#Review: Hell Hath No Fury by Shinie Antony

Hell Hath No Fury is the kind of collection that makes you rethink both horror and the place women occupy in it. I’ve always been fascinated by the way female characters in gothic and supernatural stories are either trapped victims or terrifying avengers, and this book leans fully into that tension. With thirteen stories spanning vampires, witches, madwomen, and vengeful ghosts, it doesn’t just deliver chills—it reveals how women’s rage has been demonized, romanticized, and feared across centuries.

What I enjoyed most was the variety of tones: some tales are lushly atmospheric, others spare and unsettling. You get Bram Stoker rubbing shoulders with Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Louisa May Alcott next to Sheridan Le Fanu, and the juxtapositions highlight just how pervasive and flexible the “evil woman” archetype has been. Of course, a few stories feel a bit dated in style, and the language occasionally slows the pace for modern readers. But the editorial framing helps situate them, making the collection feel less like a dusty archive and more like a curated conversation.

At the same time, I found myself pausing often—not just because of the eeriness of the stories, but because they echo so many anxieties that still feel alive today. The fear of women stepping beyond prescribed roles, the unease around female desire, the punishment of independence—all of these undercurrents run through the collection. Reading these tales, I couldn’t help but think of how little has changed in some ways, and how horror continues to mirror society’s deepest discomforts. That’s what makes Hell Hath No Fury linger: it doesn’t simply scare you in the moment; it unsettles you with recognition.

For me, the real strength lies in how the book reclaims these “monstrous” women, inviting us to see their fury not as mere horror but as a radical form of freedom. It’s unsettling, yes—but also strangely empowering.

Find this book here.