The First Stain

The First Stain is the first anthology collection by Inked in Gray. As a collection of dark stories, it does a phenomenal job of exposing a number of situations and aspects of life that we don’t normally think about. I was hooked to this collection, starting with the first story, all the way to the end. Take a look at the synopsis below and then I will share my thoughts and a selection of quotes.

The world isn’t black and white. Why should our stories be?

There is often a moment when we discover the world is nothing like the fairy tales we grew up with. It’s grittier, darker, more complex. Perception isn’t always reality. Sometimes there’s another layer, another angle that demands acknowledgement. Each tale within The First Stain peels back those preconceived layers to expose the cracks in our not-so-perfect world.

The First Stain showcases stories with a twist—from haunted visions to heartbreaking omens; vigilante justice to survival amidst metaphysical hellscapes. Enter a fantastical world where karma is Law—merciless and unforgiving. Discover the addiction of memory, and the regrets secreted therein. Within The First Stain, fears become nightmares. Nightmares become reality, and sometimes, the worst that could happen, comes to pass.

These thirteen short stories by new and published authors delve into the themes of death, justice, family, redemption, and ugly truths bound in beautiful lies.

Content notes: Descriptions of death of loved ones, violence, addiction.

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Themes for Thought

What are dark stories? Are they stories that bring out fear in us? Are they stories that have flawed protagonists and tough situations? It has been a while since I have read a collection of dark stories and it was good to change and enjoy these settings of unexpressed emotions, morality that we often never put into words and hate and hurt that is left behind.

As I read the stories in The First Stain, I was on the lookout for that first time something happened to the various protagonists – the first step they took or event that set them down the path they were on. Everything starts somewhere, and similar to how Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor made me love the characters and sympathize with them for what they had become, the thirteen stories in this collection do the same. Shorter prose is always harder than longer prose and The First Stain was my introduction to these talented writers.

I briefly want to mention each of the stories and what I loved about them.

• Krov, as the first story, drew me right into the world of a human trying to survive in a world sickened by war and the depth of pain of loosing a companion.
• Ritual was an interesting take on the unhappiness caused by not being accepted by family, and the role that our voice plays in how people interact with us.
• The Chain was a story about turned gods and the attempts to bring them back to the light.
• I loved the writing style of Just Deserts and the way it was addressed directly to the reader. Being a part of the story in that manner was terrifying, considering why I was in that position.
• For the guild made me think more about loyalty which is sometimes tested in extreme ways.
• The Offering was short and dark. It reminded me of the helplessness that one feels when they have no voice and the deals we are willing to make and the things we are willing to give up to have some control.
• Beyond the Distortion was about that one last time you do something before you never do it again. The idea of a drug that would let us truly escape into another person’s life by living their memories was fascinating and well executed.
• The Burden of Sight resonated with me at a special level. As someone who is far away from part of my family and can no longer hop of a plane and go see them, the play between Fate and Death and reconciling with what we know is coming was breath-taking, moving and authentic.
• The Aristocrat, The Arsonist had the best twist in my mind. The commentary around what is real and what isn’t and how easily we can be played, manipulated by others, was portrayed really well. The agency of the story – the way it started – was a dire situation.
• Smells of Desperation was quite gripping and reminded me of ways in which people use love as a way to hurt others.
• Sirens offered an interesting take on legacy, not following the father’s footsteps and making our own path.
• Little Grays gave me glimpse into the mind of someone with schizophrenia and fighting or working along with the mind’s demons.
• Desolate, as the last story, brought me full circle of living in times of war, surviving by oneself. How the protagonists read all the books in the bunker definitely resonated with the reader in me.

Quirk I must mention

Something I love doing in movies is anytime a character says, “We have 10 minutes to do this”, I am always tempted to time them. The Aristocrat, the Arsonist had this one line where only four minutes of the recording were left and guess what – only 4 minutes of the story remained too in reading time! I loved that!

Below are some quotes that I enjoyed from the book. Rest assured, I highlighted many many more!

Overall, I enjoyed this collection! The progression of the stories as well as the themes that they addressed were thought provoking. The fantastical elements added a unique take to the various plots. Will you pick up this book?

** The First Stain is now out in stores so get a copy and let me know what you think! **
Amazon Print
Amazon Kindle

Many thanks to the publisher for providing me a review copy of this book.

Cover image: Photo by Ross Sokolovski on Unsplash