I enjoyed every one of these stories. There's a lot of emotion in some of them that hits you in the chest. Some hit with this overwhelming sense of sadness or hopelessness, some end on a high note, and others are just shocking and creepy, but really good reads.

The one that hit me the hardest though, is that last one. I read slowly, which is why I like books of shorts stories because then I don't have to read back a little to remember what happened last like I do with novels. I usually read one or two short stories a night before bed.

As I started the last story in this collection, it seemed too familiar. Then the pieces started falling into place and I suddenly got it. It's a brilliant idea and story; something I've never seen before. Oh so heartbreaking, but definitely worth a read.

I highly recommend this collection. Stories like these crack the wall around my heart and make me feel like a human again.

Filled with angst, suspense, and most importantly, horror. This is a fantastic collection of chilling stories that you won’t want to miss out on.

My favorites were:

Memory Lane: A parent’s worst nightmare—the death of their baby. With a special glimpse into the future, Victor is left feeling his child’s scorn.

Intimidating Smile: A girl’s hated “vampire teeth” actually become the key to saving her life.

Brush With Fate: Some art is to die for. With these paintbrushes, death is a relief.

Just like with all collections, some of the stories in Lucid Screams connected with me more fully than others. There is a sense throughout the book of reluctance on the part of most characters to fully connect. Damaged people. Broken families.

The standout story for me by far is the very first one in the book. It's heartbreaking. It's titled "Lucid Screaming" and it's a powerful piece. I'm not going to describe any of the stories in any detail at all because short stories are so short, it's too easy to spoil them.

This runs the gamut from straight-forward horror stories, to abuse, addiction, failed relationships. You can catch the author's love of Astronomy in a couple of the pieces. Slice is a bit of dark humor that made me chuckle.

The book read quickly, and I'm happy to have found it (via Twitter)

Lucid Screams is an impressive collection of short fiction from author Red Lagoe. The cover and the title immediately drew me in, and I loved that it started out with an introduction from the author (by now most of you know that I love author notes of any kind, even if it’s just a foreword or introduction).

There were no stories in this collection that I rated below 4 stars. Each one was entertaining, and I enjoyed that there were a few shorter, flash-fiction style pieces in the mix. This author did a great job of creating stories that leave a lasting impression on the reader, even in just a few pages. Overall, the writing was atmospheric and haunting. These stories all gave me a different feeling—some pulled at the heartstrings, some left me shocked, and there were a couple of moments that made me giggle.

As usual with a collection or anthology, I’ve selected my Top 5 stories from the bunch. They are:

-THE GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE

-ABANDONED SOULS

-HELPING HANDS RETREAT

-SEVERED CONNECTION

-SLICE

I’d also like to give an honorable mention to the story Memory Lane, which I read previously in a Tales from the Lake volume from Crystal Lake Publishing. This story had a strong effect on me both then and now.

Red Lagoe is definitely an author to watch. I’m looking forward to her future work, and would recommend this collection if you enjoy short fiction. Lucid Screams has something for everyone; the writing is strong and covers a variety of topics. It’s a collection full of original ideas and unforgettable stories, and a great introduction to a fresh voice in horror.

These stories are so creative - I only rated three of them lower than 3 stars. Short stories can be hit or miss, these are hits.
Super appreciated the content warning and author notes. I hope this becomes a trend in horror fiction moving forward.
I'd absolutely read more from this author!

This collection took me by surprise! I was expecting a straightforward horror collection but instead I got a mix of horror, grief, vengeance, and more. Red’s writing style is easy to appreciate and her stories felt familiar but still unique.

The stories that stuck out to me were SLICE, THE ASTRONOMER’S MISTRESS and EMPTY NEST. They were each very different and each struck a chord with me for different reasons.

I’m looking forward to reading more of Red’s work and I would recommend this collection to anyone that enjoys a good horror anthology!i

Red Lagoe's vividly imaginative collection Lucid Screams is a great read from beginning to end! The title-named first story instantly grabbed my attention, and I loved seeing how it was framed with the ending, too. Each story offers something different, smartly showcasing Lagoe's range of ideas and writing. I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters, and especially getting to know their worst nightmares -- Lagoe does an excellent job at captivating a reader's interest right away with each tale.
My favorite stories of the bunch had to be "The Great American Eclipse" (wow!), "Helping Hands Retreat" (beautiful, heartbreaking), "Brush With Fate" (this might be my top favorite in the book!), and "Intimidating Smile." I really look forward to reading more by Red Lagoe!

Lucid Screams gnaws at the various layers of grief. It’s a beautiful and haunting collection that sticks with you well after the last page. There’s a beautiful and haunting connection between stories, which is woven with common themes of loss and terror. Relationships are explored, monsters are battled, and sins are redeemed. There’s a wide range of settings, but the heart of this collection is the pain of nightmares coming to life.

There are sixteen stories in this collection. It’s a blend of short stories, flash fiction and a single drabble (a story that is exactly 100 words). Each contains compelling and eerie characters who are thrust into their worst nightmares and left to untangle themselves before the darkness consumes them. I also appreciated that there is a trigger warning list at the back which allows the reader to decide if they want to know those triggers or read the book blindly. As someone who prefers the warnings, I thought this was a considerate element of the book.

The first story Lucid Screaming and the last Empty Nest are my favorites. Although, it was a tough decision. They’re all poignant depictions of horror, but these two show a relatable monster that claws into your core and doesn’t let go.

If I could give this book six stars, I would. I absolutely loved it, and I hope you will too.

thank you for the free copy for review

Red Lagoe’s Lucid Screams is a delightful collection of 16 horror short stories. A few of them are creature features, but sometimes the horror is closer to home, and there are also plenty of horrific people and circumstances involved.

The first and final stories are connected. In “Lucid Screaming,” a heroin user (Elaine) has a hard time handling her children, Lily and Ben. This is a harsh and heavy story, tough to read. In the opposite side, “Empty Nest,” Elaine’s ex-husband, Joe, ruminates on what happened to Elaine. It also clears up one detail in the first story that at the time seemed contradictory, which is neat.

“The Haunting Murder” is a short, intriguing tale about a prisoner and the murder of crows that haunts him. “Best Seat in the House” is a chilling bit of flash fiction.

“Luna’s Lure” starts off with Jeff telling David about recent cases of four disappearances that are believed to be murders, all taken place on the full moon. It is, of course, a full moon tonight, and there’s a woman next door who seems to be trying to lure David. I really like where this one ends up. I also really like the fact that it probably is not the story you think it’s going to be. Not entirely, anyway.

Helia and her friend set out to enjoy a total eclipse of the sun in “The Great American Eclipse.” The company her father worked for has provided free glasses for everyone to wear to safely view the eclipse. How exactly will her father and uncle’s work in parasitology and fungi come into play? This one is definitely fun.

Brooke and her step-mother Mandy have been left in their new home by her Navy father in “Abandoned Souls.” A few local kids try to warn her that people come and steal the children at night. If she’s to have any hope of surviving, she’d better listen! I really love where this one ended up, although I also would very much like to know more.

In “Malignant Roots,” Karen and her brother Derrick stop by the old family house to pay respects to her dead-and-buried abusive father. Unfortunately for them, his influence has stuck around. This is a fairly fun conceit.

In “Helping Hands Retreat,” Sarah is trying to escape an abusive relationship with Wade by going to a retreat for women. However, she finds a slightly different retreat than the one she was aiming for. When she gets locked in at night and hears screaming outside, she starts to fear for her life. The end of this one made it one of my favorite stories in the book.

“Severed Connection” is about Charlotte, a woman who goes to a disreputable man with a strange reputation in hopes that she’ll be able to contact her dead husband. Yeah, turns out that reputation was well-earned, and maybe she shouldn’t have come. This has some really clever turns to it.

“Odor Mortis” features mortician Harold, who loves the smell of death and corpses. When a corpse comes through his office that resembles his dead childhood best friend, he goes a little off the rails.

In “Slice,” Tara and Marissa eat pizza at a bizarre hole-in-the-wall restaurant, and when the owner overhears them say they want jobs, she offers them money under the table to work some shifts. One of them is taught how to prepare the special sauce handed down by the original owner, Grisha, and is told it must be prepared exactly or it will anger Grisha. In the ensuing predictable blood-bath, another secret is revealed.

“Intimidating Smile” introduces us to a girl who has a condition that results in her appearing to have fangs. She’s planning on having surgery to correct the problem, because holy hell is she tired of people either being afraid of her or obsessed with her. Then they come in handy in an unexpected way. I love this tale!

“The Astronomer’s Mistress” is a lovely dark tale. Thomas spends weeks making the perfect anniversary gift for his wife, only to have her throw a fit. Sure, this sounds like a problem with his wife, but she has a point–all of his gifts, even his pet name for her, are really not about her at all. She very clearly comes second in his life to something else.

In “Memory Lane” Victor’s recording of his dead daughter’s voice finally gives out. A mysterious girl offers him an album of what might have been had his daughter lived. Chilling!

“Brush With Fate” is a great “cursed artifact” story. In this case, the artifact is a set of painter’s brushes guaranteed to spark creativity in any painter. Of course, the price is high…

These are wonderful stories, and I really enjoyed this book. The characters are great, the ideas are creative, and there a few good twists and surprises.

Content note for child death and domestic abuse, both off of the page, and very mild sexual content.


Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/09/review-lucid-screams-red-lagoe/