This collection of short stories written by Andrea L. Rogers is the definition of teaching an old dog new tricks. A variety of classic horror tropes and monsters can be found throughout this collection but told in new and refreshing ways. The main takeaway from this book isn't what the stories are about, it's about the voices in which they're told. We follow a Cherokee family starting in 1839 and ending in 2039. It was really fun to see how characters from one story crept into another story and the connections between them. There's a big family tree at the beginning, showing how everyone is connected. Since I was reading a digital copy, it was a bit hard to go back and refer to throughout reading but in a physical copy I would have been looking at it multiple times throughout each story. This is perfect for younger readers wanting to dip their toes into the horror genre. I wouldn't say any story particularly scared me and none of them are explicitly in your face horror. This is more about the slow burn/dread inducing horror. While there are stories about vampires and werewolves, there are also stories about colonialism and the horrors of what humans are capable of doing to others.

Also, the cover??? Gorgeous. The illustrations by Jeff Edwards?? GORGEOUS!!!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Levine Querido for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was such a gem to find and an even greater treat to read. I couldn't put it down and am anxiously awaiting the day I can get my hands on a physical copy. I loved the fresh take on colonialism from an Indigenous perspective, as told through interwoven stories in a family tree. While some monsters may be supernatural, it's the man made aspect that is truly horrifying. This was incredibly well written and captivating, with intricate characters and a dynamic history.

Man Made Monsters by Andrea Rogers.
Nothing compares to being as a best horror book, these are a collection of interconnected stories that tackle both terror and a variety of other topics.

Man Made Monsters by Andrea Rogers was a great treat.
An interconnected collection of stories that deal with multiple issues and horror as well and is one of the best horror books I've read this year.
As the blurb says, "Horror fans will get their thrills in this collection – from werewolves to vampires to zombies – all the time-worn horror baddies are there. But so are predators of a distinctly American variety – the horrors of empire, of intimate partner violence, of dispossession. And so too the monsters of Rogers’ imagination, that draw upon long-told Cherokee stories – of Deer Woman, fantastical sea creatures, and more." All true. Highly recommend.
I only saw a few illustrations by Jeff Edwards in my ARC copy so I'm not sure about all of them but the ones I did see fit well with the story and showed a real talent.
Thanks to #NetGalley, #LevineQuerido, and Andrea Rogers for the ARC of #ManMadeMonsters.