What One Wouldn’t Do: Edited By Scott J. Moses
Reviewed By Yvonne Miller
What One Wouldn’t Do is a horror anthology edited by Scott J. Moses. The title does exactly what it says on the tin. It contains stories that delve into the deepest recesses of the mind. How far would you be willing to go to protect the ones you love or stop someone finding out a secret? These stories are perpetually locked in the darkness. The key lies in the dark but is unattainable by human means. The anthology contained stories from some beloved horror authors but also from authors who are new to me but impressed me all the same.
Horror short stories is a format that works incredibly well. They get straight to the point, slicing that jugular up nice and swift, all the spectrums of human emotion are on show. What I just love about horror though, is just how humane it is…bear with me. Often authors write about it because it is human. They want to investigate the why and the how, why we do what we do. Grief, fear, anguish, and mental health are all states the brain can emit and it often gives us a deeper meaning of why people behave the way they do.
An introduction from Laurel Hightower, queen of grief horror and we get great insight into why she does what she does and what can be expected from this anticipated anthology.
Some stories that left a lasting impact on me were With Animals by J.A.W. McCarthy. This was the perfect opening and tread the fine line between grief and love. Cry Me a River by Stephanie Ellis, as can always be expected from Ellis you get the atmosphere and the story – she instils cold dread into your veins with her immersive and taught narrative.
The Witch of Flora Pass by Scott J. Moses, another story so well crafted and executed that I know I will return to this author in the future. Seven Snapshots of a Broken Heart by Shane Douglas Keene, a poem that nearly broke me. It’s beautiful in its imagery and the mental picture of pain that is painted. Bloody brilliant.
I Married a Dead Man by Joanna Koch – I’ve read some of Koch’s work before and always love that dark place she’s able to take the reader to. This story tackles societal demands and expectations and kicks them in the arse! The Last Word by Laurel Hightower delves into grief once again with a story about psychic mediums, I won’t say another word about it and will allow you to get the full experience.
All The Misery That Waits for us at the End of the Day by Eric LaRocca. There isn’t a thing that Eric writes that I will not read, this was phenomenal. A werewolf story that not only blew my socks off but it took the skin away too! I felt my breath quicken in anticipation of what would come next.
Its not often that I read an anthology and enjoy each story but that is the case with What One Wouldn’t Do. The sense of dread immediate, it will sit in your head for days.
What One Wouldn’t Do
What One Wouldn’t Do for…what?
Power? Safety? Love? Revenge?
Here’s to the lengths one might go to for everything.
With dark fiction from J.A.W. McCarthy, Avra Margariti, Marisca Pichette, Stephanie Ellis, Christina Wilder, Donna Lynch, Katie Young, Scott J. Moses, Angela Sylvaine, tom reed, Cheri Kamei, Shane Douglas Keene, J.V. Gachs, Tim McGregor, Emma E. Murray, Nick Younker, Jennifer Crow, Joanna Koch, Lex Vranick, Laurel Hightower, Eric Raglin, Eric LaRocca, Daniel Barnett, Bob Johnson, Simone le Roux, Hailey Piper, Bryson Richard, Jena Brown, and Christi Nogle.
You can buy What One Wouldn’t Do from Amazon UK & Amazon US
Yvonne Miller
Well, what can I say about myself? I’m a 33-year-old married woman and mum to 3 crazy boys, aged 13,6 and 4. My eldest has a genetic condition that causes a visual impairment so as you can imagine life can be very chaotic and provides many challenges along the way but I would 100% never change any of them. They fulfil my life beyond measure.
I adore books – I adore shouting about books! I’m a reviewer of mainly horror and dark fantasy. Whether that’s featuring werewolves, evil creatures or the depravity of humanity, I will read them all.
You can follow Yvonne on Twitter: @coycaterpillar
Please visit Yvonne’s Official Website: www.thecoycaterpillarreads.blog
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