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A review by dnemec
Hark! the Herald Angels Scream by Christopher Golden
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!