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The Horror Collection: Crystal Edition by Kevin J. Kennedy

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.5

I recently finished reading The Horror Collection: Crystal Edition presented by KJK Publishing and I’ll kick off this review by saying it yet again because it’s true: the variety in these collections is WILD. In The Crystal Edition, there’s so much to take in and so many of these stories stuck with me. Some even got under my skin in a way I didn’t expect.

What I love about this collection is that every story feels different. You never know what you’re going to get next, but it’s always something that makes you feel something. Some are haunting while others just leave you feeling gutted—but in a good way, if that makes sense (horror fans, you’ll know)!

My favorites from this collection include:

• Headed North by Sarah Jules
• Winter’s Whistle by Dexter McLeod
• Magic Eye by Stephen Mark Rainey 

Per usual, here are my notes on each tale!

Foreword – 

BOOK 22?! I will always comment on my shock at how many of these there are. I just love them so freaking much! 

Mistral by Mark Morris – 

In desperate need of some time away, this family of three goes on a vacation. But nice they arrive, things feel a bit off…

Oh the heartbreak so evident in one specific scene around their IVF journey hit me like a gut punch. It’s nice to see real world elements like this making it into stories. But phew this one is eerie! And that ending! What an absolute nightmare. 

In Three Days by Thomas Stewart – 

When receiving a text from an unknown number, this man is told he has three days. Spending his time drinking, bringing women home, and denying that this was real, things start to get strange. 

Ah, that ending was so nice after following this guy around. 

The Nightmare Channel by  Lee Mountford –

When his TV switched to an odd channel late one night, this man sees horrific scenes and is unable to ignore the pull of morbid curiosity. 

Oh man, that ending was even more terrifying than what was seen on screen! 

Chasing the Dragon by Brian Moreland – 

Determined to find his love after she goes missing, this man will stop at nothing to be by her side again. 

So many fun elements here!! My gosh. I was so nervous that this was going to end badly so many times throughout the story! That ending was absolute perfection. 

The Devereauxs by Lisa Breanne –

When receiving word that she must attend a meeting about the will of a family member that she didn’t know she had, she ends up having a few weird encounters. 

Ah, those situations should have been red flags! I was so nervous to see where this was going! 

Frozen in Terror by Devin Cabrera – 

Ignoring all the signage to keep out, this group skis a closed area of the mountain anyway and learns why they should have listened to the signs to keep out. 

Phewwwww, the body horror here! 

Celebrity Skin by Harrison Phillips – 

Obsessed with a girl from school, this young man is willing to take any chance he can create to engage with her. But how far will his obsession go?

Oh, this was wild. Absolutely unhinged! 

Dummy by Jeff Strand – 

Stuck inside a dummy’s body, he’s forced to witness whatever the “ventriloquist” does… but he dreams of escape. 

This tale takes readers on such a wild ride! 

Headed North by Sarah Jules – 

While driving north, a woman hears a news story about some brutal murders. And of course, this woman is involved.

Oh my gosh. The title for this one is just perfect. I was so anxious reading this to see where it was going to go next. THAT ENDING. Diabolical. 

Misophonia by Veronica Smith – 

Struggling with listening to his coworker eat constantly throughout the day, this man starts to spiral… 

My gosh, this one set off my Misophonia right from the start. I was literally squirming in my chair through this one. Ah, I hated and loved this tale so much! 

Winter’s Whistle by Dexter McLeod – 

With a storm approaching, a couple arrives seeking help after an attack. As much as some of these characters try to convince themselves that it is a bear, they quickly learn that it isn’t. 

This was so intense! From the second we learned about the claw marks, I was nervous.  It just kept getting more and more terrifying! 

Gracious Mother by Stephen Barnard – 

Haunted by events of her past, this elderly woman needs to share before she goes to meet God. 

Ugh, the bedroom scene broke me. 

Remembering Falls by Zachary Ashford – 

When her father goes for a walk, this character immediately knows where he has gone. Struggling with what she finds once she gets there, her memories from childhood suddenly begin to come back…

Absolutely heartbreaking. Your blood will boil for this poor wife and kid. 

Unnatural Selection by Gord Rollo – 

Determined to carry on his family’s legacy, this character recounts tales that had been kept hidden. 

So wonderfully eerie! The gore here was introduced so quickly, and just as quickly, it was over. What a darkly fun and unsettling tale! 

Magic Eye by Stephen Mark Rainey –

When a radio arrives, this woman is shocked, knowing none of her friends or family could have afforded it. But when she discovers a new frequency the radio can be tuned to, she starts to think something is very wrong. 

This had such fun Michael Crichton vibes! So eerie and so fun! I loved this one so much! I love that it was organized in two parts as well!!

Afterword – 

Always a wonderful touch at the end! 

My Favorite Passages from The Horror Collection: Crystal Edition –

Cracked sidewalks, storefronts that had not seen a fresh coat of paint since their opening, flower pots held cemeteries of shriveled brown stems.
— The Devereauxs by Lisa Breanne

The Yeti had snapped her in half, and her blood was now pouring onto the ice, creating clouds of steam as it hit.
It was hard to look away from. It was an image that would be seared into their minds forever.
— Frozen in Terror by Devin Cabrera

If a steady diet of true crime podcasts had taught her anything, it was that the public was far too quick to snap photographs of dead bodies. It was like they completely forgot that the thing they were taking a photo of was a human being. Never mind the fact that the human being likely had loved ones who would be devastated, traumatised, by a photograph of their dearly departed’s body (decapitated, in this instance) making the rounds. Didn’t people deserve to die with dignity? People who exploited the dead were the worst of the worst, as far as Hester was concerned.
— Headed North by Sarah Jules

My Final Thoughts on The Horror Collection: Crystal Edition –

If you’re looking for a collection that’s going to stick with you long after you’ve finished, this one’s it. It’s a wild ride and I’m excited to revisit it down the road!

Consumed By Evil by John Durgin

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

5.0

With new horrors emerging from the shadows in Consumed by Evil by John Durgin, the latest installment in The Newport Curse series, this tale takes the terror to a whole new level, plunging readers into an even darker, more intense nightmare set in a small town.

With the Halloween massacre still haunting their every thought, as fresh in their minds as the blood that still stains their clothes, the town of Newport is struggling under the weight of their grief and shock. One kid is having a harder time than most as he carries the weight of the trauma as well as something darker that he attempts to battle alone.

Not far into the storyline, it becomes chillingly clear that Newport is far from being safe. The town, which thought it had already faced the worst, is in for an even greater nightmare. What they had thought was the culmination of horror is actually just the beginning. And the terrifying demon they fought before? Well, it’s nothing compared to what is about to emerge from the darkness. The true terror lurking just beneath the surface is far more dangerous, far more insidious, and it’s going to take everything they have to survive it.

Oh my gosh, let’s talk about how John seamlessly recaps the end of the previous book right at the start of chapter two. I was honestly so impressed with how naturally it flowed. It never felt forced or out of place—it was like he was speaking directly to the reader, drawing them back into the story in the most organic way possible. It’s a quick and powerful reminder of where the characters are and where they’ve been, without ever feeling like a rehash. It really pulled me right back in, ready to dive deeper into the madness.

And speaking of madness… Wow, the intensity in this one? It’s off the charts! If you thought the first book was wild, this one takes it to a whole new level. The bloodshed starts early, and from that first brutal scene, things only escalate. The violence and horror are relentless, and the author doesn’t hold back. There’s one scene in particular that had me gripping my phone so tightly, my hands cramped. The pain of what happens to a character’s hand was so real that I couldn’t help but cringe. It’s that kind of gruesome detail and action that makes this book impossible to put down!

And finally, to those of you who have already read the book: AH, THAT LAST LINE!! No spoilers, but I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s the perfect setup for what’s to come and I’m dying to know where John is going to take this next.

My Favorite Passages from Consumed by Evil –

Getting scared in the woods no longer felt like a real-life fear after what he’d been through. The biggest threat now was inside of him, not out here lurking between the trees.

As desperate as she was to fall asleep, every time Bethany closed her eyes, she saw flashes of the shadow swaying back and forth in her sister’s room. The threat she had read in her diary traveled across the blank space behind closed eyelids like a teleprompter.

She wanted to reach out for him, tear through the Sheetrock and pull him to safety. Instead, she listened as someone stabbed him repeatedly, metal entering flesh, as her dad slowly dragged himself across the floor.

The door began to open, and Ken pressed himself tightly to the side wall, pressing so hard he thought he might burst into a puddle of gore and bodily fluids.

Any sign of light had been sucked out of the hallway as if trying to warn Bill not to proceed.

My Final Thoughts on Consumed by Evil –

Consumed by Evil is a killer follow-up to the first book in the series, building on the tension, terror, and twists that made the original unforgettable. It takes everything I loved about the first book and cranked it up to a whole new level. The stakes are higher, the characters more deeply tested, and the horror more relentless than ever before.

If you haven’t read it yet, brace yourselves—this one’s going to hit hard. Once you start, you won’t be able to look away until the very last page.

BOREAL: An Anthology of Taiga Horror by Katherine Silva

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

4.5

BOREAL: An Anthology of Taiga Horror edited by Katherine Silva is a collection of dark and mysterious tales filled with suspense. With all the intense loss and longing, there is also a thin line of quiet hope in some that leaves readers thinking all will be well before being crushed again moments later.

Content Warnings: For those that need it, the back of the book contains wonderful content warnings!

All of the unique takes on this term were so interesting! We had a bunch that were where my mind went; in the middle of nowhere in the woods. But there were so many others like being alone with a family burden that caught me totally off guard.

I can’t help it, I always hope for a happy ending. There wasn’t much of that here…

Per usual, here are my thoughts on each tale!

Introduction – 

A perfect intro! The last paragraph is just wonderful: Remember to keep a light with you at all times, tell a friend where you’ll be embarking. If you find yourself adrift in the verdant darkness, remember that you’re not alone. There’s always something lurking just beyond the light. 

Cabin Creatures by E.M. Roy – 

After the brutal deaths of the previous occupants, a cabin sits and waits for its revenge. 

I loved the format of this one and how it was focused on the cabin as a character. This tale was so cozy at the start, then we’re thrown right into the terror.

Every Mask, Another Cask by Akis Linardos – 

Visited by some unusual customers, this innkeeper is about to learn a new truth. 

I was so excited to see what character would walk in next! 

Gathering of the Dead by Vincent West – 

Warned to never go near the woods, girls in this town are told horrible tales of a monster that lives in the shadows. But this character doesn’t believe the tale. 

This took such a fun journey through this girl’s childhood before we jump to the present day. The description of everything when the main character goes into the woods had me SO on edge! 

Nightmare In The Kettle Park by Jon Gauthier – 

When a father and his six-year-old daughter go to take a walk in the woods, they continue on even though the park is closed for maintenance. They should have listened to the sign…

So many red flags! Oh my gosh, my anxiety was so high while reading this one! This just kept getting more and more intense! 

All Affairs Will Prosper by K.L. Massey – 

While on a meticulously researched trek, this character has her good luck charm with her; her camera. But while out there, she’s forced to do a lot of reflection. 

Such a dark tale focused on trauma and the nasty things your brain can do to you mixed in with elements that seemed a bit paranormal. I was so nervous to see where this journey was going. 

True North by Nicole Lynn – 

Living in seclusion with her father, this girl has gotten used to his stories and believes them until one day, one of their temporary guests changes things. 

My heart hurt for this poor kid. 

Cold White Teeth by J.R. Santos – 

Blinded by his determination to climb a mountain, this man pushes the few left by his side away. Alone and lacking everything needed for a successful summit, mountain madness begins to creep in. 

Oh, how I hated this character! But I also wanted to see him reach his goal. What a chilling tale! You’ll have goosebumps and look for a blanket while reading!

The Family Axe by Neil Williamson – 

Struggling with both wanting to believe their family lore and wishing it were all made up, these boys are about to see it in all its terrifying action. 

The tension here was so intense! I loved how the author makes you feel nervous and takes that feeling on quite the journey. 

Soft Fire by Marisca Pichette – 

Stuck constantly trying to rebuild a gingerbread house, this woman is out of options and desperately wants this to work. She has ghosts in the house that are constantly trying to go into the fire, but can she save them?

Oh, the descriptions of all the sweets here had my stomach growling so loud! But while there are many edible sweets, that’s where the sweetness ends. This tale did an amazing job of making me feel lonely just like the main character. 

The Bannik by Ren Graham – 

Desperately trying to avoid another beating, this young man tries to do what his father asks. But when a talking car approaches him, he learns there may be another way…

A quiet tale filled with dread of what may come, plus a lovely supernatural element! 

Hallowed Ground by J.S. Betula- 

While experiencing the spring in an isolated forest, this character hears an animal in distress and goes to see if they can help. 

This tale really took a dark plunge into the sadness of nature but added an eerie twist.

In The High Places by Ally Wilkes – 

While trekking through the snow and trees, these friends keep going from camp to camp. When one of the trailers begins to move with one of the friends in it, she’s pumped because she thinks it’s saving her a day’s walk… but of course, she’s wrong. 

Getting separated from a group scares me so much! This one gave me chills. 

Patrimony by Daphne Fauber – 

After the death of her father, this woman returns to a home she swore she’d never see again to take care of things once and for all.

This poor woman. My heart broke for her with the very last card she received. 

Roadside Cross by Brian Holm – 

As the new sheriff, she’s determined to figure out what the story is behind a roadside cross that she stumbles across one night after she has an encounter. The answers are closer than she thinks….

Ah, the grief horror here is potent. Even experiencing it through the main character who is speaking to the mother who lost her boy is so powerful. Ug,h my heart. 

Always Prepared by Jonah Buck – 

While out on an expedition, the geologist goes missing right before bad weather sets in. Then the team finds handprints that date back to a time that seems impossible…

Oh, this was eerie! I kept expecting the geologist to pop back into the story, but where this one went was wild! That ending too will give any reader chills. 

Waldeinsamkeit by Airic Fenn – 

After being slowly replaced with automation and other tech, this character is the last of the rangers that post up keeping an eye on the area. One day, she walks into the woods to find answers. 

The isolation with this one hit fast! How heartbreaking to think of replacement by tech like this. 

Desecrations by Brian Rowe – 

Paid to find missing people from a village, this character is determined to bring them back but knows the risks.

Love love love that ending! 

Practical Applications of Fungal Bioremediation by H.P. Patterson – 

When a journalist goes into the forest to interview two doctors who are studying fungi, they are uneasy with what they learn. Then things take a terrifying turn.

Stories like this freak me out so badly! At first, things sound okay but how quickly it gets truly scary and then dark was such a fun ride!

Rules For Seeking Angels by LB Waltz – 

The descriptions in this one, my gosh! So much vibrancy!

He Has Not Seen A Bird Before by SJ Townend – 

While wandering the woods of a future construction site, this man falls in love with a being that changes his life forever. 

Such a heartbreaking tale of death for the sake of “progress.” Oh my gosh, that last line! 

For The Forests Were Made Of Our Bones by Sarah Musnicky- 

While in the forest, this man struggles to remain hopeful when he is forced to watch man after man die. The only thing he can do is make sure they don’t die alone. 

This tale was so thick with grief that it felt like it could easily suffocate. 

A Clearing Near Vanavara by Kuzma Mac – 

While traveling back home, stories of their lives are told in bits. As they get nearer to their goal, things become more clear.

What a tale to end the collection with! Phew!

My Favorite Passages from BOREAL: An Anthology of Taiga Horror –

Remember to keep a light with you at all times, tell a friend where you’ll be embarking. If you find yourself adrift in the verdant darkness, remember that you’re not alone. There’s always something lurking just beyond the light.
— Introduction

A dark sea it was, and every lighthouse that tried guiding Kincaid away from dangerously close shores had instead the opposite effect. Lured as a moth to flame, Kincaid not only wanted the fire, but hungered for the light of conquest.
— Cold White Teeth by J.R. Santos

There’s something outside, she thinks. The oldest of human fears.
— In The High Places by Ally Wilkes

Fog rolled through the endless lines of conifers like muddy water through the gills of deep-sea fish. To Yulia’s eyes, it seemed like the trees ought to tear the fog apart, to shred it like claws through cloth. But the fog simply drifted onward, unperturbed and impenetrable.
— Always Prepared by Jonah Buck

I could return to Fairbanks and fly home, pretending that everything was fine—until it wasn’t. That was how so many horror movies started, wasn’t it? Someone in denial, ignoring danger.
— Practical Applications of Fungal Bioremediation by H.P. Patterson

My Final Thoughts on BOREAL: An Anthology of Taiga Horror –

Dark horror fans who aren’t afraid of some major isolation and creepiness, you gotta check this collection out!

Where the Daybreak Ends : Stories from Buzzard's Edge by Brennan LaFaro, Brennan LaFaro

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Where the Daybreak Ends: Stories from Buzzard’s Edge by Brennan LaFaro is a collection of tales so vivid, that you can practically taste the grit of the dust, feel the suffocating weight of the heat on your skin, and hear the eerie silence punctuated by the sharp, metallic scent of coppery blood lingering in the air.

To begin, you all know how obsessed I am with Brennan’s writing. Every single work so far has been a five-star read for me and I can never wait to get my hands on more!

That being said – I absolutely loved the format of this collection. The decision to have one overarching narrative interwoven with various short stories was a brilliant choice. The way these short stories and their timelines were scattered throughout added an exciting layer of unpredictability and as the short stories unfolded, you could feel the subtle buildup of something much bigger. It was almost like a puzzle, with each piece contributing to the overarching mystery, making the conclusion even more thrilling when it arrived. What a perfect blend of pacing and suspense!

Per usual, here are my notes on each tale included in this collection:

Pick a Card by Tyler Jones – 

What a lovely introduction!! I loved the story of the magic trick and how that was tied right into explaining a great story. And the note about this collection being a gift to readers who connected to Rory and Alice! With every compliment Tyler added, I found myself smiling bigger and bigger. Brennan is one of my favorite authors, and this intro has me so pumped to dive into these tales! 

This passage was just wonderful:

…the genre is a sandbox and LaFaro is not only playing in it, but assembling those dusty grains into complex structures that flirt with so many genres and sub-genres while remaining true to all the core elements you expect from stories that take place in the Old West, that these stories, in some ways, defy categorization.

The Reaping, Part I – 

While wandering the desert, this man thinks his eyes are tricking him when he sees the glimmer of water. But what he finds next is even more unexpected. 

My gosh, you can feel the desperate thirst while reading this one! I had to get a glass of water myself. 

They Only Come Out at Night –

While working to build a schoolhouse, Ned notices that they have visitors who come out at night but stand on the edge of town. Violet also learns of the beings but isn’t going to let them terrorize them… 

Just reading the title of this one, I was already on edge. With every evening that falls during the course of this tale, I got more and more nervous. 

The Reaping, Part II – 

Jumping back to Josiah Dennis and his new friends from the first tale, we get a glimpse of the town from his new perspective. Then he’s asked if he would like another tale…

This was such a cool addition! Hearing a story about the town and then stepping over the town line had a special intensity! 

Come and Take My Hand – 

What an awesome introduction to George and Merella! This brutal short story will have you ready to reach through the pages to help George fight back. This poor kid…

I LOVED that the father is never mentioned by name. Like he was so despicable that his name wasn’t important. But phew, revisiting this was just as brutal as my first read! Click here to check out my full review of this short.

The Reaping, Part III –

Ah, them telling Josiah this is just the beginning of a darker story! If anyone came into this collection not having read Brennan’s other works this would be such a fun dark note of what’s to come! 

Holes –

The Sheriff, Elijah “Hellfire” Sparrow made quite a name for himself when he became a lawman. But in his career, he couldn’t kill Noose when he tried to have him hung. Retiring to the outskirts, he’s happy with his bit of isolation. He’s got his dog and a woman who pops by every now and then to occupy his time. For the other time when his PTSD comes back to haunt him, he’s got his booze to distract and numb him. But one day he discovers a hole in his yard…

A terrifying tale of your past coming back to haunt you. This poor man certainly did some not-so-great things, but he did his job. I felt bad for him being so deeply haunted.

The Reaping, Part IV –

Oofh, the tension felt here with the mention of the leftover blood!

Where the Daybreak Ends –

When two men, Wes Bradley and Andrew Martin, set out, all they want to do is carve out a space for some peace and quiet to enjoy life together. But no matter how far they go, they’re hunted.

The cruelty here will make your blood boil. What a great setup to have this lead as a conversation and story told between Deputy Billy and Wes Bradley! But this poor man, Wes.

I am obsessed that this one links Slattery Falls and Noose. The mention of Weeks immediately gave me goosebumps, and the dialogue line that was about Noose and Marella was great! It was added in almost as an under-the-breath type of comment, but for readers that have read Noose, they’ll pinpoint it immediately!

The Reaping, Part V –

In this short, we see Josiah get a bit nervous about the area and the journey he’s on. 

Trade Secrets –

What a fun detective story! When Thaddeus Locke arrives in town, he begins to help the local law enforcement with a slew of brutal murders. They’re all shocked by the methods of the killing, and little do they know, the killer is closer than they think. This was short and sweet, with a fine dose of gore and murder. What a wild ride!

LOVED getting to see Sheriff John Harden in action here.

The Reaping, Part VI –

Transitioning perfectly from the last tale into this one, things get tense as Josiah is called out for not telling the full truth about what led him to Buzzards Edge. Oofh…

Salvia Sunset – 

Spotting a monster outside, Nola isn’t sure what exactly she saw. But when miners begin to go missing, she’s determined to find answers. 

I first read this one in The Horror Collection: Monster Edition! Another amazing character to get to know in this town. She certainly wasn’t afraid to try to take matters into her own hands! 

The Reaping, Part VII – 

Josiah is pushed to tell more of his story, breaking down he admits the terrible truth.

Ugh, one scene here is absolutely gut-wrenching. 

The Ice Man – 

When Rory and Alice begin to build a home for themselves, their plans get delayed when their friend Ruby is murdered. Per usual, these two have to solve the case before they can get back to their everyday. 

Gosh, it was so good to see these two in action again! The introduction of the sign language book was so much fun! 

The Reaping, Part VIII – 

Josiah finally learns what the two creatures were slowly gearing up to tell him…

When It’s All Said and Done – 

Sent to kill a man and take a special item from his shop, two men are forced to go back and search again when their first attempt doesn’t work out. The second attempt takes a turn… 

I was SO nervous for these two! 

The Reaping, Part IX –

After the last tale is told, the two who remain wait to see what’s to come…

Afterword –

I love it when authors give insight into their tales! This was such a fun wrap-up for the book! 

Lagniappe – Spokes in a Wheel

What a treat! Oh, the tales this quick short may open up! I can’t wait to see! 

My Favorite Passages from Where the Daybreak Ends: Stories from Buzzard’s Edge –

Silence lingered in the air as the sun ducked behind the horizon.
— They Only Come Out at Night

Ned’s stomach dropped so hard and fast, he was afraid it might slap against something inside him and burst.
— They Only Come Out at Night

Something about the little tunnel to nowhere made the hair on his neck prickle. He couldn’t nail down that exactly, but the hole seemed too dark for daytime.
— Holes

He couldn’t be sure, but it sounded as though every hole spoke. A variety of timbres, combined to create a symphony of the damned. High, low, loud, soft, and every imaginable interval between, chattered in a ghastly unison that forced the hair on his arms to stand at attention.
— Holes

It struck me that I could scream at the top of my lungs, and it likely wouldn’t reach a soul, a truth that simultaneously thrilled and terrified me.
— Where the Daybreak Ends

“We seen some things ‘round here, that’s for sure. A witch, a man that bullets and nooses couldn’t touch, but what you’re describing?” Billy shuddered.
— Where the Daybreak Ends

When the sun starts to shake hands with the tops of the buildings on the western edge of town, that’s when I usually close up shop.
— Salvia Sunset

I swear the shot moved so slow I watched it carve through the thick afternoon air, politely excusing itself before cracking the surface of the Gila monster’s eye.
— Salvia Sunset

My Final Thoughts on Where the Daybreak Ends: Stories from Buzzard’s Edge –

I was totally captivated by each and every tale here. When I finished reading, I was so sad that it was over. Now, to patiently wait until I can return to this dusty town yet again!

The Horror Collection: Morte Edition by Kevin J. Kennedy

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.5

The Horror Collection: Morte Edition presented by KJK Publishing is another incredible anthology! I had an amazing time reading through it, but five particular stories really stood out to me.

My favorite tales include:

• The Double Date by D.W. Hitz
• My Neighbour Tom by Elizabeth J. Brown
• Thresholds by JP Behrens
• The Pennyroyal Dossier by Dexter McLeod
• Come Outside by James Kaine

Foreword –

As always, a killer foreword to kickstart this collection! I cannot believe that is the 21st addition to this incredible collection! 

Turkey Teeth by Harrison Phillips – 

A tale about the price people pay to be “beautiful” but of course, in this case, that price is steeper than normal. 

Not a fan of the focus on weight here, but phew what a turn this one took! I was so nervous to see where things would go as we quickly approached the ending. 

I’m Still Here by Brian Moreland – 

When a trooper just wants a greasy burger and fries, she’s shocked to see what has occurred in her favorite diner. 

The tension in this one! At every little turn, I expected a jump scare! Ugh, that ending…

Bachelorette Party Bloodbath by Jason Nickey – 

Trying desperately to get to a bachelorette party for a woman she doesn’t even like, this character gets not one, but two flat tires. Meanwhile, the party goes on… but of course, the games aren’t fun. 

Phew, the body horror here! Brutal! 

Survival by Veronica Smith – 

When car trouble leads to a terrible accident, this young woman is forced to try to survive the night. 

My goodness, there’s so much darkness in this one! Every turn got worse and worse! This poor woman. 

Thin Air by Christina Bergling – 

Planning a climb before anyone else arrives on the trail, one man is irritated when a guy he dislikes is the only one to show. But as the climb goes on, things get more intense. 

I went on a climb that forever changed the way I think about things like this, so this one really got under my skin! The way this was written makes me question everything! I have so many questions! Ah! what a tale! 

Haunted by “Macho Man” Randy Savage by Steve Stred – 

When this reporter finally gets his own place, he’s so pumped! But then he finds that he is being haunted and he has no idea why. 

Oh, this was so fun! 

The Double Date by D.W. Hitz –

When receiving a certificate in the mail to a restaurant that is only valid that evening, four teens make the trip through a snowstorm. 

Soooooo many red flags! Ugh the lack of situational awareness of teens is always a fun trope to see in horror. What a brutal and terrifying slasher with a killer ending! 

Blood in Bloom by Nick Roberts and Ju Collins –

When adrenaline seekers begin a rafting trip, one has cold feet but it’s too late to turn back. While on the river, their guide tells them a spooky story. They shrug it off until the worst happens while rafting and they are left on the wrong side of the river. 

I’ve only been white water rafting once when I was a teenager and while I had a blast, it was also terrifying. I was already anxious when the story began, and that only got worse as we went along. But like their guide said, the things on land were more terrifying than the water. 

I See You by Lucretia Stanhope – 

Going to see a doctor, the visit is off to a rough start. The more time passes, the more unhinged things become!

THIS WAS WILD! I love that this tale made me question what was read and what was potentially just in her mind. And that ENDING.

My Neighbour Tom by Elizabeth J. Brown –

This woman knows something is off the minute she and her boyfriend meet their new neighbor. Every worry she has is brushed aside by everyone around her. But should they have listened?

When I say this one stressed me out… I cannot tell you how tight my chest felt. Each thing that happened was such a red flag but the author makes you question it all just like the main character does. Ugh! I hated every single second of this(in a good way)! This poor woman. 

Itsy Bitsy by Devin Cabrera – 

Moving into a bit of a fixer-upper, this couples first mission is to remove all the cobwebs and spiders. They think they’ve done a good job, but soon after, they wake up to find their house covered in spiders again! 

Ugh. I should have known from the title this has a spider element. The very first scene of cleaning up the webs got me. Of course, it only got worse from there!

The Corn Keeps Pace by Leigh Kenny – 

Undeterred by the urban legend of the Corn Creeper, these teens break into an old barn to explore mazes left in bales of hay. 

The claustrophobia this one induces. Yikes! And that ending… 

Running on Empty by MJ Mars – 

Running a community race to raise awareness and strive for justice for a murdered young man, things seem to be going well, but then lap three begins. 

This one had me cringing so much! Oh my gosh, the description of the injuries was wild. And that ending!! 

One Last Entry by Shaun Hutson – 

When getting the mail, this man finds a package has been delivered to his box by mistake. While he waits to give it to his neighbor, his curiosity gets the better of him, and he takes a look at what it is. 

Such a spooky tale with the whole curiosity killed the cat focus! 

Black Eyed by Callum Pearce – 

Desperate for answers to anything, this man listens and watches a video that promises a paranormal experience to anyone who views it. When he hears kids outside, he goes to check it out. Little does he know, the video has already worked. 

So dark and unsettling! This poor man.

Thresholds by JP Behrens – 

When her children come inside tracking dirt and bits of mushroom, this mother questions what happened. When they tell her they danced through a circle of mushrooms, she is immediately on alert. 

I was SO nervous to see what was to come here. My gosh, this woman was brave. I can’t believe how she was able to keep her cool and focus on safety and her kids in the most terrifying times.

The Pennyroyal Dossier by Dexter McLeod – 

Told in bits of different formats such as a 911 call, journal entries, text messages, and more, we get a small glimpse into a very odd occurrence that had a devastating impact.

And my gosh, with each new entry, this got more and more chilling! 

Neonatal by Matthew A. Clarke – 

As I’m sure you can assume from this title, I had to skip this one. 

Come Outside by James Kaine – 

Seeing a woman standing outside, this man goes to help but she’s gone. But she’s not gone long and soon she’s asking for them to come outside… 

NO! Agh!!! What a tale to end with! Ugh, this was brutal. My chest hurt after reading this one. Killer It Follows vibes with much more terror. 

Afterword – 

A perfect little afterword to calm my nerves after that last tale! 

My Favorite Passages from The Horror Collection: Morte Edition –

The towering pines thinned, fewer of them brave enough to claim the slope. With each step, light seized more of the sky. The panorama of surrounding peaks revealed themselves, tucking the sun from view just a little longer.
— Thin Air by Christina Bergling

There was no hole in the trees where they had turned in. It was like the house had been picked up with them inside and set down in the middle of a forest.
— The Double Date by D.W. Hitz

Grimaldi’s head tilted inhumanly to the side, his neck bending just a touch too far, like a marionette waiting for the strings to be yanked.
— I See You by Lucretia Stanhope

The barn stood in gleaming resplendence as the final shafts of golden light from a dying sun painted it in shades of gold. It was almost beautiful. A stranger passing by would stop to admire it, never knowing of the horrors which had taken place within its confines that day.
— The Corn Keeps Pace by Leigh Kenny

My Final Thoughts on The Horror Collection: Morte Edition –

My gosh, this was a wild collection! Each tale was so unique and so darkly fun. The five favorites I pulled out have been sticking with me for weeks now, coming up at least once a day when something random reminds me of them.

Horror fans, you gotta pick up this collection!

Christmas Eve Carnage 2: Sprinkles Lives by John Lynch

challenging dark tense fast-paced

3.5

Christmas Eve Carnage 2: Sprinkles Lives by John Lynch is a tale where the carnage leaves this book with blood pooled in the margins and dripping from the pages.

A trucker driving along a snowy route hears a horrible news report of a family that was murdered. The next thing he knows, he’s been in an accident. When he sees how the other car ended up, he can’t believe what he’s seeing… he meets Sprinkles, the living Christmas elf, who is on a mission to take out the only survivor of his Christmas Eve Massacre.

Right away, readers are met with some terrible bloodshed that only gets worse as you go on. 

The first scene of carnage and the Christmas song that sprinkles sings…. My goodness. What a scene! 

Prepare your buttholes for this one…. There were scenes I had to skim-read! 

My Favorite Passages from Christmas Eve Carnage 2: Sprinkles Lives –

He pressed <PLAY> and his portable speaker came to life; Taylor Swift was singing about a Christmas tree farm. While it might not have the history of many Christmas songs, he considered it to be a modern classic.

A green blur was trudging through the snow, headed straight for him. The thing approached, and when at last it was close enough to be recognizable through his impaired vision, his first thought was that he must be losing his fucking mind. It was an elf. 

A fucking Christmas elf. Knee-high, green tunic, the damn thing even had the hat to top it off. It maneuvered through the snow, humming a Christmas tune.

You couldn’t choose the pieces on your chessboard, but you had agency over the moves you made with the ones you did have.

My Final Thoughts on Christmas Eve Carnage 2: Sprinkles Lives –

My goodness, this was a brutal read. I didn’t think it could get more intense after the first book. I was very, very wrong. Horror fans, you’re in for a treat!

Christmas Eve Carnage by John Lynch

dark tense medium-paced

4.5

Christmas Eve Carnage by John Lynch is a tale of dampened holiday cheer, the thick presence of loss, and well, all-out carnage.

With Christmas quickly approaching, one family still reeling from the loss of their mother is gearing up for a tough holiday. When the youngest finds a creepy elf named Sprinkles in the attic, she is quickly attached to it even when the rest of the family tells her to put it away… Little does this family know the horrors they are about to face. 

Oh my gosh, this poor family! They had already been through some horrible events… now this? My heart broke for them over and over again while reading. These characters jump right off the page though! I quickly reacted to things they were doing like they were my own family! 

Written in chapters of varying perspectives I have to say that I’m obsessed with the organization of this story! I loved learning about each character and following them until they all eventually crossed paths. I may have missed some hints, but there were a couple “OHHH!” moments for me when things started clicking together. 

So from the title you know there’s a lot of bloodshed here. The body horror is brutal and so descriptive. Not only are you going to picture the scenes, but you’re gonna practically be able to hear them too. One particular crunch has been haunting me… 

This is a killer horror novel that really brings the terror to the holidays!

My Favorite Passages from Christmas Eve Carnage – 

Ah, I marked so many passages but every single one was a spoiler! Readers… you’re gonna love so much of the brutal descriptions here. 

My Final Thoughts on Christmas Eve Carnage – 

Ah man, I picked this up from John while at the Merrimack Valley Book Fest this year, and even though I still owe him a couple of reviews, I just couldn’t wait to dive into this during the holiday season. As my first holiday read, it certainly set things off on a wild tone! I had such a blast reading the terror inside these pages. I can’t get one of the final scenes out of my head! 

Fear of Clowns A Horror Anthology: Coulrophobia Stories by Fiction › General

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Fear of Clowns A Horror Anthology: Coulrophobia Stories edited by Kenneth W. Cain is a spine-chilling compilation of some of the most terrifying clown stories I’ve ever encountered.

You may think you know clown horror… but you have no idea how wild the horrors can get until you dive into this collection. Good luck! 🙂

My favorites from this collection include: 

• Mr. Tasty Crinkle by Craig E. Sawyer
• The Fears Of A Clown by Bev Vincent
• Giggles In The Glitch by Dex Bryant
• A Ticket To The Funhouse by Gwendolyn Kiste
• The Gift by Lisa Kröger 

Per usual, here are my notes on each tale!

The Hollow Ones Weep Greasepaint by Hailey Piper – 

The clowns that had once brought laughter have transformed into receptacles for humanity’s emotional garbage. But be careful not to care about them! And definitely don’t cry for a clown… 

All of the anger, hurt, and hate being thrown at these clowns is devastating to read. The scenes with parents coaching kids to continue to be hateful were especially difficult to read. 

Quit Clowning Around by Clay McLeod Chapman  – 

While commuting, this character has a strange encounter with an old woman. The next day it happens again with another person. But what is going on? 

Oh this was wildly unsettling! The elements of the commute alone is enough to set anyone off, but the smiling… and that ending!!

Mr. Tasty Crinkle by Craig E. Sawyer –

Set up in a Reddit thread format, a group of people try to recall a spooky children’s cereal. As they reminisce, things get darker and darker… 

This story gave me chills! When I was younger, I was so interested in urban legends and trying to find out where they stemmed from. This one took that darkness to a whole new level! 

Dots The Magic Clown by Adam Cesare – 

A man desperate for book sales has a plan. 

In classic Adam Cesar fashion, there’s a lot of brutal bloodshed here! This tale would make me nervous to ever attend a book event with Adam! Haha 

Clown Heads by Em Starr – 

While working with a carnival, everyone knows there’s something wrong with number 9… 

Carnival horror is one of my favorite sub-genres. This one had so much dread infused in it! 

The Fears Of A Clown by Bev Vincent – 

Set up in a monologue where a clown is speaking to a therapist, the clown discusses his struggles as well as the fear of clowns.

This was so darkly fun! Ugh, the line about people being nasty though… if only people could just be kind! 

Jollification by Mel Reynes – 

After an incident, this crew is forced to perform a quick autopsy on their crewmate to determine what happened and whether it was contagious.

This one got WILD so fast! My goodness! I was so nervous about seeing the next carnival treat that would be mentioned. 

The Circus Inside You by Tim Waggoner – 

When a road rage incident forces this character into flashbacks from childhood, each scene gets more and more brutal. 

This poor guy… my goodness. From the event in childhood to the stressors of the current day, he needed something good to happen. 

Pop by Jonathan Lees – 

Haunted by a clown around every corner, this man cannot get away from the terror. 

The dread in this one is intense! 

Giggles In The Glitch by Dex Bryant – 

Determined to find a VHS tape, this woman is looking to return to something… 

My gosh, when you find out what she was trying to relive and prove herself was real is horrific. 

The Drolls by Jonathan Janz –

A cynical man doesn’t want to be attending an event for his son’s birthday. Letting his wife know about some childhood trauma doesn’t help the situation. Things only get darker as the day goes on.

My gosh, this main character is so easy to dislike! And phew, that ending! 

Scribble Face by S.B. Caves – 

When an email is sent reporting a stranger had gotten onto school property, one mom asks her son about it and is immediately thrown back into a scene from her childhood.

This one was so dark and brutal! That ending had me holding my breath and I’m so very grateful for the details that were left out! 

Grease Paint and Monkey Brains by Duncan Ralston – 

After a bit of road rage, this character finds themselves in clown country. 

A quick tale of tension and running toward who you are.

Serial Clown by Rutger Middelburg – 

A homicide detective on a case of a serial clown killer is about to get a break in the case, but it’s nothing he would have ever suspected. 

Oh, this got so eerie! What a spooky premise! 

No One Wants To Go To Happy Land by Douglas Ford – 

Obsessed with a clown, even after he kidnaps her, this woman just can’t let that love go. 

How nonchalant this character was at every stage of this tale was so unsettling. 

Fear Of Boys by Carissa Ann Lynch – 

Falling head over heels for a boy, this girl has plans for their anniversary…

The end of this! Oh my gosh. 

A Ticket To The Funhouse by Gwendolyn Kiste – 

When a carnival comes to town, this woman is drawn to it but she is also hesitant after a scare from childhood left her with questions. 

This poor woman! I was rooting for her right from the start! 

Cypress Circus by Red Lagoe – 

Taking a fishing trip on a bit of an odd day, this man has one goal, and it’s not to clear his head. 

The description in this one! Oh my gosh, from the waters to the roots of the trees, this was so powerful. It forces readers to be right in the moment with the character. 

All Smiles Under The Big Top by Bitter Karella – 

A woman with a fixation on different types of clowns has one mission for the night and she won’t let anything get in her way. 

Oh god, that last bit broke me. That poor kid. I hate that ending so much, ugh my heart. 

The Penthouse Suite At The Plague Pit Hotel by A.C. Wise – 

When telling secret histories, this couple keeps trying to one-up each other and ends up in the tunnels below the building. And of course, something happens in the tunnels. 

This was so eerie! The tension built is intense!

The Gift by Lisa Kröger – 

Receiving unwanted gift after gift from someone she was trying to avoid, she receives a clown doll in the mail that really spooks her. No matter what she does, she can’t get rid of it. 

This is a tale straight from my nightmares. I had a terrible nightmare once about a doll and the next day gave every single one of them to my Nana. This tale had such a similar vibe it left me with the chills. 

Anymore Is A Long Time by Thomas Tessier – 

Finally leaving someone who clearly didn’t care for him, this man thinks he’s just on a trip to start over. But then things get tense. 

Oh my gosh, the jumps between scenes made this one extra tense! 

The Grim Chameleon Apparatus by Michael A. Reed – 

Receiving a punishment each night, this teen is stepped to his bed with a contraption that hovers above him. For a full eight hours, he’s stuck with the torture. 

Punishment of kids is so difficult for me to read. I wanted to jump into this scene and help the poor kid. 

The Funhouse by V. Castro – 

Taking a turn off the highway for some fun, this man gets into a sticky situation. 

All the red flags here, but this man was so darn determined to have a good time!

Bobo by Hunter Shea – 

Reeling from the loss of their son, the mother begins to see the boy again. But is he really there or is it a side effect of her medication? 

I surprised myself by reading this one! Any horror kid-related has become a no-go for me, but man can Hunter Shea write!! This was absolutely gut-wrenching, and that ending!! 

A Very Special Boy by Daniel Willcocks – 

While in hospice this special boy finds a friend. 

Oofh. Two gut-wrenching child tales back to back. This one hurt. 

Ordinary People by Rachel Harrison – 

Moving into a house with a dark past, this woman is determined to prove to her husband that everything will be fine. But when they move in, she realizes she was wrong. 

Another gut punch of a tale. Your heart will break over this situation. 

The Old College by Aaron Beauregard – 

This tale came with a trigger warning. Since the others with the same topic didn’t, I’m assuming this one is much more brutal. I skipped this one but I’m sure it was great! I appreciate the warning very very much! 

The Last Laugh by Graham Masterton & Late Mogielska – 

When her husband begins to say he’s being followed by a clown, this woman chalks his tales up to his alcohol problem. But things get more and more intense from there…

Ah, I love stories that give you a rational explanation right along with another bit of information that makes you keep thinking, well what if? This was brutal and terrifying! 

Afterwords & Acknowledgements by Kevin Kangas – 

I love learning about why an anthology was created! This was a wonderful wrap-up!

My Favorite Passages from Fear of Clowns A Horror Anthology: Coulrophobia Stories –

I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to his lips, like that smile could’ve gone wider, if he wanted.
— Quit Clowning Around by Clay McLeod Chapman

It’s amazing how fast one can run when death slows down to stare at you.
— Pop by Jonathan Lees

He whips around. Nothing. Because he’s just paranoid, or because the thing hunting him isn’t human, hasn’t been for a long time. It lives in the dead spot in his peripheral vision that he’ll never be quick enough to turn around and see.
— The Penthouse Suite At The Plague Pit Hotel by A.C. Wise

I knelt on the floor in a circle of clowns-of clues, of gifts-and I lit the candle, and I thought about how people are afraid of clowns. But Sarah was right-their only job is to make people smile, laugh. That’s why they exist. It’s the rest of us…we are terrifying. We’re the ones capable of unspeakable horrors.
It’s the ordinary people. The ones so hard to spot.
We taint the good and joyful because we’re undeserving. Because we’re evil.
— Ordinary People by Rachel Harrison

My Final Thoughts on Fear of Clowns A Horror Anthology: Coulrophobia Stories –

If you weren’t afraid of clowns before… you will be after reading this!

Stars shining darkly by Mercedes M. Yardley

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

Stars Shining Darkly by Mercedes M. Yardley is a gripping story of terror, violence, and the unbreakable bonds of blood, enduring through even the darkest circumstances.

Content Warning: Sexual assault.

After witnessing the brutal slaying of their parents, this child is forced to remain on the ship and pretend like they hadn’t witnessed the brutality from the crew. Determined to get revenge one day, they end up getting a little help from the unexpected.

Wow, this one dives straight into the horror! I almost put it down after the first few pages, but I’m so glad I stuck with it. I couldn’t resist following the character’s journey. The path turned out to be far more surprising than I expected, and I loved how the author guided us to such a satisfying conclusion.

My Favorite Passages from Stars Shining Darkly –

One day we were sailing somewhere new and ominous. Even the stars shown darkly. The ship creaked and rocked side-to-side while we watched off the bow. 

I didn’t know a man could go so pale and still be alive. The only color in his face was his rum blossom nose. 

Fire raced along the wood, taking great mouthfuls of anything that would burn. 

My Final Thoughts on Stars Shining Darkly –

Horror fans, if this isn’t on your radar, it should be! This was such a dark and fun read. Who doesn’t love a tale of revenge?!

Red Sky Morning by Jessica Raney

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.0

Red Sky Morning by Jessica Raney is a tale of the seas and a desperate hunger that one being will do anything to satiate.

Grieving over being dismissed by his love’s father when asking for her hand, this man has no job and nothing left to lose. Signing up for work aboard a ship that looks shockingly new, he tries to push the red flags away as they set sail.

Let’s just say, that in today’s edition of what-in-the-world-did-I-just-read… This was a journey! I mean, my goodness, this took such a wild turn!

The description of the red filth… *shudders*

My Favorite Passage from Red Sky Morning –

On land he never seems to find his footing but on a deck, he felt grounded and part of the ship. 

My Final Thoughts on Red Sky Morning –

Horror fans who enjoy quick punches of terror sprinkled with a little sexual content will love this one!