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Arterial Bloom Kindle Edition

4.6 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

Lush. Brutal.
Beautiful. Visceral.

Crystal Lake Publishing proudly presents this
Bram Stoker Award-nominated Horror short story anthology, an artful juxtaposition of the magnificence and macabre that exist within mankind. Each tale in this collection is resplendent with beauty, teeth, and heart.

Edited by the Bram Stoker Award-winning writer Mercedes M. Yardley, Arterial Bloom is a literary experience featuring 16 horror suspense stories from some of the most compelling dark authors writing today.

With a foreword by
HWA Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Linda D. Addison, you are invited to step inside and let the grim flowers wind themselves comfortably around your bones.

The line-up includes:
The Stone Door by Jimmy Bernard
Dog (Does Not) Eat Dog by Grant Longstaff
Kudzu Stories by Linda J. Marshall
Dead Letters by Christopher Barzak
The Darker Side of Grief by Naching T. Kassa
Welcome to My Autumn by Daniel Crow
Still Life by Kelli Owen
Three Masks by Armand Rosamilia
Doodlebug by John Boden
Happy Pills by Todd Keisling
What Remained of Her by Jennifer Loring
Blue Was Her Favorite Color by Dino Parenti
In the Loop by Ken Liu
The Making of Mary by Steven Pirie
Mouths Filled with Sea Water by Jonathan Cosgrove
Rotten by Carina Bissett

Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.


Interview with the editor:

Mercedes, this is your debut as an anthology editor. Can you tell us how you went about choosing the Dark Fiction stories included in Arterial Bloom?
MMY: Yes, absolutely! Crystal Lake Publishing put out a call for short horror stories. My job was to ensure authors heard about the call. I basically beat down doors trying to spread the word, making sure that people realized it was an open, inclusive anthology and I was interested in stories of all types. Several hundred stories rolled in. It was a massive undertaking, but by reading open submissions instead of invitation-only stories, I was able to come across several authors who were new to me. This collection is full of award-winning, well-known authors as well as fresh voices. It’s a beautiful mix and I’m very proud of it.

This was an unthemed horror anthology, which means that you weren’t particularly looking for any specific themes. But did you find that a certain theme emerged?
MMY: Oh, yes. The Arterial Bloom anthology is all about monsters. Some monsters are literal. Some are human. But every story shows the juxtaposition of the ugliness and the beauty of humanity and the way we deal with things. It’s an emotional anthology. We deal with horror, grief, trauma, love, and healing. It’s gut-wrenching. It’s visceral and quite lovely, in a way.

How did you come up with the title?
MMY: The anthology itself is gutting and gorgeous. I was trying to find a title that played with that hardness and softness. My friends from The Geeky Writers and I went into our chat and brainstormed titles. Different words, different phrases. We just put them together in combinations until we came up with Arterial Bloom. It was the perfect title. It has that primitive, animal feel as well as being artistic. In my mind’s eye, I could see arterial spray, which is graphic and horrifying, painting exquisite flowers on a white wall. It’s like when a cat bites you and then licks the wound. The pain is still there, but the gentleness soothes. This anthology has teeth, but it’s also extraordinarily lovely.

Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download

From the Publisher

Our anthologies include the likes of Clive Barker, Ramsey Campbell, Jack Ketchum, Edward Lee, Josh Malerman, Damien Angelica Walters, Orrin Grey , Brian Keene, Graham Masterton , Kathe Koja, Gemma Files, Lee Murray, Christopher Golden, Kevin J. Anderson, Jonathan Maberry, Gary A. Braunbeck, Rick Hautala, Tim Curran, Elizabeth Massie, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Mercedes M. Yardley, Kevin Lucia, John Skipp, Mary SanGiovanni, Jonathan Janz, Glenn Rolfe, Jeff Strand, Rachel Autumn Deering, Patrick Lacey, Bev Vincent, John Palisano, Tim Waggoner, Lisa Morton, Rena Mason, Tim Lebbon, Aaron Dries, Richard Chizmar, Mark Allan Gunnells, Kenneth W. Cain, Kealan Patrick Burke, Gene O'Neill, Maria Alexander, Michael Bailey, Lucy A. Snyder, Jason Sizemore, Laird Barron, S.P. Miskowski, Gwendolyn Kiste, Seanan McGuire, Richard Thomas, Taylor Grant, Armand Rosamilia, Todd Keisling, John Boden, Chad Lutzke, Gary McMahon, Jasper Bark, Jeremy C. Shipp, John Claude Smith, Scott Nicholson, William Meikle, and many more.

Shakespeare Unleashed (Unleashed Series Book 2)
Never Wake: An Anthology of Dream Horror
Dead Letters: Episodes of Epistolary Horror
Bestiary of Blood: Modern Fables and Dark Tales
Dastardly Damsels
Hotel Macabre Vol.1: Tales of Horror
Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars 29
4.0 out of 5 stars 31
4.3 out of 5 stars 54
4.6 out of 5 stars 15
4.8 out of 5 stars 12
4.6 out of 5 stars 17
Price $4.99 $5.99 $4.99 $5.99 $4.99 $5.99
Blurb From the blood of Macbeth and the ghosts of Hamlet, to the dark fantasy of The Tempest and the twisted love of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare Unleashed reimagines the Bard’s greatest works as short horror stories…as well as horror sonnets. Since the beginning of time, people have argued the meaning of dreams. Are they symbolic visions that hold great meaning and personal significance? Are they portals into other worlds? Or are they just a series of random events? Haunting podcast transcripts. Blood-soaked police reports. Bewildering court findings. Brace yourself for an anthology that resurrects the chilling power of epistolary fiction—where ordinary documents transform into vessels of absolute terror. Written by 37 of Horror’s greatest writers, Including 18 Bram Stoker Award Winners, this anthology features diverse voices from every walk of life as they usher you through the darkest and most profound questions of the modern age. Prepare yourself for a harrowing journey through Dastardly Damsels, an anthology that redefines horror with a powerful lineup of female authors. This one-of-a-kind collection gathers the chilling voices of horror’s most imaginative minds, presenting a rich blend of flash fiction, short stories, poetry, a suspenseful play, a novella, and even an illustrated comic book section.

Editorial Reviews

Review

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Yardley's debut anthology floored me. An incredible cocktail of poetic darkness, fueled by some of the best names working today. A must-have for any horror fan."Matt Hayward, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of What Do Monsters Fear? and A Penny For Your Thoughts

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"The stories in Arterial Bloom work in tandem, enticing the reader into rapturous melancholia. The end result is both comforting and unsettling, my favorite way to feel."—Sadie Hartmann, Cemetery Dance

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"For a horror anthology that represents back-to-back literary prowess and diversity, filled with stories that are brooding and beautiful, Arterial Bloom more than fits the bill."D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"It starts with the title, Arterial Bloom--a release of crimson power, turning into something else entirely--blossoming and expanding, changing shape. These stories are transformative, mixing horror and wonder, in equal amounts. Mercedes Yardley, and Crystal Lake, have an aesthetic that haunts the reader, getting under your skin, burrowing in, and calling you home. Always lyrical, always powerful, this anthology will shine some light into the darkness, but beware the moment the beam starts to flicker."Richard Thomas, author of Disintegration and Breaker, past Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, and Thriller award nominee

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Arterial Bloom injects the 'literary' piece into the horror genre with works that excel in well-crafted surprises, powerful senses of place and character, and works that stand out from the crowd."Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B085QLBYSS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crystal Lake Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 3, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 24.1 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 234 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
17 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A Review of
    Arterial Bloom, edited by
    Mercedes Murdock Yardley

    Here is a book of sixteen distinct tales each of which splashes the reader to the widened eyes. A mixed garden of wild, even feral flowerings.

    Have your expectations and tastes surprised by these quirky, dsrk blossoms of arterial blooming.

    Chosen for quality of voice, tone, and originality of approach, these stories are linked by Miss Murder’s discerning, unflinching gaze, her command of dark beauty, and a heart fearless of shock. There’s no flinch in this editor’s regard.

    When blood swells to flower crimson a warm surprise jolts us and while not every story may reach far enough to touch, all will scramble for that thorn’s first bite

    Anthologies of good stories well told are a rarity to be savored in these days of theme-park mousetraps and Procrustean rewrites spliced to make a sale. Arterial Bloom stands bright and strong as a celebration of good writing over the tricks of old dogs.

    Ravishing shadows, as Linda D. Addison calls these stories in her introduction, await all who dare stroll this garden. I’d advise a good pair of Birkies or Doc Martens, too. As long as you can run in them.

    Strongly recommended.

    / Gene Stewart
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2020
    Format: Kindle
    Arterial Bloom
    Crystal Lake Publishing
    Edited by Mercedes Yardley

    In the midst of our very own strange reality and new (temporary) normal, I curled up with an *ARC of Arterial Bloom, which I received in exchange for an honest review. *

    Most of us, especially those of us who love horror, concede that human beings are far more terrifying creatures than any demon, witch, or superstition. Many of the stories in this anthology showcase the evils of humanity. For me, that makes the horror more plausible and alarming.

    The authors seemed to go deep into the dark recesses of their minds to find unique, imaginative, and macabre stories. None of the stories were predictable, which was refreshing, but not every story had a definitive conclusion. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn’t. I usually like a clear, precise reason for the things that happen in a story and in the ending. But for the most part, it worked here. Some of the stories left me wondering, but if done right, not knowing can leave you more unsettled. And most of these were done right.

    All the stories were well written and engaging. The editing allowed the author’s individual voices and writing styles to come alive in their characters and plots.

    I’m not one to critique each story because reading is subjective and personal. I enjoyed them all but a few stood out for to me.

    “Blue Was Her Favorite Color” by Dino Parenti – a somber tale of loss with a grim and startling twist.

    “In The Loop” by Ken Liu – The reality of this one made it incredibly chilling.

    “The Darker Side of Grief” by Naching T. Kassa – A young boy, simultaneously haunted by and grieving for his dead mother, gets help from an surprising place.

    “Dog (Does Not) Eat Dog” by Grant Longstaff – an apocalyptic tale that pushes two friends to the brink.

    Staying home and catching up on your reading? For fans of horror and dark fiction, Arterial Bloom is a great addition to your TBR pile.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Delightful frisson abounds in the exceptionally curated Arterial Bloom. A bit uneven, some stories are B+’s, but some cling to you after reading like cobwebs or a ghostly embrace, some glowing embers of terror and sorrow once finished. Crystal Lake once again showcases the human condition and beauty of horror. I highly respect and recommend their books and following their authors. This is modern horror. I enjoyed my poetric emotional discomfort immensely!
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2020
    Format: Kindle
    If you have a fear of holes, the beautiful cover will freak you out.:-)

    There are a lot of unreliable narrators within these pages, especially “Mouths Filled With Seawater” by Jonathan Cosgrove, which I really enjoyed. Several stories have a feminist vibe or the popular climate change thing, some good, but some too strong with their message (still quality writing, though).

    With so many quality stories, it’s hard to pick my favorite, but I’ve narrowed it down to my top two:

    “Dog (Does Not) Eat Dog” by Grant Longstaff is my favorite story because it is both on-the-edge-of-your seat tense and also grim in the depiction of the rage and cruelty lurking within humankind. It is yet another dystopian, near-future tale without being the same ol’ dystopian story.

    “Kudzu Stories” by Linda J. Marshall is my other favorite. It has a Southern Gothic feel, and the descriptions of the kudzu, the night, and the two- and four-legged creatures are vivid, almost tangible. Loved it.

    Overall, this is a well-curated anthology of literary horror.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Cath
    4.0 out of 5 stars A generous and atmospheric collection
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Great anthology, with not a single weak story.
    Personal faves were...
    Dog (Does Not) Eat Dog by Grant Longstaff (Post-apocalyptic, violent but atmospheric and thought-provoking)
    Doodlebug by John Boden
    Rotten, by Carina Bissett (an outstanding modern version of Snow White)

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