Editor: Ruth Anna Evans
Publisher: Ruth Anna Evans Horrors
Read as: Ebook
Pages: 398
Rating: 4 out of 5 Ink Bottles
I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again and again and again: I LOVE ANTHOLOGIES SO MUCH! They're this magic box of surprises that contains so many possibilities, precious gems just waiting for you to uncover them, a new favorite author waiting to be discovered, and delicious treats by those that you already love. That's why I'll never stop singing the praises of anthologies, especially the ones as wonderful as Dark Blooms.
In this particular magic box, I found many incredible stories of all types of girlhood, each one touching and painful in different manners. To be a girl is to be forged by fire and, sadly, so many are forced to endure much higher temperatures. Fleshing out characters is a tricky thing, and many novels fall short in that department, offering the reader mere cardboard cut-outs of people or an amalgamation of cliches. But the authors of Dark Blooms give us fully-fledged characters with complex personalities, which is even more impressive when we consider the shorter format they were working with.
The settings and subgenres are as varied as the types of girlhood depicted, spanning slashers, creature features, ghosts, demons, cults, and much more. There is bound to be at least one story in this collection that you'll enjoy, actually, I'm fairly certain there'll be several. All were well-written, and my reading experience was incredibly pleasurable, with five stories that stood out to me. (A little sidebar to highlight that I, in no way, think the other stories were bad or lesser, these were simply the ones that aligned with my individual taste).
Two were by authors that I already knew and loved: the wonderful Caitlin Marceau (Memory in Motion) and Chelsea Pumpkins (Spiderella). The other three were delightful surprises and have now joined my list of must-read writers: Nikoline Kaiser (Hannah), Valerie Hunter ( Jezebels), and Lauren Carter (The Radiant Children).
Hannah by Nikoline Kaiser - The opening story is a GEM. This had a great plot; I loved that Kaiser mixed horror with detective story elements (that I shall not elaborate on to keep the review spoiler-free). I became emotionally attached to Hannah on the first page and was immediately invested in the story, there were moments when I wanted to enter the pages to hug them. The story is equal parts heartbreaking and sweet and I cannot recommend it enough.
Jezebels by Valerie Hunter - So, I don't know if this is a universal experience, but I find that the more I love a story, the harder it is to talk about it in a coherent manner. Why am I bringing this up? Because this was my absolute favorite story, there are no words in the English language to express how much I identified with it. It struck a chord deep in my soul and I still catch myself thinking about the characters, wondering how their lives shaped up after the ending, desperately hoping that the world was kind to them. I don't want to give too much away so I'll only tell you this: a story about finding that one person that just gets you.
The Radiant Children by Lauren Carter - Look, if you're someone who loves a good cult documentary, you HAVE to read this. Also, an amazing pick for those with religious trauma. As you're probably suspecting, both of those apply to me, and Carter hit the mark dead on with this story. It's brutal, highlighting the worst and most controlling misogynistic and controlling aspects of certain religions, and certain to light a rage-filled fire in your heart.
Memory in Motion by Caitlin Marceau - In all honesty, I might be a little biased when it comes to Caitlin, seeing as we're not only close friends but also co-managing editors at Hedone. But the beginning of my friendship with this amazing human was my review of her short story collection and how much I love it. Caitlin has never missed the mark with her short stories, and this was no exception. She tackles a recurring theme in all our lives: how far would you go for a dream? What price would you be willing to pay to achieve your goals? On top of that, we have a poignant and turbulent mother-daughter relationship, which is a Caitlin staple. if you like this story, I highly recommend you check her novella This Is Where We Talk Things Out.
Spiderella by Chelsea Pumpkins - To me, this has become one of the quintessential Halloween stories, a modern classic to be re-read every October, the perfect pick to get you in the spooky mode. Pumpkins gives us the crème de la crème of campfire stories: it has slasher vibes, Elvira-esque goodness, and top-notch gory scenes. Scariest of all, it tackles the core fear that lives in my soul (and that has come true several times): to be seen as a freak, a weirdo, to be 'othered' by the people closest to you.