A review by vampirehelpdesk
It Was All A Dream: An Anthology of Bad Horror Tropes Done Right by Helena O'Connor, Laurel Hightower, Cormack Baldwin, Eric Raglin, Madison McSweeney, Gabino Iglesias, Erin Brown, Drew E. Huff, Gemma Files, LC von Hessen, Alex Woodroe, Angela Sylvaine, Wendy N. Wagner, K.A. Wiggins, Erin Keating, Nikki R. Leigh, J.V. Gachs, Laird Barron, Tom Coombe, Belicia Rhea, Brandon Applegate, Taylor Rae, Hailey Piper, Patrick Barb, Die Booth, Edward Lodi, Danielle Davis, Lyndon Nicholas
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Least favorites: It Wasn't a Wedding Cake; Hollywood Werewolf Conspiracy; Pizza Curse.
As a whole, this is one of the better small-press anthologies I've come across. Interesting prompt/theme, but more interesting is how each author interpreted it. In full honesty, some interpretations of "doing it right" means muddling things down and making horror more wholesome, which I do not personally enjoy. However, those that chose to rely on the tropes as a backbone to their own twist I think succeeded in surprising, diverse ways. Most importantly, I found this collection engaging and eclectic, so I think anyone can find a winner within.
P.S. The drawings in this book are palpably done by a furry, and no, I don't need to fact-check that for myself.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Animal death
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Islamophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Dementia, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Hate crime, Alcoholism, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Death, Gore, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Colonisation, Homophobia, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Violence, Body horror, Sexual assault, Sexism, Vomit, Cannibalism, Classism, Cursing, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, and Stalking