Bound in Flesh: An Anthology of Trans Body Horror

This anthology explores multiple forms of body horror sometimes in quite unique ways. Like most anthologies it's really a mixed bag with some stories being satisfying while others are just plain weird and other yet heart wrenching, some stories tip toe towards something more extreme and transgressive some are more traditional horror so there is something in there for every type of horror lover.

If you enjoy taking the time to think about the deeper meaning of stories and subtext, you'll definitely find a lot of thinking material in this book but with that being said all of the stories are enjoyable at face value so you don't have to get academic about it to have a good time.

I was particularly fond of Long Fingers by Layne Van Rensburg, Looking for the Big Death by Taliesin Neith and Wormspace by L.C. Von Hessen but all stories had a charm of their own.

I received a digital review copy of this book through Booksirens and this is my honest review.

I always seem to find anthologies hit or miss and this book fits that pattern. A lot of the stories leaned into the weird transgressive space body horror offers as a playground in a way that was really interesting even if I couldn't say I enjoyed it, and the trans lens in many of the stories was really compelling. However there were a few that were stretching the limits (heh) of what I would consider body horror and one story I outright hated, so I'm rounding the average at 3/5.

Top faves: Long Fingers by Layne Van Rensberg, Lady Davelina's Last Pet by Charles-Elizabeth Boyles, Man of the House by Lillian Boyd.