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drskspawn's review
4.0
First of all, this is quite the impressive feat and collection of indie talent. “Horrorscope” brings together 36 indie authors and poets and offers three pieces for each sign of the zodiac, and also stands as the debut for some of the contributors so it’s a great way to showcase new and established indie talent. I think it’s important to also not that I’m not a zodiac/horoscope guy; I’m not really into it or clued up on it beyond the basics so, if this is the case for you, some of the writing on offer here may get a little repetitive as there’s a lot of similar themes, such as witches, tarot readings, and bizarre anthropomorphic embodiments of the zodiac. At the same time, though, there’s still a lot of variety on offer here, from malevolent shadows coming to life, to cosmic adventures, almost biblical allegories, and curses aplenty.
I’m familiar with some of those involved with this book; others were new to me and I’ve had the pleasure of watching their writing journey unfold. In either case, I was excited to see them being showcased in such a collection. While I’m not really into poetry (I can’t really write it and I only understand it at a basic level), the poetry pieces included are very evocative; I’ll give a shout-out to Loki J. Dewitt’s “Lionheart”, Nadine Stewart’s “Love and War”, and Byron Griffin’s “Via Combusta” as pieces that had me re-reading a few times to let their imagery but I think the one I enjoyed the most was Elias Chase’s “The Rage of Aquarius: A Ballade of Sorts”. I liked the rhyming scheme, which had me thinking of the works of Edgar Allen Poe, and the disturbing visuals definitely stood out for me.
This is what I read horror for: the visuals and the gore and to see how horror writers push the boundaries, and there is some of that to be found in “Horrorscope”. Scott McGregor’s “A Kiss from the Stars” and Jessica Huntley’s “You Die…I Die” both contain disturbing scenes of torture, there’s a fair amount of gorging and visceral bloodletting (all three of the “Taurus” tales feature a vicious bull-like creature), and there’s even a kaiju-sized crab featured in Dan B. Fierce’s “El Gangrejo”! Other stories take a more supernatural or psychological bent, such as Anthony Taylor’s “December 17, 1982”, Amanda Jager’s chilling “Shadow Goat”, and Sabrina Voerman’s quasi-Greek tragedy “The Lovers”. Other standouts for me were R. Shannon’s haunting tale “A Shadow in Jackson Square”, S.L. Shearhart’s disturbing tale of abuse “I See You: The Hunt of the Capricorn Witch”, and Aana K. Drex’s “Portent of Pisces”, all of which could easily be expanded on into longer novellas.
For me, the most memorable pieces were those that didn’t take the concept so literally or put a fantastical spin on it; Natalie Hannah’s opening tale “Goddess of Vengeance” and Damien Casey’s bizarre cosmic short “Starship Sagittarius” were good examples of this, and big zodiac fans will appreciate, I’m sure, the depths some of the pieces go into the various characteristics and natures of the various signs. Overall, it’s a great showcase of indie talent; while I didn’t connect with every piece and some were obviously stronger than others, the contributors deserve all the praise in the world for putting themselves out there and, for me, the best of the collection was seeing these indie creators having a platform to shine on.
I’m familiar with some of those involved with this book; others were new to me and I’ve had the pleasure of watching their writing journey unfold. In either case, I was excited to see them being showcased in such a collection. While I’m not really into poetry (I can’t really write it and I only understand it at a basic level), the poetry pieces included are very evocative; I’ll give a shout-out to Loki J. Dewitt’s “Lionheart”, Nadine Stewart’s “Love and War”, and Byron Griffin’s “Via Combusta” as pieces that had me re-reading a few times to let their imagery but I think the one I enjoyed the most was Elias Chase’s “The Rage of Aquarius: A Ballade of Sorts”. I liked the rhyming scheme, which had me thinking of the works of Edgar Allen Poe, and the disturbing visuals definitely stood out for me.
This is what I read horror for: the visuals and the gore and to see how horror writers push the boundaries, and there is some of that to be found in “Horrorscope”. Scott McGregor’s “A Kiss from the Stars” and Jessica Huntley’s “You Die…I Die” both contain disturbing scenes of torture, there’s a fair amount of gorging and visceral bloodletting (all three of the “Taurus” tales feature a vicious bull-like creature), and there’s even a kaiju-sized crab featured in Dan B. Fierce’s “El Gangrejo”! Other stories take a more supernatural or psychological bent, such as Anthony Taylor’s “December 17, 1982”, Amanda Jager’s chilling “Shadow Goat”, and Sabrina Voerman’s quasi-Greek tragedy “The Lovers”. Other standouts for me were R. Shannon’s haunting tale “A Shadow in Jackson Square”, S.L. Shearhart’s disturbing tale of abuse “I See You: The Hunt of the Capricorn Witch”, and Aana K. Drex’s “Portent of Pisces”, all of which could easily be expanded on into longer novellas.
For me, the most memorable pieces were those that didn’t take the concept so literally or put a fantastical spin on it; Natalie Hannah’s opening tale “Goddess of Vengeance” and Damien Casey’s bizarre cosmic short “Starship Sagittarius” were good examples of this, and big zodiac fans will appreciate, I’m sure, the depths some of the pieces go into the various characteristics and natures of the various signs. Overall, it’s a great showcase of indie talent; while I didn’t connect with every piece and some were obviously stronger than others, the contributors deserve all the praise in the world for putting themselves out there and, for me, the best of the collection was seeing these indie creators having a platform to shine on.
aiden_e_messer's review
5.0
You don't need to be into astrology to enjoy this anthology! The 36 stories and poems are all very different from one another, and all enjoyable to read. I especially loved Homecoming
Purrfelctly matched
The virgin
The most dangerous sign
The eternal justice of man
Carving out balance
And The rage of Aquarius
Purrfelctly matched
The virgin
The most dangerous sign
The eternal justice of man
Carving out balance
And The rage of Aquarius
nelli_lakatos's review against another edition
5.0
HorrorScope is a collection of short stories and poems by different talented authors. There are 36 stories related to a star sign.
Every story was unique and fun with wonderful writing and interesting storyline. Some of them were weird in a good way, some had deeper meanings behind them and some of them were creepy and dark.
I think everyone can found a favorite story from this collection and maybe can relate to some story.
I highly recommend this anthology especially if you love things related to zodiac signs and dark tales!
My two favorite stories:
- "A Kiss from the Stars" by Scott McGregor
- "You Die....I Die" by Jessica Huntley
Thank you so much @h.everend.author for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
♍️ Release Date: February 20, 2023 ♍️
Every story was unique and fun with wonderful writing and interesting storyline. Some of them were weird in a good way, some had deeper meanings behind them and some of them were creepy and dark.
I think everyone can found a favorite story from this collection and maybe can relate to some story.
I highly recommend this anthology especially if you love things related to zodiac signs and dark tales!
My two favorite stories:
- "A Kiss from the Stars" by Scott McGregor
- "You Die....I Die" by Jessica Huntley
Thank you so much @h.everend.author for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
♍️ Release Date: February 20, 2023 ♍️
delliomellidom's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
HorrorScope: A Zodiac Anthology contains a collection of poetry and short stories in the horror genre that utilize the Western Zodiac. It’s always interesting to see how the zodiac can be interpreted. Some things are taken literally, others figuratively, and there are more abstract renditions as well. A series of anthologies only makes sense! Showcasing many authors, H. Everend has allowed us to go on a journey into different subgenres of horror. You don’t have to believe in horoscopes to enjoy this collection; that’s the beauty of art, I think. And if you do believe in the zodiac, perhaps this anthology will make you glad that you weren’t born under a different sign.
I plan to write a small comment about each piece in this anthology. While it can always be easy (natural) to find favorites, I think everyone has poured a piece of themselves into this work and they deserve recognition.
"Elemental Bloodshed" by H. Everend:
The perfect opening for this anthology; it reads like a creation myth that is setting the stage for a battle of gods (perhaps demons) or great nations.
“Goddess of Vengeance” by Natalie Hannah:
This is a wonderful tale for those who enjoy horror and Greek mythology. This piece contains some body horror and gore that do well with the setting and plot. There are layers to this story that I personally enjoyed; it feels like an authentic Greek myth. Vengeful gods and goddesses left me on the edge of my seat.
“A Kiss from the Stars” by Scott McGregor:
As an author, I hope I never become quite as jaded as Eve. Yet even with her subsequent demeanor and inner thoughts at the beginning of the story, I could not help but fear for her. There are clever allusions to other works (particularly Stephen King’s Misery) that give moments of twisted humor without detracting from the suspense.
“Lock Horns” by Ryan Meyer:
From the beginning of this story, I was nervous. The most horrific part of this is the reality many face. This situation is not just fiction. It’s written in a way that sticks with you, that feels so real even with the fictitious portions. It’s difficult to say which part is most horrific. This is a memorable piece, at least for me.
“Purer Than Gold, Richer Than Wine” by L. Pine:
I adore stories that display how love, unrequited love in particular, can twist a person. The emotion poured into this piece had me not knowing who to empathize with. It sent chills along my spine.
“Moonlit Minotaur” by Samuel M. Hallan:
A modern day horror story with mysterious murders that opens with a witch. From it’s beginning, I was wondering what was going to happen. It kept me hooked with its suspense. I was not sure how it would end. This could be an interesting mini series if the author decides to do more.
“The Taurus Bull” by Eric Woods:
Is it a tall tale or real? Right away I was sucked into the story, wondering what the main characters were going to encounter. Wondering what was real and what was just story. Could it be figments of paranoid imaginations? Wanting to know the answer kept me reading through the end. I could picture everything clearly.
“The Twin Keepers” by Alex Tilley:
I was not sure where this was going to go when it began. As the tale unfolded, I was nervous for what I would encounter (not a bad thing with horror stories). This one kept me guessing and on my toes.
“You Die…I Die” by Jessica Huntley:
This tale opens with a bang, thrusting you straight into the horror of the characters’ situation. I was not sure how this was going to end; I very much enjoyed the use of the starsign in this. Having a dual-pov worked perfectly for this story. It reminded me a little of a Criminal Minds episode, albeit more horror-filled.
“A Shadow in Jackson Square” by R. Shannon:
This is a shorter piece, however it packs just as much of a punch as the others. I got chills at one point when I realized what was happening. It’s definitely memorable and has the suspense factor down to a T. This one would make a really good comic book.
“Homecoming” by Kassidy VanGundy:
It started out with a light, somewhat humorous note that grows into suspense and mystery. The horror builds in this story, which I could not put down. I rather enjoyed how things developed and I could once again picture everything perfectly! The sensations are near palpable.
“El Cangrejo” by Dan B. Fierce:
Another tale that mixes suspense and humor. We get to know our main character, which allows us to root for him, fear for him. The supernatural aspects of this tale are written perfectly, keeping the mood the entire time.
“Metamorphosis” by Kyra R. Torres:
This is a very poetic means of utilizing the Cancer star sign. There is a foreboding sense as you’re reading the poem, which flows off the page beautifully. The imagery is haunting.
“Lionheart” by Loki J. DeWitt:
This particular piece reminds me of nursery rhyme; where you can hear a child saying it despite the dark nature of the words. It perfectly highlights attributes of the Leo star sign as well.
“Purrfectly Matched” by Greta T. Bates:
Cat girls with hints of eroticism and horror? This story has it. In just a few pages, a whole world is created. It’s another piece where there could be an entire mini series written though it serves well as a standalone.
“Love & War” by Nadine Stewart:
Another poem that highlights characteristics of Leo. This piece is rather introspective. It has a somber tone mingled with potential supernatural elements (depending on if one takes the words figuratively or literally). I enjoyed the layers.
“The Virgin” by Brooklynn Dean:
It begins almost as a slice of life story, wherein we get to learn about our main character and the new person in his life. There’s an intriguing exploration of physical intimacy and desire that works perfectly with the star sign and story without taking away from the horror aspects.
“The Most Dangerous Sign” by Samantha Arthurs:
A nice poem that serves as a short story in itself about a serial killer. I liked seeing the evolution, from accidental to purposeful. And the use of newspaper was perfect.
“The Eternal Justice of Man” by Angel Krause:
Science fantasy and horror mixed into one. I really enjoyed the use of stardust and constellations in this piece. This is another piece that would make a good comic. It’s a dystopian Frankenstein in some ways.
“Carving Out Balance” by Brianna Malotke:
This poem is a perfect example of Libra rage. It tells an entire story, leaving you to think about the final stanza as you realize what has happened.
“The Lovers” by Sabrina Voerman:
We get to see an explosive union of Libra and Scorpio, seeing their different natures and how they collide. It truly uses their relationship to create an erotic horror tale worthy of its title when still more star signs come into play.
“Passive Aggressor” by Delliom Ellidom:
Well, this is certainly a poem that I wrote.
“Via Combusta” by Byron Griffin:
This poem has fantastic imagery and fits perfectly with the Scorpio star sign.With just a few words, a few stanzas, a picture was painted within my head.
“The Sting of Scorpius” by Kay Hanifen:
This story went a little differently than I thought it would when it first began. I enjoyed the mystery of it as well as the hints of humor. There was suspense, and it wasn’t difficult to empathize with the characters.
“Be Weary of the Scorpio” by Arabella K. Federico:
This is an interesting twist on vampires mingled with the zodiac. It created its own lore that has opened an entire world that could be explored in future pieces. I wasn’t sure where the story was headed when it began, but I am very much intrigued by it.
“Starship Sagittarius” by Damien Casey:
This one is a scifi piece that toys with American culture while in a sort of horror setting. It has some humor in its narrative as we follow our crew of nonhumans and humans. Its atmosphere reminded me of watching action cartoons on Saturday mornings, ready to see how the battles would unfold and who would survive.
“December 17, 1982” by Anthony Taylor:
This story opened strongly. It reminded me of something that you would see in the news. I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know how this one would end. The suspense was absolutely real in this one.
“Shot Through The Heart” by Taylor Pawley:
Fatal attraction? Be careful what you like on social media for sure. My jaw dropped when things started after the opening sequence. I hadn’t realized the story was going this way. This absolutely used the terrifying aspects of the zodiac.
“Shadow Goat” by Amanda Jaeger:
A story of utter obsession. It was the perfect move to write this in first person, to allow us to get into the head of the individual. I wasn’t sure what the narrator would do. There were so many possibilities, which created plenty of tension.
“The One Who Came to Save Her” by Nico Bell
The atmosphere of this story begins steeped in mystery. I was not sure which character to trust and which to suspect, so I started suspecting them all. Some of my early guesses were correct, and I loved how they were executed in the story.
“I See You: The Hunt of the Capricorn Witch” by S.L. Sherhart:
A witch hunting a serial killer? I hadn’t expected there to be a piece like this, and I am so glad there was! Who would be the hunter and who would be the prey in the end? It absolutely kept my interest from beginning to end.
“The Rage of Aquarius: A Ballade of Sorts” by Elias Chase:
This poem (ballade) embodies the rage of an Aquarius without holding back! It’s filled with gore without being tasteless. It has a haunting effect that had me rereading it almost immediately to relive the build-up to better appreciate that wonderful finale.
“Give Me Your Sorrow; Let Me Drink It In” by Aiden E. Messer:
I would absolutely like to not encounter this particular Aquarius. Truly horrific, the being is still intriguing as he displays some of the worst traits of this star sign interspersed with mentions of other aspects. There is a character I related to and rooted for, that I was thrilled to see.
“Sirens Unleashed” by Kirsten Aucoin:
This poem has very effective imagery. I would love to see artwork accompanying it. It’s again like one of those children’s nursery rhymes that’s dark and haunting but you might hear on a playground. Very memorable.
“Where The Fish Don’t Bite” by A.W. Mason:
This is not the sort of fishing horror story you see on the news. It’s the one that you absolutely hope will never happen in real life. Short but effective.
“Portent of Pisces” by Alana K. Drex:
This tale takes the zodiac and puts its own horror-filled spin on it. It begins with an omen that may be nothing more than the nonsensical rambles of an old woman. Or it could be something far worse.
“My Little Minnow” by Nina Tolstoy:
The way the zodiac is interwoven into this tale is the perfect set-up for the horrors to come. There’s a looming cloud of suspense as you’re reading. Waiting for what’s to come, how things will progress. It’s not unnecessarily descriptive for the horrific things that occur, for which I am grateful. Very well written.
stephaniieemoon's review against another edition
5.0
“Astrology is a language, if you understand this language the sky speaks to you.”
Horrorscope a Zodiac Anthology is a wonderfully crafted anthology of short stories and poems. It features many different authors with unique writing styles and fresh ideas. Edited by H. Everend this gem is one of a kind. Not often do you see horror books about astrology and as someone who has been studying astrology for a long time i was elated when she first dropped the concept of this anthology.
Each story/poem is different from one another, each brings the elements of the zodiac signs. It’s interesting to see how each author uses traits and symbols etc to incorporate into their stories.
Aside from the stories/poems I have to point out the whole vibe/format/layout of this anthology. I love a book with a nice aesthetic and Horrorscope totally brings me that satisfaction. Each zodiac section adorns a beautiful illustration by the very talented Ashley Scheller and one story flows well into the next.
I loved all of the poetry. I find myself always loving poetry and the poems in this anthology didn’t disappoint. Although I didn’t like all of the stories as much as some, I did find new authors I’d like to read more from.
Horrorscope a Zodiac Anthology is a wonderfully crafted anthology of short stories and poems. It features many different authors with unique writing styles and fresh ideas. Edited by H. Everend this gem is one of a kind. Not often do you see horror books about astrology and as someone who has been studying astrology for a long time i was elated when she first dropped the concept of this anthology.
Each story/poem is different from one another, each brings the elements of the zodiac signs. It’s interesting to see how each author uses traits and symbols etc to incorporate into their stories.
Aside from the stories/poems I have to point out the whole vibe/format/layout of this anthology. I love a book with a nice aesthetic and Horrorscope totally brings me that satisfaction. Each zodiac section adorns a beautiful illustration by the very talented Ashley Scheller and one story flows well into the next.
I loved all of the poetry. I find myself always loving poetry and the poems in this anthology didn’t disappoint. Although I didn’t like all of the stories as much as some, I did find new authors I’d like to read more from.
ohhdeanna's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This has really high ratings and I feel bad but... I didn't really enjoy this. There were a few stories that I did like and I thought were really well done, but on the whole, I think that this had some fantasy elements to this that I just don't normally enjoy. And that's on me! I'm glad I gave it a go, but yeah, not for me.
bucher_freund's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This fascinating read, a collection inspired by the twelve signs of the zodiac, truly has something for everyone.
Each work was well-crafted and enjoyable. My absolute favorites are:
The Taurus Bull by Eric Woods - a group of teens investigate the local legend of a monster in the woods. Excellent coming of age horror vibes.
El Cangrejo by Dan B. Fierce - a mysterious "Handyman" and his magical and mischievous bag fight giant crabs during a hurricane. Bizarre, hilarious, and a lot of fun.
Purrfectly Matched by Greta T. Bates - a pair of catwomen play with their food. Gory and smutty in the best way.
Love and War by Nadine Stewart - a heartfelt poem about existing on a cusp.
The Most Dangerous Sign by Samantha Arthurs - a violent Virgo tells us how her garden grows.
Carving Out Balance by Brianna Malotke - a lovely Libra creates balance and beauty in her home.
The Sting of Scorpius by Kay Hanifen - occult shop purveyor helps a customer in distress. I love when people get what they deserve.
The One Who Came to Save Her by Nico Bell - a man blames the recent failure of his crops on the caregiver of his ill wife. Another great tale of comeuppance.
Sirens Unleashed by Kirsten Aucoin - a wicked cursed object poem.
Where the Fish Won't Bite by A.W. Mason - a man and his wife discover a strange goo in the water while fishing. Wonderfully gory.
Portent of Pisces by Alana K. Drex - a darkly whimsical tale of an eccentric neighborhood psychic and the coming of a new power. Heed this portent!
My Little Minnow by Nina Tolstoy - a mother makes excuses for her clearly sociopathic little boy. That twist at the end!
Each work was well-crafted and enjoyable. My absolute favorites are:
The Taurus Bull by Eric Woods - a group of teens investigate the local legend of a monster in the woods. Excellent coming of age horror vibes.
El Cangrejo by Dan B. Fierce - a mysterious "Handyman" and his magical and mischievous bag fight giant crabs during a hurricane. Bizarre, hilarious, and a lot of fun.
Purrfectly Matched by Greta T. Bates - a pair of catwomen play with their food. Gory and smutty in the best way.
Love and War by Nadine Stewart - a heartfelt poem about existing on a cusp.
The Most Dangerous Sign by Samantha Arthurs - a violent Virgo tells us how her garden grows.
Carving Out Balance by Brianna Malotke - a lovely Libra creates balance and beauty in her home.
The Sting of Scorpius by Kay Hanifen - occult shop purveyor helps a customer in distress. I love when people get what they deserve.
The One Who Came to Save Her by Nico Bell - a man blames the recent failure of his crops on the caregiver of his ill wife. Another great tale of comeuppance.
Sirens Unleashed by Kirsten Aucoin - a wicked cursed object poem.
Where the Fish Won't Bite by A.W. Mason - a man and his wife discover a strange goo in the water while fishing. Wonderfully gory.
Portent of Pisces by Alana K. Drex - a darkly whimsical tale of an eccentric neighborhood psychic and the coming of a new power. Heed this portent!
My Little Minnow by Nina Tolstoy - a mother makes excuses for her clearly sociopathic little boy. That twist at the end!
nikneedsnovels's review
5.0
Each story flowed into the next. H. Everend did a spectacular job. The writers are all extremely talented. I had to force myself to take breaks. There are 36 stories and poems for your enjoyment.
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