A review by ericarobyn
Werewolves by Tom Deady, Candace Nola, Glenn Rolfe, Edward Lee, Kevin J. Kennedy, Tim Curran, Graham Masterton

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

Werewolves (Classic Monsters Book 2) presented by KJK Publishing is an anthology that brings dark and fresh takes on the good ol’ werewolf that readers will want to sink their teeth into right away!

Per usual with these collections, I loved not being able to anticipate what would come next even though each tale was tied together with the theme!

My favorites from the collection include:

• Rug by Graham Masterton
• “Harry’s Inevitable Extinction” by Glenn Rolfe
• Almost Never by Edward Lee

Here are my notes on each tale!

Elena by Kevin J. Kennedy – 

While traveling around and living out of a camper on a weekend getaway, a couple sees lights coming from a bar that they swore hadn’t been there when they arrived. Going out for a few drinks, they bring a woman back to the camper with them and their fun soon takes a turn.

Erotic horror fans will love this one! I first experienced this tale in Kevin’s book, A to Z of Horror, and revisiting it while knowing how things would turn out was like watching someone walk right into a trap. 

Last Dance by Tom Deady – 

Constantly harassed by a bully at school, things take a darker step one night at a dance and this boy finally reaches his breaking point. 

This was such a fun tale! It had the slow reveal, the cute crush, the nasty bullies, and the bloody terror! 

Inherent by Candace Nola – 

Clawing at her neck during vivid nightmares has this poor woman on edge during her wakeful hours. When a friend stays the night and witnesses what happens, it’s not difficult to convince her that she needs to go talk to her Nana. But will she like what they learn? 

What a dread-fueled slow burn of a tale! And my gosh, that ending really packed a punch of horror!

Beware the Moon by A High Moor Story –

While on a trip to Italy, an afternoon hike goes sideways when Connie injures her ankle. Determined to get help when her boyfriend doesn’t come back, she soon learns why he was delayed. 

This was such a quick tale of terror! I loved that we got right to the action and I had to chuckle with Connie’s inner thoughts as they were so spot on for what I would have been thinking! 

Rug by Graham Masterton – 

When a boy finds a wolf rug in an attic room, he can’t help but investigate more. Later, while in town he hears tales of werewolves, and while he says he’s not interested to the shopkeeper regaling the stories, he is actually very interested and the wolf lurks closer than he thinks. 

Oh my gosh, that ending! This one had an extra spooky premise and a fun take on the werewolf!

“Harry’s Inevitable Extinction” by Glenn Rolfe –

Paid to report on the site of a brutal murder, this man thinks he’ll be in and out. But once he’s in the area, he gets caught unawares. 

This tale is a prime example of why I’m so obsessed with short stories. There’s a short build-up that sets the scene perfectly and gets the reader curious while also dreading what could be discovered. There’s loads of terror both in the quiet moments and the action. There’s beautiful description mixed in with the darkness. And of course, there’s blood and a monster!

Wetware by Tim Curran – 

A wild tale of various characters all trying to take down one werewolf! The action and body horror here is intense!

Almost Never by Edward Lee –

When a little girl tells her grandfather that two men have been following her as she does their grocery shopping, he says she is not to run to the store alone anymore. She knows it will take her grandfather much longer as he is in a wheelchair, so the very next day, she goes alone…

With little Red Riding Hood vibes, this one focuses on the real monsters that are much more dangerous than the wolves. 

My Favorite Passages from Werewolves (Classic Monsters Book 2) –

As much as I want to run and hide from this terrible truth, the thought of passing out and having another dream terrifies me. How will I ever sleep again?
— Last Dance by Tom Deady

Connie had become attuned to the noises of the mountain over the last few hours. Her only companions on the painful journey were the steady chirping of cicadas and the distant bleating of mountain goats. Now, however, everything had fallen silent, as if the mountain itself were holding its breath in anticipation. Connie felt the first real stirrings of fear in her stomach. Something was wrong here. Something was very wrong, indeed.
— Beware the Moon by A High Moor Story

Some things are so obvious to children that they blink in disbelief when adults fail to understand.
— Rug by Graham Masterton

Stepping over the imaginary threshold, Harry tried to shake off the ghastly feeling clinging to his spine and started toward the kill zone.
— “Harry’s Inevitable Extinction” by Glenn Rolfe

A bruised sky, cloudy with the chance of death, swallowed what remained of the late September afternoon.
— “Harry’s Inevitable Extinction” by Glenn Rolfe

Are we not all just as capable of evil as we are good? Is it a choice or destiny?
— “Harry’s Inevitable Extinction” by Glenn Rolfe

Blood was splashed over the walls, dripping like a child’s runny fingerpainting.
— Wetware by Tim Curran

My Final Thoughts on Werewolves (Classic Monsters Book 2) –

I had such a blast reading these tales! I love werewolves. The whole idea of the monster itself absolutely terrifies me… the lack of control, the body horror, the speed, the teeth! And phew, this collection only added to that fear!