The Darkest Night: 22 Winter Horror Stories - Edited by Lindy Ryan

 

From some of the biggest names in horror comes an Advent calendar of short stories perfect for the darkest nights of the year. Edited by award-winning author and anthologist Lindy Ryan, this horrific anthology will chill you to the bone. From New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box Josh Malerman, a story of a dark Christmas past in “Children Aren’t The Only Ones Who Know Where the Presents Are Hidden.” From national bestselling author Rachel Harrison, “Thaw,” in which a couple spends their first Christmas together in a cabin—but are they alone, or does something else watch them from the tree line? New York Times bestselling authors, Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon’s “Wintry Blue” sets an innocent child on the road with a strange and monstrous creature. Bram Stoker Award®-winning screenwriter of Netflix’s Haunting of Bly Manor and The Fall of the House of Usher, in Jamie Flanagan’s “Bruiser,” something sinister stalks the chilling hallways of a nursing home at night. Author of Such a Pretty Smile, Kristi DeMeester, tells a tale of “Eggnog” a Christmas party, an over-friendly female coworker, and an angry wife are the recipe for a deadly cocktail party. Plus stories by Nat Cassidy, Darcy Coates, Clay McLeod Chapman, Tim Waggoner, and many more, with an introduction by George C. Romero and art by renowned British horror artist Mister Sam Shearon.

These 22 wintery horror stories are a great way to wave goodbye to the heat of summer and kick off the start of spooky season.

I enjoyed the thrills, chills and a bit of dark humor. 

A girl seeks out the help of a witch to heal her brother's failing heart.

A teenager on the cusp of adulthood learns that his final childhood gift from Santa will be a lump of coal. Is there time to get on the nice list before Christmas Eve is over? His attempts are gruesome and hilarious.

A very good boy learns from an elf that working conditions are unbearable at the North Pole. It would be so much easier at Santa's workshop if the naughty list was longer. Of course any good child would want to help make that happen, with bloody and horrific results.

An exhausted new mother is made to feel like a frumpy house frau by the office flirt at her husband's work party. Revenge is not a dish served cold, but a festive glass of Christmas cheer.

A woman who blames herself for a Christmas tragedy gets a chance for a do-over.

A romantic weekend in a cozy cabin complete with festive decorations and a snowman in the yard doesn't go quite as planned as a woman starts to notice some traits of toxic masculinity... and hey is that snowman coming closer?

A good Samaritan stops his car on an icy mountain road to help an injured woman, and puts himself and his daughter at risk. 

An empty box mysteriously appears on the porch and there is no way to be rid of it until it gets what it wants.

The Darkest Night is 322 pages of delightfully deadly fun.

5 out of 5 stars

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books

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Nightmare Abbey 6 Edited by Tom English

6th mammoth volume of this critically-acclaimed horror magazine/book.

FEAR THE UNKNOWN!

ALL NEW STORIES and ARTICLES

11 terrifying tales by today's top writers

New Ian Rogers' Black Lands story

History of American Horror Comics, Part 3

Cinema Crypt movie review: Night of the Demon aka Curse of the Demon

Matt Cowan's Horror Delve: High Seas Horrors

Heavily illustrated with movie and comics photos,

Plus art by World Fantasy Award-winner Allen Koszowski.

Plus, the horrible fate of Dear Abbey since the last issue!

When volume one of Nightmare Abbey was published I remember saying that I hoped it was the first of many. I still feel that same level of enthusiasm after reading volume six. Nightmare Abbey consistently delivers top-notch horror fiction, entertaining articles, and amazing artwork.

This installment continues the history of American horror comics, and also has some great photos from one of my all time favorite classic horror movies, Night of the Demon.

A few of my favorite stories in this volume were And On That Farm by Ray Cluley in which a little girl proclaims to her step-brother that there's a monster in the barn. Nobody believes her at first but could it be true? And is there more than one kind of monster? 

Black Square by Gary McMahon combines grief with terror when a child disappears under mysterious circumstances and her parents learn of similar disappearances that occurred after the victims had viewed a video from an unknown sender.

A young woman is desperate to abandon the drudgery of motherhood and everyday life for a chance at a modeling career in X For Jennifer Ann by Steve Duffy. 

Report Of Animals by Helen Grant is a harrowing tale of bickering friends on a road trip gone wrong. Why are the streets so deserted?  Is a car enough protection from what they will encounter in their travels?

 And My Burden Is Light by David Surface finds the new pastor feeling unwelcome by his congregation. His wish for a way to ingratiate himself comes true at a terrible cost.

The Stroll by Steve Rasnic Tem is sad, scary, upsetting, and has me wondering how I can be so freaked out by the thought of taking a walk in my own neighborhood.

Highly recommended to all fans of horror, dark fiction, and tales that run towards the unhappily ever after.

My thanks to Dead Letter Press.

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Fears: Tales of Psychological Horror Edited by Ellen Datlow

 

Bestselling horror editor Ellen Datlow (Body Shocks) returns with her most eclectic anthology. Here are twenty-one stories of extreme psychological dread from horror icons such as Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen Graham Jones, Priya Sharma, Simon Bestwick, and more. The unsettling tales explore the nature of fear as it stirs in dysfunctional families, toxic friendships, and mismatched lovers, and culminates in relentless stalkers, remorseless killers, and perpetrators of savage rituals.

Your grandfather confesses his heinous crime to you alone. You try to save a young girl from sexual assault, but she’s not really a victim. Your child is sacrificed in compensation for your social misstep. You compete in a sick game to save your loved ones. Your mom is insane, your dad is dying, your brother is not your brother, and you’re stuck in the same house until one or all of you are dead.

Far below the unlikeliness of the supernatural lives something worse: the depths of human depravity. We live in fear of the cruelties of respected leaders and of the despicable crimes of neighbors who seem normal. We live with anxiety about our innermost desires and the unforgivable things we might do in a moment of passion. Or, if we fail to curb our urges, we live with the terrible secrets of our unfettered resentments.

In this uniquely unsettling anthology, editor Ellen Datlow has unearthed twenty-one exemplary tales of what humanity fears most: People.

I am a huge fan of horror anthologies so I was probably holding my breath from the time I requested this book from Edelweiss until the minute the approval came. It's not easy to scare me so I will not hold it against the title for being unable to arouse any fears in me. Still, it conjured up several other emotions and I have always said the stories I enjoy the most are the ones that can make me feel something.

Among my many favorites were The Pelt by Annie Neugebauer about a woman who finds the skin of an unidentified animal mysteriously draped over her fence.

A Sunny Disposition by Josh Malerman about a boy who is left to sit with grandpa while his parents are out. Grandpa has a secret he is dying to share and who would believe an imaginative child if he decided to spill the beans?

The Donner Party by Dale Bailey in which a woman of lower social standing gets a taste for the high class side of life.

Back Seat by Bracken MacLeod about a young girl whose desperate circumstances lead to a traumatic discovery.

Singing My Sister Down by Margo Lanagan is a story that ripped my heart out, about a cruel and unusual punishment that is customary among a particular group of people.

These were my favorites, yours may differ. That's what's great about anthologies, you can take what you like and leave the rest.

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Bitter Is the Heart by Mina Hardy

Tamar Glass fled an abusive mother when she was eighteen, running away from home to find a better life elsewhere. She has lived in freedom from her mother, Ruth, for decades, until one night she wakes to find her now-elderly mother standing over her bed.

As Tamar takes in her mother, strange events start happening inside her the house is oppressively hot, lights flicker, and cupboards open and shut on their own. Whispers filter beneath her bedroom door. Tamar learns that Ruth has been kicked out of her assisted living home and other facilities refuse to house her and endanger their own residents. Tamar has spent years suppressing her childhood trauma, but it comes rushing back with each strange event in her home. As Tamar copes with their disturbing past which her mother stubbornly refuses to admit to, Tamar can’t shake the feeling that there’s something worse than her mother lurking in the shadows.

Perfect for fans of The Haunting of Hill House, this terrifying novel unravels one dark strand at a time.

Tamar Glass grew up in a house where she was neglected at best and physically and emotionally abused at worst. Or maybe that wasn't even the worst. Maybe the worst was the thing standing over her bed, the whispers coming from the drains, the complete and utter aloneness she felt in knowing that there was nowhere to turn, and nobody to believe her. Maybe the worst was seeing how her mother doted on her sister, while never sparing an ounce of love or kindness for Tamar. Or maybe the worst was yet to come.

After barely escaping with her life, she never looked back. She is close to her sister but has avoided her mother as much as possible for the past 3 decades. Until the night she awoke to her mother appearing in her bedroom, having left the elderly housing apartment in the middle of the night and walked barefoot all the way to Tamar's house. Now she is stuck with her. The elderly housing complex is kicking her out, for unspecified reasons although something sinister is implied. No other home will take her. Tamar feels duty-bound to care for her until other arrangements can be made, but the creepy happenings that plagued her childhood are starting again.

For me, the pacing was perfect. Secrets are gradually revealed, and disturbing incidents that at first appear to be the normal progression of dementia taking hold of a woman who was never particularly kind to begin with turn undeniably to supernatural evil. Mina Hardy has combined a dysfunctional family dynamic with Jewish Folklore for the win. I loved this book.

5 out of 5 stars.

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books

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