Grotesque: Monster Stories

by Lee Murray, Greg Chapman (Illustrator)

In a collection inspired by the mythologies of Europe, China, and her beloved Aotearoa-New Zealand, four-time Bram Stoker Award®-winner Lee Murray twists and subverts ancient themes, stitching new creatures from blood and bone, hiding them in soft forest mists and dark subterranean prisons.

In this volume, construction workers uncover a hidden tunnel, soldiers wander, lost after a skirmish, and a dead girl yearns for company.

Featuring eleven uncanny tales of automatons, zombies, golems, and dragons, and including the Taine McKenna adventure “Into the Clouded Sky”, Murray’s Monster Stories breathes new life into the monster genre.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Fantasy, Collections

287 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Steve Stred · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had Into the Mist on my Kindle for some time now, the first book in Lee Murray’s Taine McKenna series. When Grotesque: Monster Stories was offered for review, I jumped on it. What a splendid way to finally read Murray’s works and get excited to dive into Taine McKenna’s world!

Murray is one of the nicest and most supportive people in the horror world and her recent awarding of the HWA Mentorship award shows just that!

What I liked: Grotesque: Monster Stories shows Murray has some serious writing chops. This collection of 11 stories runs the gamut of styles and subjects – there really is something for everyone. Historical fiction – check. Lovecraftian Mythos – check. Devastating emotional work – check. Just fantastic stuff.

What I didn’t like: I did find a number of the stories were left quite open-ended which in a collection made me wonder whether its related to another piece or there’s a part two kicking around in the future. Minor gripe, but I wanted some answers ha!

Why you should buy it: Well, we should support someone as awesome as Lee, we should support women in this genre and we should support amazing writers. The first story in this – ‘Grotesque’ was a fantastic piece of historical fiction where we get thrown into a discovery of a hidden door under a museum in France. We then get thrust back to 1500’s France and learn the truth of what’s on the other side of the door.

And wowsa did ‘Selfie’ reinvent the post-apocalyptic survival trope. Loved it!

The real gem for me was easily ‘Heart Music.’ A flash fiction piece that told the story of a romantic grave robber.

For Murray fans, you’ll be excited to see the collection ending with a new Taine McKenna story, which was a fun time and made me excited to dive into book one!

This had something for everyone and I think it’s a great place for new fans to start!

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aptly titled, these stories are full of monsters. Be they zombie, or humans who commit monstrous deeds. My favorite had people that became fused together. (Selfie) Don't expect much in the way of happy endings. These stories are quite dark and even an innocent boat ride can lead you to slaughter. Surprisingly, the stories that make it immediately apparent who the monster is, such as the child molester in "Dead End Town" can still lead you into a shocking direction and down a far darker path. The author has a talent for making the reader feel uneasy and uncomfortable, and isn't that what good horror is all about?

I received a complimentary copy for review.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun collection of monster tales! Filled with lore and mythology from all over the world, but especially New Zealand. Definitely recommend!

[Piper Mejia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strange, mysterious, magnificent, fantastic, hideous, ugly, incongruous, unpleasant, or disgusting, but most importantly distorted, are synonyms for grotesque. This list is also the best way to describe Lee Murray’s collection of eleven short stories. Spanning from historic France to present day Aotearoa, and even into the distant future, these stories intertwine myths and monsters with the madness within us all.
The titled first piece of this collection, Grotesque, explores the idea of what is left buried should remain buried. Not all cave-ins are accident and not all opportunities should be taken advantage of when excavators find a hidden tunnel under a museum dedicated to Leonardo di Vinci. This story creates a satisfying bookend with Into the Clouded Sky - a Taine McKenna Adventure, where our returning hero is faced with the sacrifice secrets demand. While exploring beneath Lake Rotomahana Taine is reunited with someone he thought he had lost, only to let them go again to fight an unthanked never-ending battle to protect Aotearoa.
Author Lee Murray does not forget the things we do for love. Whether it is making dark promises to keep what you love in Hawaiki, or discovering that a new love will make you willing to live an unbearable life in Selfi. Some of her heroines keep their love tucked under their hearts in Heart Music and others search for it through time and distance on the pages of a journal in Edward’s Journal. But not all love is kind, as in Dead End Town where the people who should love us best betray us beyond redemption.
Despite their grisly nature there are still heroes to admire and villains to punish in this collection. Maui’s Hook reminds us not to forget our heritage or what we owe our elders, as an unsatisfied deamon wreaks havoc in a summer lake hotspot. While in New Breed, a zombie inspired story depicting the survival of the swiftest, the hero does not let us forget that the rules we play by apply to everyone.
Two stories that will leave you mulling long after you close this book are Cave Fever and Lifeblood. Cave Fever is set in an unknown future, where science has perverted biological nature for society to survive long after their good intentions have lost all meaning. Conversely, Lifeblood is a heart-breaking metaphor for our times, the need to blame others for our own misfortune sending us spiralling to our end all too soon in this story of gum tree diggers during the early part of Aotearoa’s colonisation.
Lee is a master at switching perspective to sweep the reader seamlessly from one story to the next while retaining a unique voice. This collection will compel any reader to keep the lights on well into the night.

[Jesus Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grotesque

Colección de cuentos, que se pueden agrupar en dos tipos.

Los primeros, con un tono gore, grotesco, con zombies, gentes fusionadas, soldados no-muertos entre otros.
Los segundos son cuentos que toman ciertas leyendas o seres Maori de Nueva Zelanda, pero en un contexto presente, esto me gustó mucho.

Los cuentos que más me gustaron:

-Grotesque: Me gusto la parte que pasa en la Francia del pasado, y más cuando aparecen los soldados, pero el final que queda abierto
- Cave Fever, este es como distopia, pero me gusto el concepto, y el final.
- Dead end town, este tiene “triger warnings” sobre una situación bien fea, me gusto lo de los Patu-paiarehe, pero ese final, no se que pensar, porque es cruel.
- Edwards Journal, este me gusto por el formato de diario, y como van ocurriendo cosas y va generando miedo en el que escribe y la que lee
- Maui’s Hook, pues es un ¿monstruo? y hay mucha acción y muerte.
- Into the clouded sky, Me gusto eso de los guerreros cabeza de perro y los goles, mucha acción y emoción, quizá demasiado peliculesca, pero entretiene.

De promedio me da 3.56stars

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee Murray does a delightful job of blending action and monsters and gore -- this collection will satisfy all your monster-punching needs. Lee has an excellent sense of pacing and places fully inhabited characters against backdrops of history that we don’t get to see often enough.

“Grotesque” opens with a hidden archaeological find while in the midst of a construction project to repair some underground tunnels, which is 100% my jam. This whole tale was like the pre-credits story before a great monster-filled episode of Doctor Who. The stinger of the ending was perfectly delivered. “Heart Music” is beautiful and lyrical and I love the necromantic use of the music box.

“Hawaiki” pits pacific islanders against a mainland Chinese sorcerer and his coterie of created monsters. The use of the setting and cultures were deftly handled and never lost sight of our band of heroes being fishermen by trade. “Edward's Journal” impressively pulls off tension with the use of an epistolary frame. “Lifeblood” is a grim survival horror tale in the tradition of Jack London, but set against a uniquely bit of wretched New Zealand colonialism that pits marginalized groups against each other and away from the root causes of their problems.

[B.J. Swann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s all in the title – these are monster stories!
And they’re good ones, too. Highlights include ‘Hawaiki,’ a mythical tale of ancient Maori warriors with a dark fantasy vibe; the eponymous ‘Grotesque,’ a tale of regal France and its subterranean terrors; ‘Edward’s Tale,’ an eerie Lovecraftian story set in New Zealand’s colonial past; and ‘Maui’s Hook,’ which blends Maori legend with cataclysmic Kaiju action. Of all of these I really can’t praise ‘Hawaiki’ enough. I absolutely adore this story. I’ve always wanted to read a sword and sorcery tale about Maori warriors and this story finally delivers! It has action, magic, monsters, and gore. It’s a pleasure to see Maori mythology, so under represented in horror and fantasy fiction, get such a good outing in such good hands. Murray’s prose is crisp and lucid. Her actions scenes are cinematic and riveting, often written in a racing present tense that makes them even more vital and immediate. I highly recommend this book for fans of horror, fantasy, action, and mythology.

[Erica Robyn Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grotesque: Monster Stories by Lee Murray is a collection of tales that features monsters of all sorts. From the monstrous legends to the real world, you’ll never know what to expect next.

Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.

This is a dark and powerful collection with a great variety. Some of these tales really got under my skin and one even made me feel physically ill.

If you’re a horror fan, don’t wait, go pick up this collection today!

More here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...

[Dion Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book of short stories, very easy to read, a wide range of story types, from folk law based stories, a huge monsters on a rampage, to a few post apocalyptic stories, just to name a few.
Most of these would make great Twilight Zone episodes.
I'd like to read more form this author.

[Clara Valentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. My first time reading any of Lee's stuff. Got a free peek from Lee via a facebook group and I will be trading more of Lee's stuff. Thanks for the good read.

[Amanda Headlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can find my review of Grotesque: Monster Stories by Lee Murray at Horror Tree: https://horrortree.com/epeolatry-book...

[Denver Grenell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bram Stoker Award Winning NZ writer Lee Murray’s strong collection of stories run the gamut from historical horror, to far-future sci-fi to a welcome dose of stories heavily based on Maori culture and myths. The author takes on a vast array of creatures from zombies to giant kaiju-like demons emerging from lakes to subterranean golems among others.

Her stories often move at a breakneck pace, feeling like the grand payoff in the third act of a movie. But Murray doesn’t short-change her characters, we meet them in situ and get a strong sense of them through their actions in crisis.

Murray skillfully transports the reader through vastly different time periods and locations, from medieval France to present-day New Zealand and into the distant future. Some stories, like Dead End Town, flow with dark poetry, detailing the hardships faced by a young woman in a small rural town. Fantasy and tragedy are combined here to great effect.

Selfie posits a bizarre post-apocalyptic scenario where an explosion fuses peoples bodies together. A man and a woman find themselves literally joined at the hip and have to work together to navigate their horrific new reality.

The New Breed gives us a breakneck zombie story with a flawed protagonist and another richly imagined fallen world.

Cave Fever is my favorite story with its richly imagined futures cape where people live underground and use genetically altered creatures called Diviners to seek out water. We get whole books worth of world-building in a short space of time, and this is one of those stories that could easily be expanded into a longer work.

The collection ends with Into The Clouded Sky - A Taine McKenna Adventure, revisiting the lad character from Murray’s Into the Mist series. Here we journey into a mythical underworld populated by golems, as Taine and his companions try and fight their way back to the surface. This is another fast-paced adventure horror story, that leaves us on a high.

It was a pleasure to read such a varied mix of stories and Murray’s strong sense of indigenous culture and history particularly enriches the work.

4.5 out of 5.

[Grace Bridges]

I should have known better than to start this after dark... because once started, there is no stopping a book by Lee Murray. I love love looooove the new Taine McKenna novelette tucked in here.

Please excuse my lack of a rating - this is because I do not actually like horror so it wouldn't be a fair evaluation of the subject matter. Five stars for writing quality and I'll just not mention the content, hey? I just don't seek out things that are disturbing to this extent (with the exception of the McKenna story).

But Lee's writing is, as ever, sharp and intense. If you are into all things dark and disturbing you will want this one!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories were interesting. I actually liked them, some better then others, but that doesn't prevent this from getting five stars, and a want to read more from this author.

[Kyla Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of the Taine McKenna adventures and co-author of the Path of Ra has released her first collection of short fiction, and it is a joy. It is rare to encounter a collection of such variety in theme and tone, that retains such a strong voice throughout. Murray's writing is clear, dynamic and a sensory slap in the face during her trademark action sequences, but she is equally capable of creating atmosphere and slow-build dread.

The key is a strong sense of place. The pulse-pounding adventures of McKenna could only take place in the unique setting of contemporary New Zealand. A brand new McKenna novella, "Into The Clouded Sky" appears here for the first time, but it is the New Zealand of the past we visit in "Edward's Journal" and "Lifeblood", and of the far future in "Cave Fever". Neither of which eclipses the gritty realism of Stoker finalist "A Dead End Town". But "Grotesque" itself, also original to the collection, evokes the Chateau d'Amboise, in a France both contemporary and medieval, with equal vividness.

But the real reason you want to read this book, is for the monsters. They tumble across the pages in abundance—magical hybrids, mythical giants, horrors of science gone awry. Some are capable of relaying their own story, others appear only through distorted lenses of terror and misunderstanding. You can never be sure, embarking on one of these journeys, just who will prove the most grotesque of all.

This is a book to read fast and contemplate at leisure. While it is good that speculative fiction engages with the serious issues of the present day, it is also good to encounter an author who knows how to not let this get in the way of the fun.

[Corrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is what a book. Having never read anything from this author before i was happy to be given a chance at a early preview and I'm glad I did!
I haven't read a book of horror short stories that I have really enjoyed in a long awhile! All the short stories are great but a few of my personal favourites were Grotesque and Selfie which I'm hoping follow on stories or series could be written in the future, Selfie especially as it was a very cool and messed up dystopian style read so fingers crossed.
I wont say anything else on the stories just buy for yourself and enjoy!

[Sea Caummisar · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a grab bag of monster tales.
I won't lie, I did skip over one story because I don't read anything that is war/military/ soldier (etc..), but all of the others were a delight. I don't know if I would call them gross, but I would call the dark.
There was one particular story that has stuck with me ever since I read it about a young girl being molested. That's real;l life horror right there. The new breed of zombie story was very fun,and a story titled 'selfie' about [people being fused together. Very creative

[Steph Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

As the title suggests, this is a collection of monster stories by Lee Murray.

I have previously read Into the Sounds and Into the Ashes by this author, both of which are monster action thrillers, set in New Zealand and deeply rooted in the culture and mythology of the country. These short stories follow that same pattern, featuring everything from Godzilla and sand monsters to zombies and sorcerer’s constructs.

There’s even a Taine McKenna short story – ‘Into the Clouded Sky’ – for fans of Lee’s longer works, or to introduce new readers to her main series character.

Those that really got into my head and stayed with me the longest, were ‘Selfie’ in which modern technology and humanity are more than symbolically fused together, and ‘Heart Music’ which highlighted that the line between human and monster may be less distinct than one would hope.

Well-written, scary, haunting, gross and above all, memorable, these short stories are ideal for fantasy, sci-fi and horror readers looking for a new indie author to follow.

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

[Cindy O’Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murray is skilled in so many genres of writing. Excellent poet! Mind blowing horror writer - as proven in Grotesque Monster Stories. Enjoyed it immensely!

Highly recommend!

[Nicole Amburgey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Eliza Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

From Sci Fi and Scary

Anthologies and collections are tricky for me, because I like being able to sink my teeth into a story. If I connect with a character I don’t want their story to end. But collections do have an advantage over anthologies, because they typically offer continuity with the quality and style of the writing. This is true of Grotesque: Monster Stories. Lee Murray has a knack for visceral descriptions that sometimes make you squirm, but always paint a clear picture and draw you inside the characters’ worlds.

For me, a Taine McKenna novella is worth the price of admission alone. Into the Clouded Sky picks up after Into the Ashes, and while telling its own compelling adventure, it offers a bit of closure for McKenna fans. The story still works as a standalone for those who haven’t read the McKenna books, and offers a good introduction to the character.

One thing that’s true of Into the Clouded Sky is that the story is rooted in events from the past. This is true of many of the stories in this collection. While Murray centers much of her work in New Zealand, there are stories that transport us to Europe and back in time, though they are tied together by the monsters they feature.

“Heart Music” is the standout among the short stories. It is one of (if not) the shortest, but I think most readers will relate to the feelings of the protagonist, even if they haven’t been in her exact situation.

“Selfie” is another story that’s hard to forget. To avoid spoilers, all I’ll say is this is one of the most unique forms of hell I’ve seen characters put through.

I also really enjoyed “Hawaiki” and “Cave Fever”.

Overall, this is a solid horror collection that integrates elements of fantasy and action stories that Murray’s fans are sure to enjoy. 3.5/5 stars.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

The collection laid out in Grotesque: Monster Stories by Lee Murray, is a deep well of unsettling stories, fascinating characters, and a heavy leaning towards the original mythologies of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Ranging from legendary demi-god creatures, to the darkness inside of man himself, there is a variety of substance and setting in this chilling collection.
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Murray has a skill for introducing a story in the most engrossing way possible, steeping the reader in a realism – even when the events and worlds are anything but – that makes it impossible not to dive head first into these characters lives. From the desperate survivors in ‘The New Breed’ that throw morals out the window in order to save their own skin against the zombie hordes that prey on the and yet you are reluctant to cast any blame on them yourself, to the dangerous lives of the tribesmen in ‘Hawaiki’ who must fight for their brothers and sisters – no matter what. Speckled with interesting histories of the Maori people and their scared beliefs, including a glossary of Maori terms to expand your lexicon.

[Hebiko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grotesque is a short story collection many of which are deeply rooted in the Maori tradition.
The plots are fantastic, and Lee simply has a knack for suspense that makes her work seem alive with possibilities.

What made it difficult for me to enjoy this book fully, however, was the pace at which some of the stories developed. Not Murray's fault, though. Slow and winding is just not my cup of tea. The more agile stories, though, kept me completely trapped, much to the detriment of my many obligations.

In general terms, I would say this is the kind of book for those who like a good, not-so-gory scare, who love dark dreams and disturbing fantasy, but more than anything, for those who are willing to be surprised with plot twists and extraordinary endings

[Renata · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of eleven tales narrated as flash fiction, short stories and novelettes, Grotesque spans the horror landscape from mythological creatures to contemporary social media addictions, as the reader travels across France, China and New Zealand, meeting everyone from Maori warriors to zombies, spirits and sea gods and gods of earthquakes and volcanoes, Leonardo Da Vinci and Tangaroa, tin soldiers and kaiju. A taut collection I came across in a horror literature forum, the book is in equal parts thrilling, dark and educative, an action and horror fest, with layers of historical references and cultural influences.

Lee’s dark and disturbing tales cover commonplace topics like clicking selfies, address issues like dementia and child abuse, turn the spotlight on immigrants and grave robbers – causing the reader to ponder upon who the real monsters are. Grotesque is a collection filled with monsters, but through an array of science fiction, fantasy, horror, mythology and more, Lee reminds us that we have already encountered many monsters.

Lee’s creations are out of this world and each one surprises in its own way. There’s an aftertaste that you could read an entire novel surrounding each plot.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of stories looking at the theme of monsters, with a wide variety and something for everyone. All the stories are incredibly well written and what really shines through is the creation of atmosphere within the stories, particularly those set in Aotearoa, where there is a vivid backdrop and the scenery adds to the stories greatly, be that stories involving the weird in the forest or in the water. There is post apocalyptic fiction, monster stories, and stories where the monster is more eerie and implicit than outright there in your face. Time periods are also really well dealt with and create an atmosphere of being from the time period also.
Whilst every story was great, stories that were particularly enjoyable to me were Dead End Town, Maui’s Hook, Life Blood, and Into The Clouded Sky: A Taine McKenna Adventure.

[Geneve Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of Lee Murray's debut collection of short stories is wonderfully apt. The stories within are indeed grotesque - whether in the monsters that inhabit the pages, or the throat-constricting situations the characters find themselves in. The tales are marvellously creative and often set in the unique New Zealand landscape, showcasing mythology that is both unfamiliar and brutal. Although each offering is a terrific read, the one that squeezed my dark little reader's soul was "Heart Music. " I highly recommend this collection.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully monstrous

A real mix of styles here with the connecting theme of monstrosity. My particular favourites were those which had an historical basis and the post-apocalyptic, the latter creating some spectacular imagery. All stories however contained the human desire to survive in the face of the most horrific suffering, fighting when even all hope is gone. Hugely enjoyable.

[Book lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

The book is full of many different takes that reminded me of our native folklore. The characters were so well developed that it was easy to empathize with them. Something that is not easy to do in short stories. That is the main reason I wrote a review and not just a rating of the book. I enjoyed reading the short stories and intend to follow this author.

[We All · Rating 4 out of 5]

come ogni antologia di racconti ce ne sono alcuni che mi sono piaciuti di più ed altri di meno ma il livello è sempre stato sul medio alto. Racconti che spaziano dal folklore al post apocalittico ma sempre legati dal filo conduttore dei mostri.

[Psyckers · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of stories that skillfully blends horror genre, monster descriptions and gore in an imersive world that is hard to put down.
Like the creatures in the stories, your hunger for thrilling reading will be quenched as you devour this book right to its thrilling end.