What One Wouldn't Do: An Anthology on the Lengths One Might Go To

What One Wouldn't Do is the title AND the theme for all of the stories found in this anthology. I had a lot of fun with this one because I decided to try and guess how each author was going to explore the idea of what someone wouldn't do for something by the title. Spoiler alert: I was wrong every time without fail. I still had a lot of fun doing it. (It's the little things....guess my story would have been What One Wouldn't Do for Entertainment, lol)

If you prefer video format, I do have a spoiler free video about this anthology on my YouTube channel that can be found here: https://youtu.be/uv5FgVXt7K0

This horror collection was edited by author Scott J. Moses who did an OUTSTANDING job curating these stories from the huge stack of submissions received. (Definitely wouldn't want THAT job) I was sold on this from the announcement because there were several authors in it that are auto-buys for me, PLUS a pack of authors I've been wanting to check into AND still more authors I'd not heard of but definitely will be getting more of their work! It was an all around win situation for me.

I should mention I did receive an ARC from the editor to read and review. I will also point out that I had no idea it was coming to me and that I had preordered because of two important reasons:
1. The auto buy authors in the collection
2. THE FREAKING GORGEOUS COVER!

I knew I was going to enjoy this anthology - I had no doubt it would be good. I was not expecting the level of quality I got. The first story - WITH ANIMALS by J.A.W. McCarthy knocked it out of the park....and I thought....okay, of course it would start off with a banger. Yet the quality kept showing up in every subsequent story. I was shocked. Honestly. I read one story per night because I wanted to give each story its own time to sink in and roll around in my head, not to be confused with the next one.

There are even a few stories that are written in what I call "verse" - poem format. I am so glad Scott included a handful of these because I was very much wanting to read some and see if it would be a type of format I would enjoy. Turns out, I don't like it very much. Please note this is a personal preference to me and does not reflect on the authors and their ability to craft their art.

To add to how top notch this collection is - at the end of each story, the author wrote a paragraph about what inspired the story/why they wrote it - which I found so fascinating. I'm a reader who LOVES to know the authorial intent behind the literature. To take it one step further - Scott included some of the other works by each author, so when you read one that blew you away, you could simply pick up your phone and place your order.

I'm not going to summarize the stories themselves because the title of the anthology gives you the theme, but I will list below my top favorites:

With Animals by J.A.W. McCarthy
Moira And Ellie by Marisca Pichette
Cry Me A River by Stephanie Ellis
The Opening of the Mouth by Christina Wilder
Conversion by Katie Young
The Witch of Flora Pass by Scott J. Moses
Blood is Thicker by Angela Sylvaine
Monsters Calling Home by Cheri Kamei
Baby Girl by J.V. Gachs
Red Rotary Phone by Tim McGregor
Take Control by Emma E. Murray
Ella Minnow by Nick Younker
The Last Word by Laurel Hightower
Silver Dollar Eyes by Eric Ragland
The Wishing Well by Daniel Barnett
They Don't Eat Teeth by Jena Brown
The Old Switcheroo by Christi Nogle