All authors are obviously skilled, the general writing style is very good, but the supposed darkness isn't reached for all stories. in my humble opinion. A pair of tales are sad and tear-jerked but I wouldn't describe them as dark

The Demon of Jericho by [a:Eric Arvin|414286|Eric Arvin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1258328920p2/414286.jpg]- 2 stars
A dark fantasy with which I was unable to connect.

A Cruel Thing by [a:Abigail Roux|1122775|Abigail Roux|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1352338424p2/1122775.jpg] - 3 stars
One of the above-mentioned sad stories. a classic tale about love and heroism during World War II. I cried my eyes out.

Wrong by [a:S.J.D. Peterson|4563849|S.J.D. Peterson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1341316841p2/4563849.jpg] - 4 stars
The most powerful story. Implacable, far from any complacent cliché. No Redemption Here.

Anguish by [a:Jason Huffman-Black|5041057|Jason Huffman-Black|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1317437894p2/5041057.jpg]- 2 stars
Uh? A metaphorical visión of the End? of one end? I don't know, but it didn't work for me.

The Hotel Luz by [a:S.A. McAuley|5842140|S.A. McAuley|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1593574494p2/5842140.jpg] - 2 stars
This left me indifferent. Additionally I think that's the most alien story regarding the general theme.

John & Jackie by [a:T.J. Klune|5073330|T.J. Klune|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1546275989p2/5073330.jpg] - 2.5 stars
The second sad story. It was a little more than okay; maybe a little bit stagy and a little too sentimental for my tastes. ( )

The Demon of Jericho by Eric Arvin ★★★✩✩
A Cruel Thing by Abigail Roux ★★★✩✩
Wrong by SJD Peterson ★✩✩✩✩
Anguish by Jason Huffman-Black ★★★✩✩
The Hotel Luz by S.A. McAuley ★★★★★
John & Jackie by TJ Klune ★★★✩✩ ( )

4.25

There are some I liked more than others, but overall a very good collections of stories. ( )

Anthologies are difficult beasts both to put together and to read.
There are a whole bunch of masterful storytellers in this one, and it is dark, then it goes darker.

The Demon of Jericho - Not my cuppa, but with fabulous and creative writing.
A Cruel Thing - a period piece and unfortunately I'm all warred-out, so war stories don't do it for me. Except that this one had writing that was absolutely amazeballs.
Wrong - Harsh and weird. Not sure about this one yet. I'm too much of a fluff-ball.
Anguish - Quiet and unrelenting. Short with a punch. Out of control.
The Hotel Luz - THIS is where is takes off! Hook, line and sinker. Boink! This is how you do it. Perceptions out the window. Fantastic writing.
John & Jackie - Yeah, it's official, TJ Klune makes me cry every single time he sends his stuff out into the world. Every. Single. Time. This time it was big, snotty, sobby tears of hope and heartbreak, of love and forever.

I enjoyed the Foreword and the Afterword almost as much as the stories themselves. Ha. How about that?
Great collection. Absolutely great.


***

I was NOT asked to read this book by anyone, I paid for it with my own money, as I do for all the books I read, all the music I listen to and the movies I watch. ( )

Wow. So many emotions I can't even begin to describe the feelings that these stories evoked in me. I cried and cried, then cheered out loud. It was exhilarating and exhausting, and oh so worth it. Great job. ( )