ORPHANS OF BLISS: TALES OF ADDICTION HORROR ANTHOLOGY

The following are a couple of excerpts—that ring true to me—taken from The Frozen Seas Between Us: An Introduction – by Editor Mark Matthews

‘Horror can shine a revealing light onto these demons, the dark truths of addiction, in a manner no other genre can. In this way, horror, even at its most grotesque, can lead to a deeper understanding of addiction and offers compassion for the sick and suffering addict.’

‘Our hearts are fragile, the horrors we have to navigate are very real, and the genre understands that. It doesn’t flinch from telling our story, and when it rings true, we can’t help but listen and learn about our journey.’

My Favorites:

‘You Wait For It, As It Waits For You’ – by Kealan Patrick Burke – This one hits close to home, though it hurts, it brings me a much-needed perspective through the lens of addiction.

‘One Last Blast’ – by S.A. Cosby – Creepy Good!

‘What We Name Our Dead’ – by Cassandra Khaw – My Heart!

‘Huddled Masses, Yearning to Breathe free’ – by John FD Taff - Creepy Good!

‘Through the Looking Glass and Straight Into Hell’ – by Christa Carmen – That Ending, My Heart!

‘Holding On’ – by Gabino Iglesias – WOW, My Heart!

‘Buyer’s Remorse’ – by Samantha Kolesnik – Creepy Good!

‘A Solid Black Lighthouse on a Pier in the Cryptic’ – by Josh Malerman — Awwweee, I Love The Ending!

‘My Soul’s Bliss’ – by Mark Matthews – That Was Heartbreakingly Good!

Thank you, NetGalley and Wicked Run Press, for providing me with an eBook of ORPHANS OF BLISS at the request of an honest review.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

OMG!!! This book was exactly what I wanted it to be! I loved it. I will make sure to check out other books by this author. When I requested this I was just intrigued by the concept of it and I loved how it turned out. This story had a great plot and if you have read this and enjoyed it, This was so much. It was such a great story. I would say give this one a try. I will continue to follow this author. Way to go to this author for not letting me down.

I highly enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook. Kept me listening.

Like you always get with a collection of short stories, some work better than others. I loved the theme of this collection- everyone knows someone who has suffered from some sort of addiction. I was also pleasantly (perhaps not quite the right word, but it works) surprised to find that this collection didn't only focus on chemical addictions, but some other kinds, as well. Out of all the stories, the one that has stuck with me the most is the one of the shoplifting, serial killing lesbian.

Overall, a fine collection and one I'm happy to recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was interesting! Some stories totally pulled me in, others not so much, but I think theres something in here for everyone! The premise is really cool though so I might try to explore the others in this 'series'.

How did I not know about this collection sooner and why are we not hyping this one up more!?

I went into this completely blind and loved every story inside. So many talented authors featured in this collection! I found some new authors to read and got to read some of my favourites as well. Every story in this was beautifully written and all based around addiction. A true nightmare.

This is a truly haunting collection that takes addiction to an entirely new level.

Not for everyone. I like the premise, stories of horror based on addiction. A lot of gems in here but also some that are hard to take and some that were just not up to snuff.
Thanks to @Netgalley for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

4 Stars!

Orphans of Bliss, edited by Mark Matthews, is the final entry in the Addiction Horror anthology. It is an anthology featuring works about addiction and the horror that it works on the addicted as well as those close to them. The series features stories written by those who know addiction and the real world horror that addiction brings to the afflicted.



The anthology got off to a stumbling start for me with “You Wait for It, Like It Waits for You” by Kealan Patrick Burke. This story may work better for some readers than it does for me, but I must admit that I have never been a fan of Burke’s work. I know he has a strong following and I have tried to get into his writing, but it usually does not work for me, and this story was no exception. I found it to be rambling and uninteresting overall. I understand what Burke is trying to do in this story, but it was lost on me.



“One Last Blast” by S.A. Crosby kicked the book into high gear with the second story. This story, about a small town meth dealer who must deal with the consequences of his profession, was straight-up horror and an absolute blast of a story to read. This is not a long tale but a terrifying one that sunk its teeth into me quickly and never let go. This story was followed by “What We Name Our Dead” by Cassandra Khaw and her very dark look at addiction through the eyes of children, now adults, affected by it and the anthology was now in high gear. These are probably my two favorite stories in the book, although there are some close contenders, and I found it hard to put down after reading these two.



There are other outstanding in this book that make it very strong overall. “Through the Looking Glass and Straight to Hell” by Christa Carmen takes a dark science fiction look at the future of rehab and the darkness that lurks at the end of the journey toward sobriety. “A Solid Black Lighthouse on a Pier in the Cryptic” is the story of lost potential as a would-be novelist uses excuses to hide her alcoholism that has prevented her from reaching her potential. When she runs afoul of the wrong person in a bar, her life spirals downward until she strikes rock bottom. The closing story, “My Soul’s Bliss” by the editor, Mark Matthews, is a brutal story of two friends who must cope with the death of the third part of their trio. One is a recovered addict while the other is still an addict as she remained with the now deceased friend. This is a crushing tale of friendship and the harsh choices that an addict must face. If it is not the best story in the book, it is 1A or a close second to Crosby’s “One Last Blast” for completely different reasons.



Overall, Orphans of Bliss is a strong anthology and I enjoyed it overall. The themes in the story are very dark and difficult to read at times, but that is the point of an anthology about something as vicious as addiction. As with any anthology, some stories will work better than others and some readers will enjoy the book more than others, but this is a strong collection of stories with only a couple that did not work well for me. Orphans of Bliss will make the reader think and maybe even make the reader look at the world (or themself) in a different light, but it is worth time invested in reading it. It is the third and final book in the series and the only one that I have read, but it has gotten my interest in going back and checking out the previous volumes as well, and that is as good a recommendation as one can give a book.



I would like to thank Wicked Run Press and NetGalley for this review copy. Orphans of Bliss is available now.

“Addiction is inextricably linked with every subgenre of horror. Addiction is horror, and the history of horror is incomplete without addiction.”

I can’t get over how much I loved this collection. When the subject matter is so dark, is loved even the right word?

Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror is a collection of short horror stories by some of the best writers in the genre and edited by @mark_matthews_wickedrunpress. The third and final installment of the addiction horror anthology, each story is unique, wildly creative, and unrelentingly dark. The real life terrors of addiction blend with traditional horror themes to tell exquisite stories that I think about daily. I was thrilled to get a copy of this ARC from @netgalley, but am still blown away by how much it has impacted me. I’ve even struggled to write this review because I wasn’t sure how to do justice to such a difficult topic being executed so well.

From the beginning of the introduction to the end of the last story, Orphans of Bliss is worth your time. It is dark and heavy and triggers abound, but it will make you think and feel and stay with you for a long time, even if you’re not sure you want it to.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mark Matthews, Wicked Run Press and all of the contributing authors for the opportunity to experience these stories. I will definitely be picking up the first two collections.

An amazing masterpiece of short stores. The best that I have read ina while. They should definitely make an anthology TV
series of of this

I’m not a big horror reader, but the title and cover art of this anthology drew me in, and then the actual stories kept me engaged.

Every story is written by a different author and has a different take on both the subject of addiction and the horror genre. Some have supernatural elements while some take a more grounded approach to horror. Most deal with substance use and abuse, but a couple talk about other forms of addiction.

I didn’t love all of the stories, but I did have some definite favorites that I’m still thinking about.

The story “Huddled Masses, Yearning to Breathe Free” was truly chilling, and the author did a masterful job of putting the readers into the head of a character who did horrible things and making us almost understand his mindset. Definitely terrifying!

My other favorite, “Buyer’s Remorse,” is a delightfully queer story with a kind of awful sapphic main character who gets what’s coming to her without it feeling like a punishment for her sexuality or even her addiction. Just her actions. This story was also just generally enjoyable to read, even while it kept me on edge.

I think the last story was my least favorite. It was a little too long and a little too religious for my personal taste, and I didn’t like the way it treated women. I understand why it was chosen as the closer, though.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this anthology to a horror fan looking for something short to read or to someone who is, like me, interested in exploring the genre for the first time.

Please note that every story in this collection is about addiction, most contain substance use, and many also contain other potentially triggering content including death, murder, body horror, blood, and confinement. Please take care of yourself if any of these are likely to be an issue for you.

Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror is an anthology of 10 stories, written by some of the best modern horror authors, with the same central theme: the insidious nature of addiction.
I already knew many of the authors, but I particularly love collections because they give me the chance to discover new voices and especially if they are my cup of tea.

All the stories are beautifully written: I don't know if the authors have/had direct experiences with the different addictions they wrote about, but they felt so real and painful and truly horrific.
As with most collections, I didn't *love* all the stories but, out of 10 stories, I found these 5 absolutely incredible:
- One Last Blast, by S.A. Cosby
- Huddled Masses, Yearning to Breathe Free, by John F.D. Taff
- Through the Looking Glass and Straight Into Hell, by Christa Carmen
- A Solid Black Lighthouse on a Pier in the Cryptic, by Josh Malerman
- My Soul’s Bliss, by Mark Matthews
I also enjoyed all the others, with the exception of one story that I believe was simply not for me and I was not able to connect with.

Orphans of Bliss is overall a powerful and haunting collection that I'm very happy to have read and that I would recommend to all horror readers. Also (and this is something I found out just now) it's part of a trilogy of anthologies, following Garden of Fiends and Lullabies for Suffering. If they are as good as Orphans of Bliss, I'm in for a treat!
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

* I'd like to thank Mark Matthews, Wicked Run Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Well, this was… something else? I’m not really sure what to say about it. It was defiantly a unique collection of short stories by today’s modern horror authors. There were some stories I liked better than the others; but all 10 short stories read like nightmares, with the central theme being addiction. A few continue to stick with me: ’Huddled Masses, Yearning To Breathe Free’ by John F.D. Taff, ‘Buyer’s Remorse’ by Samantha Kolesnik and ‘My Soul’s Bliss’ by Mark Matthews.

Was really excited to read this, but alas, I set my kindle down at the end feeling unsatisfied. There are some prolific writers in this collection who have a talent for pretty much conjuring up anything in dark fiction, especially in any given anthology.

Addiction horror is something that pops up from time to time in literature, and when it does, I’m usually all over it. When we come across these tales of drug inflicting pain, it’s merely a matter of perspective. Do we empathize with the characters or do we share heir pain? Some view personal struggle as a satire, the addict is “the fool” of society.

“Orphans of Bliss” was an unsteady, mixed up experience for the most part. All the elements are here and each author tries to embed some sort of creativity into this daunting subject. Most of efforts start out strong, but I immediately lost interest with some of these overly self-conscious characters. I never really felt the terror or enslavement of addiction compared to some other stories out there, and at times things felt emotionless, Again, no offense to the writers found in this collections. I still value some of their other works.

I favored a few a few of the stories:

S.A. Cosby-“One Last Blast.” One of the best zombie stories that I’ve read in a long time. I really hope Cosby gives us more horror.

Josh Malerman-“A Solid Black Lighthouse On a Pier in the Cryptic”-Sounds like the title of a black metal anthem, but in actuality, this is probably the best of the bunch in terms of addiction horror.

Gabino Iglesias-“Holding On.”-Surprisingly affective dystopian read.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC.

After reading Lullabies for Suffering, I couldn’t believe my luck when I received an ARC of Orphans of Bliss from Netgalley and Wicked Run Press. Lullabies was my first foray into Addiction based horror as a niche genre, and I was blown away by how excellently written this entire series is. Mark Matthews has gathered quite the lineup of horror authors for this collection!

Orphans of Bliss is a 10 story collection featuring some of today’s most excellent modern horror authors. There's no need to read the series in chronological order. I believe this series can give much insight into what those with varying addictions have to endure, while giving a bit of a supernatural twist here and there. Here’s a brief, spoiler-free rundown of what awaits you in this gritty trove of truths:

Keenan Patrick Burke starts off the collection with “You Wait For It Like It Waits For You”, which cleverly connects to the worldbuilding of his prior 2 stories in the previous 2 collections, although each story definitely stands alone. I was amazed with the way Burke was able to perfectly mirror the internalized environment that an addict traps themselves in when coping with withdrawal and the struggle of attempts to rehabilitate.

“One last Blast” by S. A. Cosby was able to bring some much needed comic relief with this foray into what can happen when a certain blend of meth with unforeseen side effects starts making its rounds into a small party town. Highly enjoyed this one!

“What We Name Our Dead” by Cassandra Khaw is a much more somber tale of the effects a parent’s addiction has on their adult children, and whether we are willing to heal or continue to hurt in the name of moving on from the trauma of one's past.

“Huddled Masses, Yearning to Breathe Free” by John F.D. Taft is an interesting tale about hoarding, as those who suffer from the disorder are dealing with the very same irrational toolbox of coping skills and rationalizations as any other addict has. I was definitely NOT expecting that ending!

“Through the Looking Glass and Straight to Hell” by Christa Carmen was a creepy look at what the future of rehabilitation could look like if virtual reality VR programs were introduced into facilities. Could knowing what your life could be like with sobriety help or harm you on your way to recovery?

“Holding On” by Gabino Iglesias has some of the most excellent world building I have ever read in a short story. It felt like a whole novel’s worth of environmental, societal, and governmental structures were erected in such a quick manner that by the time I had wrapped my head around how everything in this world worked, the ending slapped me in the face and left me breathless. I really related to the characters in this story, because as an addict in recovery you remember all too well the way that other people, especially those with any sort of authority, will look down upon you as a lesser person for having dealt with addiction (or various other differences in personhood like being neurodivergent, sexuality, mental health, etc). Many different types of people will heavily relate to this horrible little gem of a story.

“Buyer’s Remorse” by Samantha Kolesnik is another mischievous tale featuring what can happen when your appetite for appearances, designer brands, and spoiling your fancy girlfriends is larger than the sum of your own wallet, and the things a special sort of psychopath might do to balance out the two.

"A Solid Black Lighthouse On A Pier In The Cryptic" by Josh Malerman was an absolute treat, not only for fans but for his own fellow writers who may be attempting to seek the muse while also battling addiction. Lori would write the most awe inspiring novel if it weren't for many reasons, least of all her alcoholism, but when Lori pisses off the wrong person at her local bar, she begins to spiral into a nonstop nightmare of booze until hitting her inevitable bottom.

"Singularity" by Katherine Koja was really the only tale of all 10 that I couldn't completely wrap my mind around. Speculative fiction that leaves out quite a few bits of key information. I felt that this brief story highlights the theme that fantasy might be better than reality, and could one even handle actualizing their own?

And last, but definitely not least, "My Soul's Bliss" by Mark Matthews really messed me up. The story follows Peter and his ex Luci- a recovered addict and active addict- as they both attend the funeral of their mutual friend Quinn. The story touches upon the themes of addiction that highlight an emotional connection between addicts who used together, and how difficult it can be in both cases to get clean while you watch the other continue to deteriorate from drug use, as well as to still be in the throes of your addiction while feeling left behind by someone you love as they continue their sobriety journey.

This story will touch both former and active addicts as well as family and friends of an addict. There is so much survivors guilt and resentment involved on both sides, which I have experienced in my own life, watching old friends succumb to their addiction as I got clean, became a mother, and changed my life. You lose many people along the journey, both literally and figuratively, and reading this story made me very emotional.

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading, but what are you waiting for lol?!

Enjoy the series, then check out the prior collections because they're some of the best anthologies I've ever read.

When I saw tweets about Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror was pretty excited to see there would be a third, and final, fix of addiction horror to round out this series. Mark Matthews has done a hell of a job putting these three books together. In this installment, as the previous, we get more great writing. Many of the authors I’ve been a fan of for years, and a few that are new to me, but I’ll will be keeping my eye on them for more. Orphans of Bliss provides a varied range of addictions and writers who look at this topic from all sides. Orphans of Bliss was more than I expected, and I loved the places these stories took me.

You Wait For It, Like It Waits For You by Kealan Patrick Burke twisted my insides with vivid discriminations of the nightmare world of an addict. Many of the thoughts and actions of the protagonist felt on point. I’ve seen and heard this first hand. Believe me, it’s not fun or pleasant to view another person in a place this bad. How Kealan Patrick Burke gets his head in that kind of mindset is beyond me. It’s impressive as all hell, mad respect to you, sir.

One Last Blast by S.A. Crosby was a fun story filled with light back woods characters. S.A. Crosby gives us addicts and horror of a different nature, and boy did I enjoy it. The drug of choice here turns you in to a literal monster. Short, fun and packing a punch best describes One Last Blast.

Huddled Masses, Yearning to Breathe Free by John F.D. Taff was a hell of a tale, and he had me believing. How a person can behave this way is almost more than one can wrap their head around. That will make sense after you read it, there’ll be no spoilers here. Further, it had a claustrophobic atmosphere and a messy family dynamic, and I couldn’t stop reading once I started. The King of Pain strikes again!

Through the Looking Glass and Straight into Hell by Christa Carmen was a fantastic tale! The future is now, and scary as ever. In this story we get an addict wondering if she can finally stay clean. I loved the way this story flips from then to now, and back until the conclusion. At times it’s a struggle to keep what’s real from imagined. Props and well done! This was my favorite short, and a stand out piece of writing.

A Solid Black Lighthouse on a Pier in the Cryptic by Josh Malerman was highly entertaining and nothing short of pure enjoyment. I almost felt bad not feeling bad for the protagonist. A women who drinks far too much, and learns a valuable lesson the hard way. I can’t say enough, or more without spoiling this joy ride. Those who are a fan of Josh Malerman will love his latest work, and those who have yet to read him, this is as good a place as any to get started.

My Soul’s Bliss by Mark Matthews is as inspiring as it is heart breaking, one addict is fighting the good fight, while the other is losing, and yet another lost the battle completely. I love the way the story is told from the different characters perspective. As the plot unfolds we get a little more from each character until we can piece this puzzle together. I thought Luci was a great character, and her rambling and nonlinear thoughts were tough to wrap a non addicts head around. But, this is what makes her a great character and the story so engrossing.

*Orphans of Horror is filled with great stories that are very f**ked up and twisted with unexpected (even gruesome details throughout) endings. This has to be one of my favorite books this year and I will definitely be reading more by the contributing authors in this anthology!


Top 3 favorites:
•You Wait for It, Like it Waits for You by Kealan Patrick Burke

•Through the Looking Glass and Straight to Hell by Christa Carmen

•Holding On by Gabino Iglesias



*Please read trigger/content warnings before reading this book. It is a heavy book about multiple people with varying addictions, whether on the road to recovery or while actively abusing.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, the authors and the publisher for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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I really enjoyed this collection of stories!

Buyer's Remorse definitely my favourite but all the stories are entertaining in their own subgenre!

This is worth a read by any lover of horror.

Overall rating: 5/5 stars

This is the third (and final) anthology of addiction horror edited by Mark Matthews, but my first. I want to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this read but that feels so inappropriate given the subject matter. Some stories were horrific; not the jump scare variety, but the type that gets under your skin. Many of the stories will be accompanying me for a while, whether I want them to or not.

You Wait For It, Like It Waits For You by Kealan Patrick Burke

Reality isn’t easily distinguishable for Sean, as the days pass in the room with no door.

“Do you know where you are?”
“Inside myself.”

One Last Blast by S.A. Cosby

Sometimes not even death can stop you from needing a fix.

“I … can … smell it.”

What We Name Our Dead by Cassandra Khaw

Eleanor returns to her childhood home, a place of fear and pain.

“Hurt changes you. Hurt stays. Hurt gnaws a nest for itself in the heart and stays burrowed there until you die.”

Huddled Masses, Yearning to Breathe Free by John F.D. Taff

Alan Denbrough is a collector. If you have trypophobia, you may want to skip this one.

“I don’t hoard so much as … collect. And yes, there’s a distinction.

Through the Looking Glass and Straight Into Hell by Christa Carmen

This rehab offers something different: virtual reality recovery simulation.

“What do you wish it would show you?”

Holding On by Gabino Iglesias

Guillermo needs to get Max and Alondra out of Section C before it’s too late.

“In Section C, nothing good ever happens at night.”

Buyer’s Remorse by Samantha Kolesnik

Sometimes the punishment fits the crime.

“Everything has a price”

A Solid Black Lighthouse on a Pier in the Cryptic by Josh Malerman

If you draw the attention of a witch in a bar, be prepared for the consequences.

“Drink and you are drunk.”

Singularity by Kathe Koja

We’re in space, but I was fairly lost. I may need to reread this one.

“You know you’ve never been wanted the way the dark wants you now.”

My Soul’s Bliss by Mark Matthews

We meet two addicts, whose lives had diverged, at a funeral.

“Because that’s what happens with certain moments. They imprint themselves on you and you can’t change them. They define you, become the hinge all your decisions swing upon.”

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began this anthology but out of ten stories, I came away with five favourites, those by Cassandra Khaw, John F.D. Taff, Christa Carmen, Josh Malerman and Mark Matthews.

Now I’m keen to read Garden of Fiends and Lullabies for Suffering.

Content warnings include mention of ableism, addiction, death by suicide, homophobia, mental health, physical abuse, racism and suicidal ideation. Readers with emetophobia, beware.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wicked Run Press for the opportunity to read this anthology. I’m rounding up from 4.5 stars

An intense look at addiction through horror though not horror as in jump out and scare you but as in unnerve you for days after you've read it.
The best pieces, in my opinion were Yearning to Breathe free (John FD Taff), 'You Wait For It, Like It Waits For You' by Kealan Patrick Burke, and (surprisingly for me as someone who isn't into scifi horror) 'Through the Looking Glass and Straight Into Hell' by Christa Carmen.
That said, they were all good reads.
I think a reader would benefit from reading the first 2 anthologies in this series but it isn't necessary. All in all, excellent stories for the horror fan.

Mark Matthews returns with the third anthology of addiction based horror stories and much like the first two, Matthews has enlisted a stellar group of writers who you know will deliver phenomenal stories.

If you've not read either of the previous entries, no worries, these are not connected in that sense (although Kealan Patrick Burke's stories in each one are set in the same world), so you can dive in and not have read the other two. Saying that, you really should as the work featured within is always haunting, heart breaking and captivating.

With 'Orphans of Bliss' I found the level of storytelling to be lights out. Amazing from start to finish.

What I liked: Each author within has very distinct ways of telling their stories and that works really well for the reader, as each piece feels fresh and nothing comes off as repetitive. I think one thing I really enjoyed was that there were only 10 stories. Lately many anthologies are nearing three times that amount and it can make for an uneven reading experience.

Not here.

Highlights for me were;
- 'You Wait For It, Like It Waits For You' by Kealan Patrick Burke. This one followed Sean, an addict who has done some horrific thing. His wife and kids have left him and he is in a recovery centre/hospital setting. But not all is how it seems and, as expected, Kealan gives us a haunting look at a mind that is struggling.
- 'One Last Blast' by S.A. Cosby. We get to follow Kenny Wayne, small town dealer of Meth and a new hot product Ice Man for an evening. Cosby crafted a short but unsettling story, one that was a blast to see unfold.
- 'What We Name Our Dead' by Cassandra Khaw. This starts off with just a devastating line and gets worse from there. I don't want to mention too much but wow did Khaw go dark.
- 'Through the Looking Glass and Straight Into Hell' by Christa Carmen. A really unique Sci-Fi mash up, we get a VR set up to help with addicts and some interesting ramifications from there.
- 'Holding On' by Gabino Iglesias. Another futuristic- Sci-Fi blended story, we follow Guillermo as he tries to find his friend and significant other who is pregnant. This was filled with action, creatures and some pointed social commentary. Really well done.

What I didn't like: While I did enjoy each story, some started off with really interesting premises and faded away, while a few were good but I just didn't connect with them like the others. Anthologies are always like that and readers will find stories they love more than others.

Why you should buy this: Matthews has once again given us an anthology that looks at how addiction can hook into a person and hold tight, while also sharing how that addiction affects them and those closest. The stories are filled with darkness, despair but also these wiggling ideas that pull the reader along.

Definitely an anthology you'll want to check out!

(This review will feature on Kendall Reviews near release date!)