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A review by motherhorror
Graveyard Smash: Women of Horror Anthology, Volume 2 by Jill Girardi
3.0
3 stars!
Thank you to Kandisha Press and author, Janine Pipe for a review copy in exchange for review consideration. This anthology is recommended for #FrightGirlSummer reading!
This is a very eclectic gathering of horror stories from a wide range of talented women. Some of these authors are very familiar to me and some voices were brand-new. I'll go through the tales that captured my imagination and stood out as a little brighter than the others. As with most anthologies, not every story resonated with me and I might have skipped a couple. It's the same thing with a music album, very rarely does one come along where every song knocks it out of the park and you spin it cover to cover-A side to B side with no skips.
Featuring chilling tales from:
Christy Aldridge
Carmen Baca
Demi-Louise Blackburn
R.A. Busby
V. Castro
Dawn DeBraal
Ellie Douglas
Tracy Fahey
Dona Fox
Cassidy Frost
Michelle Renee Lane
Beverley Lee
J.A.W. McCarthy
Catherine McCarthy
Susan McCauley
Ksenia Murray
Ally Peirse
Janine Pipe
Lydia Prime
Paula R.C. Readman
Yolanda Sfetsos
Sonora Taylor
___
I enjoyed the foreword by Doc Holocausto. Nice take on Lilith.
HOLES by R. A. Busby- Perfect "first story" because it's fast-paced and deals with a fairly well-known fear, trypophobia (of which I am a sufferer). This is the tale of a woman who suffers a fear of holes. She embarks on a series of therapeutic attempts to lessen or eliminate her fear but to no avail. This has a great ending.
UNTIL THERE'S NOTHING LEFT by J. A. W. McCarthy- an engaging story about the ability to bring the dead back to life. Great, building tension and some cringe-worthy scenes.
THE CLOCKMAKER by Sonora Taylor- a little coastal town is home to a quiet clockmaker named Nathaniel. In classic "fable" form, a mysterious customer makes an odd request of Nathaniel that ends up costing him more than he originally anticipated. I loved the ending. This is like a classic cautionary/campfire tale.
LOVE YOU TO DEATH by Yolanda Sfetsos- Imagine a bar called "Hades" where the customers buying shots or rounds were the citizens of the underworld.
TEMPLO MAYOR by V. Castro- This story takes you to Mexico City and the Templo Mayor- an ancient temple of blood sacrifice to the gods. A woman meets up with her attractive tour guide to see the ruins and ends up in a compromising situation. V. Castro never disappoints. I will always show up for her unique brand of final girls, priestesses, and monsters.
THE CHILD by Carmen Baca- Back to back with V. Castro's story this was the best possible follow up. THE CHILD is a young girl named Atla (Atlacamani) who is from the maternal lineage of powerful Aztecas. The child is *too powerful and is problematic for those who look out for her.
THE ROLL OF THE DICE by Beverley Lee- This is a beautiful, haunting tale about an angel's existence. "Ours is the burden of acceptance of the result, that what we deem to be loathsome is the very thing we are bound to convey."
GRAVEYARD OF THE LOST by Tracy Fahey- This might be one of my favorite stories. This is the story of a photographer cataloging graveyards and tombstones in Ireland when he learns of 'The Cemetery of the Lost'. The atmosphere of this one was so vivid and immersive. I really felt like I was on the quest for this mysterious, hidden cemetery.
THE INVITATION by Janine Pipe- I've come to know Janine's storytelling style pretty well this year. It's fast, modern, and accessible. This one is a story that isn't exactly what it appears to be at first blush but once the reader figures it out, it's over. Wham? Bam! Thank you Ma'am! I thought it was fun and it made me want more of this Buffy-style universe.
Thank you to Kandisha Press and author, Janine Pipe for a review copy in exchange for review consideration. This anthology is recommended for #FrightGirlSummer reading!
This is a very eclectic gathering of horror stories from a wide range of talented women. Some of these authors are very familiar to me and some voices were brand-new. I'll go through the tales that captured my imagination and stood out as a little brighter than the others. As with most anthologies, not every story resonated with me and I might have skipped a couple. It's the same thing with a music album, very rarely does one come along where every song knocks it out of the park and you spin it cover to cover-A side to B side with no skips.
Featuring chilling tales from:
Christy Aldridge
Carmen Baca
Demi-Louise Blackburn
R.A. Busby
V. Castro
Dawn DeBraal
Ellie Douglas
Tracy Fahey
Dona Fox
Cassidy Frost
Michelle Renee Lane
Beverley Lee
J.A.W. McCarthy
Catherine McCarthy
Susan McCauley
Ksenia Murray
Ally Peirse
Janine Pipe
Lydia Prime
Paula R.C. Readman
Yolanda Sfetsos
Sonora Taylor
___
I enjoyed the foreword by Doc Holocausto. Nice take on Lilith.
HOLES by R. A. Busby- Perfect "first story" because it's fast-paced and deals with a fairly well-known fear, trypophobia (of which I am a sufferer). This is the tale of a woman who suffers a fear of holes. She embarks on a series of therapeutic attempts to lessen or eliminate her fear but to no avail. This has a great ending.
UNTIL THERE'S NOTHING LEFT by J. A. W. McCarthy- an engaging story about the ability to bring the dead back to life. Great, building tension and some cringe-worthy scenes.
THE CLOCKMAKER by Sonora Taylor- a little coastal town is home to a quiet clockmaker named Nathaniel. In classic "fable" form, a mysterious customer makes an odd request of Nathaniel that ends up costing him more than he originally anticipated. I loved the ending. This is like a classic cautionary/campfire tale.
LOVE YOU TO DEATH by Yolanda Sfetsos- Imagine a bar called "Hades" where the customers buying shots or rounds were the citizens of the underworld.
TEMPLO MAYOR by V. Castro- This story takes you to Mexico City and the Templo Mayor- an ancient temple of blood sacrifice to the gods. A woman meets up with her attractive tour guide to see the ruins and ends up in a compromising situation. V. Castro never disappoints. I will always show up for her unique brand of final girls, priestesses, and monsters.
THE CHILD by Carmen Baca- Back to back with V. Castro's story this was the best possible follow up. THE CHILD is a young girl named Atla (Atlacamani) who is from the maternal lineage of powerful Aztecas. The child is *too powerful and is problematic for those who look out for her.
THE ROLL OF THE DICE by Beverley Lee- This is a beautiful, haunting tale about an angel's existence. "Ours is the burden of acceptance of the result, that what we deem to be loathsome is the very thing we are bound to convey."
GRAVEYARD OF THE LOST by Tracy Fahey- This might be one of my favorite stories. This is the story of a photographer cataloging graveyards and tombstones in Ireland when he learns of 'The Cemetery of the Lost'. The atmosphere of this one was so vivid and immersive. I really felt like I was on the quest for this mysterious, hidden cemetery.
THE INVITATION by Janine Pipe- I've come to know Janine's storytelling style pretty well this year. It's fast, modern, and accessible. This one is a story that isn't exactly what it appears to be at first blush but once the reader figures it out, it's over. Wham? Bam! Thank you Ma'am! I thought it was fun and it made me want more of this Buffy-style universe.