American Cannibal

by Rebecca Rowland (Editor), Jeff Strand (Contributor), Holly Rae Garcia (Contributor)

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to (rep)eat it.

A mother and daughter negotiate the Oregon Trail with grisly results; an elementary teacher watches the carnage of The Challenger explosion spill over into her own classroom. A possible prospector traveling west is drawn to an isolated inn where no one walks away hungry; a 1950s housewife shares the gruesome repertoire of behavior expected of a proper lady. Prohibition and women’s suffrage, the Civil War and the Vietnam War, the JFK assassination conspiracy and the Y2K hysteria: the annals of American history are reimagined with a side order of cannibalism by twenty of the biggest names writing horror fiction today.

Forget what you read in the textbooks.
Everything you were taught about the Land of Liberty is about to be history.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Audiobook

352 pages, Hardcover

First published March 7, 2023

About the author

Rebecca Rowland is a Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author, a Bram Stoker Award-nominated editor, and the recipient of a Godless 666 Horror Fiction Award. She is an Active member of the Horror Writers Association and International Thriller Writers, and having lived in Massachusetts for most of her life, she chooses to set most of her fiction there.
Despite earning graduate degrees in English, Education, and Information Science, she miraculously managed to pay off her student loans before retirement and/or death.
In her spare time, she pets her cats, eats cheese, and drinks vodka, though not necessarily in that order.
She is represented by Becky LeJeune of Bond Literary Agency.

Reviews

[Mort · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review available at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...

Release day!

I like to be surprised. For something toward the end to just throw me off and make me say “I did NOT see that coming”.

And even though AMERICAN CANNIBAL has a stellar line up of talent, I was a little worried when I started reading it that I would become bored because, in the end, it would just be a cannibal story.

Shame on me!

Starting with Roanoke in the 16th century, these stories work their way up to the year 2000, and they all deal with American history.

This is an amazing anthology. Usually, when I read something like this, I will point out the highlight for me, which is usually a story or two that stood out.
In this one?
Seven!

That does not mean the others are bad, but if I had to pick my “favorite” story, I cannot decide between these:

WENDIGO DREAMS – Owl Goingback
THE HUNGRY WIVES OF BLEAK STREET – Gwendoline Kiste
AND THE WINDOW WAS BOARDED SHUT – Elizabeth Massie
THE FLANNIGAN CURE – EV Knight
ALL EARS – Clay McLeod Chapman
Y2K FEAST – Jeff Strand
THE LOST DIARY - Candace Nola (and for the record, I very rarely point out my “best” stories in an anthology when it was written by a close friend, but I dare you to prove me wrong. This story is absolutely superb.)

5 STARS easy!

[Yvonne (the putrid Shelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin with the horror anthology that is aptly named, American Cannibal. The title intrigued me, the subgenre of cannibalism hasn’t crossed my path very often – it’s one of those taboo topics that shouldn’t interest you but you can’t help question motives towards eating your own kind. It’s known within the animal world but human nature isn’t wired that way so what makes someone want to taste the forbidden fruit? I didn’t have long to dwell on those thoughts because this anthology instantly pulls back the curtain of cannibalism. Edited by Rebecca Rowland, this anthology has moved up my list of favourite horror anthologies ever,

The writing and editing of this collection is exquisite. Although the subject matter is a constant the ways in which they are written are unique with their own flair for the terrifying on show throughout. I was excited to find some big horror names and some new to me which gave me a taste for their particular flavour. Dark and gritty, each story had the culpability of shattering your world in an instant.

And The Window Was Boarded Shut by Elizabeth Massie had all my senses on overdrive. My body was Intune to the starving women willing themselves to eat but needing their principles to override everything else. The patriarchy is on show once more, a common theme running throughout the anthology. The sexual innuendos, the control, the voice being stamped out. This story had hallmarks of everything I love in horror fiction, heart, emotion and gore.

The Flannigan Cure by EV Knight tackles the tough topic of addiction. Dr Flannigan has been caught previously imbibing alcohol. The laws are such are that of life for a pint. If he gets caught again, he’s done, its game over for him. He’s the doctor for a local gang and is forced into performing surgery on its leader’s son. He’s in no fit state and it ultimately leads to the boy’s death. An arrangement is made where he works at the hospital with his own nurse. He needs to keep his addiction under wraps so he begins to find a weird way to keep it under control but so that he still can have his fix. But what does it have to do with pickled body parts?

Tender Farm by C.V. Hunt was one of my favourite stories. I have a weird fixation on cult stories. A community feeds of mother earth. Everything is natural, their nakedness, their living off the land, sharing sexual partners, they are doing everything that they believe mother earth intended. When two female members invite a male guest into the confines of the commune, and he finds out that nothing is wasted at Tender Farm.

When A Stranger Bites by L. Stephenson is a story that makes me question any stranger that wants to come around my house. What secrets are they keeping, what do they want from me? All I have to say is don’t get in between a blood thirsty stranger and the moon.

Flesh Communion by Holly Rae Garcia is a story that felt real. Like really REAL. Cults are frightening. Its no secret that I love Garcia’s writing style, and this wasn’t any different. Every story she writes pulls you into the darker side of society and Flesh Communion taps into that with a voracious intensity.

Y2K Feast by Jeff Strand gave me whiplash. We’re transported back to 1999 and the threat of the Y2K bug is at the forefront of our minds. Is the world going to shut down and how will everyone survive, what will happen when the food runs out? A man tries to inform his family that they might have to turn to cannibalism to survive. Strand had me hooked with his unique brand of humorous horror.

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

By now, you all may have realized that I love horror anthologies. The editor of this, Rebecca Rowland, kindly sent me a physical ARC, and I’m excited to get right into this one! Most of these authors are new to me, so I’m going in blind. Let’s read about some cannibalism today…

“The Lost Diary” by Candace Nola
This story started the book off perfectly. Those early English settlers sure didn’t have it easy when they got to the Americas… 5/5

“Carnivore” by Jeremy Megargee
So we all know there actually was cannibalism on the Oregon Trail (Donner Party) but I don’t think this mom was a part of that group. Another fantastic story! 5/5

“Gold Rush” by V. Castro
This one just wasn’t my style, though the writing was decent. What else do you do when there are a lot of hungry people to feed? 3/5

“Ozark Devil Cult Blues” by Jon Steffens
A little story of post-Civil War revenge…served on a plate. 2.5/5

“Wendigo Dreams” by Owl Goingback
A quick story about a Native man, a Wendigo, and autocannibalism, which always reminds me of the Stephen King short story, “Survivor Type”. 3.5/5

“Mastication Station” by Clint Smith
A man tries to save his sister - but he should have let her be… 3/5

“And The Window Was Boarded Shut” by Elizabeth Massie
Two suffragettes are arrested at a protest, but I don’t think the punishment fit the crime of wanting to vote… 4.5/5

“The Flannigan Cure” by EV Knight
This one was brilliant - and has a cure for alcoholism that I bet even Betty Ford never considered! 5/5

“Papa’s Night (Or The Short, Happy Life Of Elena De Hoyos) by Douglas Ford
This was a great story about a man meeting a strange woman, but I didn’t care for the ambiguous ending. 3/5

“The Hungry Wives Of Bleak Street” by Gwendolyn Kiste
I loved this darkly hilarious second-person story about suburban wives who’ve had enough. 5/5

“Texas Is The Reason” by Brian Asman
I didn’t care for this one until the end - the plot was great, but the execution and way the plot was presented fell flat for me. 2.5/5

“Tender Farm” by C.V. Hunt
This was a good one about a man who ends up following two women to a nude commune…and then…things happen. 4/5

“When A Stranger Bites” by L. Stephenson
This had werewolfish vibes, and I didn’t really care for the writing style. 2.5/5

“All Ears” by Clay McLeod Chapman
All I can say is “candy necklace”. 3/5

“Seasons Out Of Time” by Jeffrey Ford
I loved this story of a 1970s cannibal getting his fix… 4.5/5

“Let’s Hear It For The Boy” by Bridgett Nelson
Oh this was definitely one of my favorites! The twist… 5/5

“Go At Throttle Up” by Ronald Malfi
I was in the third grade when the Challenger exploded, and I won’t ever forget it. I don’t think this teacher will, either. 4/5

“Tiki Bar At The Edge Of Forever” by Daniel Braum
I didn’t really care for this story about high school graduates waiting for prom. 2.5/5

“Flesh Communion” by Holly Rae Garcia
This was a fantastic (and disturbing) story that goes back to the Branch Davidians in Waco. Who’s to say that it’s not true? 5/5

“Y2K Feast” by Jeff Strand
Okay. You KNOW there was some family just like this, out there on Y2K eve. Hopefully only to a point though… 5/5

I love when anthologies end on a high note! This was a fantastic collection of short stories, and while almost no anthology can be truly be worth five stars because it’s such a mix of styles, I’m giving this 4.5, rounded up. Finding so many great stories about cannibalism couldn’t have been easy, and I enjoyed this immensely. Definitely recommended if you have a stomach of steel.🥩

(Thank you to Rebecca Rowland and the Denver Horror Collective for the physical ARC in exchange for my review.)

[Horror Bookworm Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror Bookworm Reviews
American Cannibal edited by Rebecca Rowland
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/

- It’s November 1587. An expedition of English colonists have traveled and are now prepared to settle on unspoiled land. When hunger leads to starvation, deception begins to taint the pioneers causing a warranted suspicion. Far from society and civilization, the New World is not what was promised and in fact holds gruesome secrets.

- Tender Farm is a community that feeds off what Mother Earth has to offer. Its isolation provides the commune with an Eden all their very own. When an outsider is invited in, the guest discovers the horrific truth to… “nothing goes to waste at Tender Farms.”

- Attempting to provide for his family within the remote wilderness, a father’s efforts to gather scarce meat for his loved ones becomes a futile effort. Ultimately he comes face to face with an evil spirit originating from the darken woods. Begging for the creatures assistance, a wish was granted as well as as an unsuspecting meal waiting for the father.

American Cannibal is an anthology edited by Rebecca Rowland. Providing an all-star cast of big-name writers which include Candace Nola, Owl Goingback, Elizabeth Massie, Douglas Ford, C.V. Hunt, Bridgette Nelson and Ronald Malfi among many others, make this worth the price of admission alone. From a mother’s unthinkable survival tactic to cruel intentions of a corrupt guard, these multi-time periods and undesirable addictions are the gruesome gifts that keep on giving.

Wrath James White provides the foreword, a take on the curiosity of primal and psychopathic urges of cannibalism. Wrath could literally read a McDonalds menu and make it into a captivating erotic appetite for desired flesh. Excellent choice to kick off this 20 story beauty that provides the biggest bang for your buck.

Last but certainly not least, the master of horrific humor himself…Jeff Strand. Determined to prepare his family for the apocalypse, a father decides it’s time to educate his family on the benefits of cannibalism. Strand is one of the most talented authors I have ever read, but don’t take it from me, grab a copy and find out for yourself. With that I’ll leave you, the reader, with this…Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other, “Does this taste funny to you?” American Cannibal is easily a five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.

[Leigh Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

American history with a sprinkle of cannibalism.. that sums up American Cannibal, and what a delicious anthology this is! A powerhouse of authors, including Ronald Malfi, Jeff Strand, Clay McLeod Chapman, Owl Goingback, and so many more, each choosing a pivotal moment in American history to deliver tale after tale of the depths of human depravity. From poignancy to familial ties to laugh out loud comedy, this collection has it all. There is something for everyone's tastes here, assuming your tastes include human flesh! There wasn't a dud among the twenty stories, but stand-outs for me included;

The Lost Diary by Candace Nola
Wendigo Dreams by Owl Goingback
When a Stranger Bites by L. Stephenson
Flesh Communion by Holly Rae Garcia
Y2K Feast by Jeff Strand

If, like me, you're drawn to the sickly sweet taboo of cannibalism, them this is the anthology for you. Even if, like me, you aren't American, you will recognise the majority of the events listed. You may not recognise the version of events as told within these pages. Whose to say if they are true and horrifying accounts of these prominent times, or if these writers fictionalised events to insert their own depraved musings. Either way, it's makes history MUCH more interesting!

[Jody Blanchette · Rating 4 out of 5]

American Cannibal is not for the faint of heart. It’s about cannibalism, so of course it’s going to be gross. Some of the best horror authors contributed to this book, so expect lots of blood & guts. Maybe a little finger chomping.. just sayin..
Some of the stories are almost believable. Who is to say that people didn’t resort to cannibalism as a way to survive the Oregon Trail, or the harsh winters of Roanoke? Desperation and the will to survive are strong motivations. But, not all of the stories are easily accepted. Those are the ones that will leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Of all the stories in the book, The Hungry Wives Of Bleak Streak and Carnivore, hit me the most. These are stories of women sacrificing their selves, chunk by chunk, for their loved ones. Dare I say it made me a little sad, but still mostly nauseous? Lol Both stories are well written, and definitely hit their mark.
American Cannibal is a horror anthology not to be missed! Go into it with an open mind, and empty stomach…

[Brian Bowyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amazing Anthology!

There are some great stories in this one. I enjoyed all these tales, but my favorites were "The Lost Diary," "Carnivore," "Tender Farm," "When a Stranger Bites," and "Flesh Communion." Highly recommended!

[Austrian Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt fantastically lucky that I received an ARC of this book through Candace Nola and Rebecca Rowland, having been stunned at the cover reveal earlier that month.

Before I go any further into the breakdown of the book, I have to praise that cover, there’s something magical about it – it really sets the mood for the entire anthology, the color scheme, the woman - the background bleeding away - just superb - and the editing here is wonderful. Not so much as a comma out of place (and followers of my blog will know I’m an editing nerd), Rowland’s work here is immaculate.

To the stories. You have to assume that a reader going into an anthology named American Cannibal, is going to assume each story is going to be about or revolve around a cannibalistic environment. Taking that into consideration, there were a few stories in here that went with the reveal of cannibalistic events as their punchline - which, giving credit to their authors, would have worked with more impact in a normal anthology, but here, we were waiting for the cannibal thing to happen – so the reveal punched, but with less force than normal. Having said that, every single story here approached the overlying theme from a different angle. Some were bizarre, some funny, some slasher-esque. There aren't two shorts alike, and every voice stands out as individual, confident, and competent. The quality of the writing is great, overall.

It’s a solid anthology.

There are stand-outs – there have to be, and this time (for me) the honors go to Gwendolyn Kiste with her fantastic short The hungry wives of Bleak Street which really approached the whole concept of cannibalism from such a delicious angle, it raised the bar. A killer first line lets you know, right from the get-go, that you are in the hands of a master. Superb, Gwendolyn, you just rocketed your latest book (and Stoker nomination) way up my TBR list to the very top. If I had to choose a favorite in the anthology, this would be it. Can't wait to discover more from you.

Ronald Malfi provides again, by almost avoiding the whole theme of cannibalism. There are hints, subtle clues, and indirect action (can biting be included as cannibalism?) – In any event, cannibalism is the background hum to Ronald’s main story, a retelling of the Challenger disaster from the perspective of a teacher who didn’t make the cut for the position on the doomed spaceship. The emotional impact on the character contrasted to their ongoing responsibility to a child under her care – that near-death -could-have-been-me experience whilst struggling to provide the appropriate care for a challenged child under her wing – let’s say that this "snippet" once again makes you want to bathe in a whole book. It always feels like you are being robbed of the whole story, we are left wanting more than we have been graced with. Go at throttle up is as perfect a snapshot as you can get.

Wendigo dreams from Owl Goingback is evocative, I loved the setting and Owl’s descriptive style. The lost diary by Candace Nola defines the book’s tone and includes nice epistolary moments, and Carnivore by Jeremy Megargee presents a bleak undertone.

I think this is a 4 ⭐ ‘s read, a wonderful introduction to some authors I hadn’t read before, and the editing is, frankly, exceptional.

[Lezlie The Nerdy Narrative · Rating 4 out of 5]

AMERICAN CANNIBAL is an anthology that contains 20 short stories that share a central theme: cannibalism. If you're like me, I took a look at that and thought, could I stomach reading that much about cannibalism?? I honestly thought no. And yet. If you flip this one over and take a look at the authors involved - that's what changed my mind. I've read many of these authors and I've never once been let down, so I decided to take the plunge.

No one was more surprised that me when after reading a handful of these stories, that I was actually excited to read the next one!

A lot of the fun for me was seeing how each of the authors chose to tackle this theme and what time period they chose for their setting. I believe I neglected to mention that these stories are also historical fiction - you'll visit the past by way of the Oregon Trail, the Civil War, Y2K - even the day the Challenger exploded.

A big part of why I enjoyed this collection that lead to my excitement of continuing through the stories was the prose. I'd be writing down gorgeous or impactful quotes one minute, while wrinkling my nose at the actions of a character or characters the next. It is beautifully written - even when it's disgusting, horrifying and making your tummy do slow flips. It's not without its moments of humor either!

Each story can be read in under half an hour, so perfect for a lunch read or like me, a nice read to start the day with that first cup of coffee! I like reading a short story every morning and this is one of the best collections I've read in a while, where I've looked forward to getting up and seeing what the next story would hold for me.

I did receive a copy of the ARC for consideration of an honest review, but the truth is I accepted the ARC on the recommendation of my dear friend, L. Stephenson, who knows my tastes very well and I trust them explicitly. I'm so glad I did - in fact - there are a few books I shied away from previously because they were about cannibalism that I'm now adding to my TBR! I wonder if I should be concerned???

[Marguerite Turley · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was something!! Disgusting, depraved (obviously, it’s cannibalism stories!) but there was some stories that really stood out to me. These stories crawled under my skin and didn’t want to come out, I’m looking at you Clay McLeod Brian Asman CV Hunt and Ronald Malfi. Such a great collection!

[thevampireslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing whets my apetite more than an anthology of grim little tales by some incredible authors, I devoured this tasty little collection of stories, I loved reading the different approaches to the overall theme of cannibalism, the taboo topics in horror literature get me salivating so I was excited for this and wasn't disappointed, each story is unique and there was such a variety of different tropes from addiction, cults, the supernatural and satirical commentry it never felt repetitive and each authors style was very distinct, this was one of the best anthologies I've ever read, did I put enough food/eating puns in this review or was it too much?

[Paul Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing with cannibal books is that you know what is going to happen, yet it still makes you cringe and quiver when the inevitable does, in fact happen,
Here are 20 stories told chronologically based on significant American events and the horrors that happen behind the scenes. The table of contents is a list of all star horror writers combined with some new-to-me authors that are now very much on my watchlist. I must’ve gone to Amazon five times and added new books to my wish list.
This book is not just a gross out contest (but queasiness did occur). This book is filled with all sorts of feelings, covering tension, dread, psychological horror, pride, erotica, heartbreaking sadness, and humor. While cannibal stories are not for everyone, there is enough variety in here that I could easily recommend this for everyone.
I would love to tell you all about my favorite stories, but we just don’t have that much time. More than half of these stories I rated at 4.5 or 5 stars I will say that I had five standouts, three that hit me in the heart were from Gwendolyn Kiste, Clay McLeod Chapman, and Holly Rae Garcia, while two stories that really got under my skin were from Owl Goingback and L. Stephenson.
I think Wrath James White says it best in his introduction-
“There is no need for devils and demons. They could never compare to the evil of humanity. The monster under the bed has a human face, and human history is the most terrifying horror story of all.”

[Pan | Book Reviews and Recommendations · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be it serving the literary arts as an author or editor, one thing is for sure, whatever Rebecca Rowland touches, is guaranteed to be a phenomenal read.

'American Cannibal' , is a terrific horror anthology that will release on March 7th through Maenad Press. Rebecca Rowland has done an incredible job as an editor, collecting Horror genre's finest authors and creating a beautifully terrifying and unique result.

Dear reader, you better read, learn and remember, because those who do not learn from history are doomed to (rep)eat it.
This anthology is guaranteed to satisfy your appetite for horror but will definitely spoil your appetite for a fellow human.

In this superb collection of chilling tales:
A mother and daughter negotiate the Oregon Trail with grisly results.
An elementary teacher watches the carnage of The Challenger explosion spill over into her own classroom.
A possible prospector traveling west is drawn to an isolated inn where no one walks away hungry.
A 1950s housewife shares the gruesome repertoire of behavior expected of a proper lady.
But this is simply not all as, prohibition and women’s suffrage, the Civil War and the Vietnam War, the JFK assassination conspiracy and the Y2K hysteria are all reimagined with a side order of cannibalism, delicious terror sauce and a pinch of salt.

Experience the annals of American history through the twisted imagination of twenty of the biggest names writing horror fiction today.

Forget what you read in the textbooks.
Everything you were taught about the Land of Liberty is about to be history.
And everything you will read in this fantastic horror gem will chill the core of your soul.
Each story is penned in such a way to make you feel like you are part of it;and trust me it is extremely scary to be part of any story in American Cannibal.

Ladies and Gents bring the horror in waves and I couldn't choose a favorite. But if I was forced to eat my legs or choose my top three, then..
"Flesh Communion" by Holly Rae Garcia. My God that was disturbing and beautifully written.
"The Lost Diary" by Candace Nola. What a punch in the gut right from the start of the book.
"Go At Throttle Up" by Ronald Malfi. I was around when the Challenger disaster happened. This story, amplifies the terror to a whole new level.
I said 3 but why not 4? Here is another cinematic terrifier for your wicked taste, "Tender Farm" by C.V. Hunt. Man lured to a nude community.. the rest, is more that history...

2023 already feels like a great year for horror and Rebecca Rowland with 'American Cannibal' has already set the corner-store for it.

Phenomenal stories from:

Brian Asman @thebrianasman
Daniel Braum @daniel_braum
V. Castro @vlatinalondon
Douglas Ford @author_douglas_ford
Jeffrey Ford @jefford000
Holly Rae Garcia @hollyraegarcia
Owl Goingback @owlgoingback
CV Hunt
Gwendolyn Kiste @gwendolynkiste
E.V. Knight @ev_knight_author
Clay McLeod Chapman @claymcleod
Ronald Malfi @ronaldmalfi
Elizabeth Massie @elizabethmassiebooks
Jeremy Megargee @xbadmoonrising
Bridgett Nelson @bnelsonauthor
Candace Nola @cnola.author
Clint Smith @ghouljaw
Jon Steffens @jonny_zbojnik
L. Stephenson @l._stephenson
Jeff Strand @jeffstrandauthor
@maenad_press

[P.J. Blakey-Novis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Rowland has put together some fantastic anthologies and I was thrilled to have the chance to read American Cannibal ahead of it’s release. With a foreword from Wrath James White and an impressive list of authors, I had no doubt this book would be something special. Cannibalism as a theme is open to a lot of opportunities for the writer and American Cannibal covers a wide mix of time periods, from America’s Wild West to modern times. The stories were all well written and, whilst naturally gruesome, each had the storyline to back it up. Personal favourites were The Lost Diary by Candace Nola, Carnivore by Jeremy Megargee, and Wendigo Dreams by Owl Goingback. That said, each story was a pleasure to read and the quality was consistent throughout.

[L.E. Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five blood-stained gold stars. Set from 1587 to 2000, Rebecca Rowland’s AMERICAN CANNIBAL is a time-traveling historical sweep propelled by the most frightening monsters of all—us. Between Rowland’s chronology and the familiar imagery selected by these extremely talented authors, AMERICAN CANNIBAL is one of the most encompassing anthologies I’ve encountered in years. Reminiscent of American history classes when teachers shared dark knowledge of “things untoward”—this anthology evokes that sensation of being totally creeped-out and emotionally stirred-up. I read it insatiably over two days and still find myself opting for the vegetarian meal.

Etched in despairing settlement timber, “The Lost Diary” by Candace Nola is so well threaded with mounting pressure and suspicion in what is ultimately perceived as a godless land. Achingly reminiscent of the disastrous early colonies.

Adrift from the pioneer era Oregon Trail, Jeremy Megargee’s “Carnivore” reads like a cutting parenthood truth-within-the-fiction reel. This transformation is sooty, toothy, and darkest dark in this one with “no moon, no moon, no moon.”

“Gold Rush” by V. Castro is a voraciously sexy lover’s tale that kneels in its own hungry church. A leather sheathed machete crosses with the tomahawk on hotly contested land where good business means never going hungry.

“Ozark Devil Cult Blues” by Jon Steffens in an unparalleled and cinematically terrifying revenge tale set in a country marred by of the Civil War. What we want and what we get are never the same thing.

At the pounding heart of “Wendigo Dreams” by Owl Goingback beats the mounting costs of losing community and status to the colonizers’ particular brand of famine. One man’s transformation traces the curse of gnawing want and bottomless rage as contagion in the Canadian territories.

Clint Smith’s “Mastication Station” is the most lyrical of the collection, from “lingering inhalation of being born” to “its murky trek…to its cataclysmic confluence.” A poetic suspense-thriller casts its eye on Pittsburgh and “capitalistic luminaries.” The story seems as bad as it can get at the opener. It’s not.

We know women faced unjust imprisonment and vicious assaults fighting for our right to vote. “And the Window was Boarded Shut” by Elizabeth Massie articulates the contortion act that continues to be the road to accessing our rights.

EV Knight’s “The Flannigan Cure” uses Prohibition and demon alcohol as scaffolding for an authentic interior hellscape that addiction knows by pickled-and-preserved heart. Two words: the baby.

Douglas Ford takes us to one night in Key West in “Papa’s Night (or The Short, Happy Life of Elenda de Hoyos)” on the shoulder of one of America’s most iconic writers. Evocations of wax-coated decaying saints, perfumed air, and votive candles sparkle in this tale.

“You wouldn’t want them to see you as you really are, the rage rising up in you, your hand quivering the steak knife on your placemat.” The 2nd person point of view drives Gwendolyn Kiste’s 1950s American tale, “The Hungry Wives of Bleak Street” and this intensely immersive, disturbing, and familiar tale earns its ending in spades.

The dream sequences of Brian Asman’s “Texas is the Reason” were my favorite moments as we venture into November 1963 in for a gripping historical detective remix. What exactly was on the menu the night before the JFK assassination?

It’s tough being new in a big city like L.A. and in C.V. Hunt’s “Tender Farm,” the Summer of Love vibes pair with the “sound of birdsong and someone in distress.” A juicy spin on the commune set-up where everyone is truly grateful for what Mother Earth provides.

L. Stephenson’s coming of age tale, “When a Stranger Bites” connects the moon landing with a maniac, a mother, and a paddling oar. Maybe some weren’t so happy about that historic event.

“All Ears” by Clay McLeod Chapman is a finely stitched tale of a Vietnam veteran who comes home not quite right. With a garbage strike as the backdrop, a child guides us through a story awash with sound and “all the different languages from around the world seeping out from each apartment.”

The gas crisis of ’73 parts the curtain for Jeffery Ford’s predator in “Seasons out of Time” in a decade that spawned a litany of serial killers. The seventies imagery stands out from the color of mercurochrome to a “room lit only by a weak bulb in a lamp whose base was a fisherman in a yellow slicker” and “an almost citrus tang of civilization.”

“Let’s Hear it for the Boy” by Bridgett Nelson is an emotional spiral into violence, ignited from the top. From the willful neglect of the CDC during the AIDS epidemic, the story is cross-hatched with victim-blaming and the desperation of those who have nothing to lose.

“Go at Throttle Up” by Ronald Malfi opens with the day the space shuttle Challenger exploded and the intimacy of domestic violence while a teacher sees herself in “that forked tongue of smoke.”

Daniel Braum’s “Tiki Bar at the Edge of Forever” unfolds on 1980’s Long Island in the “ever-present glow of the Galaga console.” A deadly mix of nostalgia and a slippery narrator.

“Flesh Communion” by Holly Rae Garcia is an utterly haunting testimony from one of the survivors of Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas. The story lingers long after its finish, like the smoke and potency of this final girl.

Jeff Strand’s dark comedy “Y2K Feast” is the priceless cap on this collection. I was caught smirking and snorting over the paperback by my kids for this big finish. A perfect end to the anthology.

[George Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been an honour and a privilege to read this unique and amazing anthology as an ARC. There were definitely some incredibly disturbing sequences and GROSS scenes. I love reading anthologies because
1. I have a short attention span.
2. I fly through them
3. It exposes me to new authors!

Here are my top 5:

“Carnivore” by Jeremy Megargee. This author is completely new to me and I’m thrilled to have discovered him. This story was grotesque, obviously cannibalistic and read like a fucked up jungle book. This short story discusses a mother and what she is willing to sacrifice for her infantile daughter when lost in the woods. 4/5

“Gold Rush” by V.Castro truly excited me when I saw it would be included in this anthology. This was RIGHT down my alley, and I feel honoured to have read it early. A mysterious establishment prides itself on giving food to those who need it, but there are lots of hungry mouths to feed and the owner doesn’t want to disappoint. 5/5

“Wendigo Dreams” by Owl Goingback. I have Crota on my TBR but haven’t gotten round to it yet. Needless to say I will soon after reading this! This was the story in the anthology that psychologically scared me, brilliant! A spirit called Wendigo haunts the protagonist’s dreams, and soon the two meet face to face. SCARY STUFF 5/5

“The Flannigan Cure” by E V Knight show stopping. After this I immediately loaded the fourth whore onto my kindle. I’m not normally a fan of plot twists in short stories but this was executed PERFECTLY. After a doctor is forced to mortify his now illegal drinking habit, he comes across a grotesque alternative. 5/5 (I’d rate it 6 if I could)

“Tender Farm” by CV Hunt this authors reputation proceeds them, and my high hopes were met. John is tempted to spend the night at a nudist carnivorous camp by two women who share his view on vegetarianism, but Tender Farm is far worst than he anticipated and what he witnesses changes him forever. 4/5

I will be publishing this review on my instagram (@georgesreads) in the New Year along with a pre-order link, but for now I’d like to thank all of the talented authors involved and Rebecca Rowland for her kindness and the opportunity to read this in advance. It comes out March 7th 2023 and if you think you have the guts, GO FOR IT.

[Lizzie Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so very blessed to receive an ARC of this anthology and boy oh boy was it a fuckin doozy. IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY. I love horror anthologies because you get to experience horror from so many vantage points and voices, they almost always have something (or several somethings) for everyones tastes. American Cannibal did not disappoint. I was blessed to have plenty of time to dive into each and every one of them and there were some truly horrifying ones because they were so heart breaking and, might I say, realistic I almost believed it was an autobiography. Rebecca Rowland has cultivated and collected a tome of fantastic reads that any horror fan would enjoy. Especially those who aren't squeamish or say they're not. I have marks on my soul from this anthology, and that's how I know it's good. The best way to describe it is a historical road trip through the ages, watching what truly can drive a human to eat another. I LOVE that we did this chronologically, it just gets wilder as you go. Be aware that there are some scenes that made me put it down and walk away because it gave me involuntary shudders of disgust. 10/10, if you love body horror with a heavy mix of cultists, slashes, horror romance, heart ache, and so much more, you'll love this one.

[Brennan LaFaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A horror anthology like American Cannibal is objectively terrifying, and not for the reasons that might seem most obvious. A 350 page collection of stories by upwards of 20 authors with a narrow theme. Announcing the theme as cannibalism also deprives the authors of the ability to lean on traditional cliches and plot twists that rely on surprise. In other words, every single contributor had to bring their A-game.
And did they ever. There are a few stories that stand well on their own, but would be improved if the reader didn't anticipate cannibalism rearing its ugly head. They are often surrounded by stories that utilize copious amounts of creativity to subvert expectations.
One addition to the theme that adds quite a bit of intrigue is that each story is a mark on the timeline of American history, injecting the taboo trope to well-known periods in history and even real-life historical figures.
Candace Nola's lead-off entry, "The Lost Diary" gets down and dirty in an epistolary fashion, a tale of survival and moral quandaries in the face of certain death. E.V. Knight's "The Flannigan Cure" is exemplary of why the periods in history strategy lends a whole new dynamic to this idea. Grotesque and unique. "Texas is the Reason" by Brian Asman is one of the strongest entries in the book, a Raymond Carver-esque, cult-fueled 60's thriller that spares no horror. Jeff Strand's closer, "Y2K Feast" is the perfect blend of dark comedy and grotesquerie to close the door on this group of stories.
Elsewhere, there are noteworthy entries from Clay McLeod Chapman, Ronald Malfi, V. Castro, Gwendolyn Kiste, Elizabeth Massie, Owl Goingback, Bridgett Nelson, and many more.
Whether you come for the cannibal horror or the all-star line up, this is the book you've been waiting for.

[H. Everend · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5
I was honored to receive an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review. I'll be honest, even though I'm also a horror author, the thought of cannibalism itself makes my stomach queasy...but I promised myself to step outside of the box in 2023 (not to mention there are a lot of familiar names that I not only respect, but adore and wanted to see what some of the newer faces brought to the table). As with any anthology, there are hits and misses, but overall, I loved the timeline theme going on (started in the 1500's and ending with Y2K). My top three favorites from the collection are: The Lost Diary, Carnivore and Gold Rush. I know what you're thinking, "did you read anything past those ones?" Of course I did, but there was something about the first three in the anthology that really stuck with me. The details and gory bits were done very well in the majority of these stories and they really nailed the desperation in some stories that resulted in this decision, while others did the "villain" justice by showing just how much they really didn't care they were eating another human being. I give this 4.5/5 for exceptional writing. Horror fans, this really is something special.

[ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. I love reading Anything that is connect to Rebecca Rowland. Every story in this book brings you to the past and gives you a whole other level of how you think of it. I love the story Y2K Feast is was so good. If you want a good scary book this is it. Great job to the authors and to Rebecca Rowland. Can't wait for the next book by her or any of the authors in this one.

[Amy Todorsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delicious feast of unsavory appetites. At times, sinewy, raw and bloody. At others, tender, juicy and warm. My favorite stories were Papa’s Night (or the Short, Happy Life of Elena de Hoyos), the Hungry Wives of Bleak Street, and Seasons Out of Time. I also enjoyed Go at Throttle Up and Y2K Feast (extra enjoyable that I finished this one New Year’s Eve). Second helpings, anyone?

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Review:
https://www.papercutslive.com/post/bo...

Startling, yet amusing, “American Cannibal” raises the obvious question, “what if?”

This anthology is a retelling of American History with a unique spin: Cannibals!

Get ready for this one. It’s both fun and nightmarish. It’s sickening, yet educational. OK, maybe not the correct education per se, but for many it may be a little more interesting.

Rebecca Rowland and Maenad Press compiled a successfully solid list of writers to put their own spin on American History with the reoccurring theme of involving cannibals. This concept alone should draw the interest of those Hannibal worshippers. C’mon, you know you’re out there.

These stories are fun, exciting, humorous, odd, cringey, horrific, bloody, chewy, taste like chicken, smelly, sickening, and erotic at times. In fact, you may want to remind yourself of the theme before starting each story. They all do a great job disguising the obvious before the reveal.

I really liked how each story was constructed in a way that the cannibals weren't just thrown in our face and shoved down our throats. Each created a story that allowed attendance of the cannibals to highlight or accent the rest of the story.

These stories are interesting, in that sick demented kind of way. Things get gory at times. We have stories ranging from having to eat each other for the more important people to survive, to stories with revenge as the main theme, to stories with protesters getting arrested, and the punishment is brutal, to a couple of the stories mixing in humor, which you know I always appreciate.

We can relive Waco, and Y2K, but with Cannibals. Who wouldn’t enjoy this?

If you take away anything from reading this collection, allow it to be things are more interesting when a cannibal is involved.

[Brett Burkhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

American history viewed through the lens of cannibalism. That's the elevator pitch for this book but it's so much more! From Roanoke to Y2K this book doesn't just have tales of people getting lost on the frontier (although it does have a few of those) but stories of people being consumed emotionally and mentally (and also physically!) by the rage of the AIDS epidemic and the ennui of 50's suburbia.

There is a story in here for every taste from slasher and occult horror to true crime thrillers and Grand Guignol chillers and it finishes with a refreshing comedy. I can also see this getting a lot of people interested in history as they cover things like prohibition's life for a pint laws and the Johnstown Flood and even the protests of Suffragettes.

[Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short stories all having to do with cannibalism… became tensions after a while. I’m not really into short stories I like investing into a character.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly gruesome stories in this collection. Good narration for the audiobook.

[Kelly Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology was fantastic, 20 stories about Cannibalism from great horror authors. Highly recommend!!

[Samantha Hawkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

"American Cannibal" edited and compiled by Rebecca Rowland. I was sent my copy in exchange for an honest review.

This anthology is built from events in our history, some more horrifying than others. Inside, you'll find tales about the colonization of Roanoke, the Oregon trail, the Gold Rush, the Civil War, and the Women's Civil Rights. These are just a few of the stories that bleed across these pages.

(Also worth mentioning, is the AMAZING forward written by Wrath James White for this anthology).

Out of these twenty delicious tales I chose a top three and these were my favorites: "The Lost Diary" by Candace Nola, "Carnivore" by Jeremy Megargee, and "The Flannagan Cure" by EV Knight.

"The Lost Diary" follows Roger Prat during the colonization of Roanoke. This story is comprised of journal entries, each one more hurried and mysterious than the last. You can feel the exhaustion and fear on each page that Roger writes. This was super creepy, and that ending was jaw-dropping.

"Carnivore" is a story about the Oregan trail. Violet and her daughter Daisy are on their way to meet their husband and father, William, who left a year ago to secure and establish a homestead. The story takes a drastic turn when both Violet and Daisy become lost on their journey and Violet is forced to make life altering decisions that she never once considered she may face, but with young Daisy wasting away before her eyes, she truly has no choice. This one was by far my favorite.

This story was so deeply chilling to me as a mother. I can't imagine being lost with my child, no water or food, without any means to find our way home. Would I have done the same thing that Violet did? Absolutely. And that's what makes this tale so scary. A mother's love is endless, even if it means taking pieces of yourself...

"The Flanagan Cure" is about a man with an extreme alcohol addiction who finds the most bizarre way that I've ever come across to cure himself. Because alcohol addiction had touched my life, this story hit me a bit in my feelings. I thought the premise for this story was incredibly unique and unusually creepy.

[David Cluck · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Ghost · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic collection. I loved almost every story but the five that really stood out to me were.
Tender Farm
Gold Rush
Y2K Feast
And The Window Was Boarded Shut
Tiki Bar At The End Of The World

[Christina Pfeiffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. Review coming soon.