Giving The Devil His Due edited by Rebecca Brewer

I would like to thank Regina from The Pixel project for an advance copy of this collection in exchange for a fair and honest review

Publisher – Running Wild Press

Published – Out Now

Price - 15.99 paperback £7.58 Kindle eBook

cover - Emir Orucevic

What if a young girl had the power to stop her tyrannical father from battering her mother ever again?What if a student had a secret weapon to end sexual assault by her predatory professor permanently?What if a housewife had unusual means to get back at her controlling husband and walk away from her marriage alive?In Giving the Devil His Due, the Pixel Project's first charity anthology, sixteen acclaimed fantasy, science fiction, and horror authors take readers on an unforgettable journey to alternative worlds where men who abuse and murder women and girls meet their comeuppance in uncanny ways.Featuring stories from Stephen Graham Jones, Christina Henry, Peter Tieryas, Kelley Armstrong, Linda D. Addison, Hillary Monahan, and more, Giving the Devil His Due presents sixteen stories that will make you think about the importance of justice for the victims of gender-based violence, how rare this justice is in our own world, and why we need to end violence against women once and for all.

Please note all net profits for this book will go to the Pixel Project in their work to promote anti-violence against women https://www.thepixelproject.net/the-pixel-project-an-introduction/what-we-do

A lot of fantasy concerns itself with working out what is right and wrong; seeking or promoting justice – even Grimdark while it loves to show all those shades of grey actually does usually point out the lines being crossed. That need for justice or seeking fairness is baked into the DNA of stories and the writers Neil Gaiman and GK Chesterton wrote that ‘Fairy Tales are more than true, not because that they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten’. We need to know there will be hope in any dark time. April is Sexual Assault Awareness month and to support the promotion of this today I’m looking at the brilliant and powerful horror anthology Giving the Devil His Due edited by Rebecca Brewer and with a host of authors telling stories where the monster who thinks women are his prey finally gets his comeuppance.

Amongst the stories I enjoyed in this collection were

Hell on the Homefront Too by Stephen Graham Jones – Sandy is disturbed by her husband Letch’s return from WW2 he was already cruel and vicious, but his behaviour is increasingly escalating. This story is about trying to escape an abusive husband but in this case every attempt doesn’t work so Sandy has to take matters into her own hands. Graham Jones weaves this tale with the supernatural and Letch’s ability to cheat death becomes increasingly gruesome and disturbing but ultimately Sandy finds a way to beat him and his mysterious powers.

The Steering Wheel Club by Kaaron Warren - Alex runs a motor enthusiast club but he loves items with a macabre history and has recently purchased a steering wheel used in the murder/suicide of an abusive controlling husband and his wife. Alex shares many traits and has been making his own wife Elizabeth. But the wheel calls to Alex, offering him delight that will ultimately bring about his own destruction. A really good atmospheric story about control; people who are prepared to help someone in need and the sense of the supernatural at work that makes this a surprising tale.

The Moon Goddess’s Granddaughter by Lee Murray – this is one of my favourites in the collection. A prose poem that progresses in a series of mini chapters to represent the cycle of the moon a young couple enjoy marriage and the birth of their child but on the other side many years of control, domestic abuse and violence. This tale is very much a reminder that for many women it can take years for someone to find a way to escape. Murray gives the story a dark folk tale shape to something taking place in our own time. It’s a tale of someone who keeps hoping they will see the man they love return but realise they need to move on themselves. Powerful and memorable storytelling

The Kindly Sea by Dana Cameron – another favourite this tale is of Lucy a student being sexually harassed by the controlling Professor B at her college. After a recent encounter where violence takes place Lucy falls into he sea where a strange spirit grants her a wish - that Professor B experiences what she did. What I felt made this story work so well is the way the supernatural means Professor B and for that matter the reader to experience what such abuse feels like – not just the act itself but the shame and guilt that follows. It’s a brilliant horror tale of revenge and both satisfying but also illuminating.

The Just Us League by Angela Yuriko Smith – this story reminds us that the workplace is also a regular scene for violence against women and that a boss is a very powerful figure to control a woman’s life. Gertie work in the store and sees Matt and his friend Will enjoy terrorising the staff and their behaviour is escalating. Then Gertie gets a mysterious card from the Just Us League who offer help against the tyrant you choose. It’s a bloody and suitable tale of retribution which does again make the reader feel satisfied justice is coming.

As We Stand and Pray by Jason Sanford – this tale is a reminder that monsters are often very human. We meet a strange community of inhuman creatures such as vampires, werewolves and many more who have created a safe haven for themselves. In particular they have a community overseen by the kind Brother Walker. Sefi has returned after many years away to finally confront her abuser and this time with the power of crows she thinks she knows how to expose Brother Walker for who he really is. AS well as a fascinating world being developed this tale has a classic feel of magic, powerful forces and justice that make it very memorable as well as a reminder that organised religion’s record on abuse does need scrutiny and improvement.

Daughter of Echidna by Nicholas Kaufman – Violence against Women often impacts children in any relationship and this subject gets explored in this tense and creepy story as we watch Kenna and her mother navigate her violent and abusive Dad. A strange statue offers a way out, but first Kenna needs to read some Greek mythology. A smart tale which is really effective for giving us the child’s eye view of such events.

The Devil’s Pocket Change by Hillary Monahan – This story challenges the idea that abuse is an act of physical violence. It can include negligence, mental abuse, and a lack of support. Susie has committed suicide after a long struggle with her mental health. We met her husband Spike who we then see how he dealt with Susie and Spike is truly one of the cruellest characters I’ve ever seen. Totally selfish and very much we can see responsible for helping to push Susie over the edge. A harrowing tale that is also very thoughtful too.

Happy Birthday Baby by Kelley Armstrong – this short tale feels far more like a normal crime tale as a sister and her best friend drink on the anniversary of the birthday of a young woman who escaped an abusive marriage but then still was found murdered a few days later. There is a sting in the tale and when magic does appear its in a very impressive scene flipping the story around. Really well written!

This collection also has tales from the likes of Nisi Shawl, Christina Henry and far more. It’s a hugely enjoyable anthology making its points powerfully and all credit for Brewer for creating suck a skilled mix of tales. I strongly recommend you get this and you’ll also support a very good cause too

As it is Sexual Assault Awareness Month here are some useful links to help you know more on this subject

An overview of Violence towards women

https://www.thepixelproject.net/vaw-facts/about-violence-against-women

A guide to explaining the 16 types of violence towards women https://is.gd/16TypesOfVAW

16 ways you can help support victims of violence https://is.gd/16Ways2SupportSurvivors

Some online resources https://is.gd/16VAWResources

Some ideas for men how they can assist http://www.thepixelproject.net/the-mens-room/10-things-you-can-do-to-stop-violence-against-women/

 Please also stop by the The Pixel Project – It's Time To Stop Violence Against Women. Together. for more resources and information and support.