hollowspine 's review for:

The Nightmare Box and Other Stories by Cynthia Gómez
5.0
challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-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: No
One of the best short story collections I've read in a while. The stories are right in that sweet spot of creating a world and a full story that leaves a reader thinking about the future and the impact without feeling the ending too abrupt. The horror aspect is also really well done, the author roots her stories in reality - police shootings, oppression, racial violence, and then adding a fantastical and horrible twist, often a twist where the white oppressors get their just desserts and marginalized voices are uplifted and made powerful.

I would recommend this to both avid horror readers who enjoy Cassandra Khaw and Stephen Graham Jones, as well as readers of N.K. Jemisin, as well as readers new to the horror genre, or who are looking for empowering short stories that center BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ characters.
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