, and racism with a deft hand. She does NOT hold back on details and her stories quickly turn to horrific violence at the drop of a pin.
The women within are inhuman monsters, battered housewives, protective mothers, and complicated creatures all rolled into one.
These stories all deal with the BIPOC woman's experience in the modern day and all the ugliness that comes with it. Not for the squeamish! Joseph tackles domestic violence, sexual assault, childbirth, and racism with a deft hand. She does NOT hold back on details and her stories quickly turn to horrific violence at the drop of a pin.
The women within are inhuman monsters, battered housewives, protective mothers, and complicated creatures all rolled into one.
April 6, 2024
My wife an I met RJ at a book fest in San Antonio and what a delight she is. She was so nice to us, talked with us and took pictures, signed all kinds of stuff and in general was one of the nicest people I have met. (Thank you RJ)
So I may have been a bit biased when I started to read HHNSlaWH but that went away pretty quickly when I discovered what a great writer she is. All of these stories were very well written and engaging and there wasn't a sour apple in the bunch. I am looking forward to reading more from RJ.
4+ Stars and Highly Recommended!
So I may have been a bit biased when I started to read HHNSlaWH but that went away pretty quickly when I discovered what a great writer she is. All of these stories were very well written and engaging and there wasn't a sour apple in the bunch. I am looking forward to reading more from RJ.
4+ Stars and Highly Recommended!
May 11, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Pretty good - some stories significantly better than others. Stand outs for me were:
Conflict Resolution
I want to be free
I will only love you better after death
Paid in Full
Queen of Monster
Bloodline
Pretty good - some stories significantly better than others. Stand outs for me were:
Conflict Resolution
I want to be free
I will only love you better after death
Paid in Full
Queen of Monster
Bloodline
August 27, 2022
The writer gives you everything you need to imagine.
February 4, 2023
I shouldn’t read short stories back to back to back. It’s like making a meal of too rich appetizers.
February 13, 2024
There were multiple times I had to put this down and walk away because this justleft me feeling creeped out. Some were better than others, but most of these were just eerie.
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