Here Be Monsters: An Anthology of Monster Tales

by Kenneth Kaye:

This collection has some very good stories here! It opens with an interesting take on the choices we make between good and evil. Set within the classic vampire storyline, “Blackmail” by M.T. Murphy looks at what we will do when faced with betrayal, fear, and our own death. “Deals and Demons” by Samantha Anderson is a great look at the ‘deal with the devil’ story. Although the symbolism is a bit obvious, the narrative drifts along that fine line of what is real and what is the imagination of the insane and works well. Sara Reinke’s “Periphery People” is a wonderfully dark tale of shadows and the places we can only see through a twisted lens. These are the most noteworthy, but there are others that move the collection along as well.

Some of the stories had the feel of trying too hard to be different. Instead of allowing the idea to flow, a few tales felt as if the authors fought a more traditional narrative in order to be unique. They came across as silly, bizarre, or confusing. I was also disappointed to see the really cliché torture/abuse/murder women while calling them bitches repeatedly. An uneven collection, but worth the read.

Here Be Monsters: An Anthology of Monster Tales can be found on Amazon.com.