Cradleland of Parasites was my final pick for the Ladies of Horror Fiction 2 year anniversary readathon. This book hit the prompt ‘Fabulous Title.’
Can you believe it?! We’re on the final review from the readathon!
Edition:
Special Edition Hardcover (there are still a few available HERE, and they’re GORGEOUS)
Synopsis:
Bram Stoker Award-winner Sara Tantlinger delivers her CRADLELAND OF PARASITES, a harrowing and darkly gorgeous collection of poetry chronicling the death and devastation of one of history’s greatest horrors: The Black Plague.
My Thoughts:
I was a bit hesitant to read a book about the Black Plague during, well, a plague, but…I’ve read Sara’s work in the past, and she is just so damned good that I couldn’t let this one languish on the shelves until whenever this incredible viral shitshow subsides.
I’m glad I read it, and I’m not at all sad that I read it now. I mean, it’s not like we’re talking about the same sort of illness here, so really, why was I worried? Oh yeah – it was just general anxiety. It always is. If you’re hesitant to pick up this book based on it’s subject matter/our current reality, let me put your fears to rest – this book has NOTHING to do with the current virus situation, and I didn’t find that it fed into my current pandemic-related anxieties at all.
I marked off a few of my favorite pieces:
- On a White Horse
- Her Face of Bone Needles
- Second Pandemic
- Cradleland of Parasites
- Bubonic Litany
- Shrouded Dreams
- An Advanced Society
- Between Lifeforms
- When My Lover Gives Birth to Plague
- Herd Immunity
- Biological Warfare
I know that seems like a lot, but I didn’t pick the whole book, so it still counts. Look – Sara has a real talent for making the most horrible of things beautiful (while still maintaining their base level of horribleness). It covers the plague from it’s inception point millions of years ago, all the way to present day. Not only is the poetry absolutely stunning, but the special edition includes photographs as well – which really added to the allure for me. I have a bit of a thing for Plague Doctors – so romantic and spooky!
About the Author:
Sara Tantlinger resides outside of Pittsburgh on a hill in the woods. She is the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Devil’s Dreamland: Poetry Inspired by H.H. Holmes, as well as the Stoker-nominated novella, To Be Devoured. Her other works include Love for Slaughter, The Devil’s City written with Matthew Corley, and the forthcoming Cradleland of Parasites. She recently edited Not All Monsters, an anthology by women in horror. Sara is a poetry editor for the Oddville Press, a graduate of Seton Hill’s MFA program, a member of the SFPA, and an active member of the HWA. She embraces all things strange and can be found lurking in graveyards or on Twitter @SaraTantlinger and at saratantlinger.com
Rating:
It’s horrifying, beautiful, and absolutely brutal – but also strangely romantic.
I also reviewed To be Devoured by Sara, which you can check out here.
Cradleland of Parasites By Sara Tantlinger Strangehouse Books ISBN: 9781946335333 Published: 2020 Hardcover, Paperback (available October 31, 2020) 130 Pages Author's Website Publisher's Website
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