Monstrous Affections
An Anthology of Beastly Tales
Book - 2014
An anthology of stories explores the intersection of fear and romance, ambition and sacrifice, loneliness and rage, love requited and avenged, and the boundless potential for connection, even across extreme borders.
Publisher:
Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2014.
Edition:
First edition 2014.
ISBN:
9780763664732
0763664731
0763664731
Characteristics:
467 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.
Additional Contributors:



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Add a CommentThis collection of short stories was a fantastic read. I honestly expected to read about classic (and overused) monsters like werewolves and zombies, and I was pleasantly surprised to find interesting monster characters I have never heard of before. It was very interesting to see how the authors develop the idea of monstrousness using aspects of human nature like loneliness, desire, and rage. As a fantasy lover, I appreciate the creativity and originality of the characters and settings. The contrasting themes of humour, and horror, and romance made reading these stories anything but boring. I loved how these themes were used to turn common monster cliches on their heads, and to express the concept of evil in either a light-hearted way, or a disturbing way. Link and Grant explore the idea of monsters from so many different angles, I can guarantee that at least one of the stories will resonate with you; there is something for everyone. If you enjoy stories that make you laugh or give you goosebumps, or if you want a fresh perspective on an ancient idea, I would highly recommend this Anthology of Beastly Tales. Rating: 5/5
@outdoorsman14 of The Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board
An enjoyable anthology of monster-themed short stories. Overall, the collection leans toward lighthearted and entertaining, but the selections definitely run the gamut from revolting to creepy to unsettling and to, surprisingly, adorable. Most of the protagonists are teenagers, as is the intended audience, but this reader in her 40s also found it refreshingly imaginative and many of the tales to be quite memorable.
I was bored by over half the stories in this book. I think anthologies are still worth a try, because if you find one new gem by an author you've never heard before, it's worth it.
Pretty much every single story was excellent! Such a rarity in short stories collections. We've even got a NZ story about a taniwha in there!