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labunnywtf's review against another edition
In Strange Girls, twenty-one authors dare to tackle what makes the girls in this collection different.
Apparently, what makes them different is being raped and tortured to death.
The fact that this editor decided to include a story that is solely about a Nice Guy(tm), without any POV for the "strange girl" who he preyed upon, who did nothing to be considered a strange girl, was bad enough.
But I absolutely did not pick up a book about women in horror to read a book where a girl is raped and tortured in extreme detail. There was nothing about that story that made it special, unless you consider torture porn written by a woman special.
No. No.
Apparently, what makes them different is being raped and tortured to death.
The fact that this editor decided to include a story that is solely about a Nice Guy(tm), without any POV for the "strange girl" who he preyed upon, who did nothing to be considered a strange girl, was bad enough.
But I absolutely did not pick up a book about women in horror to read a book where a girl is raped and tortured in extreme detail. There was nothing about that story that made it special, unless you consider torture porn written by a woman special.
No. No.
theduchess93's review against another edition
4.0
I was pleasantly surprised at how many of the stories I enjoyed, since anthologies can be pretty hit-or-miss. A couple points I didn't like: one story had a NB protag but was....very clearly not written by a NB person, and another story had teens texting things like C U L8TR which no teen has ever texted ever.
vizira's review against another edition
3.0
24 Hour Diner - 2 stars, awkward writing but fun premise
Sideshow - 4 Stars, a solid story that really fit the collection
The Doll's House - 4 Stars, another good one.
Blood - 2 Stars. A very short fantasy story that just sort of ... stops.
Self-Portrait with Pears - 3 Stars. Well-written but I didn't really get how this fit the collection's theme.
Personal Demons - 1 Star. Liked the non-binary character, but wow that writing was bad.
Friends with Benefits - 2 Stars. Very cheesy, not well-written.
Night Terrors - 3 Stars. A fun twisty story.
The Girl Who Never Stopped Bleeding - 3 Stars, wish it was longer.
Leda and the Fly - 4 Stars, this was a fun weird little story.
Jenny's Bobo - 3 Stars, really liked this but I wanted more!
Extinguishing Fireflies - 4 Stars, silly but in a fun way.
The Eyes of the Dead - 4 Stars, this one was really messed up.
My Mirror Wife - 3 Stars, a little cheesy but okay writing
Patterns of Faerytales - 3 Stars, love a selkie story, but this wasn't written particularly well.
Campfire Tales: The Bloody Rings - 5 stars, simple but effective.
Cracked - 3 Stars. It was fine.
Angel of Death - 5 Stars, really enjoyed this. I could read a whole novel about this.
Her Garden Grows - 4 Stars. This was a weird one that I didn't quite get but still enjoyed.
Revival - 3 Stars. Solid writing, but not a premise that really appealed to me.
A Song Only She Can Hear - 4 Stars. A really good mermaid story.
Tribal Influence - 4 Stars, fun story, felt like the opening of a video game.
So a pretty mixed bag overall. I received this arc from Netgalley.
Sideshow - 4 Stars, a solid story that really fit the collection
The Doll's House - 4 Stars, another good one.
Blood - 2 Stars. A very short fantasy story that just sort of ... stops.
Self-Portrait with Pears - 3 Stars. Well-written but I didn't really get how this fit the collection's theme.
Personal Demons - 1 Star. Liked the non-binary character, but wow that writing was bad.
Friends with Benefits - 2 Stars. Very cheesy, not well-written.
Night Terrors - 3 Stars. A fun twisty story.
The Girl Who Never Stopped Bleeding - 3 Stars, wish it was longer.
Leda and the Fly - 4 Stars, this was a fun weird little story.
Jenny's Bobo - 3 Stars, really liked this but I wanted more!
Extinguishing Fireflies - 4 Stars, silly but in a fun way.
The Eyes of the Dead - 4 Stars, this one was really messed up.
My Mirror Wife - 3 Stars, a little cheesy but okay writing
Patterns of Faerytales - 3 Stars, love a selkie story, but this wasn't written particularly well.
Campfire Tales: The Bloody Rings - 5 stars, simple but effective.
Cracked - 3 Stars. It was fine.
Angel of Death - 5 Stars, really enjoyed this. I could read a whole novel about this.
Her Garden Grows - 4 Stars. This was a weird one that I didn't quite get but still enjoyed.
Revival - 3 Stars. Solid writing, but not a premise that really appealed to me.
A Song Only She Can Hear - 4 Stars. A really good mermaid story.
Tribal Influence - 4 Stars, fun story, felt like the opening of a video game.
So a pretty mixed bag overall. I received this arc from Netgalley.
georgilvsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
‘And in a world where everyday women’s choices are dwindling or are at stake, this anthology serves to celebrate these girl’s choices’
This is a short story collection containing 22 stories.
I rated each story individually:
* 24 hour Diner - 2.5⭐️
* Sideshow - 4⭐️
* The Doll’s House - 4⭐️
* Blood - 1⭐️
* Self-Portrait With Pears - 2⭐️
* Personal Demons - 3⭐️
* Friends With Benefits - 3⭐️
* Night Terrors - 3.5⭐️
* The Girl Who Never Stopped - 1⭐️
* Leda And The Fly - 2⭐️
* Jenny’s Bono - 1⭐️
* Extinguishing Fireflies - 2.5⭐️
* The Eyes Of The Dead - trigger warning, violence/rape - 3⭐️
* My Mirror Wife - 3.5⭐️
* Patterns Of Fairytales - 3.75 ⭐️
* Campfire Tales: The Bloody Rings - 1⭐️
* Cracked - 5⭐️
* Angel Of Death - 4⭐️
* Her Garden Grows - 1⭐️
* Revival - 1⭐️
* A Song Only She Can Hear - 1.5⭐️
* Tribal Influence - 2⭐️
Overall, some really freaky stories. Plenty of gore!
This is a short story collection containing 22 stories.
I rated each story individually:
* 24 hour Diner - 2.5⭐️
* Sideshow - 4⭐️
* The Doll’s House - 4⭐️
* Blood - 1⭐️
* Self-Portrait With Pears - 2⭐️
* Personal Demons - 3⭐️
* Friends With Benefits - 3⭐️
* Night Terrors - 3.5⭐️
* The Girl Who Never Stopped - 1⭐️
* Leda And The Fly - 2⭐️
* Jenny’s Bono - 1⭐️
* Extinguishing Fireflies - 2.5⭐️
* The Eyes Of The Dead - trigger warning, violence/rape - 3⭐️
* My Mirror Wife - 3.5⭐️
* Patterns Of Fairytales - 3.75 ⭐️
* Campfire Tales: The Bloody Rings - 1⭐️
* Cracked - 5⭐️
* Angel Of Death - 4⭐️
* Her Garden Grows - 1⭐️
* Revival - 1⭐️
* A Song Only She Can Hear - 1.5⭐️
* Tribal Influence - 2⭐️
Overall, some really freaky stories. Plenty of gore!
spookybookwitch's review against another edition
3.0
The stories varied wildly and widely in both quality of tale and in strength of writing. It doesn’t feel super cohesive which kind of turned me away from the book, which is too bad because I was super excited to read an anthology of women in horror.
becandbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Trigger/Content warnings: death/murder, sexual assault, toxic relationships, stalking, outing of sexuality, bullying, violence, necrophilia, rape
Representation: non-binary, queer MC & POC side character (Personal Demons), queer MC and off-screen character (The Eyes of the Dead)
24 Hour Diner by Charlotte Platt ★★
Generic paranormal story - not really horror, in my opinion.
Sideshow by Jude Reid ★★★1/2
Lovely atmosphere and well-defined characters. I enjoyed how this story developed. But it didn't blow me away at all.
The Doll's House by Alyson Faye ★★★1/2
Finally something a little creepy. I love how this developed and the ambiguity that was throughout the story until the very end.
Blood by Red Claire ★
I'm confused by the story. Also, by the fact that this was fantasy. Not horror.
Self-Portrait with Pears by Rachel Bolton ★★1/2
Part of me actually did enjoy this story, but again, NOT HORROR. This was absolutely more of a suspense short story. Good, but also just way too much of the creepy stalker dude which amounted to nothing other than me being really mad and annoyed.
Personal Demons by Angelique Fawns ★
No no no no no no. Not only was the non-binary MC misgendered BY THE AUTHOR in the first few lines (okay, this may be changed in the final copy - please note I am reading a proof) but "...being a lesbian doesn't suit me" is possibly one of the worst lines I have ever come across. The writing made me cringe, the story-telling was jaunty and it seemed incredibly cliche to use the name Lilith.
Friends with Benefits by E.F. Schraeder ★★1/2
I didn't fully understand what was happening. But I liked it? But then it felt incomplete and rushed. Oh and some of the most DISGUSTING mental health language in this story. *sigh* I just want a well-written full length novel of this...
Night Terrors by Angela Sylvaine ★★1/2
This was well-written and I didn't hate it. But absolutely not horror (definitely sci-fi) and not original at all.
The Girl Who Never Stopped Bleeding by Sam Lauren ★
This would have been good if the entire thing hadn't been some weird, messed up analogy about female menstruation.
Leda and the Fly by Marnie Azzarelli ★★★★1/2
Finally something good! If you loved The Yellow Wallpaper then this will be right up your alley.
Jenny's Bobo by Hillary Lyon ★★
This was promising. Until it ended suddenly, turning this into a short story with zero point.
Extinguishing Fireflies by Rebecca Rowland ★★★★
I enjoyed this! Super creepy vibes, gorgeously developed twist.
The Eyes of the Dead by Danielle R. Bailey DNF
I can't believe this was written. I can't believe this was chosen for an anthology.
Don't subject yourself to this story. It's disgusting. It's graphic shock value just for the sake of it. It is the worst torture/rape/necrophilia scene I've ever come across. Also shitty dialogue about substance abuse/homelessness.
My Mirror Wife by Ash Tudor ★★★★
Really well scripted victim-to-villain story. I loved the way this finished as well. Deliciously dark and messed-up.
Patterns of Faerytales by Azzurra Nox ★★★★
I enjoyed this one. Absolutely more fantasy with horror elements, than strictly horror. But it was well told.
Campfire Tales: The Bloody Rings by Emma Johnson-Rivard ★★
Meh.
Cracked by Regan Moore ★★★
Not bad, but honestly it didn't thrill me either. The premise could make a great horror story, but I didn't feel a whole heap of suspense.
Angel of Death by Phoebe Jane Johnson ★★
This was just odd. Like I was reading two stories at once? The two parts just didn't gel together.
Her Garden Grows by Maxine Kollar DNF
Revival by Madison Estes ★★★★1/2
This was good! The dark creepy, second-guessing sort of horror that I want from short stories.
A Song Only She Can Hear by Wondra Vanian ★★★1/2
I really enjoyed this one but it wasn't as atmospheric as I wanted. The story was great, but it didn't feel spooky?
Tribal Influence by Erica Ruhe ★★★1/2
This was a nicely fleshed out story. I enjoyed it, but I wasn't blown away.
So all up, some okay stories, a couple of stories that were fantastic and even more that strongly recommend you skip over. My average star rating for the anthology is 2.5. Pick it up if the descriptions of the stories intrigue you. But I don't think this is a collection that I will be revisiting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Representation: non-binary, queer MC & POC side character (Personal Demons), queer MC and off-screen character (The Eyes of the Dead)
24 Hour Diner by Charlotte Platt ★★
Generic paranormal story - not really horror, in my opinion.
Sideshow by Jude Reid ★★★1/2
Lovely atmosphere and well-defined characters. I enjoyed how this story developed. But it didn't blow me away at all.
The Doll's House by Alyson Faye ★★★1/2
Finally something a little creepy. I love how this developed and the ambiguity that was throughout the story until the very end.
Blood by Red Claire ★
I'm confused by the story. Also, by the fact that this was fantasy. Not horror.
Self-Portrait with Pears by Rachel Bolton ★★1/2
Part of me actually did enjoy this story, but again, NOT HORROR. This was absolutely more of a suspense short story. Good, but also just way too much of the creepy stalker dude which amounted to nothing other than me being really mad and annoyed.
Personal Demons by Angelique Fawns ★
No no no no no no. Not only was the non-binary MC misgendered BY THE AUTHOR in the first few lines (okay, this may be changed in the final copy - please note I am reading a proof) but "...being a lesbian doesn't suit me" is possibly one of the worst lines I have ever come across. The writing made me cringe, the story-telling was jaunty and it seemed incredibly cliche to use the name Lilith.
Friends with Benefits by E.F. Schraeder ★★1/2
I didn't fully understand what was happening. But I liked it? But then it felt incomplete and rushed. Oh and some of the most DISGUSTING mental health language in this story. *sigh* I just want a well-written full length novel of this...
Night Terrors by Angela Sylvaine ★★1/2
This was well-written and I didn't hate it. But absolutely not horror (definitely sci-fi) and not original at all.
The Girl Who Never Stopped Bleeding by Sam Lauren ★
This would have been good if the entire thing hadn't been some weird, messed up analogy about female menstruation.
Leda and the Fly by Marnie Azzarelli ★★★★1/2
Finally something good! If you loved The Yellow Wallpaper then this will be right up your alley.
Jenny's Bobo by Hillary Lyon ★★
This was promising. Until it ended suddenly, turning this into a short story with zero point.
Extinguishing Fireflies by Rebecca Rowland ★★★★
I enjoyed this! Super creepy vibes, gorgeously developed twist.
The Eyes of the Dead by Danielle R. Bailey DNF
I can't believe this was written. I can't believe this was chosen for an anthology.
Don't subject yourself to this story. It's disgusting. It's graphic shock value just for the sake of it. It is the worst torture/rape/necrophilia scene I've ever come across. Also shitty dialogue about substance abuse/homelessness.
My Mirror Wife by Ash Tudor ★★★★
Really well scripted victim-to-villain story. I loved the way this finished as well. Deliciously dark and messed-up.
Patterns of Faerytales by Azzurra Nox ★★★★
I enjoyed this one. Absolutely more fantasy with horror elements, than strictly horror. But it was well told.
Campfire Tales: The Bloody Rings by Emma Johnson-Rivard ★★
Meh.
Cracked by Regan Moore ★★★
Not bad, but honestly it didn't thrill me either. The premise could make a great horror story, but I didn't feel a whole heap of suspense.
Angel of Death by Phoebe Jane Johnson ★★
This was just odd. Like I was reading two stories at once? The two parts just didn't gel together.
Her Garden Grows by Maxine Kollar DNF
Revival by Madison Estes ★★★★1/2
This was good! The dark creepy, second-guessing sort of horror that I want from short stories.
A Song Only She Can Hear by Wondra Vanian ★★★1/2
I really enjoyed this one but it wasn't as atmospheric as I wanted. The story was great, but it didn't feel spooky?
Tribal Influence by Erica Ruhe ★★★1/2
This was a nicely fleshed out story. I enjoyed it, but I wasn't blown away.
So all up, some okay stories, a couple of stories that were fantastic and even more that strongly recommend you skip over. My average star rating for the anthology is 2.5. Pick it up if the descriptions of the stories intrigue you. But I don't think this is a collection that I will be revisiting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
twiinklex's review
3.0
A collection of creepy short stories with more misses than hits. I thought that it started off strong and I liked the first couple of stories, but the book got weaker the further I got through it. Although there were a few memorable stories, many were forgettable and made no sense, and this was not helped by a weak story being the final chapter. I am aware that this is an anthology but would still like to have seen the stories more fleshed out. There were also a lot of typos and sloppy writing.
I think 'Sideshow' is my favourite story. Others that I enjoyed: 24 Hour Diner, Self-Portrait with Pears, Night Terrors, Extinguishing Fireflies, My Mirror Wife, Her Garden Grows. Also it's weird that I remember nothing about the most graphic/violent story ('The Eyes of the Dead') until I went back to it again.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I think 'Sideshow' is my favourite story. Others that I enjoyed: 24 Hour Diner, Self-Portrait with Pears, Night Terrors, Extinguishing Fireflies, My Mirror Wife, Her Garden Grows. Also it's weird that I remember nothing about the most graphic/violent story ('The Eyes of the Dead') until I went back to it again.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
stranger_sights's review against another edition
3.0
See my full review (including separate reviews of each story at:
https://mediadrome.wordpress.com/2020/02/17/strange-girls-women-in-horror-anthology/
I just averaged everything to come up with this one. Drumroll, please!
⭐⭐⭐
It was actually 2.7, but barely (rounded up to 3 for GoodReads though). Honestly, my thoughts on this book were just too damned all over the place for me to rate it higher.
https://mediadrome.wordpress.com/2020/02/17/strange-girls-women-in-horror-anthology/
I just averaged everything to come up with this one. Drumroll, please!
⭐⭐⭐
It was actually 2.7, but barely (rounded up to 3 for GoodReads though). Honestly, my thoughts on this book were just too damned all over the place for me to rate it higher.
paulalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
(Español/English)
Este fue un ARC gracias a NetGalley
Este libro es un compilado de cuentos cortos de historias de terror, cuyos personajes principales son mujeres. Son 22 historias cortas que tiene historias de todo tipo: paranormal, ciencia ficción, contemporáneo, etc. Hay historias divertidas y otras que te rompen el corazón. Y definitivamente algunos cuentos serían perfectos como libros!
Tiene un formato muy entretenido para leer y perfectamente puede elegir un cuento para cada día y leerlos en el orden que estimen conveniente. Todos los cuentos fueron entretenidos, pero hay cinco que se ganaron mi corazón, y me encantaría ver versiones extendidas de esas historias:
Jenny's Bobo cuenta la historia de una chica que tiene una criatura bastante particular en su casa. Este perfectamente podría ser un Middle-Grade.
Night Terrors me dejó con una sensación de angustia, muy al estilo de Black Mirror. Realmente una historia atrapante.
Self -Portrait With Pears: este fue lejos mi favorito, es una historia impactante y con un tema muy actual y peligroso. Este libro me dejó con la sangre helada y realmente es un cuento de terror porque habla de nuestra realidad.
The Doll's House: Este cuento también me dejó con un poco de miedo. Es macabro y quedé con muchas ganas de ver que pasaba. Podría leer un libro sobre esta historia. Muñecas de temer.
Sideshow: Este cuento dio un giro que no esperaba y fue fantástico y asqueroso al mismo tiempo.
Como les dije antes, hay muchos cuentos y de seguro encuentran alguno que será su favorito. Además, como son historias cortas se leen en unos minutos y son muy entretenidos.
******************************************
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
This book is a compilation of short horror stories, whose main characters are women. There are 22 short stories of all kinds: paranormal, science fiction, contemporary, etc. There are funny stories, very scary ones and others that will break your heart. And definitely some stories would be perfect as books!
It has a very entertaining format for reading and you can perfectly choose a story for each day and read them in any order. All the stories were entertaining, but there are five that won my heart, and I'd love to see extended versions of those stories:
Jenny's Bobo tells the story of a girl who has a very particular creature in her house. This could perfectly be a Middle-Grade book.
Night Terrors left me with a feeling of anguish, much like Black Mirror. A really captivating story.
Self-Portrait With Pears: this was far my favorite, it's a shocking story with a very current and dangerous theme. This book left me with cold blood because it talks about our reality. It's heartbreaking and terrifying.
The Doll's House: This story also left me with fear, I mean... dolls are creepy objects. It's macabre and I really wanted to see more. I would love to read a book about this story.
Sideshow: This story took a turn I didn't expect and was fantastic and disgusting at the same time.
As I told you before, there are many stories and you'll surely find one that will be your favorite.
Este fue un ARC gracias a NetGalley
Este libro es un compilado de cuentos cortos de historias de terror, cuyos personajes principales son mujeres. Son 22 historias cortas que tiene historias de todo tipo: paranormal, ciencia ficción, contemporáneo, etc. Hay historias divertidas y otras que te rompen el corazón. Y definitivamente algunos cuentos serían perfectos como libros!
Tiene un formato muy entretenido para leer y perfectamente puede elegir un cuento para cada día y leerlos en el orden que estimen conveniente. Todos los cuentos fueron entretenidos, pero hay cinco que se ganaron mi corazón, y me encantaría ver versiones extendidas de esas historias:
Jenny's Bobo cuenta la historia de una chica que tiene una criatura bastante particular en su casa. Este perfectamente podría ser un Middle-Grade.
Night Terrors me dejó con una sensación de angustia, muy al estilo de Black Mirror. Realmente una historia atrapante.
Self -Portrait With Pears: este fue lejos mi favorito, es una historia impactante y con un tema muy actual y peligroso. Este libro me dejó con la sangre helada y realmente es un cuento de terror porque habla de nuestra realidad.
The Doll's House: Este cuento también me dejó con un poco de miedo. Es macabro y quedé con muchas ganas de ver que pasaba. Podría leer un libro sobre esta historia. Muñecas de temer.
Sideshow: Este cuento dio un giro que no esperaba y fue fantástico y asqueroso al mismo tiempo.
Como les dije antes, hay muchos cuentos y de seguro encuentran alguno que será su favorito. Además, como son historias cortas se leen en unos minutos y son muy entretenidos.
******************************************
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
This book is a compilation of short horror stories, whose main characters are women. There are 22 short stories of all kinds: paranormal, science fiction, contemporary, etc. There are funny stories, very scary ones and others that will break your heart. And definitely some stories would be perfect as books!
It has a very entertaining format for reading and you can perfectly choose a story for each day and read them in any order. All the stories were entertaining, but there are five that won my heart, and I'd love to see extended versions of those stories:
Jenny's Bobo tells the story of a girl who has a very particular creature in her house. This could perfectly be a Middle-Grade book.
Night Terrors left me with a feeling of anguish, much like Black Mirror. A really captivating story.
Self-Portrait With Pears: this was far my favorite, it's a shocking story with a very current and dangerous theme. This book left me with cold blood because it talks about our reality. It's heartbreaking and terrifying.
The Doll's House: This story also left me with fear, I mean... dolls are creepy objects. It's macabre and I really wanted to see more. I would love to read a book about this story.
Sideshow: This story took a turn I didn't expect and was fantastic and disgusting at the same time.
As I told you before, there are many stories and you'll surely find one that will be your favorite.