Review: North American Lake Monsters

4 stars. I love the entire spectrum of horror - from light to dark, from fun to bleak, from intense to agonizing to academic, refreshing or comedic. I just went from a pretty lighthearted, trope-y collection to an absolutely devastating one, and found deep satisfaction in each. Of course everybody has their limits - and I almost DNF'd this after hitting mine (my fault - I didn't check TWs) - but I was glad I powered through my personal resentments because this is the type of thought-provoking book that will stay with me for a long time. It's disturbing, reflective, and creative.

Featuring unique takes on werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, and aliens, this collection's 9 stories guarantee a gut punch (or two, or many). While maybe not scary in the traditional sense, there is plenty of intensity to go around. I know it's kind of cliche at this point to say things like "the real horror is the economic anxiety" or "the supernatural elements reflect the dark nature of humanity," but Ballingrud's stories here are the very, very best examples of these ideas. 

North American Lake Monsters is cleverly titled, because it chews on America in some truly fascinating ways. Masculinity, especially, is on display here, as is that particular American odor of racism, otherness, paranoia... our treatment of others. There is so much to unpack and far more intelligent reviewers than I will do it happily - just know going in that this is different, very different from Wounds; very well-written; very dark; and very uncomfortable, in a good way.

North American Lake Monsters on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads