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Love and Other Monsters in the Dark
Strange Stories That Linger in the Shadows
Readers will encounter serial killers, alien creatures, and dark angels, as well as more “normal” narratives about the horrors of everyday love. Love and Other Monsters in the Dark features a genre-hopping blend of contemporary fiction, noir humor, speculative fiction, and horror, with an undercurrent of love and the relationships that bind us together in the darkness. Among others, the cast of characters includes a catfish and her victim, creepy dolls in prayer, an arsonist housewife, an elderly bank robber, and a “teacup” pig. Some just can’t take it anymore.
From an award-winning story of a woman who turns into her grandmother overnight, to a narrative about facing relationship complications during a zombie apocalypse, this collection offers laughter and tears, playfully packaged in and out of flash fiction.
Readers will encounter serial killers, alien creatures, and dark angels, as well as more “normal” narratives about the horrors of everyday love. Love and Other Monsters in the Dark features a genre-hopping blend of contemporary fiction, noir humor, speculative fiction, and horror, with an undercurrent of love and the relationships that bind us together in the darkness. Among others, the cast of characters includes a catfish and her victim, creepy dolls in prayer, an arsonist housewife, an elderly bank robber, and a “teacup” pig. Some just can’t take it anymore.
From an award-winning story of a woman who turns into her grandmother overnight, to a narrative about facing relationship complications during a zombie apocalypse, this collection offers laughter and tears, playfully packaged in and out of flash fiction.
186 pages, Paperback
Published June 20, 2022
About the author
K.B. Jensen
7 books45 followersAward-winning Author K.B. Jensen’s new collection of short stories, Love and Other Monsters in the Dark, is out. She has two novels, Painting With Fire, an artistic murder mystery, and A Storm of Stories, which veers literary and handles love, craziness and impossibility. Painting With Fire has been downloaded over 75,000 times. K.B. lives in Littleton, CO., with her family. She teaches skiing and writes poetry. A former journalist, K.B. is a senior publishing consultant and writing camp director for My Word Publishing. Her work has appeared in Cherry Magazine, Progenitor and other publications. Visit www.kbjensenauthor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 24, 2022
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S LOVE AND OTHER MONSTERS ABOUT?
I have no idea how to answer this question in any but the most annoying way—it's a collection of forty-two short stories and flash/sudden fiction (however you want to refer to them). Learning that this is only 186 pages long emphasized just how short these stories are.
As far as this collection goes—the stories are about love and monsters, basically. The fact that the title says "Other Monsters" suggests a little about what kind of love stories will be told. Let's just say that none of these will be fodder for a Hallmark movie.
The genres these stories approach the subjects from are varied—there's some Science Fiction, some Horror, some Crime, and a little General Fiction—there's even a Zombie story (a Zombie story I liked—despite my frequent claims that I don't like the genre).
SELF-DEPRECIATION
Jensen does not have a lot of good things to say about writers in these pages, those comments both ring true and are some of the funnier lines in the book. In one story, a character cites a line in an earlier story and casts aspersions on it. It's a small moment, and if you don't recognize the call back you will miss absolutely nothing—but if you do catch it, you'll enjoy it.
(yes, it's possible that there are other self-referential moments that I missed. Which would only bolster that point about missing the one I caught not making that much of an impact)
There are not many lighter moments in this book—it's about monsters, after all. So it makes those that Jensen provides all the nicer.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT LOVE AND OTHER MONSTERS IN THE DARK?
It's even harder to answer this question than the first one...the short version is, that I really liked it and was more than impressed with Jensen's skill and versatility. I could list names of stories that wowed me, but that wouldn't be useful to anyone (and my list would be really long—and incomplete). If I told you a little about the stories or why they were so effective, I'd ruin the experience for you. My hands are tied on being too helpful here.
If I did this as a profession, I'd take the time/effort to give you numbers here, but I'm not, so you'll get impressions. A little more than half of the flash fiction aren't complete stories—they're the beginnings of stories, the introductory page or two for a short story, and then they end. Oddly, with one exception, that was enough for me—I was satisfied.
Well, I say I was satisfied, but I'd have loved to turn the page and get the rest of the story. Yet in a way that I cannot really understand (or, evidently, explain), what Jensen gave was enough. And that one exception had nothing to do with the brevity, it was the piece—I don't think it would've resonated with me no matter how much content was provided.
Now, when she told a whole story in either the flash or short fiction? Some of the best short fiction I've read in a dog's age. Sure, there were two or three stories that didn't work for me, but that's about my taste, not Jensen's writing.
There are moments of sweetness (frequently deserving the prefix "bitter", sure, but the sweetness is what I remember), there's some heartbreak, too. There are just some horrible people and worse outcomes. I'm not sure there's a "happily ever after" to be found, but maybe a few "better than it could've been" endings. Sure, there are also the horror stories or the SF that tends in a horror direction. Those might have been my favorites.
I'm going to stop flailing around, trying to describe my impressions of this book. In short—this is the kind of short fiction I want to read more of, and the kind I don't find that often, which is why I read so little of it. Fast, well-written, impactful—these literary snacks will stay with you longer than you'd think they will based on the length.
---
WHAT'S LOVE AND OTHER MONSTERS ABOUT?
I have no idea how to answer this question in any but the most annoying way—it's a collection of forty-two short stories and flash/sudden fiction (however you want to refer to them). Learning that this is only 186 pages long emphasized just how short these stories are.
As far as this collection goes—the stories are about love and monsters, basically. The fact that the title says "Other Monsters" suggests a little about what kind of love stories will be told. Let's just say that none of these will be fodder for a Hallmark movie.
The genres these stories approach the subjects from are varied—there's some Science Fiction, some Horror, some Crime, and a little General Fiction—there's even a Zombie story (a Zombie story I liked—despite my frequent claims that I don't like the genre).
SELF-DEPRECIATION
Jensen does not have a lot of good things to say about writers in these pages, those comments both ring true and are some of the funnier lines in the book. In one story, a character cites a line in an earlier story and casts aspersions on it. It's a small moment, and if you don't recognize the call back you will miss absolutely nothing—but if you do catch it, you'll enjoy it.
(yes, it's possible that there are other self-referential moments that I missed. Which would only bolster that point about missing the one I caught not making that much of an impact)
There are not many lighter moments in this book—it's about monsters, after all. So it makes those that Jensen provides all the nicer.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT LOVE AND OTHER MONSTERS IN THE DARK?
It's even harder to answer this question than the first one...the short version is, that I really liked it and was more than impressed with Jensen's skill and versatility. I could list names of stories that wowed me, but that wouldn't be useful to anyone (and my list would be really long—and incomplete). If I told you a little about the stories or why they were so effective, I'd ruin the experience for you. My hands are tied on being too helpful here.
If I did this as a profession, I'd take the time/effort to give you numbers here, but I'm not, so you'll get impressions. A little more than half of the flash fiction aren't complete stories—they're the beginnings of stories, the introductory page or two for a short story, and then they end. Oddly, with one exception, that was enough for me—I was satisfied.
Well, I say I was satisfied, but I'd have loved to turn the page and get the rest of the story. Yet in a way that I cannot really understand (or, evidently, explain), what Jensen gave was enough. And that one exception had nothing to do with the brevity, it was the piece—I don't think it would've resonated with me no matter how much content was provided.
Now, when she told a whole story in either the flash or short fiction? Some of the best short fiction I've read in a dog's age. Sure, there were two or three stories that didn't work for me, but that's about my taste, not Jensen's writing.
There are moments of sweetness (frequently deserving the prefix "bitter", sure, but the sweetness is what I remember), there's some heartbreak, too. There are just some horrible people and worse outcomes. I'm not sure there's a "happily ever after" to be found, but maybe a few "better than it could've been" endings. Sure, there are also the horror stories or the SF that tends in a horror direction. Those might have been my favorites.
I'm going to stop flailing around, trying to describe my impressions of this book. In short—this is the kind of short fiction I want to read more of, and the kind I don't find that often, which is why I read so little of it. Fast, well-written, impactful—these literary snacks will stay with you longer than you'd think they will based on the length.
August 30, 2022
Thanks to The Next Best Book Club for the book in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 -A fun, though sometimes repetitious, collection of twisty and dark short stories. Read the full review on my blog!
3.5 -A fun, though sometimes repetitious, collection of twisty and dark short stories. Read the full review on my blog!
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June 23, 2022Hey everyone! I am thrilled to be working with KB and the promotion of this amazing collection of dark and disturbing flash fiction stories. It's going to quickly become a favorite, I promise!
If you're interested in reviewing the collection, interviewing KB, and general shouting from the mountain tops, hit me up for a review copy!
If you're interested in reviewing the collection, interviewing KB, and general shouting from the mountain tops, hit me up for a review copy!
September 3, 2022
An excellent short story collection with content to please just about everyone!
I laughed, I cried, I gasped in horror… it was a grand ol’ time!
Some of my favorites were:
🖤 Dark Angels
🖤 In a Serial Killer’s Garden
🖤 A Rescue
🖤 Barbara, The Bank Robber
Tune in to my upcoming “Dark” reading vlog to hear more detailed thoughts on this absolute gem!
Many thanks to Lori Hettler and Crimson Cloud Media for my gorgeous paperback.
I laughed, I cried, I gasped in horror… it was a grand ol’ time!
Some of my favorites were:
🖤 Dark Angels
🖤 In a Serial Killer’s Garden
🖤 A Rescue
🖤 Barbara, The Bank Robber
Tune in to my upcoming “Dark” reading vlog to hear more detailed thoughts on this absolute gem!
Many thanks to Lori Hettler and Crimson Cloud Media for my gorgeous paperback.
August 1, 2022
Love and Other Monsters in the Dark is a collection of quick stories to show the reader how darkness and horror are not just in the zombie apocalypse or dark angels made by the government but how we can find it in our everyday life. They are an entertaining rush of horrific yet sad and happy, adrenaline stories that are more than a flash in the pan.
Read the rest of the review at http://www.ismellsheep.com/2022/07/bo...
Read the rest of the review at http://www.ismellsheep.com/2022/07/bo...
September 22, 2022
Great set of short stories
I have read other writings of author KB Jensen and always enjoyed her books. While not a short story aficionado, these little vignettes were enjoyable too. They are sometimes often witty, always poignant, and sometimes a bit scary - but not really! My only compliant is that just when I was starting to become engrossed in the story, it was over. But I guess that is the point. If you want a fun set of short stories look no further.
I have read other writings of author KB Jensen and always enjoyed her books. While not a short story aficionado, these little vignettes were enjoyable too. They are sometimes often witty, always poignant, and sometimes a bit scary - but not really! My only compliant is that just when I was starting to become engrossed in the story, it was over. But I guess that is the point. If you want a fun set of short stories look no further.
July 18, 2025
K.B. Jensen read two stories from this book at a writing retreat we attended recently. I was hooked and bought a copy of her book. She has a super creative, quirky sense of humor, resulting in interesting twists and turns in her short stories - from a young woman who suddenly turns old to another woman who enjoys planting flowers in her garden, where the ashes of the people she murdered nourish the soil. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down.
September 17, 2022
I gasped, cringed, laughed and shook my head in wonder at this unique collection of short stories by K.B. Jensen. The author has a gift in pulling you into a story quickly. At times I found myself holding my breath in anticipation. I will not forget the compelling characters in Love and Other Monsters in the Dark for quite some time. Great read anytime, but especially near Halloween.
October 13, 2022
I loved this collection of disturbing, sinister, and thought-provoking tales. Jensen's relatable, but doomed characters face a barrage of typical and macabre circumstances. Surprising twists and contemporary conundrums mark nearly every story. Perfect for October!
October 22, 2022
Imaginative
Reading this book was like trick-or-treating for readers who love horror. Snack size bites of every sort of haunted candy one's eyes can devour. KB Jensen is a master storyteller. The creep factor goes to 11.
Reading this book was like trick-or-treating for readers who love horror. Snack size bites of every sort of haunted candy one's eyes can devour. KB Jensen is a master storyteller. The creep factor goes to 11.
September 9, 2022
Interesting
Strangely interesting, sometimes funny, always entertaining short but sweet stories. Could have kept on reading, but the book was finished. Isn’t it always that way?
Strangely interesting, sometimes funny, always entertaining short but sweet stories. Could have kept on reading, but the book was finished. Isn’t it always that way?
September 13, 2022
Amazing collection
Wow, loved every single short story. Kept me reading till the end. Amazing writing, will definitely read more from this author!
Wow, loved every single short story. Kept me reading till the end. Amazing writing, will definitely read more from this author!
December 8, 2022
Some good stories here. Jensen's commitment to the flash format means that some pieces that would have been better fleshed out have been truncated. And a few of them suffer from a lack of polish.
November 14, 2024
Love these
Most of these are weird. One made me laugh too hard and some made me tear up. They're quick, easy reads and I greatly enjoyed them.
Most of these are weird. One made me laugh too hard and some made me tear up. They're quick, easy reads and I greatly enjoyed them.
February 20, 2025
short stories made me wanting more
Some of the shorts I didn’t like but some I loved and wish they were longer. Definitely a quick read, but also not exactly what I was expecting.
Some of the shorts I didn’t like but some I loved and wish they were longer. Definitely a quick read, but also not exactly what I was expecting.
May 9, 2025
A good book of short stories.
Some make little or no sense but you still stop and think about them. Some are silly horror, while others are not good for bed time.
All are goid tho.
Some make little or no sense but you still stop and think about them. Some are silly horror, while others are not good for bed time.
All are goid tho.
April 15, 2024
I am grateful to Goodreads and Crimson Cloud Media LLC for providing me with a kindle copy of this delightful yet eerie assortment of short stories. The book is a perfect blend of love and darkness, making it a quick, fascinating read.
"Love is like a set of clothes," she murmured. "You put it on a person, and it completely changes the way they look. You take it away, and they look completely different."
Love and Other Monsters in the Dark contains captivating stories with unexpected and thought-provoking conclusions. The characters are well-developed, although at times repetitive, and the plots are easy to follow with room for personal interpretation.
Of course, they are not all winners, but quite a few are gems. A multitude of genres covering the many monsters and fears we face in life and dreams, there is a story in here for everyone.
"Love is like a set of clothes," she murmured. "You put it on a person, and it completely changes the way they look. You take it away, and they look completely different."
Love and Other Monsters in the Dark contains captivating stories with unexpected and thought-provoking conclusions. The characters are well-developed, although at times repetitive, and the plots are easy to follow with room for personal interpretation.
Of course, they are not all winners, but quite a few are gems. A multitude of genres covering the many monsters and fears we face in life and dreams, there is a story in here for everyone.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews