A review by kitten_nuisance
The Best Horror of the Year Volume Four, by Ellen Datlow
3.0
This book has taken me a long time to “finish” because I refused to accept that I didn’t want to read the last story, no matter how many times I started it. I am finally coming to terms with that.
There are some really haunting, standout stories here, but of course, also some that are less so. Let’s see what I think. . .
Amazing, loved:
Stay by Leah Bobet
Mulberry Boys by Margo Lanagan (what a concept; very uncomfortable!!)
Roots and All by Brian Hodge
Final Girl Theory by A. C. Wise (What I wish Night Film was! . . .)
Omphalos by Livia Llewellyn
Final Verse by Chet Williamson
Meh:
The Little Green God of Agony by Stephen King
The Moraine by Simon Bestwick
Looker by David Nickle
Dermot by Simon Bestwick
Black Feathers by Alison J. Littlewood
Didn’t like or couldn’t bring myself to read:
Blackwood's Baby by Laird Barron (this is the only one I skipped, other than the last one)
The Show by Priya Sharma
In the Absence of Murdock by Terry Lamsley
You Become the Neighborhood by Glen Hirshberg
In Paris, In the Mouth of Kronos by John Langan
Little Pig by Anna Taborska
The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine by Peter Straub
I didn’t remember disliking so many of these! The ones I did like definitely stuck with me more. However, at this point, I think I can only give three stars overall.
There are some really haunting, standout stories here, but of course, also some that are less so. Let’s see what I think. . .
Amazing, loved:
Stay by Leah Bobet
Mulberry Boys by Margo Lanagan (what a concept; very uncomfortable!!)
Roots and All by Brian Hodge
Final Girl Theory by A. C. Wise (What I wish Night Film was! . . .)
Omphalos by Livia Llewellyn
Final Verse by Chet Williamson
Meh:
The Little Green God of Agony by Stephen King
The Moraine by Simon Bestwick
Looker by David Nickle
Dermot by Simon Bestwick
Black Feathers by Alison J. Littlewood
Didn’t like or couldn’t bring myself to read:
Blackwood's Baby by Laird Barron (this is the only one I skipped, other than the last one)
The Show by Priya Sharma
In the Absence of Murdock by Terry Lamsley
You Become the Neighborhood by Glen Hirshberg
In Paris, In the Mouth of Kronos by John Langan
Little Pig by Anna Taborska
The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine by Peter Straub
I didn’t remember disliking so many of these! The ones I did like definitely stuck with me more. However, at this point, I think I can only give three stars overall.