Review of "Tell Me How It Ends: A Horror Collection" by Desiree Horton
- Megan Diedericks
- Apr 11
- 2 min read
I read this book in one sitting!
Tell Me How It Ends is such a delightful read, despite there being lots of blood and guts.
There is a humorous quality to some of the stories in the form of inner monologue, the story titles, or just how the characters act. Who doesn't love a little perfect comedic timing with their horror?
I adore the creativity of the stories: slugs, slapped-together creatures, humans being weird, and more! The cover is another thing I'm fond of; it's perfect. I also like how the story titles are in (what can be thought of as) a whimsical font. All these things work together to keep the book feeling cohesive!
Speaking of perfect—the title of the book. It's very fitting, because I kept finding myself wondering how a story would end while I was in the middle of it.
My thoughts on each story:
• The Beach House
Twists and turns I didn't see coming. Just as I thought I knew what was going on, I was wrong.
• The Retreat
I love how creepy the creature is, and that ending gave me goosebumps!
• Penny's Tea
This one being a favorite has a little something to do with the ace rep, and a lot to do with the body horror. This story is very short, but insanely visceral.
• Melpomene
As if I didn't already have enough reason not to like clowns... Though this story isn't about clowns, more the use of their face-paint aesthetic to mimic human emotion, which is a lot scarier. There's more I can say, but I don't want to give away the whole story—just know this one is very bone-chilling.
• Feeling Sluggish
The title is hilariously fitting, and this story will be credited as a reason for me to never go camping.
• Sweeter than Candy
Another insanely visceral story. I can't put into words how this made me feel, so here's a meme from Pinterest:
• Family is Forever
Everyone grieves differently... That's all I can say without spoiling the story 👁👁
• Nocturnal Sport Convention
I love that there's a bunch of little hints to take notice of before -it- is confirmed.
• Tell Me How It Ends
I love this one so much! Demonic-possession flipped on its head, and this story has that comedic-feel I mentioned earlier.
Quotes I thought were neat:
• "She had seen the horrors people inflicted upon each other; what could possibly be worse out there?"
— The Retreat
• "Heaven seemed like a small-town rhetoric that was created to give purpose to small-town suffering." | "... the law is fleeting in the eyes of the dead."
— Family is Forever
• "He looked like a critter someone had thrown together with leftover parts. Like a Build-a-Bear gone wrong." | You mean nightmares? "Oh yes, the night horses. Do they gnash their teeth and explode with horrors beyond earthly imaginings?"
— Tell Me How It Ends
Tell Me How It Ends by Desiree Horton is funny, scary, beautifully (yet horrifically) descriptive, and just an all-around wonderful collection of short stories!
