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Lucid Screams
Mythical creatures, inner demons, and fear are a few forms in which monsters present themselves. When confronted by such savage beasts, the vulnerability of humanity is often exposed. Will we rise above, or will we succumb to our inevitable demise? These sixteen horror stories by Red Lagoe explore the supernatural as well as human horror associated with grief, guilt, severed relationships, and severed limbs.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2020
22 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
Red Lagoe
41 books79 followersRed Lagoe grew up on 80’s and 90’s horror and carried her fear of slashers, sewer creatures, Hitchcockian birds, and psychos into adulthood where she now purges her horror-ridden mind onto the page. She is the author of the upcoming novel "Bloodstains by Gaslight" (Brigids Gate Press 2025), "In Excess of Dark" (Sobelo Books), and three horror collections including "Impulses of a Necrotic Heart". Red has stories published in various anthologies and magazines, and she enjoyed her role as curator and editor of "Nightmare Sky: Stories of Astronomical Horror". Red also worked as a staff writer for Crystal Lake Publishing’s "Still Water Bay" series. In addition to writing, Red loves creating art using traditional fine art mediums like paint, ink, and charcoal. She is also the owner of Death Knell Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
November 29, 2020
Red Lagoe's writing is always clever and on point.
I first discovered Red while reading If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of Karma and Fear. Her story was one of my favorites. She once again caught my attention six months later when If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of Supernatural Horror was released...again, her story was one of the standouts in the anthology. I was lucky enough to actually get to know her when both of our stories appeared in If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of Deadly Women and Retribution...and now, not only do I have great admiration for her writing skills, I also adore her as a person.
When I realized she had her own collection of shorts, I immediately purchased a copy and I'm so glad I did. Lucid Screams is everything I've grown to expect from Red...and more.
Before I get into the actual stories, I'd like to mention that Red, sensitive to her readers' needs, makes note of which stories contain potential triggers at the beginning of the anthology. Incredibly thoughtful.
Now on to the good stuff!
Although I loved all the stories, the standouts for me were Lucid Screaming and it's bookend, Empty Nest. Luna's Lure was creepy and brilliant, as were Slice and Intimidating Smile. My personal favorite was Severed Connection. What can I say? I love penis. 😆🍆
All of Red's stories have little twists which are wry and astute. Her characterization is also top-notch.
This is a fun, quick read and I highly recommend it to all my fellow horror lovers. (Or, to those who have loved Red's work in other anthologies.)
4.5 stars round up
Available now!
I first discovered Red while reading If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of Karma and Fear. Her story was one of my favorites. She once again caught my attention six months later when If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of Supernatural Horror was released...again, her story was one of the standouts in the anthology. I was lucky enough to actually get to know her when both of our stories appeared in If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of Deadly Women and Retribution...and now, not only do I have great admiration for her writing skills, I also adore her as a person.
When I realized she had her own collection of shorts, I immediately purchased a copy and I'm so glad I did. Lucid Screams is everything I've grown to expect from Red...and more.
Before I get into the actual stories, I'd like to mention that Red, sensitive to her readers' needs, makes note of which stories contain potential triggers at the beginning of the anthology. Incredibly thoughtful.
Now on to the good stuff!
Although I loved all the stories, the standouts for me were Lucid Screaming and it's bookend, Empty Nest. Luna's Lure was creepy and brilliant, as were Slice and Intimidating Smile. My personal favorite was Severed Connection. What can I say? I love penis. 😆🍆
All of Red's stories have little twists which are wry and astute. Her characterization is also top-notch.
This is a fun, quick read and I highly recommend it to all my fellow horror lovers. (Or, to those who have loved Red's work in other anthologies.)
4.5 stars round up
Available now!
September 16, 2020
Would you please take a moment to bask in the beauty that is this book cover? The vibrant colors combined with the darkness of the birds? Ahhh, delightful! Horror comes in all colors, shapes, moods and flavors which is why I never tire of reading the genre. But a book, as we know, is much more than a pretty cover and it’s the stuff inside that counts.
Lucid Screams is a collection of short stories that is a nice mix of tragedy, grief, and creeping dread-fests with enough dark humor thrown in there in the middle so you won’t have to worry about falling into a pit of despair and in need of rescue. I was SO thankful for that after recently finishing a book that nearly ruined me forever. That book was Betty by Tiffany McDaniel because I know you want to destroy yourselves too - so go read it but don’t blame me when you lose a little bit of your heart forever.
There’s a note about content warnings at the beginning of this book that points the reader to a page near the end with specific story content warnings so you can read them or not. It’s up to you and I think this is the best way to handle such sensitive content. Especially in these dark times. A little sensitivity goes a long way right now and I appreciate author Red Lagoe taking the time to include this page.
Ok, I know you’re all like shut the F UP woman (I know because I’m sick of myself too). You’re here for the stories not for my nonsense and because this will be entirely too long if I blabber about all of the stories I will focus on my favorites but know they're all good here. No duds. I’d tell you if there were duds because I’m a jerk like that.
Lucid Screaming starts things off with a harrowing tale of mistakes, regrets, and a brutally unflinching look at addiction. This story is devastating. It’ll crack open even the hardest heart and throw some gasoline in there, followed by a lit match just because it can and also to make sure you’re listening. It’s tied to the final equally devastating story because you people do not deserve to close a book with happiness in your hearts. I know you know it’s true.
The Haunting Murder is about a fellow haunted by his past misdeeds and he damn well deserves to be haunted by them! This story is short and gets to the point, unlike me in my reviews. (Sorry, can’t stop myself!)
Luna’s Lure is a story I loved. People go missing on the full moon and only remnants of blood and bone are left behind. Meanwhile, a man gets a little too excited by his new neighbor and that’s all I’m saying about that. Some people might get a little more than they deserve sometimes but ya know, I’m not going to feel bad for them and their dumb decisions. Watch a horror movie people and use your darn brains and then I’ll dredge up some sympathy! This was such a fun creature feature and one of the highlights of this collection for me.
The Great American Eclipse is a story about an eclipse and a world gone mad and SECRETS! I LOVE secrets and I won’t spill them, don’t worry. This story is bleak and frightening with great characterization for such a short. It has a lot going on and all of it is terrifying.
Severed Connection: A grieving woman visits a YouTube medium because she misses her husband. She knows the medium dude is a perv but desperate times call for desperate measures. This was my kind of story. It’s morbidly humorous. The best kind of humor, if you ask me.
Odor Mortis: So there’s this guy who works and lives in a funeral home and has trouble with the ladies. Understandable, right? Maybe? But he also has a strange fetish. You see, he delights in the fragrantly deceased (seriously that’s his thing, that was not me making up phrases again) and prefers their company to the living so he’s quite the happy little morbid fellow. This was so funny to me. Gross but also hilarious. What a weirdo!
Intimidating Smile is another I loved SO much. A young lady is born with a condition that gives her long pointy teeth. She hates the way people treat her until one day she doesn’t! It’s about embracing your differences to your best advantage. I have the pointy teeth too (but they’re not long - damn) but my mom made me fix them and let me tell you, this story resonated!
The Astronomers Mistress is about a man desperately attempting to please his wife and rekindle their love. How sweet, right? This is his last chance to get it right, however, and his love is not messing around. This is another that made me laugh. It might make you squirm but I found it hilarious. I’m not apologizing either!
Empty Nest leaves you broken and battered. Remember the first story way up there? Yep, this is the other side of it and it hurts.
Very much recommended. 4.5 Stars. Go get yourself a copy. You deserve this dark loveliness in your life too.
Lucid Screams is a collection of short stories that is a nice mix of tragedy, grief, and creeping dread-fests with enough dark humor thrown in there in the middle so you won’t have to worry about falling into a pit of despair and in need of rescue. I was SO thankful for that after recently finishing a book that nearly ruined me forever. That book was Betty by Tiffany McDaniel because I know you want to destroy yourselves too - so go read it but don’t blame me when you lose a little bit of your heart forever.
There’s a note about content warnings at the beginning of this book that points the reader to a page near the end with specific story content warnings so you can read them or not. It’s up to you and I think this is the best way to handle such sensitive content. Especially in these dark times. A little sensitivity goes a long way right now and I appreciate author Red Lagoe taking the time to include this page.
Ok, I know you’re all like shut the F UP woman (I know because I’m sick of myself too). You’re here for the stories not for my nonsense and because this will be entirely too long if I blabber about all of the stories I will focus on my favorites but know they're all good here. No duds. I’d tell you if there were duds because I’m a jerk like that.
Lucid Screaming starts things off with a harrowing tale of mistakes, regrets, and a brutally unflinching look at addiction. This story is devastating. It’ll crack open even the hardest heart and throw some gasoline in there, followed by a lit match just because it can and also to make sure you’re listening. It’s tied to the final equally devastating story because you people do not deserve to close a book with happiness in your hearts. I know you know it’s true.
The Haunting Murder is about a fellow haunted by his past misdeeds and he damn well deserves to be haunted by them! This story is short and gets to the point, unlike me in my reviews. (Sorry, can’t stop myself!)
Luna’s Lure is a story I loved. People go missing on the full moon and only remnants of blood and bone are left behind. Meanwhile, a man gets a little too excited by his new neighbor and that’s all I’m saying about that. Some people might get a little more than they deserve sometimes but ya know, I’m not going to feel bad for them and their dumb decisions. Watch a horror movie people and use your darn brains and then I’ll dredge up some sympathy! This was such a fun creature feature and one of the highlights of this collection for me.
The Great American Eclipse is a story about an eclipse and a world gone mad and SECRETS! I LOVE secrets and I won’t spill them, don’t worry. This story is bleak and frightening with great characterization for such a short. It has a lot going on and all of it is terrifying.
Severed Connection: A grieving woman visits a YouTube medium because she misses her husband. She knows the medium dude is a perv but desperate times call for desperate measures. This was my kind of story. It’s morbidly humorous. The best kind of humor, if you ask me.
Odor Mortis: So there’s this guy who works and lives in a funeral home and has trouble with the ladies. Understandable, right? Maybe? But he also has a strange fetish. You see, he delights in the fragrantly deceased (seriously that’s his thing, that was not me making up phrases again) and prefers their company to the living so he’s quite the happy little morbid fellow. This was so funny to me. Gross but also hilarious. What a weirdo!
Intimidating Smile is another I loved SO much. A young lady is born with a condition that gives her long pointy teeth. She hates the way people treat her until one day she doesn’t! It’s about embracing your differences to your best advantage. I have the pointy teeth too (but they’re not long - damn) but my mom made me fix them and let me tell you, this story resonated!
The Astronomers Mistress is about a man desperately attempting to please his wife and rekindle their love. How sweet, right? This is his last chance to get it right, however, and his love is not messing around. This is another that made me laugh. It might make you squirm but I found it hilarious. I’m not apologizing either!
Empty Nest leaves you broken and battered. Remember the first story way up there? Yep, this is the other side of it and it hurts.
Very much recommended. 4.5 Stars. Go get yourself a copy. You deserve this dark loveliness in your life too.
Want to read
August 15, 2020This book is FREE until 17 August 2020 in celebration of the author's birthday!
February 12, 2020
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
My first experience reading Lagoe’s work was in the anthology ‘If I Die Before I Wake; Vol 1.’ Shortly after my review was posted, she contacted me to see if I’d like to check out her upcoming collection ‘Lucid Screams,’ which I gladly accepted.
‘Lucid Screams’ is a brutal ride through some uncompromising subject matter. Lagoe caveats this by putting a warning/trigger warning blurb at the front with a link to a separate page that goes through the stories and what the trigger warnings would be. While I personally don’t require that, after reading the stories within – I think it was a smart and ballsy move to include it. It will make a lot of folks happy and still be able to enjoy the stories that don’t contain their personal triggers.
For me, the high moment of this collection was the opening story.
‘Lucid Screaming’ tells us the story of a mother trying to reconcile current events with prior events. I can’t really say anything more specific than that without giving away the plot. Just a harrowing story of grief and mental health issues.
Later on, we get a story called ‘Empty Nest’ that will bring you back to ‘Lucid Screaming.’ Heartbreak and sorrow are all that is in this one. Great stuff!
From there, the stories all stabbed at various themes and while for the most part I enjoyed them all, some didn’t resonate with me as much, and that’s pretty common in a short story collection.
I would suggest folks take notes when reading ‘Helping Hands Resort’ which was a deliciously unique story about having to make a decision. I think for many people, this may end up being their favourite story in the entire collection!
Overall, I had a lot of fun with this collection. I enjoy reading short story collections when I have a number of long reads on the go. It’s a great break from being focused on a singular story for a lengthy period of time and when the stories are as good as they are in this collection, you quickly find that you are spending more and more time reading the collection than the novels!
Great stuff, and one that I think will be frequently shared over this coming year.
My first experience reading Lagoe’s work was in the anthology ‘If I Die Before I Wake; Vol 1.’ Shortly after my review was posted, she contacted me to see if I’d like to check out her upcoming collection ‘Lucid Screams,’ which I gladly accepted.
‘Lucid Screams’ is a brutal ride through some uncompromising subject matter. Lagoe caveats this by putting a warning/trigger warning blurb at the front with a link to a separate page that goes through the stories and what the trigger warnings would be. While I personally don’t require that, after reading the stories within – I think it was a smart and ballsy move to include it. It will make a lot of folks happy and still be able to enjoy the stories that don’t contain their personal triggers.
For me, the high moment of this collection was the opening story.
‘Lucid Screaming’ tells us the story of a mother trying to reconcile current events with prior events. I can’t really say anything more specific than that without giving away the plot. Just a harrowing story of grief and mental health issues.
Later on, we get a story called ‘Empty Nest’ that will bring you back to ‘Lucid Screaming.’ Heartbreak and sorrow are all that is in this one. Great stuff!
From there, the stories all stabbed at various themes and while for the most part I enjoyed them all, some didn’t resonate with me as much, and that’s pretty common in a short story collection.
I would suggest folks take notes when reading ‘Helping Hands Resort’ which was a deliciously unique story about having to make a decision. I think for many people, this may end up being their favourite story in the entire collection!
Overall, I had a lot of fun with this collection. I enjoy reading short story collections when I have a number of long reads on the go. It’s a great break from being focused on a singular story for a lengthy period of time and when the stories are as good as they are in this collection, you quickly find that you are spending more and more time reading the collection than the novels!
Great stuff, and one that I think will be frequently shared over this coming year.
February 19, 2020
Lucid Screams is an impressive collection of short fiction from author Red Lagoe. The cover and the title immediately drew me in, and I loved that it started out with an introduction from the author (by now most of you know that I love author notes of any kind, even if it’s just a foreword or introduction).
There were no stories in this collection that I rated below 4 stars. Each one was entertaining, and I enjoyed that there were a few shorter, flash-fiction style pieces in the mix. This author did a great job of creating stories that leave a lasting impression on the reader, even in just a few pages. Overall, the writing was atmospheric and haunting. These stories all gave me a different feeling—some pulled at the heartstrings, some left me shocked, and there were a couple of moments that made me giggle.
As usual with a collection or anthology, I’ve selected my Top 5 stories from the bunch. They are:
-THE GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE
-ABANDONED SOULS
-HELPING HANDS RETREAT
-SEVERED CONNECTION
-SLICE
I’d also like to give an honorable mention to the story Memory Lane, which I read previously in a Tales from the Lake volume from Crystal Lake Publishing. This story had a strong effect on me both then and now.
Red Lagoe is definitely an author to watch. I’m looking forward to her future work, and would recommend this collection if you enjoy short fiction. Lucid Screams has something for everyone; the writing is strong and covers a variety of topics. It’s a collection full of original ideas and unforgettable stories, and a great introduction to a fresh voice in horror.
There were no stories in this collection that I rated below 4 stars. Each one was entertaining, and I enjoyed that there were a few shorter, flash-fiction style pieces in the mix. This author did a great job of creating stories that leave a lasting impression on the reader, even in just a few pages. Overall, the writing was atmospheric and haunting. These stories all gave me a different feeling—some pulled at the heartstrings, some left me shocked, and there were a couple of moments that made me giggle.
As usual with a collection or anthology, I’ve selected my Top 5 stories from the bunch. They are:
-THE GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE
-ABANDONED SOULS
-HELPING HANDS RETREAT
-SEVERED CONNECTION
-SLICE
I’d also like to give an honorable mention to the story Memory Lane, which I read previously in a Tales from the Lake volume from Crystal Lake Publishing. This story had a strong effect on me both then and now.
Red Lagoe is definitely an author to watch. I’m looking forward to her future work, and would recommend this collection if you enjoy short fiction. Lucid Screams has something for everyone; the writing is strong and covers a variety of topics. It’s a collection full of original ideas and unforgettable stories, and a great introduction to a fresh voice in horror.
May 7, 2020
Red Lagoe's vividly imaginative collection Lucid Screams is a great read from beginning to end! The title-named first story instantly grabbed my attention, and I loved seeing how it was framed with the ending, too. Each story offers something different, smartly showcasing Lagoe's range of ideas and writing. I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters, and especially getting to know their worst nightmares -- Lagoe does an excellent job at captivating a reader's interest right away with each tale.
My favorite stories of the bunch had to be "The Great American Eclipse" (wow!), "Helping Hands Retreat" (beautiful, heartbreaking), "Brush With Fate" (this might be my top favorite in the book!), and "Intimidating Smile." I really look forward to reading more by Red Lagoe!
My favorite stories of the bunch had to be "The Great American Eclipse" (wow!), "Helping Hands Retreat" (beautiful, heartbreaking), "Brush With Fate" (this might be my top favorite in the book!), and "Intimidating Smile." I really look forward to reading more by Red Lagoe!
January 30, 2020
So many wonderfully spooky short stories in packed into this book. I loved the connection with the 1st and last story. The book couldn't have ended in a more perfect way.
Update:
First off, I really respect the thought put into a disclaimer of sorts, stating that if you are sensitive to the death of children you should see a list of stories to skip. Being a person that unexpectedly lost my 14 year old 5 years ago, I really gained a lot of respect for this author before even reading the first short story.
With that said, each of the stories were wonderful. Each of the 16 short stories are different with the exception of the 1st and last story (more about that later). The synopsis captures the overall feel of the book in its entirity:
"Monsters take many forms—mythical creature, human, inner demon, fear… When confronted by such savage beasts, the vulnerability of humanity is often exposed. These sixteen horror stories explore the supernatural, as well as real life horror associated with grief, guilt, severed relationships, and severed limbs."
My most memorable stories in the book were:
Lucid Screaming: (which does involve children) Red Lagoe's use of words create such profound feelings and as a reader you can easily be sucked into a story. This story hit me hard because of the situation that these two children, Lily & Ben, were in. I felt such sadness for them and such anger for the mother. The anger soon faded into disappointment. The last few paragrahs of the story brought tears to me eyes.
Odor Motis: This one was just so disturbing. It left me feeling haunted. How can this kind of person exsist? What could cause someone to go through life thinking that THIS is okay? Just overall terror that possibly someone could be afflicted with such a desire. On the otherhand, it is kind of sweet in a" horrific, I need help", kind of way.
Helping Hands Retreat: This short story had me stunned. To think this poor girl was only trying to get away from a bad situation and literally chose the wrong fork in the road, leading to a nightmare much worse. The ending was perfection!
Empty Nest: This was a great heartbreaking story. It's attached to the first story in the book. It left my eyes weeping and my heart broken,but I was squealing with happiness as Joe leaves the house.
This is one of my favorite books of the year featuring short stories. I love the authors style of writing, so much so that I plan on searching for more of her work.
The author graciously sent me a copy for my review.
Update:
First off, I really respect the thought put into a disclaimer of sorts, stating that if you are sensitive to the death of children you should see a list of stories to skip. Being a person that unexpectedly lost my 14 year old 5 years ago, I really gained a lot of respect for this author before even reading the first short story.
With that said, each of the stories were wonderful. Each of the 16 short stories are different with the exception of the 1st and last story (more about that later). The synopsis captures the overall feel of the book in its entirity:
"Monsters take many forms—mythical creature, human, inner demon, fear… When confronted by such savage beasts, the vulnerability of humanity is often exposed. These sixteen horror stories explore the supernatural, as well as real life horror associated with grief, guilt, severed relationships, and severed limbs."
My most memorable stories in the book were:
Lucid Screaming: (which does involve children) Red Lagoe's use of words create such profound feelings and as a reader you can easily be sucked into a story. This story hit me hard because of the situation that these two children, Lily & Ben, were in. I felt such sadness for them and such anger for the mother. The anger soon faded into disappointment. The last few paragrahs of the story brought tears to me eyes.
Odor Motis: This one was just so disturbing. It left me feeling haunted. How can this kind of person exsist? What could cause someone to go through life thinking that THIS is okay? Just overall terror that possibly someone could be afflicted with such a desire. On the otherhand, it is kind of sweet in a" horrific, I need help", kind of way.
Helping Hands Retreat: This short story had me stunned. To think this poor girl was only trying to get away from a bad situation and literally chose the wrong fork in the road, leading to a nightmare much worse. The ending was perfection!
Empty Nest: This was a great heartbreaking story. It's attached to the first story in the book. It left my eyes weeping and my heart broken,but I was squealing with happiness as Joe leaves the house.
This is one of my favorite books of the year featuring short stories. I love the authors style of writing, so much so that I plan on searching for more of her work.
The author graciously sent me a copy for my review.
February 6, 2021
With Lucid Screams, Lagoe riffs on a “domestic horror” theme, exploring both relationship and familial trauma as supernatural forces. Featuring a cast of strong female leads, most of the stories in this collection examine different sociological pressures that likely many women readers will find familiar—and as a man, I was relieved to encounter a handful of complex and redeemable male characters rather than a bunch of abusive cardboard cutouts. Kudos to the author for writing such believable human beings.
Aside from her characters, I can’t fail to mention the healthy dose of astronomical expertise and know-how that Lagoe weaves into several of her stories, which then lends some of them a touch of cosmic horror—a huge selling point for me. And what really makes Lucid Screams function as a whole is the clever way in which the last story cycles back to the first. I didn’t expect that at all, and such a technique really brings a satisfying sense of closure.
While one can tell that some of these stories are likely from the incipient stages of Lagoe’s career, a great deal of the others can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best horror of the last few years—and to no surprise the credits in the back of the book reveal how several of these works were originally published in very reputable magazines and anthologies.
With such powerful themes and interesting characters, I imagine Lagoe is well on her way to a Stoker or Jackson award in the years to come, and after loving Lucid Screams, I’m looking forward to reading her next collection, Dismal Dreams.
Favorite stories:
“Lucid Screaming”
“Severed Connection”
“Odor Mortis”
Aside from her characters, I can’t fail to mention the healthy dose of astronomical expertise and know-how that Lagoe weaves into several of her stories, which then lends some of them a touch of cosmic horror—a huge selling point for me. And what really makes Lucid Screams function as a whole is the clever way in which the last story cycles back to the first. I didn’t expect that at all, and such a technique really brings a satisfying sense of closure.
While one can tell that some of these stories are likely from the incipient stages of Lagoe’s career, a great deal of the others can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best horror of the last few years—and to no surprise the credits in the back of the book reveal how several of these works were originally published in very reputable magazines and anthologies.
With such powerful themes and interesting characters, I imagine Lagoe is well on her way to a Stoker or Jackson award in the years to come, and after loving Lucid Screams, I’m looking forward to reading her next collection, Dismal Dreams.
Favorite stories:
“Lucid Screaming”
“Severed Connection”
“Odor Mortis”
May 23, 2021
Y'all this collection was fantastic.
I was expecting horror but so many of these stories will tug at your heart.
Lucid Screaming is a heart breaker and it will make you want to hug your children.
Helping Hand Retreat has an incredible ending, one of those that will just make you smile.
I really love them but, I'm beginning to think maybe I don't trust pizza. The story Slice will definitely make you rethink your toppings.
Lucid Dreamw is definitely a great short story collection and you should add it to your TBR if you haven't had a chance to read it!
I was expecting horror but so many of these stories will tug at your heart.
Lucid Screaming is a heart breaker and it will make you want to hug your children.
Helping Hand Retreat has an incredible ending, one of those that will just make you smile.
I really love them but, I'm beginning to think maybe I don't trust pizza. The story Slice will definitely make you rethink your toppings.
Lucid Dreamw is definitely a great short story collection and you should add it to your TBR if you haven't had a chance to read it!
August 20, 2020
Wow!
(I actually caught myself saying that out loud several times while reading this one.)
Lucid Screams by Red Lagoe is a solid collection of creepy, disturbing, haunting and wonderfully weird tales that I totally enjoyed. Not a dud in the bunch!
I highly recommend Lucid Screams, and I really look forward to more from the very talented Red Lagoe.
(I actually caught myself saying that out loud several times while reading this one.)
Lucid Screams by Red Lagoe is a solid collection of creepy, disturbing, haunting and wonderfully weird tales that I totally enjoyed. Not a dud in the bunch!
I highly recommend Lucid Screams, and I really look forward to more from the very talented Red Lagoe.
August 18, 2020
I like a good pun or wordplay, so the title was definitely some of the attraction. But really…it was free and short enough to make it seem worth checking out. Kindle freebies can go either way, when it goes nicely, it ends up something like this…a perfectly well put together, professionally edited original collection of short stories of things that go Boo in the night. Whatever trace amount of amateurishness there were definitely outweighed by the author’s creativity and pleasingly demented imagination. Not all stories were created equal, but the balance of the good ones was above and beyond acceptable for a collection. In fact, just the two of them, one featuring a crocheted penis and one with the most awesomely messed up pizza shop (my favorite in the entire book, terrific tale), were well worth the cost of the admission (which in this case was free, so even nicer). The stories range thematically but do a sort of loop, with the first one and the last one connected but told from different perspectives. A lot of dark disturbing psychological material. Lives gone off course. Various things that haunt the mind. At times terrifying, at times morbidly humorous. All in all, I’d say well worth a read, originality being the main attraction. Nice find this turned out to be. Recommended.
October 18, 2020
Stellarly crafted nightmare vignettes populate this dark dreamscape. Red Lagoe writes unique tales with a strong voice. Lucid Screams is filled with characters and scenarios that claw at your imagination like the ragged fingernails of a corpse with which you've been buried alive. Read this.
March 25, 2020
Lucid Screams gnaws at the various layers of grief. It’s a beautiful and haunting collection that sticks with you well after the last page. There’s a beautiful and haunting connection between stories, which is woven with common themes of loss and terror. Relationships are explored, monsters are battled, and sins are redeemed. There’s a wide range of settings, but the heart of this collection is the pain of nightmares coming to life.
There are sixteen stories in this collection. It’s a blend of short stories, flash fiction and a single drabble (a story that is exactly 100 words). Each contains compelling and eerie characters who are thrust into their worst nightmares and left to untangle themselves before the darkness consumes them. I also appreciated that there is a trigger warning list at the back which allows the reader to decide if they want to know those triggers or read the book blindly. As someone who prefers the warnings, I thought this was a considerate element of the book.
The first story Lucid Screaming and the last Empty Nest are my favorites. Although, it was a tough decision. They’re all poignant depictions of horror, but these two show a relatable monster that claws into your core and doesn’t let go.
If I could give this book six stars, I would. I absolutely loved it, and I hope you will too.
thank you for the free copy for review
There are sixteen stories in this collection. It’s a blend of short stories, flash fiction and a single drabble (a story that is exactly 100 words). Each contains compelling and eerie characters who are thrust into their worst nightmares and left to untangle themselves before the darkness consumes them. I also appreciated that there is a trigger warning list at the back which allows the reader to decide if they want to know those triggers or read the book blindly. As someone who prefers the warnings, I thought this was a considerate element of the book.
The first story Lucid Screaming and the last Empty Nest are my favorites. Although, it was a tough decision. They’re all poignant depictions of horror, but these two show a relatable monster that claws into your core and doesn’t let go.
If I could give this book six stars, I would. I absolutely loved it, and I hope you will too.
thank you for the free copy for review
April 23, 2020
A beautiful, haunting, evocative collection of horror shorts and drabbles. The subject matter varies enough to avoid ever feeling repetitive, but is connected enough to feel like a true collection. Lagoe has a strength and heart to her writing, evident from even the shortest stories. A few of my favorites were the two bookend stories, Lucid Screaming and Empty Nest, which were dark, haunting and heart felt. The Great American Eclipse had a novel and disturbing horror element, combined with interesting, real characters. Malignant Roots and Helping Hands also stuck out as horrific traps for Lagoe's characters to get stuck in. A five star offering from this skilled storyteller.
January 16, 2020
This is a great collection of short stories! I really liked reading them because first, if I only had a short period of time to read, I could easily get in a story or two. Second, I never knew how they would end until I got to the ending, and then in typical horror fashion, I was often jolted into a “oh, yuck” ending. Ms Lagoe inundates her real world into lots of horror fiction and her love of horror writing shows. She’s a master of enjoyable horror stories! I would recommend this book to anyone but the faint of heart!
May 27, 2020
Filled with angst, suspense, and most importantly, horror. This is a fantastic collection of chilling stories that you won’t want to miss out on.
My favorites were:
Memory Lane: A parent’s worst nightmare—the death of their baby. With a special glimpse into the future, Victor is left feeling his child’s scorn.
Intimidating Smile: A girl’s hated “vampire teeth” actually become the key to saving her life.
Brush With Fate: Some art is to die for. With these paintbrushes, death is a relief.
My favorites were:
Memory Lane: A parent’s worst nightmare—the death of their baby. With a special glimpse into the future, Victor is left feeling his child’s scorn.
Intimidating Smile: A girl’s hated “vampire teeth” actually become the key to saving her life.
Brush With Fate: Some art is to die for. With these paintbrushes, death is a relief.
January 16, 2020
This was a great collection of short stories...I received an advance copy of this.
Red is a combination of all my fav writers..she improves with every story.
Malignant Roots and Odor Mortis stick in my memory..its kind of scary..and where she gets the ideas kind of scares me more..But I hope she keeps it up..Love this collection, looking foreward to more. I have read some of her earlier stories, which are all very good...
Red is a combination of all my fav writers..she improves with every story.
Malignant Roots and Odor Mortis stick in my memory..its kind of scary..and where she gets the ideas kind of scares me more..But I hope she keeps it up..Love this collection, looking foreward to more. I have read some of her earlier stories, which are all very good...
July 21, 2021
I'm not really one for short stories, but I really enjoyed this collection. My favorite was the first story, it blended wonderfully with the end of the book. Lagoe's writing is clever and haunting and each story has its own feel, its own voice. If you like short stories and you like horror, give this a shot. There's something in here for everyone.
March 4, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed all the stories in this collection.
March 10, 2022
Just like with all collections, some of the stories in Lucid Screams connected with me more fully than others. There is a sense throughout the book of reluctance on the part of most characters to fully connect. Damaged people. Broken families.
The standout story for me by far is the very first one in the book. It's heartbreaking. It's titled "Lucid Screaming" and it's a powerful piece. I'm not going to describe any of the stories in any detail at all because short stories are so short, it's too easy to spoil them.
This runs the gamut from straight-forward horror stories, to abuse, addiction, failed relationships. You can catch the author's love of Astronomy in a couple of the pieces. Slice is a bit of dark humor that made me chuckle.
The book read quickly, and I'm happy to have found it (via Twitter)
The standout story for me by far is the very first one in the book. It's heartbreaking. It's titled "Lucid Screaming" and it's a powerful piece. I'm not going to describe any of the stories in any detail at all because short stories are so short, it's too easy to spoil them.
This runs the gamut from straight-forward horror stories, to abuse, addiction, failed relationships. You can catch the author's love of Astronomy in a couple of the pieces. Slice is a bit of dark humor that made me chuckle.
The book read quickly, and I'm happy to have found it (via Twitter)
August 24, 2022
A unique, emotionally-vibrant collection of stories. Stand-out favorites were: Lucid Screaming, The Great American Eclipse (which I'd LOVE to read a full novel of), Abandoned Souls, Intimidating Smile, Brush With Fate (Velvet Buzzsaw vibes), and Empty Nest. I should have grabbed the sister collection to this one (Lucid Dreams) when I had the chance. I can't wait to read more of Red Lagoe's work!
February 27, 2020
Review coming soon.
April 4, 2024
Many of these stories either left me frightened or heartbroken :'(
September 23, 2020
Red Lagoe’s Lucid Screams is a delightful collection of 16 horror short stories. A few of them are creature features, but sometimes the horror is closer to home, and there are also plenty of horrific people and circumstances involved.
The first and final stories are connected. In “Lucid Screaming,” a heroin user (Elaine) has a hard time handling her children, Lily and Ben. This is a harsh and heavy story, tough to read. In the opposite side, “Empty Nest,” Elaine’s ex-husband, Joe, ruminates on what happened to Elaine. It also clears up one detail in the first story that at the time seemed contradictory, which is neat.
“The Haunting Murder” is a short, intriguing tale about a prisoner and the murder of crows that haunts him. “Best Seat in the House” is a chilling bit of flash fiction.
“Luna’s Lure” starts off with Jeff telling David about recent cases of four disappearances that are believed to be murders, all taken place on the full moon. It is, of course, a full moon tonight, and there’s a woman next door who seems to be trying to lure David. I really like where this one ends up. I also really like the fact that it probably is not the story you think it’s going to be. Not entirely, anyway.
Helia and her friend set out to enjoy a total eclipse of the sun in “The Great American Eclipse.” The company her father worked for has provided free glasses for everyone to wear to safely view the eclipse. How exactly will her father and uncle’s work in parasitology and fungi come into play? This one is definitely fun.
Brooke and her step-mother Mandy have been left in their new home by her Navy father in “Abandoned Souls.” A few local kids try to warn her that people come and steal the children at night. If she’s to have any hope of surviving, she’d better listen! I really love where this one ended up, although I also would very much like to know more.
In “Malignant Roots,” Karen and her brother Derrick stop by the old family house to pay respects to her dead-and-buried abusive father. Unfortunately for them, his influence has stuck around. This is a fairly fun conceit.
In “Helping Hands Retreat,” Sarah is trying to escape an abusive relationship with Wade by going to a retreat for women. However, she finds a slightly different retreat than the one she was aiming for. When she gets locked in at night and hears screaming outside, she starts to fear for her life. The end of this one made it one of my favorite stories in the book.
“Severed Connection” is about Charlotte, a woman who goes to a disreputable man with a strange reputation in hopes that she’ll be able to contact her dead husband. Yeah, turns out that reputation was well-earned, and maybe she shouldn’t have come. This has some really clever turns to it.
“Odor Mortis” features mortician Harold, who loves the smell of death and corpses. When a corpse comes through his office that resembles his dead childhood best friend, he goes a little off the rails.
In “Slice,” Tara and Marissa eat pizza at a bizarre hole-in-the-wall restaurant, and when the owner overhears them say they want jobs, she offers them money under the table to work some shifts. One of them is taught how to prepare the special sauce handed down by the original owner, Grisha, and is told it must be prepared exactly or it will anger Grisha. In the ensuing predictable blood-bath, another secret is revealed.
“Intimidating Smile” introduces us to a girl who has a condition that results in her appearing to have fangs. She’s planning on having surgery to correct the problem, because holy hell is she tired of people either being afraid of her or obsessed with her. Then they come in handy in an unexpected way. I love this tale!
“The Astronomer’s Mistress” is a lovely dark tale. Thomas spends weeks making the perfect anniversary gift for his wife, only to have her throw a fit. Sure, this sounds like a problem with his wife, but she has a point–all of his gifts, even his pet name for her, are really not about her at all. She very clearly comes second in his life to something else.
In “Memory Lane” Victor’s recording of his dead daughter’s voice finally gives out. A mysterious girl offers him an album of what might have been had his daughter lived. Chilling!
“Brush With Fate” is a great “cursed artifact” story. In this case, the artifact is a set of painter’s brushes guaranteed to spark creativity in any painter. Of course, the price is high…
These are wonderful stories, and I really enjoyed this book. The characters are great, the ideas are creative, and there a few good twists and surprises.
Content note for child death and domestic abuse, both off of the page, and very mild sexual content.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/09/r...
The first and final stories are connected. In “Lucid Screaming,” a heroin user (Elaine) has a hard time handling her children, Lily and Ben. This is a harsh and heavy story, tough to read. In the opposite side, “Empty Nest,” Elaine’s ex-husband, Joe, ruminates on what happened to Elaine. It also clears up one detail in the first story that at the time seemed contradictory, which is neat.
“The Haunting Murder” is a short, intriguing tale about a prisoner and the murder of crows that haunts him. “Best Seat in the House” is a chilling bit of flash fiction.
“Luna’s Lure” starts off with Jeff telling David about recent cases of four disappearances that are believed to be murders, all taken place on the full moon. It is, of course, a full moon tonight, and there’s a woman next door who seems to be trying to lure David. I really like where this one ends up. I also really like the fact that it probably is not the story you think it’s going to be. Not entirely, anyway.
Helia and her friend set out to enjoy a total eclipse of the sun in “The Great American Eclipse.” The company her father worked for has provided free glasses for everyone to wear to safely view the eclipse. How exactly will her father and uncle’s work in parasitology and fungi come into play? This one is definitely fun.
Brooke and her step-mother Mandy have been left in their new home by her Navy father in “Abandoned Souls.” A few local kids try to warn her that people come and steal the children at night. If she’s to have any hope of surviving, she’d better listen! I really love where this one ended up, although I also would very much like to know more.
In “Malignant Roots,” Karen and her brother Derrick stop by the old family house to pay respects to her dead-and-buried abusive father. Unfortunately for them, his influence has stuck around. This is a fairly fun conceit.
In “Helping Hands Retreat,” Sarah is trying to escape an abusive relationship with Wade by going to a retreat for women. However, she finds a slightly different retreat than the one she was aiming for. When she gets locked in at night and hears screaming outside, she starts to fear for her life. The end of this one made it one of my favorite stories in the book.
“Severed Connection” is about Charlotte, a woman who goes to a disreputable man with a strange reputation in hopes that she’ll be able to contact her dead husband. Yeah, turns out that reputation was well-earned, and maybe she shouldn’t have come. This has some really clever turns to it.
“Odor Mortis” features mortician Harold, who loves the smell of death and corpses. When a corpse comes through his office that resembles his dead childhood best friend, he goes a little off the rails.
In “Slice,” Tara and Marissa eat pizza at a bizarre hole-in-the-wall restaurant, and when the owner overhears them say they want jobs, she offers them money under the table to work some shifts. One of them is taught how to prepare the special sauce handed down by the original owner, Grisha, and is told it must be prepared exactly or it will anger Grisha. In the ensuing predictable blood-bath, another secret is revealed.
“Intimidating Smile” introduces us to a girl who has a condition that results in her appearing to have fangs. She’s planning on having surgery to correct the problem, because holy hell is she tired of people either being afraid of her or obsessed with her. Then they come in handy in an unexpected way. I love this tale!
“The Astronomer’s Mistress” is a lovely dark tale. Thomas spends weeks making the perfect anniversary gift for his wife, only to have her throw a fit. Sure, this sounds like a problem with his wife, but she has a point–all of his gifts, even his pet name for her, are really not about her at all. She very clearly comes second in his life to something else.
In “Memory Lane” Victor’s recording of his dead daughter’s voice finally gives out. A mysterious girl offers him an album of what might have been had his daughter lived. Chilling!
“Brush With Fate” is a great “cursed artifact” story. In this case, the artifact is a set of painter’s brushes guaranteed to spark creativity in any painter. Of course, the price is high…
These are wonderful stories, and I really enjoyed this book. The characters are great, the ideas are creative, and there a few good twists and surprises.
Content note for child death and domestic abuse, both off of the page, and very mild sexual content.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/09/r...
May 23, 2022
Fabulous Collection of Tales
Red repeatedly flaunts her talent in this excellent collection of shorts. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a diverse, horrifying, and fun read.
Red repeatedly flaunts her talent in this excellent collection of shorts. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a diverse, horrifying, and fun read.
June 13, 2021
LUCID SCREAMS is an exceptional short story collection. There is a lot going on here.
The most memorable stories, to me:
The (almost) title story is a mind trip about parenting and drug abuse.
“The Great American Eclipse” is a science fiction/horror piece that feels like it could be a novel—but it works equally as well in the narrow focus of a short story.
“Abandoned Souls” is another story that feels like it could be much bigger than it is. It’s a short story with the payoff of, at least, a novella.
“Severed Connection” is a dark and clever tale about communicating with the dead.
“Brush With Fate” is a fun, horrific little story about the desperation that comes with creating art.
And there’s more. Lots more.
Check this collection out.
The most memorable stories, to me:
The (almost) title story is a mind trip about parenting and drug abuse.
“The Great American Eclipse” is a science fiction/horror piece that feels like it could be a novel—but it works equally as well in the narrow focus of a short story.
“Abandoned Souls” is another story that feels like it could be much bigger than it is. It’s a short story with the payoff of, at least, a novella.
“Severed Connection” is a dark and clever tale about communicating with the dead.
“Brush With Fate” is a fun, horrific little story about the desperation that comes with creating art.
And there’s more. Lots more.
Check this collection out.
September 2, 2020
I feel horrible I forgot to mark I finished this collection shortly after I read it way earlier this year. More review to come, which I’ll put in my blog and transfer here soon, but this is a wonderful, debut collection that’s well-done and entertaining as well as thought-provoking. The writing is concise and clear, the stories flow quickly, and some of the themes and plots were very original. I especially enjoyed the astronomy elements she peppers throughout it. This would be an excellent read for the spooky autumn season! I look forward to reading more from her!
January 20, 2023
This is a great selection of short stories by Red Lagoe.
The back cover gives you a glimpse into this wonderful collection. It reads: "Mythical creatures, inner demons, and fear are a few forms in which monsters present themselves. When confronted by such savage beasts, the vulnerability of humanity is often exposed. Will we rise above, or will we succumb to our inevitable demise? These sixteen horror stories by Red Lagoe explore the supernatural as well as human horror associated with grief, guilt, severed relationships, and severed limbs."
I enjoyed all of them. But I'd have to say my favorite was 'Slice'. As someone who loves exotic and different food -- having obtained both Eurasian brown bear and reindeer last year for the first time, and desiring other things I will likely forgo any opportunity to partake in kangaroo meat. Probably -- but who knows? Curiosity may get the better of me. But I surely will not take a job in this field!
Go get a copy. You won't be disappointed.
The back cover gives you a glimpse into this wonderful collection. It reads: "Mythical creatures, inner demons, and fear are a few forms in which monsters present themselves. When confronted by such savage beasts, the vulnerability of humanity is often exposed. Will we rise above, or will we succumb to our inevitable demise? These sixteen horror stories by Red Lagoe explore the supernatural as well as human horror associated with grief, guilt, severed relationships, and severed limbs."
I enjoyed all of them. But I'd have to say my favorite was 'Slice'. As someone who loves exotic and different food -- having obtained both Eurasian brown bear and reindeer last year for the first time, and desiring other things I will likely forgo any opportunity to partake in kangaroo meat. Probably -- but who knows? Curiosity may get the better of me. But I surely will not take a job in this field!
Go get a copy. You won't be disappointed.
April 15, 2022
Phenomenal collection of horror stories that I finished within a week. Red Lagoe wields her pen like a sword and I had to fight the impulse to binge it all in one go.
My Favorites:
Luna’s Lure and The Great American Eclipse are epic creature features. What I loved most about The Great American Eclipse was the combination of astronomical horror, family, and sacrifice. “Keep Looking up” … the execution!
Malignant Roots: Eerie tale about abuse and its metastatic might. Less scary, more sad but impactful nonetheless.
Slice: Russian pizzeria serving “kangaroo” meat + rigidly specific sauce recipe + warnings of following the rules. Just wait till you reach the end. I mean positively diabolical!! This is the story that had me texting my friends and recommending the collection to anyone who will listen!!
Brush with Fate: A haunting meditation on infamy and the steep price creators/artists are willing to pay.
*************
All the stories glow with a feverish orange-yellow light, beckoning the reader to come and listen by the fire. Grab a seat and enjoy. Thank goodness she has written another collection Dismal Dreams!!
My Favorites:
Luna’s Lure and The Great American Eclipse are epic creature features. What I loved most about The Great American Eclipse was the combination of astronomical horror, family, and sacrifice. “Keep Looking up” … the execution!
Malignant Roots: Eerie tale about abuse and its metastatic might. Less scary, more sad but impactful nonetheless.
Slice: Russian pizzeria serving “kangaroo” meat + rigidly specific sauce recipe + warnings of following the rules. Just wait till you reach the end. I mean positively diabolical!! This is the story that had me texting my friends and recommending the collection to anyone who will listen!!
Brush with Fate: A haunting meditation on infamy and the steep price creators/artists are willing to pay.
*************
All the stories glow with a feverish orange-yellow light, beckoning the reader to come and listen by the fire. Grab a seat and enjoy. Thank goodness she has written another collection Dismal Dreams!!
May 12, 2025
While Lucid Screams features tales that range all over the place in subject matter, several of the darker, or maybe I should say darkest ones, touch on very uncomfortable subjects, and will make you feel grungy for reading them. There are a few involving various forms of abuse - drug abuse, child abuse, spousal abuse - but almost entirely implicit rather than explicit. To cut through the discomfort, there are a few of a dark humor (or possibly sick humor?) variety. I'm not sure I could name favorites, though "Brush with Fate" stood out a little more for me, but I definitely liked all but one story, which didn't quite do it for me.
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