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Little Mutilations: Three Body Horror Novellas
Prepare to confront your darkest fears and plunge into a world where the boundaries of horror fiction blur, as three masters of the genre unleash a relentless storm of body horror and suspense.
In this anthology, delve into the darkest corners of the human psyche as you explore the grotesque and unsettling, making it a must-read for aficionados of horror books and fans of suspenseful narratives.
In “The Night Belongs to Us” by Jess Landry, the story unfolds as Laura and Cee navigate a treacherous cityscape in a heart-pounding quest, delivering spine-chilling body horror that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Sofia Ajram’s “Acid Bath” weaves a tale of friendship tested by the insidious consequences of a clinical trial gone awry, crafting a suspenseful narrative that will haunt your dreams.
And in “Your Next Best American Girl” by Nadia Bulkin, the pursuit of perfection takes a horrifying turn, delivering a riveting blend of body horror and suspense that will leave you breathless.
This anthology is tailor-made for lovers of horror fiction and body horror, where the boundary between the ordinary and the terrifying blurs, creating an experience that will linger in your nightmares.
"These three gifted authors reveal terror in the most intimate places. Jess Landry finds it in the need for sanctuary and the bond between a mother and daughter. Sofia Ajram uncovers it in the thousand subtle betrayals of friendship and the dispassion of a clinical trial. Nadia Bulkin unearths it in our skin-deep need for validation and the fickle vagaries of a beauty pageant. More than anything, what these authors show is that the worst terrors don't lie outside us in the dark shadows, but much closer to home, in our own bodies."—Jasper Bark, STUCK ON YOU
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
In this anthology, delve into the darkest corners of the human psyche as you explore the grotesque and unsettling, making it a must-read for aficionados of horror books and fans of suspenseful narratives.
In “The Night Belongs to Us” by Jess Landry, the story unfolds as Laura and Cee navigate a treacherous cityscape in a heart-pounding quest, delivering spine-chilling body horror that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Sofia Ajram’s “Acid Bath” weaves a tale of friendship tested by the insidious consequences of a clinical trial gone awry, crafting a suspenseful narrative that will haunt your dreams.
And in “Your Next Best American Girl” by Nadia Bulkin, the pursuit of perfection takes a horrifying turn, delivering a riveting blend of body horror and suspense that will leave you breathless.
This anthology is tailor-made for lovers of horror fiction and body horror, where the boundary between the ordinary and the terrifying blurs, creating an experience that will linger in your nightmares.
"These three gifted authors reveal terror in the most intimate places. Jess Landry finds it in the need for sanctuary and the bond between a mother and daughter. Sofia Ajram uncovers it in the thousand subtle betrayals of friendship and the dispassion of a clinical trial. Nadia Bulkin unearths it in our skin-deep need for validation and the fickle vagaries of a beauty pageant. More than anything, what these authors show is that the worst terrors don't lie outside us in the dark shadows, but much closer to home, in our own bodies."—Jasper Bark, STUCK ON YOU
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
- GenresHorrorAnthologies
180 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 9, 2023
The seventh installment in the Dark Tide series is an anthology of very unique novellas, which provide a wide variety of the title theme.
The first story reminds of ancient stories, but put in a very modern garment - quite literally, you might say. At first I was puzzled where the story would go, but once I got the gist it was quite intense.
The second story - well, let's just say it was not my cup of tea.
The third story was my favorite of the trio, it was bizarre, comical, satirical, sad, horrific - every page removed a new repulsive layer from a superficial core, while at the same time it twisted the meaning of beauty right around and developed into something unexpectedly awesome.
I am impressed how the Dark Tide series still manages to present something fresh with each book, and while I struggled to wrap my mostly practical mind around the sheer bizarreness of this volume, I was fascinated - again - by the originality of the stories.
The first story reminds of ancient stories, but put in a very modern garment - quite literally, you might say. At first I was puzzled where the story would go, but once I got the gist it was quite intense.
The second story - well, let's just say it was not my cup of tea.
The third story was my favorite of the trio, it was bizarre, comical, satirical, sad, horrific - every page removed a new repulsive layer from a superficial core, while at the same time it twisted the meaning of beauty right around and developed into something unexpectedly awesome.
I am impressed how the Dark Tide series still manages to present something fresh with each book, and while I struggled to wrap my mostly practical mind around the sheer bizarreness of this volume, I was fascinated - again - by the originality of the stories.
May 23, 2023
Many of us have deeply complicated relationships with our bodies. They are us, and yet they don't always reflect who we are, who we want to be, or who society thinks we must be. At the same time, they are both resilient and deeply, deeply fragile. The three novellas in Little Mutations all occur at the moment where people, their bodies, and the pressures of society meet, with brutal effect.
In Jess Landry's "The Night Belongs to Us", a young woman named Laura roughs it to a struggling city in the dead of winter, seeking her distant mother, Mary, who has finally fallen off the edge of the society she has been teetering on for a long time. In the bus stations and crowded shelters, she meets a person who may know what happened to Mary, pulling her into a darker, older power preying off those who won't be missed. This somber take on a vampire tale takes the metaphor of predation and exploitation to a logical place in late-state capitalism America, and questions if even mothers can be trusted.
Sofia Ajram's "Acid Bath" follows a trans man named Luca who has been fighting with his privileged upbringing by seeking any experience, including a long series of clinical trials for pay. When his film-making partner, Priya, starts to have strange changes of mood, body, and appetite, Luca is forced to acknowledge how he treats others, and himself. Not everyone makes it out whole. This may be the most challenging story in the anthology as our unreliable narrator is confronted with how he exploits those around him and is himself exploited. It is also has the most transcendently bloody moment that made me quiver and keep reading like my life depended on it.
Finally, always fantastic Nadia Bulkin explores how beauty standards and internalized self-abuse transform a young woman in "Your Next Best American Girl". What happens to Veronica as she struggles to stand out in a regional beauty pageant is surreal, heartbreaking, and feels like the tip of the iceberg of something much bigger. How much of herself can she lose until there is nothing left but light?
All and all, this is a solid and thought provoking anthology. It was easy to find connecting themes of gender, class, and self-autonomy throughout, as our protagonists struggle to decide if they are going to come out the other side of their trial the same person as they entered.
Thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing for an ARC via LibraryThing's Early Reviewer Program.
In Jess Landry's "The Night Belongs to Us", a young woman named Laura roughs it to a struggling city in the dead of winter, seeking her distant mother, Mary, who has finally fallen off the edge of the society she has been teetering on for a long time. In the bus stations and crowded shelters, she meets a person who may know what happened to Mary, pulling her into a darker, older power preying off those who won't be missed. This somber take on a vampire tale takes the metaphor of predation and exploitation to a logical place in late-state capitalism America, and questions if even mothers can be trusted.
Sofia Ajram's "Acid Bath" follows a trans man named Luca who has been fighting with his privileged upbringing by seeking any experience, including a long series of clinical trials for pay. When his film-making partner, Priya, starts to have strange changes of mood, body, and appetite, Luca is forced to acknowledge how he treats others, and himself. Not everyone makes it out whole. This may be the most challenging story in the anthology as our unreliable narrator is confronted with how he exploits those around him and is himself exploited. It is also has the most transcendently bloody moment that made me quiver and keep reading like my life depended on it.
Finally, always fantastic Nadia Bulkin explores how beauty standards and internalized self-abuse transform a young woman in "Your Next Best American Girl". What happens to Veronica as she struggles to stand out in a regional beauty pageant is surreal, heartbreaking, and feels like the tip of the iceberg of something much bigger. How much of herself can she lose until there is nothing left but light?
All and all, this is a solid and thought provoking anthology. It was easy to find connecting themes of gender, class, and self-autonomy throughout, as our protagonists struggle to decide if they are going to come out the other side of their trial the same person as they entered.
Thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing for an ARC via LibraryThing's Early Reviewer Program.
April 7, 2023
4 stars! I really enjoyed this quick little read! It is the 7th instalment in the wonderful crystal lake publishing's Dark Tide Series (I haven't read the others but I probably will go back and do so now). This read is made up of three separate novellas by three highly talented women in horror. Essentially the three stories are connected by a prominent theme of body horror, and believe me it was very.. horrible. Whilst all three were good, "Acid Bath" by Sofia Airam was my personal favourite. It involves two friends (Priya and Luca) who enter into a paid clinical trial- with horrendous side effects!
Anyway, great read! This releases on the 28th of April and will be on kindle unlimited! NO EXCUSES :
Anyway, great read! This releases on the 28th of April and will be on kindle unlimited! NO EXCUSES :
April 28, 2023
Three novellas are by three women authors. Each novella is well written. There is a connecting theme that is about bodies. It is a rare pleasure to find all three novellas actually had me horrified by the stories. That though is the reason I like to read horror. It takes me out of my everyday life. If you are a fan of horror, don’t miss it. It’s that good!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the publisher. I wasn’t obligated to write a review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the publisher. I wasn’t obligated to write a review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
May 8, 2023
An absolutely amazing collection of three horror stories. A cult that serves an old Mother, a drug trial that goes horribly wrong, and a beauty pageant contestant that develops a skin condition.
I couldn't' put this anthology down! The stories are sick and beautiful at the same time. Body horror is a hard subject to read and damn this one was great! I loved every story, and the cover art is beautiful as well.
I couldn't' put this anthology down! The stories are sick and beautiful at the same time. Body horror is a hard subject to read and damn this one was great! I loved every story, and the cover art is beautiful as well.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews