Dark Blooms: Girls' Coming-of-Age Horrors by Ruth Anna Evans

Dark Blooms: Girls' Coming-of-Age Horrors Reviews

• 
  Cat Voleur

  Full disclosure, I'm in this book.
  
  But I finally got to read the rest of the collection and I was just blown away by the variety of voices and themes covered in this coming of age anthology.
  
  Growing up means so many things to so many talented women in this community, and it was such a special experience getting to explore the range of interpretations from some of the best voices working in indie horror today.
  
• 
  Marina Garrido

  To read the full review you can visit:
  https://www.screamsandink.com/post/da...
  
  I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again and again and again: I LOVE ANTHOLOGIES SO MUCH! They're this magic box of surprises that contains so many possibilities, precious gems just waiting for you to uncover them, a new favorite author waiting to be discovered, and delicious treats by those that you already love. That's why I'll never stop singing the praises of anthologies, especially the ones as wonderful as Dark Blooms.
  
  In this particular magic box, I found many incredible stories of all types of girlhood, each one touching and painful in different manners. To be a girl is to be forged by fire and, sadly, so many are forced to endure much higher temperatures. Fleshing out characters is a tricky thing, and many novels fall short in that department, offering the reader mere cardboard cut-outs of people or an amalgamation of cliches. But the authors of Dark Blooms give us fully-fledged characters with complex personalities, which is even more impressive when we consider the shorter format they were working with.
  
  The settings and subgenres are as varied as the types of girlhood depicted, spanning slashers, creature features, ghosts, demons, cults, and much more. There is bound to be at least one story in this collection that you'll enjoy, actually, I'm fairly certain there'll be several. All were well-written, and my reading experience was incredibly pleasurable, with five stories that stood out to me. (A little sidebar to highlight that I, in no way, think the other stories were bad or lesser, these were simply the ones that aligned with my individual taste).
  
  Two were by authors that I already knew and loved: the wonderful Caitlin Marceau (Memory in Motion) and Chelsea Pumpkins (Spiderella). The other three were delightful surprises and have now joined my list of must-read writers: Nikoline Kaiser (Hannah), Valerie Hunter ( Jezebels), and Lauren Carter (The Radiant Children).
• 
  Tasha

  This is a fabulous anthology of stories about young ladies and women finding themselves during difficult times.
  
  There are some that will certainly hit home and some that are just so horrific - yet completely believable. It is not an easy world for women. So these authors put into words what so many of us feel or have felt in our lifetimes.
  
  Every single story gave me pause. I reflected on each one and found that my voice, that I sometimes hide, is right here in these pages.
  
  
• 
  Jessica Zack

  Thank you to the editor for providing a review copy! I was very excited to read this anthology as my best friend has a story in it! I'm also newer to reading horror so I liked being able to consume a lot of different stories in small increments like this. It helped me get more comfortable within the genre and also hone in more on the types of things I'm really drawn to. Overall I very much enjoyed it and found all the stories to be well written. I provided more individualized reviews of each story below.
  
  Hannah by Nikoline Kaiser ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I really enjoyed this story. It was a unique premise and the protagonist was a compelling character. I docked one star because I felt everything at the end wrapped up so neatly it was almost incongruous with the rest of the story.
  The Molt by Shannon Riley ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - This had some elements of body horror which isn't my personal favorite, but I felt that they were well done. I also felt like it really captured the way that middle schoolers think and behave which made the whole story feel very real.
  Jezebels by Valerie Hunter ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - This was one of my favorites of the entire anthology. As someone who grew up in a very religious environment I related to a lot of the themes. This one was especially tragic because most of the elements are things we definitely know happen in real life. The supernatural elements were there in the perfect amount, just enough to be frightening but not enough to take away from the true to life horrors also occurring.
  First Blood by Cat Voleur ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I was impressed that this story was able to successfully build a fantasy world and execute the story within it in the confines of a short story format. I found myself wishing the story were longer because I became so invested in the world and the lore.
  Mister Wolf by RB Kelly ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I really enjoyed the premise of this and the slow build of tension. I briefly suspected the twist but then I got distracted by other plot points and forgot and so was freshly surprised when it came around. My only complaint was that the background of why people feel ill at ease in the house is never explained so I wasn't fully satisfied when the story came to a close.
  Sit Up With Your Dead by Anj Baker ⭐⭐⭐ - This story just wasn't for me. The premise was good but not executed in the best way... despite being the title we never get an explanation as to why we sit up with our dead or how the people came to discover they needed to do that. Also the setting and writing style, while they worked well together, were just not my cup of tea. I did appreciate the little twist midway through.
  The End of Limerence by Emma E. Murray ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I found this to be the most heartbreaking story in the collection. Horrifying because it could really happen.
  The Radiant Children by Lauren Carter ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - This was a really cool premise, and done in a way I at least haven't seen before. A lot of surprise twists and turns. Found myself again wanting to know more about how the way of this world came to be, even though it's not needed for the story. I was just invested.
  We Should Have Turned Back by Ruth Anna Evans ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Again a story that was horrifying because so much of it could totally happen to any one of us. It was tense (in a good way) the entire time. The last couple pages I felt needed reworked a little bit, just to sharpen the wrap up because as it stands it's just a little murky and didn't quite land for me.
  Memory in Motion by Caitlin Marceau ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Another one of my favorites in the collection. The emotions were all so raw and clear, I felt every single one while I was reading. And I used to dance so the backdrop was something that really resonated with me.
  Happily Ever After by Tasha Reynolds ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - So I had several favorites, what can I say. I really enjoyed the perspective of a younger child and found the premise again quite frightening because of how real it was.
  The Revenant by Elise Forier Edie ⭐⭐⭐ - I really liked the setup of this and was excited to see where it went, but I don't feel like it was as successful as it could have been. We never got explanation as to why the ghost needs blood, and then there was the suggestion that the protagonist was mentally unwell, but we never really got groundwork to support that she was an unreliable narrator. I did like how the very end came together but a lot of bits in the middle felt too murky for me.
  Spiderella by Chelsea Pumpkins ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I was here for this story until the very last page. I thought it felt real and was well written and the suspense kept building. But we were left with way too many questions at the end and there was a reveal that was foreshadowed (I thought) but then we never got.
  Rotpearl by Erin Brown ⭐⭐⭐ - This was another story that I feel like just wasn't for me. The setting and the world didn't feel built enough for me to be able to get invested. The premise was interesting but I was always sort of unclear as to what purpose the mother's backstory served and how it related to the protagonist's journey. It tied together at the end but throughout the story it just wasn't clear how we were meant to feel about the mother or interpret her actions.
  The Horror at Foxglove Farm by Cassandra Daucus ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I was very into this story. It was mysterious and spooky but also somehow cozy. I had to dock a star because I just didn't understand what was going on in the final climax sequence, it felt like we needed more explanation that we didn't get. Additionally the end wrapped up almost a bit too neatly.
  Sea Glass by Chloe Spencer ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the execution of this premise, it felt very unique. I did find it (in broad strokes) similar to The Molt so I was surprised both were include din this anthology, but I enjoyed this one very much as well. It felt very indicative of the early teen experience and I found all the characters interesting. I did feel like we got a lot of characters set up that we didn't get to see paid off, as there wasn't time to explore them all. A little bit of body horror in this one as well, which isn't my favorite, but was definitely necessary to the story and appropriately done.
• 
  S.J. Townend

  Great anthology of coming of age horror. Stand-out stories for me were Sit Up With Your Dead by Anj Baker and The Radiant Children by Lauren Carter.
• 
  Milt Theo

  Ruth Anna Evans editing an anthology means readers are in for a treat, and, indeed, 'Dark Blooms' does not disappoint! The premise (girls coming of age through battling horrors of all kinds) is original, the stories are engrossing reads, and, what's more, some of them ("Hannah" by Nikoline Kaiser, "The End of Limerence" by Emma E. Murray, and Evans' own "We Should Have Turned Back," to mention just three) manage to reach a kind of realism that hurts; the eye-opening kind: do I really live in the same world with the authors, I found myself wondering. Unlike most horror stories, these felt very intense in an unusual, heart-piercing way. And that's the highest compliment I can pay this amazing anthology!
• 
  Joan Smith

  Thank you to all the writers and the editor
  
  This is a fabulous collection empowerment coming-of-age of women young and old. All the stories are so good it's impossible to pick a favorite or two. They are all unique. There is something for everyone to enjoy. I look forward to reading more from these authors.
  
  Some of the settings are in Forests, Towns, and Seas.
• 
  Catty

  Thanks to the editor for providing me with a copy of this book for an honest review.
  
  This collection was a mixed bag for me, though a very good one overall, and the focus on girls’ coming of age was clear in just about every story. I loved the differing voices and ways of describing the experiences of women and girls, and I appreciated the queer representation in both the authors and characters. I feel that the latter aspect was best realised in the initial story, Nikoline Kaiser’s “Hannah”; the most complete and engrossing of the collection for mine.
  
  I also enjoyed the truly unique “First Blood” (Cat Voleur) and its empowering narrative of choosing one’s destiny, and RB Kelly’s “Mister Wolf”, even though its link to the theme was to me, tenuous at best. There were plenty of stories that shocked too - Emma E. Murray’s “The End of Limerence”, and Tasha Reynolds’ “Happily Ever After” were great example of this and were even more disturbing because they are (unfortunately) very grounded in the reality. Other standouts included Caitlan Marceau’s “Memory in Motion” - a well-written, Koja-esque look into the lengths some will go to achieve ‘perfection’, and the editor’s own story “We Should Have Turned Back” which kept reader suspense high and made you care about the characters and their plight.
  
  Overall, this collection is definitely worth a look, particularly for the unique subject matter, and is a fine example of some of the newer and more modern voices in horror that will only become better known as a result of such quality collections.
  
  Highly recommended – 4 stars.
• 
  Stephanie Manning

  Thank you to the editor for providing a review copy.
  Whenever I see Ruth Anna Evans' name on an anthology, I know it's going to be diverse and full of quality work. Dark Blooms is no exception, and it starts off with a bang with the story Hannah, which made me cry. I loved this anthology. 4.5 stars, rounded up
  
  Hannah by Nikoline Kaiser ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  The Molt by Shannon Riley ⭐⭐⭐.5
  Jezebels by Valerie Hunter ⭐⭐⭐.5
  First Blood by Cat Voleur ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  Mister Wolf by RB Kelly ⭐⭐⭐
  Sit Up With Your Dead by Anj Baker ⭐⭐⭐
  The End of Limerence by Emma E. Murray ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  The Radiant Children by Lauren Carter ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  We Should Have Turned Back by Ruth Anna Evans ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
  Memory in Motion by Caitlin Marceau ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  Happily Ever After by Tasha Reynolds ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
  The Revenant by Elise Forier Edie ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  Spiderella by Chelsea Pumpkins ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  Rotpearl by Erin Brown ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  The Horror at Foxglove Farm by Cassandra Daucus ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  Sea Glass by Chloe Spencer ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
  
• 
  Dawn Colclasure

  Great collection of COA stories!
  
  There are so many amazing stories in this book! I really enjoyed reading it! From the creepy to the bizarre, Dark Blooms contains coming-of-age stories that will leave readers hungry for more. I was ecstatic to come across stories from some of my favorite writers, and it was great to learn about other writers whose work I read for the first time! If you thought puberty was terrifying, wait til you read just how chilling and horrific it can be for some characters in these stories. It is also the horrifying experiences that we have in life that can make us grow up very fast! The beautiful thing about the collection of stories in this book is that they capture both of those aspects.
• 
  Svea Neitzke

  Growing up and becoming a woman can be scary. Each author uses horror to point out the issues girls and women go through everyday. All of the stories will horrify and tug at your heart. This anthology is edited by Ruth Anna Evans, and she also has a terrifying story about the experiences of mother/sisterhood that is set during a snowstorm. This collection will be available starting tomorrow.
• 
  Tasha Reynolds

  I'd normally say I'm biased, because I'm in this collection, but instead I'm just awed that I'm between front and back covers with such AMAZING, talented women. There's so much heartbreak and rage contained in this anthology, and their abilities to capture what it's like to grow up are incredible.
• 
  Lauren Carter

  OUT NOW!
  
  This includes my story 'The Radiant Children' amongst many other amazing tales, available on the 'zon.
• 
  Bec Hillas

  Easily the best $4 I've ever spent. Almost every story felt better than the last and I had to stop reading after every one because they all made me feel too much.