Darker Edge of Desire: Gothic Tales of Romance

Gothic is a misnomer for this anthology, as many of the 14 tales, including the more successful ones, lack the expected atmosphere. Worthy of note is Gary Earl Ross’s “Sister Bessie’s Boys,” a delicate story about growing up, overcoming loss, and truly attempting to know other people. Another strong story is Szereto’s own “The Dracula Club,” about a Dracula-obsessed American who follows her dreams to Transylvania and finds more than she expected. The most Gothic of the successful stories, Jo Wu’s “Devoured by Envy,” charts ballerina Giselle’s self-destructive obsession with a man who refused her sexual overtures and married another woman. Two of the weakest inclusions, Benji Bright’s “Blood Soup” and Rosalía Zizzo’s “The Alchemist’s Daughter,” suffer from muddled settings and overwrought premises. Most disappointing of all is Adrian Ludens’s “Reynold’s Tale,” which portrays Poe as a tortured homosexual destroyed by the secrets the eponymous narrator reveals to him. The few gems in this very mixed assortment are all but drowned out by the other entries. (Oct.)