True rating 4.5 stars

I absolutely love reading short story horror anthologies, and this one did not disappoint and truly delighted me! Due makes reference to Octavia E. Butler in her opening to the book, and the influence is clearly felt throughout the book- and of course I mean that in the best possible way. The stories cover a vast variety of topics, including racism, the cycle of abuse, generational trauma, and even the possibility of a worldwide pandemic- stories that were written before the covid outbreak. Each story has a message and a truth deep at its heart, which I think all good horror should do. My one slight complaint is that many of these stories did not have much closure to them, leaving them feeling a bit unfinished. However, this added to the unsettling feeling of the collection as a whole.

4.5 stars rounded up

Pretty much every story in this collection is great! These tales of horror span a range of themes, but they often creep up on you in the best way. They tackle family relationships, racism, cycles of abuse, and even what a post-apocalyptic world might loom look like. There is a section of pandemic stories that were apparently written before COVID and show us how things could have been even worse.

A woman who lost custody of her daughter takes a caretaking job at a house where things keep getting creepier.

A boy staying at his grandmother's house where all is not as it seems, including her past Hollywood fame.

A toddler somehow survives for days after his parents murder-suicide.

And more that I don't want to spoil. These are smart, creepy, atmospheric, and rich in references. They all center Black characters and their experiences, tapping into fears of law enforcement, medical experimentation, government overreach, and more. The audio narration is also excellent and gives all the atmosphere you could want. Very much recommend picking these up. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Nothing beats a good horror anthology and this is a phenomenal one! The writing is absolutely beautiful, even entrancing. The flow from classic horror to swampy Florida to post-apocalyptic is excellent. I'm not usually big on post-apocalyptic, but these ones were great! I loved the relevance and unique focus of these stories, so now I'm off to get my hands on more of her work. Please give this a read!!!

An audiobook by my favorite horror author! I was so excited to get to review this one.
This was amazing!
Every story was magical. The one with the animal on the ship- That was familiar and it made me happy or sad or whatever.
The narrators were perfect.

I found most of the stories in this book has the potential to be very good at song felt unfinished but an every story were reminded that the author is black and has suffered racism and if not her her relatives even to the point where in one story she blames an ancestors lynching for the cycle of violence that has preceded the generation since then. I think would bothered me the most is that it happens so often every time a new story would begin I would wait for the nod to racism that I know was coming. I love short horror stories and found most of the stories were well written and the author seems to have a great talent for not only the genre but setting a mood that doesn’t rely on jump scares but a Innue window an atmosphere which always makes for a great horror story and maybe I am making too much of her bringing up Jim crow and other race related events that happened to the peoples relatives in the story but it almost seemed like that was her point because in every story it was mentioned in one form or fashion. As I said so much so I come to expect it when a new story would begin. Having said all that I do recommend this book because I’m sure unlike me that doesn’t bother most people in the store is really are good and although some thought unfinished the ones that did seem like a whole story it’s so worth reading. I also thought the narrator was top notch and they said the right tone for each story I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind to dictate my review.

I was 58 years old when Tananarive Due reminded me I grew up loving short stories. As an adult, this hasn't been part of my wheelhouse. I tend to read long narratives by folks like Stephen King where characters and plot tend to inhabit hundreds and hundreds of pages. This audiobook filled with compelling short stories was such a delightful (despite the subjects!), way to spend the day. Just when you were getting into the plot, BAM, an ending that shocks and the next story began. At first I found it jarring, and I wanted more of those characters, but Due quickly drew me into the next world. Over and over.

I loved how the stories were grouped and made me pay attention. It's easy with audio and a lengthy 18 hour of narration to allow the mind to wander. Turns out, short stories required me to focus entirely on the voice in my earbuds because the tales lasted from a few minutes to 30 and any wandering brain meant you'd miss a crucial twist.

I loved some of the tales, and some not so much. Each narrator was different, and all understood the assignment. They each drew you in and quickly too.

I am floored by how much I'm thinking of some of them a day later and now exploring more of Due's catalog.

Well done. HIGHLY recommend especially if you have an appreciation of the twisty supernatural, horror and the science fiction genre as well.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC of this book. This was a fun and fast read and was my first read by this author. She covers really difficult topics well and really spoke of it in a way that invokes an emotional response. I will definitely read this author again!

I'm sad that this was my first ever experience reading a book from Tananarive Due, and I'm sad because DANG! I've been sleeping on Tananarive Due. DANGGGGGG. I, like anyone else, am big on reading horror anthologies, but put them together in a short-story format??? I'm sold.

Miss Tananarive gives readers terrifying tales of post-apocalyptic narratives that we're probably all too familiar with, thanks to pandemics and social injustices. There are run-ins with skinwalkers, cryptids, and potential mass murderers, all of the ingredients to keep a horror junkie happy.

The Wishing Pool and Other Stories is set to hit shelves on April 18, 2023, and I'm so thankful to Recorded Books, NetGalley, and Tananarive Due for granting me advanced access to this collection of short stories.