Illusions of Isolation by Brennan Lafaro

5/5 stars

I say this a lot, but I am notorious for my caution with anthologies and collections. It’s so hard to find one that’s solid and consistent; one that you’re into from start to stop. I can probably count on one hand the story collections/anthologies that have impressed me, but I’m very happy to add this one to the list.

While not your traditional horror experience, what’s more horrifying than finding yourself alone to deal with the unknown? Brennan portrayed this beautifully, especially in stories like “The Last Little Piece of Civilization” and “I Will Meet You There.” And let’s not forget the massive ice spiders in “A Shine in the Woods.” Brennan……totally unnecessary. Of course, the complete apathy in “Snap” definitely deserves some attention!

But let’s be real, the star of this series is Red Sands. I 100% should’ve seen that event happening, but I didn’t, so I was rather blindsided, same as Decker. I got chills reading this one. There’s something about that moment of letting someone go because you know that holding onto them is only making them suffer. It’s such a beautifully tragic scene, and God, if it didn’t get me. In a book centered on feeling alone and circumstances forcing you to be alone, this one is a knockout. Seriously.

If you haven’t read this yet, you’re really missing out. You won’t get loud jumpscares or fast-breathed hysteria, but you’ll get the quiet, creeping sense of being utterly alone. And what could be more scary than that?

Brennan, thank you so much for sharing this book with me! It’s a real treasure.