curiosityboughtthebook's review
4.0
Also reviewed on www.curiosityboughtthebook.com
A 4 skull read
An anthology packed with talent and spooky horror stories taking place right here in the U.S. of A? Sign me up! Diabolica Americana has something for everyone. I found some authors that I already loved within these pages, but also some I’ve never encountered before.
As always, let me tell you about some of my favorite stories.
“Regrets Never Die” by Rhonda J. Joseph, is the story of a woman who is literally haunted by her past. I could sense the heartbreak and pain in this story, and the end left me shocked and teary-eyed.
“The Iron Coffin” by Laurel Hightower. A short story that shows us that some things are better left buried.
“Down the Hill fell Jack and Jill” by Vivian R. Kasley. You think being stuck in the house with your loved ones every day during the pandemic is hard? Well, trust me, Jack and Jill had it worse. I loved this one.
Lastly, I’d like to mention “East” by Nick Moorefox. This story had such a dream-like quality to it, that I almost felt myself floating through the pages. Very well written.
Thank you to the editor for the early review copy. Make sure to pick up your copies on Halloween night!
A 4 skull read
An anthology packed with talent and spooky horror stories taking place right here in the U.S. of A? Sign me up! Diabolica Americana has something for everyone. I found some authors that I already loved within these pages, but also some I’ve never encountered before.
As always, let me tell you about some of my favorite stories.
“Regrets Never Die” by Rhonda J. Joseph, is the story of a woman who is literally haunted by her past. I could sense the heartbreak and pain in this story, and the end left me shocked and teary-eyed.
“The Iron Coffin” by Laurel Hightower. A short story that shows us that some things are better left buried.
“Down the Hill fell Jack and Jill” by Vivian R. Kasley. You think being stuck in the house with your loved ones every day during the pandemic is hard? Well, trust me, Jack and Jill had it worse. I loved this one.
Lastly, I’d like to mention “East” by Nick Moorefox. This story had such a dream-like quality to it, that I almost felt myself floating through the pages. Very well written.
Thank you to the editor for the early review copy. Make sure to pick up your copies on Halloween night!
evavroslin's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
There are some pieces in this anthology that are on another level entirely. Rhonda Jackson Joseph's "Regrets Never Die" is chief among them. The story starts off with the voice of an engaging narrator who is done putting up with negative forces in their life. With a unique spin on zombies, set in the backwoods of East Texas, this story features powerful metaphors about secrets and who we tell them to. Trigger warnings include abuse and assault and harm to infants.
Hexenmeister from Sara Tantlinger is another excellent entry; one of the lines in particular is memorable:
"People like you, who steal power from others and call it your own, your time is ending"
The next favourite story for me was Gabino Iglesias's dark tale, "Black Teeth" about a man, Pedro, mourning the death of his wife while trying to look after his baby daughter, Natalia. Just when you think it couldn't possibly get darker, it does.
Hexenmeister from Sara Tantlinger is another excellent entry; one of the lines in particular is memorable:
"People like you, who steal power from others and call it your own, your time is ending"
The next favourite story for me was Gabino Iglesias's dark tale, "Black Teeth" about a man, Pedro, mourning the death of his wife while trying to look after his baby daughter, Natalia. Just when you think it couldn't possibly get darker, it does.
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