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the_enobee's review
4.0
Read all the stories but the Jack 'O Lantern story last year. Finished up this year after reading Dark Harvest, and I enjoyed it all. I really wish Norman Partridge wrote more.
lesliegmol's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Johnny Halloween: ☆☆
Satan's Army: ☆
The Man Who Killed Halloween: ☆☆
Black Leather Kites: ☆
Treats: ☆☆☆
Three Doors: ☆☆
Satan's Army: ☆
The Man Who Killed Halloween: ☆☆
Black Leather Kites: ☆
Treats: ☆☆☆
Three Doors: ☆☆
lareinadehades's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
stranger_sights's review
4.0
You can read my full review at: https://mediadrome.wordpress.com/2020/11/18/johnny-halloween-tales-of-the-dark-season-by-norman-partridge/
This is a wonderful collection of Spooky Season tales.
This is a wonderful collection of Spooky Season tales.
paperbackstash's review
4.0
Anthologies centered on Halloween are fun any time of year. I couldn't resist trying out this short anthology all penned by the same author. My original plan was to read in October along with other anthologies, but I got behind and didn't get around to reading any of them. Ah, holidays.
The first story, Johnny Halloween, pairs up well with the introduction to Halloween and that the creepiest monsters can wear human faces. Mix Halloween into the deal with the grinning, blank masks that are supposed to be trustworthy, and it can get trickier. The story started on a different note than the middle dive and then end twist. Plenty of tricks made this short story a treat that sets the story off well. It was my favorite of the bunch and well worth reading.
The second story is a bit confusing and disjointed but ... disturbing. Ties in the evils warned of by fire-and-brimstone type preachers with the paranoia of a small town with a grim finale. The story isn't the best, but the focus of it is nifty -- when it comes to Halloween and all the things kids love about it (horror movie marathons, creepy monsters, traditions and spooks and parties), we all remember the naysayers talking about the corrupted youth turning bad due because of entertainment. This was a clever twist on this that served up a small taste of irony to finish it off.
The third story is more of an essay about his town's experiences with the Zodiac killer. Intriguing stuff. I realize I never read much on that particular serial killer, although I've of course heard the name.
Black Leather Kites, while inventive, confused me at first and stalled on me later. Not my favorite of the group, it crosses into some cheesiness, but does do serve the anthology's theme well by having a story focus on the ancient traditions of Halloween and the weird occult stories surrounding the season.
I feel clueless not getting what Treats was about, but I still dug the story. It was creepy and fascinating. Were they killer ants trained as an army and fed on candy? I didn't get the ending, but it was still one of the most interesting.
Three Doors - well, wow. It started out seeming like an almost humorous story about something unbelievable and somewhat silly, but it turns into serious, dark, grim reality. It's a strong contender for my favorite of the book. It was a tricky and misdirecting tale that's just....sad. Sad, but well done.
The longest, The Jack O Lantern, was one of my least favorites with its cohesiveness and direction, but it was at least creepy.
A recommended anthology if you want some spooky and unique twists on the Halloween season, or just have a craving for a horror anthology in general. I liked the author's style, and saw he had awards for a full-length novel, Dark Harvest - I'll check that one out soon, although it seems to be in the same worldbuilding as The Jack O Lantern (same town and legend but expanded) so not sure how I'll like it. I may. Either way, the cover is the cutest halloween cover ever, I'm reminded of a bobblehead pumpkin man, I'm weird but I get that "aw" moment every time I see this cover:
Seriously, who can resist, or is it just me?
The first story, Johnny Halloween, pairs up well with the introduction to Halloween and that the creepiest monsters can wear human faces. Mix Halloween into the deal with the grinning, blank masks that are supposed to be trustworthy, and it can get trickier. The story started on a different note than the middle dive and then end twist. Plenty of tricks made this short story a treat that sets the story off well. It was my favorite of the bunch and well worth reading.
The second story is a bit confusing and disjointed but ... disturbing. Ties in the evils warned of by fire-and-brimstone type preachers with the paranoia of a small town with a grim finale. The story isn't the best, but the focus of it is nifty -- when it comes to Halloween and all the things kids love about it (horror movie marathons, creepy monsters, traditions and spooks and parties), we all remember the naysayers talking about the corrupted youth turning bad due because of entertainment. This was a clever twist on this that served up a small taste of irony to finish it off.
The third story is more of an essay about his town's experiences with the Zodiac killer. Intriguing stuff. I realize I never read much on that particular serial killer, although I've of course heard the name.
Black Leather Kites, while inventive, confused me at first and stalled on me later. Not my favorite of the group, it crosses into some cheesiness, but does do serve the anthology's theme well by having a story focus on the ancient traditions of Halloween and the weird occult stories surrounding the season.
I feel clueless not getting what Treats was about, but I still dug the story. It was creepy and fascinating. Were they killer ants trained as an army and fed on candy? I didn't get the ending, but it was still one of the most interesting.
Three Doors - well, wow. It started out seeming like an almost humorous story about something unbelievable and somewhat silly, but it turns into serious, dark, grim reality. It's a strong contender for my favorite of the book. It was a tricky and misdirecting tale that's just....sad. Sad, but well done.
The longest, The Jack O Lantern, was one of my least favorites with its cohesiveness and direction, but it was at least creepy.
A recommended anthology if you want some spooky and unique twists on the Halloween season, or just have a craving for a horror anthology in general. I liked the author's style, and saw he had awards for a full-length novel, Dark Harvest - I'll check that one out soon, although it seems to be in the same worldbuilding as The Jack O Lantern (same town and legend but expanded) so not sure how I'll like it. I may. Either way, the cover is the cutest halloween cover ever, I'm reminded of a bobblehead pumpkin man, I'm weird but I get that "aw" moment every time I see this cover:
Seriously, who can resist, or is it just me?
alexctelander's review
3.0
While Johnny Halloween: Takes of the Dark Season may not be the best Halloween anthology out there, if you’re looking for a short collection of not too many stories that are gripping and will get you in the mood for Halloween, then look no further than Johnny Halloween. Norman Partridge is best known for his Bram Stoker Award Winning book Dark Harvest.
Johnny Halloween features seven stories on the subject of Halloween: some stories are ordinary ones of fun and trickery, others are dark and twisted, and others make you stop and think about not just the meaning behind Halloween, but why we do the things we do on October 31st. “Three Doors” is a play on the idea of a djinn giving you three wishes, or the better known horror story “The Monkey’s Paw.” In it a man discovers he has a special power: he is somehow granted three knocks on three doors, and whoever opens the door will be under his power, to do his bidding. And now he has a plan to get the woman of his dreams back. The most poignant and moving tale of the collection has little to do with Halloween at all. “The Man Who Killed Halloween” is the infamous story of the Zodiac Killer, during the fall of 1969, who took lives mercilessly and with no clear intention. The reason for his killings remains a mystery to this day.
Originally written on November 16, 2010 ©Alex C. Telander.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.
Johnny Halloween features seven stories on the subject of Halloween: some stories are ordinary ones of fun and trickery, others are dark and twisted, and others make you stop and think about not just the meaning behind Halloween, but why we do the things we do on October 31st. “Three Doors” is a play on the idea of a djinn giving you three wishes, or the better known horror story “The Monkey’s Paw.” In it a man discovers he has a special power: he is somehow granted three knocks on three doors, and whoever opens the door will be under his power, to do his bidding. And now he has a plan to get the woman of his dreams back. The most poignant and moving tale of the collection has little to do with Halloween at all. “The Man Who Killed Halloween” is the infamous story of the Zodiac Killer, during the fall of 1969, who took lives mercilessly and with no clear intention. The reason for his killings remains a mystery to this day.
Originally written on November 16, 2010 ©Alex C. Telander.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.
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