Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this short story collection eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

The cover drew me in and three things convinced me to read this book:

1. I love dark fantasy;
2. It is a Subterranean Press book and they do great work; and
3. This collection has 10 stories.  I have only read 4 of the authors' other works but the P. Djèlí Clark story cliched it.

Out of the 10 stories I loved 5 of them, 3 were just okay, and I didn't like 2.  I will try to give ye an idea of the bare bones and thoughts on the stories:

"Orderly Progression of Hearts" (Kat Howard)- This story was written in second person and didn't work for me at all.  Ugh.  Apparently me heart turned to stone then other things.  Not a good start to this anthology.

"Cherry Street Tango, Sweatbox Waltz" (Caitlín R. Kiernan) - This story is about an assassin's gig gone wrong and the interrogation is going through.  It took a moment to get settled into the style but I started to like it before it abruptly ended.  Teaser tale that just wasn't long enough to be completely satisfying.

"Estate Sale" (Bentley Little) - A woman goes to a neighborhood estate sale only to get confused when she recognizes some of the items being sold.  Light and kind of silly but fun.

"Twisted Hazel" (Stephen Gallagher) - I rather enjoyed this ghost story.  It is very poignant and had a semisweet ending.  I thought the atmosphere was nicely done.

"Death Comes for the Rich Man" (Robert McCammon) - A rich man hires a problem-solver to delay Death so he can speak with his estranged daughter one last time.  The hired man has an usual night.  I enjoyed this story even though I feel like I have already read a version of this tale before.

"At the Threshold of Your Bedchamber on the Fifth Night" (Sarah Gailey) - This certainly is the best story of the collection so far.  A suitor comes to win a challenge - receive the hand of the beautiful princess if they can remain awake for five whole days and nights. And of course there is a twist.  Lovely.

"Final Course" (C.J. Tudor) - This was first story that actually felt like dark fantasy.  I loved it.  It's the end of the world where darkness and monsters reign.  Five old college friends gather at a manor in the country with hopes of survival.  Then of course one goes missing.  I love this author's work.

"Lamagica" (Ian R. MacLeod) - I liked the setting of this world and the characters and the quest for the missing brother.  I did think that the story was too long and didn't love the ending.  The first half was stronger than the second and I ended up not really liking it overall.

"Razor Pig" (Richard Kadrey) - Creepy dark carnival and a missing daughter.  I wasn't expecting how this worked out but I rather liked it.  Gruesome.

"Skin Magic" (P. Djèlí Clark) - A fantastic story but what an abrupt ending!  Please make this into a full length novel.

I be very grateful to have a chance to read these stories and am glad I pushed through the beginning.  While I didn't love every story, I do have a few new favourites.  Arrrr!

So lastly . . .

Thank you Subterranean Press!