Anthology Review

I don’t usually like reading anthologies but I gobbled this one up in one sitting!

When Theresa asked If I wanted to read and review “Hardened Hearts” or at least her short story “Heirloom” I thought sure, I’d love to read your short story. But after reading the amazing foreward, I found myself reading the whole thing!

Hardened Hearts (Release Date: December 4, 2017)

17 stories of difficult love, broken hearts, lost hope, and discarded truths. Love brings pain, vulnerability, and demands of revenge. Hardened Hearts spills the sum of darkness and light concerning the measures of love; including works from Meg Elison, author of The Book of the Unnamed Midwife (Winner of the Philip K. Dick Award), Tom Deady, author of Haven (Winner of the Bram Stoker award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel), Gwendolyn Kiste, author of And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe and Pretty Marys All in a Row, and many more.
Hardened Hearts dips from speculative, horror, science fiction, fantasy, into literary and then out of the classifiable and into the waters of unpinned genres, but pure entertainment nonetheless.

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My Thoughts…

What an absolutely refreshing take on heartbreak!

I had originally planned only reviewing Theresa Braun’s short story, but after reading the FANTASTIC foreward by James Newman (author of amazing horrors like The Odd Man Out), I had to read the entire anthology.

Nearly every single story by this group of majorly talented authors, is unique, horrific, and thought-provoking. There were a couple that were just kind of meh for me, but they do have great merit and deserve a read too. With this eclectic bunch, there really is something for everyone.

Heirloom 

Theresa’s story is about a psychiatrist and her newly acquired antique mirror. The mirror is an heirloom that has been passed down through the years, and possesses some very unique traits.

She keeps the mirror hanging in her office, and let’s just say things start to get really interesting. Particularly after she starts treating a client who feels a certain ownership towards the good doctor.

I love Theresa’s writing style! It’s bold and unique. She isn’t afraid to take chances in her work which translates into fantastically creepy tales. Heirloom is no exception. It fits in perfectly with the rest of this creeptastic collection.

Overall, “Hardened Hearts” offers unique insight into different kinds of love and will leave you wondering if you might be better (and safer) off staying single.

Rating… A

Available on Amazon