So, this is the first book in this series, and I’ll be honest: I have no idea why this book has 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon. To make a long review short, this book is a collection of short stories written by genuine amateurs, and I’ve read far better stuff online on just random weird story sites.
Now, this doesn’t mean this book is all bad, because it really isn’t. The first positive thing I can say is…that…these writers, amateur they may be, still wrote their own works and did not use any A.I. to do so, so that’s a good mark in their favor.
TANGENT WARNING!
Now, I use A.I. for my pictures on this site, and I’ve used A.I. for some of my books’ pictures, but that is because I have no talent for drawing, nor do I have the money to pay for each individual picture. What’s different about using A.I. to write your story is very simple: It’s not your story. The A.I. wrote it, and in general, A.I. is uncreative and has no writer’s voice, but that’s a different topic I’ll discuss somewhere else.
Geez, at the very least, I credit the A.I. for the pictures each A.I. model creates. I don’t pretend I made that art…My point is, A.I. writing is not the same as A.I. art when it comes to a book, because the writing is the entire point of the book, not the art…Write your own shiz, people. Don’t take credit for someone else’s work, and taking credit for an A.I.-written work is the same as plagiarism…Understand?
Now, I’m not an artist, and I didn’t make the A.I. art for my books and stories, so I don’t take credit for any A.I. production I use. The A.I. model gets that credit (Anybody can write a prompt. A seven-year-old can write a prompt. That’s not talent and hard work).
In other words, I don’t pretend I put in any hard work to make an A.I. art cover or interior picture, nor do I take credit for their production. I realize there are some diehards out there who oppose all A.I. art, but honestly, A.I. art can’t compete with real art, and the A.I. is just a tool anyway, so I don’t beholden myself (obviously) to the nonsense of passing over a book just because it has A.I. art (I’m not a furry). Plus, I, at the very least, try to use various programs to fix problems in each A.I. picture so it’s at least presentable.
Ugh…I’ll probably have to discuss this whole topic again, especially after a book I just read that engages quite heavily in this topic.
Aside from that, the stories in this book are very amateur, and Kevin J. Kennedy, the publisher of this book (K.J.K. Publishing) has included one of his own stories, which, honestly, is in bad taste when putting together an anthology of various authors, but that was his decision, so there’s that.
I will say that there are some great concepts in this book. I especially think “The Man Who Lost Paradise,” by J.C. Michaels, and “At Peace Now?,” by Lex H. Jones are both stellar concepts for a story. Both of those authors nailed something original for a story idea, and that’s great.
That’s why I can’t deep-six this book. These writers may be amateur (and that includes the publisher, Kevin J. Kennedy), but they have potential, and I support indie writers who genuinely want to make a go of it, so I, in turn, support this book.
Now, with that being said, this book still needs some serious editing. There are a number of glaring errors in it, but I can overlook those. I have to edit my own books, so I know all about errors.
At least this book has some copyright info. Good grief, I can’t understand why people don’t put in their copyright information.
I would say, overall, this book is worth purchasing and reading, though it’s not of a professional standard.
My overall fear temperature for this book is 60° Scarenheit (15.55° Hellcius).
The Horror Collection: Gold Edition Review Copyright © 2025 bloodytwine.com Matthew L. Marlott
