Reviews with content warning for Death - Night of the Living Queers: 13 Tales of Terror Delight

Night of the Living Queers is a queer Horror anthology filled with 13 spooky stories. I’m very picky with what anthologies I read, as I’m often left wanting more. This was the same here. I feel like the book could have been so much better if the stories had been a tiny bit longer. With many of them, I felt a bit disappointed as the endings were often rushed and left me with more answers than questions. Some felt more like Horror stories than others, but I liked that there was a bit if variety. Apart from one story, I wasn’t scared at all, so this is a great anthology if you’re a Scaredy Cat!

The average rating for the stories is 3.8 Stars, but overall I rounded it up to 4 Stars. There was no story under 3 stars for me, but some of them simply stood out more to me. My favorites were Hey There Demons by Tara Sim, Knickknack by Ryan Douglass and Anna by Shelly Page!

Welcome to Hotel Paranoia by Vanessa Montalban ⭐⭐⭐

Set at a Hotel that was built on ‘bad ground’ and is used for the annual Halloween Party. The main character begins to notice strange things as time goes on, but it felt a bit convoluted and the end left me with more questions than answers.
This was just okay as I never felt that connected to the main character and her pining after her crush. The sense of foreboding was good, but the characters felt like your typical mean high schoolers.

The Visitor by Kalynn Bayron ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was such a fast and engaging read. It follows Toya as she celebrates Halloween with her father and their traditions were cute! The story also touches upon the grief of losing her mother and making the time to spend the evening with her father - watching Horror movies and handing out candy to the Trick and Treaters.
There’s the feeling of something sinister happening with a power outage and strange cars parked at their street, but I felt like that was never 100% explained by the twist in the end. I did like the reveal though and how it
turned out that it wasn’t an intruder or ghosts, but vampires! Toya’s mother has visited them every year on Halloween since she passed, only she’s undead now and not a ghost as you’d think. Except that this year Toya invites her in against her dire warnings and potentially dooms them all.

A Brief Intermission by Sara Farizan ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This had the best writing style so far, as it was smooth and introduced us to the characters pretty quickly! The setting of the drive-in movie theatre was great and vividly described by the author. Afsaneh and her coworker get dragged into opening the theatre exclusively for VIP guests after their boss is viciously attacked. A. is pretty suspicious as she’s not sure what attacked her boss and the whole situation makes her uneasy, unlike her flashy coworker.
The suspense and setting were great, but the end was a bit disappointing. It didn’t feel scary at all and was underwhelming. The cliffhanger in the end was a bit strange as well, as I didn’t quite get what it should signify.

Guested by Rebecca Kim Wells ⭐⭐⭐.5

This had an interesting premise as it followed a young girl who’s investigating ‘Guested’ parties, where people can take on a whole different persona. The parties are for the wealthy and elite, so they can be someone else for one night, but she suspects that something strange is going on. I liked the idea of investigating the corrupt corporation that sponsored the parties and there was a definite sense of unease!
The story was told in the second person perspective - a bold move, as I normally don’t like this perspective at all. I didn’t mind it that much after a while, as it fit the story and added to the creep factor!
The actual concept of the ‘Guests’ you could let into was a bit too vague for my liking though and made it hard to visualize what was going on. The ending felt a bit rushed and not as exciting as it could have been.

Rocky Road with Caramel Drizzle by Kosoko Jackson ⭐⭐⭐.5

Definitely one of the heaviest stories as it follows Justin who was the victim of a vicious hate crime that had him hospitalized and nearly cost his life. It’s heartbreaking because his attackers were never brought to justice, as their leader is the mayor’s son. Ever since, he’s been living in the shadows, trying to make himself smaller again as a part of him was fundamentally broken. It doesn’t help that his best friend Alex is still hanging out with one of the attackers and doesn’t speak up for him. Their friendship is rather toxic, as Alex makes the attack all about herself.
The second part of the story felt a bit underdeveloped though. It’s got a deal with a mysterious figure and the details of the lore were a bit weak.
I liked that Justin got his revenge against them and was allowed to feel his pain, without having to forgive anyone or make excuses for his attackers. It was sad that this cost him his life, but at least he got to finally decide what he wanted to do, instead of being pushed to the side.

The Three Phases of Ghost Hunting by Alex Brown ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved the idea of a ghost-hunting podcast filmed in the Food Court that is supposedly haunted by an angry pirate! Terrifying Bob keeps stealing everyone’s Pizza and the resident paranormal fanatic is trying to communicate with him. Her girlfriend is a huge sceptic though and is convinced that there’s always another more rational explanation. This story was both fun and a bit spooky, so the perfect mix!
Once again, the ending was just a bit vague and played out too easily, I honestly expected a bit more of a fight.

Nine Stops by Trang Thanh Tran ⭐⭐⭐.5

This is probably the only story that genuinely scared me. It’s about a chain-link video that goes viral on social media and threatens that if you stop watching, you die. These types of horror stories always hit a nerve with me, so this was hard to read. The creep factor was good and the whole atmosphere felt surreal and disconnected, especially since it’s implied that the main character is feeling isolated from the world and her friends.
In the end, this was hard to rate as this story felt like it was the scariest one, but I simply don’t like this specific premise at all.

Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane by Maya Gittelman ⭐⭐⭐.5

What I loved about this the most was that it deals with gender identity and not being able to be yourself around family. Leyla never felt like a proper girl, but their mother doesn’t want to hear that, as she values conformity above all else. At home, Leyla feels trapped and unable to stand up for themselves. These themes were the most compelling part of the story, as they really touched my heart!
The paranormal elements were a bit weaker though. I get their meaning to Leyla’s gender identity and character growth, but I still didn’t find them interesting or scary. This part could have been a bit more fleshed out, as it felt rushed.
This was in second-person again, which I still struggle with, but I can see how it fit into the theme perfectly.

In You to Burn by Em X Liu ⭐⭐⭐

The intrigue of the story is really good as it follows a teenage girl who has been setting things on fire involuntarily since she was small. Another ‘accident’ happened to one of her classmates and now she cannot look her in the eye. I loved the fantasy elements here, as the protagonist has such a strong connection to the element of fire.
The actual reveal behind her powers was disappointing though. It involves an old legend, which I liked but also
soulmates
which I simply don’t like as a trope. So once again, the ending was a bit of a mixed bag!

Anna by Shelly Page ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Your typical haunted house story about a babysitter who has always been scared of ghosts. On Halloween, she is forced to babysit two kids in an old, suspicious house instead of going to the party with her girlfriend. Strange things start happening when the kids snoop around in the attic.
Once again, I would have liked to see a bit more in this story, but it had all the basics of a haunted house story and the writing style was really good here!

Hey There, Demons by Tara Sim ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My favorite story in the anthology!! This is what I wish the rest of the stories had been!! It’s about Noah who suspects that his ghost houses a poltergeist, only no one believes him. On Halloween night he takes matters into his own hands and hopes to get rid of the ghost. Only he accidentally summons a demon called Kody instead who promises to help him.
This story was so much fun and also swoonworthy!! I loved Noah and Kody’s interactions, they had great chemistry and such an interesting dynamic. Noah is a nerdy loner and Kody is a demon who hasn’t really seen much of Earth but is really outgoing. This literally had everything I want in a spooky story!!

Save Me from Myself by Ayida Shoniba ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was quite a dark story, as it deals with Mona who’s suffering from suicidal thoughts. She feels like a disappointment to her mother and like no one really sees her. Mona can’t even win her school’s costume contest, no matter how much work she puts into her outfit.
There’s the voice of Kali, who promises that Mona can improve her life and this kicks off a string of chaos that forces her to confront her crush, Nadine! Mona’s quite in a bad headspace and she cannot even believe that someone else would actually consider her a friend. The ending was quite sad though!

Knickknack by Ryan Douglass ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

My second favorite story of the anthology! That’s surprising, as I really didn’t like Douglass’ YA horror debut! Knickknack was a lot of fun to read though. It’s about the legend of a murder clown who is still said to haunt the town and kidnap children if he is summoned. The protagonist’s little brother is taken and he has to take him back with the help of his best (and only) friend whom he’s always had a crush on.
I really liked the romantic dynamic in this one, as there’s a lot of uncertainty about feelings being reciprocated and fear of ruining your best friendship! The characters had great chemistry and I was really rooting for them!

Content Warnings

hxlleann's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

thereadedit's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Unsettling: 😬😬😬😬😬
SCARY: 👻👻👻👻👻
DEATH: 💀💀💀💀💀
INTRIGUE: 🧠🧠🧠🧠🧠
Creepy: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Plot: 5/5

Tropes: Halloween, Horror, Paranormal

TW: Death, Kidnapping, Clowns, Demons

Welcome To Hotel Paranoia Vanessa Montalban: 5⭐
I was blown away by the imagery used within this story to convey such a strong construct. Image isn't everything. Everyone isn't who you think they are. I enjoyed every sentence within this story!

The Visitor Kaylynn Byron: 5⭐
When I started this I had so many questions. But quickly I was under my covers hoping the bogeyman wasn't coming to get me. I felt so much of the atmosphere of this book. Everyone has been there, in the dark. Scared of what can't be seen. Kaylynn did it for me in so many ways.

A Brief Intermission Sara Farizan: 5⭐
I've always loved watching movies from the 50's and the culture back then. It was refreshing to see that included but it was even better the further the story went on. The ending was mind blowing. I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything. But love this story I do!

Guested Rebecca Kim Wells: 3⭐
I'm not a fan of introspective POV, and this one just didn't hit for me like the others have so far. I'm left with way too many questions than answers.

Rocky Road With Caramel Drizzle Kosoko Jackson 5⭐
Acceptance at any time in your life is peaceful. But not being accepted by others is torture. I felt so many things reading this story and it resonated so much within me. I really enjoyed seeing where this story went. I only wish I could have read more!

The Three Phases Of Ghost Hunting Alex Brown: 5⭐
Another story that I would love to be a full length book. I liked how open the MC is to the paranormal and willing to get proof. Even when others doubt what she thinks. I'm not going to lie. I really liked Bob, even though he was a bit of a grump. I would love to see where the story goes from here!

Nine Stops Trang Thanh Tran: 5⭐
Grief can make you do things you normally wouldn't do. I liked how this story explored grief and normalizing not just getting on with your life. But also showing how life doesn't stop just because you're grieving.

Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane Maya Gittelman: 4⭐
I really enjoyed seeing what was the creepy man in the overgrown home that everyone is scared of. You are able to see the growth that will become of your life. The only thing I didn't like is being told that everything is you. I don't need a third persons view of what I would experience.

In You To Burn Em X Liu: 5⭐
I am really enjoying how much cultural influence is being included in these stories. They give so much more context to the story, and brings forward what many may not otherwise hear about. I really enjoyed the push and pull between the two main characters. It gives so much angst to the story.

Anna Shelly Page: 5⭐
One of my top favorites from this lineup! It brings you into a situation that you never dream of happening and then it does. Enough to scare the hair off your head! I wish this could be a whole novel. There could be so much more given within the story to make it even better. Which would be hard to do, but this author could totally pull it off.

Hey There, Demons Tara Sim: 5⭐
I was so glad to see that this character was able to become something he had always run away from. He was able to see that there was more out there than he had been allowing himself. Along with someone to share new things with. Even if it is a demon.

Save Me From Myself Ayida Shonibar: 5⭐
Ayida did an amazing job with this short story. I devoured this and I want so much more!! I want to know more about what happened!!

Knickknack Ryan Douglass: 5⭐
I HATE CLOWNS 🤡. There is said it. But this was sooo much more than a demonic child stealing clown. It was admitting that what you're feeling is valid. Never hide how you feel because things could turn out so much better!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Content Warnings

obscurepages's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was everything I imagined it to be!

When I heard that this YA Horror Anthology centers queer and BIPOC characters (and by queer authors of color), I was ecstatic! And now I can say, it didn't let me down.

This whole anthology was filled with creepy and creative short stories that are full of heart, boldness, humor, and terror. I love the every story offered a unique twist, that every story had a new perspective on what things are scary and terrifying. I also love that I got to see various cultures and identities in every story, and this just added a lot more love and soul.

Some of my favorites are Guested (Rebecca Kim Wells), Rocky Road with Caramel Drizzle (Kosoko Jackson), Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane (Maya Gittelman), and Hey There, Demons (Tara Sim).

Of course, thank you so much Wednesday Books for the e-arc! (This did not affect my overall opinion of the book)

Full review on my blog soon!

Content Warnings

caseythereader's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Content Warnings

ollieworm's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I loved the concept of the anthology overall, but I only enjoyed about two-thirds of the stories. They started off very strong, emotional, and creative - some of my favorites were Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane by Maya Gittelman & In You to Burn by Em X. Liu - but by the end, the stories started to feel bogged down by unrealistic teen dialogue. Overall, I thought this was a worthwhile read.

Content Warnings

butterwashere's review

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I love the short stories.

First of all, I was crying over the short little message in the beginning of the book: "To anyone who's had to pretend to be someone you're not- may you become the fabulous person you were always meant to be."

There is this one part of the short stories where it really hit home to me as someone who is still in the closet.

I was internally sobbing as the wizard said a lot to the main character who was struggling with their dual identity.

"Nothing feels like home when you're not at home with yourself."
"Not everyone deserved your full story. sometimes you have to give up the idea that you can ever become someone they design to respect. sometimes you have to become the monster they think you are."

Based on the last quote, I realized that I can't control what other think of me and it's time to be the real me.

Content Warnings

butterwashere's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I started sobbing when one of the characters told the main character that to some, you will be a monster and you can't change that. I was sobbing since I am someone who is still in the closet with my family. I can't change other people's perspective of me, but being Queer is who I am.

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