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.

HEADLINES WE DON'T SEE: BROADCASTING FROM THE END OF THE WORLD OFFERS POEMS AND STORIES OF HARSH TRUTHS AND CHILLING TERRORS

 

 

BROADCASTING FROM THE END OF THE WORLD: POEMS AND TALES

Andrew Buckner

Alien Buddha Press, 2025

ISBN: 9798302426239

Ebook, 107 ppg.

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Picture it: All the terrible things happening in life, in the world, with someone on the sidelines broadcasting about it all. For readers of BROADCASTING FROM THE END OF THE WORLD: POEMS AND TALES by Andrew Buckner, that is what is found here. But, true to form as a writer of poetry and fiction, the author also provides poems and stories providing entertainment, escape, and wonder.

 

It’s rare to come across poetry that speaks so strongly about life and the real world, but that’s the kind of poetry we find in this book. And some of the stories in this book reflect the reality of how we’re all just trying to survive. To keep a roof over our heads and food on the table for our families.

 

I loved the poem “IT’S ALL TURNING INTO BULLSHIT!” It really IS all turning into bullshit! Especially ALL of those things the poem mentions which is bullshit. Every. Single. One.

 

“INVASIVE SPECIES, OR A BAKER’S DOZEN OF BLOOD” was my favorite story. I love the message this eco-horror story sends, but I love the goriness of the story too! It’s a really good summer camp horror story – and not cliché at all!

 

I especially loved this quote in the story:

 

"“Summer ends,” the sequoia boomed. “Youth fades. Maturity takes over. One must eventually answer for their irresponsible deeds. It is the harshest truth of the June through August months that come and go every year in childhood as if they will never end.”" (pg. 45)

 

I know the character, Michelle, is being told this as a way to explain that all childish things must end at some point and that we must accept adulthood and responsibilities (like taking care of the earth!), but it really captures how the summer season makes ALL of us feel like kids again, when we get to have a vacation AWAY from school and AWAY from jobs (if that’s possible!). Summertime is indeed family time. A time for fun, play and enjoying life to the fullest.

 

BROADCASTING FROM THE END OF THE WORLD: POEMS AND TALES provided poems and stories that I not only agreed with and related to, but took the time to absorb and enjoy as the world all around us continues to exist in a storm of chaos. It provided a perfect escape from that chaos. This was indeed a collection that I really enjoyed reading. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading speculative fiction as well as poetry that speaks out against the horrors of the real world.

 

 

 

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as part of my digital subscription with the publisher.

 

 

A Big Dose of Scares in Small Bites: A Terrible Place is a collection of terrifying flash fiction stories

 

 

A Terrible Place and Other Flashes of Darkness

D.L. Winchester

Undertaker Books, 2024

Ebook, 93 ppg.

ISBN-13: 979-8990617711  

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Are you prepared to explore the darkest regions of horror? Then look no further than the flash fiction collection A Terrible Place and Other Flashes of Darkness by D.L. Winchester. While each of the stories are short, they pack a huge punch to the reader, especially at the end. The end of every story is chilling and sent shivers down my spine!

 

The stories in this book are not titled; they are all numbered. Even so, each new story I read was more powerful than the last! This collection of stories was so good that I devoured each story, wanting to read more!

 

I love a good ghost story, and some of the stories at the beginning have eerie ghostly tales that gave me goosebumps! There are more ghost stories later in the book, but we also encounter ghouls, monsters and werewolves.

 

There are also stories of revenge and settling old scores.

 

The 12^th story made me neurotic about tattoos.

 

The 13^th story was very chilling! I get it that flash fiction stories should have a surprise ending, but it was more than a surprise. That last line. It really haunted me! Yikes!

 

The last story, though, is brutal. A retort? I could only picture it being said by Samuel L. Jackson’s character in Pulp Fiction: “Well, allow me to retort.” Whoosh! Awesome!

 

A Terrible Place and Other Flashes of Darkness is a collection of stories that offers a chilling reading experience. Filled with nightmare-inducing terrors and haunting monsters, A Terrible Place and Other Flashes of Darkness is a flash fiction collection that one should read with the lights kept on!

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

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