Synopsis:
In this debut horror anthology by editor Mae Murray, queer villains reign supreme. The Book of Queer Saints features 13 short stories and a lineup that includes renowned authors Eric LaRocca, Hailey Piper, and Joe Koch. Joining them are the innovative visions of Briar Ripley Page, Nikki R. Leigh, Joshua R. Pangborn, Eric Raglin, Belle Tolls, Perry Ruhland, James Bennett, LC von Hessen, K.S. Walker, and George Daniel Lea. A fresh blend of transformative body horror, crimson-coated romance, and monstrous eroticism, this anthology is sure to satisfy your every depraved itch. Foreword by Sam Richard of Weirdpunk Books.
Edition:
Kickstarter backer edition paperback (is it different than the massed produced ones? I don’t know! But it did come with cool extras.)
Trigger Warnings:
Hover for Trigger WarningsMy Thoughts:
Out of the 13 stories within The Book of Queer Saints, I’d say that approximately half of them are my favorite. I had a REALLY tough time narrowing it down even that far. Mae Murray has put together an absolute banger of an anthology. Every story within is incredibly good. Because of how good the final selections are, I just have to say I would have loved to have been part of the selection process. I can’t imagine how the very good stories must have gotten edged out by these. But I’d like to.
Again, I repeat: I couldn’t pick less than half a dozen favorite stories. Queer Saints is just that fucking good.
I mean, where should we even start? Should we talk about that gorgeous cover? Or what about the fabulous swag package that was sent out to backers?
Nah, let’s focus on the meaty part – that Table of Contents. Eric LaRocca, Hailey Piper, and Joe Koch, Briar Ripley Page, Nikki R. Leigh, Joshua R. Pangborn, Eric Raglin, Belle Tolls, Perry Ruhland, James Bennett, LC von Hessen, K.S. Walker, and George Daniel Lea. You’ve likely seen plenty of my reviews of Hailey Piper and Eric Larocca’s work – so you know I’m a fan (and I’ve got another Larocca review in the works, btw. I’ve also got a Joe Koch book or 2 coming up). But it’s worth noting that not all of my favorites were authors I’m familiar with – consider me very intrigued by some whose work I was reading for the first time. James Bennett, K.S. Walker, George Daniel Lea and Briar Ripley Page all wrote amazing stories that made me want to seek out more of their work.
In fact, if I was held at gunpoint and forced to pick one story that was my absolute favorite, I think it just might be George Daniel Lea’s The Last Disgrace. It is so beautifully, gloriously disturbing and…I never thought I’d use this word in a review because it feels so trite, but…lush. That story is lush AF.
Seriously though, don’t make me choose.
Rating:
Seriously, buy this immediately. It’s incredibly good.
The Book of Queer Saints Edited by Mae Murray Independently Published Published: March 14, 2022 ISBN: 9798404611731 Paperback, E-book 206 Pages Editor's Website
