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bobmetal's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sarah_mcmullan_nz's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic collection
Wow. What a fantastic collection of seriously creepy, disturbing and thrilling short stories. Ranging from the grotesque to the macabre, fantastical to utterly believable in the cold light of day, I've ended up with a list of new authors to hunt out and read. All of them new to me.
A brilliant collection - I can see more than a fee being adapted for the screen - just be mindful of reading them alone at 3am during a terrible storm. (Not my smartest decision.)
Wow. What a fantastic collection of seriously creepy, disturbing and thrilling short stories. Ranging from the grotesque to the macabre, fantastical to utterly believable in the cold light of day, I've ended up with a list of new authors to hunt out and read. All of them new to me.
A brilliant collection - I can see more than a fee being adapted for the screen - just be mindful of reading them alone at 3am during a terrible storm. (Not my smartest decision.)
the_coycaterpillar_reads's review against another edition
4.0
What One Wouldn’t Do is a horror anthology edited by Scott J. Moses. The title does exactly what it says on the tin. It contains stories that delve into the deepest recesses of the mind. How far would you be willing to go to protect the ones you love or stop someone finding out a secret? These stories are perpetually locked in the darkness. The key lies in the dark but is unattainable by human means. The anthology contained stories from some beloved horror authors but also from authors who are new to me but impressed me all the same.
Horror short stories is a format that works incredibly well. They get straight to the point, slicing that jugular up nice and swift, all the spectrums of human emotion are on show. What I just love about horror though, is just how humane it is…bear with me. Often authors write about it because it is human. They want to investigate the why and the how, why we do what we do. Grief, fear, anguish, and mental health are all states the brain can emit and it often gives us a deeper meaning of why people behave the way they do.
An introduction from Laurel Hightower, queen of grief horror and we get great insight into why she does what she does and what can be expected from this anticipated anthology.
Some stories that left a lasting impact on me were With Animals by J.A.W. McCarthy. This was the perfect opening and tread the fine line between grief and love. Cry Me a River by Stephanie Ellis, as can always be expected from Ellis you get the atmosphere and the story – she instils cold dread into your veins with her immersive and taught narrative.
The Witch of Flora Pass by Scott J. Moses, another story so well crafted and executed that I know I will return to this author in the future. Seven Snapshots of a Broken Heart by Shane Douglas Keene, a poem that nearly broke me. It’s beautiful in its imagery and the mental picture of pain that is painted. Bloody brilliant.
I Married a Dead Man by Joanna Koch – I’ve read some of Koch’s work before and always love that dark place she’s able to take the reader to. This story tackles societal demands and expectations and kicks them in the arse! The Last Word by Laurel Hightower delves into grief once again with a story about psychic mediums, I won’t say another word about it and will allow you to get the full experience.
All The Misery That Waits for us at the End of the Day by Eric LaRocca. There isn’t a thing that Eric writes that I will not read, this was phenomenal. A werewolf story that not only blew my socks off but it took the skin away too! I felt my breath quicken in anticipation of what would come next.
Its not often that I read an anthology and enjoy each story but that is the case with What One Wouldn’t Do. The sense of dread immediate, it will sit in your head for days.
Horror short stories is a format that works incredibly well. They get straight to the point, slicing that jugular up nice and swift, all the spectrums of human emotion are on show. What I just love about horror though, is just how humane it is…bear with me. Often authors write about it because it is human. They want to investigate the why and the how, why we do what we do. Grief, fear, anguish, and mental health are all states the brain can emit and it often gives us a deeper meaning of why people behave the way they do.
An introduction from Laurel Hightower, queen of grief horror and we get great insight into why she does what she does and what can be expected from this anticipated anthology.
Some stories that left a lasting impact on me were With Animals by J.A.W. McCarthy. This was the perfect opening and tread the fine line between grief and love. Cry Me a River by Stephanie Ellis, as can always be expected from Ellis you get the atmosphere and the story – she instils cold dread into your veins with her immersive and taught narrative.
The Witch of Flora Pass by Scott J. Moses, another story so well crafted and executed that I know I will return to this author in the future. Seven Snapshots of a Broken Heart by Shane Douglas Keene, a poem that nearly broke me. It’s beautiful in its imagery and the mental picture of pain that is painted. Bloody brilliant.
I Married a Dead Man by Joanna Koch – I’ve read some of Koch’s work before and always love that dark place she’s able to take the reader to. This story tackles societal demands and expectations and kicks them in the arse! The Last Word by Laurel Hightower delves into grief once again with a story about psychic mediums, I won’t say another word about it and will allow you to get the full experience.
All The Misery That Waits for us at the End of the Day by Eric LaRocca. There isn’t a thing that Eric writes that I will not read, this was phenomenal. A werewolf story that not only blew my socks off but it took the skin away too! I felt my breath quicken in anticipation of what would come next.
Its not often that I read an anthology and enjoy each story but that is the case with What One Wouldn’t Do. The sense of dread immediate, it will sit in your head for days.
ghostblush's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
pbanditp's review against another edition
5.0
When you ask the question, WHAT ONE WOULDN’T DO? and you have no limitations to the answer, you end up with overwhelming creativity that dives into a darkness that you may not be able to escape from.
Grief is very personal, and all of these authors have opened their souls to us, left themselves vulnerable and exposed in a way that is not easily expressed. Deepest fears left raw for you to poke at. Not fear for themselves usually, but for others, and for the price they would be willing to pay.
I wish I could tell you all my favorites but you might as well just read the table of content, even the intro by Laurel Hightower was excellent. While I was reading this I bought from several authors that were previously unknown to me. There were stand out stories by loved authors such as Stephanie Ellis and Daniel Barrett as well as those that I never heard of such as J.A.W. McCarthy, Marisca Pichette, Angela Sylvaine, J.V. Gachs, Nick Younker, and Bob Johnson.
Grief is very personal, and all of these authors have opened their souls to us, left themselves vulnerable and exposed in a way that is not easily expressed. Deepest fears left raw for you to poke at. Not fear for themselves usually, but for others, and for the price they would be willing to pay.
I wish I could tell you all my favorites but you might as well just read the table of content, even the intro by Laurel Hightower was excellent. While I was reading this I bought from several authors that were previously unknown to me. There were stand out stories by loved authors such as Stephanie Ellis and Daniel Barrett as well as those that I never heard of such as J.A.W. McCarthy, Marisca Pichette, Angela Sylvaine, J.V. Gachs, Nick Younker, and Bob Johnson.
johnlynchbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Do you love horror with depth and emotion? Horror that makes you feel, and tugs at your heart? If you do, this is an anthology for you. Scott J. Mosses puts on the editor hat, and wears it well. His debut as an editor is successful, and I’m eager to see if he continues down that path.
Some of my favorite stores were from
Scott J. Moses
Laurel Hightower
Daniel Barnett
Stephanie Ellis
J.A.W. McCarthy
I really have nothing bad to say about this, and loved it. Each story is well done, each story has a place here. Nothing felt like filler, I only took a star away because personally I’m not a fan of poetry. I suspect those who are will get even further mileage. Check this one out!
Some of my favorite stores were from
Scott J. Moses
Laurel Hightower
Daniel Barnett
Stephanie Ellis
J.A.W. McCarthy
I really have nothing bad to say about this, and loved it. Each story is well done, each story has a place here. Nothing felt like filler, I only took a star away because personally I’m not a fan of poetry. I suspect those who are will get even further mileage. Check this one out!