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We Mostly Come Out At Night: 15 Queer Tales of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures
An empowering cross-genre YA anthology that explores what it means to be a monster, exclusively highlighting trans and queer authors who offer new tales and perspectives on classic monster stories and tropes.
Be not afraid! These monsters, creatures, and beasties are not what they appear. We Mostly Come Out at Night is a YA anthology that reclaims the monstrous for the LGBTQA+ community while exploring how there is freedom and power in embracing the things that make you stand out. Each story centers on both original and familiar monsters and creatures—including Mothman, Carabosse, a girl with thirteen shadows, a living house, werebeasts, gorgons, sirens, angels, and many others—and their stories of love, self-acceptance, resilience, and empowerment. This collection is a bold, transformative celebration of queerness and the creatures that (mostly) go bump in the night.
Contributors include editor Rob Costello, Kalynn Bayron, David Bowles, Shae Carys, Rob Costello, H.E. Edgmon, Michael Thomas Ford, Val Howlett, Brittany Johnson, Naomi Kanakia, Claire Kann, Jonathan Lenore Kastin, Sarah Maxfield, Sam J. Miller, Alexandra Villasante, and Merc Fenn Wolfmoor.
Be not afraid! These monsters, creatures, and beasties are not what they appear. We Mostly Come Out at Night is a YA anthology that reclaims the monstrous for the LGBTQA+ community while exploring how there is freedom and power in embracing the things that make you stand out. Each story centers on both original and familiar monsters and creatures—including Mothman, Carabosse, a girl with thirteen shadows, a living house, werebeasts, gorgons, sirens, angels, and many others—and their stories of love, self-acceptance, resilience, and empowerment. This collection is a bold, transformative celebration of queerness and the creatures that (mostly) go bump in the night.
Contributors include editor Rob Costello, Kalynn Bayron, David Bowles, Shae Carys, Rob Costello, H.E. Edgmon, Michael Thomas Ford, Val Howlett, Brittany Johnson, Naomi Kanakia, Claire Kann, Jonathan Lenore Kastin, Sarah Maxfield, Sam J. Miller, Alexandra Villasante, and Merc Fenn Wolfmoor.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published May 21, 2024
59 people are currently reading
5662 people want to read
About the author
Rob Costello
12 books52 followersRob Costello (he/him) writes dark and contemporary fiction with a queer bent for and about young people. He’s the contributing editor of WE MOSTLY COME OUT AT NIGHT: 15 QUEER TALES OF MONSTERS, ANGELS & OTHER CREATURES, nominated for a 2024 Bram Stoker Award® and named a 2024 CYBILS Award Finalist as well as a Notable/Recommended/Best Book of 2024 by the New York Public Library, Ginger Nuts of Horror, PseudoPod, Reactor Magazine, and Locus Magazine. He’s also author of the dark fiction story collection THE DANCING BEARS: QUEER FABLES FOR THE END TIMES, named a finalist for The Whirling Prize. His stories have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and have appeared in The Dark, The NoSleep Podcast, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, PseudoPod, Hunger Mountain, Cape Cod Review, and Narrative, among other publications.
AN UGLY WORLD FOR BEAUTIFUL BOYS is his debut novel.
An alumnus of Millay Arts, he holds an MFA in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and has served on the faculty of the Highlights Foundation since 2014. He is co-founder (with Lesa Cline-Ransome, Jo Knowles, and Jennifer Richard Jacobson) of the R(ev)ise and Shine! writing community, and he lives in upstate NY with his husband and their four-legged overlords.
Learn more at: www.cloudbusterpress.com & www.revise-and-shine.com.
AN UGLY WORLD FOR BEAUTIFUL BOYS is his debut novel.
An alumnus of Millay Arts, he holds an MFA in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and has served on the faculty of the Highlights Foundation since 2014. He is co-founder (with Lesa Cline-Ransome, Jo Knowles, and Jennifer Richard Jacobson) of the R(ev)ise and Shine! writing community, and he lives in upstate NY with his husband and their four-legged overlords.
Learn more at: www.cloudbusterpress.com & www.revise-and-shine.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
October 20, 2024
yes, i was being lured in by the beautiful cover~
the standouts of this collection for me:
How to Summon Me, Val Howlett
The House of Needs and Wants, Kayleen Bayron
A Serpent and A Wish, Shae Carys
Bonne Nuit, Claire Kann
Sons of Gods and Daughters of humans, H.E Hedgemon
World Weariness, Naomi Kanakia
the standouts of this collection for me:
How to Summon Me, Val Howlett
The House of Needs and Wants, Kayleen Bayron
A Serpent and A Wish, Shae Carys
Bonne Nuit, Claire Kann
Sons of Gods and Daughters of humans, H.E Hedgemon
World Weariness, Naomi Kanakia
May 7, 2024
A great collection of short stories. Many different queer identities are represented throughout this anthology. I was captivated by each story. There's absolutely no duds in the whole book!
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October 8, 2024
This is an anthology of downright monstrous queer stories. Whether a monster from the sea, deep space or a sentient house; a glorious reimagining of on old story or a brand new creation, these stories revolve around queer characters and the monsters around us. It shows how the moral of the story is we may be monsters to others, but we are not the real monsters, and there is so much more to us than how others perceive us. You may cry, you may giggle and you may definitely feel seen.
Without giving too much away, I’ll leave you with a quote from each story:
Bastian and the Beast by Jonathan Lenore Kastin
“That’s why I chose you. Only we can see each other for who we truly are.”
Other Fish by Alexandra Villasante
“I think you’re the type of girl who can handle getting what she asks for.”
How to Summon Me by Val Howlett
“If you bring me to your side of the glass, don’t be afraid. Great things can happen when you’re not. Fear ruins everything.”
Be Not Afraid by Michael Thomas Ford
“He doesn’t show up to give you a chance to change things. Only to let you know something bad is coming.”
The Freedom of Feathers and Fur by David Bowles
“His words, which only the chosen can hear. Sometimes from afar. They drew your brother to these shores. And you followed in his wake.”
The Fatal Song of Attraction by Brittany Johnson
“What if there’s more to life we never thought of? No one knew that sirens like us existed, but we’re different, so there must be others like us.”
The Color of Sky on Earth by Rob Costello
“Maybe I like not knowing yet what kind of monster I secretly am. Maybe the artist in me wants to figure that out for myself.”
Boys Who Run with the Boars by Sam J. Miller
“Humanity was existentially f****d. We couldn’t help being monsters.”
The House of Needs and Wants by Kalynn Bayron
“This is a special place… It provides for those of us who are most vulnerable. If you allow it, it r will provide you whatever you need to make you feel safe.”
A Serpent and a Wish by Shae Carys
“It is not your fault people are superstitious and frightened of what they do not understand.”
The Girl with Thirteen Shadows by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor
“So what if the world doesn’t see you as normal? You’re different. You’re a monster girl, an ace girl, and there is nothing f*****g wrong with it.”
Bonne Nuit by Claire Kann
“The world is much more intricate and far grander than you realize.”
Sons of God and Daughters of Humans by H.E. Edgmon
“Because you have been lied to. There is nothing monstrous about you. And your day of judgment is not f******g coming.”
World-Weariness by Naomi Kanakia
“Mankind means nothing to me. They are forever outside of Earnath’s song, doomed to a lifetime of suffering and despair.”
How We Founded Club Feathers at the Discard Depot by Sarah Maxfield
“There will always be those who prefer to slumber in lullabies than awaken to their strangeness.”
Genre: Horror, Short Stories, Anthologies, Young Adult
Without giving too much away, I’ll leave you with a quote from each story:
Bastian and the Beast by Jonathan Lenore Kastin
“That’s why I chose you. Only we can see each other for who we truly are.”
Other Fish by Alexandra Villasante
“I think you’re the type of girl who can handle getting what she asks for.”
How to Summon Me by Val Howlett
“If you bring me to your side of the glass, don’t be afraid. Great things can happen when you’re not. Fear ruins everything.”
Be Not Afraid by Michael Thomas Ford
“He doesn’t show up to give you a chance to change things. Only to let you know something bad is coming.”
The Freedom of Feathers and Fur by David Bowles
“His words, which only the chosen can hear. Sometimes from afar. They drew your brother to these shores. And you followed in his wake.”
The Fatal Song of Attraction by Brittany Johnson
“What if there’s more to life we never thought of? No one knew that sirens like us existed, but we’re different, so there must be others like us.”
The Color of Sky on Earth by Rob Costello
“Maybe I like not knowing yet what kind of monster I secretly am. Maybe the artist in me wants to figure that out for myself.”
Boys Who Run with the Boars by Sam J. Miller
“Humanity was existentially f****d. We couldn’t help being monsters.”
The House of Needs and Wants by Kalynn Bayron
“This is a special place… It provides for those of us who are most vulnerable. If you allow it, it r will provide you whatever you need to make you feel safe.”
A Serpent and a Wish by Shae Carys
“It is not your fault people are superstitious and frightened of what they do not understand.”
The Girl with Thirteen Shadows by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor
“So what if the world doesn’t see you as normal? You’re different. You’re a monster girl, an ace girl, and there is nothing f*****g wrong with it.”
Bonne Nuit by Claire Kann
“The world is much more intricate and far grander than you realize.”
Sons of God and Daughters of Humans by H.E. Edgmon
“Because you have been lied to. There is nothing monstrous about you. And your day of judgment is not f******g coming.”
World-Weariness by Naomi Kanakia
“Mankind means nothing to me. They are forever outside of Earnath’s song, doomed to a lifetime of suffering and despair.”
How We Founded Club Feathers at the Discard Depot by Sarah Maxfield
“There will always be those who prefer to slumber in lullabies than awaken to their strangeness.”
Genre: Horror, Short Stories, Anthologies, Young Adult
Read
June 5, 2025Very eclectic anthology that also represented a lot of different cultures, with distinct takes on everything from Beauty and the Beast to the Mothman to the book of Revelations!
And yes, I did find the Mothman story strangely charming!
*I am not rating books read for the World Fantasy Award.*
And yes, I did find the Mothman story strangely charming!
*I am not rating books read for the World Fantasy Award.*
November 26, 2025
An empowering dark-fantasy and horror anthology for teenagers and young adults that explores the monstrous and queer experience.
Overall, I appreciated the variety of sexualities, gender identities, monsters, mythologies, and cultures represented within this collection! I wish the writing for most of the stories didn’t explicitly state the message of the story…I trust that kids and teenagers can understand subtext.
Some of my favorites were:
How To Summon Me
- Gave off Lovecraftian horror (minus the racism) vibes to me
- Appreciated the depiction of Bloody Mary as a caring, curious and observant eldritch entity seeking connection with whoever summons them in the mirror
- Could be affirming for some LGBTQIA+ folks who feel like an alien and desperately search for belonging
The Fatal Song of Attraction
- Clever use of using a siren’s instinct to kill and struggle to come of age to represent demisexuality and asexuality
- As someone who is on the asexual spectrum, I felt affirmed!
The House of Needs and Wants
- A heartwarming tale of finding community after having been outcasted
- Could be affirming to kids who have been impacted by foster care and experienced queerphobia from their caregivers
Overall, I appreciated the variety of sexualities, gender identities, monsters, mythologies, and cultures represented within this collection! I wish the writing for most of the stories didn’t explicitly state the message of the story…I trust that kids and teenagers can understand subtext.
Some of my favorites were:
How To Summon Me
- Gave off Lovecraftian horror (minus the racism) vibes to me
- Appreciated the depiction of Bloody Mary as a caring, curious and observant eldritch entity seeking connection with whoever summons them in the mirror
- Could be affirming for some LGBTQIA+ folks who feel like an alien and desperately search for belonging
The Fatal Song of Attraction
- Clever use of using a siren’s instinct to kill and struggle to come of age to represent demisexuality and asexuality
- As someone who is on the asexual spectrum, I felt affirmed!
The House of Needs and Wants
- A heartwarming tale of finding community after having been outcasted
- Could be affirming to kids who have been impacted by foster care and experienced queerphobia from their caregivers
February 12, 2024
Thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
This anthology of queer monster stories is absolutely delightful. There is something for everyone, with several different genres and queerness being explored in oh so many different ways!
As far as the horror element goes, I wouldn't say that it is very dark och very scary. All the stories contain monsters in different ways, some more the idea of monsters or "monsters" as being just anyone who is outside of the norm, so don't be afraid of giving this collection a try even if you are a scaredy cat.
A few times I had to remind myself that this is supposed to be a collection for readers younger than myself, specifically when I got a bit annoyed at having things so explicitly explained to me that were already obvious. I accept that things can be more explicitly stated in YA/teen books. There were a couple of stories that stood out to me, The House of Needs and Wants by Kalynn Bayron and The Color of Sky on Earth by Rob Costello. They were just the right amount of "obvious" in what they were trying to say to me as a reader, but at the same time were very original and trusted that I would understand their message without them having to spell it out.
Other honorable mentions:
How to Summon Me, by Val Howlett
A Serpent and a Wish, by Shae Carys
Bonne Nuit, by Claire Kann
The Girl with 13 Shadows, by Merc Fenn Woolfmoor
I didn't like all of the stories, but since I loved a few of them I would definitely recommend this collection!
This anthology of queer monster stories is absolutely delightful. There is something for everyone, with several different genres and queerness being explored in oh so many different ways!
As far as the horror element goes, I wouldn't say that it is very dark och very scary. All the stories contain monsters in different ways, some more the idea of monsters or "monsters" as being just anyone who is outside of the norm, so don't be afraid of giving this collection a try even if you are a scaredy cat.
A few times I had to remind myself that this is supposed to be a collection for readers younger than myself, specifically when I got a bit annoyed at having things so explicitly explained to me that were already obvious. I accept that things can be more explicitly stated in YA/teen books. There were a couple of stories that stood out to me, The House of Needs and Wants by Kalynn Bayron and The Color of Sky on Earth by Rob Costello. They were just the right amount of "obvious" in what they were trying to say to me as a reader, but at the same time were very original and trusted that I would understand their message without them having to spell it out.
Other honorable mentions:
How to Summon Me, by Val Howlett
A Serpent and a Wish, by Shae Carys
Bonne Nuit, by Claire Kann
The Girl with 13 Shadows, by Merc Fenn Woolfmoor
I didn't like all of the stories, but since I loved a few of them I would definitely recommend this collection!
February 12, 2025
“If you bring me to your side of the glass, don’t be afraid. Great things can happen when you’re not. Fear ruins everything.”
una raccolta di racconti davvero interessante e piacevole da leggere!! ho molto apprezzato il fatto che ogni storia, scritte da 15 diversi autori, racconti la realtà e l’esperienza queer in modo unico e differente e la componente mostruosa e folkloristica non ha fatto altro che migliorare la lettura🩷
una raccolta di racconti davvero interessante e piacevole da leggere!! ho molto apprezzato il fatto che ogni storia, scritte da 15 diversi autori, racconti la realtà e l’esperienza queer in modo unico e differente e la componente mostruosa e folkloristica non ha fatto altro che migliorare la lettura🩷
March 27, 2024
Wow. I don't even know where to start with this book because every story punched me right in the guts, in the best possible way. I love monsters, I love that there is something terrifying beautiful about how they move through the world, how the way others see them bleeds into how they see themselves and how there's often that moment where they realize they are perfect the way they are or where they embrace who they are. It's not hard to see how it lines up with how we often feel about ourselves as part of the queer community. This collection of short stories covers so much ground so quickly that I had to stop several times to just process what I was reading and what I was feeling.
We mostly come out at night is a haunting book that digs right in and makes a home inside you. I can't wait for everyone to have the chance to discover this one.
We mostly come out at night is a haunting book that digs right in and makes a home inside you. I can't wait for everyone to have the chance to discover this one.
January 7, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
I loved this sooo much. Anytime I can read a queer horror anthology I will jump on it 100%. This was definitely one of my favorites. While the stories were all amazing, I’ll highlight my top 5.
How To Summon Me- Val Howlett
Be Not Afraid- Michael Thomas Ford
Boys Who Run With the Boars- Sam J Miller
The House of Needs and Wants- Kaylnn Bayron
The Girl With Thirteen Shadows- Merc Finn Wolfmoor
I will never pass up any books like this, and you shouldn’t either. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves monsters and metaphors and things that go bump in the night.
I loved this sooo much. Anytime I can read a queer horror anthology I will jump on it 100%. This was definitely one of my favorites. While the stories were all amazing, I’ll highlight my top 5.
How To Summon Me- Val Howlett
Be Not Afraid- Michael Thomas Ford
Boys Who Run With the Boars- Sam J Miller
The House of Needs and Wants- Kaylnn Bayron
The Girl With Thirteen Shadows- Merc Finn Wolfmoor
I will never pass up any books like this, and you shouldn’t either. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves monsters and metaphors and things that go bump in the night.
October 28, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Between this and 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐵𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝐺𝑖𝑟𝑙 𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑂𝑛𝑒, the latter had more stories going for genuine scares and was fine, but the horror collection Rob Costello has put together is only scary if you’re afraid of people who aren’t exactly like you. And if that’s the case, you probably aren’t reading this book. I rate it higher for the quality of stories and contributing authors, but there is nothing genuinely scary here when it comes to the aforementioned monsters.
Horror has always been a metaphor for something, a reflection of our times. The real scary stuff is in the prejudice, hate, xenophobia, homophobia, and all the other issues LGBTQA+ individuals go through. From verbal tormenting to actual physical abuse, queer people face different horrors of varying degrees every day. These stories reflect that: kids who can transform into monsters, but society says they need to be fixed, having to choose between being yourself and fitting in so as not to stand out. Kids being forced to become something they don’t want to be, just to survive. The real fear is simply in being something that doesn’t ‘fit’ with the arbitrary rules of society.
At the start, I was worried I was in for more stories I didn’t enjoy than bangers, but then the stories picked up and I was all in. I think my favorites are about a child in foster care moving into a sentient home, a girl with 13 shadows, and an amazing retelling of the story of Noah, as in the Bible Noah.
Adult me enjoyed this, but I think kid me, aged 12-14, would’ve been absolutely stoked to find this on a bookshelf. The messages in this book are wonderfully powerful, especially for someone who needs to hear them.
Between this and 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐵𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝐺𝑖𝑟𝑙 𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑂𝑛𝑒, the latter had more stories going for genuine scares and was fine, but the horror collection Rob Costello has put together is only scary if you’re afraid of people who aren’t exactly like you. And if that’s the case, you probably aren’t reading this book. I rate it higher for the quality of stories and contributing authors, but there is nothing genuinely scary here when it comes to the aforementioned monsters.
Horror has always been a metaphor for something, a reflection of our times. The real scary stuff is in the prejudice, hate, xenophobia, homophobia, and all the other issues LGBTQA+ individuals go through. From verbal tormenting to actual physical abuse, queer people face different horrors of varying degrees every day. These stories reflect that: kids who can transform into monsters, but society says they need to be fixed, having to choose between being yourself and fitting in so as not to stand out. Kids being forced to become something they don’t want to be, just to survive. The real fear is simply in being something that doesn’t ‘fit’ with the arbitrary rules of society.
At the start, I was worried I was in for more stories I didn’t enjoy than bangers, but then the stories picked up and I was all in. I think my favorites are about a child in foster care moving into a sentient home, a girl with 13 shadows, and an amazing retelling of the story of Noah, as in the Bible Noah.
Adult me enjoyed this, but I think kid me, aged 12-14, would’ve been absolutely stoked to find this on a bookshelf. The messages in this book are wonderfully powerful, especially for someone who needs to hear them.
July 9, 2024
Really enjoyed it over all!!! Love the concept of queer monsters and the diverse selections of authors from various different genres :)
More detailed ratings of every short story:
Bastian and The Beast - Jonathan Lenore Kastin: 4.75 ⭐
Other Fish - Alexandra Villasante: 4 ⭐
How to Summon Me - Val Howlett: 4.5⭐
Be Not Afraid - Michael Thomas Ford: 5 ⭐
The Freedom of Feathers and Fur - David Bowles: 5 ⭐
The Fatal Song of Attraction - Brittany Johnson: 3.5 ⭐
The Color of the Sky on Earth - Rob Costello: 5 ⭐ (My personal favourite)
Boys Who Run With the Boars - Sam J. Miller: 3 ⭐
The House of Needs and Wants - Kalynn Bayron: 3.75 ⭐
Serpent and a Wish - Shae Carys: 4 ⭐
The Girl with Thirteen Shadows - Merc Fenn Wolfmoor: 4.25 ⭐
Bonne Nuit - Claire Kann: 3 ⭐
Sons of God and Daughters of Humans - H.E. Edgmon: 4.75⭐
World-Weariness - Naomi Kanakia: 4.5 ⭐
How We Founded Club Feathers at the Discard Depot: 3.75 ⭐
More detailed ratings of every short story:
Bastian and The Beast - Jonathan Lenore Kastin: 4.75 ⭐
Other Fish - Alexandra Villasante: 4 ⭐
How to Summon Me - Val Howlett: 4.5⭐
Be Not Afraid - Michael Thomas Ford: 5 ⭐
The Freedom of Feathers and Fur - David Bowles: 5 ⭐
The Fatal Song of Attraction - Brittany Johnson: 3.5 ⭐
The Color of the Sky on Earth - Rob Costello: 5 ⭐ (My personal favourite)
Boys Who Run With the Boars - Sam J. Miller: 3 ⭐
The House of Needs and Wants - Kalynn Bayron: 3.75 ⭐
Serpent and a Wish - Shae Carys: 4 ⭐
The Girl with Thirteen Shadows - Merc Fenn Wolfmoor: 4.25 ⭐
Bonne Nuit - Claire Kann: 3 ⭐
Sons of God and Daughters of Humans - H.E. Edgmon: 4.75⭐
World-Weariness - Naomi Kanakia: 4.5 ⭐
How We Founded Club Feathers at the Discard Depot: 3.75 ⭐
September 30, 2024
for my first anthology i found this a bit….. disappointing? there were some hits, but most of the time i felt there were lots of misses. this was very middle of the road for me.
standouts for me are:
- other fish
- how to summon me
- the house of needs and wants
- the girl with thirteen shadows
- sons of god and daughters of humans
other than that, i was a bit meh on the stories. some stuck out to me for good reasons, and there was only one story i didn’t like (and that was simply because it wasn’t my style! sorry world weariness 😔).
i defo found some new authors to try out with this anthology, but overall i found it average.
i will say tho the illustrations before each chapter? ugh they were so cute i love when books do that.
standouts for me are:
- other fish
- how to summon me
- the house of needs and wants
- the girl with thirteen shadows
- sons of god and daughters of humans
other than that, i was a bit meh on the stories. some stuck out to me for good reasons, and there was only one story i didn’t like (and that was simply because it wasn’t my style! sorry world weariness 😔).
i defo found some new authors to try out with this anthology, but overall i found it average.
i will say tho the illustrations before each chapter? ugh they were so cute i love when books do that.
January 8, 2025
Like every anthology of short stories, some were a muss for me, THAT SAID, there were only three stories in here that I wasn't super fond of. The majority of these were rather unique, and I enjoyed the odd settings and creatures within the pages.
Big shout out to Brittany Johnson and The Fatal Song of Attraction. This was amazing, I loved every second of it and how they managed to run a parallel between monster abilities and sexual orientation. It was brilliant and I've recommended it to a few people already.
Great work all, keep writing!
Big shout out to Brittany Johnson and The Fatal Song of Attraction. This was amazing, I loved every second of it and how they managed to run a parallel between monster abilities and sexual orientation. It was brilliant and I've recommended it to a few people already.
Great work all, keep writing!
October 7, 2025
Such a wonderful anthology of YA queer monster stories. Two that really struck me: “How to Summon Me” by Val Howlett is such a wonderful evolution of the Bloody Mary myth and it writhes into a world of cosmic horror. I love how “Be Not Afraid” by Michael Thomas Ford combines Christmas lights and traditions with Mothman, and has everyone’s favorite cryptid as the background hero lurking in the shadows like a cooler Batman.
November 9, 2024
Really strong collection of stories across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. I truly enjoyed them all which is unusual for me when reading an anthology. The drawings at the beginning of each chapter were striking.
March 9, 2025
Really strong collection of YA monster stories!
March 17, 2025
this was fun!! some of the stories were a little corny but i liked that about them. best story was totally the mothman one.
August 27, 2024
SWEET!! i liked the boar one best
November 10, 2025
Bastian and the Beast ★☆☆☆☆
Why did you want me? And what will you do now that you have me?
Kaunotar ja hirivö uudelleenkerronta. En saanut tästä valitettavasti oikein mitään irti. Horror left the chat. Hirviön kehityskaari on olematon ja Bastian hahmona mitäänsanomaton. Miksi he rakastuivat? Miksi kirous raukesi? Mikä sai Hirviön muuttumaan hyväksi? Jos aukkoja ei täytä alkuperäisen sadun yksityiskohdilla, käteen jää enemmän kysymyksiä kuin vastauksia. Hukattua potentiaalia, koska ajatuksella toisen rakastamisesta sisimmän vuoksi ulkokuoresta välittämättä on mahdollisuuksia monenlaisille queer tulkinnoille.
Other Fish ★★☆☆☆
"I hear that in an honest heart, there just aren't shadows." She shudders dramatically. "What's scarier than not having someplace dark to hide?"
Tämä sentään sisälsi jonkinlaisia kauhuelementtejä. Tarina tytöstä joka tekee sopimuksen merinoidan kanssa, jossa Pieni merenneito tapaa Uruguayn kansantarinan. Kirjoitustyyli oli tosi kliseistä. Päähahmo - Ines - oli omalla tavallaan ihan pidettävä, mutta Isa jää kaukaiseksi ja merinoita kanavoi enemmän Divinea kuin Tia Dalmaa.
How To Summon Me ★★★★☆
If you bring me to your side of the glass, don't be afraid. Great things can happen when you're not. Fear ruins everything.
Hiljaisella tavalla hyytävä. Tarina etenee ohje ohjeelta, mutta on paljon enemmän kun yksinkertainen hirviön kutsunta ohjekirja. Rakastin sitä, miten olento tuntuu puhuvan suoraa lukijalle - viimeinen vaihe If You Want Me To Stay nostatti kylmät väreet käsivarsille.
Be Not Afraid ★★★★☆
Sometimes sad is better than happy because sad reminds us that happy doesn't last forever, and that we need to enjoy it while we can.
Southern horror on heikkouteni. Henkilökohtainen Akhileen kantapää, if you will. Tässä tarinassa hirviönä toimii Mothman, jota tähän päivään asti luulin meemiksi mutta onkin oikea Appalakkilainen urbaani legenda! Tykkäsin tarinan tunnelmasta ja päähahmon ainutlaatuisesta äänestä. Lopetus jätti kuitenkin kaipaamaan enemmän.
The Freedom Of Feathers And Fur ★★★☆☆
We stand alone amid the bloody, ruined corpses of our conquerors.
Kolonialismin aikaan Etelä-Amerikkaan sijoittuva tarina, jossa keskiöön pääsee muodonmuuttajat. Kirjailija haukkaa liian ison palan purtavaksi, ja kolonialismin kompleksi vaikutus alueen alkuperäiskansoihin ei saa tarvitsemaansa tilaa. Teoksen tapa käyttää hirviötä metaforana erilaisuudelle onnistui kuitenkin hyvin. Tarina pursuaa potentiaalia varsinkin päähahmo Lupen ja tämän veljen monimutkaisen suhteen puolesta, mutta sekään ei valitettavasti ehtinyt kehittyä kunnolla. Romanssi oli tarpeeton lisä, eikä instant love ikinä ole eduksi.
The Fatal Song Of Attraction ★★☆☆☆
We're dazzling nightmares, with songs sweeter than summer air, who lure even the brightest of people to their watery graves.
Seireenit pääsevät parrasvaloon, mikä yleensä olisi hyvä asia - I love sirens - mutta tässä tarinassa? No jaa. Seuraamme nuorta seireeniä, Maliaa, joka ei pääse seireeneille luonnolliseen metsästystilaan. Aroace kielikuva on yhtä hienovarainen kuin tiiliskivi heitettynä naamaan. Sanon tämän kerran jos toisenkin: murha ei ole koskaan eettistä. Kyllä, varsinkin kauhussa voit hyvin murhata ihmisiä raa'asti. Jos kyseessä on vielä inhottava lajinsa edustaja, olen 100% mukana. Kuitenkin kun tekoa aletaan esittämään 'oikeutettuna' tai eettisenä valintana, meille tulee ongelmia. Fiktiiviset hahmot saavat olla epäeettisiä! Annan luvan! Se, että ihminen heittää muovipillin mereen ei oikeuta kyseisen ihmisen paloittelua! Olen puhunut.
The Color Of Sky On Earth ★★★★☆
Maybe I like not knowing yet what kind of monster I secretly am.
Paras sana kuvaamaan tätä tarinaa on camp. Kirjailija antaa tarinansa olla höpsö ottamatta itseään liian tosissaan. Teoksessa siis seurataan nuoren pojan bussimatkaa, jonka aikana hän tapaa kiintoisia ihmisiä - jos heitä voi siis edes ihmisiksi kutsua. Naurahdin ääneen pariin otteeseen, ja se on minulta paljon sanottu. Päähahmomme on ehkä hieman tuomitseva, mutta totuuden nimissä, niin osaan minäkin olla huonona päivänä. Tämä tarina ei todellakaan ole kaikille, mikä on okei. Mulla oli hauskaa.
Boys Who Run With The Boars ★★⯪☆☆
Lock eyes with a pig, and you'll know in your heart how close they are to us.
Post-apokalyptinen tarina maailmasta, joka on villisikojen valtaama. Tämä oli vain yhdeksän sivua pitkä, mikä on siis huomattavasti lyhyempi kuin kokoelman muut lyhyttarinat. Ideana rakastin tätä, mutta toteutus ontui. Toista perässäni: KAIKKI TARINAT EIVÄT TARVITSE ROMANSSIA. Varsinkaan yhdeksän sivua pitkät jotka yrittävät samalla kommentoida ihmisluontoa. Kirjailijan jälkisana (jotka on antologiassa teeman mukaisesti löytyy joka tarinan lopusta monster reflection otsikon alta) puhutteli enemmän kuin itse tarina.
The House Of Needs And Wants ★★★★☆
I draw the front door the way I saw it, like a giant gaping mouth ready to swallow me whole and spit my bones out after.
Tarina ottaa klassisen haunted house narratiivin ja antaa sille uuden, freesin twistin. Seuraamme Hallea, joka siirtyy uuteen sijaiskotiin jossa tapahtuu kummia. Kuvailisin teosta enemmän cozy horrorina, mutta kauhuelementit ovat silti ainakin alussa läsnä. Hahmot ovat aivan mahtavia! Näin lyhyessä tarinassa tuntui, että pääsin hienosti käsiksi Halleen, Veehen, Rubyyn ja pikkuisen myös Tayeen. Kalynn Bayron myös kuuli rukoukseni, eikä tarina sisällä romanssia! Suloinen ja lohduttava.
A Serpent And A Wish ★⯪☆☆☆
"Man is his own devil and his own god. He became such when he stopped believing in anything but himself."
Hyvin kaukaa haettu Medusa uudelleenkerronta. Epämääräiseen historialliseen pikkukylään sijoittuva tarina tytöstä, joka pelastaa käärmeen ja saa ystävällisestä teostaan palkinnoksi yhden toiveen. Tästä en saanut oikein mitään irti. Teema oli yksinäisyys, ja taas kerran hienovaraisuus puuttuu täysin. Aihe on muutenkin hyvin pinnallisesti käsitelty, mikä on todella valitettavaa, koska yksinäisyys on monelle tuttu ja usein kompleksi asia. Juoni on omituinen, lopetus tuli puskista ja hahmoissa oli yhtä paljon potkua kuin paahtoleivässä.
The Girl With Thirteen Shadows ★★★☆☆
You don't ask how much it will cost. Anything is worth it to be normal.
The girl with thirteen shadows kertoo yhdeksäntoistavuotiaasta tytöstä, Melistä, jolla on viisi varjoa. Mel hakeutuu kyseenalaistettavan spesialistin hoitoon, joka lupaa tehdä tytöstä normaalin. Jälkisanoissa inspiraatioksi mainitaan Frankenstein, mikä antoi mielenkiintoisen kulman tarinalle vielä lukemisen jälkeen. Varsinainen kauhu puuttui kokonaan, mutta tietynlainen jännite kuitenkin löytyy. Valitettavasti dialogi on hirmuisen kiusallista. Hirviöytensä lisäksi Mel kamppailee aseksuaalisuutensa hyväksymisen kanssa. Aihetta ei mielestäni käsitellä kovin hyvin, vaan mieleen tulee ennemminkin sanakirja. Muutenkin, on vaikea hyväksyä että tarinan erittäin queer-normatiivisessa maailmassa aseksuaalisuus olisi kovinkaan iso tabu (esim. Melin isä, joka on homo transmies, ei kunnolla hyväksy tytärtään??). 'Hirviöiden' syrjintä on taas uskottavampaa, joten olisin toivonut sen yhdistyvän tavalla tai toisella aseksuaalisuuden käsittelyyn.
Bonne Nut ★★⯪☆☆
"A place need not be special to be worthy of protection."
Kun käytännönpila menee pieleen ja koulun katolla oleva gargoili onkin elossa... Dialogi oli hyvin viihdyttävää, ja naurahdin ääneen muutamaan otteeseen. Päähahmon kaveriporukan monimutkainen dynamiikka on täynnä hukattua potentiaalia. Lähin asia mitä käsittelyyn saadaan oli toteamus, että kaverit olivat huonoja ystäviä. Lopetus oli kanssa erittäin epätyydyttävä. Vähän blah olo jäi tästä käteen.
Sons Of God And Daughters Of Humans ★★★★★
"There is nothing monstrous about you. And your day of judgement is not fucking coming."
Moderni uudelleenkerronta Nooan Arkista. Kyllä, siitä Nooan Arkista. Mennään taas maailmanlopun jälkeisiin maisemiin, ja myrsky on nousemassa. Tämä tarina oli ihan jäätävän hyvä! Tässä oli paljon pureskeltavaa, mutta kuten arvata saattaa pääteemana oli uskonnolliset traumat. Päähahmomme Ana, joka on pudonnut enkeli, joutuu valinnan eteen: mitä tehdä, kun kaikkivaltias Isä on päättänyt tuhota ihmiskunnan, mutta Ana ei voi kuvitella elämäänsä ilman Noahia? Anan ja Noahin suhde on ihan järkyttävän suloinen, eikä onneksi pelkää näyttää sen ristiriitojakaan. Tarinan emotionaalinen kaari oli kaunis, ja lopetus kruunasi kaiken! Tämän kokoelman lemppari tarinani.
World-Weariness ★☆☆☆���
And I thought, the forest isn't all singing and lounging and sunshine. There is another part of it, an ugly part, that never stops eating and killing.
Jaa-a. Mitä tästä edes voi sanoa? Joku hyperouto maaginen realismi tarina, jossa ei oikein ollut päätä eikä häntää. Ei harmainta aavistusta mitä tällä yritettiin sanoa - että pasifismi on väärin, ehkä? Että vihaisten ihmisten murhaaminen on oikein? Että vaikka me kuinka halutaan olla haltijoita, kaikissa meissä asuu peikko? Jaahas. Jälkisana antoi paljon kaivattua kontekstia, mutta en silti ollut kovinkaan vaikuttunut.
How We Founded Club Feathers At The Discard Depot ★⯪☆☆☆
"But we musn't fret, mes petits choux. There will always be those who prefer to slumber in lullabies than awaken to their strangeness. I'm not here for them."
Jossa 'hirviö' pelastaa queer nuoret pelottavan heteroista tanssiaisista. Tästä en oikeastaan keksi muuta sanottavaa, kun että naurettava juoni ja mauttomat hahmot. To be fair, mä aina sanon, että parhaat ohjelmat loppuu tanssibileisiin. En syö sanojani nyt.
Kokoelman Keskiarvo = 2,73 ☆
Why did you want me? And what will you do now that you have me?
Kaunotar ja hirivö uudelleenkerronta. En saanut tästä valitettavasti oikein mitään irti. Horror left the chat. Hirviön kehityskaari on olematon ja Bastian hahmona mitäänsanomaton. Miksi he rakastuivat? Miksi kirous raukesi? Mikä sai Hirviön muuttumaan hyväksi? Jos aukkoja ei täytä alkuperäisen sadun yksityiskohdilla, käteen jää enemmän kysymyksiä kuin vastauksia. Hukattua potentiaalia, koska ajatuksella toisen rakastamisesta sisimmän vuoksi ulkokuoresta välittämättä on mahdollisuuksia monenlaisille queer tulkinnoille.
Other Fish ★★☆☆☆
"I hear that in an honest heart, there just aren't shadows." She shudders dramatically. "What's scarier than not having someplace dark to hide?"
Tämä sentään sisälsi jonkinlaisia kauhuelementtejä. Tarina tytöstä joka tekee sopimuksen merinoidan kanssa, jossa Pieni merenneito tapaa Uruguayn kansantarinan. Kirjoitustyyli oli tosi kliseistä. Päähahmo - Ines - oli omalla tavallaan ihan pidettävä, mutta Isa jää kaukaiseksi ja merinoita kanavoi enemmän Divinea kuin Tia Dalmaa.
How To Summon Me ★★★★☆
If you bring me to your side of the glass, don't be afraid. Great things can happen when you're not. Fear ruins everything.
Hiljaisella tavalla hyytävä. Tarina etenee ohje ohjeelta, mutta on paljon enemmän kun yksinkertainen hirviön kutsunta ohjekirja. Rakastin sitä, miten olento tuntuu puhuvan suoraa lukijalle - viimeinen vaihe If You Want Me To Stay nostatti kylmät väreet käsivarsille.
Be Not Afraid ★★★★☆
Sometimes sad is better than happy because sad reminds us that happy doesn't last forever, and that we need to enjoy it while we can.
Southern horror on heikkouteni. Henkilökohtainen Akhileen kantapää, if you will. Tässä tarinassa hirviönä toimii Mothman, jota tähän päivään asti luulin meemiksi mutta onkin oikea Appalakkilainen urbaani legenda! Tykkäsin tarinan tunnelmasta ja päähahmon ainutlaatuisesta äänestä. Lopetus jätti kuitenkin kaipaamaan enemmän.
The Freedom Of Feathers And Fur ★★★☆☆
We stand alone amid the bloody, ruined corpses of our conquerors.
Kolonialismin aikaan Etelä-Amerikkaan sijoittuva tarina, jossa keskiöön pääsee muodonmuuttajat. Kirjailija haukkaa liian ison palan purtavaksi, ja kolonialismin kompleksi vaikutus alueen alkuperäiskansoihin ei saa tarvitsemaansa tilaa. Teoksen tapa käyttää hirviötä metaforana erilaisuudelle onnistui kuitenkin hyvin. Tarina pursuaa potentiaalia varsinkin päähahmo Lupen ja tämän veljen monimutkaisen suhteen puolesta, mutta sekään ei valitettavasti ehtinyt kehittyä kunnolla. Romanssi oli tarpeeton lisä, eikä instant love ikinä ole eduksi.
The Fatal Song Of Attraction ★★☆☆☆
We're dazzling nightmares, with songs sweeter than summer air, who lure even the brightest of people to their watery graves.
Seireenit pääsevät parrasvaloon, mikä yleensä olisi hyvä asia - I love sirens - mutta tässä tarinassa? No jaa. Seuraamme nuorta seireeniä, Maliaa, joka ei pääse seireeneille luonnolliseen metsästystilaan. Aroace kielikuva on yhtä hienovarainen kuin tiiliskivi heitettynä naamaan. Sanon tämän kerran jos toisenkin: murha ei ole koskaan eettistä. Kyllä, varsinkin kauhussa voit hyvin murhata ihmisiä raa'asti. Jos kyseessä on vielä inhottava lajinsa edustaja, olen 100% mukana. Kuitenkin kun tekoa aletaan esittämään 'oikeutettuna' tai eettisenä valintana, meille tulee ongelmia. Fiktiiviset hahmot saavat olla epäeettisiä! Annan luvan! Se, että ihminen heittää muovipillin mereen ei oikeuta kyseisen ihmisen paloittelua! Olen puhunut.
The Color Of Sky On Earth ★★★★☆
Maybe I like not knowing yet what kind of monster I secretly am.
Paras sana kuvaamaan tätä tarinaa on camp. Kirjailija antaa tarinansa olla höpsö ottamatta itseään liian tosissaan. Teoksessa siis seurataan nuoren pojan bussimatkaa, jonka aikana hän tapaa kiintoisia ihmisiä - jos heitä voi siis edes ihmisiksi kutsua. Naurahdin ääneen pariin otteeseen, ja se on minulta paljon sanottu. Päähahmomme on ehkä hieman tuomitseva, mutta totuuden nimissä, niin osaan minäkin olla huonona päivänä. Tämä tarina ei todellakaan ole kaikille, mikä on okei. Mulla oli hauskaa.
Boys Who Run With The Boars ★★⯪☆☆
Lock eyes with a pig, and you'll know in your heart how close they are to us.
Post-apokalyptinen tarina maailmasta, joka on villisikojen valtaama. Tämä oli vain yhdeksän sivua pitkä, mikä on siis huomattavasti lyhyempi kuin kokoelman muut lyhyttarinat. Ideana rakastin tätä, mutta toteutus ontui. Toista perässäni: KAIKKI TARINAT EIVÄT TARVITSE ROMANSSIA. Varsinkaan yhdeksän sivua pitkät jotka yrittävät samalla kommentoida ihmisluontoa. Kirjailijan jälkisana (jotka on antologiassa teeman mukaisesti löytyy joka tarinan lopusta monster reflection otsikon alta) puhutteli enemmän kuin itse tarina.
The House Of Needs And Wants ★★★★☆
I draw the front door the way I saw it, like a giant gaping mouth ready to swallow me whole and spit my bones out after.
Tarina ottaa klassisen haunted house narratiivin ja antaa sille uuden, freesin twistin. Seuraamme Hallea, joka siirtyy uuteen sijaiskotiin jossa tapahtuu kummia. Kuvailisin teosta enemmän cozy horrorina, mutta kauhuelementit ovat silti ainakin alussa läsnä. Hahmot ovat aivan mahtavia! Näin lyhyessä tarinassa tuntui, että pääsin hienosti käsiksi Halleen, Veehen, Rubyyn ja pikkuisen myös Tayeen. Kalynn Bayron myös kuuli rukoukseni, eikä tarina sisällä romanssia! Suloinen ja lohduttava.
A Serpent And A Wish ★⯪☆☆☆
"Man is his own devil and his own god. He became such when he stopped believing in anything but himself."
Hyvin kaukaa haettu Medusa uudelleenkerronta. Epämääräiseen historialliseen pikkukylään sijoittuva tarina tytöstä, joka pelastaa käärmeen ja saa ystävällisestä teostaan palkinnoksi yhden toiveen. Tästä en saanut oikein mitään irti. Teema oli yksinäisyys, ja taas kerran hienovaraisuus puuttuu täysin. Aihe on muutenkin hyvin pinnallisesti käsitelty, mikä on todella valitettavaa, koska yksinäisyys on monelle tuttu ja usein kompleksi asia. Juoni on omituinen, lopetus tuli puskista ja hahmoissa oli yhtä paljon potkua kuin paahtoleivässä.
The Girl With Thirteen Shadows ★★★☆☆
You don't ask how much it will cost. Anything is worth it to be normal.
The girl with thirteen shadows kertoo yhdeksäntoistavuotiaasta tytöstä, Melistä, jolla on viisi varjoa. Mel hakeutuu kyseenalaistettavan spesialistin hoitoon, joka lupaa tehdä tytöstä normaalin. Jälkisanoissa inspiraatioksi mainitaan Frankenstein, mikä antoi mielenkiintoisen kulman tarinalle vielä lukemisen jälkeen. Varsinainen kauhu puuttui kokonaan, mutta tietynlainen jännite kuitenkin löytyy. Valitettavasti dialogi on hirmuisen kiusallista. Hirviöytensä lisäksi Mel kamppailee aseksuaalisuutensa hyväksymisen kanssa. Aihetta ei mielestäni käsitellä kovin hyvin, vaan mieleen tulee ennemminkin sanakirja. Muutenkin, on vaikea hyväksyä että tarinan erittäin queer-normatiivisessa maailmassa aseksuaalisuus olisi kovinkaan iso tabu (esim. Melin isä, joka on homo transmies, ei kunnolla hyväksy tytärtään??). 'Hirviöiden' syrjintä on taas uskottavampaa, joten olisin toivonut sen yhdistyvän tavalla tai toisella aseksuaalisuuden käsittelyyn.
Bonne Nut ★★⯪☆☆
"A place need not be special to be worthy of protection."
Kun käytännönpila menee pieleen ja koulun katolla oleva gargoili onkin elossa... Dialogi oli hyvin viihdyttävää, ja naurahdin ääneen muutamaan otteeseen. Päähahmon kaveriporukan monimutkainen dynamiikka on täynnä hukattua potentiaalia. Lähin asia mitä käsittelyyn saadaan oli toteamus, että kaverit olivat huonoja ystäviä. Lopetus oli kanssa erittäin epätyydyttävä. Vähän blah olo jäi tästä käteen.
Sons Of God And Daughters Of Humans ★★★★★
"There is nothing monstrous about you. And your day of judgement is not fucking coming."
Moderni uudelleenkerronta Nooan Arkista. Kyllä, siitä Nooan Arkista. Mennään taas maailmanlopun jälkeisiin maisemiin, ja myrsky on nousemassa. Tämä tarina oli ihan jäätävän hyvä! Tässä oli paljon pureskeltavaa, mutta kuten arvata saattaa pääteemana oli uskonnolliset traumat. Päähahmomme Ana, joka on pudonnut enkeli, joutuu valinnan eteen: mitä tehdä, kun kaikkivaltias Isä on päättänyt tuhota ihmiskunnan, mutta Ana ei voi kuvitella elämäänsä ilman Noahia? Anan ja Noahin suhde on ihan järkyttävän suloinen, eikä onneksi pelkää näyttää sen ristiriitojakaan. Tarinan emotionaalinen kaari oli kaunis, ja lopetus kruunasi kaiken! Tämän kokoelman lemppari tarinani.
World-Weariness ★☆☆☆���
And I thought, the forest isn't all singing and lounging and sunshine. There is another part of it, an ugly part, that never stops eating and killing.
Jaa-a. Mitä tästä edes voi sanoa? Joku hyperouto maaginen realismi tarina, jossa ei oikein ollut päätä eikä häntää. Ei harmainta aavistusta mitä tällä yritettiin sanoa - että pasifismi on väärin, ehkä? Että vihaisten ihmisten murhaaminen on oikein? Että vaikka me kuinka halutaan olla haltijoita, kaikissa meissä asuu peikko? Jaahas. Jälkisana antoi paljon kaivattua kontekstia, mutta en silti ollut kovinkaan vaikuttunut.
How We Founded Club Feathers At The Discard Depot ★⯪☆☆☆
"But we musn't fret, mes petits choux. There will always be those who prefer to slumber in lullabies than awaken to their strangeness. I'm not here for them."
Jossa 'hirviö' pelastaa queer nuoret pelottavan heteroista tanssiaisista. Tästä en oikeastaan keksi muuta sanottavaa, kun että naurettava juoni ja mauttomat hahmot. To be fair, mä aina sanon, että parhaat ohjelmat loppuu tanssibileisiin. En syö sanojani nyt.
Kokoelman Keskiarvo = 2,73 ☆
May 13, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley for my ARC!
I am always a fan of any media that uses monsters and the dark unknown to represent the queer experience and this collection didn't dissapoint! I loved it and every story was so unique in ways I'd never thought of before. I just loved the idea of these queer characters embracing their monster sides, or embracing the dark unknown around them, and that journey being used to represent embracing your own queerness in life. Absolutely wonderful and creative collection.
I am always a fan of any media that uses monsters and the dark unknown to represent the queer experience and this collection didn't dissapoint! I loved it and every story was so unique in ways I'd never thought of before. I just loved the idea of these queer characters embracing their monster sides, or embracing the dark unknown around them, and that journey being used to represent embracing your own queerness in life. Absolutely wonderful and creative collection.
October 29, 2024
I loved this book. I am obviously a big spooky book fan, so having that combined with LGBTQ stories was really amazing. Finally seeing myself in the pages of what I was reading was an indescribable feeling. Although some of the authors of these short stories are not as experienced as others, I feel like this actually adds to the experience of the book. The people writing these tales are young queer people entering into a world where they previously had not been welcome, much like myself. My favorites of these stories were How To Summon Me, Be Not Afraid, (as a West Virginia resident, I have to be a fan of a mothman story) The House of Needs and Wants and The Freedom of Feathers and Fur.
June 3, 2024
thank you to Running Press Kids for providing me with an eARC!
I’ve been really interested in the concept of this anthology and the inclusion of two of my favourite queer authors (Kalynn Bayron and H.E. Edgmon) since I heard about this book. While I would say that most of the stories included were pretty good, and I appreciated the personal connection to whatever monster or creature was being interpreted, very few really stood out to me and so the book as a whole ended up being a little disappointing. The theme was really strong throughout, but the stories just didn’t get my attention as much as I wanted them to. I did enjoy the different elements of queerness throughout, and especially the stories like The Girl with the Thirteen Shadows that really explored queerness through their monster of choice. As a whole, it’s a decent anthology, but not necessarily one that I see myself coming back to unless I was wanting to reread a specific story. If you’re looking for queer monster tales, I think this is a pretty good choice that isn’t particularly scary or gruesome and without a lot of voiced homophobia/transphobia. There’s also several different interpretations of monsters and queerness that were interesting, and worth looking at if this sounds like something you would enjoy.
I’ve been really interested in the concept of this anthology and the inclusion of two of my favourite queer authors (Kalynn Bayron and H.E. Edgmon) since I heard about this book. While I would say that most of the stories included were pretty good, and I appreciated the personal connection to whatever monster or creature was being interpreted, very few really stood out to me and so the book as a whole ended up being a little disappointing. The theme was really strong throughout, but the stories just didn’t get my attention as much as I wanted them to. I did enjoy the different elements of queerness throughout, and especially the stories like The Girl with the Thirteen Shadows that really explored queerness through their monster of choice. As a whole, it’s a decent anthology, but not necessarily one that I see myself coming back to unless I was wanting to reread a specific story. If you’re looking for queer monster tales, I think this is a pretty good choice that isn’t particularly scary or gruesome and without a lot of voiced homophobia/transphobia. There’s also several different interpretations of monsters and queerness that were interesting, and worth looking at if this sounds like something you would enjoy.
June 2, 2024
Some of these were so cute! I think we all should be gay and fall in love with monsters tbh🥹
May 21, 2024
“Bastian and the Beast” by Jonathan Lenore Kastin
Bastian’s father didn’t want them to go. But it was too late and the carriage was here to take them to the Beast. As he rode away and looked back they saw their brothers playing in the mound of gold. The brothers didn’t treat them very kindly. Most of all they got away from the memory of their mother always trying to make them wear dresses.
When he arrives at the Beasts home, it’s very quiet and no one to greet them. Everyone believed the Beast was mean. But Bastian was amazed with the banquet that was laid out before them. They eventually meet the Beast. The Beast wasn’t mean to Bastian at all. Bastain’s room was like their own, before the fire and everything that he had was at the Beast’s home.
Bastain got home sick and wanted to leave and the Beast did not stop them. But returning home was not the same and their brothers and others still were mean and were critical of the Beast. Bastain will have to make a decision, will he stay or return to the Beast?
Jonathan Lenore Kastin creates a wonderful twist to the “Beauty and the Beast.” It really brings out the need for two different people who seek out the need to just be wanted and loved.
“Be Not Afraid” by Michael Thomas Ford
Willet now fifteen and Pike eighteen had come to live with their Mamaw after their parents death. At twelve Willet knew how to take care of himself. Mamaw was up in age and smoked too much, but she didn’t worry about none of that.
As it’s getting close to Christmas it’s time to decorate and they need to remove any yellow bulbs from the string of lights. Willet had made one mistake in his young age he said the name “Mothman.” Mamaw believed the Mothman was bad luck. At the age of five in 1967 The bridge collapse a few days before Christmas and took a many lives, her cousin being one of them. They had to beware of seeing the Mothman.
For Willet life took changes, Pike went to jail for selling drugs. Most of all,
Willet had a good friend in Burlie and he really missed him. Burlie had left home and Willet hasn’t heard from him. He had a dream of Burlie at the old cabin and decided to see if Burlie had been hiding out there all this time. When Willet goes to the old cabin eerie things start to happen.
Michael Thomas Ford adds to the legends of the “Mothman” with “Be Not Afraid.” I really liked Willet’s character and the bravery he brings to the tale. The world building really sets the tone for the story and all of the quirks and superstitions.
“The Color of Sky on Earth” by Rob Costello
He calls himself the resident expert on everything queer and he has all the answers. It was because of Hoon who he really likes. Hoon has all sorts of questions and he has to have reasons for everything. Hoon’s father always gave him little lessons to help figure out the rules of everything on Proteus.
He and Hoon are working on a graphic novel and Hoon leaves it up to him to draw what Hoon has described for him. On his travels on the bus to Union Station, he meets an old man who shares his drawings with him.
He notices one thing that random people always seem interested in him and he doesn’t know why. He is not that attractive so he doesn’t understand the attention. He also really likes Hoon and thinks Hoon likes him. But the bus ride turns out to be upsetting, until he finally meets Gadriel.
Rob Costello creates an intriguing story about a seventeen year old, with hopes and dreams of his own in “The Color of Sky on Earth.” This is a uniquely written story where the narrator doesn’t exactly have a name. For me, I thought of it as a story of growing up and the feelings that come with love, jealousy and whatever happens in life.
Rob Costello compiles an anthology of stories for the YA set with the genius of fifteen talented authors. It’s not exactly about terrifying monsters. The monsters range in stories from: angels, aliens, gargoyles and even legends. Those characters that take part in the stories are all a part of the LGBTQ+ genre. All the stories send a special message with the hope, that those who read them will figure out who they are, how they fit in the world, help in understanding and to inspire them throughout their lives.
I selected a few of the stories to mention that I really enjoyed. All of the stories are entertaining, worth reading and there’s something for everyone to read and give thought too. I highly recommend this YA anthology “They Mostly Come Out by Night” by Rob Costello.
Bastian’s father didn’t want them to go. But it was too late and the carriage was here to take them to the Beast. As he rode away and looked back they saw their brothers playing in the mound of gold. The brothers didn’t treat them very kindly. Most of all they got away from the memory of their mother always trying to make them wear dresses.
When he arrives at the Beasts home, it’s very quiet and no one to greet them. Everyone believed the Beast was mean. But Bastian was amazed with the banquet that was laid out before them. They eventually meet the Beast. The Beast wasn’t mean to Bastian at all. Bastain’s room was like their own, before the fire and everything that he had was at the Beast’s home.
Bastain got home sick and wanted to leave and the Beast did not stop them. But returning home was not the same and their brothers and others still were mean and were critical of the Beast. Bastain will have to make a decision, will he stay or return to the Beast?
Jonathan Lenore Kastin creates a wonderful twist to the “Beauty and the Beast.” It really brings out the need for two different people who seek out the need to just be wanted and loved.
“Be Not Afraid” by Michael Thomas Ford
Willet now fifteen and Pike eighteen had come to live with their Mamaw after their parents death. At twelve Willet knew how to take care of himself. Mamaw was up in age and smoked too much, but she didn’t worry about none of that.
As it’s getting close to Christmas it’s time to decorate and they need to remove any yellow bulbs from the string of lights. Willet had made one mistake in his young age he said the name “Mothman.” Mamaw believed the Mothman was bad luck. At the age of five in 1967 The bridge collapse a few days before Christmas and took a many lives, her cousin being one of them. They had to beware of seeing the Mothman.
For Willet life took changes, Pike went to jail for selling drugs. Most of all,
Willet had a good friend in Burlie and he really missed him. Burlie had left home and Willet hasn’t heard from him. He had a dream of Burlie at the old cabin and decided to see if Burlie had been hiding out there all this time. When Willet goes to the old cabin eerie things start to happen.
Michael Thomas Ford adds to the legends of the “Mothman” with “Be Not Afraid.” I really liked Willet’s character and the bravery he brings to the tale. The world building really sets the tone for the story and all of the quirks and superstitions.
“The Color of Sky on Earth” by Rob Costello
He calls himself the resident expert on everything queer and he has all the answers. It was because of Hoon who he really likes. Hoon has all sorts of questions and he has to have reasons for everything. Hoon’s father always gave him little lessons to help figure out the rules of everything on Proteus.
He and Hoon are working on a graphic novel and Hoon leaves it up to him to draw what Hoon has described for him. On his travels on the bus to Union Station, he meets an old man who shares his drawings with him.
He notices one thing that random people always seem interested in him and he doesn’t know why. He is not that attractive so he doesn’t understand the attention. He also really likes Hoon and thinks Hoon likes him. But the bus ride turns out to be upsetting, until he finally meets Gadriel.
Rob Costello creates an intriguing story about a seventeen year old, with hopes and dreams of his own in “The Color of Sky on Earth.” This is a uniquely written story where the narrator doesn’t exactly have a name. For me, I thought of it as a story of growing up and the feelings that come with love, jealousy and whatever happens in life.
Rob Costello compiles an anthology of stories for the YA set with the genius of fifteen talented authors. It’s not exactly about terrifying monsters. The monsters range in stories from: angels, aliens, gargoyles and even legends. Those characters that take part in the stories are all a part of the LGBTQ+ genre. All the stories send a special message with the hope, that those who read them will figure out who they are, how they fit in the world, help in understanding and to inspire them throughout their lives.
I selected a few of the stories to mention that I really enjoyed. All of the stories are entertaining, worth reading and there’s something for everyone to read and give thought too. I highly recommend this YA anthology “They Mostly Come Out by Night” by Rob Costello.
November 20, 2024
3/5
Overall book- 3/5
This was my first collection of short stories and I don’t know if this is normal but it felt so all over the place. Some stories were beautiful stories with rich metaphors (like The House of Needs and Wants) and others were cringey messes (like Bastian and the Beast- a rough start btw). The best stories were the ones that discussed inequalities within the queer community, such as asexual people or non-passing trans people. But overall I think this was an incredibly creative premise and most of the stories hit the mark!
Bastian and the Beast- 2/5
Super Wattpad retelling of beauty and the beast with the only original aspect being that Belle is a trans man. Nothing original and nothing exciting and written super cringe. Also the monster analysis had nothing to do with the story??
Other Fish- 4/5
I may not have thought this through because I’m not a romance girlie and obviously this book about queer stories will involve romantic relationships. Therefore I’ve decided to get over myself and look at romance with an open mind for this. And this story was lovely. I loved the narrative about being a child of immigrants and learning how to navigate that with your queerness and I thought it was a great coming of age story.
How to Summon Me- 3/5
It was just fine. I like the idea that as Bloody Mary interacted with humans she became more human and insecure. Otherwise I don’t think I really understand the point of this one?
Be Not Afraid- 3.5/5
It was cute. I simply do not understand how a story like this with such heavy themes is in the same collection as Bastian and the Beast but at least the stories have gotten better. I love the idea of summoning Mothman to commit murders for you like an anti-hero Santa Claus. It was cute and fun and I always love some good Mothman lore.
The Freedom of Feathers and Fur- 3/5
I had such a hard time getting into it and following the actual plot I think just because it was historical and written in an old English style. Once I got into it though and started to understand it it was cute enough. I liked the little twist with the parents being homophobic and the brother just trying to protect the mc. Overall I probably won’t remember it but I enjoyed it.
The Fatal Song of Attraction- 3.5/5
Love to see the demisexual/asexual representation that’s often neglected in the LGBT community! Also a really fun juxtaposition between murder and love! The writing was a bit too fanfiction for my liking and I didn’t feel very connected to the characters but I really liked the idea of this story so overall I’m pretty pleased.
The Color of Sky on Earth- 3.5/5
This is one of those stories that you know if supposed to be a metaphor but you just can’t bring yourself to figure it out. I can tell that this is supposed to be some representation of gay people as aliens but I don’t completely understand it. Nevertheless I really enjoyed the writing style and had a good time overall.
Boys Who Run with the Boars- 2.5/5
The same concept as the Freedom of Feathers and Fur but with way less content. It was so short I didn’t even feel like anything happened. But as a One Health girlie I absolutely adored the metaphor of comparing queer people to invasive species (sounds horrible I know but you just have to read it).
The House of Needs and Wants- 4.5/5
Such a sweet story and such a touching metaphor to turn a haunted house into a safe home. There really isn’t much to say here. I means there’s not too much plot but that’s kind of the nature of a short story so it was really really touching for the parameters it had to work with.
A Serpent and a Wish- 2.5/5
Honestly just way, way too sappy for me. Plus it ended way too fast it threw off the groove of the story.
The Girl with Thirteen Shadows- 3.5/5
I appreciated the metaphor that, even among the LGBT community, asexual people are considered “abnormal” and “monstrous”. I really like the attitude that this book has toward validating a sexuality. The story itself was good, just not particularly memorable.
Bonne Nuit- 2/5
I have no idea what any of this had to do with the theme of this book. I don’t really know what I was supposed to take away from this.
World Weariness- 4/5
The best stories in this collection are the ones that talk about outsiders within the queer community. I appreciate that this story is more nuanced, discussing the marginalized of the marginalized. I’m not big on fantasy but I appreciated the metaphor nonetheless.
How We Founded Club Feathers at the Discard Depot- 2.5/5
Pink Pony Club but a corny high school movie. It was fine but a bit boring.
Overall book- 3/5
This was my first collection of short stories and I don’t know if this is normal but it felt so all over the place. Some stories were beautiful stories with rich metaphors (like The House of Needs and Wants) and others were cringey messes (like Bastian and the Beast- a rough start btw). The best stories were the ones that discussed inequalities within the queer community, such as asexual people or non-passing trans people. But overall I think this was an incredibly creative premise and most of the stories hit the mark!
Bastian and the Beast- 2/5
Super Wattpad retelling of beauty and the beast with the only original aspect being that Belle is a trans man. Nothing original and nothing exciting and written super cringe. Also the monster analysis had nothing to do with the story??
Other Fish- 4/5
I may not have thought this through because I’m not a romance girlie and obviously this book about queer stories will involve romantic relationships. Therefore I’ve decided to get over myself and look at romance with an open mind for this. And this story was lovely. I loved the narrative about being a child of immigrants and learning how to navigate that with your queerness and I thought it was a great coming of age story.
How to Summon Me- 3/5
It was just fine. I like the idea that as Bloody Mary interacted with humans she became more human and insecure. Otherwise I don’t think I really understand the point of this one?
Be Not Afraid- 3.5/5
It was cute. I simply do not understand how a story like this with such heavy themes is in the same collection as Bastian and the Beast but at least the stories have gotten better. I love the idea of summoning Mothman to commit murders for you like an anti-hero Santa Claus. It was cute and fun and I always love some good Mothman lore.
The Freedom of Feathers and Fur- 3/5
I had such a hard time getting into it and following the actual plot I think just because it was historical and written in an old English style. Once I got into it though and started to understand it it was cute enough. I liked the little twist with the parents being homophobic and the brother just trying to protect the mc. Overall I probably won’t remember it but I enjoyed it.
The Fatal Song of Attraction- 3.5/5
Love to see the demisexual/asexual representation that’s often neglected in the LGBT community! Also a really fun juxtaposition between murder and love! The writing was a bit too fanfiction for my liking and I didn’t feel very connected to the characters but I really liked the idea of this story so overall I’m pretty pleased.
The Color of Sky on Earth- 3.5/5
This is one of those stories that you know if supposed to be a metaphor but you just can’t bring yourself to figure it out. I can tell that this is supposed to be some representation of gay people as aliens but I don’t completely understand it. Nevertheless I really enjoyed the writing style and had a good time overall.
Boys Who Run with the Boars- 2.5/5
The same concept as the Freedom of Feathers and Fur but with way less content. It was so short I didn’t even feel like anything happened. But as a One Health girlie I absolutely adored the metaphor of comparing queer people to invasive species (sounds horrible I know but you just have to read it).
The House of Needs and Wants- 4.5/5
Such a sweet story and such a touching metaphor to turn a haunted house into a safe home. There really isn’t much to say here. I means there’s not too much plot but that’s kind of the nature of a short story so it was really really touching for the parameters it had to work with.
A Serpent and a Wish- 2.5/5
Honestly just way, way too sappy for me. Plus it ended way too fast it threw off the groove of the story.
The Girl with Thirteen Shadows- 3.5/5
I appreciated the metaphor that, even among the LGBT community, asexual people are considered “abnormal” and “monstrous”. I really like the attitude that this book has toward validating a sexuality. The story itself was good, just not particularly memorable.
Bonne Nuit- 2/5
I have no idea what any of this had to do with the theme of this book. I don’t really know what I was supposed to take away from this.
World Weariness- 4/5
The best stories in this collection are the ones that talk about outsiders within the queer community. I appreciate that this story is more nuanced, discussing the marginalized of the marginalized. I’m not big on fantasy but I appreciated the metaphor nonetheless.
How We Founded Club Feathers at the Discard Depot- 2.5/5
Pink Pony Club but a corny high school movie. It was fine but a bit boring.
April 2, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for a fair review. A fairly solid anthology with far more hits than misses. I took a few brief notes on each story.
Bastian and the Beast (rep: transmasc/mlm): a very sweet story that managed to fit a satisfying romantic arc into a short space. It really hits on what made Beauty and the Beast so alluring to queer people in the first place by focusing on a story about wanting to be wanted despite what you think keeps people apart from you.
Other Fish (wlw): Very interesting take on what it feels like to come to terms with your sexuality even when you're surrounded by people who support you and ostensibly show you it's okay to be different. Loved Yemanja's attitude and sass.
How to Summon Me (trans masc, wlw, what I can only call genderweird) - An EXTREMELY fascinating take on Bloody Mary. This one is probably my favorite of the collection; it's very weird and cosmic horror adjacent
Be Not Afraid (mlm) - Really excellent world building, and I loved making that connection between Mothman and angels.
The Freedom of Feathers and Fur (mlm) - Somehow managed to feel like an entire YA novel in the space of a short story, which is incredible. The pacing was amazing, and the prose and romance vibrant.
The Fatal Song of Attraction (ace) - This one did not do it for me. I found the descriptions and imagery interesting, but I'm not sure how I felt about the asexual allegory being connected to like. you know. eating people. It all seemed to move a bit quick and stilted for me.
The Color of the Sky on Earth (gay) - Very surreal, big fan of this one. Not sure how else to describe it, but it was really fun and weird.
Boys Who Run with the Boars (mlm) - Could have taken or left this one; it felt very one-note.
The House of Needs and Wants (queer, trans fem) - I really liked the setting and concept for this one, but the atmosphere felt off. I think the shortness was to its detriment, because it wanted to be a haunted house story that turned softer, but there wasn't time for that growing sense of unease to change into a sense of comfort, so it ended up feeling a little unnerving even at the end.
A Serpent and a Wish (wlw) - Great concept; I thought it was a little too fast-paced perhaps and some of the revelations about certain characters felt a bit slapdash.
The Girl with Thirteen Shadows (ace) - Oh this one ruled. Really pushed that monsters-queer allegory to the breaking point and had a great message of monster solidarity.
Bonne Nuit (nonbinary) - A fun one; I do like the casual nonbinary rep, but I feel like it was somewhat secondary to the story being told, so the queerness of it wasn't really a main feature. That's fine, it just made it feel a little bit out of place with the other stories where exploring queerness itself seems to be part of the point. I also found the fact that we didn't get names for any of the characters to be slightly confusing, even though every character had a different pronoun set it was still a little hard to parse who was doing what.
Sons of God and Daughters of Humans (trans, nonbinary) - An extremely interesting take on Biblical mythology, which is something I that doesn't get played with enough. This is another one that managed to feel like a whole YA novel packed into one story, and something I'd definitely read more of.
World-Weariness (trans allegory) - This one was way more allegory for trans experience than text, and it was interesting, but also confused me a bit. I'm not sure it really fully interrogated the concept of "transitioning to become an elf" making the main character noticeably paler. It was kinda funny to see the "rapid onset dysphoria" fearmongering be played around with in this one in a different light, though.
How We Founded Club Feathers at the Discard Depot (wlw) - A simple fun one to sign off the anthology. Not the strongest by any means, but it was a nice tasty after dinner mint of a tale.
Bastian and the Beast (rep: transmasc/mlm): a very sweet story that managed to fit a satisfying romantic arc into a short space. It really hits on what made Beauty and the Beast so alluring to queer people in the first place by focusing on a story about wanting to be wanted despite what you think keeps people apart from you.
Other Fish (wlw): Very interesting take on what it feels like to come to terms with your sexuality even when you're surrounded by people who support you and ostensibly show you it's okay to be different. Loved Yemanja's attitude and sass.
How to Summon Me (trans masc, wlw, what I can only call genderweird) - An EXTREMELY fascinating take on Bloody Mary. This one is probably my favorite of the collection; it's very weird and cosmic horror adjacent
Be Not Afraid (mlm) - Really excellent world building, and I loved making that connection between Mothman and angels.
The Freedom of Feathers and Fur (mlm) - Somehow managed to feel like an entire YA novel in the space of a short story, which is incredible. The pacing was amazing, and the prose and romance vibrant.
The Fatal Song of Attraction (ace) - This one did not do it for me. I found the descriptions and imagery interesting, but I'm not sure how I felt about the asexual allegory being connected to like. you know. eating people. It all seemed to move a bit quick and stilted for me.
The Color of the Sky on Earth (gay) - Very surreal, big fan of this one. Not sure how else to describe it, but it was really fun and weird.
Boys Who Run with the Boars (mlm) - Could have taken or left this one; it felt very one-note.
The House of Needs and Wants (queer, trans fem) - I really liked the setting and concept for this one, but the atmosphere felt off. I think the shortness was to its detriment, because it wanted to be a haunted house story that turned softer, but there wasn't time for that growing sense of unease to change into a sense of comfort, so it ended up feeling a little unnerving even at the end.
A Serpent and a Wish (wlw) - Great concept; I thought it was a little too fast-paced perhaps and some of the revelations about certain characters felt a bit slapdash.
The Girl with Thirteen Shadows (ace) - Oh this one ruled. Really pushed that monsters-queer allegory to the breaking point and had a great message of monster solidarity.
Bonne Nuit (nonbinary) - A fun one; I do like the casual nonbinary rep, but I feel like it was somewhat secondary to the story being told, so the queerness of it wasn't really a main feature. That's fine, it just made it feel a little bit out of place with the other stories where exploring queerness itself seems to be part of the point. I also found the fact that we didn't get names for any of the characters to be slightly confusing, even though every character had a different pronoun set it was still a little hard to parse who was doing what.
Sons of God and Daughters of Humans (trans, nonbinary) - An extremely interesting take on Biblical mythology, which is something I that doesn't get played with enough. This is another one that managed to feel like a whole YA novel packed into one story, and something I'd definitely read more of.
World-Weariness (trans allegory) - This one was way more allegory for trans experience than text, and it was interesting, but also confused me a bit. I'm not sure it really fully interrogated the concept of "transitioning to become an elf" making the main character noticeably paler. It was kinda funny to see the "rapid onset dysphoria" fearmongering be played around with in this one in a different light, though.
How We Founded Club Feathers at the Discard Depot (wlw) - A simple fun one to sign off the anthology. Not the strongest by any means, but it was a nice tasty after dinner mint of a tale.
August 23, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I have not read many short story collections where I like the vast majority of the stories. Usually it's about half hit, half miss. I was enraptured by this collection and adored the vast majority of the stories. They all hold so much queer joy and celebration, and when paired with classic monster stories, have a unique approach to such things. My personal favorite stories include "How to Summon Me," "The Freedom of Feathers and Fur," and "The Girl with Thirteen Shadows."
I am excited to explore the contributors' other works, and this novel has given me many new things to add to my TBR.
I have not read many short story collections where I like the vast majority of the stories. Usually it's about half hit, half miss. I was enraptured by this collection and adored the vast majority of the stories. They all hold so much queer joy and celebration, and when paired with classic monster stories, have a unique approach to such things. My personal favorite stories include "How to Summon Me," "The Freedom of Feathers and Fur," and "The Girl with Thirteen Shadows."
I am excited to explore the contributors' other works, and this novel has given me many new things to add to my TBR.
November 11, 2024
A wonderfully eclectic collection of queer stories that use monsters as a metaphor for being "othered" in society. All are well-written, but please read the Editor's Note and Content Warning at the beginning before you dive in. On page xv of the Introduction, there are also categorizations for each story.
These are the stories that resonated most with me:
OTHER FISH by Alexandra Villasante
HOW TO SUMMON ME by Val Howlett
THE FATAL SONG OF ATTRACTION by Brittany Johnson
THE HOUSE OF NEEDS AND WANTS by Kalynn Bayron
A SERPENT AND A WISH by Shae Carys
THE GIRL WITH THIRTEEN SHADOWS by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor
BONNE NUIT by Claire Kann
HOW WE FOUNDED CLUB FEATHERS AT THE DISCARD DEPOT by Sarah Maxfield
These are the stories that resonated most with me:
OTHER FISH by Alexandra Villasante
HOW TO SUMMON ME by Val Howlett
THE FATAL SONG OF ATTRACTION by Brittany Johnson
THE HOUSE OF NEEDS AND WANTS by Kalynn Bayron
A SERPENT AND A WISH by Shae Carys
THE GIRL WITH THIRTEEN SHADOWS by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor
BONNE NUIT by Claire Kann
HOW WE FOUNDED CLUB FEATHERS AT THE DISCARD DEPOT by Sarah Maxfield
April 6, 2025
4.5*
A great collection of queer myths, monsters, fairy tales, and folklore. Some are reimagined tellings, some are original. Every author represents queerness in their plot in their own unique way.
Some standouts for me:
- Be Not Afraid by Michael Thomas Ford
- The House of Needs and Wants by Kalynn Bayron
- The Girl with Thirteen Shadows by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor
- Bonne Nuit by Claire Kann
I learned my favorites were the stories where the monster or The Other was the protector. Finding safety in the weird and scary and fantastical means so much to me, and I'm glad I found a book that understood that.
A great collection of queer myths, monsters, fairy tales, and folklore. Some are reimagined tellings, some are original. Every author represents queerness in their plot in their own unique way.
Some standouts for me:
- Be Not Afraid by Michael Thomas Ford
- The House of Needs and Wants by Kalynn Bayron
- The Girl with Thirteen Shadows by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor
- Bonne Nuit by Claire Kann
I learned my favorites were the stories where the monster or The Other was the protector. Finding safety in the weird and scary and fantastical means so much to me, and I'm glad I found a book that understood that.
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