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bronaghoneill96's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
3.5
sammuowo's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
3.5 ⭐️
Stale Air: 3.75 ⭐️
I really enjoyed Quenell’s story craft and found the siren to be quite fascinating. I just felt there was a little left to be desired—we don’t get to know why this ‘angel’ can’t heal Dad, nor did I get a sense of closure. I would have liked another page or two, at the least.
I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray: 2 ⭐️
I couldn’t really find a sense of place, and I get the idea is to be lost in this never ending death and bloodshed, but I still would have liked at least one scene where I felt grounded. It kind of had a grip at the end, but it still wasn’t enough for me to get into this story at all. Cool concept though.
Apate’s Children: 3 ⭐️
I had to look up the mythology behind this before I could appreciate what I was reading, but it still didn’t really fit what I think the author was trying to achieve. I think it would have been neat if Apate appeared as a haggard form of his mistress, as that would have added more layers to this story as well as pay more homage to the Apate mythology, but that’s just my thoughts on it.
Start Today!: 5 💫
This one was whack and I loved every second of it. I think it was a really fascinating concept and I would have loved to have more pages in this story, but it also is just perfect as it is. I really could picture everything going on and I found myself cringing from some of the mutilation—but that’s definitely a good thing! I want to read more from Lutz for sure.
Stale Air: 3.75 ⭐️
I really enjoyed Quenell’s story craft and found the siren to be quite fascinating. I just felt there was a little left to be desired—we don’t get to know why this ‘angel’ can’t heal Dad, nor did I get a sense of closure. I would have liked another page or two, at the least.
I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray: 2 ⭐️
I couldn’t really find a sense of place, and I get the idea is to be lost in this never ending death and bloodshed, but I still would have liked at least one scene where I felt grounded. It kind of had a grip at the end, but it still wasn’t enough for me to get into this story at all. Cool concept though.
Apate’s Children: 3 ⭐️
I had to look up the mythology behind this before I could appreciate what I was reading, but it still didn’t really fit what I think the author was trying to achieve. I think it would have been neat if Apate appeared as a haggard form of his mistress, as that would have added more layers to this story as well as pay more homage to the Apate mythology, but that’s just my thoughts on it.
Start Today!: 5 💫
This one was whack and I loved every second of it. I think it was a really fascinating concept and I would have loved to have more pages in this story, but it also is just perfect as it is. I really could picture everything going on and I found myself cringing from some of the mutilation—but that’s definitely a good thing! I want to read more from Lutz for sure.
melodon's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.0
I give this a strong 4. Stale Air and Start Today were my favorite stories, though they were all phenomenal
vampirehelpdesk's review
4.0
One hell of a gross book, but very well written. Read on an empty stomach.
macclown's review
4.0
This was such a good little selection of short stories!
'I Know Not The Names of The Gods To Whom I Pray' by Sam Richard was incredible. The imagery the metaphor. Superb, honestly. So beautifully written.
The final story, 'Start Today' by Justin Lutz, was also pretty great. I think if it had been fleshed out more (pun intended) it would be a fantastic read. I just wish there was more of it really!
'I Know Not The Names of The Gods To Whom I Pray' by Sam Richard was incredible. The imagery the metaphor. Superb, honestly. So beautifully written.
The final story, 'Start Today' by Justin Lutz, was also pretty great. I think if it had been fleshed out more (pun intended) it would be a fantastic read. I just wish there was more of it really!
tbutton's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
nwreader's review
5.0
This super short anthology gives so many great moments of deep psychological horror and atmospheric scenes---love love love.
STALE AIR was unique and had an unexpected ending. This story was the one that made me stop eating while reading it because it had a gross moment. Love when a story gets me to react like that
STALE AIR was unique and had an unexpected ending. This story was the one that made me stop eating while reading it because it had a gross moment. Love when a story gets me to react like that
readingvicariously's review
5.0
“Stale Air” by Jo Quenell - a young man visits his absent father to work out some resentments, and discovers something both horrifying and miraculous. Excellent dialogue and tension-building, plus a creepy twist and some gross out horror!
“I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray” by @sammytotep - a man struggling to deal with grief and heartache over the loss of a loved one. It’s graphically violent, poetic, and achingly beautiful.
“Apate’s Children” by @brendanvidito - a man must deal over and over with shame of infidelity, his guilt manifesting in a series of increasingly bizarre and brutal horrors. To say more would be too much, but it’s genuinely weird and frightening. Possibly my favorite of the collection.
“Start Today” by @loseyourghost - a man who struggles with self-esteem joins a support group for guys who want to become better versions of themselves. This one holds its cards close in the first half, then turns to grimace-inducing body horror in the second half. Loved it.
All four of these stories are 5 ⭐️ reads, making this a collection that’s easy to recommend. It’s a tiny-but-powerful book. Loved the variety of ideas and writing styles, and these stories are ripe for further readings.
“I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray” by @sammytotep - a man struggling to deal with grief and heartache over the loss of a loved one. It’s graphically violent, poetic, and achingly beautiful.
“Apate’s Children” by @brendanvidito - a man must deal over and over with shame of infidelity, his guilt manifesting in a series of increasingly bizarre and brutal horrors. To say more would be too much, but it’s genuinely weird and frightening. Possibly my favorite of the collection.
“Start Today” by @loseyourghost - a man who struggles with self-esteem joins a support group for guys who want to become better versions of themselves. This one holds its cards close in the first half, then turns to grimace-inducing body horror in the second half. Loved it.
All four of these stories are 5 ⭐️ reads, making this a collection that’s easy to recommend. It’s a tiny-but-powerful book. Loved the variety of ideas and writing styles, and these stories are ripe for further readings.
morganjanedavis's review
5.0
Teenage Grave is a tiny 68-page thing, comprised of 4 tales of disgust and depravity. Each story brings a unique element to the anthology, leaving the reader with the heebie jeebies one way or another. Here’s what I think of each one individually (without divulging a lot bc these are rlly short):
Stale Air by Jo Quenell:
A touching family reunion, solidified by the presence of something supernatural (and stinky). Loved the imagery surrounding the supernatural element + the implication that Jason better get ready to fill his dad’s shoes. Nice.
I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray by Sam Richard:
A cycle, repeating, forever. The body horror depicted was impactful for such a short story. The prose creates its own aesthetic, which is only amplified by the gore.
Apate’s Children by Brendan Vidito:
Guilt over betraying a loved one alone is hard to bear. What if another force was there to ensure you paid the price? Apate and her children were terrifying to visualize, but I loved doing it all the same.
Start Today by Justin Lutz:
Join a support group to rid yourself of your insecurities! Become a REAL MAN. What could go wrong? What a wild concept, I wasn’t expecting what lie ahead for Miles and I never would have. Gross and very fun.
Buy this book! The cover is sick and the stories are sicker. If you’re unsure about horror anthologies but, want to get into them, I’d go with this quick one to start.
Stale Air by Jo Quenell:
A touching family reunion, solidified by the presence of something supernatural (and stinky). Loved the imagery surrounding the supernatural element + the implication that Jason better get ready to fill his dad’s shoes. Nice.
I Know Not the Names of the Gods to Whom I Pray by Sam Richard:
A cycle, repeating, forever. The body horror depicted was impactful for such a short story. The prose creates its own aesthetic, which is only amplified by the gore.
Apate’s Children by Brendan Vidito:
Guilt over betraying a loved one alone is hard to bear. What if another force was there to ensure you paid the price? Apate and her children were terrifying to visualize, but I loved doing it all the same.
Start Today by Justin Lutz:
Join a support group to rid yourself of your insecurities! Become a REAL MAN. What could go wrong? What a wild concept, I wasn’t expecting what lie ahead for Miles and I never would have. Gross and very fun.
Buy this book! The cover is sick and the stories are sicker. If you’re unsure about horror anthologies but, want to get into them, I’d go with this quick one to start.
voidedlux's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Teenage Grave is a compact 68-page horror anthology from indie publisher, Filthy Loot. There are four short stories within this extremely well-designed piece, each focusing on the hallmark qualities of indie, underground horror.
STALE AIR - Jo Quenell.
Starts with an estranged family reunion chock-full of unsettling tension, ends with something disturbing and slimy. Unexpected!
I KNOW NOT THE NAMES OF THE GODS TO WHOM I PRAY - Sam Richard.
Intimate and tragic portrayal of grief. Sam Richard shows us how grief can be tortuously cyclical.
APATE’S CHILDREN - Brendan Vidito.
Atonement and grief, as told through a bite-sized Greek retelling of Apate. Gore and desperation lived within this short’s pages.
START TODAY - Justin Lutz.
Start Today’s main character stumbles upon an emotional support group for men, aiming to transform his life into something of his own design. Body horror for the gods.
Teenage Grave is a perfect taste of indie horror, for new and seasoned horror readers.
Start Today was my favorite within this collection, but there is a little something for everyone.
STALE AIR - Jo Quenell.
Starts with an estranged family reunion chock-full of unsettling tension, ends with something disturbing and slimy. Unexpected!
I KNOW NOT THE NAMES OF THE GODS TO WHOM I PRAY - Sam Richard.
Intimate and tragic portrayal of grief. Sam Richard shows us how grief can be tortuously cyclical.
APATE’S CHILDREN - Brendan Vidito.
Atonement and grief, as told through a bite-sized Greek retelling of Apate. Gore and desperation lived within this short’s pages.
START TODAY - Justin Lutz.
Start Today’s main character stumbles upon an emotional support group for men, aiming to transform his life into something of his own design. Body horror for the gods.
Teenage Grave is a perfect taste of indie horror, for new and seasoned horror readers.
Start Today was my favorite within this collection, but there is a little something for everyone.