Lessons in Demoralization

by Nikki R. Leigh

To make, to break, to transform. These three lessons are at the heart of each of the stories in Nikki R. Leigh’s Lessons in Demoralization. Framed loosely by the notion that we learn what to do, and especially what not to do by the stories told around us, this collection presents twenty-two horror stories that run the gamut of dark, emotional horror, and light-hearted, sometimes comedic horror.

A woman’s strength is put to the test to save her wife when an evil stranger uses her in a diabolical plot. A woman processes the grief of her long-dead brother through a monstrous encounter with her childhood stuffed animal. Learn the difficulties of cultivating a long-term relationship explored through caring for a carnivorous plant. See how Dr. Jekyll runs a syndicated children’s science show by day while concocting terrible experiments at night. Watch as weredogs living together in an apartment complex find their match in the neighborhood busybody. Witness twins test their bravery when faced with a void to another dimension that festers in their room.

These are just some of the lessons that will be taught in this collection. Follow the narratives of diverse characters experiencing the worst days of their lives in Lessons in Demoralization.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Ebooks

ebook

First published August 8, 2022

Reviews

[H. Everend · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible collection done by Nikki Leigh, a relatively new author to me. I will be definitely checking out more of her works in the future. There is a little something here for everyone and it's crazy how talented she is with navigating through all the different subgenres of horror. A massive plus was her writing style is beautifully crafted and it played along in my head as though I was watching a movie. There were very strong stories in here, but my personal favorites would have to be "To Pluck A Seed of Sorrow" and "I Ink, Therefore I Am". Excellent, excellent collection!

[Jamie Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something from everyone in this collection of tales from Nikki R. Leigh. Not only does Nikki do spooky and creepy really well but she is also a master at adding little touches of comedy like in The Prop, a story about a man who gets ripped apart only to knit himself back together, or Small Dog, Big Bite, a unique take on the werewolf troupe. On top of this Nikki peppers these stories with sweet, heartfelt moments and a diverse range of characters from all walks of life. I loved it, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

[Nelli Lakatos · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Knowing the fleeting nature of life, we never miss an opportunity to remind each other our love and trust in one another.”

This was an incredible short story collection. It was so clever and unique I loved every single story so much! It’s brilliant how much variety of tales were included, it’s clear how talented the author is!
I highly recommend this excellent collection!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each story in this collection uses real life situations and makes them even scarier. The most obvious examples for me are "I Ink, Therefore I Am" and "The Last Stop Sandwich Shop" which are about people who hate their job and toxic work environments. All of the stories are cleverly written and I will definitely seek out more stuff by Nikki R. Leigh.

[Emily Haynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

What scares you

Stories where everyday things are scary. Toys bring terror, Who do you trust? Each story is unique and frightening in its own way.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of short stories with lots of variety of subjects! Nothing too gory or horrific so it’s perfect for people getting into the horror genre.

[Aiden Merchant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikki's stories draw you in with ease and thoroughly entertain. This is the kind of collection you can return to again and again, taking slices as you need them. There's plenty of variety to be found here, buckled with an interesting and darkly appropriate framing device.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lessons in Demoralization was an interesting look at the human psyche and what it means to fear, to feel and to exist.

Nikki really knows how to strike a chord with her readers and hit that fear center deep inside. The stories all fit together so well and I loved seeing how each story fit into its category. Everything flowed together really nicely and I didn't think any of the stories broke the rhythm or was wildly out there from the others.

I also really liked that not all of the stories had a definitive end. Like in Dugout, it's up to the reader to decide which one Char chose and I think that added a good dose of variety. It made me think on what I knew of her as a character and what I thought her choice would be. That extra step the reader has to take adds a layer of depth to the book that is missing in a lot of collections I've read.

The Slow Siege of Zenohtown gave me the heebie jeebies. Mr. Giggles gave me anxiety with all the talk of the dentist. There were two stories, though, that I'd love to see expanded: Recipe for a Disaster and Win Big or Get Dead. I really enjoyed those stories and would love to see them develop into full stories of their own!

Overall, a great collection of stories! You won't go wrong with any of them!

[Erica Robyn Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lessons In Demoralization by Nikki R. Leigh is a phenomenal collection of little terrors that will send goosebumps down your spine and along your arms, not just while reading, but long afterwards when a story pops back into your mind.

I had the opportunity to give this one an early read when it was with another publisher, so I was very excited to dive in now that the book has gone live and I was able to purchase a copy!

This is such an awesome collection! When I first read this, I was blown away by the variety of tales that were included. Nikki is so talented!

During my second read through, I realized just how many of these stories burrowed themselves into my mind. Not only that, but I also realized that come up as passing thoughts quite frequently.

Horror fans, you don’t want to miss this one. There is so much here to discover!

Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...

[Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super big shout out to DarkLit Press for providing me with an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Short story collections are difficult to do reviews for because there is so much to talk about. These stories were wild and have a little bit of everything for everyone. There's body horror, slasher, comedic stuff, new twist on old tales, and so much more.

I really enjoyed listening to this, and I don't think there was a dud in the bunch. I definitely loved some of these, while others were okay. My favorites were: That Time I Swallowed a Genie, Green Thumbs Still Bleed Red, and The Slow Siege of Zenohtown.

There was excellent representation in these stories. They were easy to read and fast-paced. Some of the stories weren't for me bit overall they were good. I would love to see some of these turned into full novels! This one gets 4⭐️s from me. I would recommend this one for anyone wanting some great short stories covering various genres that are very original!

[Joan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Andrew Robert for gifting me a code for this Audiobook. Thank You to Nikki R. Leigh and Rachel Aube

This author is so creative with her storytelling. It reads so smoothly then switches gear ⚙️ to High Volume Horrific NailBiting horror with a Twist😳 😬 😢. I loved 😍 all
the whole Collection. Nikki R. Leigh mixes comedy with Horror. Each story uniquely different from one another and most are different from anything I have heard in my almost 60 years.

Rachel Aube enhances the story creating suspenseful and frightening with her voice

My Favorite is Tiny Dog, Big Bite.

[Jennifer Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This horror collection is full of original concepts, fantastic horrors, and as many gory scenes as one could hope for from a book with this many stories. Many of the stories felt like they were crying out to be extended into novellas, the concepts were so rich, and if anything, I wish many of the stories had just been a bit longer to let us really live in the moments with the characters, but this collection is a lot of fun, regardless.

Definitely worth picking up if you love horror shorts!

[Brennan LaFaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nikki R. Leigh's collection specializes in variety, dabbling in a multitude of voices, POVs, and textures. The experience ranges from heartfelt to hilarious, creepy to harrowing, with a little bit of everything in between. Lessons in Demoralization serves as an appetizer to just what this author can do.

[Denver Grenell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut collection has some really strong stories filled with imagination & a strong voice but there were also a number of stories that didn’t work for me. I’m interested to see what the author does with a longer work. A promising debut.

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great collection of short stories! There is a good amount of thrills and creepiness! The stories also are original and creative, so there’s definitely something for everyone to enjoy!

Thank you to DarkLit Press for the audio version of this book. It was fun to listen to!

[Elford Alley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror-comedy is tough, but this collection perfects the balancing act with satire, Twilight Zone style twists, and surprisingly brutal horror at times. A great collection.

[Kelly Rickard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection. There wasn't one story I didn't enjoy. A mix of horror with a twist of comedy working together perfectly.

[Janelle Halstead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did the audiobook. It repeated sentences a lot and for a short time had a knocking sound.
This collection wasn’t one of the best I’ve read. Some stories were pretty good but felt it fell short.

[Lauri Laurila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Näppäriä, merkillisiä ja huvittaviakin kauhutarinoita

[Richard Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice collection of 22 horror tales covering things that make, break and transform us. Dark and emotional sometimes light hearted in there telling these stories are quite memorable.
In particular I enjoyed “Replenish”, “Wolfpig, show me your teeth”, “Tiny dog big bite” and “The creepus “
A nice addition by the author is a content warning given for each story allowing the reader to have the choice
I received this book in exchange for an honest review of which I give freely