This book is everything I love in a book. I am really into short stories - I feel like it's often much more difficult than people think and is becoming somewhat of a dying art with the discontinuation of journals/magazines/serials. But this is just wonderful. There are several contributors I have read before, so I was excited to see them, and several I had not heard of, but enjoyed, so I now have more authors to check out. I highly recommend this if only for exposure to new writers!

An anthology that according to unknown documents the Umbra Arca Society has compiled legends and myths forever — at least as long the Society has existed. Supposedly the Society has a book for every corner of the world. This book focuses on the Americas. It includes short fiction stories and poetry. The stories are written usually as the hero or heroine must confront an otherworldly (revengeful) being or something else. A vast array of talented writers raise this collection with their prose. Contemporary artwork whether grotesque, threatening creatures will astound.

The excellent authors/writers and settings have created an excellent anthology. I loved how each story seamed together that made me think I was reading a novel at times. The stories and poetry flowed perfectly from one to the next. This is an anthology is not to be missed.

Shadow Atlas is a paranormal horror anthology. As with any collection of short stories, it’s a little bit of a mixed bag. Some of the stories are brilliant, while others are just fine. As a whole, it has a nice vibe, and I like the an air of mystery it cultivates around itself. I really like the central conceit, that there is a secret organisation recording these tales, as well as the way it is presented through letters and emails. Also, all the art in the book is absolutely fantastic. I especially like the piece made for Moon-Eyed Women. Between the artwork, the presentation of the origin of the stories, and to an extent the stories themselves, this anthology reminds me (in a good way) of The House of Eternal Return, an art exhibit by Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. I may have to get a physical copy of this some time down the line, it’s such a pretty book.

“The Shadow Atlas”

BY: Josh Malerman, Mario Acevedo, Colleen Anderson, Carina Bissett, Kay Chronister, Sara Cleto, David Davies, Hillary Dodge, Sean Eads, Anastasia Garcia, Owl Goingback, Maxwell I. Gold, Warren Hammond, Angie Hodapp, Jimena Jurado, Starlene Justice, Gwendolyn Kiste, Gerri Leen, Aaron Lovett, Juliana Spink Mills, Tiffany Morris, Lee Murray, Annie Neugebauer, Gerardo Horacio Porcayo, Cameron E. Quinn, Sarah Read, Kathryn Reilly, Julia Rios, Betty Rocksteady, Marge Simon, Angela Yuriko Smith, Christina Sng, Jeanne C. Stein, Joshua Viola, Tim Waggoner, Brittany Warman, Christa Wojciechowski, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Mercedes M. Yardley, Jane Yolen, E. Lily Yu, Alvaro Zinos-Amaro

Mythology, Folklore, Fantasy & Fabulous Possibilities

In 1972, a book of esoteric knowledge found by D.S. of Harvard titled, The Shadow Atlas, and credited to the mysterious Umbra Arca Society, found its way into the office of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. Concerned that the book was the work of enemy agents, Hoover immediately launched an investigation into the origins of the Atlas with Field Agents in Denver and Boston in pursuit. “…Calling history myth, and arguing that facts are fiction, is the ultimate conspiracy theory to distract us from the innate strangeness of the universe and, even more importantly, the untapped capabilities of our psyches.”

Esoteric knowledge and occult, secretive facts hinting at unknown legends compelled me to search out “The Shadow Atlas” just as it did the FBI—although not for the same reasons. “…You have agency enough to alter the cosmos itself through the power of your beliefs.”

Atmospheric, lush, spiritual, and haunting, the “Atlas” is rich with tales, art, and verses from indigenous North American and Mesoamerican oral histories and traditions. It’s a treasure of proverbs and insightful messages to savor and linger over. “The Shadow Atlas” contains an alternative history of the Americas taken from a plethora of sources, as well as intriguing information about ‘hidden realms’ and ‘shocking truths.” I was ecstatic when I read the title description and wasn’t disappointed. It’s a mesmerizing adventure through unknown possibilities. You’re entering the Twilight Zone History of the Americas! Oh, what fun!

“…Don’t make the mistake of thinking that ink ever tells the full story and that a blank space is truly empty. The oath of the Umbra Arca implores us to remember the power we hold within.”


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The Book Maven’s Journal—Reviews for Word Connoisseurs

STAR RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: “The Shadow Atlas”

Authors: Josh Malerman, Mario Acevedo, Colleen Anderson, Carina Bissett, Kay Chronister, Sara Cleto, David Davies, Hillary Dodge, Sean Eads, Anastasia Garcia, Owl Goingback, Maxwell I. Gold, Warren Hammond, Angie Hodapp, Jimena Jurado, Starlene Justice, Gwendolyn Kiste, Gerri Leen, Aaron Lovett, Juliana Spink Mills, Tiffany Morris, Lee Murray, Annie Neugebauer, Gerardo Horacio Porcayo, Cameron E. Quinn, Sarah Read, Kathryn Reilly, Julia Rios, Betty Rocksteady, Marge Simon, Angela Yuriko Smith, Christina Sng, Jeanne C. Stein, Joshua Viola, Tim Waggoner, Brittany Warman, Christa Wojciechowski, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Mercedes M. Yardley, Jane Yolen, E. Lily Yu, Alvaro Zinos-Amaro

Genre: Fiction (Adult) | Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Horror | Poetry
Publication Date: 30 November 2021
Publisher: Hex Publishers

Sincere thanks go to NetGalley, all of the Authors, and Hex Publishing for providing this Advance Reader’s Copy (ARC) for review.

This was a very unique collection of stories. They all worked very well together and I didn't find one story I didn't like.

Shadow Atlas is a masterfully woven tapestry of creative minds featuring stories, poetry and artwork that is seamlessly bound together. It is a compendium of myth, paranormal, and horror that invites you into a world of dark magic and mystery. It is rare to find a book of short stories that blends together so well. This is one of the best compilations of short stories and poetry that I have read in a very long time. The attention and meticulous detail in which this tome was put together was fantastic. Some of my favorite stories within had elements of time travel and other dimensions. There are fantastic creatures, mysterious beings, and horrific elements that await inside for the reader to delve into and enjoy.

In order for a book to receive five stars it has to knock it out of the park and into another dimension. With Shadow Atlas I found myself in several other dimensions and it was phenomenal!

This was an interesting premise for a collection of short stories. Readers can navigate to a specific story via the table of contents or by using the "Map of Occurrences" which is a neat tool.

Some of the stories & poetry were really very good, others were not my cup of tea at all. Pretty common problem for anthologies but also a reason I gravitate to collections like these: usually, there's something to appeal to everyone. The ratio just wasn't on my side.

My only real complaint would be that I really didn't see a tie in to the Shadow Atlas or the Umbra Arca. It felt like it was just an excuse/ half-hearted plot device to round up North & South American short stories based on folk-lore. I would have been just as happy without the secret society / mystical mystery element.

I definitely took my time with this one, and I’m super glad I did! This anthology of stories is super unique, especially the concept of the Shadow Atlas and the Umbra Arca. The introduction explaining their secrecy is intriguing, and the stories are beautiful and fascinating! The emails also add a nice touch, and many of the stories read as if they were originally oral stories.

I will say that I think owning a physical copy of this book would be much better than owning the ebook. Although the content is interesting, I have a strong feeling that it is likely presented better in a physical book.


Note: Thank you to Netgalley & publishers for allowing me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review! Please note that all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I’m finding this book hard to describe. It’s a collection of short stories about folklore throughout the Americas told through a special book called the Shadow Atlas. There are illustrations and some of it is written like emails or memos. Most of the stories are creepy but not scary. There are monsters and anomalies described that are chilling and each story has it’s own. If you don’t like one, there is sure to be another coming along that you will. Each one will fill you with dread, think Poe.



I really enjoyed reading this and some of these stories will stay with me awhile.

The amount of authors who wrote this is insane. The mixed media aspect gave me very strong illuminae vibes. This was a pretty enjoyable read.

thank you to netgalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review!!
this book was structured beautifully and i was sucked in from the very beginning. all of the art was so well done and it really helped put it all together. more people need to give this a chance!

The Shadow Atlas is a really clever concept for an anthology. It is described as follows: “Ancient peoples knew there were lands given over to shadow and spirit. The world is full of haunted places that exact a terrible toll on trespassers. Our forebears paid a heavy price to earn the wisdom and the warning they bequeathed to future generations. Their stories are maps revealing the topography and contours of landscapes unimaginable and dark. The Shadow Atlas collects their adventures.” This idea, that authors and writers will be looking at various locations and landscapes throughout the Americas and writing the horror specific to those locales is intriguing, and while this is a mixed bag (as any anthology is going to be), it’s a really strong showing of thematic writing that horror fans will enjoy.

Often, with a narrow theme like this, it’s easy to tell that the authors were aiming for a theme and relying on formulaic plots or similar. This is not the case with Shadow Atlas. The stories are varied and work well on their own. There were a few standouts, though. “Xipe Totec” by Mario Acevedo takes the legend of Aztec gods and incorporates the cucuy monster myth as well. It’s a cool story that deals with Latin American folklore in a way that reads as authentic and political at the same time. “God Spelled Backward” by Tim Waggoner is a clever take on the Michigan Dogman legend, but transposed to Ohio that dances between a few perspectives to tell it’s terrifying tale in a way that’s very intriguing. “Xtabay” by Julia Rios is a haunting story about a femme fatale demon from the Yucatan Pennisula. What makes this story standout is the deep sorrow of the speaker and the generational relationships within the story. Overall, the variety of stories and approaches to telling these tales makes for a constantly surprising and delightful read.

The poetry in this anthology, for the most part, is equally strong and scary. “Will-O’-the-Wisp” by Tiffany Morris is a minimalistic poem about ghost lights in Nova Scotia leading travelers astray. Angie Hodapp’s “Invasion” is an eerie sonnet that hints at alien visitors and how they influenced Mesoamerican myth. “La Ciguapa” by Christina Sng is a narrative poem that gets darker stanza by stanza until the final lines leave the reader cringing. While there are fewer poems than stories, what’s here works to accentuate the stories and keep readers engaged.

The presentation of this anthology is really fascinating. There are notes from explorers, redacted reports, even blank lined pages for readers to write their own work. The art is spectacular and really serves to propel the narratives further. Overall, this is a strong anthology, and fans of monster horror and mythic horror will really enjoy these poems and stories.

I was interested in this collection because it has stories from a few of my favorite authors (Josh Malerman, Gwendolyn Kiste, Sarah Read, and a few others). The entire book is great! Almost every story really resonated with me, and only a two or three were less than perfect, and the poetry was splendid as well. The book is beautifully assembled with gorgeous design, outstanding artwork by Aaron Lovett and lots of interesting additions like notes and details that add wonderful finishing touches. The way each story integrates with the next in a larger overall narrative works really well. This is one of the best put together anthologies I have ever read.

I do believe that this is the first 5 I have awarded an ARC. Even books I think are really great, I typically score a 4; 5s are for the books that absolutely blow me away. I stumbled upon Shadow Atlas when perusing the NetGalley site to see if my favorite authors had any new books coming out. I searched both Josh Malerman and Owl Goingback so I was twice thrilled, even more thrilled when this request was approved.

All I can say is wow, wow, WOW. I just loved everything about this book. This collection was magical to me because it's just so unique. From the "emails" to the poetry; from the short stories to the "case files." And the artwork! I absolutely loved the artistic components of this book, both the wordful and the pictures. I read a lot, but it's not often I can lose myself in a book. When reading Shadow Atlas, I became enveloped by it and engrossed by it.

A collection by various authors with their own styles , each piece of Shadow Atlas fit together like an intricate and beautiful jigsaw puzzle . . .

I loved it!