All These Sunken Souls

Starred review from August 21, 2023
Consisting of 10 stories by 10 authors—including Kalynn Bayron, Liselle Sambury, and Joelle Wellington—and starring Black teens, this gripping horror anthology, edited by contributor Moskowitz, contains new takes on classic horror themes. In Sami Ellis’s “The Teeth Come Out at Night,” something evil and dangerous stalks teen Akeela, who sees no other way to pay for college admission fees than by selling the baby teeth of the children she nannies. Nonbinary protagonist Frey flips the script on their physically and verbally abusive lover in a long-planned and violent bid for revenge in Joel Rochester’s “I Love Your Eyes.” And in Ryan Douglass’s “Papa Pearlie,” a grandfather wields exacting control over his family using hoodoo dolls, to frightening outcomes. Each selection features fresh twists on familiar paranormal fare, such as zombies, multiverses, immortal beings, evil twins, and ancient magic, making for a varied offering with something for every reader. Carefully constructed characters and worlds ruminate on myriad Black experiences while providing spine-tingling, escapist stories for fans of simultaneously gruesome and pensive scares. Ages 12–up. Agent: Natascha Morris, Tobias Literary.

Starred review from September 1, 2023
An entertaining and eclectic horror anthology centering Black characters sure to scare and delight. Editor Moskowitz has collected 10 horrific tales showcasing a variety of subgenres, from zombies (as in her own contribution, "No Harm Done") to haunted houses ("The Consumption of Vienna Montrose" by Joelle Wellington) and monsters lurking in the dark ("Lights" by Kalynn Bayron). Some of the standouts include "All My Best Friends Are Dead" by Liselle Sambury, a twisty take on the Bloody Mary classic showcasing a sleepover slaughter, and "Mother, Daughter, and the Devil," an eerie fable from Donyae Coles told in a mesmerizing and lyrical voice. Continuing the theme of teeth that appears in Coles' story, Sami Ellis' "The Teeth Come Out at Night" gives a new twist to babysitting horror stories. Black protagonists provide new perspectives on a genre that traditionally is somewhat limited in representation; these inclusive takes on well-known tropes offer readers not only delightful chills and thrills but also a new and necessary lens through which to view the fears that haunt us all in the night. Overall, this is an accessible, fast-paced, and often startling collection. Fans of Stephen King and Jordan Peele will be eager to dig into this modernized take on age-old scary stories. One to enjoy with the lights on. (contributor bios) (Horror. 12-18)

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