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A review by thefox22
Among the Shadows: 13 Stories of Darkness & Light by Demitria Lunetta, Phoebe North, Geoffrey Girard, R.C. Lewis, Joelle Charbonneau, Mindy McGinnis, Kelly Fiore Stultz, Lenore Appelhans, Gretchen McNeil, Beth Revis, Kate Karyus Quinn, Lydia Kang, Justina Ireland
3.0
The Eyes Have It by Gretchen McNeil: a classic story of revenge, yet it was missing something for me? That ending was like WHOA, but I also wasn't super impressed with it being another girls-hating-girls because of guys scenario. Maybe if I'd known Jane better, I would've seen how her mind just simply cracked, but anyway. I still found it interesting; I just didn't have any strong feelings about it. (3 stars)
The One True Miranda Lieu by Kate Karyus Quinn: omg what the hell was this one??? I don't even know what to think of it, tbh. It wasn't like scary or even creepy; it was just a weird tale of a girl whose life was one big cosmic joke. (2 stars)
Such a Lovely Monster by Justina Ireland: this short story was about Tamara and the literal monster under her bed. This felt like it fit more in the anthology than the previous ones, as it's about the darkness of anger and pain, and how there are maybe things that live among the shadows that are there for us. (3.5 stars)
Heroin(e) by Kelly Fiore: ohhh, this one was so good! It felt like it belonged in this anthology. It's a story about a homeless junkie who can only think about her next high, her heroine. Her life is so gritty and ugly, and it's an existence that I think is missing in the YA narratives. (I haven't read Thicker Than Water yet but this made me really want to even more now!). But I'm so glad, too, that it ended better than I'd hoped, and that Greer/Max made a choice to have a future beyond the drugs. (4.5 stars)
Canary by Demitria Lunetta: WHAT THE FUCK. omg that one was truly something else, I'll tell you what. That ending? Holy fuck. It's so dark and terrible, and the MC is someone who definitely doesn't understand the world because of how she was raised and how she and her kin live up there on the mountains. My mind is thoroughly shocked. I hate to say I even enjoyed it, but it sure was perfect for this. (3.5 stars)
Phantom Heart by Mindy McGinnis: DAMN. I didn't realize this one would be the short story that turned into This Darkness Mine. Because I've read that book, I already knew everything. So sadly, I'm just glad it was suuuuper short and that she turned this into a full novel, because it really was a fascinating story.
Reunion by Joelle Charbonneau: ahahaha, omg THAT LAST LINE. Sabrina finally comes home after a year away with a plan: to rid the house of the tyrant's rule. But instead, someone else pays the debt, and life will be okay again. (4 stars)
Not Fade Away by Geoffrey Girard: DAMN, that was not what I was expecting from this story! You think it's going one way, and then bam, it doesn't. Instead of fighting the fire and getting out, everyone keeps dancing among the flames and smoke. Even the young girl who is just so *tired* of life. (3 stars)
Blarach Bridge by Lydia Kang: oof, this was like a mix of mythology and the supernatural. And it was hard to read at first, because of the dogs who throw themselves off of this bridge in small-town Indiana. (I hate animal deaths, but especially of dogs). But there's a reason for it, a sad, aching reason for it. And I knew before the MC, Deven, did, though that didn't make the ending any less B I G. Also, I loved the voice in this story! (4 stars)
Chasing the Sky by R.C. Lewis: this took a bit to get into it. A lot of the science-fiction aspects went over my head at first. And then I found out the truth along with our main character, Akash, and it was GROSS. But he chose to do the right thing, even though it would cost him not only his mother but the only home he's ever known. (3 stars)
The Cowbird Egg by Phoebe North: was freaking CREEPY. I wasn't sure even where it was gonna go, and I was surprised by all of it. Definitely one for this dark anthology! (3 stars)
Panic Room by Lenore Appelhans: was kind of eh, to be honest. I'm just not a fan of post-apocalyptic stories, and I didn't really care about any of the characters. (2.5 stars)
Lonely Hunter by Beth Revis: was a super interesting take on demons, and the hunters who kills them. And I loved how it focused on this romance that isn't no ordinary romance, about a girl who keeps waiting for the guy she loves to be strong enough to take on the magic and the role so she doesn't have to be alone anymore. (3.5 stars)
Overall, I really didn't love any of these stories. I liked most of them, but I just didn't have any strong feelings toward any of them or the characters. It's not really a me anthology, I'm coming to realize. But I'm still glad I read it!
Overall Rating: 3 stars!
The One True Miranda Lieu by Kate Karyus Quinn: omg what the hell was this one??? I don't even know what to think of it, tbh. It wasn't like scary or even creepy; it was just a weird tale of a girl whose life was one big cosmic joke. (2 stars)
Such a Lovely Monster by Justina Ireland: this short story was about Tamara and the literal monster under her bed. This felt like it fit more in the anthology than the previous ones, as it's about the darkness of anger and pain, and how there are maybe things that live among the shadows that are there for us. (3.5 stars)
Heroin(e) by Kelly Fiore: ohhh, this one was so good! It felt like it belonged in this anthology. It's a story about a homeless junkie who can only think about her next high, her heroine. Her life is so gritty and ugly, and it's an existence that I think is missing in the YA narratives. (I haven't read Thicker Than Water yet but this made me really want to even more now!). But I'm so glad, too, that it ended better than I'd hoped, and that Greer/Max made a choice to have a future beyond the drugs. (4.5 stars)
Canary by Demitria Lunetta: WHAT THE FUCK. omg that one was truly something else, I'll tell you what. That ending? Holy fuck. It's so dark and terrible, and the MC is someone who definitely doesn't understand the world because of how she was raised and how she and her kin live up there on the mountains. My mind is thoroughly shocked. I hate to say I even enjoyed it, but it sure was perfect for this. (3.5 stars)
Phantom Heart by Mindy McGinnis: DAMN. I didn't realize this one would be the short story that turned into This Darkness Mine. Because I've read that book, I already knew everything. So sadly, I'm just glad it was suuuuper short and that she turned this into a full novel, because it really was a fascinating story.
Reunion by Joelle Charbonneau: ahahaha, omg THAT LAST LINE. Sabrina finally comes home after a year away with a plan: to rid the house of the tyrant's rule. But instead, someone else pays the debt, and life will be okay again. (4 stars)
Not Fade Away by Geoffrey Girard: DAMN, that was not what I was expecting from this story! You think it's going one way, and then bam, it doesn't. Instead of fighting the fire and getting out, everyone keeps dancing among the flames and smoke. Even the young girl who is just so *tired* of life. (3 stars)
Blarach Bridge by Lydia Kang: oof, this was like a mix of mythology and the supernatural. And it was hard to read at first, because of the dogs who throw themselves off of this bridge in small-town Indiana. (I hate animal deaths, but especially of dogs). But there's a reason for it, a sad, aching reason for it. And I knew before the MC, Deven, did, though that didn't make the ending any less B I G. Also, I loved the voice in this story! (4 stars)
Chasing the Sky by R.C. Lewis: this took a bit to get into it. A lot of the science-fiction aspects went over my head at first. And then I found out the truth along with our main character, Akash, and it was GROSS. But he chose to do the right thing, even though it would cost him not only his mother but the only home he's ever known. (3 stars)
The Cowbird Egg by Phoebe North: was freaking CREEPY. I wasn't sure even where it was gonna go, and I was surprised by all of it. Definitely one for this dark anthology! (3 stars)
Panic Room by Lenore Appelhans: was kind of eh, to be honest. I'm just not a fan of post-apocalyptic stories, and I didn't really care about any of the characters. (2.5 stars)
Lonely Hunter by Beth Revis: was a super interesting take on demons, and the hunters who kills them. And I loved how it focused on this romance that isn't no ordinary romance, about a girl who keeps waiting for the guy she loves to be strong enough to take on the magic and the role so she doesn't have to be alone anymore. (3.5 stars)
Overall, I really didn't love any of these stories. I liked most of them, but I just didn't have any strong feelings toward any of them or the characters. It's not really a me anthology, I'm coming to realize. But I'm still glad I read it!
Overall Rating: 3 stars!