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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
sgraw269's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
ohhellotaylorann's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you, NetGalley for this advanced readers copy of Flowers From The Void by Gianni Washington!
This short story was INCREDIBLE. I can't say this enough, if you are a fan of Horror or want to dive more into the genre, you *need* to read this short story collection.
The two I loved most were: Go, It Is The Sending & Under Your Skin.
I grew to care so much for each world and character that I wished they had their own novel!
The writing was phenomenal!
Some of them were less impactful than others, but even those I feel will haunt me. This was a chilling and disturbing collection-- in the BEST way possible.
I look forward to reading my by Gianni Washington in the future!
4.75 ⭐️ (rounded up)
This short story was INCREDIBLE. I can't say this enough, if you are a fan of Horror or want to dive more into the genre, you *need* to read this short story collection.
The two I loved most were: Go, It Is The Sending & Under Your Skin.
I grew to care so much for each world and character that I wished they had their own novel!
The writing was phenomenal!
Some of them were less impactful than others, but even those I feel will haunt me. This was a chilling and disturbing collection-- in the BEST way possible.
I look forward to reading my by Gianni Washington in the future!
4.75 ⭐️ (rounded up)
unhingedreader's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated
4.5
radiatorpasta's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.0
is there any such thing as a short story collection which isn't at least 50% chaff
readingfrankly's review against another edition
3.75
An overall solid collection from this debut author. I would definitely read from her again. Of course as with pretty much any anthology, a couple stories were duds. But for the most part I found the stories interesting and well written. These were not super scary, so if you're newer to horror I think this is a good collection.
ghostboyreads's review
4.0
"Each strike landed like a stone. Phillip only became soft afterward, when fluids rushed to inflate him until every bruise rested on a cushion of swollen tissue. The rest of him was smeared with blood. Martin seemed to revel in every hemorrhage, cupping puddles of it in his hands before wiping them onto his own shirt. Making art of Phillip's life force."
Flowers from the Void is an interesting little story collection that contains a lot of genuinely creepy and spine-chilling tales. Each of these stories comes packed with a heavy, thick, almost cloying sense of unease and a disturbing, almost quiet sort of violence simmers just below the surface of this novel. Each of these stories are just, so, so very sad, they're so unnerving and completely horrific. This is absolutely more of a muted, and silent sort of horror rather than one that screams right in your face, but, each story is so well written, so beautifully crafted and utterly impactful, that, no matter the kind of horror reader you are, there's something for you here. Flowers from the Void is intensely evocative, it's like staring into the blackest of nights when you have nowhere to go, it's like letting the waves drag you further and further from the shore.
These are strange, weird tales. They're vague, bizarre little vignette like stories that offer us a glimpse into the gaping maw of the macabre and depraved. It's incredibly rare to see such a diverse and wide-ranging story collection offered up by just one author, in Flowers from the Void, Gianni weaves so many stories with so much heart, that, it creates a brutal snarling beast of a novel. It's such a gut-wrenching reading experience, and it can't be stressed strongly enough how wonderful this collection really is - the love that Gianni has for the craft of storytelling is lavished across every single tale here, his prose is lyrical and captivating and utterly perfect for this kind of hazy, subtle horror.
Flowers from the Void is an interesting little story collection that contains a lot of genuinely creepy and spine-chilling tales. Each of these stories comes packed with a heavy, thick, almost cloying sense of unease and a disturbing, almost quiet sort of violence simmers just below the surface of this novel. Each of these stories are just, so, so very sad, they're so unnerving and completely horrific. This is absolutely more of a muted, and silent sort of horror rather than one that screams right in your face, but, each story is so well written, so beautifully crafted and utterly impactful, that, no matter the kind of horror reader you are, there's something for you here. Flowers from the Void is intensely evocative, it's like staring into the blackest of nights when you have nowhere to go, it's like letting the waves drag you further and further from the shore.
These are strange, weird tales. They're vague, bizarre little vignette like stories that offer us a glimpse into the gaping maw of the macabre and depraved. It's incredibly rare to see such a diverse and wide-ranging story collection offered up by just one author, in Flowers from the Void, Gianni weaves so many stories with so much heart, that, it creates a brutal snarling beast of a novel. It's such a gut-wrenching reading experience, and it can't be stressed strongly enough how wonderful this collection really is - the love that Gianni has for the craft of storytelling is lavished across every single tale here, his prose is lyrical and captivating and utterly perfect for this kind of hazy, subtle horror.
"His victims' last moments will play on an endless loop inside his head, and the devastating grief of their loved ones will seep in, steadily filling all the cracks in his knowing, until it spills from everywhere and he is drowning in it. His transparent teeth will crack against one another, and he will beg for silence. He will try to tear the flesh from his non-existent bones and gouge out eyes that are already gone."
This is just so, so haunting, so consuming, so completely and utterly suffocating and intense and interesting. There's a lot going on here, and pretty much all of it is fantastic but, the body horror elements in particular were sublime, it's quite simply an outstanding collection. As with any collection of stories, there are always the stories that hit harder than the others - Redemption Express and Under Your Skin were the stars of the show here, though, I couldn't find a single bad story at all. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this novel is that it's a debut written like the work of an author who's been in the game for a long time.
"I could watch the smoke curl in front of me forever, but he won't let me. He's shuffling this way now, slow but steady. His progress is almost painful to watch, but part of me is rooting for him."
mynameisgreg's review against another edition
3.0
Nice collection of creepy horror/adjacent short stories. They’re easily readable and varied. The star of the show here is the author’s imagination: there’s misunderstood alien monsters, a high grim reaper, and a coven of witches. My favourite was one of the subtler stories - Hold Still - where a man’s mother-in-law takes advantage of his stalling brain following a brain injury. It’s creepy and very effective.
ellethefantasyqueen's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an E-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. They all had unique concepts from one another and brought in different themes and elements. There were some stories that I wasn't particularly drawn to but some I really loved. I feel like this collection really showcases Washington's skill as a writer in the way she was able to put so much love and effort into each story. I will definitely be reading more from Washington. I recommend this!
bitterlyenthusiastic_books's review
5.0
Flowers From the Void by Gianni Washington is an absolute fever dream of a debut. Every story feels like you’ve stumbled into some dark, parallel world where the rules bend and reality skews just enough to feel unsettlingly close to home. Washington has crafted a collection that’s surreal, witty, and packed with an eerie, offbeat charm. The whole “otherworldly creature pulling the strings” premise works so well—each tale comes across as if it’s being acted out on a twisted stage, where dread and whimsy share the spotlight.
The stories are the perfect length, each hitting hard and lingering long after. They’re punchy, heartfelt, and just the right amount of weird. It’s tough to pick a favorite, but “When I Cry It’s Somebody Else’s Blood” might be the one I’ll be thinking about for ages. If you’re into the uncanny, the strange, and the hauntingly intimate, Flowers From the Void is a collection that will lure you in and stay with you.