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A review by fatimareadsbooks
Slasher Girls & Monster Boys by Kendare Blake, Danielle Paige, Jonathan Maberry, Marie Lu, April Genevieve Tucholke, Nova Ren Suma, McCormick Templeman, Jay Kristoff, Carrie Ryan, Megan Shepherd, Cat Winters, Leigh Bardugo, Stefan Bachmann, A.G. Howard
4.0
I've only ever read one anthology, and, frankly, it was mediocre at best. However, Slasher Girls and Monster Boys is a completely different story. There was only one story I didn't like, but the rest were very, very amazing. This has such a strong collection of stories!
The Birds of Azalea Street by Ren Suma
4 stars
- Strong start to the anthology. Loved the poetic writing style, it gave it a creepy feel. Story moves along flawlessly.
"Teenage girls know more than we’re given credit for."
In the Forest Dark and Deep by Carrie Ryan
5 stars
- I love Alice in Wonderland stories, they always have that perfect blend of creepy and enjoyable.
"They wanted the safe answer. The one that reassured them that all monsters are filled with darkness."
Emmeline by Cat Winters
4 stars
- This story wasn't very scary or creepy, just kind of sad.
“Now more than ever seems it rich to die,
To cease upon the midnight with no pain.”
Verse Chorus Verse by Leigh Bardugo
3 stars
- Not my favorite short story by Leigh. Still, her writing's detailed descriptiveness really contributes to the creepy factor. Also, I'm not sure if I really "get" the ending.
“They say you’re crazy, I’m crazy too. Made crooked just like you. Lost my mind, lost my way. Found my crooked path to you”
Hide-and-Seek by Megan Shepherd
4 stars
- Excellent and fast-paced. I love how everything played out quickly; it made my heart race.
“...the only way to win back your life is to challenge death to a game. But be warned, death has never lost . . .”
The Dark, Scary Parts and All by Danielle Paige
2 stars
- This story had a more chick-flick-y feel to it, which really didn't appeal to me compared to the other stories. The main character was an annoying teenager. I mean, look at this: “What are you doing tonight?” he asked unblinkingly.
“Homework,” I said, not sure where this was going.
“No, you’re not.”
“I’m not?”
“No, you’re going out with me.”
“Why?” I almost whispered.
“Because I don’t think anyone here is nearly as interesting as you.”
Was he serious? Damien had said maybe five words to me in the seven years I’d known him. It didn’t make any sense. But my heart began double-timing in my chest. Damien Thorne was asking me out.”
The Flicker, the Finger, the Beat, the Sigh by April Genevieve Tucholke
4 stars
- This story wasn't lyrical or poetic or anything, but something about it just drew me in from the start and made my heart race.
“Did I imagine it? The flicker? The fingers? The beat? The sigh? Did I?”
Fat Girl with a Knife by Jonathan Maberry
4 stars
- Very zombie-esque story. It's very different from the other stories which had more creepy atmospheres, but the soft-core gore was pretty good too.
“Fat girl with crazy hair and bloodstains on her clothes. Fat girl with wild eyes.
Fat girl with a knife.”
Sleepless by Jay Kristoff
5 stars
- I knew Jay would come up with a wonderfully crafted story. I was so excited to start reading his story and it did not did disappoint. This is full of plot twists, psychotics, and gore.
“The online courting waltz, pieces of us shared in the cricket-song dark.”
M by Stefan Bachmann
4 stars
- Although I've never heard of him, Stefan's story and writing holds a lot of promises for awesome books. I loved the blind MC, it gave the whole story a kind of mysterious aura.
“Eyes were tricks in bone boxes, but everyone believed them.”
The Girl Without a Face by Marie Lu
5 stars
- Marie Lu definitely did not disappoint; another of my favorite stories! Even though she doesn't normally write these kinds of stories, it was great seeing how Marie experimented with this genre and what she added to it.
“Inside the closet crouched the pale-haired girl without a face, her wrists and arms slashed with dozens of lines, blood smearing the wall behind her. She reached her scarlet hands out to him.”
A Girl who Dreamed of Snow by McCormick Templeman
4 stars
- This story kind of left me aching, but happy at the same time. Something about it was mysterious, but the world building was just superb. Another author I've never heard of before who managed to blow me away in just a few pages!
“The earth held many secrets, some of them too terrible to tell.”
Stitches by A.G. Howard
4 stars
- This story was cute in a messed up way. A bit gore-filled, too, but I enjoyed it. I think what makes the story really appealing are the "metaphors" (if you could call them that); they contribute to that chilling creep-factor.
“Saw in hand, I was no longer Sage Adams, looming over the prone form of my wretched, troubled pa. I was a French baker in Paris, slicing up a gingerbread man.”
On the I-5 by Kendare Blake
5 stars
- A banging end to the anthology, this story'll spook the pants right off of you. The way it progresses was very nicely written and the characterization was mysterious and creepy. Never read a book by this author, but I think that's definitely going to change in the future as I've always wanted to read her other book, Anna Dressed in Blood.
“I am grown-up. As grown-up as I’m ever gonna get.”
Overall, I'd like to say that this was a pretty solid collection of scary stories. You notice that some of them borrow from urban legends, myths, and stories & part of what made this such an exciting read was figuring out the stories and how the authors made everything play out differently or similarly.
My favorite would have to be Carrie Ryan's story "In the Forest Dark and Deep" simply because I've always thought Alice in Wonderland provided a perfect backdrop for a retelling.
If you don't usually read horror books, I'd definitely recommend starting with these stories as they're a bit softer-edged than other scary books out there!
The Birds of Azalea Street by Ren Suma
4 stars
- Strong start to the anthology. Loved the poetic writing style, it gave it a creepy feel. Story moves along flawlessly.
"Teenage girls know more than we’re given credit for."
In the Forest Dark and Deep by Carrie Ryan
5 stars
- I love Alice in Wonderland stories, they always have that perfect blend of creepy and enjoyable.
"They wanted the safe answer. The one that reassured them that all monsters are filled with darkness."
Emmeline by Cat Winters
4 stars
- This story wasn't very scary or creepy, just kind of sad.
“Now more than ever seems it rich to die,
To cease upon the midnight with no pain.”
Verse Chorus Verse by Leigh Bardugo
3 stars
- Not my favorite short story by Leigh. Still, her writing's detailed descriptiveness really contributes to the creepy factor. Also, I'm not sure if I really "get" the ending.
“They say you’re crazy, I’m crazy too. Made crooked just like you. Lost my mind, lost my way. Found my crooked path to you”
Hide-and-Seek by Megan Shepherd
4 stars
- Excellent and fast-paced. I love how everything played out quickly; it made my heart race.
“...the only way to win back your life is to challenge death to a game. But be warned, death has never lost . . .”
The Dark, Scary Parts and All by Danielle Paige
2 stars
- This story had a more chick-flick-y feel to it, which really didn't appeal to me compared to the other stories. The main character was an annoying teenager. I mean, look at this: “What are you doing tonight?” he asked unblinkingly.
“Homework,” I said, not sure where this was going.
“No, you’re not.”
“I’m not?”
“No, you’re going out with me.”
“Why?” I almost whispered.
“Because I don’t think anyone here is nearly as interesting as you.”
Was he serious? Damien had said maybe five words to me in the seven years I’d known him. It didn’t make any sense. But my heart began double-timing in my chest. Damien Thorne was asking me out.”
The Flicker, the Finger, the Beat, the Sigh by April Genevieve Tucholke
4 stars
- This story wasn't lyrical or poetic or anything, but something about it just drew me in from the start and made my heart race.
“Did I imagine it? The flicker? The fingers? The beat? The sigh? Did I?”
Fat Girl with a Knife by Jonathan Maberry
4 stars
- Very zombie-esque story. It's very different from the other stories which had more creepy atmospheres, but the soft-core gore was pretty good too.
“Fat girl with crazy hair and bloodstains on her clothes. Fat girl with wild eyes.
Fat girl with a knife.”
Sleepless by Jay Kristoff
5 stars
- I knew Jay would come up with a wonderfully crafted story. I was so excited to start reading his story and it did not did disappoint. This is full of plot twists, psychotics, and gore.
“The online courting waltz, pieces of us shared in the cricket-song dark.”
M by Stefan Bachmann
4 stars
- Although I've never heard of him, Stefan's story and writing holds a lot of promises for awesome books. I loved the blind MC, it gave the whole story a kind of mysterious aura.
“Eyes were tricks in bone boxes, but everyone believed them.”
The Girl Without a Face by Marie Lu
5 stars
- Marie Lu definitely did not disappoint; another of my favorite stories! Even though she doesn't normally write these kinds of stories, it was great seeing how Marie experimented with this genre and what she added to it.
“Inside the closet crouched the pale-haired girl without a face, her wrists and arms slashed with dozens of lines, blood smearing the wall behind her. She reached her scarlet hands out to him.”
A Girl who Dreamed of Snow by McCormick Templeman
4 stars
- This story kind of left me aching, but happy at the same time. Something about it was mysterious, but the world building was just superb. Another author I've never heard of before who managed to blow me away in just a few pages!
“The earth held many secrets, some of them too terrible to tell.”
Stitches by A.G. Howard
4 stars
- This story was cute in a messed up way. A bit gore-filled, too, but I enjoyed it. I think what makes the story really appealing are the "metaphors" (if you could call them that); they contribute to that chilling creep-factor.
“Saw in hand, I was no longer Sage Adams, looming over the prone form of my wretched, troubled pa. I was a French baker in Paris, slicing up a gingerbread man.”
On the I-5 by Kendare Blake
5 stars
- A banging end to the anthology, this story'll spook the pants right off of you. The way it progresses was very nicely written and the characterization was mysterious and creepy. Never read a book by this author, but I think that's definitely going to change in the future as I've always wanted to read her other book, Anna Dressed in Blood.
“I am grown-up. As grown-up as I’m ever gonna get.”
Overall, I'd like to say that this was a pretty solid collection of scary stories. You notice that some of them borrow from urban legends, myths, and stories & part of what made this such an exciting read was figuring out the stories and how the authors made everything play out differently or similarly.
My favorite would have to be Carrie Ryan's story "In the Forest Dark and Deep" simply because I've always thought Alice in Wonderland provided a perfect backdrop for a retelling.
If you don't usually read horror books, I'd definitely recommend starting with these stories as they're a bit softer-edged than other scary books out there!