| Title | : | Hunger Pangs |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 158 |
| Publication | : | First published October 2, 2020 |
1959: A grieving lawman bargains with darkness to reunite his family.
1960: A traveling exorcist takes a case where the traditional means of expelling evil have failed.
1969: A haunted widower picks up a hitchhiking hippie.
1985: Siblings flee their horrid past, and the curse in their blood.
2020: An immortal longs for her life in the sun.
In his debut collection, Scott J. Moses presents thirteen tales of supernatural horror and everyday woe.
Hunger Pangs Reviews
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In this debut short story collection, Scott J. Moses impresses his audience with a flare for supernatural horror and tales of grief and loss. With a baker's dozen of stories here, there is a story or two that will stick the landing for a wide variety of readers who enjoy genre-specific subjects. This was my first time reading this author and my personal favorite aspect was the author's notes before each story. I found those to be especially helpful in helping me connect to the stories.
From my LitReactor article, BEST SELF-PUBLISHED BOOKS of 2020 SO FAR
https://litreactor.com/columns/best-s... -
Hunger Pangs is a collection of short stories by Scott Moses who takes reader's on a mystical journey to a place where the supernatural roam free and a darkness is always lurking, searching for its next victim. Exorcisms, bargains with frightening entities, unapologetic hauntings, lycan siblings, and vampiric sorrows are just a taste of what you'll find prowling amonst the pages of this anthology.
Hunger Pangs is a delightful supernatural romp with the impassioned prose of Scott Moses. Every single story offers a cast of characters with intense emotional depth. You can feel the sentiment behind each word as though the author knew the entire cast intimately. This is such an incredible debut for an author who is on a clear path to bigger and better things in the world of horror fiction. -
Feels so good when you take a chance on a three dollar kindle and it turns out to be something special. ‘Hunger Pangs’ is a debut collection of stories. Not all of the stories are horror. Some are about loss, some about grief, and some about anger. Even the horror stories here are not traditional horror stories, but stories in which the dread and worry are so cleverly placed just beyond our reach, just out of our sight. True horror is not out there. It is inside us. ‘Hunger Pangs’ helps you get to know it.
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This was an excellent anthology! If you’re thinking of picking this up, I’d suggest not going into it thinking of it as a horror anthology. Although they all have horror elements, they’re more of a discussion on loss, grief, depression and how people deal with those things differently.
Just like any anthology, there were some I loved and others I didn’t really care for. Fortunately, the majority of them ended up being stories I really enjoyed. Some of my favorites are: Nowhere Louisiana, What’s In Your Name and The Scent Of Souls.
All of them were unique while still keeping a similar theme. All very intriguing and thought provoking. And all beautifully written. I would actually love to see some of these short stories be made into full novels. This author has a real talent in writing and deserves more recognition than he has. Looking forward to reading more of this authors work in the future!
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!:) -
I am sucker for a great horror collection with a beautiful cover, and this one certainly did not disappoint. Not only is the book beautiful, but the words within it's pages hold a certain beauty as well. The shear power, craft, and skill that went into these short stories is impressive, and it is evident that Scott J. Moses is one to watch!
This would certainly be something that I classify more as a quiet horror...not that overt, shocking, in your face kind of horror, but that horror that sits and ruminates in your head for a while before you grasp the depth and brevity of the terror. One thing that I absolutely love is when authors add their own notes explaining the inspiration for each story, or just providing a little background before you dive in. The author's notes included before each of these shorts helped to provide a little window overlooking his writing desk.
A few of my favorites:
'NOWHERE, LOUSIANA'
I loved this opening story that explored one man's grief over losing someone very dear to him. We see the lengths that someone may go to in order to hold on. OH, and there's some Voodoo, which is always an interesting topic to explore.
'WHAT'S IN YOUR NAME'
If you like grief horror, this collection is certainly for you, and I assure you that this story in particular will be a favorite. The viewpoint that you get, seeing everything through the eyes of a ghost of sorts, was so well put together and intriguing, and the story itself will leave you with so many feelings. This story had so much depth, and I'm still thinking about it. I cannot even imagine how anyone "deals" with the death of a child, but I imagine it would go something like what this story captures.
'OF TURBULENT SEAS'
This was such a heartbreaking story. Moses wrote that this story was based on a dream that he had, and I can imagine it being one of those dreams that you wake up from, thoroughly confused, heart pounding, and palms sweaty. Wow! This one packed a punch in one a few pages.
Loss, grief, and longing are explored with such expertise and elegance that this book honestly left me hungering for more. The horror in this collection if more subtle and literary, and goodness can Moses write. Any lovers of grief horror and great writing should certainly check this one out!
**Thank you to Scott J. Moses for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.** -
I went into this expecting horror and instead I got super emotional with it. It was a good collection of short stories that really make you think and feel a wide range of emotions. The writing style is super unique and there are moments where you can’t explain what’s happening as much as you can explain the feelings that come with the story.
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I never thought I could be so wowed by tales of grief, loss, and pain. But Scott Moses delivered me something I didn't know I needed or that I don't even know how my heart survived. This short story collection is beautifully written and each story has a little blurb beforehand that explains either when or why it was written. One of the blurbs almost made me cry ("Blues Exorcist," I am looking at you)! There is not a single story I did not enjoy reading, but my favorites are "Nowhere, Louisiana," "Blues Exorcist," "What's In Your Name," and "Hunger Pangs." This collection has stories everyone will hone in and and love, but I think each reader will have a different subset of favorites due to their own personal experiences and their connections to grief and loss. With incredible cover art from Daniele Serra, Hunger Pangs is a collection that you can ravage up in one sitting or that you can spread over a few days to fully absorb all that's within. 4 stars!
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Hoping this resonates with some of you, and I’m so grateful you took a chance on my debut.
To understanding one another,
- Scott -
4 1/2
Hunger Pangs does not feel like a collection of horror stories, nor a collection of dark fiction, or anything I could potentially classify it under. No, Hunger Pangs feels like something different, something that to define it would be a true injustice. It's a pouring out of emotion, rich and deep. It feels as if we are reading a mans soul, his torments, his insecurities, his fears, it's looking into an intimate part of someones consciousness, a place most of us would never let a stranger transgress. We are given art within Hunger Pangs, a selection of stories curated and perfected by an artist.
These stories are focused primarily on loss; the melancholy, the sadness, and the ever-persistent question "why?" that generally follows or often precedes it. The emotion that powers the words that we read on these pages is evident to the point that if this book could cry, than my hands would have pruned. It's an amazingly sad and emotionally conflicted read, one that you should venture to, everyone needs a good cry or exorcism. -
Scott Moses’s short story collection might, based on the cover alone, lead you think it’s seated in horror. That’s only partly true. Horror has many guises. It can be a full on, in-your-face-all-out-gore-fest forged for one purpose only; to shock the reader. There are thrillers that lean toward horror, stories of haunted houses, possession, splatterpunk, gothic, paranormal, body horror, the list goes on. But for me HUNGER PANGS sits outside all these sub-genres. It’s horror with heart. In truth, I would class Scott as a literary writer who fell into horror by mistake, because his prose, at times, is richly layered with poetic flourishes. I say all this because if you’re buying this book, and you certainty should, don’t go expecting a bloodbath. Instead, and keeping with this theme for a little longer, if each of these stories were vials of blood put into a centrifuge, what separates from the plasma is pure, one hundred percent emotion.
I went into this book knowing very little about Scott Moses. I didn’t know if he was American, English or Australian. I’d seen Hunger Pangs getting a lot of attention from people I respect in the literary world, and that was about it. However, I believe anyone who reads this collection will get to know Scott for the simple reason he is ever present in each of his characters. I may be wrong, but for him writing seems no different to sitting in a sharing circle; he’s exorcising his demons, off loading fears and anxieties. He is purging himself of all things he keeps hidden. And, personally, I’m happy he has. In doing so he’s created a collection of shorts that run the full gamut. And what skews most together, the golden thread piercing each of their hearts, is loss, be it that of a wife, a child, the mind, or hope. That horror is the backcloth to these stories is inconsequential, for each could sit in other genres and still work. However, the darkness fettered to the genre does enrich them. It adds to the gravity of his words.
As with all short story collections, there are always going to be some stories that resonate more than others, either because you relate to the subject or the characters, or the style of writing. And I’m not going to lie when I say all were strong in this book. I’ve never read a collection, either from such literary giants like Stephen King, where all the stories are equal in their appeal. But I will say there are more good to great stories than mediocre in Hunger Pangs. For me, stand outs were NOWHERE, LOUISIANA, WHAT’S IN YOUR NAME, BLUES EXORCIST and QUESTIONING THE PROFESSOR.
Scott Moses is definitely a writer you need to pay attention to. His style is effortless and richly layered with pathos, and after reading Hunger Pangs, I can guarantee each of the worlds he’s created will be sewn into the fabric of your consciousness. -
Review coming to Kendall Reviews
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4.5 Stars
When I first spoke to Scott on Instagram two months back, we found that we understood one another’s hunger to rewrite and improve our work over time. As we discussed the process of giving stories new polishes years later, Scott said, “It’s like the work is never truly finished. We could edit ourselves into eternity.” He’s absolutely right. That being said, I can’t imagine this collection needing much of an edit moving forward. It’s already so damn good.
It is rare for me to read a book in a single day, but that’s just what I did with Hunger Pangs. I started it in the morning while my car got fixed, and finished it by that night at home in the midst of formatting an interior file. I frequently found myself lost in its pages, not wanting to stop. As such, I decided to design this review around the notes I took throughout the day, only editing them a bit for structure:
1 - Nowhere, Louisiana - This was my proper introduction to Scott's fiction. He's got a proficient style of narration, all the while creating an uneasy atmosphere for what's to come. I rather enjoyed this story and its setting.
2 - A Haunting - This piece of microfiction was too familiar.
3 - Cruel, Baying Adolescence - I liked the mystery underlying here. I wanted to know more about the curse and the family. I wanted to know if the sister changed into a monster, how it worked, and why they seemed to have a time limit to hurry her death. I wanted a book out of this one.
4 - Blues Exorcist - Great story. Want more again. I hope this character returns elsewhere. Moses could do a series on him.
5 - Questioning the Professor - I'm all for mental masturbation in trying to express the turmoil in our heads (this one being about God and how shit that happens in the world makes little sense), but I didn't feel like this worked as a story. As such, it seemed a little out of place in this collection. Well-written and provocative, though.
6 - Adelaide - Again, I want to know more. I need some full-length Moses stories, it would seem!
7 - She Walks - Not my sort of thing, but well-written.
8 - What's in Your Name - Fantastic novelette. I loved how the power of your name acted as a repellent against the demon. I liked how the character was stuck where their ashes remained, and had to haunt the house to scare off people in order to protect them from the demon looking for a body to possess. Emotional and gripping. Top shelf story.
9 - The Scent of Souls - Entertaining and strange, but I didn't follow it all that clearly.
10 - Of Turbulent Seas - Though this one didn't do it for me - maybe I was just in the mood for something exciting - it was still wonderfully written.
11 - There's No Going Back to Absit Gorge - Haunting. Works as a short, but I would love it revisited in longer form.
12 - Waning Plumes of Frostbitten Air - Revolving around depression - a very familiar piece of my life - this short reads like a dark poem that, in its final moments, blooms with hope.
13 - Hunger Pangs - I could read a novel on this character, no problem, and I don't even like vampires.
As you can see, I had little to complain about during this ride. Hunger Pangs had me hooked right out the gate. I sat down at four different stations of the day to read this, and each time I was left thinking, Damn, Scott can write. I think I’ve found a new favorite with this release. Hunger Pangs is an emotionally charged, thoughtful, and gripping collection of stories. Though horror-based, it is also speculative and literary throughout. I highly recommend this one - this is the sort of fiction I want to write.
Review by Aiden Merchant
www.aidenmerchant.com (Also on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Amazon)
[email protected] (Message for review consideration) -
I first came across Scott’s work in his Anthology “What one wouldn’t do”, a collection of wonderful stories by some of Horror’s brightest and finest. His own piece “The witch of Flora Pass” set a tone that resonated, but left me bereft – and proved to be typical in tone to the pieces contained within Hunger Pangs. Though the stories contained within the book all have their own cadence, rhythm, mood, and voice, there is one word that summarizes the entire experience, and that word is “Bleak”.
Moses’ horror strips away hope. It drops the reader to the bottom of the horror emotional whirlpool. It is exquisite in its journey, my notes contained several instances of
“Literal quality to the writing – sublime, yet bleak.”
– you can’t help but admire the mind behind the stories yet at the same time, worry for the man from which they came. It is a journey through a darker side of Horror – one in which the monsters and vampires and killers contained within the pages, hold no peace. There is not one piece in this collection from which I did not despair to an extent – either for the situations the protagonists found themselves in, or the state of mind in which the author must have been in to conceive of them. It is like watching a friend on the edge of despair. Moses clarifies in notes where he was when he wrote the stories, often in pain, often on the edge of life-changing events. This novel then seems to be literal cries in the dark, places, and people that could be found nowhere else but teetering on the precipice.
As I said, Bleak.
But the beauty of Scott’s prose provides light in the darkness. Pretty much in the same way as Greek tragedies, the outcomes to the stories are almost always foreseeable, unavoidable, yet that narrator’s voice, the lyricism, and self-deprecating honesty of Scott’s prose bleed off the page.
It leaves you just wanting to hug the man.
Hunger Pangs is not an easy book to read. It demands time, calm, reflection, it needs to settle on your soul. It doesn’t offer humor or morality, it simply offers honesty, and courage, and raw pain. It’s the kind of book that is going to move you. Make you aware of the tragedy in other people’s lives. Make you aware that you never know what is going on in another person’s life, but despite whatever problem you are experiencing, there are people in the world out there suffering more, and sometimes we need to see that. Take a good honest look at them, and reevaluate our lives accordingly.
A hard-fought 4 ⭐’s from me, my deepest respect to the Author, and my need to tell Scott that no matter what pain he is going through, no matter how low he might feel in his life, his work, his family, that he is worth every moment It took to read this collection of heart-breaking, emotion-bleeding horror. I have no idea what this collection cost you, Scott, but you have our thanks.
Shout out to the wonderful (as ever) cover by Daniele Sera , who captured the tone of this book. -
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy for review.
I really liked this collection. It felt very cohesive and plenty of stories had that emotional punch. I also enjoyed the small introductions to each story with the backstory and inspiration behind each story. A lot of them were quite vulnerable and really added to the experience. I loved the Blues Exorcist and Nowhere, Louisiana the best. Excited to see more from this author. -
Wandering around in Moses’ head through these tales feels strangely fitting during this 90+ degree summer…
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I'm not typically a fan of short story collections. I don't know why, I'm just not. I can count on one hand the number of collections that I've enjoyed every story and that's typically what puts me off, there's, basically always, a clunker or two. Not here.
Scott Moses has put together a collection of 13 stories that I enjoyed from cover to cover. There was no story that made me want to put the book down and my favorite one of the bunch was the last, the titular Hunger Pangs, about one of my new favorite vampires. Other favorites include, What's in your Name, Adelaide and Nowhere, Louisiana but, honestly, there's nothing here that I didn't like. There are some that I liked much more than others but overall, Hunger Pangs is definitely a collection to check out. -
The stories Moses collected into Hunger Pangs are all impactful and resonated with me long after I set the book down. The writing and conveyance of emotion are it’s greatest achievement, and I’m consistently in awe at how Moses can craft such dynamic characters in short form. A rare collection where each story is enjoyable, but some hit me harder than others (as with every collection), and I find myself thinking of them often.
Gripping and emotive, do not miss this. I’d wager to say this is more literary horror and that, my friends, is a great thing.
Standouts: “Blues Exorcist”, “What’s In Your Name”, “Nowhere, Louisiana”, “Cruel, Baying Adolescence”, and “Hunger Pangs”. -
The aptly titled Hunger Pangs is a collection of tales filled with hunger. Hunger for what might have been, hunger for what can never be, hunger for human flesh, and in the title story a hunger for blood. Most are filled with themes of loss, and the horror of grieving that loss.
All were well written and quite original although not necessarily as scary as I had hoped. I would recommend it for fans of dark fiction but perhaps not for hard core horror fans.
4 out of 5 stars I received an advance copy for review -
Review to come
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Hunger Pangs is the debut collection from Scott J. Moses, a new voice in horror for me but a collection that dredges the very depths of horror, you can tell from reading this varied collection that Moses is a person that has been moulded by horror his entire life. There are stories that are vampiric in nature, that deal with lycanthopy, the living dead, voodoo and paranormal; then you get your generic haunting stories but given new life, possession stories but not like you’ve read before and a whole host of other dark and macabre offerings.
The collection for me works on so many different levels given the varying lengths of short story with some flash fiction too, but each offering is a bite-sized terror that needs to be eagerly consumed.
Now, with all collections there are stories that affect the reader more than others, but with Hunger Pangs, every story pretty much hits its mark (although there were a few stories that seemed similar, stories that shared the same tropes of the genre, but I enjoyed them nevertheless) – also what I found to be one of the best bits about this collection was that before each story Moses details to us where the story came from and when he wrote it – this personal aspect of the book really helped to give me a glimpse of this new talent and showcased that from the normal, the mundane, horror can issue forth at any given moment, you just have to capture it – and that’s what Moses does, time and time again!
As with all my reviews that focus on collections, I will pick a handful of stories to discuss, given the length and the number in the collection. It would do a disservice to the collection and the author if I spend too much time discussing his crafted tales and spoil the enjoyment for you, the reader (this is what I hope to be a spoiler free review). So below are a couple of the stories that I loved, it was hard to pick but these were the few that floated to the surface for me!
Nowhere, Louisiana – for me this story read like early Stephen King (come on we all know that’s his best patch) and this particular story had me reminiscing about Pet Sematary (it’s a fabulously dark and creepy tale to start the collection). It bowled me over, I loved the whole aspect of this dastardly tale – as we get the old hitchhiker trope which has been flogged to death in the horror genre (both in film and literature) but Moses creates something new here, breathes new life into this warn out trope and creates something that is emotionally charged whilst also dredging the very depths of the soul and our internal yearnings. Moses also weaves into the story an element of Voodoo, leaving much to the readers mind (he doesn’t sugarcoat anything for us here) and in doing so has created quite the uncanny tale. I love what we learn through the prose and the hinted backstory without having it all spelled out for us, and in keeping things hidden, and the slow understanding we come realise, we see that Moses has created an eerie tale that kick-starts a memorable collection.
‘Before she left for the bathroom, my sister asked me to murder her.’
Cruel, Baying Adolescence – When I finished this story I had to reach out to Moses and tell him how good it was (it’s important for me to tell writers what I love about there work – as a writer myself when someone reaches out personally and tells me about a story of mine, it blows me away – so this is something I tend to do quite often). What I didn’t count on was that I was the first person to actually guess what the story was about and what one of the main protagonist was. It’s a familial tale, that deals with lycanthropy (it’s not a spoiler as it’s right there in the prose) but again Moses does a great job of hiding his brilliance, and letting the reader come up with their own thoughts (as sometimes these inner thoughts can be worse than what’s on the page) and Moses gets this, all his stories have that hidden quality and it shows that Moses also understands the old phrase of what you don’t see is often scarier than what you do see. But Cruel, Baying Adolescence adds to the lycanthropy myth in ways that have not been seen before, it’s quite brilliant and oh so refreshing. I found that the brother and sister relationship were perfectly rendered and believable; dysfunctional in a way that most brother and sister relationships are, and their chatting the fat was also masterfully rendered and it had me thinking of late 80’s early 90’s horror films – it’s fabulous and I loved it… it’s got a readability to it that swallows you whole, like many of the stories in the collection; and I feel that this particular story if Moses wishes could be expanded to make a great novella or novel.
Hunger Pangs – There is an author note at the beginning of this story, like all the stories within the collection and this note details that this particular story was rejected for not being horror enough and was then rejected for being too literary (how many times do we hear of greatness not being recognised – and that is what is happening here, I have no doubt about it) but if I were to offer one piece of advice to Moses it would be not to listen to the crowd, because this was one mighty fine offering and I for one am thirsty, or should I say hungry for more! Hunger Pangs contains some of the best writing in the collection, it’s a vampiric story but with a very different take on that trope of the horror genre. It was the perfect blend of Ann Rice, Lindqvist and What We Do In The Shadows, adding wonderfully to the genre but whilst also making it a unique offering. I’d personally read a whole book based on the premise that he gets across in this tremendous story. The characters were perfect and I just wanted to know more about the snippets of information that Moses deftly places within his prose and narrative – so please Moses turn this into a novella or a novel or even a series!
Hunger Pangs is a great introduction to Scott J. Moses and with many of the stories within the collection making me want more from him as a writer, I for one can’t wait to see what he does with a novella or a novel. Many of the stories within this collection are ripe and worthy of being extended, so I wouldn’t be too shocked to see some of these given a longer outing in the near future – and I for one would champion that, and I’d be the first in line to grab a copy. On the whole Hunger Pangs is a great debut collection with some fabulous stories thrown into the mix, that showcase perfectly a writer with a bright future in horror writing. -
Scott Moses was kind enough to send me a copy of his debut collection, Hunger Pangs, for review. And I’m so glad he did. I’d seen his name around the twittersphere and had the book on my radar, but there’s just so much out there and it’s easy enough to get lost. Inside the front cover, Scott signed it “To understanding one another.” An apt inscription if I ever saw one.
Moses’ writing is good. A simple sentence, I know. I’m sorry, but I found myself drawn in immediately and unable to pin down exactly what it was. Part of it, I believe, is his writer’s voice. It reads like an author from a bygone era. An old and kind soul, guiding you through troubled waters. Sensory description is another piece that Moses uses to his advantage frequently. The door never opens. A rusty creaks cuts the silence of the room as the door swings inward. Moses employs sight and sound, but is sure to include lesser used senses like smell, frequently as well. One other potential reason for my love of this collection might be the innate beauty with which Moses writes. No matter what terrible thing is happening, you can’t help but be held in awe at the way you’re watching it play out.
As with any collection, not every story was for me, but I found a takeaway in every piece, an example of something that I believed would appeal to some reader out there.
I’m a sucker for a well-planned collection, where I can tell the author/editor put a lot of time and care into the placement of stories. “Nowhere, Lousiana”, especially in retrospect, was the only choice for the opener. An atmospheric story that puts on display the type of horror writing that Moses excels at.
“Questioning the Professor” is a gorgeous, open-ended story that allows me to pinpoint one more thing I enjoyed about Hunger Pangs. The author’s notes that precede each story hold nothing back, Moses baring his soul and creating a deeper understanding between author and reader. There’s that word again.
“What’s in your Name” is a special story that will stick with me for a long time. The strongest story in the collection, it’s powerful, poignant piece that’s charged with emotion and takes a look at real, inexplicable evil. Stories where the character must make an impossible choice and we see the aftermath of the consequence will always hit me hard, and this one pulled it off masterfully.
“Hunger Pangs”, the titular story, is as perfect a choice for the final story as “Nowhere, LA” was for the opening. Moses tells us it has a history of rejection - being too horror for the literary crowd and too literary for the horror crowd. Maybe it didn’t find a good fit in any particular anthology, but it’s a terrific example of Moses’ style. Mixing horror with literary.
The collection worked for me. I feel like I’ve been pretty clear on that. I could, however, see some readers looking for more straightforward and gritty horror not connecting fully here. That’s not say Moses can’t or doesn’t bring the violence. It’s there, but it’s not always the focal point. If you like your horror with a bit of depth, soul, and a hint of poetry, even in the pieces that aren’t poetry, there’s a lot to like in this collection.
I received a copy from the author for review consideration -
Hunger Pangs is not just an original debut horror anthology, or a writers first attempt at connecting with a wider audience. These pages are the culmination of several years of dedication to the art of crafting a story, of creating characters, and of connecting with the reader in an intimate way. Each short delivers its own collection of neurosis and traumas, weather they be of a psychological nature, or emotional distress, in a way which leaves the reader with the weight of necessary introspection left squarely upon their shoulders. The subject of suffering due to loss is one of the most uncomfortably intimate, due not just to the variety, and expanse of its reach, but the inevitability it holds over us all. By it’s very nature, it removes crucial strands from the safety net intended to support those suffering its sting. The very person or thing that could act as a salve for ones distress, can often be the very reason for that distress. These darkest parts of the human psyche are unapologetically explored, both with fear, and sorrow, in the pages of Hunger Pangs; even leaving room for the redemption of monsters, and the nuance of circumstance.
As one of the privileged close friends of Scott J. Moses, I have seen with my eyes the work and dedication this collection has received over the years. The hyperbolic blood sweat and tears the author has poured from his personal life, and his creative mind, have paid off. As a first time reader of the finished product, the taste of iron and salt is potent in every page. A passionately written book, for passionate readers, absolutely worth your time. -
Seldom have I run across an anthology so aptly named as Hunger Pangs.
2020 has been the year for reading. I've been using books as distractions from the horrors and loneliness of the real world to keep myself afloat this year. Sometimes books like this, books that focus more on the empathy than the fears themselves, are a good reminder that it is okay to feel those emotions we'd sooner shove away.
The book was beautiful. The writing has a very literary quality that I'm glad to see has not fallen entirely out of style, and even the layout was something to savor. I appreciated that they stories were annotated, also. With single author anthologies, I've found that there are always pieces that seem to speak to me much clearer than others, but the notes about where the other pieces were written and why they were included helped me appreciate even the entries that didn't move me in the same way as the others. They were a nice touch for a collection that was, at its core, about understanding.
There aren't any outright scares in this book. There was nothing that made me flinch away, nothing to chill my spine. The horror comes in at a very human level. The discomfort comes from loneliness and loss. It reminds us what it is to feel empty, to experience those pangs of hunger. -
4.5 rounded up! This is a beautifully written collection of dark fiction, I enjoyed every single story! A common theme of grief and loss simmer underneath the overt, dangerous dealings with ghosts, vampires and otherworldly creatures. This collection is a melancholic, thoughtful exploration of what it means to be alive.
I really liked the succinct writing; each word perfectly placed so that nothing is wasted. The characters come alive on the page. They deal with deaths, longing, and the what ifs in different ways, sometimes to terrible ends. But while there’s despair, there’s also hope.
It’s hard to pick favourites but my picks are Blues Exorcist, a subversive look at an exorcism; What’s In Your Name, a dark haunting from the eyes of the ghost; and The Scent of Souls; a witchy haunted house tale. I also appreciate that an author’s note is included for all the stories. Highly recommended!
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This was an absolutely beautifully written book of short stories. It is quite clear that the author poured his heart and soul into each one. I loved how he incorporated at the beginning of each story an introduction as to why and sometimes where he was at while he was writing. Even how he was feeling at the time. It makes every story that much more of a wonderful reading experience, creating a bit of a connection to the person/author.
There are 13 stories, each one unique. My favorite is 'What's in Your Name'. It is just so powerful.
I enjoyed reading each one so much, I actually took a break between each one, because I felt like I had to give thought to each before moving on.
This is definitely one that I can honestly say I will be reading again, and again, and possibly again!
I won this in the authors give-away, I'm so pleased and happy I did! Thank you so much Mr. Scott J. Moses, for your kindness and for writing a wonderful book of stories!
"To understanding one another....." -
What's in your name...?
A challenging exorcism. A demon trying to steal a life. A blood thirsty immortal longing to be in the sun. Hunger Pangs is a collection truly original, unsettling short stories.
If you're looking for a great literary horror experience, I highly recommend Hunger Pangs. Each story was captivating and written in a way where I can tell the author poured a lot of love and hours into them.
I thoroughly enjoyed the authors notes before each story. It was a personable touch that sticks out from other short story collections and I liked reading little bits of the authors life and why or how the next story came to exist.
Hunger Pangs is coming out in October, the perfect time for some unsettling and beautifully written short stories.
Thank you to the author for sending me an early copy for review! After reading your first release, I'm excited for whatever comes next. -
Hunger pangs was an absolute delight to read. A short story collection influenced by death and grief. The favourite for me was What's in Your Name - the concept was ingenious and it was executed phenomenonally. What also stood out for me was the authors notes before each story givinh a background which heightened my experience. I wouldn't necessarily say its a horror but definitely dark fiction and highly recommended.
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The short stories in Hunger Pangs are exactly right as they are. They leave just enough out for us readers to fill in the gaps. As we probably all know by now, our own mind is the best at creeping us out. It's not that the strokes are too broad either, none of the stories felt like I was falling into the middle of something, any more than the characters themselves did. In short, the atmosphere was marvellous, it all was exactly right to make me shiver.
I received a free copy through Netgalley, in return for an honest review. -
This was an OK collection of stories. Some were perfect for their size, others had me confused, some were just too long and had me being distracted by other things, and others were just too short and I would like to read more of. Some were a bit too gory for the me of now, but I am sure my then me would have liked it. I thought this would be mostly horror and while a lot of stories were spooky or creepy (and some downright wtf) some were just sad (like the man who wonder why his little girl is sick). I love that this took place over various times. I am happy I read this book.
