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