Do you enjoy reading women in horror? I sure do, and so does Lee Murray who writes an excellent foreword to this collection. February is Women in Horror Month, making this a timely release, but still... one can and should read the amazing works of women in horror all year long. And in my opinion, this collection is a great place to start!
In Daughters of Darkness, we're gifted with multiple stories and poems by four celebrated women horror authors: Theresa Derwin, Ruschelle Dillon, Stephanie Ellis, and Alyson Faye. In all fairness, I was only familiar with Stephanie and Theresa before reading this, but I am now a fan of all these ladies after enjoying this gorgeous collection!
Each author left their mark on this book, giving us women characters in various stages of life who endure seemingly impossible horrors... or, in some cases, enact horrors on their unsuspecting victims. And that is one of the reasons I love stories like these. In horror, a common trope is having women as victims which, don't get me wrong, isn't necessarily a bad thing when done well. Horror stories always have to have a victim (and it doesn't always have to be a woman, either). But it's also refreshing and fun, for me, to see a well-written woman as the antagonist (I've always had a thing for villains, what can I say?). These ladies know how to represent every type of woman with their characters, from victim to heroine to villain, and I loved the results!
Now, I could go into a lengthy description of each of these stories, but I'll just share my favorites by each author to keep it simple.
Theresa Derwin -- Ok, first off, I love that she had a two-parter with "Whitechapel Transfer" and "And The Giant Said, To Jack..." centered on characters who're trying to solve the mystery of Jack the Ripper. This was such an inventive take on an iconic (and often redone) tale of true crime, and I loved it. Even more than that, I was awed and terrified by "Tummy Bug," about a woman struggling with the very real horrors of endometriosis -- my overall favorite by Derwin in this collection, which will give me nightmares for years to come.
Ruschelle Dillon -- Picking one favorite of Dillon's from this collection may be impossible. "Seasons of the Sun" was so unique, unlike anything I've ever read in horror (and I loved the rock music references!). If I had to pick one favorite, I'm inclined to say "Is That Your Dead Wife, Or Are You Happy To See Me." I'm not always a fan of comedy in horror, but this story was a huge win for me! The writing was just right, perfect pacing and engaging characters, and so hilarious that I was truly laughing out loud while reading. I've not read anything before by Ruschelle Dillon, but I am definitely ready for more!
Stephanie Ellis -- I'm a big fan of Ellis's work, especially her brilliant novel The Five Turns of the Wheel, but I've only ever read one of her short stories before this (which I also enjoyed). These two stories were some of the lengthier offerings in the collection, but both were pure horror perfection. My favorite of the two was "Painted Ladies," a story with such relevant themes about feminine beauty and what women go through to achieve impossible standards, but it also had a creepy Norman Bates/Psycho vibe which I adored.
Alyson Faye -- Another woman with amazing talent, I loved Faye's work here. "The Blasted Tree" was my favorite of the bunch (though "It Lives In The Walls" runs a close second), a dark and chilling tale that speaks to my enduring love of folk horror. This story had me biting my nails, terrified for what might happen to young Rosie after her family is forced to move to a new house in a definitely odd town.
All in all, this collection was simply amazing. Not only would it be a perfect choice for Women in Horror Month, but it's really an ideal gateway into trying out women's horror fiction for newbies. Give it a chance, I promise there's something for every horror fan here. I can't wait to read more from these ladies, Brava!
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Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2021
Top reviews from other countries
- NatalieReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2021
A horror collection not to be missed
- Ms. Theresa M. DerwinReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2021
Four fearsome females
