How familiar are you with Aesop’s Fables? Are they something that you explored growing up? Well, what if there was a darker counter point to those familiar fables? Good news for you, especially if you are a fan of things dark, horror, and twisted – Bestiary of Blood: Modern Fables and Dark Tales is the book for you. This anthology is packed with dark and twisted stories, but we’re here to talk about just one.
Bestiary of Blood: Modern Fables and Dark Tales grabs the eye of readers with a creep-tastic cover. This cover gives a sense of antiquity with golden borders and detailed designs that decorate the edges of this book. Each corner has a different animal holding a place there. A falcon, a tiger, a wolf and a crocodile (or alligator).
What really draws the eye is the center of the cover for Bestiary of Blood: Modern Fables and Dark Tales. A gray monster takes center stage with wide eyes, a gaping mouth with sharp teeth on full display, and blood spilling out. You’ll see some blood spatter on the cover off to the right as well. Looks like things got a little out of hand, right? But it definitely builds intrigue as to what readers will find within these pages.
Inside the Bestiary of Blood: Modern Fables and Dark Tales you will find the story called – “The Devil’s Blood.” “The Devil’s Blood” is a dark fable that takes an insect that is despised by many and how it becomes the source for the extinction of man and is a part of something even darker.
“The Devil’s Blood” is a short story written by author Nzondi. “The Devil’s Blood” draws readers in with the first thing that they see is an image of a mosquito, and her shadow – instead of it being a mosquito – is an image of the devil. Intriguing, right? Well, the question becomes “What is the meaning of this?” You can’t help but wonder – are we getting a story of how the mosquito bites the devil himself and brings about some sort of destruction to the world?
Author Nzondi writes an intriguing fable for readers to explore as the mosquito embarks on a quest to find answers to her questions. She doesn’t believe that the devil exists. This mosquito is written as having short-term memory. Why is this an important fact to present to readers? Well, it won’t make sense for a portion of the story, but once “The Devil’s Blood” hits a certain point…it will all make sense. It won’t just make sense though…it will blow your mind a little.
Author Nzondi has mosquito questioning a variety of animals about the devil and his existence. Of course, they all have their own thoughts and viewpoints concerning the devil and whether he (or she) truly exists. Readers will be intrigued how author Nzondi depicts mother mosquito. Her short term memory is on full display for readers.
We say this because while she embarks out with one particular question concerning the devil at the beginning of this fable, the questions change with each creature she meets. Each has a different answer for her questions, but these answers simply push her to want to delve deeper.
“The Devil’s Blood” is an intriguing dark fable that will make readers think. This story is a short tasty bite in the anthology collection of Bestiary of Blood: Modern Fables and Dark Tales. When it comes to “dark tales” this story easily finds its home here. No, seriously, wait until you reach the end. It’s an intriguing and twisted close to the story that you’re not going to see coming.
Could this story be described as “horror?” For this reader, the answer would be no. Dark? Absolutely, but it falls short of the horror mark. It would have needed more substance to give readers the “horror” aspect, but it is an interesting dark tale that does the job effectively to draw readers in.
We encourage readers to pay attention to all to whom the mosquito speaks. Author Nzondi is dropping little hints at something bigger that you’re not going to notice initially. Miss the clues? Don’t worry, author Nzondi will point it out in blaring fashion before the story closes and it will be something that will truly surprise you.
“The Devil’s Blood” is a nice bite-sized short story that easily lets readers know why it earned it’s place among the rest of the anthology of the Bestiary of Blood: Modern Fables and Dark Tales. This story is but one of many in the collection, and it will help to pique your interest in what the others must be.
Love horror and looking for something fresh and new to sink your teeth into? Enjoy anthologies that hold a diverse number of voices? Looking for new authors of horror? Then we recommend checking out the Bestiary of Blood: Modern Fables and Dark Tales and author Nzondi’s “The Devil’s Blood.”
Pros:
- Interesting short story
- Unique main character
- Intriguing
- Unexpected
- Dark
Cons:
- The horror aspect is understated.
Scribble's Worth 
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