Alma Katsu’s forward is a tribute to the power of Asian women in horror. Previewing the stories to be told, Katsu informs the reader they are about to experience tales of folklore, loss, and power by women who refuse to adhere to stereotypes. Black Cranes: Tales of Unquiet Women proclaims these are the tales of unquiet women. Each is an author whose voice needs to be heard.

Stories of folklore and identity feature throughout. “Kapre: A Love Story” by Rin Chupeco introduces us to Kapre, a monster from Philippine mythology. Kapre finds his rage quieted by a young girl and proceeds to watch over her for years to come despite the pain of their different worlds tearing at his heart. While other monsters push Kapre to embrace his true nature, Chupeco finds the humanity in monsters to present a stirring and heartwarming story.

“A Pet is for Life” by Geneve Flynn brings us a young woman who works in an animal shelter and adores her rescue dog. Approached one day by the Kuchisake-Onna, the “Slit-Mouth Woman” with a wicked pair of scissors, our heroine reveals she’s more than meets the eye with how she deals with monsters. Flynn writes suspensefully and skillfully, but also with a startling amount of empathy and compassion.

Grace Chan’s “Of Hunger and Fury” explores integration and the sacrifices expected to achieve it. This is a story of culture, loss, and of hunger and rage. Chan also examines what this means when the memories are not joyous, all through the eyes of a hungry and wrathful ghost.

The premise of integration continues in Angela Yuriko Smith’s “Vanilla Rice,” which carries the resonating themes of mixed identity. A short but impactful story, Smith presents the challenges of attempting to fit in elsewhere and the impact it can have on a family.

“Fury,” by Christina Sng is a zombie tale where a young woman raised in the military tries to find a cure for her father. Sng gifts the reader with a bleak story but offers rays of hope and the courage of holding on to identity.

Black Cranes: Tales of Unquiet Women is a sterling anthology, showcasing strong voices in horror.