| Title | : | Hope Screams Eternal: An Unsettling Reads Anthology |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 348 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2021 |
The proverbial expression “Hope springs eternal” was coined by English poet and satirist Alexander Pope, meaning people will keep on hoping, no matter the odds. But what if the odds aren’t in your favor? We decided to change the phrase into something a little more unsettling: Hope Screams Eternal.
Spring hearkens thoughts of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection, and regrowth. What happens when creative minds nurture a more sinister mindset, awakening twisted and nefarious interpretations of the season of eternal hope?
Authors, poets, and artists from around the globe accepted our challenge to answer that question. Within these pages, they do their best to unsettle you as they explore the dark side of spring. The seeds of doubt they sow will burrow into your subconscious, lying in wait to hatch when you least expect it.
So get cozy, settle into your comfiest seat, and relax (but don't let down your guard!) as we bring your hopes and fears to life.
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Unsettling Reads, LLC. was founded by fiction authors Robin Knabel and H. Dair Brown. Their first podcast, called (wait for it!) Unsettling Reads, was released on April Fool’s Day 2020, so that can only mean good things, right?
Every other Wednesday, Robin and Dair offer their spoiler-free reviews and recommendations on books from the Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Literary, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Suspense, and Thriller genres.
If you can’t get enough (or if podcasts just aren’t your thing), check out the numerous blog posts of books they've enjoyed outside of the podcast. And just to keep things spicy, they throw in the occasional author interview.
If you're contemplating picking up this book, you probably enjoy books that make you check for monsters under the bed (or perhaps even in bed next to you) before you go to sleep. Let Robin and Dair help you decide what to read the next time you're ready to sink down into the “safety” of your blankets and crack open the kind of book that will make you shudder (and maybe even think) a little.
★ Also - they love to interact with their readers, listeners, and fellow authors on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@unsettlingreads). That's where the truly unsettling stuff usually happens. UnsettlingReads.com
Hope Screams Eternal: An Unsettling Reads Anthology Reviews
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I'm a fan of short stories and honestly, I think they are the best form of storytelling. I have fond memories of sitting around a campfire listening to and telling scary stories. I'm always excited to check out short story collections and, while this one was a bit of a mixed bag overall, the variety of stories was interesting and there was a handful that I loved and would recommend picking up the book for. Even if there were some stories I didn't vibe with, I can't help but rate the book based on the stories I enjoyed.
The collection offers three sections thematically touching on the book's titular words: Hope Screams Eternal. The Screams section is the one I enjoyed most, but I loved "Hope Rekindled" and "The Eternal's Hidden Queen" from the other two sections.
Anyone who enjoys short fiction and is a fan of the fantasy, horror, and sci-fi genres should check this collection out. I guarantee you will find a few stories that will stick with you.
For those interested, my favorite stories in no particular order were:
The Flames of Hope by Zenni Abdon
Hope Rekindled by Robin Knabel
Hope From Rana-257 by Joseph Hirsch
Screams from the Hinterland by H. Dair Brown
Screams in Space by Nicholas Knight
The Eternal's Hidden Queen by Eric Knabel -
Short stories take great care. You have less time to pull the reader in. I was pulled in at the title and not disappointed AT ALL with the stories. Characters were real, stories had stakes, and emotions ran high and low.
I am not a fan of any sort of spoilers in a book review, so I will just say - Get it. Read it. Love it. -
Editors Robin Knabel and H. Dair Brown devised a couple of ingenious ways to make their anthology stand out. Firstly, by echoing the title with three themed sections, namely, "Hope", "Screams" and "Eternal". Secondly, by using symbols for each story to denote its genre, including a fairy for fantasy, a spider for horror, and an atom for sci-fi. Brilliant and fun! There are some terrific stories in here, and original artwork too. Highly recommended.
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What a collection of incredible stories! It made it hard to pick just my top 5 for the review! Hopes Rekindled was terrific, and Walter will haunt my dreams forever and then There's the Eternal Mr Tremblay, who was beautifully written and makes you fall for the character. Revenge is all you want in A Murder of Screams and When a Rabbit Screams. You will love fantasy even more. Sci-fi stories like Hope of the Future leave you questioning morality and religion. Hope and Shelves leave you wondering what is going on with the world. Screams from the Gallery is intense and leaves you on the edge of your seat as the apocalypse comes to town. The scream series art is incredible and filled with emotions and very Picasso esk. Screams in Space enforced my notion that testing things in space is a bad idea! The Poetry by Jonathan Reddoch was beautifully done, and the rhythm was on point. The sneaky little bunny inserts made you love the book even more, as well as the creative way of identifying what genre the stories were through mini pictures, which were damn right adorable! It's an incredible anthology and well worth the read.
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Hope Screams Eternal is a collection featuring over two dozen horror, sci-fi, and fantasy short stories, flash fiction, and poems. This anthology was edited and published by the hosts of the Unsettling Reads Podcast: H Dair Brown and Robin Knabel. Be sure to check out Robin’s guest post: Hope Screams Eternal: An Unsettling Reads Anthology on the Collective Tales Publishing blog.
There are tons of tales that you’re sure to find something you really enjoy. I didn’t love every story, but those that I did love, I went back and reread—they were that good. I also love the art in the book. These, sometimes haunting, pictures showcase various stories and poems, and the book as a whole. While made up of three different genres, they all seem to merge and fold nicely with each other.
We start with “Hope Comes to Exhilaration” by Ellen Hall, a horror story and a unique take on the transgender experience, written by a trans author.
My favorite story was hands-down “When the Rabbit Screams” by A.C. Grant. This was hilarious and engaging about a resurrection gone wrong. Definitely worth checking out, and I enjoyed the writing.
Another of my favorites I’ll mention is Jonathan Reddoch’s three poems. “Hope Screams Internal,” “Hope Screams Nocturnal,” and “Hoppy Screams Eternal.” I enjoyed the clever rhyming scheme on these and the great imagery. My favorite was “Hope Screams Internal,” about eternal suffering amidst ceaseless hope.
The final story I’ll mention is “The Cure Eternal,” which begs the age-old question: What would you do if you have your wishes granted? This was very captivating.
Check out my favorite quotes:
“Their skin fused together with a loud guttural crunch like a beast gnawing on human bones.”- “The Eternal Mr. Trembly”
“He worried a ghoul had crept in, for ghouls were always women.“ - “Hope Comes to Exhilaration”
“There are some things worse than being hungry.” - “The Flames of Hope” by Zenni Abdon
“Angels answer not prayers from hell.” - “Hope Screams Internal” by Jonathan Reddoch
“My weakened frame will succumb perforce to its ghastly touch, its sanguine adjuncts, it’s gruesome expressions.“ - “The Cure Eternal” by A. Bratton
Check out this collection; you’ll definitely find something to love.
*I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review -
Thoroughly enjoyed the varied stories and writing styles. Something for everyone. Awesome read!
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For a quite short book in total, I have to say this was an enjoyable to read. Seeing little biographical blurbs about the authors was a nice touch in my opinion. This is definitely worth a read during your vacation or an October evening. 4 Stars.
