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datewithathriller's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
abogges1's review
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dnemec's review
3.0
I’ve been holding onto this one to read closer to Christmas. What better way to get into the holiday spirit than reading holiday horror stories? Included are 18 stories for those of us that celebrate, but still know that Krampus is running loose so you best be on your best behavior.
The Hangman’s Bride by Sarah Pinborough had to have been my favorite of the bunch. It was a solid Victorian-style ghost story, even including the sweet little boy chimneysweep. Tom, as he is currently being called, has been “adopted” by a man for his chimneysweep business after the boy’s mother dies. The man is enlisted to clean the chimneys of the hangman, and Tom is requested. But poor Tom finds more than just ash and soot in the old chimneys.
Good Deeds by Jeff Strand was another one of my favorites. A man is in line at the store and there’s a small dirty child in front of him. The child wants to buy a pair of shoes for his mother, who is dying. The man buys the shoes and feels so good about himself that he writes a song about it to encourage others to be selfless. But the song does not quite have the effect that he was hoping for.
Love Me by Thomas E. Sniegoski is about Flynn, a man recently out of jail and desperate to get his family back. After attempting to find a real job, he reverts to his old one – breaking and entering. But things are a little different this time. He can take all he wants, but one thing will be given to him that he can’t give it back.
Not Just For Christmas by Sarah Lotz is another story about a man trying to get back his family. This one does it by getting the kids a puppy. But not just any puppy – a Genpet. You can download apps for it, program a name, even make it talk. Unfortunately, Jake is about to learn there are downsides to all technology.
Anthologies are always hit or miss, but this was a lot more hits than misses for me. Some really good stuff in there!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is it!
The Hangman’s Bride by Sarah Pinborough had to have been my favorite of the bunch. It was a solid Victorian-style ghost story, even including the sweet little boy chimneysweep. Tom, as he is currently being called, has been “adopted” by a man for his chimneysweep business after the boy’s mother dies. The man is enlisted to clean the chimneys of the hangman, and Tom is requested. But poor Tom finds more than just ash and soot in the old chimneys.
Good Deeds by Jeff Strand was another one of my favorites. A man is in line at the store and there’s a small dirty child in front of him. The child wants to buy a pair of shoes for his mother, who is dying. The man buys the shoes and feels so good about himself that he writes a song about it to encourage others to be selfless. But the song does not quite have the effect that he was hoping for.
Love Me by Thomas E. Sniegoski is about Flynn, a man recently out of jail and desperate to get his family back. After attempting to find a real job, he reverts to his old one – breaking and entering. But things are a little different this time. He can take all he wants, but one thing will be given to him that he can’t give it back.
Not Just For Christmas by Sarah Lotz is another story about a man trying to get back his family. This one does it by getting the kids a puppy. But not just any puppy – a Genpet. You can download apps for it, program a name, even make it talk. Unfortunately, Jake is about to learn there are downsides to all technology.
Anthologies are always hit or miss, but this was a lot more hits than misses for me. Some really good stuff in there!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is it!
joeydemarco's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
atleastelise's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Okay so, I was so excited to read this, but honestly there were only 3 5⭐️ short stories, which I’m kinda disappointed by. However AMAZING cover art and book title 👏
> Absinthe and Angels by: Kelly Armstrong
This story legitimately scared me and after looking up Mummers in Newfoundland it’s even scarier.
> Good Deeds by: Jeff Strand
This story made me laugh out loud
> It’s a Wonderful Knife by: Christopher Golden
This left very topical and it also centered on my favorite Christmas movie — so you known I’m going to love it
—
Honorable mention:
> Hiking Through by: Michael Koryta
> Absinthe and Angels by: Kelly Armstrong
This story legitimately scared me and after looking up Mummers in Newfoundland it’s even scarier.
> Good Deeds by: Jeff Strand
This story made me laugh out loud
> It’s a Wonderful Knife by: Christopher Golden
This left very topical and it also centered on my favorite Christmas movie — so you known I’m going to love it
—
Honorable mention:
> Hiking Through by: Michael Koryta
mfrisk's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
This book was a great Christmas horror anthology - there were ghost stories, unexplainable creatures and magical beings, morality tales, and just plain bad people. I really loved many of the stories featured and would say most were 4 or 5 stars for me.
Some of the standouts for me were -
Top 3 favorites:
Some of the standouts for me were -
Top 3 favorites:
- The Hangman’s Bride
- Not just for Christmas
- It’s a wonderful knife
Bottom 3 duds:
- Farrow street
- Snakes tail
- Doctor velocity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Gore, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
nikki_in_niagara's review
3.0
A collection of Christmas-themed short stories by a plethora of well-known authors. The majority of the stories were good three stars, with a few duds and a few winners. The best is the novella at the end by Sarah Pinborough. Not the best Christmas collection I've read but decent enough for a good Christmas read.
1. Absinthe & Angela by Kelly Armstrong - An engaged couple spends Christmas Eve at an isolated cabin in the woods. Suddenly mummers come to their door and the woman has been afraid of mummers since childhood. Great pacing. Things start normal enough and the pacing is perfect to the scary ending. (4/5)
2. Christmas in Barcelona by Scott Smith - A couple go to Barcelona for Christmas where everything goes wrong including a screaming baby. This was engrossing. I had to read the ending twice before the shock settled in. Great. (5/5)
3. Fresh as the New-Fallen Snow by Seanan McGuire - This is a fairy tale. Three children with very strict and unloving parents have a new babysitter tonight. She is unlike any they've had before and she tells them a story. An enjoyable story but not the type I'd expect to find in this sort of anthology. (3/5)
4. Love Me by Thomas E Sniegoski - A man just out of prison goes to rob an old lady whose husband dealt in antiques and collectables. This was creepy. The end is predictable but the pace getting there is great. (4/5)
5. Not Just for Christmas by Sarah Lotz - It's the future and genetically engineered pets are all the rage. Jake gets his kids a Gen-pet for Christmas and it's all cute and cuddles at first, then things go horribly wrong. (4/5)
6. Tenets by Josh Malerman - A man brings a former cult leader to a Christmas party unbeknownst to the hosts. This started well but had a lousy vague ending. (2/5)
7. Good Deeds by Jeff Strand - A Christmas curmudgeon does a good deed and is so proud of himself that he writes a Christmas song with surprising results. This was a comic piece but didn't do anything for me. I just thought it was silly. (3/5)
8. It's a Wonderful Knife by Christopher Golden - A rich producer takes a young actress into a locked room containing his weird collection of Hollywood memorabilia. A slow story takes all its time leading up to the climax which happens quickly and is rather boring. (2/5)
9. Mistletoe and Holly by James A Moore - it's been two years since the military arrived at her front door to say her husband was never coming home. She misses him but doesn't know whether she'd want him back. An engaging story with rising action throughout. (3/5)
10. Snake's Tail by Sarah Langan - About all the gods in the world taking their sacrifices. Children disappear on Christmas Eve. Basically, to me, it seemed to be anti-religion, all religions. Not my thing. (0/5)
11. The Second Floor of the Christmas Hotel by Joe R Lansdale - An old friend contacts the narrator about Christmas' at his parents' secluded hotel. He tells him a ghostly tale about it 2 years before it's pulled down to check if it's true. Well-told, creepy and fun. (4/5)
12. Farrow Street by Elizabeth Hand - A woman's Christmas plans in Devon are dashed so she decides to spend it in London by herself. Her hotel is a hole in the wall and it's Christmas Day when nothing, not even busses, are open. She wanders around and gets lost. This was very good. I kept thinking I knew where it was going until the shocking end. (5/5)
13. Doctor Velocity by Jonathan Mayberry - This was a slog. Two artists sit around talking about emotions. It ends in horror but wasn't worth the slog. (1/5)
14. Yankee Swap by John McIlveen - My favourite so far. A woman wakes up in the dark chained to a chair. She discovers there are 6 of them altogether, and then a madman enters and makes them play a deadly game. (5/5)
15. Honor Thy Mother by Angela Slatter - Agnes is old and she's gathered her entire family together for Christmas. They want her to go into an old folks home but she has other plans. Loved this. The author keeps you thinking you know what's going on but you don't guess until she tells you. (5/5)
16. Home by Tim Lebbon - It's the end of the world and a man lives day after day walking, setting up camp, and foraging. Pretty standard but there is a shocking revelation at the end. (3/5)
17. Hiking Through by Michael Koryta - A man is telling us something that happened to him when he was prepping to hike through the Appalachian Trail up to where he is now. Decent story. Not scary or creepy though. (3/5)
18. The Hangman's Bride by Sarah Pinborough - The longest story in the book. Close to being a novella. This is a very creepy ghost story with a Japanese twist. (5/5)
1. Absinthe & Angela by Kelly Armstrong - An engaged couple spends Christmas Eve at an isolated cabin in the woods. Suddenly mummers come to their door and the woman has been afraid of mummers since childhood. Great pacing. Things start normal enough and the pacing is perfect to the scary ending. (4/5)
2. Christmas in Barcelona by Scott Smith - A couple go to Barcelona for Christmas where everything goes wrong including a screaming baby. This was engrossing. I had to read the ending twice before the shock settled in. Great. (5/5)
3. Fresh as the New-Fallen Snow by Seanan McGuire - This is a fairy tale. Three children with very strict and unloving parents have a new babysitter tonight. She is unlike any they've had before and she tells them a story. An enjoyable story but not the type I'd expect to find in this sort of anthology. (3/5)
4. Love Me by Thomas E Sniegoski - A man just out of prison goes to rob an old lady whose husband dealt in antiques and collectables. This was creepy. The end is predictable but the pace getting there is great. (4/5)
5. Not Just for Christmas by Sarah Lotz - It's the future and genetically engineered pets are all the rage. Jake gets his kids a Gen-pet for Christmas and it's all cute and cuddles at first, then things go horribly wrong. (4/5)
6. Tenets by Josh Malerman - A man brings a former cult leader to a Christmas party unbeknownst to the hosts. This started well but had a lousy vague ending. (2/5)
7. Good Deeds by Jeff Strand - A Christmas curmudgeon does a good deed and is so proud of himself that he writes a Christmas song with surprising results. This was a comic piece but didn't do anything for me. I just thought it was silly. (3/5)
8. It's a Wonderful Knife by Christopher Golden - A rich producer takes a young actress into a locked room containing his weird collection of Hollywood memorabilia. A slow story takes all its time leading up to the climax which happens quickly and is rather boring. (2/5)
9. Mistletoe and Holly by James A Moore - it's been two years since the military arrived at her front door to say her husband was never coming home. She misses him but doesn't know whether she'd want him back. An engaging story with rising action throughout. (3/5)
10. Snake's Tail by Sarah Langan - About all the gods in the world taking their sacrifices. Children disappear on Christmas Eve. Basically, to me, it seemed to be anti-religion, all religions. Not my thing. (0/5)
11. The Second Floor of the Christmas Hotel by Joe R Lansdale - An old friend contacts the narrator about Christmas' at his parents' secluded hotel. He tells him a ghostly tale about it 2 years before it's pulled down to check if it's true. Well-told, creepy and fun. (4/5)
12. Farrow Street by Elizabeth Hand - A woman's Christmas plans in Devon are dashed so she decides to spend it in London by herself. Her hotel is a hole in the wall and it's Christmas Day when nothing, not even busses, are open. She wanders around and gets lost. This was very good. I kept thinking I knew where it was going until the shocking end. (5/5)
13. Doctor Velocity by Jonathan Mayberry - This was a slog. Two artists sit around talking about emotions. It ends in horror but wasn't worth the slog. (1/5)
14. Yankee Swap by John McIlveen - My favourite so far. A woman wakes up in the dark chained to a chair. She discovers there are 6 of them altogether, and then a madman enters and makes them play a deadly game. (5/5)
15. Honor Thy Mother by Angela Slatter - Agnes is old and she's gathered her entire family together for Christmas. They want her to go into an old folks home but she has other plans. Loved this. The author keeps you thinking you know what's going on but you don't guess until she tells you. (5/5)
16. Home by Tim Lebbon - It's the end of the world and a man lives day after day walking, setting up camp, and foraging. Pretty standard but there is a shocking revelation at the end. (3/5)
17. Hiking Through by Michael Koryta - A man is telling us something that happened to him when he was prepping to hike through the Appalachian Trail up to where he is now. Decent story. Not scary or creepy though. (3/5)
18. The Hangman's Bride by Sarah Pinborough - The longest story in the book. Close to being a novella. This is a very creepy ghost story with a Japanese twist. (5/5)
its_rosa_reading's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0