| Title | : | Scissor Sisters |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1957537892 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781957537894 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 274 |
| Publication | : | First published January 23, 2024 |
"...the sapphic villain is everything a woman shouldn’t be; predatory, selfish, vain, obsessive, driven, hedonistic, aggressive, morally ambiguous at best and immoral at worst. The sapphic villain directly challenges traditional structures and agents of power and authority. Her sapphistry challenges normative assumptions about sex and sexuality, while her villainy suggests that very few wish to resist her seductions. The sapphic villain is villainous largely because often, she must be. She must be the monster who reveals that the institutions most often charged with destroying evil, are the same ones that created it in the first place.
She does all that and gets the girl (usually)."
Featuring the work of:
Hatteras Mange, Anastasia Dziekan, Ariel Marken Jack, Maerwynn Blackwood, Avra Margariti, Grace R. Reynolds, Evelyn Freeling, Hailey Piper, T.O. King, M.S. Dean, Chloe Spencer, Mae Murray, L.R. Stuart, Alex Luceli Jiménez, Cheyanne Brabo, Luc Diamant, Alyssa Lennander, Anya Leigh Josephs, Lindz McLeod, Caitlin Marceau, Shelly Lavigne, and a bonus tale from Eric Raglin
Scissor Sisters Reviews
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What's better than women kissing each other? (Not much) Women killing 🙂 it's notoriously hard to review anthologies as some stories can be hit or miss but I do enjoy getting to enjoy a smorgasbord of stories, in this case an array of wonderful vengeful lesbian literature, I liked the range of POV in this from villain to victim and thought each story was unique and different to the last, taboo subjects are explored within the themes of dark/horror/erotica/fantasy vibes so if you enjoy those you should definitely pick this one up especially if you're tired of the bury your gays trope
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Thank you to the publisher for a digital ARC!
This was a collection of short stories of sapphic horror. Overall I liked them and definitely enjoyed reading this collection. Of course there were some stories I enjoyed more than others. My favorite thing about the collection was the mix of main characters being villains, victims, and "heroes" (as much as one can be a hero in a horror story). None of them were overly extreme or unnecessarily graphic (in terms of gore. There was lots of sex) . However if you read this collection I do recommend checking out the trigger warnings in the back of the book for each story. These stories were super unique, well written and fun to read! They contain a wide variety of women, settings, and themes. I think there is something for everyone in here, especially if you're tired of the "bury your gays" trope. -
To those who spent their youth amongst the library stacks seeking a mirror.
I received an ARC through NetGalley and my review is voluntary and honest.
Scissor Sisters is an anthology of sapphic horror and villains, and it has a wide range of stories - women turning into monsters for revenge, women killing the women they love for whatever reason, body horror, plant sex, cannibalism, haunted houses... There's a lot. Like in all anthologies, some stories hit better than others, but I found my own favourites. Overall, the stories are well-arranged to have many different styles while also keeping to the main topic of sapphic horror.
The anthology has a list of content warnings for each story at the end, which is useful for people who have some specific triggers, since there is certainly A Lot in these stories.
Some shout-outs:
- You Oughta Be In Pictures by Anastasia Dziekan, where a woman discovers she can't die when her lover tries to kill her for a snuff movie.
- Pilgrim of Worlds by M.S.Dean - About a woman who guards the crossroads between worlds, and waits for many different versions of her lover to find her way there again and again.
- Gingerbread Red by Chloe Spencer - Gretel grows up and tracks down her brother's killer.
- Conversations with Roe by Alex Luceli Jiménez - A woman kills her lover, but she refuses to leave even when dead.
- The Turner House Heritage Tour by Caitlin Marceau - My only note for this story was "DAMN. RUTHLESS."
The collection ends with a bonus story that doesn't strictly fit the others, and it's the only story about queer men instead of queer women. This in itself wouldn't be a problem, but honestly I found it a bit baffling, so maybe not the best note to end on. Then again, it's all subjective and maybe other people will like that story more. -
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to review!!
3.5 stars! Rounded up
Ooooo I am so happy I went for this. The first few stories I LOVED! Out of all of them I'd have to say is You Oughta Be In Pictures by Anastasia Dziekan! out of 5 stars per story I gave that one a 5 I would read a longer story based on that
And my second was actually the first story Gladys Glows at Night by Hatteras Mange.
All the other stories I really liked but these two really stuck out for me. You have everything thrown in here along with some characters/stories you'll know which did take me by surprise and was really intrigued what was done with them.
My interest in each story shortly after a good few. Around 45%??? Mark i started to not be so deep within the stories anymore as I was at the start but genuinely enjoyed this collection and happy to find new authors! -
Some stories were OK, some were... not.
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This is an anthology that tackles a very wide range of topics through a broad range voices and stories: Dark histories, of radium and watch-making, injustice, vengeance, haunting, pain and suffering for art, the darkness behind those who are seemingly put-together, pristine, but calculating and clinical. What happens when the dead is brought back to life.
There are stories that subvert expectations and turn tropes upside down, that depict physical manifestation of trauma as a person, toxic relationships, love as consumption. There are tales that criticize traditional societal expectations of women, breaking down concept of the nuclear family as ideal and standard, emphasizing the violence of men, the sacrifice of mothers for the sustenance of their children.
A few of the stories center around art and the act of creating art as a risk in and of itself, of art and obsession. These tales reimagine fairy tales mixed with bleak realities, undressed, explore what it means to be broken, the meaning of sin and lust—the way it consumes, liberates, is weaponized, becomes salvation; the allure and violence of desire.
Overall, SCISSOR SISTERS is beautiful, dark, erotic, and chilling.
Favourites:
— "Gladys Glows at Night" by Hatteras Mange
— "You Oughta be in Pictures" by Anastasia Dziekan
— "Modern Art Currse, Mixed Media" by Hailey Piper
— "Buckskin for Linen" by Mae Murray
— "The Turner House Heritage Tour" by Caitlin Marceau -
5/5 Horror that will have you breathing hard from both fear and pleasure.
Anthologies are notoriously hard to review because some stories hit harder than others, but not here. Every single story does something to push, subvert or explore the genre of horror and Sapphic intimacy. What I especially love about the short story format of horror, is the authors quickly and skillfully build a world, create an emotional (and usually explicitly sexual) connection between characters, edging us with fear and then leaving us at the climax with no aftercare.
I love that all of our main characters are women and that every story is utterly unlike the last one. Our women are vengeful spirits, snuff film-makers, cannibals, murderers, evil scientists and monsters; but they're also juxtaposed by being deeply loving (to the point of obsession), incredibly intelligent and fully aware and in control of their actions.
Here are a few of my favourite stories and quotes:
"I only dream in shades of red. It looks like abstract art. Pollocks and Rothkos. Or like red chrysanthemums blooming, spreading their petals wide. I think it's the memory of the contents of the inside of my skull splattering against my eyelids." - You Oughta Be in Pictures by Anastasia Dziekan
"She couldn't decide on the more intriguing fantasy: how the woman would look roasting over a spit of rolling in the sheets in her bed." - Gingerbread Red by Chloe Spencer
"No, based on her cry of pleasure, she quite enjoyed the pierce of [character name]'s fangs in her throat and her climax was untampered by the stead flow of her blood." Oubliette by L.R Stuart
The story that stayed with my long after I finished the book was Buckskin for Linen by Mae Murray, about residential schools and the indigenous children taken from their homes and forced to attend. Mae Murray showcases indigenous revenge, joy and heritage on the backdrop of the horror of the residential school system. I loved it.
This book is best read in a house with feet, while skeletons with glowing eyes watch you approach the steps to the front door with your gift, bleeding through the sheet it's wrapped in as it gently moves in your hand. -
3.5 rounded up to 4/5 stars.
thanks to netgalley and brigids gate press for the arc.
an anthology about sapphic villains (plus one bonus story about mlm). should be right up my alley, and for the most part, it is. some stories are better than others: “you oughta be in pictures”, “modern art, cursed media”, “conversations with roe”, and “ungrateful dead things” were the standouts for me, but almost every story had something going on for it.
i enjoyed all the different aspects of every woman in this collection. it was told from the pov of villains, victims and everything in between. i love the range of women in these stories. also i’m giving a thumbs up for the inclusion of some of the only smut i’ve been able to read without visibly cringing.
unfortunately, i don’t think i’m meant for short stories, which is no one’s fault but my own. i had a hard time keeping up with some of the stories, due to the lack of world building, so sometimes, i would be left be confused. if anyone wants to pick this up and already enjoys short stories, i think you’ll love this collection a lot!
i recommend reading the list of trigger warnings that are in the back of the book first as well. some pretty dark content lies within and i’m very happy that the editors took the time out to list every trigger warning to look out for. -
My 3 star rating is because of personal preferences. I am NOT a dark fantasy person and the purple/romantic prose that it is usually associated with the genre does not appeal to me. And I'd say about a 1/3rd of this collection was Dark Fantasy. There's also a lot of erotica, cannibalism, and murder. Sometimes all three combined. The lagniappe at the end by Eric Raglin was a fun story but had basically nothing to do with the overall theme, and I think that space could've been used for another story by BIPOC or a woman-identifying author.
That said, I enjoyed the more contemporary stories and the Gothic.
My favorites:
You Oughta Be In Pictures by Anastasia Dziekan
Conversations with Roe by Alex Luceli Jiménez
The Turner House Heritage Tour by Caitlin Marceau -
This book was devastating, beautiful, and horrific wrapped up in a pretty little bow.
Every single story had its own horrifying moments, and even its own breath taking moments.
I can’t exactly pick a favorite because I loved each and every single one in their own way. I loved how every story seemed to have a beautiful flow, but they were all so different and unique.
I think after reading Merciless Waters months ago and now Scissor Sisters, I’ve found a new love for sapphic horror.
Many of these stories sent chills down my spine, some gave me goosebumps, quite a few had some gore in them (which I loved), and some left knots in my stomach.
I highly recommend this anthology, especially to anyone who loves beautifully horrific but often devastating sapphic love stories.
Thank you to #netgalley & #brigidsgatepress for allowing me to read and review this book! (Sorry it’s late 😭) -
Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review. This delightfully curated anthology tickled my sapphic horror fancy like few have before. Each story was strong and powerful. What I like about this anthology is the way it played with the definitions of horror. Some stories were scary while some were haunting. I also enjoyed the way many of the stories used eroticism to enhance the themes and atmosphere of the stories. Anthologies are not typically my favourite sort of book to read and I tend to struggle through them, but this was definitely worth the effort. Particular favourites were Gladys Glows At Night by Hatteras Mange, You Oughta Be In Pictures by Anastasia Dziekan (@stasiadz), Conversations With Roe by Alex Luceli Jiménez, Modern Art Curse, Mixed Media by Hailey Piper, and Family Planning by Luc Diamant. I also thought the Lagniappe at the end was a sweet treat I didn't know I needed. Congratulations to Rae and April on a fantastic anthology that hits all the right marks!
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ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.
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Musings:
Since these are all short stories I will be rating each one individually.
Gladys Glows At Night by Hatteras Mange
4/5 this was a really cool concept. It talks about the women who worked with radium and had lost their lives due to sickness. I loved the revenge not just for the love of one woman but for the sake of all women.
You Outta Be In Pictures by Anastasia Dziekan
5/5 This story was so awesome. It’s absolutely horrific. It’s about a topic that makes me personally super uncomfortable, but it explores it in a way that’s fascinating. It’s an early favorite for sure.
The Lady of the House on Legs by Ariel Marken Jack
4/5 This story made me feel sad. Even the horror of it just felt like a surrender to a lesser of two evils. It’s painful to read. I feel the truth in it for so many women who are forced to not be able to love who they love. This one is heart wrenching in multiple senses.
To Wilt A Flower by Maerwynn Blackwood
5/5 This was such a sensually beautiful story. I loved the floral descriptions and especially the macabre ending. It was enchanting in the way that magic is stumbled upon and it was so so sexy in a dark way.
Teratoma, Cacodaemon, Erinya by Avra Margariti
5/5 This is a very unique work of body horror. I have become more and more fascinated by body horror as I have gotten older. This piece was fascinating. A manifestation of vengeance growing painfully and grotesquely from the body. I found this story to be so cool.
Torbalan’s Gift by Grace R. Reynolds
5/5 I loved the idea of this story. To give your body up to become something other then yourself because life will not allow you to have that as society stands. It was beautiful. It was beautiful that it was birthed from an orgasmic release. That revenge and justice was brought in the end. I am enamored with this story.
Her Tongue, A Slippery Slope by Evelyn Freeling
3.5/5 I don’t know really what to think or feel with this one. It’s a horrible scenario, but I’m not really sure what I am supposed to make of it. It’s damnation, but in a true sense. I think this is something I will come back to and think on some more.
Modern Art Curse, Mixed Media by Hailey Piper
4/5 Another piece that I feel needs a lot more introspection. I loved how it ends and yet I still feel like I need to think about it to really understand what it leaves me feeling. The art of death. This work was fascinating.
The Flesh Grows Fonder by T.O. King
5/5 This was one that wasn’t horrific it was euphoric. It felt like an acceptance of one’s wantings and a willingness to submit to one’s truest desire. I found it to be a beautifully strange liberation.
Pilgrim of Worlds by M.S. Dean
4/5 this story felt like a moment that is the beginning and the end of many other moments before it. It’s a defining time where someone chooses a new path they’ve never taken and they are forever changed. Everything is different. It made me want to imagine what new things she would discover in the after.
Gingerbread Red by Chole Spencer
5/5 A very unusual and sexy twist on the old Hansel & Gretel tale. One where the witch is seen as a woman of power and where instead of something to be warned against she becomes someone to crave. It’s really such a cool way to flip the story on its head. Still horrific and terrible, but it celebrates that women can be devilish too.
Buckskin for Linen by Mae Murray
5/5 women, especially brown-skinned women, have been taken advantage of for ages. This story is a reminder of the way brown women have been stripped of their culture and the very nature of who they are and are buried for it. It’s cruel and yet there was a beauty of the unity of their death. Like eventually someone would discover and avenge them. That there’s a future where they could be who they really are and live fully.
Oubliette by L. R. Stuart
4/5 This story was romantic in a monstrous way. It was falling in love and destroying it with your own hands. It was a monster and the woman who loves her. Enabling horror because of love.
Conversations With Roe by Alex Luceli Jiménez
4/5 what happens when a woman who usually kills for fun commits a crime of passion? This is the aftermath. The cold reality of the injustice she inflicted on one person who loved her. It’s a sad story, but also it shows how a killer will justify their actions even against the ones they love most.
Our Lady of Devouring Violence by Cheyanne Brabo
5/5 I loved this story. A violent love where it’s two against the world. Something about that kind of love is pure freedom. The love in this story is a fiery revenge.
Family Planning by Luc Diamant
5/5 This is one of the most unsettling of the stories to me. One of the things that breaks my heart the most is manipulation. Even if technically the outcome is “good” it’s still a violation. Violating your partner to convince them to let you bring home a child is a nightmare.
Ungrateful Dead Things by Alyssa Lennander
5/5 I loved this twist on Frankenstein. It’s morbid and heartbreaking and corrupt. I wish I could read a whole book in this version and see what would happen if certain things happened after the fact. It’s such a fascinating concept.
Straight Flush by Anya Leigh Josephs
5/5 this is one of the most enchanting stories I’ve ever read. It was like watching a movie and seeing this powerful woman be fair in her offering, but in the end as humans we all fail her. The betting with the devil was just so cool. I loved this story so much.
A Mirror Has Two Faces by Lindz McLead
3/5 this is one of the only stories in here that I felt just ok about. It’s good, but it didn’t blow me away. I think it’s more that it’s about manipulation but in a way that I see more often in regal life and I just don’t really like it. There wasn’t much shock or anything super compelling in this particular story for me. It’s very mild thriller I’d say.
The Turner House Heritage Store by Caitlin Marceau
5/5 This story was so unique and fascinating. Two wives dealing with an old family house that feeds on you as you walk through it and ages you. It was such a fascinating concept to read about. I loved it!
Enamored by Shelley Lavigne
5/5 I love these original stories in this collection. This one was soul sucking. It was beautiful and deadly in a way that the woman wanted it to be. The painting and the idea of making a perfect statue of a woman’s body was both beautiful and horrifying. This is another one of my favorites in this collection.
The Call of The Sea by Eric Raglin
5/5 All the body horror stories in this collection are so good. It was cool that this was the extra story and it was gay instead of lesbian. Yet it still felt like it fit the collection as a whole. It was terrifying and I thought it was a fantastic story.
All in all:
This is a sexy and horrifying collection of lesbian short stories. I loved how much each story made me think and left me with something new to ponder in the end. I highly recommend it! So many beautiful works of art created by so many incredibly talented women. -
"The last few years have seen not only a larger resurgence in Horror writ large, but a resurgence that is uniquely queer, inclusive, and revolutionary. The paradigm shifted from conservative horrors to the horrors of the marginalized." -- Paula D. Ashe
All I knew about this anthology going in is that it promised sapphic villains, which was plenty good enough to grab my interest. However, it was so much more than that. Not only did it deliver vengeful rage, but also a gentle caress against the face of evil. Some of the stories within this collection are sumptuous morsels that satiate your appetite for both true love and lust and others for morbid sadism.
There are 21 short stories in all (22 if you include the Achillean lagniappe) 13 of which I absolutely loved and devoured enthusiastically. I enjoyed all of them, but those 13 piqued my interest enough to want to seek out other works by their respective authors. This anthology consists of a variety of horror to introduce the reader to the multi-faceted macabre world of sapphic violence - vengeful spirits, mysterious entities, eco-horror, Victorian gothic horror, vampires, and more. The duality of human nature is explored in this anthology with nearly every story having a being hellbent on utter decimation of society's rules and the reader's own perception of evil. You will sometimes find yourself wondering who the real villainess is.
There are 8 spicy stories out of 21, and maybe a few with a hint of spice, but nothing explicit. These are as follows, in case spice isn't quite your cup of tea (although honestly, in this collection, it works phenomenally):
- To Wilt a Flower
- Torbalan's Gift
- Her Tongue, a Slippery Slope
- The Flesh Grows Fonder
- Gingerbread Red
- Buckskin for Linen
- Enamored
- The Call of the Sea (achillean, not sapphic)
Some of my favorites from this collection:
🌟 Gladys Glows at Night 🌟
"He's calling out to every angel in heaven, but only I hear him."
🎬 You Oughta Be in Pictures 🎬
"You want me dead. You want me really for real dead. That's what this is. That's what you're trying to do to me. And I love you, so I'm going to let you."
🙏 Teratoma, Cacodaemon, Erinya 🙏
"The news was correct about one thing. The demon once-perched on her shoulder was indeed a guilt-consuming being. Only, it was not Anastasia's shame the Erinya was created to devour, but the shame of the nation."
📿 Her Tongue, a Slippery Slope 📿
"If Hell has nine circles, her fingers are the first...Her oil slick eyes are the second...the third circle, her palm...her breasts...the fourth and fifth respectively...the sixth...her nose breathing me in deep...the seventh circle belongs to her velveteen lips...the eighth her sharp teeth nipping at my ear. But her tongue, my God, her tongue is hell's center."
⚡ Buckskin for Linen ⚡
"The sun remained hidden at our backs and the rain had not let up since we became one, our howls of ecstasy and laughter drawing thunder and spears of lightning, the wind of our gasping breath bearing down on St. Joan of Arc so that she creaked and moaned, constantly bending shape."
🩸 Oubliette 🩸
"I used to think you loved me more than anything else in the world."
"I do, though I'm not the best at showing it."
"Maybe that's the problem. None of this would have happened if you had loved me a little less."
💭 Conversations with Roe 💭
"My head is loud with the feeling of missing you. I can't say I expected that missing you would be so loud, or that I would miss you at all. I've never killed anyone and missed them."
💀 Ungrateful Dead Things 💀
"With a couple hard yanks, the coffin lid pops. She lifts the lid. Inside lays a young woman, dressed in a white satin gown, her pale face resting in a small, permanent smile. Victoria caresses her cold cheek with a gentle finger. 'Hello, my love,' she whispers."
🏠 The Turner House Heritage Tour 🏠
"Everything needs to eat, Claire. Even the house. But not you. It should never be you. And it won't be, as long as you bring it what it needs." -
Dive into the wicked world of "Scissor Sisters," where sapphic villains take the stage in 21 tantalizing tales curated by April Yates and Rae Knowles. This anthology promises stories of horror, lesbians, and erotica – a perfect potion for those who like their stories as twisted as Maleficent's horns. Let's unravel this anthology of villainous delights!
Pros:
🌟 Five stars for a scintillating anthology that's like a wicked cauldron brewing tales of sapphic intrigue. It's practically a villainous tea party!
😈 Love the sapphic, horror, dark, and erotica themes – it's a feast for those with a taste for the macabre. Like a dark chocolate truffle, each story is deliciously sinful.
📚 I love the inclusion of Lagniappe – it's like getting an extra bite of a sinister cupcake in this literary dessert. A delightful bonus to an already bewitching collection.
🔍 Some of my favorite stories in the anthology are: "You Oughta Be in Pictures" by Anastasia Dziekan, "Modern Art Cursed, Mixed Media" by Hailey Piper, "Conversations with Roe" by Alex Luceli Jiménez, and "Ungrateful Dead Things" by Alyssa Lennander. They're the stars of this villainous cabaret.
In conclusion, "Scissor Sisters" is a wickedly enchanting anthology that stitches together the diverse talents of sapphic storytelling. Whether you're into horror, lesbians, or a touch of erotica, this collection has it all – like a potion crafted by a coven of literary sorceresses. A standing ovation for these wordsmiths! 👏📚
Disclaimer: A heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for this ARC. All opinions are as uniquely twisted as a Maleficent plot twist. 🖤📖 -
This anthology was sadistic prowess… A collection of stories ranging from absolute nightmare material, to what-ifs, to almost “I’m right there with ya, get em!”. I’ve never seen a collection of such dark material that felt so superior and proud of its almost haunting skill with a quill. I’m really glad to have been given an ARC in exchange for review. At times my stomach would drop from the tales and at others I wanted to celebrate its revelry of the female capabilities. The complete mishmash of varied storylines left me completely spellbound at where each tale would take me!
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Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a unique reading experience. I can say each story had a life and voice of it's own and my favorite part of reading Scissor Sisters was how each author told their story. There is not one tale that resembles another, even if they all share sapphic villains as main characters. Quite refreshing to see so many original and passionate works.
My favorites were "Teroma, Cacodaemon, Erinya", by Avra Margariti and "Oubliette", by L. R. Stuart. -
Thank you Netgalley for the arc of this book!
Wow wow wow!!! I really enjoyed most of these stories. The different genres kept me hooked as well as the creepiness. Amazing. I’ll definitely be looking forward to more from these authors. -
** I received an ARC for an honest review **
Scissor Sisters is a sapphic anthology edited by Rae Knowles and April Yates.
Review
Scissor Sisters was a particularly diverse dark fiction and horror anthology. Although united by a common theme of sapphic horror vengeful or defiant lovers, there was a good selection of interpretations in the stories.
Those stories that really stood out among this anthology were “Gladys Glows at Night” by Hatteras Mange, “Modern Art Curse, Mixed Media” by Hailey Piper, “Conversations with Roe” by Alex Luceli Jimenez”, “You Oughta Be in Pictures” by Anastasia Dziekan, “Our Lady of Devouring Violence” by Cheyanne Brabo and “This Flesh Grows Fonder” by T.O. King.
Among this anthology are lovers defiant of societal norms, scorned and angry, vengeful or embracing a darkness. The range of settings spans historical Victorian eras, scandalous 1920s, modern eras and realms in between realities. A strongly written anthology that holds the reflection of sapphic horror to the audience in an unflinching and deeply honest portal. Although not all stories carried the same weight and impact, the essence of the theme was represented throughout.
Conclusion
A recommend read for fans of dark fiction, paranormal romance, body horror and queer horror. A sapphic horror anthology well worth reading and a great new addition to queer fiction and the horror and dark fiction genres.
** This is my personal opinion and does not reflect any judging decisions ** -
A perfect nasty little anthology focused on sapphic villains, all of them well-written and dark as can be. No one was afraid to pull any punches while setting up their stories for this book for sure.
Short story collections are always a gamble I love taking, and I found more than one author to keep an eye after reading their work here. Personal favorites from this anthology: Buckskin for Linen, Conversations with Roe, and The Turner House Heritage Tour. -
Overall I find it hard to rate anthologies as my rating will never be reflective of all the stories. Scissor sisters ranged from DNF to 3.5* with an overwhelming amount of the stories being below 2.5*. I went into this book expecting women as villains instead I got mediocre avengers, victims, and for some reason body horror? Honestly this book would’ve served me better as a DNF, alas, here we are, left with nothing but disappointment.
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thanks to netgalley for a free arc of this title in exchange for an honest review. usually i can devour an anthology in a matter of days, but this one took forever for me to get through due to the sheer verbosity. going into this, i was expecting far more villainous behavior, evildoers and the like, but rather it was mostly a slew of morally grey tales that were mostly written okay, but read so inaccessible. a lot of this was far too intertextual for me to enjoy as a cohesive collection. best tales in this collection were “modern art curse, mixed media” and “conversations with roe.”
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I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you like sapphic stories, horror, and monstrous women, this book is for you!
To read my full review, you can find it here:
https://pastellegeek.wordpress.com/20... -
I received an ARC of this title from Netgalley. These are my honest thoughts.
Scissor Sisters is a horror anthology about villainous lesbians. I found it under the horror category on Netgalley, and that's the genre I see it listed as elsewhere.
I love anthologies. Depending on if you're a half full or half empty person, they either provide you with new opportunities to fall in love regularly or they provide you with stories that sometimes might not be to your tastes, or perhaps the good stories end too soon.
To that, I say, "Yes."
Scissor Sisters is full of really good stories, and if you're a fan of the premise, there will be stories that please you. There are also stories, however, that needed work, or that fall apart if you think too hard. And there are stories that really needed to be expanded to work. There was only one story that made me want to gouge my eyes out.
While it's subjective, I'd also label some of the stories as more fantasy than horror. I like fantasy, I just like to choose when I want to read something.
The anthology starts out very strong for me. Gladys Glows at Night, by Hatteras Mange was the nearly perfect entry in. If you've read Radium Girls (non-fiction) and thought that there still needed to be more justice, lots more justice, this is a satisfying story.
You Oughta Be in Pictures, by Anastasia Dziekan was also a strong story to have in the beginning. Gory, and lovely, and deep, and tragic. It left me sad and uncomfortable, and so it should.
Teratoma, Cacodaemon, Erinya, by Avra Margariti was about our inner furies. And it was kinda gross. And touching. Torbalan's Gift, by Grace R. Reynolds was about freedom and anger.
Buckskin for Linen, by Mae Murray was haunting, and while I didn't mean the pun, it's appropriate. It's a tale reminding us of the horrors -- ugh, there I do again -- of residential schools and denying people their families, culture, and heritage. Like the aforementioned Gladys Glows at Night, it's satisfying to read about girls and women meting out justice. And then of course sadness that this justice hasn't been attained in the real world. That the stories are also sapphic makes them all the more powerful.
Some of the stories channel fairy tales like Hansel and Gretel, or classic horror like Frankenstein, or just plain classics like Great Expectations, with -- for me -- mixed results.
I want to give a mention to the "odd man out." According to the note at the back, the pub wants to give the reader a little something more -- lagniappe -- at the end of their books, so they added a queer (but not sapphic) story called The Call of the Sea, by Eric Raglin, which was delightful.
There's a list of content warnings in the back of the book, which I appreciate. With so many stories the list of CWs will be extensive. I also found them validating because one story is listed as having pseudo-incest and when I read this story, and that bothered me, I didn't know how I'd deal with it in a review. Was I reading too much into it? Would people TELL me I was reading too much into it? No, it's listed right there.
While I loved the stories I mentioned -- for the most part -- and enjoyed others like Enamored (Shelley Lavigne ) and Oubliette (L.R. Stuart) there were a few stories I felt were misplaced in a horror anthology (subjective, I know.) Or that needed to be novella length, like a story that had an amazing beginning and ending, but there was nothing in the middle, so it all fell flat. And there was one of two that felt more vibes than stories, and as if the author couldn't really say what was going on either. One was just spot on and amazing until an ending that got it's shock value from directly contradicting itself.
I do recommend Scissor Sisters, and I think I found some new authors, which I think anthologies are great at doing, but I really felt those exceptions to the quality. -
Thank you to BookSirens for this ARC. It was very up and down for me - the horror ranged from almost non-existent to the kind of story I would never choose to consume, and honestly so did the nature of the sapphic storylines. There were some real gems in here, even if I didn't love all of it.
Gladys Glows at Night: A solid start! Just a touch of the sapphic, but it was sweet, and the ending was satisfying. 3.5/5
You Oughta Be in Pictures: I found this story incredibly disturbing (which I believe the author probably intended), and I can't say I liked it much - not my kind of relationship dynamic. 1.5/5
The Lady of the House on Legs: I really don't think I have words for this. It was... odd, uncomfortable, sad. Not for me. 1/5
To Wilt a Flower: I frankly don't have a clue what was happening in this story at all. 1/5
Teratoma, Cacodaemon, Erinya: Back to something I enjoyed. This story was still unnervingly weird, but I felt it was a little more pleasing than its predecessors. 3/5
Torbalan's Gift: I found the sex scene in this rather misplaced, but I liked the general storyline. 3/5
Her Tongue, A Slippery Slope: i am once again baffled by what is meant to have happened in the story. I thought I was following it, and then... I really wasn't. 2/5
Modern Art Curse, Mixed Media: I really liked this until the end, at which point I was less sure. It was kind of fun, though, which counts for something! 3.5/5
The Flesh Grows Fonder: Sometimes when I read anthologies, I feel like the stories are fanfic-esque PWP with no real aim. This was one of those stories. It was fairly well-written but seemed to be nothing?! 2/5
Pilgrim of Worlds: This was fine, nothing more. I don't think it was really horror, nor did it really dwell on the sapphic, so it felt a little out of place. 2/5
Gingerbread Red: I was not expecting this! It was a bit hurried and lacked some rationale, but it was enjoyable. 3.5/5
Buckskin for Linen: This was poetic, and I quite liked it. It was nicely written. 4/5
Oubliette: This was an unexpected tragedy. I didn't pick up clues and thought I was just missing something (which I guess I was!), so the ending was a surprise. 3.5/5
Conversations with Roe: This was another weird little thing that I'm not really sure I liked. The relationship seemed to be so manipulative. I liked the way it was written, though. 3/5
Our Lady of Devouring Violence: Oooooh! I loved this story! It was a simple story with a creepy concept, and I loved the narrator's voice. 5/5
Family Planning: Yikes! Short and sinister. I love the showing-not-telling that this author does. Nice one. 4.5/5
Ungrateful Dead Things: I love the book this is inspired by, and I really enjoyed this version too. Simple, snappy, satisfying. 4.5/5
Straight Flush: I enjoyed the premise of this story, but I felt that the ending was completely rushed and let it down. 3/5
A Mirror Has Two Faces: This one was very quick and I found it rather too short to be fully enjoyable. The thrill of the chase, as it were, was cut far too short. 2/5
The Turner House Heritage Tour: Whoa. Here is one heck of a villain. I was shocked by the ending! Nice one. 4.5/5
Enamored: This was an interesting wee story, though I'm a little baffled by what is meant by the "illness had likely never been hers"... 3/5
The Call of the Sea: This was rather a WTF moment! Very odd. 2/5 -
When the book started with Gladys Glows At Night, I thought as the reader I was in for a great treat with 20 more stories to go although some of those stories in between that one in the next really great one range between OK and I wish to stop reading this please. S I do love reading stories from the LGBTQ community but I think I like the stories that are like here’s my story and by the way I’m a lesbian as a poster hey I’m a lesbian now read my story and I feel like some of these short stories had the latter mentality woven throughout the dialogue. Short story anthologys and collections are some of my favorite books and I have read some really good ones and I knew going in with the title being scissor Sisters that it wasn’t being presented like isn’t this great SadFic horror but isn’t this great lesbian SadFic Horror and throughout the story they were victims killers and I think I like the first one better because to me Gladys was getting revenge and while you heard about her taking down the culprit she also weaved in the story of why he needed to be taken out due to the fact you give a rating based on whether you liked it or not I would say I liked it more than I disliked it and I loved the story already mention Gladys glows at night but some honorable mentions are The Flesh Grows Fonder and the other is called Ginger Red but while looking at the stories I remembered I also like the one by T.O. King so there’s a lot to like about this but there’s 21 stories and I can only say whether I like them or not because people like different things and for the most part I did like it. This review is getting way too long I gave it four stars and I don’t think anyone would be disappointed after buying the book. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review I want to thank Book Sirens and the author for my free arc copy
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I've had a long personal and academic interest in the cultural connections between our concepts of femininity and the monstrous, so this was right up my alley. I think one of the things I appreciated most about this collection was the wide span of time periods, genres, and facets of monstrosity that the stories provided. From retelling Dickens and Hansel and Gretel to the evils both manmade and hellbent that lie within the walls of a convent, to the play of life and death in the world of modern art and film, to a "Children of Men" style future, these sapphic stories do a lot within very few pages.
I was engrossed while reading each story, and many of them tapped into the deep well of frustration and pain that lies in the heart of women, especially queer women like myself. It's fairly delightful to see "wicked" women winning over patriarchal forces, to become free and unburdened by giving in to monstrosity.
I also greatly appreciated that the book has a section at the end for content warnings. Horror anthologies can be a very mixed bag when it comes to the contents of the stories, and it's helpful to know which direction the horror might be coming from, and to provide warnings for any readers that may have specific things they don't want to see in fiction.
It's hard for a story collection to rise above 4 stars for me, just because by virtue of the variety of things they contain you are bound to find some stories you like better and some that don't hit in the same way. But overall this was a very solid collection and I recommend it for anyone who has ever rooted for Ursula and Maleficent over Ariel and Aurora.
(This Digital ARC was provided for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.) -
"Scissor Sisters" intrigued me from the start with its premise of sapphic villains and horror. As someone who enjoys exploring the darker side of storytelling, I was eager to see how love stories could be twisted into terrifying tales, and this anthology did not disappoint.
What sets "Scissor Sisters" apart is its respect for the reader. While I've read many anthologies where the quality of stories varies greatly, each tale in this collection felt meticulously crafted and thought-provoking. From the primal fear stirred by "Gladys Glows" to the time-bending storyline of "Pilgrim of the Worlds," each story offered a unique perspective on horror.
One standout was "Buckshin for Linen," which delved into themes of intergenerational trauma and colonialism, offering a chilling exploration of historical horrors. "Family Planning" also left a lasting impression, with its unnerving portrayal of the lengths characters would go to become parents.
I appreciated the diverse range of topics covered in "Scissor Sisters," from retellings of classic tales like "Gingerbread Red" - Grethel and Hansen - to the modern twist on Frankenstein found in "Ungrateful Dead Things."
It's rare to find a horror anthology where every story resonates, but "Scissor Sisters" managed to maintain a consistently high level of story crafting quality throughout.
Overall, "Scissor Sisters" offers subtle and thought-provoking horror that lingers long after the last page is turned. It's a standout anthology that I would highly recommend to fans of horror and sapphic storytelling alike. -
I received a copy of this Audiobook from NetGallery with the approval by Brigids Gate Press. This is my honest review of "Scissor Sisters" by Rae Knowles, April Yates.
I would like to shout from the roof tops in Brooklyn so everyone can hear how much I loved this collection of short stories. After the first story I was eager to read the next and the next and so forth. I am not part of the LGBTQ+ community, but I am very well versed in dark horror, historical horror, and realistic horror. These stories had it all. It had so many different types of horror and worked off the horror that the LGBTQ+ community knows all too well. The stories and symbolisms, kept me on the edge of my seat. Every aspect of taboo was discussed is various different forms and the result had me walking away haunted by the pain the authors wrote about.
This book is my first 5 star read of 2024 and I don't do that lightly. Though, when you can grip me so tight in a story I miss my subway stop, obviously a high rating is deserved. I feel like I cannot speak more highly about this book of stories. I have told my best friend about it and I want to hand it to every horror fan I know because the horrors in this collection are so tangible it needs to be felt by all.
I am not sure what else to say other then to run to your local bookstore on January 23rd and grab yourself a copy! I know I will!
