Dark bleatings, my sting-tailed tribe! Today, I’m talking about a book that will seem like an odd choice for me because *gasp* it’s not quite horror, but I absolutely LOVED it.
We all have our demons. In Scorpion Girl, women of all ages face theirs. From battlefields to bedrooms, in these stories nothing is what it seems: creatures from myth, legend, history and literature rub shoulders with ordinary—and extraordinary—people. From ghosts to scientists, from eco-terrorists to time travellers, these courageous women come face to face with the uncanny, the supernatural and the bizarre. They meet the challenges with whatever they can muster—from the casual bravery of a woman warrior to the stoic endurance of a refugee child. Like all of us, they try to make sense of the unstable, conflicted world in which they find themselves.
Scorpion Girl is a must-read collection for everyone who enjoys fast-paced, unsettling, provocative fiction.
Typically, I don’t read non-horror and on the rare occasions that I do, I don’t review it here. However, I just have to. I took this book on holiday with me and though the cover melted a bit in the 39 degree (C) heat, it kept me thoroughly entertained. Let’s dive into the stories!
A PEARL BEYOND PRICE
A pearl diver comes across a cave and she meets a sea creature that offers her anything she wants from its treasures. She picks a couple of things, and after that, meets the love of her life and buys passage onto his ship. From there, things get a bit…dark.
An intriguing tale full of peril and high stakes – it’s great.
MONKEY BUSINESS
The first story in the collection to feature Brunelli, a recurring character across Webb’s work, and for good reason. She’s an exceptional security agent and this particular caper involves rescuing a princess, but the story is anything but conventional. Fabulous!
FADE TO GREY
This one reads gently but contains a scene that is right out of my own personal worst nightmares. A journalist meets an unlikely informant when she investigates a surgeon with a sketchy record. Very serious and, unfortunately, realistic subject matter that’s handled from a sensitive perspective. One of my favourites.
SORROW
Ooooof this one is about a sea captain making what he thinks is a great deal at first but he comes to regret the terms. Excellent!
FUTURE PERFECT
One of the best story ideas I’ve ever come across, another favourite, and I’m quite obsessed with it. An insurance agent who’s been screwed over at work gets a golden opportunity when he meets a scientist with an offer that’s impossible to refuse – if only he can believe it. Brilliant use of sci-fi elements merged with very believable characters, and clever all around.
MORDOR SOUTH
This one isn’t my personal cup of tea but I think fantasy fans (especially Tolkien fans) will love it.
WHEN DOLORES THE DANCER MET BUCKEYE THE PIRATE
This one was so funny and I loved the tone of it. Dolores sets her sights on a pirate captain and despite the protests of his crew, he invites her aboard. His parrot particularly doesn’t trust her, and perhaps the parrot is right…
SNAKEBITE
Ooh I LOVE this one! A “terrorist” attack on fossil fuel CEO’s, but one that’s unbelievably creative and poignant. I was on the edge of my seat, I tell you!
A SECOND COMING
As a Welsh person, I especially enjoyed this one. Some academics revive an ancient Celtic tribe, and the tribe are quite displeased with the state of things. It has a great sense of humour and tone.
A WONDROUS NECESSARY WOMAN
Brunelli is back! I loved this story, though it has tragic tones. It’s so gripping though. Class and society expectations, family strife, love, death, it has it all.
APOSTLES OF MERCY
This one is an excellent mix of sci-fi and religion…sort of. Mwahahah. The less said the better, but I loved it for its darkness!
GIRL’S NIGHT OUT
This one hit me right in the feelings because it involves a lovely dog (don’t worry though, you won’t read anything horrible happening to it here).
GALLIPOLI BELLE
This is a war story (well, actually, more like a human story) set on a Turkish beach, and centres around a British soldier’s last day. Also hit me right in the feelings.
MOTHER DIAMOND
Of all stories in this collection, this one is my absolute favourite – not a coincidence, I suppose, because it is definitely a horror story. It reminded me a bit of Sarah Langan’s ‘I Miss You Too Much’, which you might already know was my favourite story of 2024.
A woman reluctantly agrees to care for her mother during her last days, but those apparent last days become years. Things are emotionally taxing, not least because this particular mother is selfish and doesn’t deserve the care she’s receiving from her daughter, quite frankly. I thought this would just be a regular, real-world story of familial tension, but then it goes into horror territory and now I’m obsessed with it.
SPIKE
This story is inspired by Hans the Hedgehog but I found that surprising because there’s a character called Roland AND mention of a Dark Tower, so I thought it was a Dark Tower homage!
THE DOWAGER DUCHESS OF DINGO CREEK
A cleric more interested in rugby than sermons is shipped out to Australia to serve an area where the population is suffering radiation poisoning in the wake of a British attack. It’s sobering, and it’s excellent.
THE MEDICI STILETTO
Brunelli is back, and this time the story is about thieves! I have to tell you, I think I have my first ever book crush on Brunelli. She’s just so cool.
SCORPION GIRL
Oh man, this story is so sad, and truthfully I kind of wish that the book didn’t end on this one, though I see why it did. It’s a story of the horrors and atrocities committed by people against other people, but it’s also a story of great personal strength.
Phew, and that’s it! I had an amazing time reading this collection. Webb’s characters are some of the best I’ve ever read and her story telling is immaculate, regardless of which genres she’s dabbling in. Things get dark in a lot of them but the tension is occasionally cut with humour, and overall I found it an uplifting book. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
If you’d like to check out the book or the author, I’ve popped some links below for you:
Bleeeeeat!
Happy Goat Horror 
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