For readers looking to take a journey into the darkest part of your soul, Michelle Merz has put together the perfect selection of stories. The title of the collection, Dark, is definitely appropriate once you finish the first short nightmare, and you probably won’t forget about it for a while. With an amazing style and some very dark inspiration, Merz reminds me of what real horror is all about.
The collection features 13 stories, and the dominant theme appears to be “family”. More specifically, when family members aren’t killing each other; they work together to kill other people. Loving mothers evolving into cold murders, fathers going on a rampage, and even some of the kids have some twisted details to add.
Every story in the collection typically comes with a twist. And while you might see how one or two plots play out, just keep reading. There is usually something very sadistic, or strangely satisfying, about ending another person’s life from the viewpoint of the characters, leaving the reader shocked and haunted for several nights to come.
My initial thought as I got into the first story, The Reunion, is that I love Merz’s style and execution. Her turn of phrase and descriptive details are neither boring nor irrelevant. In fact, every detail leads to something, and by the second story, I was hooked. Merz has a very special way of choosing these small moments that seem typical and mundane. But then, the stories slowly start to unravel, and as the ending edges closer, the real darkness sets in.
While I am not a fan of slow-paced writing, Merz could not have chosen a better tempo to deliver the setting of the stories or the shock that slowly sinks in as you realize what just happened. At the same time, the characters are refreshingly authentic, even though they paint the picture of suburban individuals who just want to get through the day. Within the first few paragraphs of each story, I easily related and connected with these characters that seem to be dealing with ordinary situations. Little did I realize how unconventional these characters would react.
If nothing else, this collection cuts through the horror until you can see the bone with all the gory details. And when you turn the last page and wonder why these stories do not want to leave your thoughts, it is the beautiful way Merz describes the darkest events. It is this specific contradiction that really had me finishing the collection in a single setting. However, be warned that it is not for the faint-hearted.
As someone who loves horror and the diversity that comes with it, I did not expect this collection to be so powerful and so downright horrific. And do not think that Merz requires any special monsters or creatures to send chills down your spine. All she needs are some real people with some serious issues, and the result is going to be nothing less than absolutely Dark.
Readers who may have lost their love for horror along the way, you will find it again in this collection.
Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.
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