maxoliveira's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
harleyqueen's review against another edition
I did not enjoy ANY of the stories made me not want to read
marplatense's review against another edition
4.0
Una serie de historias muy diferentes a lo que yo esperaba (digamos que basandome solo en el título y la tapa). Me imaginé mucho splatter y sentimientos de soledad (a la Self-made man) pero resultó distinto a eso.
Con bajos niveles de gore y no mucho creepiness (honrosas excepciones en el cuento de Paul Tremblay -que, como bonus point, aprovecha las posibilidades de modernizar el Elige tu propia aventura en el soporte de un Kindle y la historia de Ramsey Campbell, la cual incluye bosques y dioses antiguos, o sea que no puedo pedir más), hay varias historias que pega duro a nivel de sentimientos (Picking splinters from a sex slave, On the other side of the door everything changes y Cards for his spokes coins for his fare), lo que me imagino era el objetivo del libro. Con respecto al resto de las historias, no pude relacionarme mucho con la historia de Gaiman porque mis niveles de C. S. Lewis son bajos y una agradable sorpresa en la historia de Kevin Lucia: en la mayor parte de la misma no me pareció interesante, incluso pensé en abandonarla, pero mi paciencia fue recompensada en los últimos parrafos con un esplendoroso final.
Con bajos niveles de gore y no mucho creepiness (honrosas excepciones en el cuento de Paul Tremblay -que, como bonus point, aprovecha las posibilidades de modernizar el Elige tu propia aventura en el soporte de un Kindle y la historia de Ramsey Campbell, la cual incluye bosques y dioses antiguos, o sea que no puedo pedir más), hay varias historias que pega duro a nivel de sentimientos (Picking splinters from a sex slave, On the other side of the door everything changes y Cards for his spokes coins for his fare), lo que me imagino era el objetivo del libro. Con respecto al resto de las historias, no pude relacionarme mucho con la historia de Gaiman porque mis niveles de C. S. Lewis son bajos y una agradable sorpresa en la historia de Kevin Lucia: en la mayor parte de la misma no me pareció interesante, incluso pensé en abandonarla, pero mi paciencia fue recompensada en los últimos parrafos con un esplendoroso final.
lamusadelils's review against another edition
3.0
Si son historias muy bellas pero me sorprendió que por ejemplo de Neil Gaiman (jajaja mi autocorrector le dice Caimán) estuviera The problem with Susan :/
eleanor_nicbhatair's review against another edition
4.0
I'm trying to read more spooky and horror stories and I feel that was a great place to start. I liked the majority of the short stories but these 3 were me favourite:
1. The Problem of Susan by Neil Gaiman
2. Water Thy Bones by Mercedes M. Yardley
3. The One You Live With by Josh Malerman
I would really recommend this collection to anyone looking to try this genre out.
1. The Problem of Susan by Neil Gaiman
2. Water Thy Bones by Mercedes M. Yardley
3. The One You Live With by Josh Malerman
I would really recommend this collection to anyone looking to try this genre out.
vondav's review against another edition
5.0
What can I say about this book, 15 short stories and a poem makes this book a great read.
Every story was different but what each one had in common was the way they were all beautifully written, the words just flowed to make such great stories. Like everyone who reads a collection of short stories I did have my favourites but I enjoyed reading every one of them and there was not a single one that I did not enjoy.
I will just mention the ones I enjoyed the most.
Arbeit Macht Frei by Lisa Mannetti. Eligia is remembering her time in a Nazi run concentration camp. This story shows that not all horror stories involve paranormal monsters, but human beings are as evil. Reading this gave me the shivers, we have all heard what happened to people in these camps, but the way it was written from a child’s POV made this more real.
Picking Splinters from a Sex Slave by Brian Kirk. Most of us have heard on the news of young girls that have been found after being abducted years before, but we never hear about the recovery period. This story is about the after effects of Meagan’s abduction and what lengths her dad has to go through to help her recovery. This would be any parent’s nightmare and as a mom of a daughter I don’t know if I could do what her dad did.
Water Thy Bones by Mercedes M Yardley. This story easily explains that beauty is not skin deep. Two troubled people meet up, Michael with a fascination of bones and Nikilie who wants someone to love her not just for her beauty on the outside. This story was so tastefully written, that I had tears in my eyes at the end of the story and even though you did not expect it, it was a beautiful ending.
On the other side of the door, everything changes by Damien Angelica Walters. A very topical story thanks to the popularity of social media. I have been lucky that I have never had to have a conversation with my teenagers on the other side of the door, but my heart went out to the mom wanting to know what is wrong and trying to find the right words. Both my teenagers understand Cyber bullying and the consequences but this story really explained it in such a dramatic way. I would get every child who delves in to social media to read this story as I think that it would stop a lot of them making the mistake of posting pictures.
When we all meet at the Ofrenda by Kevin Lucia. Day of the dead is a special holiday to celebrate the lives of your deceased loved ones, but for Whitey, this one was the first one he celebrated without his wife. This story was heart breaking and you could sense Whitey’s loses. What you don’t expect is the involvement of his sons. That is all I am saying
What has not been mentioned is the beautiful artwork from the cover to the pictures that accompanies each story. A great book and although I have read a couple of the author’s other books there are now more authors for me to look out for
Every story was different but what each one had in common was the way they were all beautifully written, the words just flowed to make such great stories. Like everyone who reads a collection of short stories I did have my favourites but I enjoyed reading every one of them and there was not a single one that I did not enjoy.
I will just mention the ones I enjoyed the most.
Arbeit Macht Frei by Lisa Mannetti. Eligia is remembering her time in a Nazi run concentration camp. This story shows that not all horror stories involve paranormal monsters, but human beings are as evil. Reading this gave me the shivers, we have all heard what happened to people in these camps, but the way it was written from a child’s POV made this more real.
Picking Splinters from a Sex Slave by Brian Kirk. Most of us have heard on the news of young girls that have been found after being abducted years before, but we never hear about the recovery period. This story is about the after effects of Meagan’s abduction and what lengths her dad has to go through to help her recovery. This would be any parent’s nightmare and as a mom of a daughter I don’t know if I could do what her dad did.
Water Thy Bones by Mercedes M Yardley. This story easily explains that beauty is not skin deep. Two troubled people meet up, Michael with a fascination of bones and Nikilie who wants someone to love her not just for her beauty on the outside. This story was so tastefully written, that I had tears in my eyes at the end of the story and even though you did not expect it, it was a beautiful ending.
On the other side of the door, everything changes by Damien Angelica Walters. A very topical story thanks to the popularity of social media. I have been lucky that I have never had to have a conversation with my teenagers on the other side of the door, but my heart went out to the mom wanting to know what is wrong and trying to find the right words. Both my teenagers understand Cyber bullying and the consequences but this story really explained it in such a dramatic way. I would get every child who delves in to social media to read this story as I think that it would stop a lot of them making the mistake of posting pictures.
When we all meet at the Ofrenda by Kevin Lucia. Day of the dead is a special holiday to celebrate the lives of your deceased loved ones, but for Whitey, this one was the first one he celebrated without his wife. This story was heart breaking and you could sense Whitey’s loses. What you don’t expect is the involvement of his sons. That is all I am saying
What has not been mentioned is the beautiful artwork from the cover to the pictures that accompanies each story. A great book and although I have read a couple of the author’s other books there are now more authors for me to look out for
jamessabata's review against another edition
5.0
It’s one thing to expect a book to sell well when it features short stories by the likes of Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, and Ramsey Campbell. It is another when every story in the book is a solid look at horror with some sort of light still shining at the end of it. Such is the case with Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories. We’ve grown accustomed to horror that pulls us into the depths and leaves us there, but this compilation shows that even at the worst times, humans instinctively cling to any ray of hope they can find. While it may not be the hope they thought they were looking for, sometimes, it’s still enough.
Stephanie M. Wytovich sets the tone for the anthology with her poem, “The Morning After Was Filled with Bone.” But the next story, Brian Kirk’s “Picking Splinters from A Sex Slave” kicked me upside the head, leaving me truly considering the lengths I would travel to help my own daughter. Lisa Mannetti’s story of a Nazi concentration camp follows this trend, forcing the reader to understand how far others would go to help people they barely know. Neil Gaiman’s contribution to this anthology, “The Problem with Susan” ripped apart a chunk of my childhood.
Each story in this anthology comes at you full steam. Christopher Coake’s “Dominion” and Mercedes M. Yardley’s “Water Thy Bones” are each a solid addition. I found myself thinking about them hours after I’d finished them. Paul Tremblay’s “A Haunted House is a Wheel Upon Which Some Are Broken,” however, took it to another level. I don’t want to spoil it, but to say this is the story I had the most fun reading is a very true statement, as messed up as that sounds in a review of a horror book. It’s a fantastic romp through a haunted house set to a tone that brought back my childhood. Trust me when I tell you not to leave the house until you’ve been in every room.
Damien Angelica Walters brings us an all too real look at the kind of life teenagers face today in “On the Other Side of the Door, Everything Changes.” The rejection that character faces from the ones she needs the most follow the rejection she’s already endured. If that’s not horror, I don’t know what is. Richard Thomas offers “Repent” a story about how everyday life is as rigged as a carnival game. Horror Master Clive Barker hits us with his story “Coming to Grief,” in which a young woman returns to her hometown for her mother’s funeral. She finds that the thing that she feared the most as a child is now disappointingly safe, having no idea that it’s more unstable than she believes.
My favorite story in the collection, John F.D. Taff’s, “Cards for his Spokes, Coins for his Fare,” brought back memories of my childhood, riding my bike where I wasn’t supposed to. True beauty lies in the fog in that house. “Cellar’s Dog” by Amanda Gowin, tells the tale of a woman who finds beauty in places she would have never imagined. It might be fleeting, but it changes her life forever. Kevin Lucia’s “When We All Meet at the Ofrenda” made me truly care about the protagonist and continued that theme I liked at the beginning of what we’d do for our loved ones. “Hey, Little Sister” by Maria Alexander continued that with a character seeking revenge to make things up to his beloved sister.
Josh Malerman is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. His story, “The One You Live With” only increased that love. If there is one story that really stuck with me from this book, this is it. It was the second one I read (I’m not afraid to admit I didn’t read them in order) and I’m still thinking about the ramifications of what I read ten days later. Ramsey Campbell closes the book with his tale, “A Place of Revelation.” It’s a tale of a boy with an ability to see things he never asked to see.
Overall, this book is everything I wanted it to be and so much more. I can’t get over the amazing interior art work, created by Luke Spooner, either. This is a quality book from cover to cover. If this team keeps cranking out anthologies at this level, I see nothing but great things happening for them.
Highly recommended.
5/5
Stephanie M. Wytovich sets the tone for the anthology with her poem, “The Morning After Was Filled with Bone.” But the next story, Brian Kirk’s “Picking Splinters from A Sex Slave” kicked me upside the head, leaving me truly considering the lengths I would travel to help my own daughter. Lisa Mannetti’s story of a Nazi concentration camp follows this trend, forcing the reader to understand how far others would go to help people they barely know. Neil Gaiman’s contribution to this anthology, “The Problem with Susan” ripped apart a chunk of my childhood.
Each story in this anthology comes at you full steam. Christopher Coake’s “Dominion” and Mercedes M. Yardley’s “Water Thy Bones” are each a solid addition. I found myself thinking about them hours after I’d finished them. Paul Tremblay’s “A Haunted House is a Wheel Upon Which Some Are Broken,” however, took it to another level. I don’t want to spoil it, but to say this is the story I had the most fun reading is a very true statement, as messed up as that sounds in a review of a horror book. It’s a fantastic romp through a haunted house set to a tone that brought back my childhood. Trust me when I tell you not to leave the house until you’ve been in every room.
Damien Angelica Walters brings us an all too real look at the kind of life teenagers face today in “On the Other Side of the Door, Everything Changes.” The rejection that character faces from the ones she needs the most follow the rejection she’s already endured. If that’s not horror, I don’t know what is. Richard Thomas offers “Repent” a story about how everyday life is as rigged as a carnival game. Horror Master Clive Barker hits us with his story “Coming to Grief,” in which a young woman returns to her hometown for her mother’s funeral. She finds that the thing that she feared the most as a child is now disappointingly safe, having no idea that it’s more unstable than she believes.
My favorite story in the collection, John F.D. Taff’s, “Cards for his Spokes, Coins for his Fare,” brought back memories of my childhood, riding my bike where I wasn’t supposed to. True beauty lies in the fog in that house. “Cellar’s Dog” by Amanda Gowin, tells the tale of a woman who finds beauty in places she would have never imagined. It might be fleeting, but it changes her life forever. Kevin Lucia’s “When We All Meet at the Ofrenda” made me truly care about the protagonist and continued that theme I liked at the beginning of what we’d do for our loved ones. “Hey, Little Sister” by Maria Alexander continued that with a character seeking revenge to make things up to his beloved sister.
Josh Malerman is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. His story, “The One You Live With” only increased that love. If there is one story that really stuck with me from this book, this is it. It was the second one I read (I’m not afraid to admit I didn’t read them in order) and I’m still thinking about the ramifications of what I read ten days later. Ramsey Campbell closes the book with his tale, “A Place of Revelation.” It’s a tale of a boy with an ability to see things he never asked to see.
Overall, this book is everything I wanted it to be and so much more. I can’t get over the amazing interior art work, created by Luke Spooner, either. This is a quality book from cover to cover. If this team keeps cranking out anthologies at this level, I see nothing but great things happening for them.
Highly recommended.
5/5
lanternsjourney's review against another edition
5.0
This anthology was exactly as advertised: beautiful horror stories. It didn't skimp on either. I cried and I cringed. This is the second collection of stories I've read that have been edited by Doug Murano that I've felt deserve all 5 stars. It's filled with well known authors along side little known authors, but if they weren't named you wouldn't be able to tell which was which. They all belong. And let me just say, definite trigger warnings for animal and sexual abuse. I know those are biggies for people. Each topic is handled respectfully, I feel, addressing the silver lining in the storm clouds.
I purposely waited a while after finishing the book to write this review so that I could more easily pick my favorites. All the stories were great, but these in particular have stuck with me:
The Morning After was Filled with Bone
Picking Splinters from a Sex Slave
Arbeit Macht Frei
A Haunted House is a Wheel Upon Which Some are Broken
Coming to Grief
Cellar's Dog
When we All Meet at the Offrenda
I purposely waited a while after finishing the book to write this review so that I could more easily pick my favorites. All the stories were great, but these in particular have stuck with me:
The Morning After was Filled with Bone
Picking Splinters from a Sex Slave
Arbeit Macht Frei
A Haunted House is a Wheel Upon Which Some are Broken
Coming to Grief
Cellar's Dog
When we All Meet at the Offrenda
l1ttlel1braryn00k's review against another edition
5.0
I love short horror stories and this one is by far my favorite! The book is made up of different authors who all have their take on horror, spooks, and gore. Each author leaves a chill down my spine with a different story. I do want to say that certain stories are more gory with heavy hitting themes, so precede with caution.