This is an enjoyable collection of horror and horror ish short stories. The biggest interesting thing that sets this book apart from others like it is that it follows one Cherokee family through close to 200 years. That's an interesting angle to take. It starts with the Cherokee being expelled from their land and it ends twenty years in our future. There were some really good stories. A vampire looking for her new place in her world, the dark science of resurrection, an alien living in your pool. Some of them didn't really feel like horror stories, just weird little chunks, like dating the goat man or getting a ghost cat. A lot of the stories also dealt with bigger horrors, human horrors, like losing family members, racism, and scary men. My only big problem is that some of them were more like vignettes than fully filled out short stories, and I think they had more potential than was filled out,

Here you will find many short stories woven together by a common thread. You will need to refer back to the family tree often as you read. Andrea L. Rogers has done a fantastic job at drawing the reader into a family’s legacy as the world revolves and changes, decade by decade. I was also thrilled to learn more about the Cherokee language and culture.

I’ll be reading this one again. Also, to a certain character who has a “d” in his/her name—that was cold, stone cold. If I learned anything from these stories, it was to be really, really careful about what you say and do around certain people. Otherwise, you could find yourself facing a manmade monster. I’d advise against putting yourself in that situation.

Thank you to Levine Querido and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased feedback.

[I received a copy of this book via Netgalley from the publisher.]


<I>Manmade Monsters</I> is a collection of chronological short stories following members of an extended Cherokee family, beginning in the 1830s and extending into the future. Every story deals with some sort of entity or supernatural occurrence accompanied by, very often, the monstrous nature of man. A vampire dwells in the same lands where displaced people are forced to flee from their homes, at risk of being killed

This is the first short story collection I've read in a while that didn't leave me feeling frustrated that I'd made the decision to read a short story collection. My frustrations with short story collections typically come down to the fact that only one or two stories end up being great, with a few that are okay, and the rest are either forgettable or bad.

And I'm not going to say every story was fantastic and unforgettable. Many of them were simply fine, one or two didn't feel like they fit within the framework of the collection, and a number were memorable and beautifully done. ("Homecoming" stands out, just to name one story.)

I think the difference between most short story collections that I find wanting and <I>Manmade Monsters</I> lies in the execution and theming used. Even when the stories weren't particularly stand-out, they felt fulfilling because they were part of this overarching storytelling about a particular family. Even if a certain story perhaps didn't stick the landing, it added something to this tapestry being gradually woven over the generations.

If you're looking for a unique short story collection that's filled with monsters, manmade and otherwise, I definitely recommend giving this one a shot.

Man Made Monsters was such a fantastic read for me. I recommend everyone to read this book as fast as you possibly can because It's really worthy it.

Thank you Netgalley and Levine Querido for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Man Made Monsters” by Andrea L. Rogers is a remarkable and innovative collection that stands out in many ways. The book's format itself is striking, with a blend of black font on white pages and white font on black pages, creating a visually stimulating experience. Each story is introduced with title-card style illustrations, enhancing the eerie ambiance and setting the stage for the next tale. I absolutely loved the illustrations, and they definitely added to the story. As a horror anthology, I highly recommend looking at content warnings before reading this book; there is a good amount of body horror and gore as well as other potentially triggering content.

One of the most effective elements of the book is the family tree at the beginning, which serves as a crucial tool in connecting the different generations of the Cherokee family. Unlike many books where family trees can be confusing or unnecessary, here it adds a chilling layer, as readers can't help but notice the branches that abruptly end, hinting at untold tragedies. I found myself continuously flipping back to the family tree in order to fully understand the progression between chapters and stories. The anthology format works exceptionally well in this context, as it allows Rogers to explore intergenerational trauma and the impacts of racism, violence, and plagues on a single family line. Ama, a recurring character, serves as a somber thread that ties the stories together. I really enjoyed the format of this book. I don’t think I’ve read an anthology that had interconnected stories like this, specifically in demonstrating the advancement of both a family line and a time line. These connections between stories helped with the flow of the story and helped me connect better with both the characters and the various plots.

Rogers' writing is versatile and captivating, with each story offering a fresh perspective and style. From creature features to ghost stories, from sad teen tragedies to modern-day horrors like school shootings, the collection covers a broad spectrum of themes. The stories are varied but consistently engaging, each contributing to the overall narrative of cultural and personal horror. However, like any anthology, there were some stories that were a bit weaker than others, particularly the longer ones that were a little less engaging. There were also some elements throughout the stories that were a bit confusing due to a lack of knowledge on my part, especially with language and customs. For example, in the first story there is a lot of Spanish language being used that wasn’t directly translated and was difficult to understand even with some context clues.

Overall, “Man Made Monsters” excels in its exploration of horror from a Native perspective. It is a powerful and original addition to the horror genre, particularly within the context of Indigenous storytelling. It offers a fresh take on familiar horror elements while delving deep into the cultural and historical experiences of a Cherokee family. I highly recommend reading this book for any fans of horror and horror anthologies!