Hailey Piper is fast emerging as one of a new generation of horror writers.
Piper’s work really touches on modern-day and also longstanding issues for women and marginalised communities, but gives them a horror twist.
Teenage Girls Can Be Demons is a varied anthology where no two stories are the same, but the majority seem to have a quiet rage to them.
The big highlight here is shirt story Benny Rose: The Cannibal King which is a perfect precursor to the start of the Halloween season. Don’t be fooled though, this is a brutal tale, which deals with the urban legend of the titular Benny Rose who terrorises a small town around Halloween.
Why We Keep Exploding centres on the schoolgirl experience in the modern day, but adds some surrealism to the mix.
Issues with policing continues to be a worldwide issue and The Long Flesh of the Law takes things in any unexpected direction with some good o’ body horror.
Another facet of the teen girl experience is the potential for the school reunion, which while it doesn’t go the same way as Carrie, Piper’s Without A Face has some chilling motifs.
One of my personal highlights was Autonomy, which sees a teenage girl confronted by a person who looks like her mother but may be an imposter. We see the fallout of this, not just from the teen girl but also her father, who can’t quite wrap his head around what’s going on – which is understandable given the circumstances.
There is a hint of Invasion of the Body Snatchers but also a true crime feeling to it, especially the haunting conclusion.
Overall Teenage Girls Can Be Demons is a winning collection of stories that will enthrall, scare and make you wince depending on your disposition and which story you’re reading.
Teenage Girls Can Be Demons by Hailey Piper is available now in various formats from Titan Books.
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