Liquid Imagination

Black Hearts and Red Blood Dreams by Sara Saint John

Review by Jezzy Wolfe

Have you ever been to a Tapas restaurant? Tapas are dishes that are small, almost sample-sized servings of various foods. They originated in Spain, but now you can find Tapas joints that offer a veritable smorgasbord of cuisine. All under one roof.

I apologize if that makes you hungry. It certainly made my stomach grumble a bit, but I do have a point, which is this—an author's collection is a lot like a Tapas eatery. Small samples and tidbits of a variety of genres and styles, but created by one person. Different from anthologies, which are heavy, like a meal at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Sure, they're chock full of a variety of styles and flavors, with the common element being a unified theme. But so often they are full of unwanted calories, and not always as tasty. So if it's an author you really enjoy, a collection can be a very delicious meal indeed.

Black Hearts and Red Blood Dreams is a collection of Sara Saint John's stories, many of which have appeared in various publications previously. I've read her work before, and have always enjoyed her style. She plays with descriptions and details that often are lost in today's short fiction. And while all the stories contain elements of horror, the content varies extensively, which is a huge plus for those of us that bore quickly.

Sure, there is the occasional werewolf or two. A zombie here, a few vampires there. But there's also an angry Pawnee deity, a clown condemned to wander the earth in search of redemption and/or damnation, and a few malicious Elder Gods (is there any other kind of Elder God?) Add to that mix a psychopath suffering from an evil split personality, a doomed collector looking for a skin-bound Bible, a Catholic priest turned Voodoo houngan, and a frisky gargoyle. These characters, among a few that I haven't mentioned, are all found in Sara's collection.

Colorful characters aside, while the stories all pretty much qualify as horror, that's not to say they're written in the same voice. Sara's style can be as diverse and eclectic as her supporting cast. You'll find stories such as 'Sins of the Fathers', which is a dark fantasy with a Grimm Brother's feel. Then you have the classic zombie tale meets film noir in 'Nancy'. Goth flourishes in 'Gallery of the Midnight Heart' as well as 'Long in the Tooth'. Not to mention 'Portal', a brief tale that mixes a little bit of Lovecraft with Hellraiser. And for those of us that like a little something spicy, there is 'Heart of Stone', which is both eerie and erotic all at once.

But my favorite is 'Tikaani's Meal'. And not because it appeared on Choate Road back in the day. It features a man on a mission, and a woman who strongly resembles a certain political figure that I myself have made no bones about expressing disgust towards. Needless to say, I really root for the 'monster' in that story. Hey, I love a happy ending…kinda.

Black Hearts and Red Blood Dreams is a collection of fourteen stories and one poem that will chill and thrill you. It successfully presents Sara's versatility and creativity as a writer, as well as gives you a little insight into her own ethics and beliefs. (And if reading this collection doesn't make you want to be her friend, then you might want to consider therapy. Just saying…)

Overall, it's a light read, but very filling on entertainment. If you're looking for a book that's quick and satisfying, I highly recommend it.

You can purchase Black Hearts and Red Blood Dreams here

Black Hearts and Red Blood Dreams by Sara Saint John Review by Jezzy Wolfe

Black Hearts and Red Blood Dreams by Sara Saint John

Review by Jezzy Wolfe