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Bury Your Gays: An Anthology of Tragic Queer Horror
A manifestation of ecstasy, heartache, horror and suffering rendered in feverish lyrical prose. Inside are sixteen new stories by some of the genre's most visionary queer writers. Young lovers find themselves deliriously lost in an expanding garden labyrinth. The porter of a sentient hotel is haunted within a liminal time loop. A soldier and his abusive commanding officer escape a war in the trenches but discover themselves in an even greater nightmare. Parasites chase each other across time-space in hungry desperation to never be apart. A graduate student with violent tendencies falls into step with a seemingly walking corpse. Featuring stories from Cassandra Khaw, Joe Koch, Gretchen Felker-Martin, Robbie Banfitch, August Clarke, Son M., Jonathan Louis Duckworth, M.V. Pine, Ed Kurtz, LC Von Hessen, Matteo L. Cerilli, November Rush, Meredith Rose, Charlene Adhiambo, Violet, and Thomas Kearnes.
230 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2024
About the author
Sofia Ajram
5 books108 followersSofia Ajram is a multidisciplinary artist based in Montreal.
They are a queer horror writer and the designer of Sofia Zakia jewelry.
Sofia lives in Montreal with their cat Isa. Find them on all social media platforms @sofiaajram.
They are a queer horror writer and the designer of Sofia Zakia jewelry.
Sofia lives in Montreal with their cat Isa. Find them on all social media platforms @sofiaajram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
March 26, 2024
BURY YOUR GAYS does not contain a foreword to introduce the theme. I know that's a bit counter-intuitive and unconventional. It's because I edited this anthology while still in the infancy of starting my own medical transition (6 months on T soon!), and I knew I couldn't contextualize what I was doing without addressing my own identity. Things get gauzy and complicated when you're not yet out to your family and coworkers—I'm still not, for reasons I won't divulge—but Goodreads feels distanced enough that I can safely leave a little note here for anyone who wants to read it.
BURY YOUR GAYS was created out of a desire to read stories about tragic queer love. Love that is broken, love that is toxic, and obsessive, and ill-fated. Love that is thwarted, as viewed through the lens of authors who are queer-identifying themselves. You'll see that a lot of stories included speak to these themes, but as with any open-call anthology project, I'd imagine, sometimes you read work that dilates a theme, and that's exactly what happened here. It became something more nebulous, and my definition of tragic queer horror expanded to include more than the titular trope.
The anthology is shaped so that stories move from the one to the many; from queer isolation to companionship, friendship, and finally, a sense of hope and community. I hope you'll find something in the collection of work here that resonates with you.
BURY YOUR GAYS was created out of a desire to read stories about tragic queer love. Love that is broken, love that is toxic, and obsessive, and ill-fated. Love that is thwarted, as viewed through the lens of authors who are queer-identifying themselves. You'll see that a lot of stories included speak to these themes, but as with any open-call anthology project, I'd imagine, sometimes you read work that dilates a theme, and that's exactly what happened here. It became something more nebulous, and my definition of tragic queer horror expanded to include more than the titular trope.
The anthology is shaped so that stories move from the one to the many; from queer isolation to companionship, friendship, and finally, a sense of hope and community. I hope you'll find something in the collection of work here that resonates with you.
March 28, 2024
The lake was a dream the day Eric drowned in it.
This collection is a raging hurricane of emotions that will leave an impact on whomever endeavors to read it. It is horror and “queer tragedy” in the form of pain, anger, heartache, fear, violence, longing, loneliness, grief, and it will leave many feeling weary with anguish. (Yes, this book requires all the trigger warnings). But there’s also powerful beauty to each story.
The very first story by M.V. Pine ( Your Honor, I’d Like to Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse’s Thirty Proven Clients ) is an absolute punch to the gut, with visceral body horror and an absolutely devastating ending. Another story crafted by August Clarke (Cleodora) follows a siren in a toxic relationship with a ship captain. In November Rush’s Black Hole, fungal parasites desperate to stay together throughout centuries invade human bodies, while in Charlene Adhiambo’s Lost and Found, a lonely ghost dwelling in a dilapidated house longs for companionship.
Quite a few stories (at least 5 out of the 16) are told in second person, referring to “you”, putting readers intentionally in a character’s shoes which I always feel heightens the reading experience. Some stories magnify discomfort and the grotesque, painting vivid images of vitriol and violence on the page, while other stories twist at the heart with melancholic lyrical prose. BURY YOUR GAYS is a mixed bag of honest, gritty, dark queer experiences placed front and center. Editor Sofia Ajram assembled a brilliant group of queer and trans authors—both well known and new to me—to bring this creative collection to life. If you’re in the mood for some emotionally tough reading, you should definitely put these stories on your radar.
(The publisher Ghoulish Books has made the eBook edition of this anthology free to read until March 30th in honor of the #TransRightsReadathon ! You can find it on their website!)
This collection is a raging hurricane of emotions that will leave an impact on whomever endeavors to read it. It is horror and “queer tragedy” in the form of pain, anger, heartache, fear, violence, longing, loneliness, grief, and it will leave many feeling weary with anguish. (Yes, this book requires all the trigger warnings). But there’s also powerful beauty to each story.
The very first story by M.V. Pine ( Your Honor, I’d Like to Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse’s Thirty Proven Clients ) is an absolute punch to the gut, with visceral body horror and an absolutely devastating ending. Another story crafted by August Clarke (Cleodora) follows a siren in a toxic relationship with a ship captain. In November Rush’s Black Hole, fungal parasites desperate to stay together throughout centuries invade human bodies, while in Charlene Adhiambo’s Lost and Found, a lonely ghost dwelling in a dilapidated house longs for companionship.
Quite a few stories (at least 5 out of the 16) are told in second person, referring to “you”, putting readers intentionally in a character’s shoes which I always feel heightens the reading experience. Some stories magnify discomfort and the grotesque, painting vivid images of vitriol and violence on the page, while other stories twist at the heart with melancholic lyrical prose. BURY YOUR GAYS is a mixed bag of honest, gritty, dark queer experiences placed front and center. Editor Sofia Ajram assembled a brilliant group of queer and trans authors—both well known and new to me—to bring this creative collection to life. If you’re in the mood for some emotionally tough reading, you should definitely put these stories on your radar.
(The publisher Ghoulish Books has made the eBook edition of this anthology free to read until March 30th in honor of the #TransRightsReadathon ! You can find it on their website!)
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March 19, 2024I am so genuinely honored to have published this anthology & to have worked with Sofia Ajram & all of the amazing authors we accepted. I don't mean to sound egotistical but this project feels...important, in a big way. These stories need to be read. Thank you so much.
March 11, 2024
Whoever had the idea for this anthology should be highly praised for both concept and execution. That's probably Sofia Ajram, since they're the editor! Indeed, 'Bury Your Gays' is an incredible, very strong collection of unusual stories, most of them horror, some of them dark fantasy. I had no idea what "tragic queer horror" is; I still don't, unless the term implies the atmosphere of deep sadness and acute existential horror permeating the anthology. If that's right, then I'd have to complain a bit: existence is tragic, some of the time, for all of us. Perhaps queer existence is tragic by default, though I'd consider such a view too pessimistic. In any case, the stories the editor picked for this anthology are very strong, quite eclectic, all with terrific prose and a serious grasp of the significance of queer fiction. No melodrama here or pointless romance; the authors have important things to impart, though the stories are never didactic, nor do they abuse their welcome. My favorite stories were: the opening story, "Our Honor, I'd Like to Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse’s Thirty Proven Clients," a technically proficient blast of a story by M.V. Pine, hits like a brick once finished and the true meaning of the story clears up; "Fortune Favors Grief" by Cassandra Khaw, told in the second person and extremely poignant for it (this is the story whose synopsis reads "The porter of a sentient hotel is haunted within a liminal time loop"); "Bad Axe" by Ed Kurtz, with the amazing first line "The lake was a dream the day Eric drowned in it"; "Sardines" by Gretchen Felker-Martin, a hair-raising short with upsetting imagery; and "All of Our Boys are Missing" by Joe Koch (whose stories never disappoint, and should be valued for their originality and prose). Also recommended are "Zero Tolerance" by M. F. Rose and "This Body is Not Your Home" by Son M.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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March 17, 2024I received an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
i think this anthology suffers somewhat from a lack of coherent concept. the subtitle says “tragic queer horror”, which to my mind suggested stories of tragic flaws and dramatic irony which doom the characters to an unhappy ending. the submissions call, however, mentioned “queer stories of love” but mixed with tragedy and horror, as well as “any other interpretations of the title theme”. as a result, most of the stories focus on queer relationships, but not all; in others the tragic element is marginal (if you end on eroticisation of the grotesque or offering your characters escape into the fantastic, that's not really a tragedy). i'm mentioning all of this because going purely by the title i was expecting stories such as Charlie Jane Anders's Don't Press Charged and I Won’t Sue or Alison Rumfitt’s recent Brainwyrms and this anthology is not quite that. perhaps a foreword from the editor could have been helpful in clarifying what the anthology was aiming to be, or else a more precise narrowing of the concept.
this isn't to say there were no stories that didn't try to grapple with tragedy in that stricter sense. the opening story, Your Honor, I’d Like to Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse’s Thirty Proven Clients, absolutely bowled me over with the depiction of the main character's attempt at obtaining life-saving surgery and it's eventual ending. there was some delicious irony in This Body Is Not Your Home’s ending that reunites victim and perpetrator. and a few stories tried to introduce elements of fate or some powerful instances overseeing the events and commenting on the characters’ mistaken endeavours – such as Fortune Favors Grief.
most stories, however, fall into some manner of sad love story. a fair few of them, especially near the beginning, explore toxic and violent relationships; others deal with death, grief, and loss. of the former, Curdled Song of the Broken Earth is a fantastic piece of historical Weird fiction set in the World War I trenches, bleak and unsettling. of the latter, Lost and Found is at times overly expository, but still affecting portrait of misery, a moment of connection and happiness, and an ironic final reveal that made me feel really uneasy.
overall, though, while the authors took great care with style, form, and narration, most of the stories left me pretty cold in terms of emotions because they don’t focus too much on characterisation (Fortune Favors Grief is again a good example). five of the sixteen authors opted for second-person narration (exactly as many as there were stories about lesbians, compared to nine stories about gay men and two focusing on trans characters), but it wasn't much help. when about halfway through Gretchen Felker-Martin comes in with Sardines, offering a much more immediately vivid portrait of its main character, as well as a more direct style and a suspenseful central sequence with a visceral reveal, it's a palpable change in energy that carries through to the next story, Zero Tolerance. both are affecting portraits of teenage crushes, imperiled by internalised homophobia and bullying respectively.
where the anthology is consistently the strongest, i would say, is in the body horror sequences, which shine even in the weaker stories. Worth the Dying Shame actually turned me around about halfway through with its unflinching portrayal of a disease which makes your body rot and fall apart, and the main characters’ attempts to keep on living on their own terms despite that.
writing this review, i was really wary of projecting unjust expectations which the anthology wasn’t even interested in fulfilling – hence the look at the original call for submissions which helped me adjust to the terms the editor set for this project. even so, i have to say it felt very uneven. there are occasional sparks and on a craft level every story is well-written, but ultimately it left me cold. i think both tragedy and horror are pretty undervalued right now as ways of talking about queer experiences, processing stuff, achieving catharsis (which originally meant purifying the pity and fear we feel watching the trials and sufferings of characters similar to us or better than us) – so i really wanted to love this anthology, but i didn’t. and that’s the true tragedy.
i think this anthology suffers somewhat from a lack of coherent concept. the subtitle says “tragic queer horror”, which to my mind suggested stories of tragic flaws and dramatic irony which doom the characters to an unhappy ending. the submissions call, however, mentioned “queer stories of love” but mixed with tragedy and horror, as well as “any other interpretations of the title theme”. as a result, most of the stories focus on queer relationships, but not all; in others the tragic element is marginal (if you end on eroticisation of the grotesque or offering your characters escape into the fantastic, that's not really a tragedy). i'm mentioning all of this because going purely by the title i was expecting stories such as Charlie Jane Anders's Don't Press Charged and I Won’t Sue or Alison Rumfitt’s recent Brainwyrms and this anthology is not quite that. perhaps a foreword from the editor could have been helpful in clarifying what the anthology was aiming to be, or else a more precise narrowing of the concept.
this isn't to say there were no stories that didn't try to grapple with tragedy in that stricter sense. the opening story, Your Honor, I’d Like to Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse’s Thirty Proven Clients, absolutely bowled me over with the depiction of the main character's attempt at obtaining life-saving surgery and it's eventual ending. there was some delicious irony in This Body Is Not Your Home’s ending that reunites victim and perpetrator. and a few stories tried to introduce elements of fate or some powerful instances overseeing the events and commenting on the characters’ mistaken endeavours – such as Fortune Favors Grief.
most stories, however, fall into some manner of sad love story. a fair few of them, especially near the beginning, explore toxic and violent relationships; others deal with death, grief, and loss. of the former, Curdled Song of the Broken Earth is a fantastic piece of historical Weird fiction set in the World War I trenches, bleak and unsettling. of the latter, Lost and Found is at times overly expository, but still affecting portrait of misery, a moment of connection and happiness, and an ironic final reveal that made me feel really uneasy.
overall, though, while the authors took great care with style, form, and narration, most of the stories left me pretty cold in terms of emotions because they don’t focus too much on characterisation (Fortune Favors Grief is again a good example). five of the sixteen authors opted for second-person narration (exactly as many as there were stories about lesbians, compared to nine stories about gay men and two focusing on trans characters), but it wasn't much help. when about halfway through Gretchen Felker-Martin comes in with Sardines, offering a much more immediately vivid portrait of its main character, as well as a more direct style and a suspenseful central sequence with a visceral reveal, it's a palpable change in energy that carries through to the next story, Zero Tolerance. both are affecting portraits of teenage crushes, imperiled by internalised homophobia and bullying respectively.
where the anthology is consistently the strongest, i would say, is in the body horror sequences, which shine even in the weaker stories. Worth the Dying Shame actually turned me around about halfway through with its unflinching portrayal of a disease which makes your body rot and fall apart, and the main characters’ attempts to keep on living on their own terms despite that.
writing this review, i was really wary of projecting unjust expectations which the anthology wasn’t even interested in fulfilling – hence the look at the original call for submissions which helped me adjust to the terms the editor set for this project. even so, i have to say it felt very uneven. there are occasional sparks and on a craft level every story is well-written, but ultimately it left me cold. i think both tragedy and horror are pretty undervalued right now as ways of talking about queer experiences, processing stuff, achieving catharsis (which originally meant purifying the pity and fear we feel watching the trials and sufferings of characters similar to us or better than us) – so i really wanted to love this anthology, but i didn’t. and that’s the true tragedy.
January 24, 2024
God, what an incredible collection. Not a weak story to be found here, which is impressive considering how loose of a theme "tragic queer horror" is. I picked this up after reading several disappointingly milquetoast Booktok darlings, hoping to find a story that spoke to me and my experiences on a deeper level than "ladies kiss, happy ending, good representation", and was delighted, disgusted, and fascinated in equal measures. There's body horror! Psychological horror! Ghosts! Cyborg dystopias! The Thing-esque alien parasites! Plus all the inherent horror and tragedy than comes with being queer and struggling to exist in societies that have no consideration for us, and possibly never will.
Beyond the horror aspect, these stories are also beautifully composed and written. I savored the richness of the prose, and the level of technical skill on display really encouraged me to go slowly and think about what I just read. I'll definitely be checking out the contributing authors' other works. My favorite stories were "Fortune Favors Grief", "Cleodora", "Zero Tolerance", and "Black Hole".
Beyond the horror aspect, these stories are also beautifully composed and written. I savored the richness of the prose, and the level of technical skill on display really encouraged me to go slowly and think about what I just read. I'll definitely be checking out the contributing authors' other works. My favorite stories were "Fortune Favors Grief", "Cleodora", "Zero Tolerance", and "Black Hole".
March 12, 2024
This is a beautiful collection of stories that are diverse, queer, and emotionally harrowing. The authors collected here did a wonderful job of writing stories that covered the spectrum of what "tragic queer horror" could be. So many times, I had to set the book aside to catch my breath, or shake off the emotions these stories brought up in me. I'd whole heartedly recommend this volume to anyone looking to read an amazing collection of stories that is truly horrifying, but with a warning to proceed with caution. These tales are indeed tragic.
March 7, 2024
"We peel the memories away so there is only a nebulous grief to drink into broken-hearted ruin, only an emptiness where your name once sat, a haunting you've convinced yourself is preferable to loss."
[3.5 stars] "Bury Your Gays" comprises a diverse, gritty, and titular set of stories encompassing the foundation of what draws aspects of marginalization to horror — and all are devastating, but touch different parts of you that might hit close to home, or contemplate about other people's experiences. Some of them are a hit or miss plot-wise (as is often the case with anthologies for me), but I'm a fan of the writers' style, particularly ones that incorporate body horror. My favorite stories are 'Your Honor, I'd Like To Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse's Thirty Proven Clients" by M.V. Pine, "Cleodora" by August Clarke, and "American Gothic" by L.C. von Hessen. Whether it's pallid corpses veering toward the smallest bit of life or a mermaid stuck in a toxic relationship, there's something for everyone in here who loves this subgenre.
Thank you BookSirens and Ghoulish Books for the free advance copy, I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
[3.5 stars] "Bury Your Gays" comprises a diverse, gritty, and titular set of stories encompassing the foundation of what draws aspects of marginalization to horror — and all are devastating, but touch different parts of you that might hit close to home, or contemplate about other people's experiences. Some of them are a hit or miss plot-wise (as is often the case with anthologies for me), but I'm a fan of the writers' style, particularly ones that incorporate body horror. My favorite stories are 'Your Honor, I'd Like To Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse's Thirty Proven Clients" by M.V. Pine, "Cleodora" by August Clarke, and "American Gothic" by L.C. von Hessen. Whether it's pallid corpses veering toward the smallest bit of life or a mermaid stuck in a toxic relationship, there's something for everyone in here who loves this subgenre.
Thank you BookSirens and Ghoulish Books for the free advance copy, I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
March 17, 2024
this collection absolutely delivers on its promise of tragic queer horror with a variety of different well-written and compelling stories. the list of authors for this anthology are both familiar names within horror but also new (to me), providing a perfect opportunity to familiarise myself with more queer horror authors!
what i love about this anthology is that it’s a perfect mix of wlw, mlm and trans horror, so there’s something for everybody. this also goes for the horror genres represented, giving you everything from dark romance, to body horror, to fungal horror and so much more.
anthologies are often a mix of good and bad, but imo this is mostly all above average in storytelling and there weren’t any stories i didn’t like at all, only a few that didn’t hit as hard as i would’ve liked. but it’s all in all a solid anthology full of tragic and sad queer horror stories.
some of my fave stories were:
- this body is not your home by son m.
- black hole by november rush.
- love like ours by c.m. violet.
- worth the dying shame by matteo l. cerilli.
but also the story by m.v. pine that kicks this whole anthology off, feels like a literal gut punch and a spit in your face, leaving you in the dirt, making you feel all kinds of horrible. in the best possible way. it’s the perfect beginning to a tragic queer horror anthology.
// ARC courtesy of BookSirens and the publisher!
what i love about this anthology is that it’s a perfect mix of wlw, mlm and trans horror, so there’s something for everybody. this also goes for the horror genres represented, giving you everything from dark romance, to body horror, to fungal horror and so much more.
anthologies are often a mix of good and bad, but imo this is mostly all above average in storytelling and there weren’t any stories i didn’t like at all, only a few that didn’t hit as hard as i would’ve liked. but it’s all in all a solid anthology full of tragic and sad queer horror stories.
some of my fave stories were:
- this body is not your home by son m.
- black hole by november rush.
- love like ours by c.m. violet.
- worth the dying shame by matteo l. cerilli.
but also the story by m.v. pine that kicks this whole anthology off, feels like a literal gut punch and a spit in your face, leaving you in the dirt, making you feel all kinds of horrible. in the best possible way. it’s the perfect beginning to a tragic queer horror anthology.
// ARC courtesy of BookSirens and the publisher!
March 27, 2024
An exquisite anthology of queer horror that boasts such talented authors as Cassandra Khaw, August Clarke, and Gretchen Felker-Martin. This collection contains something for everyone. In its pages you’ll find alien fungi, body horror, dark fairytales, undead lovers, and lonely ghosts. Named for the common trope where gay characters often meet with untimely ends in mainstream media, this anthology subverts the trope by putting it in the hands of queer writers. It’s an intense read, with many of the stories deal with dark themes like transphobic healthcare systems, bullying, drug abuse, and even AIDs analogies, but a beautiful one, full of romance and tragedy. Remarkably, each and everyone of the stories in Bury Your Gays is as strong as the last, and I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite. Some broke my heart, others chilled me to the bone, and yet others were touching in a bittersweet way. But all left a lasting impression.
February 19, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. It was gritty, "in your face" and incredibly honest with its readers. This happens exactly to most LGBTQ+ members, especially with how critical the stories are that it almost seems like a non-fiction at this point, telling stories of real people and it's what sucked me in as I read through the contents. There were times when it was difficult for me to go on because of how seemingly "real" the stories are. I don't usually squirm but the medical horror that comes with this collection made me turn my device off and find a breather. Otherwise, I would be too anxious to read on. I love the emotions that made me feel while reading this book. It's incredibly alarming to the point that I could almost live the way these people lived. While my experience is not as horrific, I find myself wishing them all the best in the end. There's no way I could live the way they lived in fear of the backlash from the default community, much less from the same community I'm a part of. I fear so much while reading this book that I placed this as my favorite collection thus far for 2024.
This is a memorable read and I believe the author intended to scare readers and with that, they succeeded. To pick a favorite from the collection is a difficult job to consider, I don't know how people do so I'll skip what my favorite parts are and move on to the fact that this book revolves around the haunting lives of different people, all members of the LGBTQ+ community, a community that I personally am a part of. Hence, everything felt so real and intimidating, I know there's a lot of adjectives at this point on how much I felt tormented by the book. If at all I was given a chance to receive this book, I would cry. That's how much I feel for the book. I normally look at the book at a rational perspective but this hit deep within me that I just can't help but spill my guts and emotions into it.
This is written for people like me, I just know it. And I hope this book reaches more people and touch their lives the way that it did mine. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a memorable read and I believe the author intended to scare readers and with that, they succeeded. To pick a favorite from the collection is a difficult job to consider, I don't know how people do so I'll skip what my favorite parts are and move on to the fact that this book revolves around the haunting lives of different people, all members of the LGBTQ+ community, a community that I personally am a part of. Hence, everything felt so real and intimidating, I know there's a lot of adjectives at this point on how much I felt tormented by the book. If at all I was given a chance to receive this book, I would cry. That's how much I feel for the book. I normally look at the book at a rational perspective but this hit deep within me that I just can't help but spill my guts and emotions into it.
This is written for people like me, I just know it. And I hope this book reaches more people and touch their lives the way that it did mine. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 26, 2024
As always, Ghoulish Books knocks it out of the park again. I had been anxiously anticipating this book for so long, but it was definitely worth the wait.
The majority of the stories were heartbreaking, with tragic deaths and stories of loss.
I think my favorite story was Joe Koch's All of Our Boys Are Missing. It's a dark fantasy of young love and the magic of a first kiss. It was beautifully written and the vision of the Horned God was a little terrifying.
Worth the Dying Shame by Matteo L. Cerilli was a close second, with its unique take on the undead in the punk scene. It was entertaining, while the humanity of the characters reached my heart.
Overall it's a great anthology, the second in two years that focuses on the LGBTQIA community, and I'm seriously hoping they keep going and make this a tradition.
The majority of the stories were heartbreaking, with tragic deaths and stories of loss.
I think my favorite story was Joe Koch's All of Our Boys Are Missing. It's a dark fantasy of young love and the magic of a first kiss. It was beautifully written and the vision of the Horned God was a little terrifying.
Worth the Dying Shame by Matteo L. Cerilli was a close second, with its unique take on the undead in the punk scene. It was entertaining, while the humanity of the characters reached my heart.
Overall it's a great anthology, the second in two years that focuses on the LGBTQIA community, and I'm seriously hoping they keep going and make this a tradition.
March 24, 2024
Disclosure: I was given an advance reader copy of this book to review.
"Gay people never get a happy ending, you notice that?" says a character from one of the stories in this collection, "Love Like Ours" by C.M. Violet. The line directly references both the premise of the anthology and a real phenomenon and problem with dominant media portrayals of queer people.
As the terminally online are aware, the anthology title itself, BURY YOUR GAYS, is the TV Tropes name for this phenomenon of queer characters disproportionately meeting tragic ends whether or not it makes sense for the story. Right-wing religious leaders are forever promising their god will wreak destruction and eternal torment on the gays. Creators who play gods in their own worlds seem all too eager to fulfill this promise in fiction.
It's gotten to the point where queer audiences and creators, sick of seeing themselves killed by proxy again and again in the media they turn to for relaxation, have created both the demand and supply for queer stories with happy endings. Many queer people have spoken at moving length about the importance of happy queer stories and how they counteract the dominant narrative that queer people are doomed to unhappy lives. There's a category for "Does an LGBT person die?" on the trigger warning site doesthedogdie. A few queer magazines, anthologies, and shows will only accept queer fiction with happy endings.
Against this cultural backdrop, BURY YOUR GAYS with its cheeky, in-your-face title and premise proclaims quite a different agenda: Not only will they collect tragic queer fiction, but also horrific ones. And these, too, the abject, the awful, and the horrific, are important parts of queer literature as with any other kind of literature. Tragedy and horror are genres that have been and continues to be crucial to exploring marginalization and violence, experiences queer communities are no strangers to. The problem with tragic queer stories is not that they exist, but that for a long time they were the *only* socially accepted option. Another is that they very frequently arise out of straight assumptions of what queer lives, deaths, and other bad ends are like rather than queer people exploring these shadowy sides of queer experiences for themselves. The call for submissions addressed this aspect by seeking stories only from queer or questioning creators.
I would say this approach, with its bold premise and emphasis on own voices, paid off in the form of an excellent anthology overall. The stories are searing in their sadness and haunting in their horror, with highs of lyrical beauty and lows of brutal violence that will stay with me for a long time. It is a crucial contribution to the field of horror and queer literature, with skilled writing that I highlighted just to revisit later on and learn from.
There are so many standouts, but personal favorites include "Cleodora" by August Clarke, "American Gothic" by LC von Hessen, "Black Hole" by November Rush, and "Worth the Dying Shame" by Matteo L. Cerilli. Quite a few put their own spin on the premise of "tragic queer horror" as encouraged by the call for submissions, too, and though I won't spoil them, some might read as happy endings of a sort even if they are scary and twisted, as appropriate for the venue.
A major complaint I have with the book, much as I loved the reading experience, is the underrepresentation of trans, nonbinary, and nonwhite characters. In particular, though this may have been my own cis cluelessness, there was only one clearly trans woman in the whole anthology as far as I could tell and she gets none of the adventures, camaraderie, revenge, or inner lives given to most of the other characters in the anthology, including the trans men in "Worth the Dying Shame." I know depicting transmisogyny is not the same thing as endorsing it, but it's rather depressing that when it comes to trans women, BURY YOUR GAYS fell into the same trope/trap it was referencing. In addition, I noticed typos and errors in the ARC that I hope will be corrected for the final copy.
BURY YOUR GAYS is a strong anthology on the whole and I don't regret reading it, but it is not unflawed, perhaps reflecting the state of Anglophone queer lit in general. I think that's part of a larger conversation, something of a queer tragedy of its own but one that can and should be improved on.
"Gay people never get a happy ending, you notice that?" says a character from one of the stories in this collection, "Love Like Ours" by C.M. Violet. The line directly references both the premise of the anthology and a real phenomenon and problem with dominant media portrayals of queer people.
As the terminally online are aware, the anthology title itself, BURY YOUR GAYS, is the TV Tropes name for this phenomenon of queer characters disproportionately meeting tragic ends whether or not it makes sense for the story. Right-wing religious leaders are forever promising their god will wreak destruction and eternal torment on the gays. Creators who play gods in their own worlds seem all too eager to fulfill this promise in fiction.
It's gotten to the point where queer audiences and creators, sick of seeing themselves killed by proxy again and again in the media they turn to for relaxation, have created both the demand and supply for queer stories with happy endings. Many queer people have spoken at moving length about the importance of happy queer stories and how they counteract the dominant narrative that queer people are doomed to unhappy lives. There's a category for "Does an LGBT person die?" on the trigger warning site doesthedogdie. A few queer magazines, anthologies, and shows will only accept queer fiction with happy endings.
Against this cultural backdrop, BURY YOUR GAYS with its cheeky, in-your-face title and premise proclaims quite a different agenda: Not only will they collect tragic queer fiction, but also horrific ones. And these, too, the abject, the awful, and the horrific, are important parts of queer literature as with any other kind of literature. Tragedy and horror are genres that have been and continues to be crucial to exploring marginalization and violence, experiences queer communities are no strangers to. The problem with tragic queer stories is not that they exist, but that for a long time they were the *only* socially accepted option. Another is that they very frequently arise out of straight assumptions of what queer lives, deaths, and other bad ends are like rather than queer people exploring these shadowy sides of queer experiences for themselves. The call for submissions addressed this aspect by seeking stories only from queer or questioning creators.
I would say this approach, with its bold premise and emphasis on own voices, paid off in the form of an excellent anthology overall. The stories are searing in their sadness and haunting in their horror, with highs of lyrical beauty and lows of brutal violence that will stay with me for a long time. It is a crucial contribution to the field of horror and queer literature, with skilled writing that I highlighted just to revisit later on and learn from.
There are so many standouts, but personal favorites include "Cleodora" by August Clarke, "American Gothic" by LC von Hessen, "Black Hole" by November Rush, and "Worth the Dying Shame" by Matteo L. Cerilli. Quite a few put their own spin on the premise of "tragic queer horror" as encouraged by the call for submissions, too, and though I won't spoil them, some might read as happy endings of a sort even if they are scary and twisted, as appropriate for the venue.
A major complaint I have with the book, much as I loved the reading experience, is the underrepresentation of trans, nonbinary, and nonwhite characters. In particular, though this may have been my own cis cluelessness, there was only one clearly trans woman in the whole anthology as far as I could tell and she gets none of the adventures, camaraderie, revenge, or inner lives given to most of the other characters in the anthology, including the trans men in "Worth the Dying Shame." I know depicting transmisogyny is not the same thing as endorsing it, but it's rather depressing that when it comes to trans women, BURY YOUR GAYS fell into the same trope/trap it was referencing. In addition, I noticed typos and errors in the ARC that I hope will be corrected for the final copy.
BURY YOUR GAYS is a strong anthology on the whole and I don't regret reading it, but it is not unflawed, perhaps reflecting the state of Anglophone queer lit in general. I think that's part of a larger conversation, something of a queer tragedy of its own but one that can and should be improved on.
Read
March 23, 2024A kaleidoscopic glimpse into the deep, beating heart of horror, Bury Your Gays houses terrors of every shade, unveiling an ever-changing dreamscape as unpredictable and volatile as love itself. Nightmares too, are in abundance, but even the darkest, most shocking tales lurking under this cover are alluring, intoxicating the reader with vivid imagery and twists of wild surrealism. Personally, it took my breath away. As both an author and avid reader of anthologies, it has been a long time since I've come across a collection as captivating as this one. From Cassandra Khaw's elegiac haunting to Gretchen Felker-Martin’s spine-tingling slumber party to Joe Koch's garden of unearthly delights, every story is unique, both in style and subject matter. Throughout these pages, lush, lyrical prose juxtaposes poignant storytelling and strikingly original interpretations of the theme, all of which are emotive and gripping. There is truly something for everyone in this anthology, and if these tragic tales don’t pull on your heartstrings, you may want to get your pulse checked.
Diana OlneySofia Ajram
Diana OlneySofia Ajram
March 17, 2024
Anthologies are always tricky to get right, but Bury Your Gays delivers a collection of stories that work well together. Every author featured brings their own unique voice and prose, but somehow they all fit together in a way that didn't feel jarring and made it easy to read one story after the other. A thread of horror and sadness really felt present throughout each story, and kept the collection connected from the first story to the last.
There are so many stories featured here that will make the reader think beyond just the few short pages they're each given. The opening story, "Your Honor, I'd Like to Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse’s Thirty Proven Clients" by M.V. Pine, really sets the tone for how harrowing and gruesome the reader can expect this anthology to be, and it definitely stuck with me throughout reading the rest of the collection. "Love Like Ours" by C.M. Violet and "Cleodora" by August Clarke were further highlights for me personally, and I'd crawl over hot coals for a full length novel following "This Body Is Not Your Home" by Son M.
I really appreciated what this anthology set out to do. Thank you to BookSirens and Ghoulish Books for the eArc of this book.
There are so many stories featured here that will make the reader think beyond just the few short pages they're each given. The opening story, "Your Honor, I'd Like to Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse’s Thirty Proven Clients" by M.V. Pine, really sets the tone for how harrowing and gruesome the reader can expect this anthology to be, and it definitely stuck with me throughout reading the rest of the collection. "Love Like Ours" by C.M. Violet and "Cleodora" by August Clarke were further highlights for me personally, and I'd crawl over hot coals for a full length novel following "This Body Is Not Your Home" by Son M.
I really appreciated what this anthology set out to do. Thank you to BookSirens and Ghoulish Books for the eArc of this book.
January 29, 2024
I received a free ARC, and this review is voluntary.
It would be a bit much to review section-by-section within the text, so, what I will say is that every individual story is powerful in its own way. Each an allegory, wrapped in underlying symbolism, intertwined with the plot. As much as these are stories of horror, it's also a look at what happens in life, discussing real issues between each tale. Horror and social commentary go hand-in-hand. It's a vehicle for those voices silenced, to finally be paid their due.
Although the main draw for me was author Cassandra Khaw, what I also found was a whole host of new authors, to not just learn from, but an appreciation for what they have to say, and how it's being said. Diversity within horror. Each voice an echo, elevating higher to a rightful position within this genre.
It would be a bit much to review section-by-section within the text, so, what I will say is that every individual story is powerful in its own way. Each an allegory, wrapped in underlying symbolism, intertwined with the plot. As much as these are stories of horror, it's also a look at what happens in life, discussing real issues between each tale. Horror and social commentary go hand-in-hand. It's a vehicle for those voices silenced, to finally be paid their due.
Although the main draw for me was author Cassandra Khaw, what I also found was a whole host of new authors, to not just learn from, but an appreciation for what they have to say, and how it's being said. Diversity within horror. Each voice an echo, elevating higher to a rightful position within this genre.
February 24, 2024
This was sort of hit or miss for me, I think a lot of the stories in this way surpass even 5 stars for me (and I'll get into those!), but some I fully skipped through either because I couldn't get into the plot, or because of just how they were written. I think that's pretty standard for most story collections though, and there's definitely a lot on here that I loved.
A couple of my favourite were Cleodora, American Gothic, and Summer Night. All beautifully written, emotional, engaging, heartbreaking, filled with tension and twists. Huge fans of these for sure!
My absolute favourite though had to be This Body is Not Your Home. So my vibe, I'm honestly obsessed and would love, love, LOVE more exploration into this plot.
Visceral, disgusting, filthy in all the best ways. If nothing else, please read this one.
ARC courtesy of BookSirens.
A couple of my favourite were Cleodora, American Gothic, and Summer Night. All beautifully written, emotional, engaging, heartbreaking, filled with tension and twists. Huge fans of these for sure!
My absolute favourite though had to be This Body is Not Your Home. So my vibe, I'm honestly obsessed and would love, love, LOVE more exploration into this plot.
Visceral, disgusting, filthy in all the best ways. If nothing else, please read this one.
ARC courtesy of BookSirens.
March 11, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I can't begin to explain how much this book has messed me up. And I mean that in the BEST way possible. I've always had a thing for the macabre, the messed-up things in life, and to be honest, nothing ever really scratched that itch. The itch of reading something so beyond messed up, which you like, maybe understand and it makes you go, oh. OH, that's not normal, maybe I should talk about this to my therapist. But you know what, it's great, it's great to feel like you're not alone. Now all this said, I don't by any means say it's ok to act out ANY of the stories in this this book, but it's amazing. The journey it took me on was a surprisingly morbid one, not that much different from the dark corners of my mind and soul.
This is a beautiful horror read. Just what I needed.
I can't begin to explain how much this book has messed me up. And I mean that in the BEST way possible. I've always had a thing for the macabre, the messed-up things in life, and to be honest, nothing ever really scratched that itch. The itch of reading something so beyond messed up, which you like, maybe understand and it makes you go, oh. OH, that's not normal, maybe I should talk about this to my therapist. But you know what, it's great, it's great to feel like you're not alone. Now all this said, I don't by any means say it's ok to act out ANY of the stories in this this book, but it's amazing. The journey it took me on was a surprisingly morbid one, not that much different from the dark corners of my mind and soul.
This is a beautiful horror read. Just what I needed.
April 7, 2024
The relationship between queerness and horror is a long and complicated one (check out “It Came from the Closet” if you’re interested in some nonfiction on the topic) and this collection proudly takes its place in that intersection. It was at times tragic, gruesome, heartfelt, and satisfying.
The ones that really hurt my heart are the ones that, if not based on true stories, are a story we’ve heard again and again—a transgender woman desperate to feel whole in her body undergoes a risky surgery, a young man flashes to all of the small moments of joy he wished he had taken when faced with death dealt by human monsters, a community is left wanting by the medical establishment, etc.
My favorite story in terms of sheer writing was "Cleodora." The author of that piece, August Clark, just has a way with language that led me to hit the "highlight" button again and again.
Short story collections have a hard time getting 5 stars from me just because there are almost always highlights and lowlights, but overall this was a very solid, enjoyable collection.
Be aware that there is some fairly graphic violence and body horror-- I somewhat wish that this book did what another queer horror collection that I read recently did, which is provide some content warnings in the back of the book for anyone who knew they had specific triggers.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The ones that really hurt my heart are the ones that, if not based on true stories, are a story we’ve heard again and again—a transgender woman desperate to feel whole in her body undergoes a risky surgery, a young man flashes to all of the small moments of joy he wished he had taken when faced with death dealt by human monsters, a community is left wanting by the medical establishment, etc.
My favorite story in terms of sheer writing was "Cleodora." The author of that piece, August Clark, just has a way with language that led me to hit the "highlight" button again and again.
Short story collections have a hard time getting 5 stars from me just because there are almost always highlights and lowlights, but overall this was a very solid, enjoyable collection.
Be aware that there is some fairly graphic violence and body horror-- I somewhat wish that this book did what another queer horror collection that I read recently did, which is provide some content warnings in the back of the book for anyone who knew they had specific triggers.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 19, 2024
Man...tragic is right.
This anthology is not for the faint of heart. It managed to make me squirm one moment and break my heart the next. There is plenty of grotesque, otherworldly horror, but the core of this collection is the real-world horror queer folks face.
In my opinion, all of the stories are well-written and fit the theme of this anthology. That being said, some just did not capture my attention as well as others. I would still recommend this as a solid anthology for fans of queer horror.
Thank you to the authors and to BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
This anthology is not for the faint of heart. It managed to make me squirm one moment and break my heart the next. There is plenty of grotesque, otherworldly horror, but the core of this collection is the real-world horror queer folks face.
In my opinion, all of the stories are well-written and fit the theme of this anthology. That being said, some just did not capture my attention as well as others. I would still recommend this as a solid anthology for fans of queer horror.
Thank you to the authors and to BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
March 19, 2024
Wow what a collection here, all superbly written and executed stories. Tragic Gay Horror is not a theme I have read before, especially not a full collection of works surrounding it. There is a long standing connection between queerness and horror, in my opinion, all horror is queer. Standing out, shunned by society, critiqued more and celebrated less; a lot of us in the queer community find kinship in horror due to the parallels.
I really enjoyed this collection, with anthologies we always have a mixed bag of works and some I found stood out stronger than others, however I found each one to be engaging, horrifying, bizarre and successful.
A lot of this work is really deep, it will connect with each reader in a unique way. I’m really thankful for the ARC opportunity and I definitely recommend this anthology- just ensure you are aware of what you are getting into; there aren’t many happy endings here.
I received this ARC free on Booksirens, my review is voluntary!
I really enjoyed this collection, with anthologies we always have a mixed bag of works and some I found stood out stronger than others, however I found each one to be engaging, horrifying, bizarre and successful.
A lot of this work is really deep, it will connect with each reader in a unique way. I’m really thankful for the ARC opportunity and I definitely recommend this anthology- just ensure you are aware of what you are getting into; there aren’t many happy endings here.
I received this ARC free on Booksirens, my review is voluntary!
March 28, 2024
“I thought I was my best with her but she saw how wretched I was and she loved me for it—“ - Black Hole by November Rush
““I think I’m not well,” he whispers. “Hey, it’s okay. I’ll take care of you.” How that phrase, take care of, implies both nurturing and disposal.” - American Gothic by LC von Hessen
Overall I enjoyed this collection! There were definitely some hits and misses, but there were several stories that I really enjoyed! My faves were: Your Honor, I’d Like to Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse’s Thirty Proven Clients by M. V. Pine (absolutely horrifying), Black Hole by November Rush (horrifying & beautiful & heartbreaking all at once), Lost and Found by Charlene Adhiambo (I too feel like a dead body rotting in a tub that has nothing except her dreams) & American Gothic by LC von Hessen!
I really enjoyed the continued use of second person POV in these stories, it really brought a haunting vibe to a lot of the stories! A lot of the stories were on the erotic horror side, which isn’t for me, so I think that’s why some of the stories didn’t connect with me. But, the ones I enjoyed, I REALLY enjoyed!
Individual story ratings:
📚 Your Honor, I’d Like to Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse’s Thirty Proven Clients by M. V. Pine: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
> TW: dead naming, transphobia
📚 This Body is not your home by Son M. : ⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚 Curdled Song of the Broken Earth by Jonathan Louis Duckworth: DNF
📚 Fortune Favors Grief by Cassandra Khaw: ⭐️
📚 Cleodora by August Clarke: ⭐️⭐️✨
📚 Summer Night by Robbie Banfitch: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
> TW: hate crime
📚 Bad Axe by Ed Kurtz: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
> TW: suicide; grief
📚American Gothic by LC von Hessen: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚Sardines by Gretchen Felker-Martin: DNF
📚 Zero Tolerance by M. F. Rose: DNF
> TW: bullying
📚 Black Hole by November Rush: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚Lost and Found by Charlene Adhiambo: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
> TW: parental abandonment, drug use
📚Love Like Ours by Violet: ⭐️⭐️✨
📚 Filthy Animals by Thomas Kearnes: skipped (I can tell this one is not for my ace ass lol)
📚 Worth the Dying Shame by Matteo L. Cerilli: DNF (loved the idea, but couldn’t get into the writing)
📚 All of Our Boys Are Missing by Joe Koch: DNF
““I think I’m not well,” he whispers. “Hey, it’s okay. I’ll take care of you.” How that phrase, take care of, implies both nurturing and disposal.” - American Gothic by LC von Hessen
Overall I enjoyed this collection! There were definitely some hits and misses, but there were several stories that I really enjoyed! My faves were: Your Honor, I’d Like to Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse’s Thirty Proven Clients by M. V. Pine (absolutely horrifying), Black Hole by November Rush (horrifying & beautiful & heartbreaking all at once), Lost and Found by Charlene Adhiambo (I too feel like a dead body rotting in a tub that has nothing except her dreams) & American Gothic by LC von Hessen!
I really enjoyed the continued use of second person POV in these stories, it really brought a haunting vibe to a lot of the stories! A lot of the stories were on the erotic horror side, which isn’t for me, so I think that’s why some of the stories didn’t connect with me. But, the ones I enjoyed, I REALLY enjoyed!
Individual story ratings:
📚 Your Honor, I’d Like to Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse’s Thirty Proven Clients by M. V. Pine: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
> TW: dead naming, transphobia
📚 This Body is not your home by Son M. : ⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚 Curdled Song of the Broken Earth by Jonathan Louis Duckworth: DNF
📚 Fortune Favors Grief by Cassandra Khaw: ⭐️
📚 Cleodora by August Clarke: ⭐️⭐️✨
📚 Summer Night by Robbie Banfitch: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
> TW: hate crime
📚 Bad Axe by Ed Kurtz: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
> TW: suicide; grief
📚American Gothic by LC von Hessen: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚Sardines by Gretchen Felker-Martin: DNF
📚 Zero Tolerance by M. F. Rose: DNF
> TW: bullying
📚 Black Hole by November Rush: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚Lost and Found by Charlene Adhiambo: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
> TW: parental abandonment, drug use
📚Love Like Ours by Violet: ⭐️⭐️✨
📚 Filthy Animals by Thomas Kearnes: skipped (I can tell this one is not for my ace ass lol)
📚 Worth the Dying Shame by Matteo L. Cerilli: DNF (loved the idea, but couldn’t get into the writing)
📚 All of Our Boys Are Missing by Joe Koch: DNF
March 10, 2024
This book was gritty, weird, and deeply touching. The stories were all very different from eachother, some more realistic, other many leaning more in the paranormal or science fiction domain.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 7, 2024
A full quarter of these stories are in second person! Why!!
Favorites:
"This Body Is Not Your Home," Son M.
"Curdled Song of the Broken Earth," Jonathan Louis Duckworth
"American Gothic," LC von Hessen
"Sardines," Gretchen Felker-Martin
"Black Hole," November Rush
Favorites:
"This Body Is Not Your Home," Son M.
"Curdled Song of the Broken Earth," Jonathan Louis Duckworth
"American Gothic," LC von Hessen
"Sardines," Gretchen Felker-Martin
"Black Hole," November Rush
August 3, 2024
This is like...my favorite thing ever. There's something in here for everyone to enjoy. Each story was different but amazing in its own way and I love them all, but my favorites/standouts are:
This Body is Not Your Home by Son M.
American Gothic by LC von Hessen
Sardines by Gretchen Felker-Martin
Black Hole by November Rush
All of Our Boys Are Missing by Joe Koch
Pick this one up!
This Body is Not Your Home by Son M.
American Gothic by LC von Hessen
Sardines by Gretchen Felker-Martin
Black Hole by November Rush
All of Our Boys Are Missing by Joe Koch
Pick this one up!
Read
February 18, 2024Clive Barker is a charmingly whimsical fantasy writer in comparison, and Chuck Palahnuik is rendered very flat against the rather spectacular, grueling horror in this collection. It made my skin crawl, my throat seize and my chest hurt all while I was admiring the craft behind the stories. I liked how the title emphasizes that these are tragedies, because there sure aren't any happy endings here - as in, I don't feel happy for any of the characters, especially when they get what they want. That titling helped prepare me a little before starting it. It's rare to come across a short story collection with so many excellent pieces, but now I need to go binge some Fortune Feimster and Joel Kim Booster routines to soothe my heart, soul, and spirit.
My sincerest kudos to the editor!!!!
I received a free e-ARC for this book and am leaving this review voluntarily
My sincerest kudos to the editor!!!!
I received a free e-ARC for this book and am leaving this review voluntarily
May 14, 2024
My favorites were Cleodora, about a mermaid (or selkie?) who gets caught in a toxic, abusive relationship with a pirate captain; American Gothic, where a man maintains a desperate, clinging 'relationship' with a slowly rotting (but sentient) corpse; and Worth The Dying Shame, where a bunch of trans punks try to contend with their imminent deaths due to laced T that has basically infected them with slow-acting zombieism. However, I don't think there were any complete duds in this anthology.
I think what I appreciated most was that this anthology wasn't just made up of the tragic victimization of queer people due to homophobia/transphobia. Don't get me wrong, there's certainly that, and anything exploring negative queer experiences is going to explore those avenues for obvious reasons. But there were also plenty of stories of queer people getting to be the ones who are toxic, or dangerous, or just bizarre. Because we have so much cultural baggage to fight in terms of garbage representation in media, I sometimes feel like people overcorrect, and are afraid of showing queer people as anything other than... unproblematic. And it can get stifling. Sometimes you just want to read something where you get to the end and go 'so that was pretty fucked up', and this anthology comes through in spades. I know a few people have lamented that there weren't trigger warnings throughout, but... it's horror. It's meant to explore society and humanity via the heightened, violent, hyperreal medium and use the visceral and graphic and uncomfortable as tools to this end. The trigger warning is that It Is Horror. It is literally -supposed- to HORRIFY.
I think what I appreciated most was that this anthology wasn't just made up of the tragic victimization of queer people due to homophobia/transphobia. Don't get me wrong, there's certainly that, and anything exploring negative queer experiences is going to explore those avenues for obvious reasons. But there were also plenty of stories of queer people getting to be the ones who are toxic, or dangerous, or just bizarre. Because we have so much cultural baggage to fight in terms of garbage representation in media, I sometimes feel like people overcorrect, and are afraid of showing queer people as anything other than... unproblematic. And it can get stifling. Sometimes you just want to read something where you get to the end and go 'so that was pretty fucked up', and this anthology comes through in spades. I know a few people have lamented that there weren't trigger warnings throughout, but... it's horror. It's meant to explore society and humanity via the heightened, violent, hyperreal medium and use the visceral and graphic and uncomfortable as tools to this end. The trigger warning is that It Is Horror. It is literally -supposed- to HORRIFY.
February 22, 2024
This was a really great anthology with a lot of really well-done stories in it. I can’t think of any really weak links throughout the stories themselves (there was one I didn’t like, but that was not so much it being bad as me not liking it), and the rest of them were great. Personally, my favorites were probably Cleodora by August Clarke, American Gothic by LC von Hessen, Love Like Ours by CM Violet, and All of Our Boys are Missing by Joe Koch. I am only naming those four specifically, but I think that nearly all of them were amazing. I am not going to type out reviews for each and every one of the stories, mainly because they were all good and not a giant mixed bag of quality.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 2, 2024
Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC, and apologies to the author for the delayed feedback. Overall rating reflects average score.
Your Honor, I'd Like to Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse's Thirty Proven Clients: This really set the tone as a tragic tale. I thought it was very clever, and I really liked the storytelling. 4/5
This Body is Not Your Home: I did not like this story. It was violent and graphic and unpleasant, and didn't have anything bittersweet about it, which I would have liked. 1/5
Curdled Song of the Broken Earth: I didn't like this one either, if I'm honest. Again, I felt it was unpleasant and lacked sentiment. 1/5
Fortune Favors Grief: I'm lost. 1/5
Cleodora: This was SO bizarre. Not to my tastes again. This is such a shame. 1/5
Summer Night: Very very short but quite well-written. Dark. 2/5
Bad Axe: I have a strong dislike of water but this story was much more engaging for me than most of them have been so far! 3/5
American Gothic: Well, this was no less weird than some of the other stories, but its tenderness made it feel more palatable? It was really quite gross though... 3/5
Sardines: I... Have no idea what to say. From body-shaming to bodies everywhere, I did not get or enjoy this. 1/5
Zero Tolerance: Ooooooh! Now here's a story I enjoyed. This was one I could read a whole book about. I loved the implant concept and the way it worked. 5/5
Black Hole: Meh. I felt utterly indifferent to this. 2.5/5
Lost and Found: This story was really sad and beautiful. Simply written and very easy-to-follow, with a rather charming premise. I love the juxtaposition of classic horror tropes with the delicate story the author told here. 5/5
Love Like Ours: This felt a bit too on-the-nose to really enjoy. It was okay, nothing special. 2/5
Filthy Animals: I really didn't like this story either. I didn't understand the characters and I didn't enjoy the narrative. 1/5
Worth the Dying Shame: Ouch, this story hurt. I really felt for the characters in it and the way they suffered. It seems so terrifyingly plausible. It was also utterly disgusting. Not my kind of story, but emotive nonetheless. 3.5/5
All of Our Boys are Missing: Sadly, I didn't love this story either. It started off promising, but I didn't like where it went when the horror element was introduced. 2/5
Your Honor, I'd Like to Put You in the Shoes of One of Dr. Morehouse's Thirty Proven Clients: This really set the tone as a tragic tale. I thought it was very clever, and I really liked the storytelling. 4/5
This Body is Not Your Home: I did not like this story. It was violent and graphic and unpleasant, and didn't have anything bittersweet about it, which I would have liked. 1/5
Curdled Song of the Broken Earth: I didn't like this one either, if I'm honest. Again, I felt it was unpleasant and lacked sentiment. 1/5
Fortune Favors Grief: I'm lost. 1/5
Cleodora: This was SO bizarre. Not to my tastes again. This is such a shame. 1/5
Summer Night: Very very short but quite well-written. Dark. 2/5
Bad Axe: I have a strong dislike of water but this story was much more engaging for me than most of them have been so far! 3/5
American Gothic: Well, this was no less weird than some of the other stories, but its tenderness made it feel more palatable? It was really quite gross though... 3/5
Sardines: I... Have no idea what to say. From body-shaming to bodies everywhere, I did not get or enjoy this. 1/5
Zero Tolerance: Ooooooh! Now here's a story I enjoyed. This was one I could read a whole book about. I loved the implant concept and the way it worked. 5/5
Black Hole: Meh. I felt utterly indifferent to this. 2.5/5
Lost and Found: This story was really sad and beautiful. Simply written and very easy-to-follow, with a rather charming premise. I love the juxtaposition of classic horror tropes with the delicate story the author told here. 5/5
Love Like Ours: This felt a bit too on-the-nose to really enjoy. It was okay, nothing special. 2/5
Filthy Animals: I really didn't like this story either. I didn't understand the characters and I didn't enjoy the narrative. 1/5
Worth the Dying Shame: Ouch, this story hurt. I really felt for the characters in it and the way they suffered. It seems so terrifyingly plausible. It was also utterly disgusting. Not my kind of story, but emotive nonetheless. 3.5/5
All of Our Boys are Missing: Sadly, I didn't love this story either. It started off promising, but I didn't like where it went when the horror element was introduced. 2/5
May 9, 2024
Content Warnings: Body Horror; Graphic Violence; Suicide; Body Dysmorphia & Gender Dysphoria; Gore; Sexual Violence; Homophobia; Fatphobia; Bullying
For those sex averse, there are many graphic depictions of various types of sex in several stories.
I was looking forward to this anthology, but I think it’s unfortunately not for me. Most of the stories relied on body horror that is more extreme and towards the splatter side for my taste. Others who enjoy body horror/splatter may like those stories just fine, but for me they weren’t scary as much as gross. Tragic they captured better; M.V. Pine’s first story, detailing the aftermath and death of a trans patient under a bad doctor’s care, was particularly heart-wrenching.
That said, there were a few stories that I really enjoyed and would like to shout out. August Clarke’s “Cleodora,” which deals with a lesbian siren situationship, was a tragic, gristly tale that fully captured my attention. Charlene Adhiambo’s “Lost and Found” perfectly captured a tragic situation, and its horror was multilayered and multifaceted. I read through it multiple times. I also admired the imagination and scope of November Rush’s “Black Hole.”
For those sex averse, there are many graphic depictions of various types of sex in several stories.
I was looking forward to this anthology, but I think it’s unfortunately not for me. Most of the stories relied on body horror that is more extreme and towards the splatter side for my taste. Others who enjoy body horror/splatter may like those stories just fine, but for me they weren’t scary as much as gross. Tragic they captured better; M.V. Pine’s first story, detailing the aftermath and death of a trans patient under a bad doctor’s care, was particularly heart-wrenching.
That said, there were a few stories that I really enjoyed and would like to shout out. August Clarke’s “Cleodora,” which deals with a lesbian siren situationship, was a tragic, gristly tale that fully captured my attention. Charlene Adhiambo’s “Lost and Found” perfectly captured a tragic situation, and its horror was multilayered and multifaceted. I read through it multiple times. I also admired the imagination and scope of November Rush’s “Black Hole.”
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