Review: Happy Bunny and Other Mischiefs by Rebecca Gransden

Happy Bunny and Other Mischiefs by Rebecca Gransden
Publisher: Cardboard Wall Empire
Publication Date: October 30th, 2024

Ebook. 187 pages.

About Happy Bunny and Other Mischiefs:

"Dangerous creatures, neglected kids and dejected employees face the weird, odd and perilous. Enter a world where possessed pageant girls get their revenge, a pigeon leads to an underground cult, and a video game mod threatens to unleash hell itself. Enjoy fourteen stories of spite, mischief, and malevolence!"

Happy Bunny and Other Mischiefs is a raw, visceral collection of horror stories that offers a little something for a wide range of horror fans--especially those who enjoy the grotesque and slightly absurd. I am always up for a collection of chilling stories, so when Rebecca Gransden reached out to me about checking out her horror story collection, I was eager to take a look. The stories in this collection lean heavily into gore and body horror at times, so definitely keep that in mind before diving in if you're sensitive to graphic content. That being said, this was a highly compelling collection of stories that I think knows how to use all the different elements of horror in ways that make them shine through best, and I had a great time exploring the scenarios created by Rebecca Gransden.

One of the things that kept me most hooked on this collection was the sheer variety of stories in this collection. Each story feels distinct from one another, yet Gransden's writing style and atmospheric tone manages to tie them all together and effectively created a cohesive yet unpredictable reading experience. The imagination in these stories was incredibly high. The stories often start with seemingly innocuous premises (well, some of them, at least) before veering into some form of chaos and they often embrace a somewhat absurdist tone while still remaining sane enough for us readers to follow along. From my previous experiences reading more absurdist horror, I have found that they can often leave me as a reader feeling a bit lost and uncertain, but I found that these stories avoided by maintaining enough reality that I felt like I could consistently find my footing and instead immerse myself in these worlds.

The collection begins with "Turducken," a story that I think sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the collection. In this story, we follow a turducken (which, if you've not heard of a turducken before, is a  dish that contains turkey, duck, and chicken) as it breaks free from its intended destination (someone's oven) and embarks on a its own journey. I think this story really set the tone for what kind of ride the reader was in for, and after finishing the collection, I still think that's the case. It's the perfect introduction to the collection's 'anything goes' style. A few other standout stories for me included:

"Seeping Willow": This is a story  about a boy who eventually decides to reclaim control of his life after enduring abuse from his mother. This one was quite dark, but I appreciated its message and execution.

"Fuck It Cat and the Mod Hex From Hell": This one very much reminded of some horror films/stories I've read before, but it managed to take the idea and make it fresh and unique, and I really liked the occasional chaotic energy that seemed to run through it. I was constantly looking forward to seeing what would happen next.

"Happy Bunny": This was honestly just a wild ride that explored some really intriguing themes, and I easily understand why it became the titular story.

As with any collection, some stories worked better for me than others. The ones that didn't quite land tended to be ones where I felt slightly lost in the narrative or where the writing felt a bit jilted or convoluted. However, nothing ever fully pulled me out of the experience, and I found the collection engaging overall. And lastly, one small note for animal lovers: while there’s nothing too extreme, there were some moments involving animals that I was a little nervous about, so just something to keep in mind as well.

Overall, Happy Bunny and Other Mischiefs is a thrilling and unpredictable horror collection that kept me entertained throughout. I'd love to see what Rebecca Gransden could with a longer form story, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more of her work.

*I received a copy of Happy Bunny and Other Mischiefs in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org