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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.
Each story felt like its own unique world! I enjoyed every single one.
These are excellent, strange, and creative stories about sapphic villains. All of these writers are so talented. While I think all of the stories are perfection, some of the stories that stood out to me are Gladys Glows at Night by Hatteras Mange, The Lady of the House on Legs by Ariel Marken Jack, Teratoma, Cacodaemon, Erinya by Avra Margariti, Modern Art Curse, Mixed Media by Hailey Piper, Gingerbread Red by Chloe Spencer, and Our Lady of Devouring Violence by Cheyanne Brabo. The bonus story by Eric Raglin, The Call of the Sea, was more funny than scary in my opinion but I still really enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun reading this anthology and looking forwards to reading more from Brigids Gate Press.
"Scissor Sisters" intrigued me from the start with its premise of sapphic villains and horror. As someone who enjoys exploring the darker side of storytelling, I was eager to see how love stories could be twisted into terrifying tales, and this anthology did not disappoint.
What sets "Scissor Sisters" apart is its respect for the reader. While I've read many anthologies where the quality of stories varies greatly, each tale in this collection felt meticulously crafted and thought-provoking. From the primal fear stirred by "Gladys Glows" to the time-bending storyline of "Pilgrim of the Worlds," each story offered a unique perspective on horror.
One standout was "Buckshin for Linen," which delved into themes of intergenerational trauma and colonialism, offering a chilling exploration of historical horrors. "Family Planning" also left a lasting impression, with its unnerving portrayal of the lengths characters would go to become parents.
I appreciated the diverse range of topics covered in "Scissor Sisters," from retellings of classic tales like "Gingerbread Red" - Grethel and Hansen - to the modern twist on Frankenstein found in "Ungrateful Dead Things."
It's rare to find a horror anthology where every story resonates, but "Scissor Sisters" managed to maintain a consistently high level of story crafting quality throughout.
Overall, "Scissor Sisters" offers subtle and thought-provoking horror that lingers long after the last page is turned. It's a standout anthology that I would highly recommend to fans of horror and sapphic storytelling alike.
What sets "Scissor Sisters" apart is its respect for the reader. While I've read many anthologies where the quality of stories varies greatly, each tale in this collection felt meticulously crafted and thought-provoking. From the primal fear stirred by "Gladys Glows" to the time-bending storyline of "Pilgrim of the Worlds," each story offered a unique perspective on horror.
One standout was "Buckshin for Linen," which delved into themes of intergenerational trauma and colonialism, offering a chilling exploration of historical horrors. "Family Planning" also left a lasting impression, with its unnerving portrayal of the lengths characters would go to become parents.
I appreciated the diverse range of topics covered in "Scissor Sisters," from retellings of classic tales like "Gingerbread Red" - Grethel and Hansen - to the modern twist on Frankenstein found in "Ungrateful Dead Things."
It's rare to find a horror anthology where every story resonates, but "Scissor Sisters" managed to maintain a consistently high level of story crafting quality throughout.
Overall, "Scissor Sisters" offers subtle and thought-provoking horror that lingers long after the last page is turned. It's a standout anthology that I would highly recommend to fans of horror and sapphic storytelling alike.
Thank you to BookSirens for this ARC. It was very up and down for me - the horror ranged from almost non-existent to the kind of story I would never choose to consume, and honestly so did the nature of the sapphic storylines. There were some real gems in here, even if I didn't love all of it.
Gladys Glows at Night: A solid start! Just a touch of the sapphic, but it was sweet, and the ending was satisfying. 3.5/5
You Oughta Be in Pictures: I found this story incredibly disturbing (which I believe the author probably intended), and I can't say I liked it much - not my kind of relationship dynamic. 1.5/5
The Lady of the House on Legs: I really don't think I have words for this. It was... odd, uncomfortable, sad. Not for me. 1/5
To Wilt a Flower: I frankly don't have a clue what was happening in this story at all. 1/5
Teratoma, Cacodaemon, Erinya: Back to something I enjoyed. This story was still unnervingly weird, but I felt it was a little more pleasing than its predecessors. 3/5
Torbalan's Gift: I found the sex scene in this rather misplaced, but I liked the general storyline. 3/5
Her Tongue, A Slippery Slope: i am once again baffled by what is meant to have happened in the story. I thought I was following it, and then... I really wasn't. 2/5
Modern Art Curse, Mixed Media: I really liked this until the end, at which point I was less sure. It was kind of fun, though, which counts for something! 3.5/5
The Flesh Grows Fonder: Sometimes when I read anthologies, I feel like the stories are fanfic-esque PWP with no real aim. This was one of those stories. It was fairly well-written but seemed to be nothing?! 2/5
Pilgrim of Worlds: This was fine, nothing more. I don't think it was really horror, nor did it really dwell on the sapphic, so it felt a little out of place. 2/5
Gingerbread Red: I was not expecting this! It was a bit hurried and lacked some rationale, but it was enjoyable. 3.5/5
Buckskin for Linen: This was poetic, and I quite liked it. It was nicely written. 4/5
Oubliette: This was an unexpected tragedy. I didn't pick up clues and thought I was just missing something (which I guess I was!), so the ending was a surprise. 3.5/5
Conversations with Roe: This was another weird little thing that I'm not really sure I liked. The relationship seemed to be so manipulative. I liked the way it was written, though. 3/5
Our Lady of Devouring Violence: Oooooh! I loved this story! It was a simple story with a creepy concept, and I loved the narrator's voice. 5/5
Family Planning: Yikes! Short and sinister. I love the showing-not-telling that this author does. Nice one. 4.5/5
Ungrateful Dead Things: I love the book this is inspired by, and I really enjoyed this version too. Simple, snappy, satisfying. 4.5/5
Straight Flush: I enjoyed the premise of this story, but I felt that the ending was completely rushed and let it down. 3/5
A Mirror Has Two Faces: This one was very quick and I found it rather too short to be fully enjoyable. The thrill of the chase, as it were, was cut far too short. 2/5
The Turner House Heritage Tour: Whoa. Here is one heck of a villain. I was shocked by the ending! Nice one. 4.5/5
Enamored: This was an interesting wee story, though I'm a little baffled by what is meant by the "illness had likely never been hers"... 3/5
The Call of the Sea: This was rather a WTF moment! Very odd. 2/5
Gladys Glows at Night: A solid start! Just a touch of the sapphic, but it was sweet, and the ending was satisfying. 3.5/5
You Oughta Be in Pictures: I found this story incredibly disturbing (which I believe the author probably intended), and I can't say I liked it much - not my kind of relationship dynamic. 1.5/5
The Lady of the House on Legs: I really don't think I have words for this. It was... odd, uncomfortable, sad. Not for me. 1/5
To Wilt a Flower: I frankly don't have a clue what was happening in this story at all. 1/5
Teratoma, Cacodaemon, Erinya: Back to something I enjoyed. This story was still unnervingly weird, but I felt it was a little more pleasing than its predecessors. 3/5
Torbalan's Gift: I found the sex scene in this rather misplaced, but I liked the general storyline. 3/5
Her Tongue, A Slippery Slope: i am once again baffled by what is meant to have happened in the story. I thought I was following it, and then... I really wasn't. 2/5
Modern Art Curse, Mixed Media: I really liked this until the end, at which point I was less sure. It was kind of fun, though, which counts for something! 3.5/5
The Flesh Grows Fonder: Sometimes when I read anthologies, I feel like the stories are fanfic-esque PWP with no real aim. This was one of those stories. It was fairly well-written but seemed to be nothing?! 2/5
Pilgrim of Worlds: This was fine, nothing more. I don't think it was really horror, nor did it really dwell on the sapphic, so it felt a little out of place. 2/5
Gingerbread Red: I was not expecting this! It was a bit hurried and lacked some rationale, but it was enjoyable. 3.5/5
Buckskin for Linen: This was poetic, and I quite liked it. It was nicely written. 4/5
Oubliette: This was an unexpected tragedy. I didn't pick up clues and thought I was just missing something (which I guess I was!), so the ending was a surprise. 3.5/5
Conversations with Roe: This was another weird little thing that I'm not really sure I liked. The relationship seemed to be so manipulative. I liked the way it was written, though. 3/5
Our Lady of Devouring Violence: Oooooh! I loved this story! It was a simple story with a creepy concept, and I loved the narrator's voice. 5/5
Family Planning: Yikes! Short and sinister. I love the showing-not-telling that this author does. Nice one. 4.5/5
Ungrateful Dead Things: I love the book this is inspired by, and I really enjoyed this version too. Simple, snappy, satisfying. 4.5/5
Straight Flush: I enjoyed the premise of this story, but I felt that the ending was completely rushed and let it down. 3/5
A Mirror Has Two Faces: This one was very quick and I found it rather too short to be fully enjoyable. The thrill of the chase, as it were, was cut far too short. 2/5
The Turner House Heritage Tour: Whoa. Here is one heck of a villain. I was shocked by the ending! Nice one. 4.5/5
Enamored: This was an interesting wee story, though I'm a little baffled by what is meant by the "illness had likely never been hers"... 3/5
The Call of the Sea: This was rather a WTF moment! Very odd. 2/5
Overall I find it hard to rate anthologies as my rating will never be reflective of all the stories. Scissor sisters ranged from DNF to 3.5* with an overwhelming amount of the stories being below 2.5*. I went into this book expecting women as villains instead I got mediocre avengers, victims, and for some reason body horror? Honestly this book would’ve served me better as a DNF, alas, here we are, left with nothing but disappointment.
This is a sapphic villains anthology, with a number of short stories. They’re horror-related and I’m a bit squeamish so some of them were hard to get through. Also there was way too much cannibalism for my taste.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you like sapphic stories, horror, and monstrous women, this book is for you!
To read my full review, you can find it here:
https://pastellegeek.wordpress.com/2024/02/29/book-review-scissor-sisters/
If you like sapphic stories, horror, and monstrous women, this book is for you!
To read my full review, you can find it here:
https://pastellegeek.wordpress.com/2024/02/29/book-review-scissor-sisters/
dark
fast-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
A great collection of feminine rage and sapphic villianary drawing from horror, fantasy and history.
This was a well put together collection with a nice variety of stories covering different genres, themes, and writing styles, but with a clear thread running throughout them and connecting them. As is usual for short story collections there were some I personally enjoyed more than others, but with such a wide variety there's likely to be something for all fans of horror/ dark fantasy.
Some personal favourites of mine were Gladys Glows at Night by Hatteras Mange, a story of revenge for the Radium Girls; Conversations with Roe by Alex Luceli Jiménez, a murderer's conversations with the lover she killed; and Our Lady of Devouring Violence by Cheyanne Brabo, where a woman stands before a court of men, explaining her connection to the beautiful murderous woman plaguing their town.
I did find the Lagniappe at the end a little strange. I had no issues with the story itself but it felt very out of place. (I understood that the idea was to have a potentially unrelated story at the end, but I personally don't think it works.)
Overall though, I would highly recommend if you're in the mood for something a little darker, or like your sapphics angry and/or morally grey.
This was a well put together collection with a nice variety of stories covering different genres, themes, and writing styles, but with a clear thread running throughout them and connecting them. As is usual for short story collections there were some I personally enjoyed more than others, but with such a wide variety there's likely to be something for all fans of horror/ dark fantasy.
Some personal favourites of mine were Gladys Glows at Night by Hatteras Mange, a story of revenge for the Radium Girls; Conversations with Roe by Alex Luceli Jiménez, a murderer's conversations with the lover she killed; and Our Lady of Devouring Violence by Cheyanne Brabo, where a woman stands before a court of men, explaining her connection to the beautiful murderous woman plaguing their town.
I did find the Lagniappe at the end a little strange. I had no issues with the story itself but it felt very out of place. (I understood that the idea was to have a potentially unrelated story at the end, but I personally don't think it works.)
Overall though, I would highly recommend if you're in the mood for something a little darker, or like your sapphics angry and/or morally grey.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've had a long personal and academic interest in the cultural connections between our concepts of femininity and the monstrous, so this was right up my alley. I think one of the things I appreciated most about this collection was the wide span of time periods, genres, and facets of monstrosity that the stories provided. From retelling Dickens and Hansel and Gretel to the evils both manmade and hellbent that lie within the walls of a convent, to the play of life and death in the world of modern art and film, to a "Children of Men" style future, these sapphic stories do a lot within very few pages.
I was engrossed while reading each story, and many of them tapped into the deep well of frustration and pain that lies in the heart of women, especially queer women like myself. It's fairly delightful to see "wicked" women winning over patriarchal forces, to become free and unburdened by giving in to monstrosity.
I also greatly appreciated that the book has a section at the end for content warnings. Horror anthologies can be a very mixed bag when it comes to the contents of the stories, and it's helpful to know which direction the horror might be coming from, and to provide warnings for any readers that may have specific things they don't want to see in fiction.
It's hard for a story collection to rise above 4 stars for me, just because by virtue of the variety of things they contain you are bound to find some stories you like better and some that don't hit in the same way. But overall this was a very solid collection and I recommend it for anyone who has ever rooted for Ursula and Maleficent over Ariel and Aurora.
(This Digital ARC was provided for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
I was engrossed while reading each story, and many of them tapped into the deep well of frustration and pain that lies in the heart of women, especially queer women like myself. It's fairly delightful to see "wicked" women winning over patriarchal forces, to become free and unburdened by giving in to monstrosity.
I also greatly appreciated that the book has a section at the end for content warnings. Horror anthologies can be a very mixed bag when it comes to the contents of the stories, and it's helpful to know which direction the horror might be coming from, and to provide warnings for any readers that may have specific things they don't want to see in fiction.
It's hard for a story collection to rise above 4 stars for me, just because by virtue of the variety of things they contain you are bound to find some stories you like better and some that don't hit in the same way. But overall this was a very solid collection and I recommend it for anyone who has ever rooted for Ursula and Maleficent over Ariel and Aurora.
(This Digital ARC was provided for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)