I appreciate the ARC of this short story collection.

Overall I really enjoyed it. There were definitely some I liked more than others, but I feel like there were such strong messages in the stories.

Although I'm not typically a fan of short stories, this book really pulls together some of my new favorite urban legends and tales.

This certainly was a unique and well-crafted collection of short stories. It took me a while to come around and review it, but nevertheless, I am here. The essence of human violence as compared to vampires and ghosts is something deeply terrifying. Personally, I would rate the book 3.8/5.

I wasn't initially super invested in this short story collection, but I'm glad that I continued! The opening story and the closing story were super strong but a lot of the stories throughout this collection fell really flat for me. Not in a "that's not horror!" way, but in a "well that ended too quick" way. There were multiple stories that ended right when I was getting invested in them and that definitely lowered my overall enjoyment of the whole collection. I tend to enjoy Indigenous horror so I had pretty high expectations going into this and I think I put my expectations way too high. I haven't read any of this author's short stories before but they have been included in other anthologies that I'm super interested in, so I'll definitely give her another chance! I did enjoy the overarching theme of this collection though! While there's the classic horror monsters like vampires and zombies, it also featured men as monsters. The monster you know is better than the monster you don't, and all that. I will always appreciate horror that points fingers at the human condition and isn't afraid to shy away from the fact that people can be monsters too. It was an interesting collection of different forms of evil and I think the author did a good job exploration of how different people view horror. Overall, I had a good enough time, but I think I would enjoy full length horror from this author over short stories.

Andrea L. Rogers’ Man Made Monsters is a hauntingly beautiful collection of horror stories, weaving together Cherokee history, folklore, and contemporary fears. The collection spans generations, exploring themes of survival, identity, and the supernatural through deeply affecting narratives. While the entire book is an impressive blend of horror and historical reflection, two stories in particular stood out: "An Old-Fashioned Girl" and "I Come From the Water."

"An Old-Fashioned Girl" offers a fresh and eerie take on the vampire mythos, centering on a protagonist whose deep loneliness and desire for connection make her vulnerability all the more chilling. The slow build of unease, combined with Rogers’ evocative prose, makes this story a standout. It masterfully balances dread with an emotional core, ensuring the horror lingers long after the last word.

"I Come From the Water" shifts focus to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, using supernatural elements to highlight the real-life horrors of displacement and loss. The story’s ghostly presence intertwines with themes of resilience and grief, making it both haunting and deeply moving. Rogers’ ability to weave speculative horror with historical trauma is particularly effective here, elevating the emotional weight of the piece.

While a few stories in the collection felt less impactful than others, Man Made Monsters as a whole is a compelling and thought-provoking read. Rogers’ ability to blend history, horror, and Indigenous storytelling results in a collection that is both terrifying and meaningful. For those who appreciate horror that carries emotional and cultural depth, this is a must-read.

This is a short story collection that I really enjoyed.Each stories were unique yet blended with each other.some are very short and some are lengthier. Mostly I enjoyed the short ones.All of them have this victorian atmospheric vibes and full of Cherokee culture.

The short stories does not have very scary themes but the possibility of them haunts you and they had lots of creature ,zombie, vampire horror which I adore in books.

The only issue had with it was the names , it was a bit confusing and had to look the tree often.Apart from this , this was a fun one to read before sleep.

As with a lot of short story collections, not all of them are the best to me. However, this collection was amazing at implementing subtle horror to highlight “man made monsters” in real life. I loved that the stories were connected and included Indigenous history and beliefs. It was a fantastic read!

DNF.

I kept re reading but I couldn't follow what was happening, even though the synopsis was so appealing and I wanted to enjoy this book. There was something about the writing style that didn't work for me.

This was such a great collection of short stories! It was recommended to me by a friend who knew I was a big fan of Indigenous literature, especially horror, and it was just what I hoped for: stories that fully immerse the reader in the mind and lives of the characters. This is what I liked the most about this collection by Cherokee author Andrea L. Rogers - it felt personal and warm, like a friend telling you their secrets when there's just the two of you having a deep, meaningful conversation. The themes - displacement, colonization, violence - mix with hope, kindness and resilience. Add to that the classical horror elements - vampires, zombies, ghosts, and you have the perfect combination for fans of dark fiction.
Sometimes the stories were hard to read because the imminent horror was obvious but that's what great writing does, it makes you want to keep on reading.

One thing I particularly loved was the Cherokee words that blend seamlessly throughout the stories - "etsi" and "edoda” were my favorite and there was no translation needed. I love it when writers do that with words from a language that is different from the one the book is written in. It’s a testament to the writer’s ability to make you understand by showing rather than telling. If you’ve read Blood Meridian you will know exactly what I’m talking about.

There is a family tree at the beginning of the book but when I read this on my Kindle I did not go back and forth at every story to see who I was reading about. Instead, I just read each story as a standalone. Also, I did not get all the drawings but this was an older file and I expect the paperback will have those.

My favorite stories were: ”An Old Fashioned Girl" (that first paragraph was perfect and I was instantly hooked on the story) and "I Come From the Water”.

I'm a little surprised to read this was classified as a YA book because the stories feel very mature even though there are young characters in them. I’m also glad that I did not see this label as it would not have made me as excited to read it. Nothing against YA, it’s just not something I gravitate towards.

Thank you to @netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

And to Andrea,

Wado.

I love an anthology! Intergenerational trauma is on full display here and I had a hard time putting this book down. The artwork inclusion was a wonderfully unique choice.

This was wonderful! I loved the writing style, the characters, the world-building…everything about it was top-notch. I will definitely be recommending this book!

It took me a few stories to really get into this collection but once I did, I was hooked. This was a powerful collection of indigenous stories, reminiscent of How High We Go In The Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu. I particularly enjoyed Deer Woman and some of the other later stories, set in more modern times. I loved this collection and would love to see more short story sets like this!

Thank you to NetGalley and Levine Querido for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow!!!!

I am truly truly honored and excited I got to experience @andrealrogers art!!

This is my first time experiencing this Author and with #manmademonsters , I am hooked on their writing!!

Shout out to @hearourvoicestours for this tour, and introducing me to an author that has now become one of my faves!

Speaking of tours, here is my reading journal for this lit! !

The experience of this novel will stick with me for life!

#hov #hearourvoices

I loved this collection, it was so interesting and spooky. I thought it was very well written and I intend on buying a physical copy for my shelves. Definitely one I will be recommending to friends!

An indigenous horror story that spans multiple generations, Man Made Monsters is a beautifully crafted and chilling novel.

Really cool theme and way to tie the stories together. I liked the way it tracked the family over generations and tied things together. I think it would have been more enjoyable if the formatting on the arc were better and if I had followed the family tree.

I loved learning more about Cherokee culture and the way it spoke about and highlighted Cherokee women and how colonialism has impacted indigenous peoples.

Although I did enjoy each I was kind of wishing for a longer story at the end of every chapter. I wanted more depth and detail and just more in general. Some stories were also kind of lacking compared to others and I found myself just wishing certain chapters would end because I was not being drawn into the story enough. I had really big hopes for this, since I am partially Indigenous and I am always seeking to learn more about Indigenous culture and read books by Indigenous authors however, this just did not hit the spot for me. I honestly found myself somewhat bored throughout majority of the book.

Man Made Monsters by Andrea L. Rogers is a captivating collection of dark, atmospheric stories that explore the intersection of myth, culture, and identity. With rich prose and a unique blend of horror and folklore, Rogers delves into the monstrous and the human, crafting narratives that are both chilling and thought-provoking. A must-read for fans of indigenous horror and powerful storytelling.

Manmade Monsters by Andrea L. Rogers is a dark and captivating collection of interconnected stories that masterfully blends horror with a rich exploration of Cherokee history and identity. The writing is haunting and vivid, with each story offering a chilling yet thought-provoking glimpse into the ways fear, survival, and tradition shape lives across generations.

What sets this collection apart is its ability to weave supernatural elements with real-life horrors, from colonization to family struggles, making the monsters feel all too real. The pacing of the stories can vary, and a few felt a bit abrupt, but overall, the book is a gripping read that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this unique and unforgettable collection. I highly recommend it to fans of literary horror and Indigenous storytelling.

I loved this book and was enthralled with the writing. I loved the character study. Would read more from the author!