Terror in the Trench: An Aquatic Horror Anthology (Dead Seas Book 1) edited by Jay Alexander
Terror in the Trench is a collection of fifteen short aquatic horror stories edited by Jay Alexander. It was published by Dead Sea Press on March 13, 2022 and weighs in at 233 pages.
This is currently one of three available anthologies in the Dead Seas series, which is a collection benefitting the oceanic conservation charity The Shark Trust. All profits will go to promoting the conservation and protection of sharks, skates, and rays.
The moment I saw the first promotion for this book series, I was hooked! I knew I would need to have all of the books. Not only because I am a horror fan, but I’m also a lover of conservation efforts that involve the ocean and its inhabitants. When I learned that this series was being used to raise funds to protect some of my favorite creatures, I pre-ordered immediately. When I next learned some of my favorite horror authors were included in this collection, that was just a pure bonus!
I was so excited to see Joshua Marsella, Spencer Hamilton, Jack Harding, and Andrew Cull in the table of contents. Having read their works before, I knew I was in for a treat - and I was right! They each really brought it with their stories, and I was so delighted at the chance to read them. I also got to experience works by authors I have been seeing around Twitter and Instagram. It was as if I finally got to “meet” Thomas Gloom and Laurel Hightower. Best of all, I found even more authors to follow and read. Anthologies are truly a treasure trove of talent and an excellent way to expand your TBR, not that most of us need help growing that list!
I enjoyed the Introduction by Jay Alexander. Not only did he dazzle me with some ocean creature facts, which I loved, he did an excellent job of introducing this collection. His enthusiasm for the charity organization as well as the ocean and the contributors to this book was palpable. He lured me into thinking this book was going to make me grab the next two - and he was right! I’ve already purchased Shadows Beneath the Surface and Death in the Deep.
I could have added more to my Top 5 list, but I was trying to limit myself since there are only fifteen stories in the collection. Alexander mentions in his intro that anthologies can be risky, since not every reader will love every story included in the collection. I can say I did enjoy them all, even if some called to me more than others. I wasn’t disappointed in any of them, and I liked that a few had a very different feel than the rest.
All profits to benefit the conservation & protection of sharks, skates, & rays
MY TOP 5 TALES
These five stories gripped me the most. I’d like to share some of the notes I took while reading. They’re listed in order of table of contents.
“Distress Call” by Laurel Hightower: After I read this story, I posted about it and sent the author a private message to share how much I loved it. I then purchased her new novella Below. I guess you could say I really enjoyed it! Suspense! Terror! It made me squirm in my own fears as I read it.
“Julia” by Andrew Cull: I love his description of the ocean as a callous creature that finds humans insignificant. I was totally sucked in! The story was told well and had intrigue, horror, gore, and suspense. It touched on a lot of emotions for me while reading.
“The Last Dive” by Catarina Prata: I really felt the panic and the fear. The darkness enveloped me as I was reading. The feelings of claustrophobia and despair were contagious! I was all in!
“The Many Ghosts of the Deep” by Craig Wallwork: Holy crap my emotions!!! This starts with complete and utter action and fear. It made me cry! The descriptions are pure gold! Such a well-written story! It had me riveted and holding my breath. I bought his book Human Tenderloin shortly after reading this story.
“The End of the Line” by Jack Harding: This one had such cool images and made me wonder what was happening the whole time. It was fascinating yet heartbreaking. This story pulled at my emotions while also thrilling me with the horror.
Grab these books, enjoy the stories, and help save the sharks, skates, and rays.
Check out the current books in the Dead Seas series:
From the Dead Seas series Amazon page:
The profits from the first six books in the Dead Seas series will go to the Shark Trust (registered charity number 1064185). Look out for:
Terror in the Trench (available now)
Shadows Beneath the Surface (available now)
Death in the Deep (April 13th)
Rampage on the Reefs (June 13th)
Horror on the Hook (July)
Devils on the Deck (August)
and many more, coming soon...
