Tantra Bensko

Holy sh*t! I don't even know where to start. I'm still reeling from the ride and can't distinguish if I have been mind f*cked or had my mind blown. I would hazard a guess as both; first f*cked then blown.
First let me tell you this is part of a series. I did not know that. I was led to this book by BookTasters, (thank you), who were offering as a review consideration book. I prefer to go into those books with little to no information beside genres. So I read it as a standalone. I did suspect, after reading it a bit that I might have missed a book. I was, however, able to fully enjoy and follow this book on its own.
The genre I was given for this was suspense thriller with hashtags of political and conspiracy. I ride the fence on accepting these. I don't know about you but I am freaking tired of politics, lies, fake news along with general crying and whining from all parties as well as the public. But then psychological was thrown in the ring and I am huge on psychological thrillers. I am so happy that was tossed out there as I might have missed this gem.
So what is the book about? All those things and more that I am so freaking tired of! So how did I get sucked into not being able to stop reading? The author, (who I don't know anything really about), is a master at weaving current events, current theories, and fantasy into a magical mystery tour where the three are blurred so well you basically feel as though you lost your mind. Of course you must find it so you have to keep reading. Can you trust anything or anybody in it? I waffled on who could be trusted, who should be trusted, throughout the book only to be blown up at the end. I don't know; maybe I would have known who to trust if I had read the books in order. My personal feeling about this book...stop reading reviews. Go in with what you know and let the story unfold for you. Decide for yourself if you will read them in order or not. I will be reading the other parts to this but at this moment, I can't recommend which way to go on that. What I can tell you is to read this book even if you are tired of what is going on in this country. Maybe I should have used especially instead of even there.
Thank you to the author who provided an ebook for review consideration. The opinions expressed are my honest thoughts, (jumbled as my mind still is from reading this).… (lisätietoja)

Description:

Women Writing the Weird is an anthology of fictional stories surveying the weird and strange, featuring short stories by twenty-six of today's most talented female authors; including: Nancy A. Collins, Aliette de Bodard, Caroline M. Yoachim, Rachel Turner, Mysty Unger, Helen Burke, Carol Novak, Gina Ranalli, Eugie Foster, any many more... Editor Deb Hoag remarks that the "weird fiction" genre contains- "Stories that delight, surprise, that hang about the dusty edges of "mainstream" fiction with characters, settings, plots that abandon the normal and mundane and explore new ideas, themes and ways of being."

Review:

When I think of all the meanings associated with the word "weird", I imagine a great many scenarios. I have used the word to describe a plethora of things lately, ranging from peanut butter and dill pickle sandwiches, to the clothes Abby Sciuto wears on NCIS, the series finale of LOST, my spaghetti-eating cat, and even myself. So when I spotted Women Writing the Weird, I harbored a vast amount of questions as to the level and realm of the "weirdness".
I was happy to read Deb Hoag's introduction, "The Wild Women Are Loose," because it solidified my theory that everyone has a different sense of "weird" - most including journeys into the unusual, strange, unbelievable, and even impossible; no matter how insignificant. I can honestly say, that each story was completely unique and mindbogglingly ethereal, my favorites being The Scene Changes by Mysty Unger, A Stray Child by Rachel Turner, Bird in the Hand by Flavia Testa, Catfish Gal Blues by Nancy A. Collins, Phat is a Four-Letter Word by Deb Hoag, and Beneath the Skin by C.M. Vernon. Whether they made me giggle, frown, or cringe, each story left a resounding and detailed "weirdness" imprinted on my mind. I enjoyed the creepiness, the surprise, and the peculiar nature each story seemed to encapsulate; some more unexpected than others. I also liked how Deb Hoag introduced each author with a few notes about the story being showcased, as well as her own thoughts. These intros allowed me to see each piece from a different perspective.
Overall, I really enjoyed what the anthology had to offer singularly, and as a whole. The stories are short, but don't let their size(s) fool you; they will affect the reader in mysterious ways. I must note that there were a few "erotic" stories in the collection, but many of them were tasteful and well-written. I would gladly read this collection again, and recommend it for women, (and men), who crave the "weird", or who'd just like to visit...

Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)

*** I received this anthology from the publisher (Dog Horn Publishing) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.… (lisätietoja)