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.

Things that Go Bump in Our Bodies: Lupus in Fabula is an Unforgettable Collection of Weird and Surreal Horror

 

Lupus in Fabula

Briar Ripley Page

Cursed Morsels Press, 2025

ISBN-13: 979-8988413868

Ebook, 192 ppg.

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I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading Lupus in Fabula by Briar Ripley Page. I know that “lupus” is part of the name “canis lupus,” which is the scientific term for “wolf,” and the wolf is my favorite animal, but I didn’t know how a wolf would factor here. Apparently, “fabula” means “a traditional tale,” but these tales are far from traditional.

 

In fact, the title story is not your traditional “wolf” story and I absolutely loved how the author chose to portray the wolf here, along with a REAL wolf!

 

There is a nice mix of speculative and slipstream fiction in this book. It also offers a variety of characters, some who are straight or gay, some who are rich or poor, the outcasts and the misunderstood.

 

Here are my comments on some of the stories which I really enjoyed reading:

 

“Swallow Me (W)hole” was such a bizarre story. In some ways, I think I figured out what was happening, but maybe not. My take is that it was cosmic horror. The ending was a big surprise!

 

“The Witch’s Wife” was another story I really enjoyed reading. The love and devotion between the witch and her wife was beautiful and everything that happened with them was so tragic and sad.

 

As I read the story “The Holy Incubus of West Virginia,” I couldn’t help but think that the creature in the story is not what the character thinks it is. From the description, the creature sounds like a Mothman. The character thinks it’s an angel. But I was back to thinking it was a Mothman when the character’s first question to the creature was, “Did you make the bridge collapse?” Plus, it’s set in West Virginia. But, eh, who knows. I just kept reading to find out.

 

“Desire in the Flooded World” was such a good story, too. I liked how, despite after a natural disaster such as flooding, life went on for everybody. Even after cities are underwater. And how people are working and loving while living in a city struck by a natural disaster. I loved the way this story was told, and how the different POVs had me putting the puzzle pieces together at the end.

 

“Gorgonland” is another good story in this book. At first, I was a little confused by the constant dust, but the constant appearance of a stone Medusa as well as the mention of an exotic land helped me to realize what was happening with our young lover.

 

I also liked “The Mood After All” because it was such an interesting twist on the zombie trope. It’s a zombie story without being a zombie story!

 

The title story was my absolute favorite story. It is a strange werewolf story. Readers need a strong stomach and open mind to read this story. And, remember, it’s fiction! No real animals or people were actually hurt!

 

Lupus in Fabula is an unforgettable collection of stories ranging from the tragic to the unsettling, the mundane to the bizarre. It takes readers along an imaginative and otherworldly journey of stories capturing a variety of characters struggling to make sense of things. Told through the lens of horror and surrealism, these stories will leave a lasting impression on readers that maybe it’s better to leave the things we don’t know or understand to the mysterious other.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

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