Southern Monsters
Edited by: D.C. Phillips and William Sterling
Even though I am an author in this collection, I still wanted to share my thoughts on the rest of the stories because they’re just so good.
This collection has a great mix of southern gothic monster vibes, some truly fascinating abstract and unsettling stories, some horrors that creep toward real life, and even a few surprisingly funny tales as well. It’s a wonderful mix, and if you enjoy horror stories with monsters that lean toward the southern gothic, this is definitely a collection you don’t want to miss!
- The Hog Men – Loved this disturbing atmospheric tale by Sarrecchia. I fell into the world, the descriptions, and the tale of an old woman blamed for the disappearances in the Bottom. Wish I could have read more in this world!
- Teneral Stage – An atmospheric story of gruesome transformation, brotherly love, and family bonds. This is the first story by Bunting I’ve read, and I look forward to reading more of his work!
- That Damn Lake – This story explores the haunting real history of Lake Lanier, which is something I think any Georgia horror fan has heard of. I never knew what was going to happen next with this story though!
- Shake, Rattle, and Troll – This was such a fun story! Powell takes us to a tiny town in Texas in 1959, where it seems like there will be a fight between the wealthy and the music lovers. When something big and hungry shows up, this story takes a really different direction!
- Old Green Eyes’ Great-Grandson – A fast-paced horror adventure with a green monster that’s absolutely terrifying. This one was a fun ride!
- Black Cat of the Forest – Okay this story had such a great twist that I never saw coming! I absolutely loved this story by Grizzle and kind of wish I had a whole book about these characters… or 2… or 3.
- Burning Hell – This was such a great story! I loved how you slowly realize what’s going to happen as it goes along. It really builds some tension! A fantastic story from Bridges.
- Bonaventure’s Bride – A wild, atmospheric tale set in one of my favorite cemeteries. Riley’s intense, grotesque piece has such a clash of time and fates. I really loved it!
- A Heavy Inheritance – Hey, that one’s mine!
- Finders Keepers – This is a fantastic story with an unusual structure I really enjoyed. The mixture of mythology and reality, the way truth and imagination can mix up together, and memories twisted with time, I just loved this story. A wonderful tale of dread and woe from Phillips!
- Over on the Other Shore – A twisted tale of grief and magic that really took a fascinating turn. I love unsettling witchy stories like this so this one was a treat.
- Tall Mother – A gruesome tale of vengeance and murder that spans across centuries. This one will definitely be sticking with me!
- Gory Be This Night – A surreal purgatory in a strange land. I really loved this unique tale from the mind of a madman. Makes me want to visit the Doll’s Head Trail in person (just not at night, of course!)
- Opal Shockley – I absolutely loved the witchy church vibes of this story, and I’m a sucker for magical siblings. This was a fantastic twist on a classic monster and I wanted to read more!
- Remains of Your Desecration – Ooh this one really got under my skin! The POV on this made it super creepy. Definitely didn’t expect it to go where it did, not at all! Loved it!
- Monster Girl – A fascinating and heartbreaking story that soundly rounds off this anthology. My heart broke for several characters in this story, and it’s certainly one that will stick with me for a long time. Reid’s descriptions and characterizations really stand out in this piece.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars