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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Amazing stories! Marked down purely as I did not gel with all of the stories but as they are short stories, I think that is normal...
Five star stories from the collection for me though include 'I love your eyes' by Joel Rochester, 'All my friends are dead' by Liselle Sambury and 'The landscape of broken things' by Brent Lambert
Four stars for me include 'The teeth come out at night' by Sami Ellis and 'mother daughter and the devil' by Donyae Coles
All round amazing stories and beautiful writing
Five star stories from the collection for me though include 'I love your eyes' by Joel Rochester, 'All my friends are dead' by Liselle Sambury and 'The landscape of broken things' by Brent Lambert
Four stars for me include 'The teeth come out at night' by Sami Ellis and 'mother daughter and the devil' by Donyae Coles
All round amazing stories and beautiful writing
lighthearted
fast-paced
Really enjoyed what I read but lost steam because it’s anthology. I’ve read novel length books by multiple of these authors and they’re all very talented. I think I’m just not built for anthologies.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
La verdad es que esta antología solo resalta la importancia de corrección previa, y de colocar el mismo estándar para todos los relatos. Hay tres que son bastante malos, no porque las ideas lo sean, sino porque no hubo una correción.
Los otros me gustaron bastante, así que es una lástima la disparidad entre unos y otros.
Los otros me gustaron bastante, así que es una lástima la disparidad entre unos y otros.
This book was amazing! I enjoyed all of the stories and each were unique and engaging.
9 amazing stories and just one story that's extremely cringe, not bad for a collection.
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
All These Sunken Souls is a young adult horror anthology published 2023. Comprised of 10 short stories, all written by some of the most prominent Black authors in today's young adult market along with some lesser-known faces, this anthology has a story that will suit a spectrum of horror fans. From tales of monsters hunting monsters to tales of the gothic, All These Sunken Souls is bound to give you a fright!
I rated this anthology a 3/5 stars. Like with most short story anthologies, there are some stories that I liked more than others, and in this case the other category rules out. I liked 7/10 of the stories in this anthology, but even with that I would recommend borrowing this book from the local library before purchasing. There are only 5 out the 7 stories I enjoyed that I would reread. In short, this anthology was on the lesser side of mediocre and I don't have the urge to own it or reread it. It was just okay.
TW: racism, abusive dynamics, physical violence, sexual coercion/ assault, explicit sexual themes
Here are my individual reviews of each story:
Lights by Kaylnn Bayron ⅘ stars
A serial killer stalks his next victims but gets met with a surprise.
I liked this story. The premise was unique, the twist was unexpected, and it is well written. This is more eerie than it is scary. The descriptive language used by the author truly makes for an immersive story.
Be Not Afraid by Asia Monet ⅘ stars
A Southern Gothic horror with religious imagery featuring an ancient being exploited and her revenge.
I liked this story as well. I love a good creature feature, and I liked the way the story is told like a folktale. The story is very engaging and immersive. I felt the being's frustrations and anger at her situation. The liked that the story starts at the beginning and showcased the repeating cycle. This was another story that was eerie, but not scary.
All My Best Friends are Dead by Liselle Samsbury 3.5/5 stars
Something strange happens at a slumber party and four friends try to put the pieces of the previous night together.
This story was okay. Its was definitely scary, but predictable.
The Teeth Come Out at Night by Sami Ellis 3.5/5 stars
Akeela’s unusual side hustle has deadly consequences.
This is the only story in the anthology that truly scared me. It chilled me to the bone. It was very long though and I wish it spent more time on the monster. All the goodness was towards the end.
I Love Your Eyes by Joel Rochestor ⅕ stars
A queer gothic isolation horror with a tale of revenge set at a snowed- in manor.
Unfortunately, this story was not for me. I am a fan of gothic and atmospheric horror, but this story is a classic case of having an interesting idea, but poor execution. The worldbuilding was lackluster, the couple’s relationship needed to be fleshed out more as well(I wasn’t even sure they liked eachother or why they were together), and the ending felt rushed. As harsh as it sounds, this is one of the stories that made me question how long the contributors had to submit their work.
The Consumption of Vienna Montrose by Joelle Wellington ⅕ stars
An 18 year - old girl inherents a house from her grandmother that might be more than it seems.
Another story where the idea was interesting, but the execution was not great. The sing- songy prose did not flow well and made the story read as choppy. This story was a struggle for me to get through.
The Landscape of Broken Things by Brent Lambert 2.5/5 stars
A sc-fi infused cosmic horror about a young clairvoyant who battles an evil force.
The beginning of this story had so much promise but the ending was too jumbled for me.
Mother, Daughter, and the Devil by Donyae Coles ⅘ stars
A southern gothic folkish horror about a girl and her interesting lineage.
For this story, I would recommend borrowing the physical copy from the library. I had to come back to this story because if the length; it was just a little hard for me to get through. Once I got the physical copy, it ended up being one of my favorite stories. The prose was engaging and flowed well and the story started with a bang. I liked the way the dialect the story was written.
Papa Pearlie by Ryan Douglass 3.5/5 stars
A southern gothic story about an overbearing patriarch and his unconventional methods of keeping his family in-line.
I liked this story. I am such as sucker for stories that include famial curses or something if the sort. It took me awhile to get through, but the prose was easy to follow.
No Harm Done by Circe Moskowitz ⅘ stars
A heartwarming reunion turns into a fight for survival.
This story felt like watching an episode of AMC’S The Walking Dead. I think it would make a good short film. The twist was unexpected, but when it happens it is action from start to finish. There are themes of assimilation, privilege, and what difficult decision would you make amidst a life or death situation
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
very interesting and fun read but horror is just not usually my thing.