Review of Symposium of the Reaper

[Hy Be]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Symposium of the Reaper" by Andrew Adams.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

"Symposium of the Reaper" is an interesting collection of short stories that expertly cover the many-angled realms of horror through its twelve pieces. In this anthology, each story gives off a new aspect of fear and something really freaky that can be called both extremely psychological and macabre.

Which is one of the most striking features of this anthology?. From the opening story "Pavor Nocturnus," in which he probes the terrors haunting us in the dead of the night, to "The Boy Who Feared Everything," trying to make sense of the psyche of a child overrun by an all-consuming fear, the collection is sure that every reader will not leave with nothing they could relate to.

The remaining extraordinary stories are "Coulrophobia," which plays upon the quite reasonable dread of clowns in an impossibly sad and frightening tale. Perhaps the most striking story is "Gallows Humor," where the reader is thrown into a bleak situation with a doctor along with Clem and his fellow prisoner Bud, all waiting for their turn at the gallows. And the story deftly mingles dark humor with existential dread, hammering home the grim incongruity of death like only the thoughtfully creepy truly can. The way in which the characters interact near death does lend poignancy to the tale and makes it one of the anthologies.

The editing of "Symthosium of Reapers" is exceptional. Each polished to a high sheen, the transition between seamless, keeping the eerie atmosphere but neither losing pace nor clarity. Grammatically exact throughout the anthology, it not only assures readability but also that the chilling narrative of each story hits home with maximum impact. The magic between the two is in the greatness of the writing and the depth of imagination displayed so distinctly by the authors.
Every story is, in and of itself, a compact look at different features of horror, yet the sum, when added together, correlates into a single unified experience in narrative that haunts the reader long beyond the time that he or she has put down the book. The stories are written with great skill in a way that makes them provocative and frightful, as well as entertaining.

Thematically, the anthology runs the gamut, ranging from existential fears and supernatural conditions to psychological horror and the grotesque. That diversity not only broadens the appeal of the book but also highlights the flexibility of horror as a form. They challenge the perceptions of readers, push boundaries, and cover dark areas in the human mind and beyond. Further, the characters in each story are firmly developed and compelling; be it the protagonist facing some of the eerie creatures, victims of his mind, or others, it relatively becomes easier for one to relate to and feel their fear.

This connection is important in horror writing because it relates the stories to a reality that readers can apprehend and fear. In all fairness, "Symposium of Reaper" is a brilliant anthology that will no doubt cater to horror fans and first-timers cutting their teeth on the genre. This will be a must-read. It's indefectible in editing, grammatical perfection, and storytelling that's hypnotically captivating. It surely will be one of the victors in the anthology world where all the essences of horror justly fill up to make it a perfect symposium of fear, suspense, and the macabre. Each story will entertain and throw a window open for the complexity of fear, making "Symposium of Reaper" a deep addition to the horror genre. With nothing to dislike about this book, I rate it five out of five stars. 
 

******
Symposium of the Reaper
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Courtney Douglass]

I really agree with most of your review. I liked it but I do wish there had been a few more twists in getting to the climax of the stories. But I guess they had to stay short.