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4.3 out of 5 stars
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If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of Deadly Women and Retribution (The Better Off Dead Series Book 3)

If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of Deadly Women and Retribution (The Better Off Dead Series Book 3)

bySinister Smile Press
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Top positive review

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Jeff C.
5.0 out of 5 starsA blow you away collection of awesomeness
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2020
I have had the privilege of reading a ton of awesome short stories this year. Sometimes a short story is just what you need as a reader.

If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of Deadly Women and Retribution is a top to bottom collection of amazing stories, many of which are penned by people I had never encountered before, but from whom I hope to see more in the future. I liked every one of them. Some I liked better, but that is only natural. It had a few standouts in my mind, from Bridgett Nelson, Mark Young, and Renee M.P.T. Kray. Honestly, they were all really amazing and well worth the time.

Here’s what this volume offers:

The Long December by Steven Pajak tells a tale of revenge for anyone who’s been wronged and deep down feels the need to get back at those in power when they hurt your family.

Cara Fox created a brutal dystopian world in Take Heart my Child, where a mother makes a deep, and noble sacrifice for her daughters. This one stuck with me a good long while and I am not embarrassed to say, really emotional when I finished it. I’ll be looking for more work by Cara Fox.

Then this compilation gives you something completely different in Sign Followers by Chris Contreras Bahnsen. This one is an interesting story about a family that works with snakes. To me, it really captured the tone and voice of the MC very, very well. Nicely done.

Scotty Milder's The Door, relates to us a young daughter’s hero worship of her rock star dad as she continues to grow up. It affects her a lot when she learns about the huge price extracted from the band members for their lives. The ending kind of left me scratching my head, but I enjoyed the narrative a lot.

Predator by J.H. Moncrief had some dark, brutal, dark, brutal, dark, brutal stuff. Off. But very satisfying because the POS antagonist gets what's coming to him in the best possible way, that’s for damn sure. Very well told tale in the modern information age. (Did I mention that it was dark and brutal? I did? Thought so.)

Scott Harper's Chained tells us a remarkable tale of how love can overcome any obstacle within ourselves and those that opposes it when a vampire fights her own dark impulses and those who threaten the wife she loves.

Bridgett Nelson's Political Suicide blew me away. Damn. This is one is in the top two best short stories I have EVER read in my whole life. And I am not just saying that. It has a good, sympathetic protagonist, a despicable antagonist, lots of suspense, and plenty of thriller/horror emotions it evokes. I wish this could be required reading for politicians. This one to me had the best suspense. I didn’t know how it was going to develop or if the character was really going to go through with what I thought she would or if she would do something different that the antagonist also deserved. This one will stay with me for a long time. Damn... Special kudos in my mind goes out to Bridgett Nelson. She’ll be another writer from whom I can’t wait to see more.

When I finished reading Spencer Richard's Anika I wasn’t sure what I felt about the MC. Yes, it was well done. Don’t get me wrong. This one has a different type of protagonist and as I sit here typing this, that made for a nice change of pace. Thinking about it more reminded me that not every protagonist is going to be a clear-cut “good-guy” stereotype. So that one makes me happy that I ended up thinking a lot. Never a bad thing.

Another huge standout to me was Mark Young's To Hell and Back. This story gave me an amazingly immersive and enjoyable trip to the underworld and an urban fantasy world with magic and monsters that wasn’t cloying. This was also probably one of the best short stories I have read. Mark Young, if you happen to see this, and you haven’t written other stories with this MC, I would totally suggest you give your growing fan base more of this character and her world.

Claire Brown strapped me into one hell of an emotional roller coaster in her story Forget Me Not. If ever you wonder what your life might look like if you’d made different choice, read this one. Life can be wearisome, but worth it. The people in our live can be challenging. But they are worth it. A true example of you never really know what you have until it’s gone. Nicely done, Claire Brown.

Nikkolas James offered up an interesting tale of PIs, necromancy, and a lake in Fancy Dick McGuffin and the Case of the Recycled Hired Guns. I found this one very creative and enjoyable.

The Returned by Natalie Sierra tells a dark, gruesome cautionary tale of science and ambition leading to the revival of a dead person. Just goes to show you that Mary Shelley had it right! Why do scientists (only in literature – I hope) always want to revive dead people? Does that ever end well? Okay, maybe once in a while it does. Very well done, nicely written and extremely entertaining.

In Foundling by Lee Rozelle, we hear the story of an academic thrown into a high stakes conflict over a new and precious infant creature. Of all possible endings, Rozelle managed to find one I hadn't foreseen. The end left me a bit perplexed. But I liked this one. It was very creative and entertaining.

Lucy by R.E. Sargent was a cool story about some dim bulb guy that managed to get manipulated into doing some really, really, REALLY dumb stuff by a mysterious lady who may or may not be all she seems.

I liked Black Feathered Fury by Red Lagoe a lot too. I really sympathized with the main character, Betty. It tells us that friends can come in the most unlikely of places.

The collection closes out with the fantastic story, Soul Skeeter, by Renee M.P.T. Kray. Very imaginative and very well written story about a young girl who sees a bad guy coming into the family home and no one else does. I LOVED this one. It captures the voice of a young kid and their frustration at not being listened to even when they are right. I was immediately drawn into the mind set of this youngster and her voice with the phrase Kray uses for her narration, I thought that was a small touch that yielded big rewards for fleshing out this character. I hope to read more from Renee M.P.T. Kray in the future.
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Top critical review

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Maria Molina
1.0 out of 5 starsMissing pages in all the stories!
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2020
I enjoyed the first book If I die before I wake so I decided to purchase Volume 3. It's only .99 cents so no big deal. Except it states "we were unable to load this page. Please try again later." after every three or four pages in every story! Ruined the book for me. Wonder what I missed.
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From the United States

Jeff C.
5.0 out of 5 stars A blow you away collection of awesomeness
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2020
Verified Purchase
I have had the privilege of reading a ton of awesome short stories this year. Sometimes a short story is just what you need as a reader.

If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of Deadly Women and Retribution is a top to bottom collection of amazing stories, many of which are penned by people I had never encountered before, but from whom I hope to see more in the future. I liked every one of them. Some I liked better, but that is only natural. It had a few standouts in my mind, from Bridgett Nelson, Mark Young, and Renee M.P.T. Kray. Honestly, they were all really amazing and well worth the time.

Here’s what this volume offers:

The Long December by Steven Pajak tells a tale of revenge for anyone who’s been wronged and deep down feels the need to get back at those in power when they hurt your family.

Cara Fox created a brutal dystopian world in Take Heart my Child, where a mother makes a deep, and noble sacrifice for her daughters. This one stuck with me a good long while and I am not embarrassed to say, really emotional when I finished it. I’ll be looking for more work by Cara Fox.

Then this compilation gives you something completely different in Sign Followers by Chris Contreras Bahnsen. This one is an interesting story about a family that works with snakes. To me, it really captured the tone and voice of the MC very, very well. Nicely done.

Scotty Milder's The Door, relates to us a young daughter’s hero worship of her rock star dad as she continues to grow up. It affects her a lot when she learns about the huge price extracted from the band members for their lives. The ending kind of left me scratching my head, but I enjoyed the narrative a lot.

Predator by J.H. Moncrief had some dark, brutal, dark, brutal, dark, brutal stuff. Off. But very satisfying because the POS antagonist gets what's coming to him in the best possible way, that’s for damn sure. Very well told tale in the modern information age. (Did I mention that it was dark and brutal? I did? Thought so.)

Scott Harper's Chained tells us a remarkable tale of how love can overcome any obstacle within ourselves and those that opposes it when a vampire fights her own dark impulses and those who threaten the wife she loves.

Bridgett Nelson's Political Suicide blew me away. Damn. This is one is in the top two best short stories I have EVER read in my whole life. And I am not just saying that. It has a good, sympathetic protagonist, a despicable antagonist, lots of suspense, and plenty of thriller/horror emotions it evokes. I wish this could be required reading for politicians. This one to me had the best suspense. I didn’t know how it was going to develop or if the character was really going to go through with what I thought she would or if she would do something different that the antagonist also deserved. This one will stay with me for a long time. Damn... Special kudos in my mind goes out to Bridgett Nelson. She’ll be another writer from whom I can’t wait to see more.

When I finished reading Spencer Richard's Anika I wasn’t sure what I felt about the MC. Yes, it was well done. Don’t get me wrong. This one has a different type of protagonist and as I sit here typing this, that made for a nice change of pace. Thinking about it more reminded me that not every protagonist is going to be a clear-cut “good-guy” stereotype. So that one makes me happy that I ended up thinking a lot. Never a bad thing.

Another huge standout to me was Mark Young's To Hell and Back. This story gave me an amazingly immersive and enjoyable trip to the underworld and an urban fantasy world with magic and monsters that wasn’t cloying. This was also probably one of the best short stories I have read. Mark Young, if you happen to see this, and you haven’t written other stories with this MC, I would totally suggest you give your growing fan base more of this character and her world.

Claire Brown strapped me into one hell of an emotional roller coaster in her story Forget Me Not. If ever you wonder what your life might look like if you’d made different choice, read this one. Life can be wearisome, but worth it. The people in our live can be challenging. But they are worth it. A true example of you never really know what you have until it’s gone. Nicely done, Claire Brown.

Nikkolas James offered up an interesting tale of PIs, necromancy, and a lake in Fancy Dick McGuffin and the Case of the Recycled Hired Guns. I found this one very creative and enjoyable.

The Returned by Natalie Sierra tells a dark, gruesome cautionary tale of science and ambition leading to the revival of a dead person. Just goes to show you that Mary Shelley had it right! Why do scientists (only in literature – I hope) always want to revive dead people? Does that ever end well? Okay, maybe once in a while it does. Very well done, nicely written and extremely entertaining.

In Foundling by Lee Rozelle, we hear the story of an academic thrown into a high stakes conflict over a new and precious infant creature. Of all possible endings, Rozelle managed to find one I hadn't foreseen. The end left me a bit perplexed. But I liked this one. It was very creative and entertaining.

Lucy by R.E. Sargent was a cool story about some dim bulb guy that managed to get manipulated into doing some really, really, REALLY dumb stuff by a mysterious lady who may or may not be all she seems.

I liked Black Feathered Fury by Red Lagoe a lot too. I really sympathized with the main character, Betty. It tells us that friends can come in the most unlikely of places.

The collection closes out with the fantastic story, Soul Skeeter, by Renee M.P.T. Kray. Very imaginative and very well written story about a young girl who sees a bad guy coming into the family home and no one else does. I LOVED this one. It captures the voice of a young kid and their frustration at not being listened to even when they are right. I was immediately drawn into the mind set of this youngster and her voice with the phrase Kray uses for her narration, I thought that was a small touch that yielded big rewards for fleshing out this character. I hope to read more from Renee M.P.T. Kray in the future.
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Kayla Krantz
5.0 out of 5 stars Wicked Anthology
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2020
Verified Purchase
“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

A perfect way to sum up this anthology of 16 kickass stories. Women will do what it takes to protect those they love, and these stories take that to the extreme. Murder, mystery, and revenge flows throughout this collection. Even though every story is dramatically different, the theme of a strong female ensures that every story is connected in a way.

I tried to compile a top five favorites, but it was tough to choose so I whittled it down to my top six (in no particular order):

1. The Long December by Steven Pajak: A daughter is determined to get revenge on the people responsible for her mother’s suicide. This was an emotional rollercoaster.

2. Predator by J.H. Moncrieff: “Not my son. Not my child.” When a detective finds pictures of her son deep on the Dark Web, she takes on a special mission: protect him at all costs. It was easy to lose myself in the details of this one. The emotions were raw and, as a parent, very easy for me to relate to the MC.

3. Political Suicide by Bridget Nelson: A beautiful story of Karma at its finest. After a politician cuts funding to a much-needed medical program, the MC’s son dies of cancer. In a desperate move to avenge him, she comes up with the perfect plan of an eye for an eye. The plot in this one was very original.

4. To Hell and Back by Mark Young: In order to save her daughter, a woman must make a trip to the underworld. Very cool themes of paranormal, horror, and suspense. Not to mention a kickass MC.

5. Forget Me Not by Claire Brown: When a woman wishes her children away, the wish is granted. Be careful what you wish for! This one was another emotional rollercoaster. Mixed with the suspense of the paranormal, it had me on the edge of my seat. Not to mention that ending.

6. Lucy by R.E. Sargent: A woman enlists help from a stranger to escape her abusive husband. Thing is, her plans go much deeper than that. I always love R.E. Sargent’s stories for his awesome way of writing strong woman with dark plans.

Even though I’m not mentioning every story in my review, I enjoyed them all. Each of them spoke of the depths of human nature and what exactly can happen when a person is pushed too far.

Perfect collection of stories to invoke a range of emotions in readers across the board.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
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High Heeled One
5.0 out of 5 stars Imaginative Female Empowerment of the Murderous Kind!
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2020
Verified Purchase
Twisted Sisters

You may want to think twice before messing with the women in this book.

They’re out for blood. Literally.

Sixteen imaginative stories cover female empowerment of the murderous kind. Each is unique and arranged in a way that separates and enhances the differences.

I loved the creativity of all but was immediately taken with these three stories:

In Political Suicide by Bridgett Nelson, a sharp protagonist begins her revenge rather innocuously but then ramps it up becoming perhaps the most Mephistophelian character in the book. What a planner! So sinister AND a bonus twist.

The Long December by Steven Pajac features a crafty college student seeking those responsible for her mother’s death and plotting their untimely demise.

...And the wry ending award goes to Foundling. Loved, loved, loved that ending! You’ll have to read it to see why and hopefully you’ll smile too.

I can’t detail every story but wanted to mention Take Heart My Child, a grim dystopian tale about a mother providing for her daughters. Although not normally a genre I seek out, I’m still thinking about this one.

I love a great karma story. Payback is like frosting on the cake and the sweeter the better. Give me that sugar, I’m addicted!

Thank you to Sinister Smile Press for my ARC. I'd ordered a copy and was waiting for publication but jumped on the chance to read it early.
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Kindle Customer 5252
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book.
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2020
Verified Purchase
Excellent book and recommend it to everyone. Great stories,very well written and totally entertaining. A book I would like more books to be like.Thank you for sharing your books.Keep writing!
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Maria Molina
1.0 out of 5 stars Missing pages in all the stories!
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2020
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed the first book If I die before I wake so I decided to purchase Volume 3. It's only .99 cents so no big deal. Except it states "we were unable to load this page. Please try again later." after every three or four pages in every story! Ruined the book for me. Wonder what I missed.
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Michelle
3.0 out of 5 stars Some good, some bad....
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2020
We have sixteen tales of terror and revenge and some I loved, some were okay, and some were downright terrible. Rather than spending my review time on the ones I didn't enjoy I will focus on the ones that I did.

Take Heart My Child by Cara Fox: A mother will do anything to protect her children in this dystopian world. 4 stars!

Predator by J.H. Moncreif: Predators of the dark web....beware. 5 stars!

Political Suicide by Bridgett Nelson: One mothers quest for revenge when a local senator takes funding away from her young sons cancer treatment. 5 stars!

Anika by Spencer Richard: Don't mess with sisters when one is hell bent on revenge. 4 stars!

Forget Me Not by Claire Brown: An exhausted mother must fight a witch for the returned safety of her children. 4 stars!

3 stars were awarded to:

Sign Followers by Chris Contreras Bahnsen

The Door by Scotty Milder

The Returned by Natalie Sierra

Black Feathered Fury by Red Lagoe

It's safe to say that the remaining stories just weren't my cup o' coffee, thankyouverymuch! 3 stars!
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Bbooks
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding.
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2020
“The female of the species is deadlier than the male…”Why, then, are women so often portrayed as victims?

If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of Deadly Women and Retribution (The Better Off Dead Series Book 3)

Sinister Smile Press

The cover art, the cover art.

Thank you "If I die writers". I had a really crappy week and you all just gave me a shot of adrenaline.

These books are so.... GOOD! Five stars.

So, if you like good old fashioned Horror..you HAVE to read this. Actually..read all the books in the series. There is nothing like Old school Horror, I must say.

And not Freddy Kruger horror. If I die Before I Wake: Tales of deadly women and Retribution, has around 16 or so stories for our reading pleasure. And all of them revolve around women getting their own back. Getting REVENGE! I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR!

So I am a fan of these anthologies but this particular one really got me because of the focus on vengeful women. I feel it is important to say I dug ALL the stories..took me forever to get through..but each one was unique. However I must single out a few.

Anika by Spencer Richard..haunting and deeply moving..I wanted more though!

Political Suicide by Bridgett Nelson. Bridgett is one of my GR friends and Bridgett, I just want to say..I loved your story, was riveted actually and was delighted it's focus was on Politics..since I am a political Junkie. Your talent seems effortless.. thanks for brightening up a crummy week and I look forward to reading more for your work.

Lucy..by R.E. Sargent.....I am a huge fan of Mr. Sargent's work and "Lucy" was no different. First off..Mr. Sargent has a sick mind which is the ultimate compliment..he also loves writing about beautiful and evil women doing very, very bad things. And being a retired ex rocker myself, I adore how he incorporates music into all his stories. But this little gem of a story..you will NEVER forget it and man is it twisted!!

The Long December by Steven Paja..Dude..you made me cry..a Horror story with quite the bit of emotional depth. So well written.

Please other "If I die" writers..I adored all the stories..I really think these books are MADE for the eerie "twilight zone" type of Horror purist. And each story is so different. You may not love all of them and will almost certainly have your own favorites but they are such fun reading. Here's to many more "If I die" Anthologies.
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MD
4.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining and addictive collection of creepy stories.
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2020
2020 has been one helluva year. With many bad things pummeling down on us, one of the few bright spots is this: 2020 is THE year of short stories!

In volume 3 of The Better Off Dead Series, there is bound to be a story for everyone. You’ll read about snake preachers, vampires and black magic, Hell and the Devil’s Kingdom , fish who find comfort in latching on to things that aren’t normal for them, a soul mosquito, and more. Here are a few of my favorites:

*Political Suicide (by Bridgett Nelson) - What will a mother do after her son dies of brain cancer due to the state senator making budget cuts that eliminate programs that give assistance to low-income families? She’ll get a chance at revenge 12 years later. This one stands out, with wonderful writing and a creepy and surprising epilogue. The talk of delicious food made me very hungry as well!

*Predator (by J.H. Moncrieff) - A story about a detective on the Internet Crimes Against Children task force. What lengths will she go to when one predator is way too close for comfort? Brilliant and satisfying ending.

*Black Feathered Fury (by Red Lagoe) - A murder of crows, the collective noun for a group of crows...very fitting. Don’t f*ck with crows or old ladies. Bad things can and will happen.

*Forget Me Not (by Claire Brown) - A working woman, also a single mother, wishes just once that she didn’t have kids so she can enjoy a carefree night. Be careful what you wish for. Creepy and sad.

*Lucy (by R.E. Sargent) - Be careful who you pick up in the bar and what you promise for sex. This is creative and fun, with a devious ending...Not shocking if you’re familiar with this wonderful author.

Every story is unique and creative, and talent shines with each author...even if a few stories weren’t my normal cup of tea. This is a fun collection, and I really had a great time reading each story. It releases on 10/26/20...just in time for you to grab a copy for Halloween.
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Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo)
5.0 out of 5 stars TRICK OR TREAT
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2020
TRICK. OR. TREAT.

There are plenty of TRICKS in this 3rd edition of “The Better off Dead series”.

But the TREATS are all for us as the “If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of Deadly Women and Retribution” released TODAY, in time for Halloween! 🎃

And, for Election Day! 😳

Boy, am I sick of Political Ads and emails asking for money!

So, I lived vicariously through Dr. Jennifer Perry, as she took revenge on Senator Jason Poole, a man responsible for passing a controversial bill which took away funding for a treatment her young son, Remy, desperately needed.
(Insert the face of your least favorite Politician here 💀)

Cheers with an Amaretto Sour to author, Bridgett Nelson, as she makes her debut in the series with POLITICAL SUICIDE. -a stand-out for me.❤️

Another favorite was SOUL SKEETER-Renee M.P.T. Kray

I loved this story about 9 year old Tallulah Dara “thankyouverymuch” Cathmor vs. the Swamp Baby. 🧟‍♀️ Find out why everybody is falling for her and be sure to tell your own little sister how much you love her today! ❤️

This collection felt like a BONUS issue!
With 16 stories to choose from, there is a story for everyone and although I loved MANY others, this will end up being a short story of my own, if I don’t wrap it up, but I have to gush over just one more, before I close...

Returning author, Red Lagoe, who penned one of my favorites from Volume 2, gives us “BLACK FEATHERED FURY” in this edition.

I already steer clear of CROWS-but I NEVER feared my grandmother’s walker, till I read about Betty! ☠️ I loved this one!! ❤️
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Ruthann Jagge
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning and original stories!
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2020
“If I Die Before I Wake”
The Better Off Dead Series Vol #3
Tales of Deadly Women and Retribution

I’m a fan of these impressively-curated collections published by Sinister Smile Press (R.E. Sargent/ Steven Pajak) and can honestly say that this Volume #3 includes some exceptional and original examples of horror writing.

The entire book has been designed around the central theme, “Deadly Women and Retribution” and each story uses this theme to create exciting and terrifying versions and visions of what a woman is capable of.
As a whole, it’s a book that reads easily and held my interest throughout with a few stand-out selections that really hit the mark for me.

“Forget Me Not” by Claire Brown
An unusual game of hide and seek prompted by regrets that may or may not be real but the consequences are.

“To Hell and Back” by Mark Young
Mark’s visceral vision of the hell he describes in this story of a former assassin on a mission that matters is not only wrought with descriptions that are the stuff of nightmares but also infused with his cheeky sense of style. His quote:
“The way back isn’t always the way home” stuck with me long after I finished reading.

“Political Suicide” by Bridgett Nelson
A favorite in a standout-collection. Her character defined the idea behind the collection to me. We’ve all, “thought about” revenge at one time but this story takes it not only to the limit but does it in such a way that you’re cheering her on. A stellar debut from this author!

“The Returned” by Natalie Sierra
A grim, horribly-beautiful, cautionary tale regarding the adage that one should, ”be careful what you wish for/and do.” A fate worse that death might linger in your rear-view mirror.

“Black Feathered Fury” by Red Lagoe
Such an original concept of what happens when you’re considered to be, “different” and find loyal friends in unusual places and forms. She gives a mention to my home-town in this story and I really enjoyed connecting to her setting.

“Lucy” by Bob Sargent
Beautifully written and fleshed-out characters, his ability to craft visuals while reading is exemplary. Loved the unexpected ending, it’s a great read.

“Soul Skeeter” by Renee M.P.T.Kray
Folk-horror at it’s finest! The author elevates one’s senses while reading, the setting and characters are palpable. I loved, “Miss Tallulah” age 9, and her face-off with an abomination that threatens people she loves. I enjoyed every word of her story.

These are only a few of the sixteen stories in this book, all are very worthy of high-praise and IIDBIW Volume 3 is a standout for me in 2020, a year that’s given us some bad days but also some really great books.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by request, the review is my own and optional.
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