The Gatherings – Jeremy Ray

It’s difficult to believe the same person that brought us George, the soft-spoken and caring plant in “The Houseplant,” could also weaponize nature to destroy humanity, but therein lies the creative mind of Jeremy Ray.

While “The Gatherings” wasn’t 100 percent to my taste — I’m more of a ghost story fan — I mostly enjoyed this tale that has Emily, a witness to the systematic and quick destruction of life on Earth, writing a letter to any possible survivors.

I loved the setup and unique take on how the world ends, and I wish Ray would’ve dove into the backstory a bit more. He hints at a worldwide (possibly otherworldly) long-play to a hostile takeover, but we lose that once The Gathering occurs.

Once the blood starts flowing, a few sections didn’t quite land with me. There are tonal shifts, understandable as Emily processes what unfolded in front of her, but a little confusing to track. Also, Ray kind of lost me with the nymph-like creatures. Still there’s a lot to like here, especially for people that like their horror with a side of gore and sci-fi.

Ray is an author that knows how to weave a story that can keep you engaged. I’m curious to see where he goes next.

In the few stories I’ve read, Ray has shown himself to be a diverse and dynamic writer. I can’t wait to see what he does next.

Thank you to Jeremy Ray for this free copy in exchange for my honest review. The story, and his others, are available for purchase on Amazon.

Rating (story): 3.5/5 stars

Rating (narration): N/A

Formats: eBook (gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review)

Dates read: October 15 - 17, 2021

Multi-tasking: N/A