Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this novel

I was excited to read this novel because I am a pretty big fan of horror stories and anthologies. Obviously there are always going to be some stories that are going to be bigger than others. That is the nature of anthologies. This one however I was struggling to find a story the stood out. I felt each story was flat and didn't have anything that made me want to continue reading.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that element that I was looking for from the description. The overall feel worked with the horror genre, and each story worked well overall in this universe. Each author worked well overall and was glad I was able to read this.

This was great! Lots of short, intense stories, to enjoy again and again. I've never heard of any of the authors, but took a chance that at least there would be a few interesting tales. Pleasantly surprised that every story I read was worth the read! I haven't finished the book as yet, but intend to! Fantasy lovers are going to love this collection! I look forward to discovering new work by the authors.

This anthology takes readers on a strange trip around the world (and further) to explore some of the creepiest and most unsettling corners, from ghost towns and murderous forests to mind-bending houses and virtual hellscapes.

The diversity of locations represented is fantastic, and I enjoyed discovering new, wonderful places. The stories themselves were well varied, however there were some repeating themes among the stories - cosmic horror, religious/cult origins and revenge motifs all feature heavily. A few of the stories were a bit too fever dream-esque for me, I had trouble following them, but most were interesting and engaging.

Some standout stories for me:

- Girlboss in Wonderworld, USA, Vivian Chau - A really solid start to the book, capturing a strong sense of place and delivering a cleverly crafted commentary.

- Three Ways to Break You, Beth Dawkins- I loved the unique premise, and it felt like there could be more great stories here.

- All Praise the Durians, Joshua Lim - Just a fun story!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Well, like a lot of anthologies, some worked and some didn’t. My favorites were:

- Girlboss in Wonderworld, USA
- Three Ways to Break You
- All Praise the Durians
- Development/Hell
- Inviting the Hollow Bones

I absolutely LOVED Development/Hell by Samit Basu. It was such a cool concept and I could have followed the rabbit hole of horror layers down and down. Someone give me this movie now! I added a whole star just for this one.

Overall it was a fun read and some were genuinely unsettling

I loved the concept of this book, and knew that I needed to read it. Some of the stories I loved, some where okay, and some didn't really resonate with me. My favorites were the ones that seemed more like local folklore. The diversity of where the stories came from was fantastic. It felt like true lost stories around the world. I would still recommend it to others because you can skip around and read the stories that work for you. I'd say this is for fans of folklore, Black Mirror, horror stories, and science fiction.

Thank you Netgalley, all the authors, and the publishers for this EARC.

The Map of Lost Places is an anthology about different places that are haunted or cursed by ghosts, gods or other things. These are place that people fear to go to and yet go to the places anyway. It sounds like a really good idea for anthology...

And yet I couldn't into this book. I read a few stories and realized...I was not enjoying this book at all. I tried others and just couldn't get into them. The stories felt way too long and over descriptive. Some of the stories didn't really seem to go anywhere. I had never heard of most of the writers and didn't know what to expect. The writers seemed to have similar writing styles and none of them grabbed me and wouldn't let go. The Map of Lost Places lost me quickly.

It just goes to show that you never know. You may think a book is "for you" and then it turns out to be something you can't get into. I've had this happen a few times while reviewing. Its more of a matter of "taste" and less of a matter of "this is bad". I don't think The Map of Lost Places is bad. I don't think any of the books I've attempted to review are bad. I just think they are not for me. Its impossible to keep reading a book after you realize its "not for me". You feel your attention wander and you want to be reading something else.

As always, I appreciate Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book early. I'm sorry it wasn't for me. I think will find an audience though. There are some interesting concepts in there for sure.

The Map of Lost Places will release April 22nd, 2025. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing a early digital copy for review.

“In the end, we all become stories.”

The Map of Lost Places is a short story collection featuring tales of off the beaten path locations and what you might find there. It’s full of surprises and twists and will keep you entertained. They are long enough to have some substance but short enough to keep your attention for a quick read.

Recommended if you like: mystery/thrillers, science fiction, short story anthologies

I like to consider myself a connoisseur of short story collections, and I particularly enjoyed this one! It was eerie and enticing and the writing styles of the various stories blended together very well. Some of the stories were more captivating than others (I particularly loved the first few stories)--but overall, a great collection.

prettty well done set of short stories that i liked in general. i wouldn't say that they're all good, but i'd give it a probable 3.5. tysm for the arc.