Self-Made Monsters By Rebecca Cuthbert (Book Review By Michael Errol Swaim)

A quick note from Weird Wide Web Editor-In-Chief, Lindsey Goddard:

I don’t normally chime in on blog reviews written by fellow authors, but I enjoyed Self-Made Monsters by Rebecca Cuthbert so much, I want to take this opportunity to personally endorse it! This is a collection that plucks out all the suffering of the human experience—the invisibility of childhood, the dangers of trying to fit in, the cruel motives people disguise as compassion—and serves them up on a silver platter you can’t help but to devour quickly. Loved it. Now… onto what Michael has to say…

Self-Made Monsters Book Review

By Michael Errol Swaim

Sometimes you pick up a book and it is so good that you want to read the whole thing right away, and this is one of those books. Every story and poem contained in this collection is a beautifully written, highly imaginative, and entertaining piece featuring women as both protagonists and antagonists in a wide variety of terrifying situations that will haunt you long after you’ve read them.

This is the first book by Rebecca Cuthbert I have read, and it will not be my last. Her incredible writing skills and well thought out stories and poetry will hook you in at the beginning and not let you go until the end. I loved and enjoyed everything within this book’s pages.

Self-Made Monsters is an upcoming collection of feminist horror short fiction, flash fiction, and poetry from author Rebecca Cuthbert, due out in October. I know my review won’t do justice to such a delightful book, but I hope it will entice you to buy it when it comes out. It will be well worth it, with gems such as these:

“No Rest Nor Relief For You With Me Dead”

A beautiful poem that features a murdered wife seeking revenge from beyond the grave. Shakespeare’s Sonnet 71 inspired this poem.

“Dare You”

A girl accepts a dare to enter an abandoned house to prove to the other kids how cool she is, only it doesn’t go as planned and takes a dark turn.

“Gift”

A brilliant piece of flash fiction about a young girl that doesn’t understand why a gift she gave away has landed her in trouble.

“Cut Down”

A nature lover is forced to watch the new neighbors cut down all the trees.

“The Vultures Remain”

My favorite story in this collection. It evoked feelings inside me that had long ago been locked away. A young girl dealing with the recent death of her mother loses control and the grief drives her to act out.

I had a similar experience as a child, and this story captures a time of grief and loss so perfectly that I felt like I was at my mother’s funeral again, wishing people would stop telling me that everything is going to be okay.

“Wanted”

 A poem inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s “Annabel Lee” that I like to think would make him proud.

“With Her”

A story about a girl out trick-or-treating with her older sister who resents having her little sister tag along, which focuses on the helplessness of childhood.

“Falling To Pieces”

An amazing story about a woman who is literally falling apart and attempts to hold herself together while at work.

“The Reservoir”

Children discover why the reservoir is a dangerous place.

“Lake Erie Omen”

A poem from the perspective of a lake monster.

“In Crowd”

A woman wanting to fit in gets more than she bargained for at a New Years party.

“Reckoning”

The quickest twist ending ever.

“Makeover”

A body sculptor’s work gets tiresome for her until her assistant encourages her to try new things.

“Estuary”

Just when I think the poetry in this book can’t get any better, I find that isn’t the case.

“I Won’t Call It a Monster”

A man ignores a warning passed down through generations that leads to a frightening and heartbreaking event that no one believes.

“Biest Kiove, Come Home”

A shipwreck leads to an unusual love story.

“I Take”

Unwary trick-or-treaters lose a little bit of themselves when they visit a certain house.

“The Cliffs at Battery Pointe”

A woman searches for an escaped dog only to find something evil has captured it.

“Mistress Meg O’Malley”

A beautiful poem to close out this amazing collection.

I can’t say enough good things about Self-Made Monsters. Amazing, brilliant, entertaining, and well-written are just a few that come to mind. Rebecca Cuthbert is a gifted and talented writer that I highly recommend to everyone. 9 out of 10 stars.

ARE YOU SOLD YET? GREAT! You can pre-order a copy from the author herself by clicking here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18WDyvYRKPmZMvxG2dztFOmw19_ZuZAGJXQLkzYD3Qs8/edit

Or follow her on social media to get updated when it comes out!

Follow Rebecca on X: https://x.com/rebeccajcuth

Follow Rebecca on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/rebecca_cuthbert_writes/

*****

ABOUT THE REVIEWER:

Michael Errol Swaim is a horror and fantasy author and proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. He first picked up a pencil and began to write stories many moons ago before he was even born, and due to several mishaps, including a liver and kidney transplant, he stopped writing. After a 25-year hiatus, he has returned to doing what he loves most: writing. Michael focuses on horror but occasionally dabbles in fantasy and poetry. His first horror publication is in issue three of Carnage House, and his stories will appear in several upcoming anthologies. He also writes film and book reviews for the Weird Wide Web blog. Because he was such a weird kid, his parents dropped him off in the middle of a forest in Green Country, where a rabid squirrel raised him, and he eventually returned to civilization. He currently resides in Colcord, Oklahoma, with his wife, Mandy, his three kids, and his special princess, Wolfgirl the Cat.

He can be found at Facebook.com/michael.e.swaim