The LGBTQ+ community is a wondrous spectrum in which gender identities and sexual orientations, or lack thereof, are not only accepted but celebrated. It is in this spirit that the diverse authors of We’re Still An Anthology of LGBTQ+ Horror composed thirteen thought-provoking, emotion-inspiring, and highly entertaining tales. This book follows last year’s successful We’re Here anthology, which raised an agreeable sum for the Trevor Project. And we hope to do the same this year. So, sit back, relax, enjoy some dark, disturbing, and scary stories, and know that you’ve made a difference.
CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS: Rowland Bercy Jr. Ruth Anna Evans James G. Carlson Cat Voleur David-Jack Fletcher Michael R. Collins Chloe Spencer Chisto Healy Angel Van Atta Jason Nickey Cyan LeBlanc Matthew J. Gleason Royal Poff
Various is the correct author for any book with multiple unknown authors, and is acceptable for books with multiple known authors, especially if not all are known or the list is very long (over 50).
If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.
Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.
Not entirely sure how to rate this anthology. Like most anthologies, it's a mixed bag but this time there's 2 stories I simply did not read (because I don't read these specific authors' stuff). The stories I did read were pretty good except for one that was unfortunately another instance of "premise I've read 20 times before and story offers nothing really new/special". The stories in this anthology were far more memorable than the ones in the last queer horror anthology I've read so there's definitely a lot of good to be said about it.
The best stories in my opinion were:
Tickets to Paradise by David-Jack Fletcher, bleak AF but great idea on The Healer by Mick Collins, stories about sin eaters are far too rare for my liking and I can't think of anyone better to write one than Collins. Dracula's Next Bride by Matthew J. Gleason, Gleason's vampire stories never miss in my book and the reality TV spin was great. The Big Boss by Ruth Anna Evans, corporate horror hits different and Evans delivers emotional gut punches like very few can. A Widower's Apathy by Jason Nickey, far too relatable for comfort. A Girl Called Weekend by James G. Carlson, the only author in this list I hadn't read before, delightful surprise.
This is the second "We're Here"-styled LGBTQ+ Horror anthology, in what I heartily hope will become an ongoing annual series! (It being a charity anthology, raising funds for the Trevor Project, this can only be a good thing.) 'We're Still Here' features thirteeen pieces of brand new fiction by an easily recognized assortment of incredibly talented horror authors: Rowland Bercy Jr. opens the book, with Ruth Anna Evans (who also provided the stunning cover!) and James G. Carlson, Cat Voleur, and David-Jack Fletcher following with some thrilling tales ranging from sci-fi horror and work office battles to relationship craziness; and then Michael R. Collins (with his story, "The Healer," being a sequel to his last year's "Sin-Eaters"), Chloe Spencer, Chisto Healy, Angel Van Atta and Jason Nickey raise the bar, pursuing some very bleak endings; and, finally, Cyan LeBlanc, Matthew J. Gleason, and Royal Poff gleefully deliver their own kind of deadly delights, from vampire reality TV to haunted heart transplants!
Once again, the diversity of themes (sci-fi horror, creature feature, detective stories, psychological and paranormal horror, to mention just a few) is very welcome, since it allows authors to be flexible and have all kinds of characters, some actually getting payback or going on to tighten the screws on the bullies; authors this year explore relationships, as well, rather than solely the injustices and the lack of intimacy often found in LGBTQ+ horror. By that I mean, that several stories portray same-sex couples, both happily married and not, or revolve around people being certain of what they desire and going for it. Of course, it goes without saying that since this is horror, none of this guarantees a happy ending- far from it! And the world being what it is, the stories in the "bleak" group will feel more real, far more concrete, no matter the intention. Still, it felt nice to have stories offering a perspective on LGBTQ+ going beyond fear, violence, and dissatisfaction. And even the "very bleak" stories (Chisto Healy's, for example) have their hopeful moments.
Overall, this anthology won't disappoint: every author has their own, unique way to approach common themes and worries, always with originality, genuine empathy, and superb craftsmanship. No horror fan should miss this!
We’re Still Here is a charity anthology of thirteen horror stories that benefits the Trevor Project. These dark, evocative, and intense tales have been penned by some of the finest LGBTQ+ dark fiction authors in the indie horror scene, and together, they comprise a book that will chill you to your marrow.
Rowland Bercy Jr.’s “Vintage Vengeance” is a gruesome tale of brutal bullying met with monstrous old-world comeuppance. Next is Ruth Anna Evans’s “The Big Boss,” a story of a workplace crush in the shadow of a chilling corporate evil and corruption. Then is “A Girl Called Weekend,” James G. Carlson’s profound and suspenseful story of desperation in a dystopian future wrought by corporate greed and classism.
“Linnea is a Shade of Pink” by Cat Voleur is a dark and compelling story of curiosity turned suspicion turned obsession. It’s followed by David-Jack Fletcher’s “Tickets to Paradise,” a futuristic tale of hard sales, horrific classism, and the mystery behind Paradise. Next is “The Healer” by Michael R. Collins, a deep tale of pain and determination, the stand-alone follow-up to his story “The Sin-Eaters” from the first We’re Here anthology.
“Blood Pudding” by Chloe Spencer is a fun, riveting, and unique vampire tale complete with blood, teeth, romance, a masque ball, and a wicked twist. And then “Mean to the End as a Means to an End” by Christo Healy is a story of hate and brutality and how it ripples out like throwing a stone in a pond; it’s one of the most stomach-clenching, intense, and horrifying stories I’ve read.
“The Lie” by Angel Van Atta is a deep, dark, and painfully evocative story. It’s followed by “A Widow’s Apathy” by Jason Nickey, a haunting story about abuse. After that is Cyan LeBlanc’s “Heartbeat of Madness,” a chilling and gripping organ transplant tale.
Matthew J. Gleason’s “Dracula’s Next Bride” is a fun and intense read about a reality show for, you guessed it, Dracula’s next bride, but you have to read it to see and appreciate the fantastic direction it takes. And the anthology concludes with “House at the Edge of Sanity” by Royal Poff, which reads like a horrifying Grimm’s fairy tale and has a brilliant ending you don’t see coming.
We’re Still Here is a dark and fantastic anthology, a wonderful diversity of stories by a talented diversity of authors, a worthy read for a worthy cause.
A collection of insane and imaginative concepts all brought together in one anthology. Were still here will make you question everything you know, as we traverse the landscape of this versatile collection of stories. Starting with the incredible VINTAGE VENGEANCE By JR.ROWLAND BERCY JR. We follow the story of William, who is unable to take anymore persecution and torement. Ends up turning to his mother's Book of Shadows. Intent on revenge against the bullies that plague his life, he does a spell that has some grizzly results. I did have a flashback moment when he described the doll, as I remember having a lifelike doll where you fed it and it pooped. But I never imagined that I would never look at that doll the same way again after this story. Also Jolly CHIMP was always a creepy bloody toy. Rowland is the master of Witchcraft and supernatural stories such as Payback is a Witch, so I was extremely excited to see what he pulled off. Honestly the detail, the emotions resonating from the story and the plot as a whole. Very much had the old 80s horror vibe with an almost Puppet Master style story. Made for a fantastic first story of the collection. From there we get a plethora of tales that hold true to the subject matter, as each author has their own tale to share. Obviously I loved everything about this book, the series of events and how they unfold. The Deep and complex characters, the intense atmosphere and the undertone of the project as a whole. I do not want to give too much away about this incredible selection of stories, so I had to pick the ones that resonated with me on a very deep level. So below is just a couple of examples to wet your appetite:
THE BIG BOSS RUTH ANNAl EVANS
Wendy has a job that she hates and the only thing keeping her there is the possibility of promotion and a love interest named Marian. But in her own words, "By the time she’d finished training and was dumped into the cattle yard, most commonly referred to as the call center, she had been hooked by the promised pension and fear of entering the job market again. So, she had stayed." Ruth really encapsulated in this story what it is like to be in a toxic work environment. While also detailing a very intense and grotesque human being in the form of Big Boss. Where true hero's are born from this nightmare, as Ruth creates the ultimate fantasy horror mixed with the usually normal scenario. I definitely found myself rooting for Wendy and became really invested in her journey. But the ending will leave you both shocked and disheartened.
A GIRL CALLED WEEKEND JAMES G. CARLSON
As always we have a creative story from the mind of James. As we meet Weekend and her girlfriend Nova, both in the sex industry striving to find a better life. In a futuristic style story, we follow Weekend's interaction with a new client. This could change the direction of how her and Nova's lives continue. As they do what they can to escape this depressing dystopian future and experience the real life in the Terra District. I loved the almost Hunger Game style of the storyline with a mix of nods to Greek Mythology in the District names. Giving this story a unique and interesting set up as the Hades district was where the poor lived to service the higher districts. Who got all the perks of what was left of a dying world. But the story takes a very unhinged turn as we realise this sci-fi horror unfolds a much darker truth.
TICKETS TO PARADISE DAVID-JACK FLETCHER
Not everything is what it seems, another futuristic story about the poor staying poor and the rich getting richer. However, this one made my heart hurt as I do believe the couple were good people. Jeremy offers Bryan and Kevin to take up the amazing opportunity to leave the earth behind for a magical place called Paradise. I really enjoyed the pace and undertone of this story, as David really brings home the reality of this loving family. I honestly had a gut feeling of dread reading this as Jeremy went over the steps over how to entice the couple. When they finally say Yes, a darker plan unfolds. Where Jeremy and his friend Sally, plan to steal the tickets meant for the couple to go to Paradise instead to escape poverty. This story illustrates desperation and deception on a whole other level that will leave you shocked at the end.
THE LIE ANGEL VAN ATTA
This story highlights the pain of living a lie, Angel is a master wordsmith. Her story is from the perspective of a woman who is hiding the truth of who she really is. Repressing her own happiness in the process, out of the fear of hurting the person who has loved her through thick and thin. This one was a truly heartbreaking one to read, as this woman bears her soul and is completely vulnerable about her situation. Her guilt, her shame and all her regret are fresh on the pages. This story was hard to read but is a very real reality for someone who's lived their whole life suppressing their true self. The end of this one had me in tears, to feel so hopeless and lost, the sheer emotional torture she endures brings forth a powerful message.
DRACULA’S NEXT BRIDE MATTHEW J. GLEASON
As always Matthew brings his great imagination front and centre. In this tale of revenge and reality TV, Angela is dead set on killing off Dracula. To the point that she repressed her own sexuality and joined a game show, in which one 'lucky' contestant becomes the Next Bride of Dracula. Unfortunately for Drac, he's not the only one who knows how to play mind games. As Angela makes sure that she is in the running, with her cunning planning and manipulation. As it's revealed the real reason she wants Dracula dead and her ultimate goal is revealed.
And those are just a couple of examples, because I do not want to give away too much. With further incredible stories such as The Healer By Micheal R. Collins which continues from the first anthology instalment. And the deeply poignant and incredibly dark story by Christo Healy, which will shake you to your very core. As we explore the various issues facing the LGBTQ+ community. There are some hard hitting subjects scattered throughout, that will really make you question society. Some that will show you a new kind of love that defies all odds, in Blood Pudding. The utter despair and heartache of Cat Voleur’s story as obsession and paranoia, changes your colour perspective. Mixed with other stories of possession and the power of a Narcissistic personality over a loved one. All make for a truly stunning and eye opening book.
Was enticed to this book by one of my new favorite authors, Rowland Bercy, Jr. His story was the perfect way to open this anthology. The stories that followed were also very entertaining. Will definitely be looking into more of these authors' individual work.
Absolutely loved this anthology. A diverse collection of LGBTQ+ themed horror stories from some of the best authors in the industry. I found each story unique and was hooked from the very first one. If you’re a horror fan, you don’t want to miss this collection!
Overall 2.7⭐️. I was super interested in this antho but after purchasing I realized these are super short stories (like 15 pages sometimes) so there’s not much time to cover the topics, so unfortunately they weren’t really a hit for me. Possibly I might have just been the wrong audience for this antho. I was excited about the LGBTQ+ rep but think it’s more geared towards horror fans than any kind of inclusion rep.
Vintage Vengeance by Rowland Bercy Jr ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 I had no idea what to expect going into this antho and this was a crazy introduction to what I assume with be an insane antho. Definitely no romance here! This short was like a mix of a Chucky and Saw movie. I was actually pretty into it and thought it wasn’t bad.
The Big Boss by Ruth Anna Evans ⭐️⭐️⭐️ This one was interesting. Again started out great but then it turned super weird and unrealistic, which fine it’s horror but it’s not like it was in a different world or something. Just didn’t vibe with it.
A Girl Called Weekend by James G Carlson ⭐️⭐️.5 This was a really strange one as well. Sex workers but like the author was trying to shock us with the worst things they’ve ever done. And then there was some kind of alien parasite race takeover and ya.
My Love, and her Bright Pink Hair by Cat Voleur ⭐️⭐️.5 This was a weird one where I didn’t know at the end what actually happened and what was real. Again started off well but ended weirdly and abruptly.
Tickets to Paradise by David-Jack Fletcher ⭐️⭐️ So this one started off great but honestly it made me feel sick to my stomach. Bad things happening to kids is just not my thing.
Unfortunately the last story totally threw me and since I haven’t been feeling the other stories really I decided to stop reading this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This anthology is so good. Each of the stories gives their magic spice to bring this anthology to life. The stories are so creative and follow the LGBTQ+ theme perfectly. I always love reading anthologies because it gives me a chance to discover an author I have never read before. Many of the authors I currently read and follow came from anthologies! Normally, I would focus on my favorite stories in the anthology for my review, but this one is different. All of these stories deserve mention because they are all great in their own way and I can tell, these authors have put their heart into them.
“Vintage Vengeance” by Rowland Bercy Jr. is a story about a teenager being bullied by his peers for who he is. Can he make them pay for their cruelty? This was so creatively done and brought back some nostalgia and I loved it!
“The Big Boss” by Ruth Anna Evans is a hilarious story about a female worker taking on the boss. This is a fun story to read.
“A Girl Called Weekend” by James G. Carlson is a story about two girls in a futuristic world who help clients with special kinks get their fix. Little do they know, they might have just gotten more than they bargained for.
“Linnea Is A Shade Of Pink” by Cat Voleur is a story about a character who has some questions about her girlfriend. Questions, she might not really want the answers to!
“Tickets to Paradise” by David-Jack Fletcher is a twisted story about con men taking it to the consumer. This one did not go as I had expected but definitely was worth the read.
“The Healer” by Michael R. Collins is the story about a woman who uses her gifts to help others. She meets up with two old acquaintances and learns their fate.
“Blood Pudding” by Chloe Spencer is a fantastic tale about the coexistence of humans and vampires.
“Mean To The End As A Means To An End” by Christo Healy is a story about two cops needing to solve a murder.
“The Lie” by Angel Van Atta is a story about a woman in a heterosexual relationship wishing for an alterative. This is a powerful story that I am sure hits close to home for some.
“Heartbeat of Madness” by Cyan Leblanc is a story about a woman who has a heart transplant that develops a morbid fascination with death.
“Dracula’s Next Bride” by Matthew J. Gleason is the story about a woman who gets herself on a show to compete as a potential next bride for Dracula. But, she has ulterior motives. Definitely one of my favorites!
“A House At The Edge Of Sanity” by Royal Poff is a story about a family trapped in the woods after a car accident. They find a cabin for refuge and experience unexpected changes during their stay.
As stated, all of these are great and this anthology’s proceeds go to support the Trevor Project and the LGBTQ+ community. So, pick up a copy and read some great stories while supporting a big need!