Great Assortment | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

WHEN THE CREATURES CALL by Clark Roberts is Volume 2 of Led By Beasts, a collection of short stories and essays influenced by the history of horror fiction. While the first installment featured children as the terrifying force behind the beasts, this time the beasts appear to be drawn by sacrifices: willing and unwilling.

I enjoyed reading every single story, and the essays offered some fantastic insight into Roberts creative mind. The last short, The Dog Creek Coven, is my favorite. I highly recommend this collection!

As always,

AstraDaemon

Fireside | AstraDaemon

LED BY BEASTS by Clark Roberts is an assortment of horrifying bits and pieces, many featuring children as the terrifying force behind the beasts:

THE BOY: great intro to the collection, followed by some thoughts on Stephen King

VENGEFUL FANGS: a son avenges his father

BUFFOONVILLE: a woman discovers a twisted secret about her husband

THE WITCH'S MUSHROOM: brothers craving the same thing, followed by some Bentley Little chit-chat

CARNY BOB: marital issues are made worse by dragging up the past

CRAFTMANSHIP FOR FOOD: one of the weirdest stories I've ever read

COSTUMES: this is one of the best stories I've ever read, followed by a confession about Peter Straub

A LIFETIME OF DEVILISH HAUNTS: a deep story, with a bittersweet ending

THE CHOSEN DEATHS OF THE FACELESS: somewhat confusing, and quite sad

SOMETIMES: very sick and twisted, followed by a few memories of Clive Barker

A REUNION ON ZONBI PRAYA: ocean creature wrecks a marriage

THE PATH TO LUST: like being sober at a party where everyone is wasted

LILITH: karma, followed by an experience with Laird Barron

THE DEVIL'S FINGERS: mourning and murder

THE VDOVA GODDESS: a devil and a goddess

THE WHOLE WORLD IN THEIR HANDS: this one would make a frightening movie

EPILOGUE: the boy who grew up with stories

All of the stories are intriguing, some are terrifying, some are heart-breaking...my favorite is COSTUMES. Roberts has definitely leveled up with his storytelling.

As always,
AstraDaemon