3.88 AVERAGE

challenging dark mysterious medium-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: N/A
challenging dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

While there are some great stories like The Black Cat, The Fall of the House of Usher and The Masque of the Red Death, the majority of this collection seemed either forgettable or just boring. The detective stories were probably the worst of all.
adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Loveable characters: Complicated
challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book is the size of a AP textbook, and it is not conducive to reading at the beach, in the bath, or anywhere besides a desk seemingly. It’s got it all — the classics (Red Death, Black Cat, Tell-Tale Heart, Pit & Pendulum, Amontillado, etc.) and also array of others that stretched my expectations for what a Poe story is. Like — WTF is going on with Berenice’s teeth?! 
I knew Poe for gothic horror and mystery; I didn’t realize until I read Lionizing that he was also funny. While Murders in the Rue Morgue is great fun, it’s sequel and the longest story in the lot (The Mystery of Marie Rogêt) is certainly not. Other standouts that were new to me included William Wilson, King Pest, and The Man of the Crowd. 
Harry Clarke’s intricate illustrations were memorable. I only wish there were more of them. 
challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
dark mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes