walrusgroon's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
torrie_reads's review
4.75
Thoughts
⚠️ mention of suicidal thoughts
.
.
.
.
"Mom wanted to kill herself. She said so more times than I can count. Other than telling me my father was only good for money, that was probably the most common phrase uttered in our house."
I bought this because nothing scares me quite like human monsters. How fitting that this is an anthology of 36 stories about human monsters.
"People say revenge doesn't take away the pain, but standing on the embankment under the cloudless sky, Drea feels euphoric. "
These were disturbing and brilliant. There were some I didn't care for, but there are so many good ones in here that it is worth it. There are more good ones than not.
This one is going in my top short stories collection. If you wanna read something that has you double checking the locks and a little scared then this is perfect.
⚠️ mention of suicidal thoughts
.
.
.
.
"Mom wanted to kill herself. She said so more times than I can count. Other than telling me my father was only good for money, that was probably the most common phrase uttered in our house."
I bought this because nothing scares me quite like human monsters. How fitting that this is an anthology of 36 stories about human monsters.
"People say revenge doesn't take away the pain, but standing on the embankment under the cloudless sky, Drea feels euphoric. "
These were disturbing and brilliant. There were some I didn't care for, but there are so many good ones in here that it is worth it. There are more good ones than not.
This one is going in my top short stories collection. If you wanna read something that has you double checking the locks and a little scared then this is perfect.
etakloknok's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lynnelovesbooks's review
3.5
Big range of quality of stories in this anthology. Some were great! Some were not.
booklovingcatmom's review
DNF at 35%
But more accurately, not right now; because I do want to return and finish this anthology in the future. I’m just not in a place right now where I want to read about humans being ugly to each other. I’ve also stepped away from the True Crime Bookclub I’d been participating in because I’m just burnt out with that content at this time.
I received an E-copy in exchange for an honest review so I was pushing myself through it and it was negatively affecting my reading experience because I just did not want to read these kind of stories after I got home from work and it was becoming a chore.
Thank you SO much to the editor for my review copy and I do hope to return to this at some point.
From what I did finish, I found a new-to-me horror author that I’ll be watching for new stories and I think I like Kepnes’ story in this collection even more than I liked You.
Definitely recommend to horror fans - I think if you’re in the right headspace to read about nasty humans, this is a great collection.
But more accurately, not right now; because I do want to return and finish this anthology in the future. I’m just not in a place right now where I want to read about humans being ugly to each other. I’ve also stepped away from the True Crime Bookclub I’d been participating in because I’m just burnt out with that content at this time.
I received an E-copy in exchange for an honest review so I was pushing myself through it and it was negatively affecting my reading experience because I just did not want to read these kind of stories after I got home from work and it was becoming a chore.
Thank you SO much to the editor for my review copy and I do hope to return to this at some point.
From what I did finish, I found a new-to-me horror author that I’ll be watching for new stories and I think I like Kepnes’ story in this collection even more than I liked You.
Definitely recommend to horror fans - I think if you’re in the right headspace to read about nasty humans, this is a great collection.
veeeark's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
whimsyqueen's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
indiepauli47's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Incredible short story collection; not a single story is bad, 35 amazing authors tackling in their own way the horror of human nature.
Maybe a couple of stories were less enticing than the others, but all in all, it's a perfect collection, very creepy and unsettling.
Some great authors that I've already read from before, and some new ones, that I'll need to watch for other works.
Maybe a couple of stories were less enticing than the others, but all in all, it's a perfect collection, very creepy and unsettling.
Some great authors that I've already read from before, and some new ones, that I'll need to watch for other works.
beanodie75's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Suicide, Gore, Violence, and Sexual violence