ARC review – Dark Rainbow: Queer Erotic Horror (various authors)

Dark Rainbow: Queer Erotic Horror (various authors)

Horror, Erotica, LGBTQA+ | 187 pages | 10.18.2018 | Riverdale Avenue Books

3 STARS

This collection of short stories combines erotic content and horror, something that goes well together, in my opinion. The stories itself are very diverse in plot and protagonists, which I appreciate. Some stories are gory, some are haunting, and all are frightening in one way or another. There is quite some explicit subject matter but it doesn’t feel cheap.

My main criticism is that most of the stories felt too short and lacked that something special to make them stand out. For a few of them, I didn’t connect with the writing style at all, and for others, I felt that the characters needed more work to make me care about them.

There was however one story that I just loved. Think of Me grabbed me right from the beginning. Lindsay King-Miller’s words create an eerie but somehow beautiful and nostalgic atmosphere. Her plot, however, makes the reader feel regret, fears, and sadness. These two carry the main theme of suicide and its aftermath perfectly. Adding a paranormal twist to it is new and different. I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.