Bloodlines: Anthology Review
Okay wow, that was a lot of interviews over the past four days! And as promised, here is the last part of my five part Bloodlines special series: my overall review of the collection itself. Disclosure: I did receive an ARC for review, but all opinions in this review are my own and unbiased!
If you missed the four interviews, you can find them here:
The Authors
Carson Winter, author of “I Am Not to be Replaced” in Bloodlines. Winter’s fiction has previously appeared in Vasterian, Apex, and The NoSleep Podcast. He is a self-described “author, punker, and raw nerve.” You can find his website here or follow him on Twitter here.
Alex Wolfgang, author of “The Heads of Leviathan” in Bloodlines. Wolfgang’s fiction has appeared in Howls from Hell and his debut collection, Splinter and Other Stories, was released in 2020.You can find him on his website or follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
Antony Frost, author of “Nos Da, Tad,” and this is Frost’s debut publication and it is a powerful one! He has a website and a Twitter account you can follow.
Chris O'Halloran, author of “Our Migraine” in Bloodlines. O’Halloran’s fiction has appeared in Howls from Hell, Mixtape:1986, The Dreadmachine, and At Midnight. An active HWA member and admin of the HOWL Society, you can visit his website or follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
The Collection
“If you’ve ever dreaded a family dinner, felt terror at the blood pumping in your veins; if you’ve ever thought maybe the people you call kin just aren’t quite right—Bloodlines will hold you in its thrall with its literary daring, blood-soaked wit, and taste for carnage. From quiet horror to caterwauling bloodshed, this quadruple feature is fun for the whole family. ”
Tomorrow is the day, people! Get your hecking pre-orders in now and support these writers! Your pre-order means the world to artists who have put their whole heart into their project. And after you've read it, make sure to leave a review! It helps just as much as the pre-order.
My Review
When a friend asks you to read and review a collection they've put together with their friends, it can be pretty nerve-wracking. What if I don't like it, then what? Can you imagine? "Hey friend, I thought it sucked, maybe you needed an extra pass over from an editor"? Luckily, that was not the case here. I just wanted to share it's a fear of mine, reader, a true and ever-present fear.
But let's get onto the actual review.
I really loved how each tale approached the theme of "family" in a different way, but still maintained a sense of cohesion. From claustrophobic horror to haunting chills, from weird twists to terrifying revelations, each of these four tales bring spine-tingling spins to the meaning of family.
My favourite of the four was "Our Migraine" by O'Halloran. O'Halloran's writing traps you in the squirming, choking nightmare the sisters live day-to-day, trying to survive a curse that was born out of good intentions. The three sisters in "Our Migraine" are trapped in a spiral of pain, of despair, and of a growing desire to do anything to escape that migraine that plagues them all. In the end, which is stronger: the bond between sisters or the pain?
Winter's tale "I Am Not to be Replaced" explores the fear of not being good enough. I know a lot of people will be able to empathize with the hurt and the rage of the main character, whose family has decided she is not up to standard. With suspense as chilling as the setting, Winter's tale is sure to give you shivers.
"Nos Da, Tad" by Frost is a mystery wrapped in cosmic horror, overlaid with the heavy theme of abandonment and familial neglect. Featuring one of my favourite characters of the entire collection (the badass sister), "Nos Da, Tad" delicately explores the tender themes of parental neglect, spousal abuse, and questioning one's identity in regards to nature versus nurture. Frost's debut tale is not one to be missed!
Wolfgang's story “The Heads of Leviathan” leads readers to a strange world to look at an even stranger family bound by covenants beyond their comprehension until it is too late. I mean, how close is too close when it comes to family? Fans of cosmic horror and weird horror definitely need to check this one out. I know I won't be forgetting “The Heads of Leviathan” anytime soon!
I think it says a lot that I couldn't put this collection down and ended reading it in one sitting. It's such a powerful collection that explores serious and unsettling themes around the idea of family in such a way that will leave you shaken and haunted.
8/10
x PLM
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