When Earth Fights Back: Nature Triumphs is an excellent collection of eco-horror stories of nature seeking revenge against humans

 

 

Nature Triumphs: A Charity Anthology of Dark Speculative Fiction

Edited by Alison Armstrong and Pixie Bruner

Dark Moon Rising Publications, 2024

Ebook, 327 ppg.

ISBN: 978-1-945987-90-8

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“Nature finds a way.” This phrase, uttered by a character thinking that more plants possibly bloomed in an area that was not tended to, is one we often say when nature surprises us with its strength and perseverance.

 

But nature has something else up its sleeve, too: Revenge against those who have harmed it, infected it, abused it and polluted it for so long.

 

In fact, these forms of nature acting on their quest for revenge take on anyone and everyone who gets too close to it, all casualties in the war between man and nature. Or, rather, nature and humans.

 

In the anthology Nature Triumphs: A Charity Anthology of Dark Speculative Fiction edited by Alison Armstrong and Pixie Bruner, writers share their stories of eco-horror where polluted, mutated and poisoned forms of nature get the revenge it is so hungry for. From fish in p[olluted ponds to bees that were sprayed with poisons, both nature and creature (such as vines and plants) attack people for the abuse and pollution it has endured for so long. And in fighting this mutated form of nature, the characters think they can win, but little do they realize just how immune to the harmful ways of man nature has become that it is able to rise above any further doses of it.

 

I really enjoyed reading these stories. I read all of them. Some of them are from writers whose work I am familiar with and others are from writers I was happy to meet through their works. All forms of horror are in this book and all kinds of nature horror stories await readers of this anthology.

 

I could not name a single story as a favorite, though here are some I really enjoyed reading:

 

"Swarm of the Immune" by J.C. Macek III

"Deadly Toke" by Kasey Hill

"Kroak" by Megan Guilliams

"Last Call at the Garden of Eden" by Lamont A. Turner

"The Bees" by Mawr Gorshin

"Whale Song" by Elana Gomel

"Throw It Back" by Rebecca Cuthbert

"Boots" by Julie Dron

"A New Mom for the Bee Boy" by Rob Tannahill

"Spines" by J. Rocky Colavito

"Compost" by Kris Nelson

"Yard Work" by Michael Erroll Swaim

 

I also enjoyed reading the poems. These in particular were my favorites:

 

"The Candy-Coloured Apocalypse' by Pixie Bruner

"An Ocean's Lament" by John C. Mannone

"Nothing We Can Do" by Alison Armstrong

"How to Make Witchcraft Honey" and "Ode to the Bees" by Kasey Hill

 

They are all good stories and poems which I know I will enjoy rereading in the future.

 

If you enjoy reading eco horror, want to read stories about nature fighting back against the humans harming it, or want to support a charity (sales of the book are donated to The Nature Conservancy), then grab a copy of Nature Triumphs and you won’t be disappointed.

 

 

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Picking Up Where Good Horror Left Off: Resurrect Your Darlings is the re-release of an epic collection of horrifying and captivating stories

 

Resurrect Your Darlings

Cat Voleur

Independently Published, 2024

Ebook, 148 ppg.

Buy link

 

 

When you pick up a collection of short stories to read, you expect it to start off strong. That’s exactly what happened when I read the first story in Resurrect Your Darlings, a collection of horror stories by Cat Voleur. As with most collections of stories, the first story is great, but then the stories start to disappoint with the second, third and maybe fourth stories until the end, when another awesome story is just waiting to be read. In those cases, however, I rarely hold on until the end. If I’m bored or disinterested by Yet Another Lame Story by the time I get to the third one, then forget it. That author has lost this reader.

 

But that did not happen with this book!

 

With this book, I read every single story, because every single story is amazing!

 

The first story, “Revenir,” pulled me in because I was not familiar with the word. Plus, there was an air of mystery about the character’s painting. What a surprise ending this story gave me when it tells all, and what a tell it was!

 

As to “d3t0x,” I’m not much for epistolary horror, but this is Cat Voleur! I have read many of her stories in other anthologies and never has she disappointed me with a single one. So I read this one, just going along with it, and, of course, it drew me in! This one provided another surprise ending, which I was ecstatic about reading!

 

“Other Mommy” made me think of the movie Coraline, but a button-eyed mommy this isn’t! No, Voleur’s take on the “other mommy” spiel led me through a dark tale of terror and surprise! I think I like this “Other Mommy” better.

 

“Twelve Hour Lifespan” was such a bizarre story. I mean, as I read it, I knew what it was about, but a story starting at the end and going to the beginning was a little strange to read. I was able to go along with it, but I had to read the first (last?) part again to get the full scope of it. It was still a good story, though, and I appreciated the effort the author put into telling it from the POV of an insect.

 

BUT THAT LAST STORY!! OMG! It is too good. It caught me up in its intensity and, at the very end, allowed me to slip away with a smile on my face, completely satisfied with what I had just read.

 

One common theme I noticed is that of revenge. I do enjoy reading revenge horror, so a story with that theme had me giddy just from the experience of having read it. There are also stories with surprise endings, unexpected twists, and loads of gore.

 

Now, I normally don't read back matter in books in which the author talks about how they got their ideas for their stories, their own interpretations of it, and their goal with the story. No, let me have my own ideas about what I just read. Let me leave the story as I read it in my memories, so I can dip back into it later should I wish to recall the story as I read it. So I was not sure if I should read the authors notes about all of the stories at the end. I did not want her opinions or interpretations to mingle with my own. But that is not what happens here. She talks about her own experiences with the story, how she tried to get them published, responses from editors, as well as her own opinions about handling all that different feedback from readers. I was surprised some of these stories had been rejected so much, because they are very good. But Cat found something to do with them. As she writes, "We're never going to please everyone with our writing, but it's most important we please ourselves." (Page 141)

 

Resurrect Your Darlings by Cat Voleur is an enticing, gripping and horrifying collection of dark, twisted tales. The stories in this book kept me turning the pages, hungry for more. These stories are so well-told and the plots are so unique. I loved every surprise ending and every fright from a dark force lurking within the shadows. If you enjoy reading horror stories, pick up this book today. You won’t be disappointed!

 

 

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Then There’s the OTHER Hallmark: To Hell With Hallmark is a Collection of Terrifying Christmas Horror

 

To Hell With Hallmark

Brad Ricks

Unveiling Nightmares Press, 2024

ISBN-13: 979-8345992654

Ebook, 228 ppg.

Buy link

 

 

 

Say “Hallmark” and people think “movies.” Sure, it used to mean greeting cards once upon a time, but these days, people recognize the Hallmark Channel as a channel that provides a large selection of movies.

 

Especially during the Christmas season.

 

And that’s where we horror lovers release a loud, pained groan. “No! Not THOSE movies during Christmas!”

 

Give us Terrifier 3! Give us Silent Night, Deadly Night!

 

Or, if you prefer books, then To Hell With Hallmark by Brad Ricks would fit the bill quite nicely.

 

As a character says in one story, “This place reminds me of the movies.” Okay. Let’s go with that.

 

But after you get a taste of homicidal gingerbread men and a tow truck driver moonlighting as something else, you’ll start to realize that maybe THIS particular “Hallmark” isn’t exactly what you’ll find in those movies.

 

And that’s what makes this short story collection of Christmas horror so awesome. Each tale is even better than the last, providing a neverending supply of thrills and chills.

 

And each story is like the kind of Hallmark movie I am more interested in streaming! I enjoyed all of the horrific antics, surprises, twists and terrifying delights in this book.

 

I also liked how the stories are all connected. By this, I mean that certain things taking place in one story is mentioned in a later story or things that happen in a previous story (or hinted at happening) get a little bit of a follow-up in a later story. While there’s nothing wrong with open endings in short stories, it’s nice to get a clearer idea of what likely happened or actually happened after we leave those characters in that story.

 

And these stories have such very interesting characters! None of them were a disappointment. I also liked Ricks’ take of classic Christmas tales, such as with “A Christmas Carol.”

 

And speaking of the author sharing his own take on a Christmas classic, you won’t want to miss the “gift” readers receive at the very end! I loved it!

 

To Hell With Hallmark is a scary and horrific collection of stories that would bring some awesome entertainment to fans of horror yearning for something more exciting to read during the Christmas holidays. These stories can actually be enjoyed all year, as they provide a stronger dose of terror and carnage than you would ever find in any Hallmark movie.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.