18 stories in a creepy modern horror mood written through an unsettling, grotesque and psychological unease premise; bit eerie and supernaturally related with mostly revolved around one’s personal terror, of body horror, on fear, familial or relationship distress as well societal and cultural tragics.

I enjoyed Apples (Emilia Hart) the most for its chilling and surreal feminist narrative of a newly divorced mom who moves to a new house with an apple tree on its garden, of which after consuming the apples would grant her an ability to hear the unsettling men’s thoughts. The Fruiting Body (Bridget Collins) spooked me with its gloomy run-down house backdrop and the gripping toxic relationship premise while Going Large (Lionel Shriver) was so entertainingly twisty with its fatphobia and exploration on one’s morality and fitness obsession. Loved both The Broccoli Eel (Michel Faber) and Fairies (Lavie Tidhar) for having a child POV that highlighted on broken families, of abuse, deaths and school bullying.

Few fusing in bizarre and psycho tweak or being too mystic and unhinged in execution like Fight, Flight, Freeze (Susan Barker), Daisies (Mariana Enriquez), Mouse (Louisa Young) and Sketchy (Lewis Hancox) also loved that unique horror element in Carcinisation (Lucy Rose) for its peculiar arc on a bond of a human and a crab as well Bob-A-Job (James Smythe) with its blend of corporate and tech intense.

Fairly enjoyable all in all for its diversed interpretation and observation on modern horror; nothing that jump scared to me but its sense of lingered mystery making it quite haunting and worth to read collection.

(review copy courtesy of TimesReads)