Stories of Halloween Thrills and Chills: Horton's Halloween Hauntings is a must-read for every fan of horror stories

 

Horton’s Halloween Hauntings: 14 Tales of Halloween

Edited by Chisto Healy

Independently Published, 2025

ISBN-13: 979-8268332650

Ebook, 179 ppg.

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If you’re looking for a collection of Halloween stories to read, look no further than the anthology, Horton’s Halloween Hauntings: 14 Tales of Halloween, edited by Chisto Healy. Not only will you read some frightening and terrifying stories but your love for Halloween will grow thanks to the many stories in this book that put a new spin on many Halloween traditions.

 

Even though this anthology is filled with stories by authors whose work I have enjoyed reading in the past, here are the stories that really stood out for me:

 

“Turnip Head” by Desiree Horton

The veil is thin on Halloween, allowing the dead easy passage into the land of the living. But one woman’s late husband comes back in an unusual way!

 

“Anything for Candy” by Ashley Fox

This was a very dark tale. There are so many stories of Halloween tricks gone wrong, but not many of them explore what happens afterward. This story does, and what happens after the tragedy is all the more horrifying.

 

“Devil of the Eden” by Boe Healy

What happened in this story was completely unexpected! It’s full of scares and a lot of tension. It’s a good father and son Halloween story but it’s also very dark and creepy.

 

“The King of the Gourds” by E.M. Otero

This story takes a very bizarre turn after an expert pumpkin carver starts experiencing some body horror while carving pumpkins. I loved the ending!

 

“Riddles Three” by Z Martin

This is another creepy story that took an unexpected turn! I really enjoyed reading it. I thought the riddles were really clever.

 

“The Birthright” by Eve L. Fell

I was excited to come across this kind of story, as they are one of my favorites. At first, I was frightened by what was happening to the main character, then the story had a twist and it went in an entirely different direction!

 

“Jaq-O-Lantern: The Pumpkin Queen” by Chisto Healy

The name in the title confused me, but I loved the story behind it! Yes, it’s sad, but there is at least some peace behind it. I love how the legend comes to life in this story. There are some horrible things that happen, but it’s a really good story. 

 

While those stories really resonated with me, I enjoyed reading all of the stories in this book. They are all good stories and I was happy for the chance to read these creative tales written by some very talented writers.

 

Horton’s Halloween Hauntings: 14 Tales of Halloween is the kind of book that every horror lover should include in their library. It’s a great book to read during Halloween season, as well as any time of the year. The stories in this book will surprise and terrify readers, keeping them turning the pages for tales that never cease to entertain.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: This review is completely voluntary. I downloaded a copy of this book through my Kindle Unlimited subscription and I am posting this review by choice.

Horror Poetry at its Best: Gathered Here Today is a collection of terrifying, creepy poems horror fans will love

 

 

Gathered Here Today: An open casket of art and poetry

Edited by Kelley York and Kala Godin

Graveside Press, 2025

ISBN: 978-1-967547-97-5 (Ebook)

Ebook, 290 ppg.

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It’s hard to find a collection of good horror poetry these days. It would seem, however, that the editors at Graveside Press have finally created a collection of both horror poetry and art that fans of horror will want to check out! Gathered Here Today: An open casket of art and poetry is a collection of poetry from some of today’s top poets who not only know how to craft an amazing poem but also create poetry that could make your skin crawl! These poems and works of art provided lots of good scares and chills as I read them and I would definitely want to keep a print copy of this book in my library for the amazing work it contains within!

 

There are a variety of poems in this book, about a variety of spooky subjects. From monsters and creatures that haunt our imagination to actual monsters in the guise of evil people, these poems capture the haunted, the monstrous and the macabre. Written in a variety of poetic styles, these poems tantalize the reader with spine-tingling and creepy revenants of the dark.

 

If there’s one kind of poem that I absolutely love the most, it’s the kind of poem that tells a story in verse. That’s what readers are treated to with the poem “I’m Sorry, My Dear” by Rich McFarlin. Not only is this poem delightfully creepy, but it is told so well. What an unexpected surprise at the end! I loved it!

 

I also loved the poem “A Cold, Windswept Place” by Kurt Newton. What a surprise the ending brought! The words pulled me in and I was so captivated by this tale. 

 

The poem “The Crow” by Terry Campbell was awesome. Of course, that title made me think of the movie, but as I read the poem, I realized that it was a modern-day retelling of Poe’s famous raven poem, but with a crow! It made me laugh and shake my head in disbelief. The author of this poem did well in writing it and it was an enjoyable read.

 

I’m a fan of the poet Jeff Oliver, so I was delighted to see that he has a poem in this book, as well. “Apocalyptic Sun” captures the brooding of a dark and haunted soul with so much raw emotion and angst. I also loved the artwork that went with this poem! (I loved all of the artwork included in this book!)

 

Another poet I am familiar with is LindaAnn LoSchiavo, and I absolutely LOVED her poem, “My Dungeon Ghost.” The quote from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight drew me in, as I adore the Arthurian legends, and I loved how this poem is treasured by both of the people in the poem while they are both alive and it is one of the things that strengthens their friendship. Indeed, it ends up being one of the things that strengthens their connection with each other after one of them transitions to death. I also enjoyed reading her erasure poem “Slow Burn.” The graphic that accompanies it is a nice touch! 

 

“The Talking Board” by C. Payne was another good poem. I don’t support using Ouija boards, but they can create some interesting stories and poems. And in this case, it adds to the scare factor of this particular poem. The messages the board users received were scary and the surprise at the end really creeped me out! 

 

Other poems I enjoyed reading were “Evil Sirens Sweetly Singing” by Lillian Csernica and “I Am Haunted” by JJ Carpenter and “The Hunger of Horace Leach” by Lance McVay. 

 

Horror fans looking for a good collection of creepy and terrifying poems should definitely grab a copy of Gathered Here Today. Filled with good scares, monstrous terrors and horrifying haunts, this collection of horror poetry is a satisfying and scintillating read for anyone who enjoys reading the kinds of poems that will send chills down your spine.

 

 

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.