Vampiro and Other Strange Tales of the Macabre by Kevin J. Kennedy is an awesome collection of tales that were each written by Mr. Kennedy.

I was so thrilled when the author emailed me to let me know this one was coming out soon. What a perfect collection to read to kick off October!

This collection was SO fun to read. I recognized a couple of the tales from other collections I’ve read from Mr Kennedy, and I was so excited to re-read them.

Each tale is so unique and interesting! They are all just perfectly written, giving the reader just enough information, but not too much to bog down the story. I really enjoyed them all!

Per usual, here are my quick reactions and rating breakdowns for each story:

The Games – 4/5

Goodness the first part of the story was disgusting! Then in the final game, we see the big reveal. This is where the major action was! And phew… that ending!!

I loved this passage from the tale:

“As one man looked down to see his guts slide out of his torn-open stomach, she had removed the heads of four more, while tearing the hearts from others. The crowd didn’t have time to scatter – never mind escape.”

Thirteen Voices – 5/5

What a creepy idea! I loved when the voices in his head were explained to the reader as, “ I was as if my head was a room and I could only hear the conversations when people entered it.” However none of the voices talked about him or engaged with him.

But then on his thirteenth birthday, one of the voices speaks to him. And then something terrifying happens.

This passage…: “As far back as I can remember, I always had voices in my head. When I was around five it just seemed like thoughts, but by the time I was seven I knew they weren’t my own… They had become louder, more distinct and they argued. I didn’t even understand what they were talking about sometimes.”

Don’t Grass – 5/5

Oh my goodness this poor kid. Dealing with his alcoholic mom was horrible enough, but add in terrible bullies? By the time we got to the end of the tale I was definitely routing for him!

Would You Sell Your Soul? – 5/5

Love, love, love this one! This is a lighter tale about a troll that just wants to be a successful author. This has one very small element that shoves it into the horror genre.

Vampiro – 5/5

YAS! I loved the pacing and overall plot of this one. So well done.

A Town Called Easter – 5/5

I love this one so much! Absolutely terrifying!

Christmas in Hell – 5/5

This is one of my favorites! It’s funny to me, I love Christmas, but all of the complaints about the holiday are so spot on for me.

My Final Thoughts:
This collection is a perfect read for any time of year if you’re looking for a wonderful collection of creepy and strange tales!