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HorrorScope: A Zodiac Anthology
HorrorScope: A Zodiac Anthology
Aries. Taurus. Gemini. Cancer. Leo. Virgo. Libra. Scorpio. Sagittarius. Capricorn. Aquarius. Pisces.
It is said that destiny is determined by the stars. The signs of the Zodiac can predict who you’ll love, who you’ll hate, and who you’ll become. But the fates written in the stars are not always kind. Sometimes, they’re terrifying.
In HorrorScope, you will find 36 dark fantasy poems and short stories all inspired by the Zodiac Signs. Within these pages, you’ll face killer goats, twisted twins and deadly fishies. So, open this book, if you dare, and pray that you weren’t born under a bad sign.
It is said that destiny is determined by the stars. The signs of the Zodiac can predict who you’ll love, who you’ll hate, and who you’ll become. But the fates written in the stars are not always kind. Sometimes, they’re terrifying.
In HorrorScope, you will find 36 dark fantasy poems and short stories all inspired by the Zodiac Signs. Within these pages, you’ll face killer goats, twisted twins and deadly fishies. So, open this book, if you dare, and pray that you weren’t born under a bad sign.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2023
5 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
About the author
H. Everend
21 books119 followers-36 years
-Married
-Have three cats, 1 dog
-Enjoys wine tasting, genealogy, photography and scrapbooking as side hobbies
-Currently working on a short story collection
-Married
-Have three cats, 1 dog
-Enjoys wine tasting, genealogy, photography and scrapbooking as side hobbies
-Currently working on a short story collection
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 28, 2023
“Astrology is a language, if you understand this language the sky speaks to you.”
Horrorscope a Zodiac Anthology is a wonderfully crafted anthology of short stories and poems. It features many different authors with unique writing styles and fresh ideas. Edited by H. Everend this gem is one of a kind. Not often do you see horror books about astrology and as someone who has been studying astrology for a long time i was elated when she first dropped the concept of this anthology.
Each story/poem is different from one another, each brings the elements of the zodiac signs. It’s interesting to see how each author uses traits and symbols etc to incorporate into their stories.
Aside from the stories/poems I have to point out the whole vibe/format/layout of this anthology. I love a book with a nice aesthetic and Horrorscope totally brings me that satisfaction. Each zodiac section adorns a beautiful illustration by the very talented Ashley Scheller and one story flows well into the next.
I loved all of the poetry. I find myself always loving poetry and the poems in this anthology didn’t disappoint. Although I didn’t like all of the stories as much as some, I did find new authors I’d like to read more from.
Horrorscope a Zodiac Anthology is a wonderfully crafted anthology of short stories and poems. It features many different authors with unique writing styles and fresh ideas. Edited by H. Everend this gem is one of a kind. Not often do you see horror books about astrology and as someone who has been studying astrology for a long time i was elated when she first dropped the concept of this anthology.
Each story/poem is different from one another, each brings the elements of the zodiac signs. It’s interesting to see how each author uses traits and symbols etc to incorporate into their stories.
Aside from the stories/poems I have to point out the whole vibe/format/layout of this anthology. I love a book with a nice aesthetic and Horrorscope totally brings me that satisfaction. Each zodiac section adorns a beautiful illustration by the very talented Ashley Scheller and one story flows well into the next.
I loved all of the poetry. I find myself always loving poetry and the poems in this anthology didn’t disappoint. Although I didn’t like all of the stories as much as some, I did find new authors I’d like to read more from.
January 21, 2023
I was very lucky to receive an ARC for this anthology and I enjoyed it a lot! I struggle to rate anthologies because some stories appealed to me more than others but I’ve found some fantastic new authors and revisited some old favourites! A great show of indie excellence in the horror genre!
January 15, 2023
Each story flowed into the next. H. Everend did a spectacular job. The writers are all extremely talented. I had to force myself to take breaks. There are 36 stories and poems for your enjoyment.
November 6, 2024
First of all, this is quite the impressive feat and collection of indie talent. “Horrorscope” brings together 36 indie authors and poets and offers three pieces for each sign of the zodiac, and also stands as the debut for some of the contributors so it’s a great way to showcase new and established indie talent. I think it’s important to also not that I’m not a zodiac/horoscope guy; I’m not really into it or clued up on it beyond the basics so, if this is the case for you, some of the writing on offer here may get a little repetitive as there’s a lot of similar themes, such as witches, tarot readings, and bizarre anthropomorphic embodiments of the zodiac. At the same time, though, there’s still a lot of variety on offer here, from malevolent shadows coming to life, to cosmic adventures, almost biblical allegories, and curses aplenty.
I’m familiar with some of those involved with this book; others were new to me and I’ve had the pleasure of watching their writing journey unfold. While I’m not really into poetry (I can’t really write it and I only understand it at a basic level), the poetry pieces included are very evocative; I’ll give a shout-out to Nadine Stewart’s “Love and War” and Byron Griffin’s “Via Combusta” as pieces that had me re-reading a few times to let their imagery but I think the one I enjoyed the most was Elias Chase’s “The Rage of Aquarius: A Ballade of Sorts”. I liked the rhyming scheme, which had me thinking of the works of Edgar Allen Poe, and the disturbing visuals definitely stood out for me.
This is what I read horror for: the visuals and the gore and to see how horror writers push the boundaries, and there is some of that to be found in “Horrorscope”. Jessica Huntley’s “You Die…I Die” both contain disturbing scenes of torture, there’s a fair amount of gorging and visceral bloodletting (all three of the “Taurus” tales feature a vicious bull-like creature), and there’s even a kaiju-sized crab featured in Dan B. Fierce’s “El Gangrejo”! Other stories take a more supernatural or psychological bent, such as Anthony Taylor’s “December 17, 1982”, Amanda Jaeger’s chilling “Shadow Goat”, and Sabrina Voerman’s quasi-Greek tragedy “The Lovers”. Other standouts for me were R. Shannon’s haunting tale “A Shadow in Jackson Square”, S.L. Shearhart’s disturbing tale of abuse “I See You: The Hunt of the Capricorn Witch”, and Alana K. Drex’s “Portent of Pisces”, all of which could easily be expanded on into longer novellas.
For me, the most memorable pieces were those that didn’t take the concept so literally or put a fantastical spin on it. Damien Casey’s bizarre cosmic short “Starship Sagittarius” were good examples of this, and big zodiac fans will appreciate, I’m sure, the depths some of the pieces go into the various characteristics and natures of the various signs. Overall, it’s a great showcase of indie talent; while I didn’t connect with every piece and some were obviously stronger than others, the contributors deserve all the praise in the world for putting themselves out there and, for me, the best of the collection was seeing these indie creators having a platform to shine on.
I’m familiar with some of those involved with this book; others were new to me and I’ve had the pleasure of watching their writing journey unfold. While I’m not really into poetry (I can’t really write it and I only understand it at a basic level), the poetry pieces included are very evocative; I’ll give a shout-out to Nadine Stewart’s “Love and War” and Byron Griffin’s “Via Combusta” as pieces that had me re-reading a few times to let their imagery but I think the one I enjoyed the most was Elias Chase’s “The Rage of Aquarius: A Ballade of Sorts”. I liked the rhyming scheme, which had me thinking of the works of Edgar Allen Poe, and the disturbing visuals definitely stood out for me.
This is what I read horror for: the visuals and the gore and to see how horror writers push the boundaries, and there is some of that to be found in “Horrorscope”. Jessica Huntley’s “You Die…I Die” both contain disturbing scenes of torture, there’s a fair amount of gorging and visceral bloodletting (all three of the “Taurus” tales feature a vicious bull-like creature), and there’s even a kaiju-sized crab featured in Dan B. Fierce’s “El Gangrejo”! Other stories take a more supernatural or psychological bent, such as Anthony Taylor’s “December 17, 1982”, Amanda Jaeger’s chilling “Shadow Goat”, and Sabrina Voerman’s quasi-Greek tragedy “The Lovers”. Other standouts for me were R. Shannon’s haunting tale “A Shadow in Jackson Square”, S.L. Shearhart’s disturbing tale of abuse “I See You: The Hunt of the Capricorn Witch”, and Alana K. Drex’s “Portent of Pisces”, all of which could easily be expanded on into longer novellas.
For me, the most memorable pieces were those that didn’t take the concept so literally or put a fantastical spin on it. Damien Casey’s bizarre cosmic short “Starship Sagittarius” were good examples of this, and big zodiac fans will appreciate, I’m sure, the depths some of the pieces go into the various characteristics and natures of the various signs. Overall, it’s a great showcase of indie talent; while I didn’t connect with every piece and some were obviously stronger than others, the contributors deserve all the praise in the world for putting themselves out there and, for me, the best of the collection was seeing these indie creators having a platform to shine on.
January 16, 2023
HorrorScope is a collection of short stories and poems by different talented authors. There are 36 stories related to a star sign.
Every story was unique and fun with wonderful writing and interesting storyline. Some of them were weird in a good way, some had deeper meanings behind them and some of them were creepy and dark.
I think everyone can found a favorite story from this collection and maybe can relate to some story.
I highly recommend this anthology especially if you love things related to zodiac signs and dark tales!
My two favorite stories:
- "A Kiss from the Stars" by Scott McGregor
- "You Die....I Die" by Jessica Huntley
Thank you so much @h.everend.author for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
♍️ Release Date: February 20, 2023 ♍️
Every story was unique and fun with wonderful writing and interesting storyline. Some of them were weird in a good way, some had deeper meanings behind them and some of them were creepy and dark.
I think everyone can found a favorite story from this collection and maybe can relate to some story.
I highly recommend this anthology especially if you love things related to zodiac signs and dark tales!
My two favorite stories:
- "A Kiss from the Stars" by Scott McGregor
- "You Die....I Die" by Jessica Huntley
Thank you so much @h.everend.author for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
♍️ Release Date: February 20, 2023 ♍️
January 22, 2023
I loved every minute of this anthology! The mix of suspense and spice with a bit of fear was wonderful in all of the stories incorporated in this. Seeing poems in an anthology like this was also a very nice surprise!
My favorite stories were:
Goddess of Vengeance by Natalie Hannah
Purer than Gold, Richer than Wine by L. Pine
You Die, I Die by Jessica Huntley
Love & War by Nadine Stewart
The Virgin by Brooklynn Dean
The Sting of Scorpius by Kay Hanifen
December 17th, 1982 by Anthony Taylor
I See You: The Hunt of the Capricorn Witch by S. L. Shearheart
The Rage of Aquarius by Elias Chase
Sirens Unleashed by Kirsten Aucoin
My favorite stories were:
Goddess of Vengeance by Natalie Hannah
Purer than Gold, Richer than Wine by L. Pine
You Die, I Die by Jessica Huntley
Love & War by Nadine Stewart
The Virgin by Brooklynn Dean
The Sting of Scorpius by Kay Hanifen
December 17th, 1982 by Anthony Taylor
I See You: The Hunt of the Capricorn Witch by S. L. Shearheart
The Rage of Aquarius by Elias Chase
Sirens Unleashed by Kirsten Aucoin
February 11, 2023
Horrorscope {♍️ARC♍️}
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my first time ever reading an anthology and I’ll just say it was a crazy ride. Im not one to read straight thriller books/short stories, but this was a really great one to start with.
This anthology is a mixture of short stories and poems. The flow from each Zodiac to the next one was seamless.
I have a few short stories that I enjoyed quite a bit.
The Most Dangerous Sign — Samantha Arthurs
The Lover — Sabrina Voerman
You Die, I Die — Jessica Huntley
I want to thank H. Everend for letting me read this! I really enjoyed getting to sample all 36 authors writing. I most definitely am going to me reading more of their work.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my first time ever reading an anthology and I’ll just say it was a crazy ride. Im not one to read straight thriller books/short stories, but this was a really great one to start with.
This anthology is a mixture of short stories and poems. The flow from each Zodiac to the next one was seamless.
I have a few short stories that I enjoyed quite a bit.
The Most Dangerous Sign — Samantha Arthurs
The Lover — Sabrina Voerman
You Die, I Die — Jessica Huntley
I want to thank H. Everend for letting me read this! I really enjoyed getting to sample all 36 authors writing. I most definitely am going to me reading more of their work.
Read
February 5, 2023H. Everend gathered thirty-six short stories and poems from as many contributors and shuffled them into their thematic homes in HorrorScope: A Zodiac Anthology. The almost 300 pages of this book also include artwork between the chapters depicting the related zodiac sign, with three stories or poems featured per sign. Contributors hail from The UK, Canada, and the USA.
The anthology begins with Aries. Natalie Hannah, Scott McGregor, and Ryan Meyer contributed to “ram” the point. Taurus contributors L. Pine, Samuel M. Hallam, and Eric Wood “bull” through but don’t trample the Gemini authors, including Jessica Huntley. I greatly enjoyed the “twinish” offerings by Alex Tilley and R. Shannon. Cancer’s not-so-crabby contributors were Kassidy Vangundy, Dan B. Fierce, and Kyra R Torres, whose poem titled “Metamorphosis” nodded to the Kafka original. Loki J. Dewitt, Greta Bates, and debut author Nadine Stewart roared in with Leo, while Brooklyn Dean, Samantha Arthurs, and Angel Krause (whose sensationalized post-apocalyptic “Pygmillian gone bad” left a bloody mark on my imagination) lent their talents to Virgo. Representing Libra were Brianna Malotke, Sabrina Voerman, and Delliom Ellidom. Scorpio contributors included Byron Griffin and Arabella K. Federico (whose fairy tale cautionary tale “Be Weary of the Scorpio” probably should have been titled “Be Wary…”) Kay Hanifen’s “The Sting of Scorpius” with its “protector” was another of my favorites in this collection. Sagittarius authors included Damien Casey, Anthony Taylor, and Taylor Pawley, and Pisces were A. W. Mason, Alana K. Drex, and Nina Tolstoy. In Capricorn, Amanda Jaeger’s “Shadow Goat” included this lovely quote, “She’s just an intrusive thought brought to life.” Nico Bell’s “The One Who Came to Save Her” is a nasty bit of well-written wish fulfillment. Capricorn concludes with an exclamation point rich story by S.l. Shearhart. In Aquarius, readers find Elias Chase’s cleverly titled poem (which for some reason in my ARC copy switched font size and messed with my peculiar vision deficiencies), Aiden E. Messer’s diabolical entity who learned of the hidden strengths of the asexual, and Kirsten Aucoin’s cool poem.
As is usually the case with anthologies boasting debut through seasoned writers, the stories varied in tone and tense, plot and perspective. Some dripped with blood, others dropped the “f-bomb,” and some tipped toward erotica. There are creature features and thriller/chillers that explore the darker aspects of mankind. Since this was such a well-received submission call, the editor is preparing a second volume to be released at a later date.
The anthology begins with Aries. Natalie Hannah, Scott McGregor, and Ryan Meyer contributed to “ram” the point. Taurus contributors L. Pine, Samuel M. Hallam, and Eric Wood “bull” through but don’t trample the Gemini authors, including Jessica Huntley. I greatly enjoyed the “twinish” offerings by Alex Tilley and R. Shannon. Cancer’s not-so-crabby contributors were Kassidy Vangundy, Dan B. Fierce, and Kyra R Torres, whose poem titled “Metamorphosis” nodded to the Kafka original. Loki J. Dewitt, Greta Bates, and debut author Nadine Stewart roared in with Leo, while Brooklyn Dean, Samantha Arthurs, and Angel Krause (whose sensationalized post-apocalyptic “Pygmillian gone bad” left a bloody mark on my imagination) lent their talents to Virgo. Representing Libra were Brianna Malotke, Sabrina Voerman, and Delliom Ellidom. Scorpio contributors included Byron Griffin and Arabella K. Federico (whose fairy tale cautionary tale “Be Weary of the Scorpio” probably should have been titled “Be Wary…”) Kay Hanifen’s “The Sting of Scorpius” with its “protector” was another of my favorites in this collection. Sagittarius authors included Damien Casey, Anthony Taylor, and Taylor Pawley, and Pisces were A. W. Mason, Alana K. Drex, and Nina Tolstoy. In Capricorn, Amanda Jaeger’s “Shadow Goat” included this lovely quote, “She’s just an intrusive thought brought to life.” Nico Bell’s “The One Who Came to Save Her” is a nasty bit of well-written wish fulfillment. Capricorn concludes with an exclamation point rich story by S.l. Shearhart. In Aquarius, readers find Elias Chase’s cleverly titled poem (which for some reason in my ARC copy switched font size and messed with my peculiar vision deficiencies), Aiden E. Messer’s diabolical entity who learned of the hidden strengths of the asexual, and Kirsten Aucoin’s cool poem.
As is usually the case with anthologies boasting debut through seasoned writers, the stories varied in tone and tense, plot and perspective. Some dripped with blood, others dropped the “f-bomb,” and some tipped toward erotica. There are creature features and thriller/chillers that explore the darker aspects of mankind. Since this was such a well-received submission call, the editor is preparing a second volume to be released at a later date.
January 13, 2023
Horrorscope is a collection of short stories / poems by lots of different authors.
Each story has an element which relates to a star sign!
Thank you @h.everend.author for letting me read this one pre-release date. This comes out February 20th and now is a good time to add it to your wish list!
This book was super fun and although some had similar themes and elements, each were unique, well written and wonderfully weird. Everyone knows I love wonderfully weird! Some had deep meanings behind them and some were just genuinely creepy but here's the thing....they were all really good and I really enjoyed reading them! I'm excited to discover some new authors through this and check out their work, making my TBR even longer!
Here are a few favourites:
- There were lots of great minotour stories in this book, I actually thought they were linked to begin with!
Particularly enjoyed "The Taurus Bull" by Eric Wood because the comment "The woods belong to him and it's lunchtime" dun dun dun!!
- "Goddess of Vengeance" by Natalie Hannah (I love Greek Myths and Circe is a great one)
- "A Kiss from the Stars" by Scott McGregor (genuinely spooked me and now my dreams of signing books one day are spoiled for good)
- "You Die....I Die" by Jessica Huntley (Jessica does a grand job on the wonderfully terrifying twins stories! If you love this, check out her "My...Self" series!)
- "December 17, 1982" by Anthony Taylor (Just really liked this one!)
Highly recommend! Especially to those folks who love horror, weird and wonderful tales, some poetry, and all things related to star signs and such.
Each story has an element which relates to a star sign!
Thank you @h.everend.author for letting me read this one pre-release date. This comes out February 20th and now is a good time to add it to your wish list!
This book was super fun and although some had similar themes and elements, each were unique, well written and wonderfully weird. Everyone knows I love wonderfully weird! Some had deep meanings behind them and some were just genuinely creepy but here's the thing....they were all really good and I really enjoyed reading them! I'm excited to discover some new authors through this and check out their work, making my TBR even longer!
Here are a few favourites:
- There were lots of great minotour stories in this book, I actually thought they were linked to begin with!
Particularly enjoyed "The Taurus Bull" by Eric Wood because the comment "The woods belong to him and it's lunchtime" dun dun dun!!
- "Goddess of Vengeance" by Natalie Hannah (I love Greek Myths and Circe is a great one)
- "A Kiss from the Stars" by Scott McGregor (genuinely spooked me and now my dreams of signing books one day are spoiled for good)
- "You Die....I Die" by Jessica Huntley (Jessica does a grand job on the wonderfully terrifying twins stories! If you love this, check out her "My...Self" series!)
- "December 17, 1982" by Anthony Taylor (Just really liked this one!)
Highly recommend! Especially to those folks who love horror, weird and wonderful tales, some poetry, and all things related to star signs and such.
March 14, 2023
**While I do have a short story published in this anthology, please note I'm not rating or review my own story**
Strangely enough, this is the first anthology I've read! It's really great to be able to read so many different stories from talented writers.
I'm not a fan of poetry however I still found them really interesting to read. Some of the stories were so action packed, full of gore and tension.
Short and sharp. I flew through this book. Looking forward to Volume 2!
Strangely enough, this is the first anthology I've read! It's really great to be able to read so many different stories from talented writers.
I'm not a fan of poetry however I still found them really interesting to read. Some of the stories were so action packed, full of gore and tension.
Short and sharp. I flew through this book. Looking forward to Volume 2!
March 3, 2023
Disclaimer: I have a short story within this anthology, and will not let that reflect in my review.
I want to start off by discussing how beautiful this book is. The hardcover copy is absolutely stunning. With a shine to the cover and the contrasting red and blue colours, it's eye-catching right away. Then you notice the finer details in the cover, the smokey skull that hovers at the top, the details of the zodiac symbols in the center... It's really gorgeous.
Inside formatting is beautiful too, with each zodiac section given a flourish page. Each zodiac has three short stories or poems, and like all anthologies, there is something in here for everyone. From murderous serial killers, to eloquent poems, to science-fiction.
Not all the stories were for me, but the overall feel of them and the richness of the stories really made this anthology pop for me.
I want to start off by discussing how beautiful this book is. The hardcover copy is absolutely stunning. With a shine to the cover and the contrasting red and blue colours, it's eye-catching right away. Then you notice the finer details in the cover, the smokey skull that hovers at the top, the details of the zodiac symbols in the center... It's really gorgeous.
Inside formatting is beautiful too, with each zodiac section given a flourish page. Each zodiac has three short stories or poems, and like all anthologies, there is something in here for everyone. From murderous serial killers, to eloquent poems, to science-fiction.
Not all the stories were for me, but the overall feel of them and the richness of the stories really made this anthology pop for me.
March 21, 2023
Guys. I'm not just giving this five stars because I am part of this anthology. I'm giving it five stars because of all the absolutely INCREDIBLE authors that are part of this! This anthology is out of this world (no pun intended), and everyone knocked it out of the park. It is, of coursed, based loosely on the zodiac, and while you can feel that shining through, each story is so unique and creepy and wonderful that you almost forget there's a theme and it's not just some stellar writing all on it's own! I hope y'all check this out, it's well worth it!
February 26, 2023
This fascinating read, a collection inspired by the twelve signs of the zodiac, truly has something for everyone.
Each work was well-crafted and enjoyable. My absolute favorites are:
The Taurus Bull by Eric Woods - a group of teens investigate the local legend of a monster in the woods. Excellent coming of age horror vibes.
El Cangrejo by Dan B. Fierce - a mysterious "Handyman" and his magical and mischievous bag fight giant crabs during a hurricane. Bizarre, hilarious, and a lot of fun.
Purrfectly Matched by Greta T. Bates - a pair of catwomen play with their food. Gory and smutty in the best way.
Love and War by Nadine Stewart - a heartfelt poem about existing on a cusp.
The Most Dangerous Sign by Samantha Arthurs - a violent Virgo tells us how her garden grows.
Carving Out Balance by Brianna Malotke - a lovely Libra creates balance and beauty in her home.
The Sting of Scorpius by Kay Hanifen - occult shop purveyor helps a customer in distress. I love when people get what they deserve.
The One Who Came to Save Her by Nico Bell - a man blames the recent failure of his crops on the caregiver of his ill wife. Another great tale of comeuppance.
Sirens Unleashed by Kirsten Aucoin - a wicked cursed object poem.
Where the Fish Won't Bite by A.W. Mason - a man and his wife discover a strange goo in the water while fishing. Wonderfully gory.
Portent of Pisces by Alana K. Drex - a darkly whimsical tale of an eccentric neighborhood psychic and the coming of a new power. Heed this portent!
My Little Minnow by Nina Tolstoy - a mother makes excuses for her clearly sociopathic little boy. That twist at the end!
Each work was well-crafted and enjoyable. My absolute favorites are:
The Taurus Bull by Eric Woods - a group of teens investigate the local legend of a monster in the woods. Excellent coming of age horror vibes.
El Cangrejo by Dan B. Fierce - a mysterious "Handyman" and his magical and mischievous bag fight giant crabs during a hurricane. Bizarre, hilarious, and a lot of fun.
Purrfectly Matched by Greta T. Bates - a pair of catwomen play with their food. Gory and smutty in the best way.
Love and War by Nadine Stewart - a heartfelt poem about existing on a cusp.
The Most Dangerous Sign by Samantha Arthurs - a violent Virgo tells us how her garden grows.
Carving Out Balance by Brianna Malotke - a lovely Libra creates balance and beauty in her home.
The Sting of Scorpius by Kay Hanifen - occult shop purveyor helps a customer in distress. I love when people get what they deserve.
The One Who Came to Save Her by Nico Bell - a man blames the recent failure of his crops on the caregiver of his ill wife. Another great tale of comeuppance.
Sirens Unleashed by Kirsten Aucoin - a wicked cursed object poem.
Where the Fish Won't Bite by A.W. Mason - a man and his wife discover a strange goo in the water while fishing. Wonderfully gory.
Portent of Pisces by Alana K. Drex - a darkly whimsical tale of an eccentric neighborhood psychic and the coming of a new power. Heed this portent!
My Little Minnow by Nina Tolstoy - a mother makes excuses for her clearly sociopathic little boy. That twist at the end!
March 9, 2023
Anthologies are astounding to me in that it must be a feat to find and edit stories that fit together but also stand on their own. H. Everend delivered a great collection and the authors packed a collective punch!
A whopping 36 short stories and poems that showcase the mysticism of astrology and twist it with horror themes to highlight the humanity in celestial and supernatural beings. The anthology is full of creative and diverse stories and poems in a wide range of topics! Absolutely magnificent! It’s hard for me to pick favorites in this anthology because each was so different from the other!
Must read if you like: Misery by Stephen King, Trick or Treat by Jamie Stewart, Promethius 147 by Spencer Hamilton, The Island of Dr. Moreau, and cosmic horror in general!
A whopping 36 short stories and poems that showcase the mysticism of astrology and twist it with horror themes to highlight the humanity in celestial and supernatural beings. The anthology is full of creative and diverse stories and poems in a wide range of topics! Absolutely magnificent! It’s hard for me to pick favorites in this anthology because each was so different from the other!
Must read if you like: Misery by Stephen King, Trick or Treat by Jamie Stewart, Promethius 147 by Spencer Hamilton, The Island of Dr. Moreau, and cosmic horror in general!
March 18, 2023
Amazing collection
If your looking for spills , chills and a whole lot of thrills then this anthology is a must read. The collection of tales these authors have put together will leave you wanting to make sure your closet door is closed, check under your bed and maybe just maybe sleep with the lights on but shhhh, that will be our secret. So check it out , you won't be disappointed.
If your looking for spills , chills and a whole lot of thrills then this anthology is a must read. The collection of tales these authors have put together will leave you wanting to make sure your closet door is closed, check under your bed and maybe just maybe sleep with the lights on but shhhh, that will be our secret. So check it out , you won't be disappointed.
February 18, 2023
If you are interested in adding some indie horror to your tbr, but don't quite know where to begin, I can highly recommend you start with this one.
It's not too scary or gory, but not too lame either and I definitely found my favourites and a bunch of new authors to follow.
This was also a perfect read to get out of a reading slump I'd been suffering lately and I truly enjoyed every word of this book!
*I was lucky to receive an eARC of this gem. Thank you Harriet ♡
It's not too scary or gory, but not too lame either and I definitely found my favourites and a bunch of new authors to follow.
This was also a perfect read to get out of a reading slump I'd been suffering lately and I truly enjoyed every word of this book!
*I was lucky to receive an eARC of this gem. Thank you Harriet ♡
April 5, 2023
An anthology of zodiac horror.
'HorrorScope' is a collection of short stories and poetry, thematically linked to signs of the zodiac, featuring work by thirty-six indie horror and dark fantasy authors. Edited by H. Everend, it features a wide array of sub-genres, including forays into mythology, creature features and cryptozoology, slashers and serial killers, curses and witchcraft, and the looming spectre of death. It’s a thrilling concept, to present a horror-esque horoscope through storytelling, split into a section per zodiac sign, each section including three pieces.
My personal favourites were:
‘The Twin Keepers’ by Alex Tilley, a blend of psychological and dystopian suspense;
‘You Die...I Die’ by Jessica Huntley, a twisted game at the hands of a serial killer;
‘The Virgin’ by Brooklynn Dean, a delicious slice of erotica and brutal ritual;
‘The Lovers’ by Sabrina Voerman, a sensuous fantasy of tragedy and morality;
‘The Sting of the Scorpius’ by Kay Hanifen, a tale of mysticism and retribution;
‘The One Who Came to Save Her’ by Nico Bell, a visitation of revenge in a small town;
‘My Little Minnow’ by Nina Tolstoy, a psychological portrait of a serial killer.
Overall, this is a brilliant dossier of work, covering a wide range of sub-genres. As one would expect, it contains its fair share of explicit violence, sexual content, and torture, as well as some less explicit animal cruelty. Boasting diversity across genre, themes, tropes and characters, even the most casual horror fan will likely find something that speaks to them within this volume, much like might be found in a traditional horoscope.
Overseeing proceedings is H. Everend; as well as an author of several horror stories, she is also a committed supporter of the indie author community. Here she has curated a superb anthology that showcases the talent and hard work of its writers, with a mix of established names with work already published and new authors presenting their debuts. As an indie author myself, I understand the challenges and the sheer willpower, commitment and passion it takes to produce the work and send it out into the world, and everyone should feel incredibly proud of their contributions. Indie voices may typically be small, but nevertheless they have something to say.
A delight for both enthusiasts of horror and indie supporters, ‘HorrorScope’ marks a fabulous achievement for all the creators involved. Future volumes have been announced, with 'HorrorScope, Volume II' arriving this summer.
'HorrorScope' is a collection of short stories and poetry, thematically linked to signs of the zodiac, featuring work by thirty-six indie horror and dark fantasy authors. Edited by H. Everend, it features a wide array of sub-genres, including forays into mythology, creature features and cryptozoology, slashers and serial killers, curses and witchcraft, and the looming spectre of death. It’s a thrilling concept, to present a horror-esque horoscope through storytelling, split into a section per zodiac sign, each section including three pieces.
My personal favourites were:
‘The Twin Keepers’ by Alex Tilley, a blend of psychological and dystopian suspense;
‘You Die...I Die’ by Jessica Huntley, a twisted game at the hands of a serial killer;
‘The Virgin’ by Brooklynn Dean, a delicious slice of erotica and brutal ritual;
‘The Lovers’ by Sabrina Voerman, a sensuous fantasy of tragedy and morality;
‘The Sting of the Scorpius’ by Kay Hanifen, a tale of mysticism and retribution;
‘The One Who Came to Save Her’ by Nico Bell, a visitation of revenge in a small town;
‘My Little Minnow’ by Nina Tolstoy, a psychological portrait of a serial killer.
Overall, this is a brilliant dossier of work, covering a wide range of sub-genres. As one would expect, it contains its fair share of explicit violence, sexual content, and torture, as well as some less explicit animal cruelty. Boasting diversity across genre, themes, tropes and characters, even the most casual horror fan will likely find something that speaks to them within this volume, much like might be found in a traditional horoscope.
Overseeing proceedings is H. Everend; as well as an author of several horror stories, she is also a committed supporter of the indie author community. Here she has curated a superb anthology that showcases the talent and hard work of its writers, with a mix of established names with work already published and new authors presenting their debuts. As an indie author myself, I understand the challenges and the sheer willpower, commitment and passion it takes to produce the work and send it out into the world, and everyone should feel incredibly proud of their contributions. Indie voices may typically be small, but nevertheless they have something to say.
A delight for both enthusiasts of horror and indie supporters, ‘HorrorScope’ marks a fabulous achievement for all the creators involved. Future volumes have been announced, with 'HorrorScope, Volume II' arriving this summer.
October 9, 2025
This is a short story collection all about the zodiacs. Every single story in here was either about a certain zodiac or a couple of them. Each of these stories were unique and all had their own voices, All of them stood out in one way or another and this is a collection with a lot of authors for you to discover if you enjoy their writing!
March 23, 2023
This has really high ratings and I feel bad but... I didn't really enjoy this. There were a few stories that I did like and I thought were really well done, but on the whole, I think that this had some fantasy elements to this that I just don't normally enjoy. And that's on me! I'm glad I gave it a go, but yeah, not for me.
November 23, 2023
I had a really tough time rating this anthology because I found it to be all over the place. I could easily have given this a four, and some individual some stories I think were a proper 5/5. I could just as easily have gone down to one star because while I usually save one star ratings for books that I find offensive in some way, I do think think there are enough fundamental flaws in HorrorScope that it may have been justified.
It's also worth noting that while I generally try not to let outside factors influence my rating of the book itself, I was more than a little disheartened to hear that none of the writers were paid for this, or the two subsequent open calls. I tried not to let this impact my view of the work inside, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't sour the experience some to know that going in, and it probably has impacted my review/rating more than I'd like. I'll cycle back later to why this bothers me as much as it does, but I want to clarify that it wouldn't have if it had been a non-profit or a charity project of some kind.
I won this in a giveaway, along with the second volume, and I made my way through both of them this weekend. I want to mention again before I get into my critique that I don't think the quality of the individual stories/poems is to blame for the rather jarring experience of reading this book cover to cover. I also think that spreading these out probably would have helped, but that's just not the kind of reader that I am. I open a book, I finish the book. I start the second book. I can't really help it.
This has been a big year for me and anthologies. I've read several, I've slush-read for several, and I've contributed to a handful. I've seen a lot of behind-the-scenes content for them in 2023, but I don't think I really appreciated how much work it is for the editors/curators to present something that's cohesive until I started noticing pet peeves in this one. When an anthology is published through a press (even a small press or a micro press) there is a team that considers the entries. When reading a single-editor anthology like this that is published outside the framework of a press, your entire experience is basically curated by a single person, which means a lot can go wrong if you don't share the same tastes or stylistic values of whoever is in charge. While I liked a majority of the stories fine, I think it's safe to say I didn't share the vision.
The title is "HorrorScope" and I entered the giveaway under the pretense that this was a zodiac-themed horror anthology, which sounds right up my alley. This is more dark fantasy, and in some cases just fantasy, with a smattering of Greek mythology adaptations. That probably would have been more clear to me if I had read the back of the book instead of just the online marketing, because while the title is HorrorScope, it is described as "36 dark fantasy poems and short stories all inspired by the Zodiac signs." This is capped with an "open this book, if you dare," however, so I still feel like it was advertised as much darker than it ultimately delivered.
There were two, maybe three real horror pieces in the anthology. Everything else felt tonally inconsistent. I like when anthologies can offer a variety of voices and styles, but I do think this suffered from its lack of a throughline. I also would have loved to see these stories get line edits.
Being the most typo-prone writer of all time, I completely understand how errors make it through to the submission process. That's why we have editors, because it's incredibly hard to catch our own mistakes. I can't speak to what the editing process was here, but I can say that the use of punctuation varies from story to story, ranging from headers, to scene breaks to proper use of em dashes. Finding a uniform method of presentation absolutely would have made this feel cleaner and less jarring to me.
Speaking of presentation.
One aspect that I loved about the anthology was the art. I think the cover is fabulous, and I love the zodiac sketches inside the book. I wish that the basics had been covered before custom interior graphics were done, however. I counted at least three different font sizes for just the body text, so that's not even counting the varying title/author text sizes or the footers. There were several stray line breaks that appeared to be errors and that's before we get into the random paragraph splits (which were made very obvious by the unique choice of using dividers for the header/footer sections despite the fact there were no headers in the book.
Finally, I just thought this was too wild not to mention, there is a full-bleed acknowledgements page in the back, but there is no acknowledgement text, it just moves into the "about the editor" section, which is usually a separate thing with different text. I thought it was really interesting that no one besides contributors were thanked or acknowledged in the book.
Now, I know I've been nitpicking on a lot of small stuff here. This is for a couple reasons. One, I don't necessarily believe in holding indie publications to a lower standard than traditional publications. I have seen time and time again that self-pub and small-pub can actually produce a superior quality, and I think expecting there to be typos/errors is akin to accepting the stigma around indie books. Even putting a pin in that belief, I think there's a huge difference between doing it all on your own as a passion project while maybe missing a couple small things here and there, and advertising as an anthology without putting a certain level of care into presenting the work of your authors.
When writers are paid only in exposure, I feel like it's the obligation of the publisher to present the stories to the best of their ability. Line-editing and professional credits are two of the biggest perks when publishing your work for free, and those are just aspects I felt were missing for these writers. I also feel like the "exposure" part of this deal is a little disingenuous when the editor is the only one with a contributor photo, and the author bios are literally printed in a smaller font to fit multiples in on every page.
While there was a lot about this anthology that did rub me the wrong way, I want to end on a positive note. There was a lot of talent here and I fully support the writers who contributed. Even though I had wanted darker entries, I think the mere scope of subgenres and mediums was impressive, and the entries that were horror really spoke to me.
Being a Scorpio myself, I also wanted to share one of my favorite quotes from that particular section of the book, from "Via Combusta" by Byron Griffin.
"The merlot on his lips was not thine
Yet a darker water wouldst come from thee,"
Beautiful depiction of the Scorpios' sweet, sweet threats.
Overall, I can't say that I would recommend the collection. It wasn't a particularly good reading experience for me. However, I would highly recommend looking up and supporting some of the contributors because there were (pardon the pun) a lot of stars in these pages.
It's also worth noting that while I generally try not to let outside factors influence my rating of the book itself, I was more than a little disheartened to hear that none of the writers were paid for this, or the two subsequent open calls. I tried not to let this impact my view of the work inside, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't sour the experience some to know that going in, and it probably has impacted my review/rating more than I'd like. I'll cycle back later to why this bothers me as much as it does, but I want to clarify that it wouldn't have if it had been a non-profit or a charity project of some kind.
I won this in a giveaway, along with the second volume, and I made my way through both of them this weekend. I want to mention again before I get into my critique that I don't think the quality of the individual stories/poems is to blame for the rather jarring experience of reading this book cover to cover. I also think that spreading these out probably would have helped, but that's just not the kind of reader that I am. I open a book, I finish the book. I start the second book. I can't really help it.
This has been a big year for me and anthologies. I've read several, I've slush-read for several, and I've contributed to a handful. I've seen a lot of behind-the-scenes content for them in 2023, but I don't think I really appreciated how much work it is for the editors/curators to present something that's cohesive until I started noticing pet peeves in this one. When an anthology is published through a press (even a small press or a micro press) there is a team that considers the entries. When reading a single-editor anthology like this that is published outside the framework of a press, your entire experience is basically curated by a single person, which means a lot can go wrong if you don't share the same tastes or stylistic values of whoever is in charge. While I liked a majority of the stories fine, I think it's safe to say I didn't share the vision.
The title is "HorrorScope" and I entered the giveaway under the pretense that this was a zodiac-themed horror anthology, which sounds right up my alley. This is more dark fantasy, and in some cases just fantasy, with a smattering of Greek mythology adaptations. That probably would have been more clear to me if I had read the back of the book instead of just the online marketing, because while the title is HorrorScope, it is described as "36 dark fantasy poems and short stories all inspired by the Zodiac signs." This is capped with an "open this book, if you dare," however, so I still feel like it was advertised as much darker than it ultimately delivered.
There were two, maybe three real horror pieces in the anthology. Everything else felt tonally inconsistent. I like when anthologies can offer a variety of voices and styles, but I do think this suffered from its lack of a throughline. I also would have loved to see these stories get line edits.
Being the most typo-prone writer of all time, I completely understand how errors make it through to the submission process. That's why we have editors, because it's incredibly hard to catch our own mistakes. I can't speak to what the editing process was here, but I can say that the use of punctuation varies from story to story, ranging from headers, to scene breaks to proper use of em dashes. Finding a uniform method of presentation absolutely would have made this feel cleaner and less jarring to me.
Speaking of presentation.
One aspect that I loved about the anthology was the art. I think the cover is fabulous, and I love the zodiac sketches inside the book. I wish that the basics had been covered before custom interior graphics were done, however. I counted at least three different font sizes for just the body text, so that's not even counting the varying title/author text sizes or the footers. There were several stray line breaks that appeared to be errors and that's before we get into the random paragraph splits (which were made very obvious by the unique choice of using dividers for the header/footer sections despite the fact there were no headers in the book.
Finally, I just thought this was too wild not to mention, there is a full-bleed acknowledgements page in the back, but there is no acknowledgement text, it just moves into the "about the editor" section, which is usually a separate thing with different text. I thought it was really interesting that no one besides contributors were thanked or acknowledged in the book.
Now, I know I've been nitpicking on a lot of small stuff here. This is for a couple reasons. One, I don't necessarily believe in holding indie publications to a lower standard than traditional publications. I have seen time and time again that self-pub and small-pub can actually produce a superior quality, and I think expecting there to be typos/errors is akin to accepting the stigma around indie books. Even putting a pin in that belief, I think there's a huge difference between doing it all on your own as a passion project while maybe missing a couple small things here and there, and advertising as an anthology without putting a certain level of care into presenting the work of your authors.
When writers are paid only in exposure, I feel like it's the obligation of the publisher to present the stories to the best of their ability. Line-editing and professional credits are two of the biggest perks when publishing your work for free, and those are just aspects I felt were missing for these writers. I also feel like the "exposure" part of this deal is a little disingenuous when the editor is the only one with a contributor photo, and the author bios are literally printed in a smaller font to fit multiples in on every page.
While there was a lot about this anthology that did rub me the wrong way, I want to end on a positive note. There was a lot of talent here and I fully support the writers who contributed. Even though I had wanted darker entries, I think the mere scope of subgenres and mediums was impressive, and the entries that were horror really spoke to me.
Being a Scorpio myself, I also wanted to share one of my favorite quotes from that particular section of the book, from "Via Combusta" by Byron Griffin.
"The merlot on his lips was not thine
Yet a darker water wouldst come from thee,"
Beautiful depiction of the Scorpios' sweet, sweet threats.
Overall, I can't say that I would recommend the collection. It wasn't a particularly good reading experience for me. However, I would highly recommend looking up and supporting some of the contributors because there were (pardon the pun) a lot of stars in these pages.
March 23, 2023
These are the entries that stood out most to me:
"Shadow Goat" by Amanda Jaeger
"The One Who Came to Save Her" by Nico Bell
"Starship Sagittarius" by Damien Casey
"Purer Than Gold, Richer Than Wine" by L. Pine
"Where the Fish Don't Bite" by A. W. Mason
"My Little Minnow" by Nina Tolstay
"Shadow Goat" by Amanda Jaeger
"The One Who Came to Save Her" by Nico Bell
"Starship Sagittarius" by Damien Casey
"Purer Than Gold, Richer Than Wine" by L. Pine
"Where the Fish Don't Bite" by A. W. Mason
"My Little Minnow" by Nina Tolstay
December 16, 2023
Horrorscope: A Zodiac Anthology
Harriett Everend - Edited
Joey Cole - Narrated
5⭐️’s
Horrorscope A Zodiac Anthology, brings you 36 short stories and poems that presents you with the darker side of the twelve signs of the Zodiac. Each story has its own take and twist that take you on an terrifyingly horrific journey. There are enough stories, that there’s something for everyone.
Some of my favorites are: You Die… I Die _Jessica Huntley, Love & War - Nadine Stewart, Portent of Pisces - Alana K. Drex, I See You: The Hunt of the Capricorn - S.L. Shearhart and Shot Through The Heart - Taylor Pawley.
Joey Cole narrated the audiobook version and provided just the right tone to keep you in the story.
Harriet Everend did an amazing job, curating all these tales that are sure to keep you wanting more! And more you shall have. There are a total of four volumes that will be published and I’m looking forward to reading them all!
Harriett Everend - Edited
Joey Cole - Narrated
5⭐️’s
Horrorscope A Zodiac Anthology, brings you 36 short stories and poems that presents you with the darker side of the twelve signs of the Zodiac. Each story has its own take and twist that take you on an terrifyingly horrific journey. There are enough stories, that there’s something for everyone.
Some of my favorites are: You Die… I Die _Jessica Huntley, Love & War - Nadine Stewart, Portent of Pisces - Alana K. Drex, I See You: The Hunt of the Capricorn - S.L. Shearhart and Shot Through The Heart - Taylor Pawley.
Joey Cole narrated the audiobook version and provided just the right tone to keep you in the story.
Harriet Everend did an amazing job, curating all these tales that are sure to keep you wanting more! And more you shall have. There are a total of four volumes that will be published and I’m looking forward to reading them all!
May 11, 2023
First of all, H. Everend did an amazing job in putting this anthology together. From the cover to the contents inside the book, this is one book that can only be given justice with a physical book! Each zodiac sign offers talent from many different indie authors. Rather than going into more depth, I will say that an anthology this massive and coherent is a rare feat. H.Everend pulls it off with her care and the many contributors make the anthology memorable, leaving something for everyone even if you are not a horror fan!
April 2, 2023
Amazing collection, I absolutely love books like this!
August 20, 2023
You don't need to be into astrology to enjoy this anthology! The 36 stories and poems are all very different from one another, and all enjoyable to read. I especially loved Homecoming
Purrfelctly matched
The virgin
The most dangerous sign
The eternal justice of man
Carving out balance
And The rage of Aquarius
Purrfelctly matched
The virgin
The most dangerous sign
The eternal justice of man
Carving out balance
And The rage of Aquarius
July 7, 2023
HorrorScope: A Zodiac Anthology contains a collection of poetry and short stories in the horror genre that utilize the Western Zodiac. It’s always interesting to see how the zodiac can be interpreted. Some things are taken literally, others figuratively, and there are more abstract renditions as well. A series of anthologies only makes sense! Showcasing many authors, H. Everend has allowed us to go on a journey into different subgenres of horror. You don’t have to believe in horoscopes to enjoy this collection; that’s the beauty of art, I think. And if you do believe in the zodiac, perhaps this anthology will make you glad that you weren’t born under a different sign.
I plan to write a small comment about each piece in this anthology. While it can always be easy (natural) to find favorites, I think everyone has poured a piece of themselves into this work and they deserve recognition.
"Elemental Bloodshed" by H. Everend:
The perfect opening for this anthology; it reads like a creation myth that is setting the stage for a battle of gods (perhaps demons) or great nations.
“Goddess of Vengeance” by Natalie Hannah:
This is a wonderful tale for those who enjoy horror and Greek mythology. This piece contains some body horror and gore that do well with the setting and plot. There are layers to this story that I personally enjoyed; it feels like an authentic Greek myth. Vengeful gods and goddesses left me on the edge of my seat.
“A Kiss from the Stars” by Scott McGregor:
As an author, I hope I never become quite as jaded as Eve. Yet even with her subsequent demeanor and inner thoughts at the beginning of the story, I could not help but fear for her. There are clever allusions to other works (particularly Stephen King’s Misery) that give moments of twisted humor without detracting from the suspense.
“Lock Horns” by Ryan Meyer:
From the beginning of this story, I was nervous. The most horrific part of this is the reality many face. This situation is not just fiction. It’s written in a way that sticks with you, that feels so real even with the fictitious portions. It’s difficult to say which part is most horrific. This is a memorable piece, at least for me.
“Purer Than Gold, Richer Than Wine” by L. Pine:
I adore stories that display how love, unrequited love in particular, can twist a person. The emotion poured into this piece had me not knowing who to empathize with. It sent chills along my spine.
“Moonlit Minotaur” by Samuel M. Hallan:
A modern day horror story with mysterious murders that opens with a witch. From it’s beginning, I was wondering what was going to happen. It kept me hooked with its suspense. I was not sure how it would end. This could be an interesting mini series if the author decides to do more.
“The Taurus Bull” by Eric Woods:
Is it a tall tale or real? Right away I was sucked into the story, wondering what the main characters were going to encounter. Wondering what was real and what was just story. Could it be figments of paranoid imaginations? Wanting to know the answer kept me reading through the end. I could picture everything clearly.
“The Twin Keepers” by Alex Tilley:
I was not sure where this was going to go when it began. As the tale unfolded, I was nervous for what I would encounter (not a bad thing with horror stories). This one kept me guessing and on my toes.
“You Die…I Die” by Jessica Huntley:
This tale opens with a bang, thrusting you straight into the horror of the characters’ situation. I was not sure how this was going to end; I very much enjoyed the use of the starsign in this. Having a dual-pov worked perfectly for this story. It reminded me a little of a Criminal Minds episode, albeit more horror-filled.
“A Shadow in Jackson Square” by R. Shannon:
This is a shorter piece, however it packs just as much of a punch as the others. I got chills at one point when I realized what was happening. It’s definitely memorable and has the suspense factor down to a T. This one would make a really good comic book.
“Homecoming” by Kassidy VanGundy:
It started out with a light, somewhat humorous note that grows into suspense and mystery. The horror builds in this story, which I could not put down. I rather enjoyed how things developed and I could once again picture everything perfectly! The sensations are near palpable.
“El Cangrejo” by Dan B. Fierce:
Another tale that mixes suspense and humor. We get to know our main character, which allows us to root for him, fear for him. The supernatural aspects of this tale are written perfectly, keeping the mood the entire time.
“Metamorphosis” by Kyra R. Torres:
This is a very poetic means of utilizing the Cancer star sign. There is a foreboding sense as you’re reading the poem, which flows off the page beautifully. The imagery is haunting.
“Lionheart” by Loki J. DeWitt:
This particular piece reminds me of nursery rhyme; where you can hear a child saying it despite the dark nature of the words. It perfectly highlights attributes of the Leo star sign as well.
“Purrfectly Matched” by Greta T. Bates:
Cat girls with hints of eroticism and horror? This story has it. In just a few pages, a whole world is created. It’s another piece where there could be an entire mini series written though it serves well as a standalone.
“Love & War” by Nadine Stewart:
Another poem that highlights characteristics of Leo. This piece is rather introspective. It has a somber tone mingled with potential supernatural elements (depending on if one takes the words figuratively or literally). I enjoyed the layers.
“The Virgin” by Brooklynn Dean:
It begins almost as a slice of life story, wherein we get to learn about our main character and the new person in his life. There’s an intriguing exploration of physical intimacy and desire that works perfectly with the star sign and story without taking away from the horror aspects.
“The Most Dangerous Sign” by Samantha Arthurs:
A nice poem that serves as a short story in itself about a serial killer. I liked seeing the evolution, from accidental to purposeful. And the use of newspaper was perfect.
“The Eternal Justice of Man” by Angel Krause:
Science fantasy and horror mixed into one. I really enjoyed the use of stardust and constellations in this piece. This is another piece that would make a good comic. It’s a dystopian Frankenstein in some ways.
“Carving Out Balance” by Brianna Malotke:
This poem is a perfect example of Libra rage. It tells an entire story, leaving you to think about the final stanza as you realize what has happened.
“The Lovers” by Sabrina Voerman:
We get to see an explosive union of Libra and Scorpio, seeing their different natures and how they collide. It truly uses their relationship to create an erotic horror tale worthy of its title when still more star signs come into play.
“Passive Aggressor” by Delliom Ellidom:
Well, this is certainly a poem that I wrote.
“Via Combusta” by Byron Griffin:
This poem has fantastic imagery and fits perfectly with the Scorpio star sign.With just a few words, a few stanzas, a picture was painted within my head.
“The Sting of Scorpius” by Kay Hanifen:
This story went a little differently than I thought it would when it first began. I enjoyed the mystery of it as well as the hints of humor. There was suspense, and it wasn’t difficult to empathize with the characters.
“Be Weary of the Scorpio” by Arabella K. Federico:
This is an interesting twist on vampires mingled with the zodiac. It created its own lore that has opened an entire world that could be explored in future pieces. I wasn’t sure where the story was headed when it began, but I am very much intrigued by it.
“Starship Sagittarius” by Damien Casey:
This one is a scifi piece that toys with American culture while in a sort of horror setting. It has some humor in its narrative as we follow our crew of nonhumans and humans. Its atmosphere reminded me of watching action cartoons on Saturday mornings, ready to see how the battles would unfold and who would survive.
“December 17, 1982” by Anthony Taylor:
This story opened strongly. It reminded me of something that you would see in the news. I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know how this one would end. The suspense was absolutely real in this one.
“Shot Through The Heart” by Taylor Pawley:
Fatal attraction? Be careful what you like on social media for sure. My jaw dropped when things started after the opening sequence. I hadn’t realized the story was going this way. This absolutely used the terrifying aspects of the zodiac.
“Shadow Goat” by Amanda Jaeger:
A story of utter obsession. It was the perfect move to write this in first person, to allow us to get into the head of the individual. I wasn’t sure what the narrator would do. There were so many possibilities, which created plenty of tension.
“The One Who Came to Save Her” by Nico Bell
The atmosphere of this story begins steeped in mystery. I was not sure which character to trust and which to suspect, so I started suspecting them all. Some of my early guesses were correct, and I loved how they were executed in the story.
“I See You: The Hunt of the Capricorn Witch” by S.L. Sherhart:
A witch hunting a serial killer? I hadn’t expected there to be a piece like this, and I am so glad there was! Who would be the hunter and who would be the prey in the end? It absolutely kept my interest from beginning to end.
“The Rage of Aquarius: A Ballade of Sorts” by Elias Chase:
This poem (ballade) embodies the rage of an Aquarius without holding back! It’s filled with gore without being tasteless. It has a haunting effect that had me rereading it almost immediately to relive the build-up to better appreciate that wonderful finale.
“Give Me Your Sorrow; Let Me Drink It In” by Aiden E. Messer:
I would absolutely like to not encounter this particular Aquarius. Truly horrific, the being is still intriguing as he displays some of the worst traits of this star sign interspersed with mentions of other aspects. There is a character I related to and rooted for, that I was thrilled to see.
“Sirens Unleashed” by Kirsten Aucoin:
This poem has very effective imagery. I would love to see artwork accompanying it. It’s again like one of those children’s nursery rhymes that’s dark and haunting but you might hear on a playground. Very memorable.
“Where The Fish Don’t Bite” by A.W. Mason:
This is not the sort of fishing horror story you see on the news. It’s the one that you absolutely hope will never happen in real life. Short but effective.
“Portent of Pisces” by Alana K. Drex:
This tale takes the zodiac and puts its own horror-filled spin on it. It begins with an omen that may be nothing more than the nonsensical rambles of an old woman. Or it could be something far worse.
“My Little Minnow” by Nina Tolstoy:
The way the zodiac is interwoven into this tale is the perfect set-up for the horrors to come. There’s a looming cloud of suspense as you’re reading. Waiting for what’s to come, how things will progress. It’s not unnecessarily descriptive for the horrific things that occur, for which I am grateful. Very well written.
I plan to write a small comment about each piece in this anthology. While it can always be easy (natural) to find favorites, I think everyone has poured a piece of themselves into this work and they deserve recognition.
"Elemental Bloodshed" by H. Everend:
The perfect opening for this anthology; it reads like a creation myth that is setting the stage for a battle of gods (perhaps demons) or great nations.
“Goddess of Vengeance” by Natalie Hannah:
This is a wonderful tale for those who enjoy horror and Greek mythology. This piece contains some body horror and gore that do well with the setting and plot. There are layers to this story that I personally enjoyed; it feels like an authentic Greek myth. Vengeful gods and goddesses left me on the edge of my seat.
“A Kiss from the Stars” by Scott McGregor:
As an author, I hope I never become quite as jaded as Eve. Yet even with her subsequent demeanor and inner thoughts at the beginning of the story, I could not help but fear for her. There are clever allusions to other works (particularly Stephen King’s Misery) that give moments of twisted humor without detracting from the suspense.
“Lock Horns” by Ryan Meyer:
From the beginning of this story, I was nervous. The most horrific part of this is the reality many face. This situation is not just fiction. It’s written in a way that sticks with you, that feels so real even with the fictitious portions. It’s difficult to say which part is most horrific. This is a memorable piece, at least for me.
“Purer Than Gold, Richer Than Wine” by L. Pine:
I adore stories that display how love, unrequited love in particular, can twist a person. The emotion poured into this piece had me not knowing who to empathize with. It sent chills along my spine.
“Moonlit Minotaur” by Samuel M. Hallan:
A modern day horror story with mysterious murders that opens with a witch. From it’s beginning, I was wondering what was going to happen. It kept me hooked with its suspense. I was not sure how it would end. This could be an interesting mini series if the author decides to do more.
“The Taurus Bull” by Eric Woods:
Is it a tall tale or real? Right away I was sucked into the story, wondering what the main characters were going to encounter. Wondering what was real and what was just story. Could it be figments of paranoid imaginations? Wanting to know the answer kept me reading through the end. I could picture everything clearly.
“The Twin Keepers” by Alex Tilley:
I was not sure where this was going to go when it began. As the tale unfolded, I was nervous for what I would encounter (not a bad thing with horror stories). This one kept me guessing and on my toes.
“You Die…I Die” by Jessica Huntley:
This tale opens with a bang, thrusting you straight into the horror of the characters’ situation. I was not sure how this was going to end; I very much enjoyed the use of the starsign in this. Having a dual-pov worked perfectly for this story. It reminded me a little of a Criminal Minds episode, albeit more horror-filled.
“A Shadow in Jackson Square” by R. Shannon:
This is a shorter piece, however it packs just as much of a punch as the others. I got chills at one point when I realized what was happening. It’s definitely memorable and has the suspense factor down to a T. This one would make a really good comic book.
“Homecoming” by Kassidy VanGundy:
It started out with a light, somewhat humorous note that grows into suspense and mystery. The horror builds in this story, which I could not put down. I rather enjoyed how things developed and I could once again picture everything perfectly! The sensations are near palpable.
“El Cangrejo” by Dan B. Fierce:
Another tale that mixes suspense and humor. We get to know our main character, which allows us to root for him, fear for him. The supernatural aspects of this tale are written perfectly, keeping the mood the entire time.
“Metamorphosis” by Kyra R. Torres:
This is a very poetic means of utilizing the Cancer star sign. There is a foreboding sense as you’re reading the poem, which flows off the page beautifully. The imagery is haunting.
“Lionheart” by Loki J. DeWitt:
This particular piece reminds me of nursery rhyme; where you can hear a child saying it despite the dark nature of the words. It perfectly highlights attributes of the Leo star sign as well.
“Purrfectly Matched” by Greta T. Bates:
Cat girls with hints of eroticism and horror? This story has it. In just a few pages, a whole world is created. It’s another piece where there could be an entire mini series written though it serves well as a standalone.
“Love & War” by Nadine Stewart:
Another poem that highlights characteristics of Leo. This piece is rather introspective. It has a somber tone mingled with potential supernatural elements (depending on if one takes the words figuratively or literally). I enjoyed the layers.
“The Virgin” by Brooklynn Dean:
It begins almost as a slice of life story, wherein we get to learn about our main character and the new person in his life. There’s an intriguing exploration of physical intimacy and desire that works perfectly with the star sign and story without taking away from the horror aspects.
“The Most Dangerous Sign” by Samantha Arthurs:
A nice poem that serves as a short story in itself about a serial killer. I liked seeing the evolution, from accidental to purposeful. And the use of newspaper was perfect.
“The Eternal Justice of Man” by Angel Krause:
Science fantasy and horror mixed into one. I really enjoyed the use of stardust and constellations in this piece. This is another piece that would make a good comic. It’s a dystopian Frankenstein in some ways.
“Carving Out Balance” by Brianna Malotke:
This poem is a perfect example of Libra rage. It tells an entire story, leaving you to think about the final stanza as you realize what has happened.
“The Lovers” by Sabrina Voerman:
We get to see an explosive union of Libra and Scorpio, seeing their different natures and how they collide. It truly uses their relationship to create an erotic horror tale worthy of its title when still more star signs come into play.
“Passive Aggressor” by Delliom Ellidom:
Well, this is certainly a poem that I wrote.
“Via Combusta” by Byron Griffin:
This poem has fantastic imagery and fits perfectly with the Scorpio star sign.With just a few words, a few stanzas, a picture was painted within my head.
“The Sting of Scorpius” by Kay Hanifen:
This story went a little differently than I thought it would when it first began. I enjoyed the mystery of it as well as the hints of humor. There was suspense, and it wasn’t difficult to empathize with the characters.
“Be Weary of the Scorpio” by Arabella K. Federico:
This is an interesting twist on vampires mingled with the zodiac. It created its own lore that has opened an entire world that could be explored in future pieces. I wasn’t sure where the story was headed when it began, but I am very much intrigued by it.
“Starship Sagittarius” by Damien Casey:
This one is a scifi piece that toys with American culture while in a sort of horror setting. It has some humor in its narrative as we follow our crew of nonhumans and humans. Its atmosphere reminded me of watching action cartoons on Saturday mornings, ready to see how the battles would unfold and who would survive.
“December 17, 1982” by Anthony Taylor:
This story opened strongly. It reminded me of something that you would see in the news. I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know how this one would end. The suspense was absolutely real in this one.
“Shot Through The Heart” by Taylor Pawley:
Fatal attraction? Be careful what you like on social media for sure. My jaw dropped when things started after the opening sequence. I hadn’t realized the story was going this way. This absolutely used the terrifying aspects of the zodiac.
“Shadow Goat” by Amanda Jaeger:
A story of utter obsession. It was the perfect move to write this in first person, to allow us to get into the head of the individual. I wasn’t sure what the narrator would do. There were so many possibilities, which created plenty of tension.
“The One Who Came to Save Her” by Nico Bell
The atmosphere of this story begins steeped in mystery. I was not sure which character to trust and which to suspect, so I started suspecting them all. Some of my early guesses were correct, and I loved how they were executed in the story.
“I See You: The Hunt of the Capricorn Witch” by S.L. Sherhart:
A witch hunting a serial killer? I hadn’t expected there to be a piece like this, and I am so glad there was! Who would be the hunter and who would be the prey in the end? It absolutely kept my interest from beginning to end.
“The Rage of Aquarius: A Ballade of Sorts” by Elias Chase:
This poem (ballade) embodies the rage of an Aquarius without holding back! It’s filled with gore without being tasteless. It has a haunting effect that had me rereading it almost immediately to relive the build-up to better appreciate that wonderful finale.
“Give Me Your Sorrow; Let Me Drink It In” by Aiden E. Messer:
I would absolutely like to not encounter this particular Aquarius. Truly horrific, the being is still intriguing as he displays some of the worst traits of this star sign interspersed with mentions of other aspects. There is a character I related to and rooted for, that I was thrilled to see.
“Sirens Unleashed” by Kirsten Aucoin:
This poem has very effective imagery. I would love to see artwork accompanying it. It’s again like one of those children’s nursery rhymes that’s dark and haunting but you might hear on a playground. Very memorable.
“Where The Fish Don’t Bite” by A.W. Mason:
This is not the sort of fishing horror story you see on the news. It’s the one that you absolutely hope will never happen in real life. Short but effective.
“Portent of Pisces” by Alana K. Drex:
This tale takes the zodiac and puts its own horror-filled spin on it. It begins with an omen that may be nothing more than the nonsensical rambles of an old woman. Or it could be something far worse.
“My Little Minnow” by Nina Tolstoy:
The way the zodiac is interwoven into this tale is the perfect set-up for the horrors to come. There’s a looming cloud of suspense as you’re reading. Waiting for what’s to come, how things will progress. It’s not unnecessarily descriptive for the horrific things that occur, for which I am grateful. Very well written.
February 9, 2023
Every one of these stories brings its own little slice of darkness to a macabre whole. I was struck by how well-researched and faithful these pieces were to their respective signs. The zodiac is such fertile ground for horror and the poetry was a really nice addition, breaking up the longer pieces with bite-sized chunks of terror.
Particular favourites were:
A Kiss from the Stars
You Die... I Die
Portent of Pisces
My Little Minnow
Some weren't for me, but there were truly no bad apples in this bunch. I often liked to read an entire sign in one sitting to get the feel for the particular traits that shaped the awful events around them. This is a binge-worthy anthology for sure!
This is a must for any horror fan, zodiac enthusiast, and particularly both...
Thank you to Harriet for the ARC and congrats everyone involved on a book worthy of the stars!
HorrorScope is available on February 20th. Don't miss it. 🔥
4.5 stars rounded up.
Particular favourites were:
A Kiss from the Stars
You Die... I Die
Portent of Pisces
My Little Minnow
Some weren't for me, but there were truly no bad apples in this bunch. I often liked to read an entire sign in one sitting to get the feel for the particular traits that shaped the awful events around them. This is a binge-worthy anthology for sure!
This is a must for any horror fan, zodiac enthusiast, and particularly both...
Thank you to Harriet for the ARC and congrats everyone involved on a book worthy of the stars!
HorrorScope is available on February 20th. Don't miss it. 🔥
4.5 stars rounded up.
November 16, 2023
Great narrator on audible, but I only liked maybe 3 of the stories in this anthology... I wouldn't recommend this book simply because I didn't enjoy it myself. It was hard in some of the stories to decipher which astrology sign they were referring to and it felt like most of them were about Taurus.
June 11, 2023
****FULL REVIEW TO COME****
January 21, 2024
It was a little bit hard rating this anthology because I enjoyed some stories more than others but overall I really enjoyed the book.
I was entertained and on some stories I was on the edge of my seat wanting to read more.
I found new authors that I would love to read more of because their stories kept me entertained and wanting to read more of their work.
I will absolutely be reading more of this series. I already have Volume 2 waiting to be read and I can't wait to dig into it.
I was entertained and on some stories I was on the edge of my seat wanting to read more.
I found new authors that I would love to read more of because their stories kept me entertained and wanting to read more of their work.
I will absolutely be reading more of this series. I already have Volume 2 waiting to be read and I can't wait to dig into it.
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