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rock_n_reads's review
4.0
I typically select novels or novellas for reading material, but I'm quickly becoming a fan of short story collections. In the past year, I've read some great anthologies from authors I was introduced to through the bookstagram community. Hark! The Herald Angels Scream is one of those collections. I received this book in the inaugural Night Worms package, and I was not disappointed. This is my first time reading Christmas-themed horror, and I am already looking forward to 2019's offerings.
Hark! is a solid collection. There were only one or two stories that were difficult for me to get through, but overall, I truly enjoyed these tales. My top 5 favorites were, in no particular order:
-Christmas in Barcelona by Scott Smith
-Fresh as the New Fallen Snow by Seanan McGuire
-Love Me by Thomas E. Sniegoski
-Honor Thy Mother by Angela Slatter
-The Hangman's Bride by Sarah Pinborough
I'd also like to mention that there is a paragraph in "Doctor Velocity" by Jonathan Maberry, in which he so perfectly describes heartbreak, it almost took my breath away.
Solid collection, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking to add short stories or some Christmas-themed horror to their TBR pile!
Hark! is a solid collection. There were only one or two stories that were difficult for me to get through, but overall, I truly enjoyed these tales. My top 5 favorites were, in no particular order:
-Christmas in Barcelona by Scott Smith
-Fresh as the New Fallen Snow by Seanan McGuire
-Love Me by Thomas E. Sniegoski
-Honor Thy Mother by Angela Slatter
-The Hangman's Bride by Sarah Pinborough
I'd also like to mention that there is a paragraph in "Doctor Velocity" by Jonathan Maberry, in which he so perfectly describes heartbreak, it almost took my breath away.
Solid collection, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking to add short stories or some Christmas-themed horror to their TBR pile!
paulmoore's review
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Who doesn't love a short story collection? Who doesn't love horror? Add them together with a festive twist and you're onto a winner! This is a collection of 16 horror shorts from a wide range of authors where I guarantee you will find something twisted and fun.
The short story by Scott Smith called Christmas in Barcelona is one of the best tales in this collection. We have a couple with their infant son who have a problematic trip on Christmas Eve. I never really knew where this story was going and then the ending just hits you, HARD! Brilliant writing and a real highlight to the collection.
Other honourable mentions go to -
Good Deeds by Jeff Strand. This was laugh out loud hilarious and so dead pan it completely took me by surprise.
Not just for Christmas by Sarah Lotz. A story that came right out of the Black Mirror style of future horror.
Honour thy Mother by Angela Slatter. I wasn't sure where this story was going at first and it turned into one of my favourites in the collection. I am not religious but I do love a story and heavenly beings living amongst us. This is a great example of that and the story slowly develops before the big reveal.
Only story I couldn't get into was by Josh Malerman. An author I struggle to get to grips with whenever I pick anything up from him. His story, Tenets, just bored me and didn't really go anywhere. Still, I think this probably suffered from the shadow of the other great stories on show and never seemed to be anywhere near as fun as those set out to be
All in all this is a great collection that delivers 18 brilliant and versatile stories of festive horror. There's a fantastic range of authors on show here and it's given me plenty new ones to add to the TBR ready for next year's list to Santa.
The short story by Scott Smith called Christmas in Barcelona is one of the best tales in this collection. We have a couple with their infant son who have a problematic trip on Christmas Eve. I never really knew where this story was going and then the ending just hits you, HARD! Brilliant writing and a real highlight to the collection.
Other honourable mentions go to -
Good Deeds by Jeff Strand. This was laugh out loud hilarious and so dead pan it completely took me by surprise.
Not just for Christmas by Sarah Lotz. A story that came right out of the Black Mirror style of future horror.
Honour thy Mother by Angela Slatter. I wasn't sure where this story was going at first and it turned into one of my favourites in the collection. I am not religious but I do love a story and heavenly beings living amongst us. This is a great example of that and the story slowly develops before the big reveal.
Only story I couldn't get into was by Josh Malerman. An author I struggle to get to grips with whenever I pick anything up from him. His story, Tenets, just bored me and didn't really go anywhere. Still, I think this probably suffered from the shadow of the other great stories on show and never seemed to be anywhere near as fun as those set out to be
All in all this is a great collection that delivers 18 brilliant and versatile stories of festive horror. There's a fantastic range of authors on show here and it's given me plenty new ones to add to the TBR ready for next year's list to Santa.
o_oliviarose_o's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
marrireadsandrambles's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
bethreadsandnaps's review
3.0
I thought this was a pretty decent collection of scary-ish Christmas stories. Will these stories give you nightmares? No.
Are any of these stories very memorable? No, at least to me.
But I found that most of the stories held my interest.
Are any of these stories very memorable? No, at least to me.
But I found that most of the stories held my interest.
kevinmccarrick's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
phillyhufflepunk's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0