I have loved Blazewrath Games and Furia by the co-editors of this anthology. So when I saw this joint project and the contributor list, I may have shrieked a bit. Our Shadows Have Claws has a star studded contributor list with some of my other favorites too! Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
Fifteen original short stories from YA superstars, featuring Latine mythology’s most memorable monsters
From zombies to cannibals to death incarnate, this cross-genre anthology offers something for every monster lover. In Our Shadows Have Claws, bloodthirsty vampires are hunted by a quick-witted slayer; children are stolen from their beds by “el viejo de la bolsa” while a military dictatorship steals their parents; and anyone you love, absolutely anyone, might be a shapeshifter waiting to hunt.
The worlds of these stories are dark but also magical ones, where a ghost-witch can make your cheating boyfriend pay, bullies are brought to their knees by vicious wolf-gods, a jar of fireflies can protect you from the reality-warping magic of a bruja—and maybe you’ll even live long enough to tell the tale. Set across Latin America and its diaspora, this collection offers bold, imaginative stories of oppression, grief, sisterhood, first love, and empowerment.
Full contributor list: Chantel Acevedo, Courtney Alameda, Julia Alvarez, Ann Dávila Cardinal, M. García Peña, Racquel Marie, Gabriela Martins, Yamile Saied Méndez, Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite, Claribel A. Ortega, Amparo Ortiz, Lilliam Rivera, Jenny Torres Sanchez, Ari Tison, and Alexandra Villasante.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The premise of horror stories is something that chills my bones. I am not normally someone who can read horror stories, but fall is approaching. And what that seems to mean is that it’s beginning to be spooky season. So I re-organized my reading schedule to read these scary stories during the daylight and I’m so glad I did! Because Our Shadows Have Claws is a fabulous anthology! This is one of those anthologies where I knew of almost all of the authors!
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But even so, I can appreciate a well-balance anthology list-even if that kind of perspective changes for every one. Our Shadows Have Claws consists of edges of horror and suspense mixed with folklore. It reminds you of the stories you’re told at night before you go to bed so that you’ll behave. As a whole, the anthology feels so seamless curated, almost like a folklore storybook. Additionally, there are illustrations which really help set the mood! If you love horror or folklore stories, this is a must read for you and especially the spooky fall! Find Our Shadows Have Claws on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.