Spawn 2: More Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies edited by Deborah Sheldon
“Birth and death are not two different states, but they are different aspects of the same state.”
Spawn 2: More Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies, edited by award-winning author Deborah Sheldon, is the second anthology in the intended Spawn trilogy. Released by IFWG Publishing International on November 25, 2024, the paperback weighs in at 292 pages.
The book starts out with an informative intro from Sheldon, giving readers a bit of personal background as to why these horror stories about pregnancy, birth, and babies were important for her to share. Sheldon also promises an eclectic mix of stories that will satisfy many readers. I can vouch for that. There is a fantastic assortment of stories in Spawn 2, which makes me all the more excited for what the third book will offer. I can’t wait!
There are twenty-two unique and thrilling stories in the anthology, ranging from light-hearted to absolute gory horror. I adored the variety, and it was exciting to see how so many authors interpreted the theme. I will list my top stories in a bit, and it was quite difficult to choose. Spawn 2 is a well-curated collection of short horror. The stories stood out and some just plain wowed me to my core.
Many stories are sci-fi or fantastical, some fall into folk horror. One thing that applies to all of them, though, is that you can feel the intense currents of emotions running through them, especially in the expectations of the characters. There is a palpable feeling of fear and dread in all of the tales.
Aside from the talented authors and the terror they brought to the page, I also adored the vernacular Australasian vocab and settings. I loved being whisked across the globe to experience these stories.
I recognized some authors from the original Spawn (and Killer Creatures Down Under: Horror Stories With Bite, also edited by Sheldon). Some of them were in my top stories in both of those reviews, and one is in all three top lists. I found a handful of new voices to enjoy in the horror community, which is one of my favorite things about anthologies. And yes, I read every word of the author section! I love getting to know the contributors!
Spawn 2 is a thrilling read for anyone who loves horror. You don’t need to read the first Spawn anthology to enjoy this one, but as a fan I do recommend both no matter what order you read them.
Next, check out my top 8 stories with blurbs from my notes directly after I read them. Then, scroll down for links to reviews of the anthologies I’ve mentioned in this review as well as other works from Deborah Sheldon.
My Top 8 Stories - listed in order of their appearance in the anthology
“Body of Work” by Lily Mulholland: Sheldon definitely starts the book off with a bang! This story reminded me how much I love sci-fi horror, and now I am craving more. I loved all of the science lingo, and the ending was perfect.
“The Tea and Sugar Train” by Deborah Sheldon: I’ve read this short before in her Liminal Spaces: Horror Stories collection, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying every word of it again and still feeling every last bit of the suspense. The visuals are top-notch. Sheldon has a knack for beautiful stories laced with terrible horrors.
“Stale” by Em Starr: Great story! There are so many hidden details that kept popping up in my mind throughout the day after I finished reading it. The story flows well and has an emotional impact. I felt compassion and concern for the main character Laura.
“Latch” by H.K. Stubbs: Wow. This story tugged at my heart and kept me so enthralled I didn’t want it to end. I felt every bit of the dread and devastation. The visuals and the setting are superb.
“Envelopes” by Matt Tighe: I remember loving Tighe’s story in the original Spawn anthology, and he didn’t disappoint in this one, either. This story is a bit different than the rest, and I referred to it as “feral” in my notes. This one will have you questioning your morals.
“Flesh of My Flesh” by Ben Matthews: Bravo! This story is not for the faint of heart. The unexpected tale was woven with beautifully grotesque details and imagery as well as genuine emotion. It gave me a slight queasy feeling at one point, which was lovely since I’m a huge fan of visceral reactions while reading. As a past student of anatomy and anthropology, the descriptions were fantastic.
“Bitten: A Love Story” by Dani Ringrose: Dark and full of amazing images and underlying meanings. This is a deep look at a mother’s sacrifice and how the world views and judges mothers. This one resonated in many ways.
“In War with Time for Love of You” by Carol Ryles: Such a well-written and intriguing story. Cora’s emotions and thoughts were believable and relatable. I wished this story was longer—I definitely wanted more. Ryles does a fantastic job taking a huge sci-fi concept and making it feel plausible in a short story. The title crushed me after reading the story. Excellent.
Need more Deborah Sheldon? Here you go!
Check out my other reviews of Deborah Sheldon’s works:
From Deborah Sheldon’s Website:
I’M AN AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR FROM MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.
I WRITE SHORT STORIES, NOVELLAS AND NOVELS ACROSS THE DARKER SPECTRUM OF HORROR, CRIME AND NOIR.
MY CREDITS ALSO INCLUDE TV SCRIPTS, STAGE PLAYS, MAGAZINE ARTICLES, AND AWARD-WINNING ANTHOLOGY EDITING AND MEDICAL WRITING.
