ericarobyn's reviews
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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.

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!

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. 

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.

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! 

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! 

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! 

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. 

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. 

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!

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. 

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. 

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! 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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! 

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!

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

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! 

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. 

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!

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

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 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:

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:

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. 

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. 

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! 

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.

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! 

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.

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

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!

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

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.

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…

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! 

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

Ugh, one scene here is absolutely gut-wrenching. 

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! 

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

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! 

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! 

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

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

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 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:

Foreword –

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

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. 

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…

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! 

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. 

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! 

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! 

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! 

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. 

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.

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. 

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!

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 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!! 

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! 

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.

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.

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! 

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

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. 

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

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 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 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! 

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 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 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!

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. 

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 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: 

Per usual, here are my notes on each tale!

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. 

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!!

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! 

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 

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! 

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! 

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. 

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. 

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

The dread in this one is intense! 

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. 

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! 

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! 

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

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

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! 

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. 

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

The end of this! Oh my gosh. 

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! 

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. 

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. 

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!

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. 

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! 

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. 

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!

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!! 

While in hospice this special boy finds a friend. 

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

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. 

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! 

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! 

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

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

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

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.

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.

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. 

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 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*

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

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

The Horror Collection: Splatterpunk Dreams presented by KJK Publishing is one of those books that comes along and challenges the limits of what I think I can stomach. This splatterpunk nightmare certainly pushed my personal boundaries and let me tell you, there were moments I found myself skimming through some of the really extreme parts. Despite the madness, I couldn’t put it down!

There’s such an awesome range here, but a range that goes far past my stopping point! The “worst” (for me) was saved for last! The last four in a row I had to skip or skim. Absolute all-out brutality! 

My favorite tales:

Kicking things off with an explanation of the term splatterpunk, readers will either be nervous or pumped to dive in! I loved this passage: These stories are a little bit of madness, brought to you by some of the best horror authors working in the industry, today, that wanted to show off their love for splatterpunk.

Walter With an Axe by Steve Stred – 

While watching a film one night, this young man’s evening takes quite a turn when he hears something outside. 

I love it when stories have stories within them! Seeing what was happening in the movie this character was watching g was wild! And oh my gosh, that ending! I wanted to scream at this character! 

While locked up, this woman has taken a vow of silence. But when her past comes back and tries to take advantage of that, we all learn why this woman was there in the first place.

Phew, the sudden shift was intense! 

Crazy Horse by David Owain Hughes – 

After catching her man cheating, this woman finds herself desperate for a shop. While there, she’s given the chance to play a game. With nothing to lose, she takes part… 

Oh my gosh, the situations she gets into here are WILD! I was so nervous to see what was going to come next! This had so many horror elements included. Phew! 

Easy Money by  P.J. Blakey-Novis –

Always on the search for random things that will pay easy money, this character signs up for some kind of horror experience. Little do they know, this experience is about to test how far they would go for money. 

Oh my gosh, this was terrifying! The action starts so quickly and it just keeps getting more and more brutal! What a tale! I was so nervous to see what would come next!

Death By Pumpkin by Jason Nickey – 

After being killed by a pumpkin, this young man is shown flashes of what he is to do next. 

This poor kid! The second you read about the pumpkin, the dread kicks in and things get darker from there. 

Sent out to do a task to please their mother, these two men try to come back with something special. 

The body horror here was intense! And ugh that ending made me feel so sick. 

This man gets paid by storing corpses on his property. But this day, he’s given something that throws off his routine. 

Oh, so many elements here made me so uncomfortable while reading! Sensitive readers, proceed with caution on this one! 

Hard Headed by Kevin J. Kennedy – 

Not shy when it comes to fighting back, this man is approached one day to be asked to join an underground fighting league. With the payday that came with each fight, he couldn’t turn the work down. But what he finds surprises him.

This was so much fun! I loved the little twist that comes once he gets fighting! And that ending… 

Seeing an interesting piece of tech in a commercial, this woman decides to give it a shot. But it is way better than she was anticipating. 

The body horror here, my gosh! 

When the body count along I-90 piles up, one trucker refuses to step away when the killer goes after one of her chosen family members. 

This was terrifying! This entire story from start to finish has a thick sense of dread that will leave readers antsy to see what’s to come while also absolutely not wanting to see what could be around the next bend. 

Oofh, I couldn’t read this one! I tried, but it was too much for me! 

After being pushed over the edge, this character is ready for revenge. 

Oh… my… gosh. Brutal. By far one of the most graphic things I’ve read. 

Not one for me! 

When vigilantes take matters into their own hands when it comes to the worst of the worst, one cop can’t condone the behavior… He openly approves of it.

Good god, this was another that I had to skim. Too much for me!

The darkest hours of night were the only witness to the small van pulled onto the shoulder; rear doors opened wide as the bulky form of a man heaved a bundle from the back.
– Hell on the Highway by Candace Nola

Splatterpunk Dreams is a blood-soaked rollercoaster of horror that may just push readers to their limits, but if you’re willing to hang on, it’ll take you places few books dare to go! And honestly, as horror fans, would we have it any other way?

From the very first page of A Flock of Crows: And Other Short Stories by Devin Cabrera, you’ll find yourself immersed in stories that begin with the comforting familiarity of everyday life, only to veer into the dark, unsettling unknown. Whether you’re a fan of psychological suspense or grotesque terror, this collection has it all. So, buckle up — you’re about to take a thrilling, unpredictable ride through the many faces of fear.

The eerie shift from the ordinary to the horrifying is what makes this anthology fun! There’s also a great variety of horror. Each story offers something different: sci-fi horror, creature features, suspense, apocalyptic horror, supernatural horror, slasher, body horror, holiday horror, and more!

There were a few inconsistencies within some of the stories, such as being told they were the only guests in a hotel when they weren’t, a kid not being able to stand on his ankle but then being able to run just fine, being in footie pajamas but then being in a shirt, citing several gunshots but from a gun a seemingly with space for two rounds. But these instances didn’t cause any ripple effects that were too bothersome.

My favorite tales include: 

Per usual, here are my thoughts on each! 

After winning a stay at a fancy hotel, this couple can’t wait to get away for a bit. When they learn where they will be staying, they’re nervous but keep telling themselves that nothing will go wrong…

My goodness, the claustrophobia this one induces just thinking about the setting is wild! This poor couple! 

Warned not to go into the swamp at night, this boy has no choice when his dog runs off one night. 

I was so nervous for the dog! 

When giant clowns awaken and take over, the surviving humans must find ways to get by. But the clowns are the worst things to fear in this new world… 

Showing both the best and worst of humanity in this terror-filled tale! 

When renting a boat, the owner has just one rule: get back to shore before sunset. Of course, these renters don’t heed the warning. 

When the action starts here, it all plays out so quickly! 

Surviving and coming together totally by chance, these two ride out the end of the world together for a while. One day, their radio goes off, announcing a safe place. Will they make the journey though and what awaits them there? 

This one was so fun! I loved how nonchalant these two were the whole time. 

When a kid hears the ice cream truck at three am, he has to go investigate. Meeting something of nightmare, this poor kid quickly realizes he should have stayed in bed. 

This one was so unsettling! The description of the ice cream man’s hands on the cone made me feel nauseous.

Trying to make enough money to keep himself fed, this toymaker has an unfortunate run-in with a knight. Little does the knight know, he’s messed with the wrong toymaker. 

The darkness in this one was so fun!

While on vacation, these two immediately go for a swim. When diving underwater, only one comes back up.  

Oh my gosh, the scene of the floorboard creaking and what happens immediately afterward! That scene got me!

After year after year of seeing kids act up and do nothing after receiving coal for Christmas, Santa is fed up…

The immediate terror this one brings into play was wild! This poor family! 

Thinking they’re being clever and egging a kids’ house, this group soon learns of their grave mistake. Fleeing into the cornfield, they think they will be safe, but the terror is just beginning. 

I read this one while rocking my kiddo back to sleep very late one night and of course, our heat clicked on and the way I jumped! I was convinced the scarecrow was right outside. 

The traffic created by the panic allowed for easy pickings, and the clown moved from car to car, checking them for people like a boy searching under rocks for lizards.
— The Clowns Walk Among Us

The waves crashed against the shore, and I struggled to listen over them. Everything that had seemed so quiet a moment before now seemed so loud.
— There’s Something Inside Me

As far as he knew, scarecrows weren’t supposed to walk on their own. Even worse than that, this one was wearing the face of the farmer on the ground, his skin tucked into the scarecrow’s own leathery face.
— A Flock of Crows

How could he kill something that wasn’t supposed to be alive in the first place?
— A Flock of Crows

Horror fans, you’re going to have a blast with these tales! There’s something for everyone here and the author’s writing style makes it so easy to fall right into each story.