Spooky season is upon us. And with it comes a plethora of horrific tales to get us in the mood. Some readers might shy away from gruesome and frightening plots. However, Candace Nola offers a collection of short stories for readers who want to dip their toes in and explore what the horror genre has to offer. Demons in My Bloodstream by Candace Nola is a collection of short stories that explores the different ways that humans succumb to their darkest desires.
Book
With six short stories covering various character motivations and settings, Demons in My Bloodstream has something for everyone. But readers must first brave the first step to get started. One story features a man who works to cure his color blindness becomes obsessed at the first instance of success. Another story focuses on a man who travels the world in honor of his late wife, while crossing items off of his to-do list in the process. One story borders on dark fantasy in which a couple desperately wants a child but didn’t anticipate the sacrifice required. The least dark one, in my opinion, focuses on a neighborhood gardening competition with a neighbor taking things too far. And the final two stories follow a series of murders – one from the POV of the killer, and the other the POV of the community trying to catch the culprit – both of which have twists readers won’t see coming.
Review
Nola adds emotion to the horror genre that I didn’t think was possible. Readers will encounter madness, obsession, grief, revenge, and primal urge in Demons in My Bloodstream. The author somehow develops well-rounded characters in the short time we get to know them. All stories are unique from one another yet tie in the central theme of humans succumbing to their darkest desires. My favorites among the collection are “Roxie’s List” and “In the Garden”. But I highly encourage readers – especially horror lovers – to not deprive themselves of everything the author offers here.
