Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "h-everend"

HorrorScope: A Zodiac Anthology by H. Everend

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


An anthology of zodiac horror.

'HorrorScope' is a collection of short stories and poetry, thematically linked to signs of the zodiac, featuring work by thirty-six indie horror and dark fantasy authors. Edited by H. Everend, it features a wide array of sub-genres, including forays into mythology, creature features and cryptozoology, slashers and serial killers, curses and witchcraft, and the looming spectre of death. It’s a thrilling concept, to present a horror-esque horoscope through storytelling, split into a section per zodiac sign, each section including three pieces.

My personal favourites were:
‘The Twin Keepers’ by Alex Tilley, a blend of psychological and dystopian suspense;
‘You Die...I Die’ by Jessica Huntley, a twisted game at the hands of a serial killer;
‘The Virgin’ by Brooklynn Dean, a delicious slice of erotica and brutal ritual;
‘The Lovers’ by Sabrina Voerman, a sensuous fantasy of tragedy and morality;
‘The Sting of the Scorpius’ by Kay Hanifen, a tale of mysticism and retribution;
‘The One Who Came to Save Her’ by Nico Bell, a visitation of revenge in a small town;
‘My Little Minnow’ by Nina Tolstoy, a psychological portrait of a serial killer.

Overall, this is a brilliant dossier of work, covering a wide range of sub-genres. As one would expect, it contains its fair share of explicit violence, sexual content, and torture, as well as some less explicit animal cruelty. Boasting diversity across genre, themes, tropes and characters, even the most casual horror fan will likely find something that speaks to them within this volume, much like might be found in a traditional horoscope.

Overseeing proceedings is H. Everend; as well as an author of several horror stories, she is also a committed supporter of the indie author community. Here she has curated a superb anthology that showcases the talent and hard work of its writers, with a mix of established names with work already published and new authors presenting their debuts. As an indie author myself, I understand the challenges and the sheer willpower, commitment and passion it takes to produce the work and send it out into the world, and everyone should feel incredibly proud of their contributions. Indie voices may typically be small, but nevertheless they have something to say.

A delight for both enthusiasts of horror and indie supporters, ‘HorrorScope’ marks a fabulous achievement for all the creators involved. Future volumes have been announced, with 'HorrorScope, Volume II' arriving this summer.



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Grizzly: A Charity Anthology by January Ember Press

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A collection of tales of survival and feminine rage.

'Grizzly: A Charity Anthology' is a limited release horror anthology, edited by S.C. Fisher and H. Everend, featuring twenty short stories, an opening essay, and a piece of poetry, by female and femme-identifying indie authors and survivors of sexual assault - inspired by the Man vs. Bear debate. It is sadly both illuminating and unsurprising that many women choose the bear – we need to do so much better.

Tragic, heartbreaking and often brutal – amongst these narratives are hauntings, curses, psychological horror, slashers, revenge thrillers, body horror, and even a touch of satire. Unflinching, yet always empathetic, these hard-hitting tales explore sexual, physical and psychological violence and abuse; not only stranger rape, but predominantly attacks by those whom victims know, love and trust - family members, authority figures, romantic/sexual partners, friends, and colleagues.

Screaming from the heart of each story is the trauma - exploring the turmoil and confusion brought on by feelings of dissociation and shame, conflicting feelings that may be felt towards attackers, and the lifelong struggle to not simply be a victim but a survivor. Horror provides a lens through which we can view the darkest aspects of our society - sometimes that will be unsettling, and so it should be.

Within this incredibly strong selection of stories, my personal favourites were:
"The Cannock Chase" by S.C. Fisher, for its resonating message of love being the light that conquers fear;
"Condemned" by. M. Edusa, for its haunting atmosphere as ghosts of the past are exorcised;
"The Dead Man" by Bethany Russo, for its dizzying psychological excavation;
"Jane" by Amber Hathaway, for its slasher qualities and satisfying twist;
"Song of the Rusalka" by Kay Hanifen, for its folkloric and karmic haunting narrative.

Available between 31st July and 10th September 2024, the anthology was released to support charity Take Back the Night. Since the 1970s, the organisation has been working to raise awareness of and end sexual and relationship violence through global events and initiatives. With staggering statistics that 1 in 3 women experience sexual violence, 2 in 3 transgender people, and 1 in 6 men, their mission is crucial and this collection helps contribute towards their vital work.

A fabulous selection of stories, 'Grizzly: A Charity Anthology' proves that, together, we can help shatter the silence.



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