10th September, 2025 in Recommended Reads

Menagerie in the Dark by Chris Kauzlarich

“Despite the day’s heat, the stillness brought a chill, yet the creeping dread they’d both felt with totality’s approach melted away. Nobody spoke, taking in the universe’s visual statement of supremacy.” The short story collection, Menagerie in the Dark, by Chris Kauzlarich, captivates readers through fourteen thought-provoking stories, involving a spectrum of shades between hope and despair. While a few stories occasionally falter in pacing, the overall impact remains strong, with each narrative contributing to a larger thematic arc. The author skillfully balances darkness and light with vivid depictions of characters wrestling through grief, guilt, then revelation around a symbolic progression—dusk, night, and dawn. Menagerie in the Dark is a collection with emotional resonance.