The Institute: A Dark Anthology
This review is from 2020 and is kept here for reference. Titles, prices and availability may have changed.
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Recommendation
I was super excited for this Anthology to come out because it contains stories from some of my favorite dark authors like Dani René & Jennifer Bene. I was even more excited to dive into the twisted worlds that Murphy Wallace, Anna Edwards, India R. Adams and Sian Claven created. Each story was unique and I could not stop reading them. They were well developed for short stories, incredibly disturbing and filled with sadistic heat.
Echo by Dani René follows Ansel who becomes obsessed with his patients. It’s intense, addictive and full of bizarre surprises. Dani never lets me down with her evil goodness!
Marbh by Anna Edwards follows an assassin and the story if utterly remarkable. I loved this one! It is so well written and completely blew me away.
Hostile Illusions by India R Adams was so intriguing and probably my favorite in this anthology. Vera grabbed onto my heart and wouldn’t let go. India is a master storyteller through and through.
Mr. Cat Is Not Real by Jennifer Bene was exactly what I expected from Jennifer. F*CKED UP in all the right ways. It was hot, twisted and shocking. She never lets me down!
Release Me by Murphy Wallace really surprised me. It was deep while touching on some perplexities of a disorder but it did not take away from the entertainment of the story itself. I really look forward to the second part of this one!
Sanitorium by Sian B Claven was a whole lot of feelings shoved into a short story. It was amazing! The story definitely has a twisted mystery vibe and it surprised me throughout.
Excerpts
“Rose.” My name is a warning in his husky tone. It sends a shiver down my spine, and I want to toy with him even more. I’ve always found it easy to break men, to bend them to my will. That’s why they call me the bad one.
Soon, I’m bared to him. My panties are being scorched by his hungry gaze. I watch in awe as he swipes his tongue over his bottom lip, the shimmering saliva making his mouth a tempting treat.
“Part your legs, Marbh. I want to see your pussy.”
Laying back on the bed, I pull my legs apart and show him what has always been his.
Publisher synopsis
Dear Reader,
I trust this letter finds you well.
It is with the utmost concern that we invite you to join us at the infamous Serenity Institute. You’ll be able to observe the ongoings of the asylum, meet the patients and the doctors. We do however ask that you please be quiet. Do not interact with the patients, and respect the special treatments our doctors administer.
This is where nightmares come alive.
A home for the shattered psyche of its patients.
Hope is lost when they cross the threshold.
The deranged. The demented. The unstable.
Six stories, six authors, non-stop madness.
Kind regards,
The Authors
Review published May 12, 2020