The Clown: A Halloween Land Story by Kevin J. Kennedy weaves a story of teenage love intertwined with a bloodthirsty carnival, featuring scenes that are straight from the darkest of nightmares.

Thrilled for a carnival to come to town, but not expecting much, these teenagers are shocked at the size of the carnival once they see it in all of its glory. Like any typical teenager, their night if filled with walking around to take in the sights, have fun on the rides, and slip away for some romance and beverages.

Their time at the carnival is all fun and games until they enter the Ghost House… While the host warns them of what’s to come, they all believe it’s just more fun. But of course, they’re about to find out otherwise.

When the terror begins, it hits hard and fast! The story is jam-packed with scenes of horror right up until the very end.

SO many of these action scenes had me holding my breath. With Kevin’s writing, you know he’s not afraid to go really dark. So even though I kept hoping for something good to happen, I continued to be shocked by all the bad. I mean, the scene where things start to shake and forge floors and walls begin to crack was pure nightmare fuel! 

She looked at the other houses in the street, and wondered what was going on inside them. She wondered how many people were really happy. Did some people just pretend, or were there some that found what they were looking for? And did you need to know what you were looking for to find it?

Everyone seemed so happy. How little it took to bring people together, and distract them from the nightmare that everyday life could be. People seemed to be lost in the world of the carnival. Thoughts of outstanding bills, credit card debt, cheating partners, unemployment, and everything else that people in the local towns were suffering from, was forgotten for the short time while they were here. Something about carnivals transports people to a different time. A simpler time, but when it comes down to it, people just want to feel happy.

The carnival was pushing her to feel depths of despair and pain that would have crushed most normal people, but Melissa wasn’t normal. She had been broken many times from a young age, and at some point, learned that she wasn’t made of glass. Pain was temporary, but being true to yourself was non-negotiable. Regret was the one thing she couldn’t live with.

He couldn’t believe his eyes. It should have smashed her teeth to pieces, but she had chomped straight through it like a shark biting a fish in half.

“Your blood is really pretty. I’m glad you aren’t keeping it on the inside anymore.”

This was SO MUCH FUN! I love when tales start out hopeful and then turn to terror. As this was a prequel to Halloween Land, readers that have already read that tale know generally, where the story is going to end up. But how we get there is a ride of terror that will leave you on the edge of your seat!

Kevin J. Kennedy Presents Collected Christmas Horror Shorts IV is another killer collection of horror tales centered around the chilling winter holiday. This book has the supernatural, the grief, and the terrible, all wrapped up nicely with a bow.

Fans of holiday horror, you’re in for a treat again with this collection! Every single tale made me feel so uneasy.

Per usual, here are my notes on each story.

Per usual, Levin includes a perfect kick-off to the tales! I can’t believe this is the 36th anthology already! Any collection Kevin puts together is killer. I couldn’t wait to get into these! 

Forced to recount the events of a stormy night, readers follow the main character as he arrives at a terrible scene where five bodies have been discovered. But that was only the beginning of that horror-filled night.

My gosh, this tale will have you chilled to the bone! All the references to the storm and the ice had me ready to go find a blanket to cover up with. And then there’s the horror that’s uncovered… it just kept getting more terrifying!

When a young man steals a ship in a bottle, his family and their employer want to teach him a lesson. Even so, they caution him not to enter the woods. Blinded by determination to have a nice holiday feast, he ends up deep in the forest, regretting what he has done. 

This poor boy. A little trouble leads to some terrible consequences. 

After the world has turned into a wasteland where people will do anything to survive, Santa is happy to go visit his favorite family that has stayed on the nice list. But this year, something changed. 

The suspense of this one was so good! Right from the start, I had a guess as to what was going on, but finding out for sure wasn’t any less sad and upsetting. 

When siblings surviving a terrible childhood are told to be on their best behavior for the visit of this father’s boss, the eldest is locked in her room. When their guest arrives, the eldest is strangely quiet. The family soon learns why. 

This tale, while so upsetting and dark, had such a fun twist! The excitement of seeing what would come next in each popper was a blast!

On Halloween night, this woman finds out that she seriously underestimated the wildness of her new HOA. As the Christmas holiday approaches, things only get worse. Will she cave and stick to their intense schedule? 

Oh, this one stressed me out! That ending though! 

When a Christmas carnival suddenly arrives in town, some of the community are excited to attend, but others are weary. Once they walk into the carnival, they quickly realize it’s not what they had hoped. Things only get worse from there. 

Christmas and carnival horror?! These are two of my favorite horror topics, and what a fun blend they are!! This was such a dark tale, filled with action and terror! 

When an annual holiday tradition is interrupted by an old woman, the holiday cheer is dashed when one man learns what is to come. 

This tale is absolutely terrifying. The element of the holiday items keeping the darkness at bay had me ready to do some early decorating! Ugh, the bit with the kids broke my heart. I had to skip a couple of those scenes. 

This boy has a bedtime ritual to keep the monsters away. But on Christmas Eve, he lets his guard down… 

I loved this one! How dramatic the boy was with his actions was adorable at the beginning. But then when the horror arrives, the tale takes a terrifying brutal turn! 

Cooking up a plan to break into homes and steal wrapped presents, these two boys immediately think something is off with the first house they enter. When they find a gift wrapped up in one of the rooms, they decide to stick to the plan. Ah, but if only they had bailed…

Such a bloody tale! I was so nervous to see what would come next!

Rushing to get everything in place before Santa visits, this father takes the carrot nose off the snowman to give it to the reindeer. The little girl says it’s not a good idea because the snowman doesn’t want them to take it, but of course, he doesn’t listen and that has disastrous repercussions.

What a premise! My gosh, there was so much terror packed in here. Every scene was chilling!

When kids go missing, the local cop realizes that sometimes they come back a year later, but they’re forever changed. They no longer speak and stare out into space. They also have a strange new body feature. Will this cop figure out what is going on before the next kid is taken?

Ah, kid horror hits me so hard now. While my heart broke for these kids, I also hoped they would learn a lesson and be okay. Things certainly wouldn’t be okay here though. Phew! 

When receiving a letter under their door offering a trip that sounds far too good to be true, these parents jump at the opportunity. Their young daughter is more hesitant but is brought with them. Once they arrive, they quickly see that this is not the trip they had expected. 

Such an awesome premise! The descriptions of the beings were so unsettling! This tale had me so on edge to see what was going to happen next. 

When it’s quiet out and everything has a thick coat of snow, the cold usually has a strangely clean smell. Unless the weather has you congested, a real deep winter can open your sinuses. No pollen. No flowers. No animals. Just that bitterly cold aroma that’s more of an absence of smell than the presence of one.
— The Holly King by Dexter McLeod

Even though he was seven, he had a dedicated list he did every night to make sure the monsters that hid once the light was turned off kept their distance.
— Good Boy by Steve Stred

I love holiday horror so darn much! When I first heard that this book was going to launch, I couldn’t wait and of course, it did not disappoint.

While reading this book, I was just getting into the Halloween holiday spirit, and this one had me ready to dive into the December holidays!

Snag your copy today!

October by Gregory Bastianelli is a book that serves as a perfect love letter to the Halloween season. It wraps nostalgia and terror beautifully within its crisp fall pages.

When an odd man steps off a train, something strange begins to spread like ink spilled on the map of this small town. Following the perspectives of various characters, readers follow this tale of horror through the month of October. 

When things start getting spooky, the terror is sprinkled into the story in quick little bursts. So small that each character tries to convince themselves they’re seeing or hearing things at first. But they all soon learn it wasn’t just their imaginations. 

My goodness! What starts as a quiet and creepy tale quickly ramps up to some seriously terrifying bloodshed! Some of these scenes are branded in my brain…

This would make a killer horror film or series! I’m so grateful I was able to give this an early read as it really helped me get into gear for fall!

AND THAT ENDING!

His heart felt like ice in his chest, as if he sucked in a great gulp of the fall air. 

Time had no meaning here. There was no light, no days, only darkness blurring into more darkness as the house floated on a sea of black.

Eddie’s heart leapt into his throat so he couldn’t scream. He jumped up and raced across the bridge, not caring that the boards rattled beneath his pounding feet and felt like they were going to collapse and pitch him down into the grasp of whatever crawled along the underside.

He began to pant as his chest heaved up and down, air sucking in and out of his open mouth. He spun around looking for anyone. The plaza was empty. No one around except for the library gargoyles, but they didn’t see him, their lifeless eyes focused on the books held in stone hands.

What a perfect read for the ‘ber months! This one will have you reaching for your favorite fall beverage and perhaps an extra light to light up that darkened corner of your room. 

Creatures of the Night: Vicious Vampire Tales brings together spine-chilling horror from Simon Clark, Kevin J. Kennedy, and Gord Rollo. Brimming with terror, blood, and intense action, this collection promises readers an exhilarating and unforgettable ride!

I just can’t get enough vampire tales! So of course, I was really looking forward to what would be served up here. Little did I know, I was going to get three very unique stories that will haunt me for a long time to come!

Per usual, here are my notes on each tale in the collection:

When this man’s girlfriend is taken by vampires, he tries to explain what happened, but many don’t believe him. When he finally finds two that do, this unlikely trio are determined to get her back. But to make matters more difficult, this man now struggles from memory loss, putting them all even more at risk. 

This tale is so fast-paced and terrifying! From the initial introduction of the vampires to the final showdown, it’s all action and scenes of suspenseful horror. 

When two vampires are living their best lives, things are turned on their heads when they meet a being that forces them to work for him. Will they be able to fight back, or are they already lost?

My gosh the battle scene here was incredible! I had so much fun with this one, especially as Elena and Isla made an appearance! First meeting these two in Elena from KJK Publishing Presents Werewolves, I just knew this story was going to be a blast!

While the community has seemingly forgotten the horrors that occurred deep in the caverns below a swimming spot, these waters aren’t ready to let the small community forget what happened there just yet. While diving in an area where disaster struck many years ago, a body is discovered. Of course, that won’t be the only body that turns up…

This tale was SO unsettling! At every moment, I was so nervous about what was to come next.

My heart pumped blood to my brain so powerfully, that the pulse in my neck became as loud as thunder.
— From The Bloodred World of Vampyrrhic – Return of the Blood-Feeders by Simon Clark

He knew memory leaked from my skull like water through a cullender.
— From The Bloodred World of Vampyrrhic – Return of the Blood-Feeders by Simon Clark

Life isn’t always as exciting as fiction, but it can certainly be as strange.
— Perspective by Kevin J. Kennedy

The sun was a sliver on the eastern horizon, the sky turning from black to grey to orange. Most of Red Spruce Lake was still shrouded in darkness, though, the trees and the walls of the cliff surrounding it dutifully, holding back the daylight like vigilant guards protecting the battlements of some medieval castle.
— Beneath Still Waters by Gord Rollo

Hatred hardens even the purest of hearts.
— Beneath Still Waters by Gord Rollo

Vampire fans, go grab this book immediately! I had an absolute blast reading these stories. Each one left me wanting more, and I was so sad when they ended, even though they concluded perfectly. I cannot recommend this one highly enough!

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor is a horror and suspense-filled murder mystery with unusually high stakes. 

Sent to a remote town to investigate a murder, this detective is forced to walk a very thin line between humans and vampyrs. Tension is high and both sides are ready for a fight. 

When more people are found murdered, the pressure on her to hurry up and make “the call” is even more intense. 

Will she be able to solve the case and catch the killer before tensions boil over? 

My gosh, the suspense in this book is palpable! I found myself on edge with every scene, constantly bracing for something terrible to happen. There’s a lot of horror, but the quieter moments also add to the tension, making the whole experience even more gripping.

One of my favorite elements was the small-town setting, which I’m always a sucker for. I also really loved learning about how these vampyrs felt. There was a passage about living a long life but not really LIVING that hit wicked hard. 

Per usual, the pacing is just beyond perfect. Readers are sure to have a hard time putting this one down once they start reading.

She gazed out across Main Street. Christmas lights twinkled in the darkness; snow glistened on rooftops. She could see the white tips of the Denali mountains in the distance, illuminated by a shy sliver of moon, and hear the call of moose and the wind rustling in the spruce. A reminder that whatever small space humans carved out upon this planet, nature, in all its callous ferocity, was never far away.

Outside, the forest leaned in on every side, close enough to whisper in the windows and scratch spindly twigs against the glass.

There is no such thing as immortality. Death visited us all eventually.
The only difference was when he came and how long he lingered.
When you lived for centuries, you died for decades.

“Don’t seem like any way to talk about your father.”
“He wasn’t much of a father, or a man.”
“He still alive?”
“No. He killed himself when I was sixteen. Only time he shot anyone who deserved it.”

C.J. Tudor has been one of my favorite authors since I first read The Chalk Man. Though I love them all, this book is officially my favorite of her works so far!

Bedtime Blitz! by Matthew Van Fleet is SUCH a fun book. First of all, the storyline is a blast to read out loud and as it’s centered around getting ready for bed, it makes a perfect bedtime routine read. Second, the artwork is adorable. It’s so fun to see what each animal is up to every step of the way (I think the alligator is my favorite!)! And then there’s the very cool element of the pull tabs to make things move on the page. This is such a hit with my little guy! There’s even a special little surprise on the very last page. This is a book every kiddo needs!  

In the Land of the Pigs by Caesar Ruell is a story of terror, bloodshed, and pink stormy skies that rock these small towns, forcing the inhabitants to face their community’s wickedness. 

When approached by a celestial being he believes is an angel, this man has to push his fresh grief aside and use his skills as a butcher to save humanity. But untrained in fighting, bogged down by sadness, and terrified about what begins to occur, will he be able to do it? 

Phew, kicking things off with some unease and then terrible grief, readers won’t linger there too long as the action kicks in shortly afterward. 

This tale has so much brutal action! Many scenes are written so vividly! With how much the visuals and sounds were focused on, I’m very grateful the author didn’t dwell too much on senses like smell. 

This was such a wild ride from start to finish! I had a blast reading the carnage while on a fast-paced race to the big ending! I absolutely loved the main character and how he would call out how ridiculous this all was and how things didn’t make sense to him, but he kept rolling with it. This element added so much fun to the otherwise dark tale. 

I hurried down the empty streets, as thunder intermittently roared – both in the far distance and close by, as if the storm was everywhere at once. It was so powerful that it seemed to make the buildings shudder on their very foundations.

There were a few gnarled trees whose limbs were bent to hover over the graves, like fingers reaching down to snatch up the remains of the unfortunate ones buried nearby.

“Good. Your gifts are impressive, indeed. You are untrained, yet you can more than hold your own in a fight.” 
“It doesn’t make a lick of sense to me.” 
“Nor does it have to. Just be grateful for what you’ve been given.”

If a surgeon cut me open right at that moment, I’d have little doubt they’d find my heart to be as dark as the mean sky above.

Horror fans, you need this tale in your lives! While filled with horrors, it’s also so much fun! 

Evil In Me by Brom is a tale centering on a young woman whose life is a whirlwind of misdirection and turmoil. As Ruby struggles to find her footing and navigate a path that seems perpetually unstable, this tale explores the darker sides of human nature when mixed with the supernatural.

Ruby Tucker has almost reached the end of her personal purgatory. While doing community service at the local community center in her small town, she needs to bite back her anger for a few more days as she deals with the nasty comments from the head of the community center and her ex who also works there.

But Ruby just can’t help it. When one poor decision occurs, a landslide of poor decisions quickly follows. Before we know it, Ruby has an ancient ring clamped onto her finger, possessing her with the spirit of a demon.

As the story unfolds, it’s made clear to the reader that Ruby’s dreams and aspirations have been overshadowed by personal demons and inner rage. When possessed, she finds herself drawn into a world where music holds a potent and transformative power, but can she make it big before it’s too late?

Her journey is marked by intense emotional conflict and a constant battle against the forces that seek to control or consume her, both supernatural and not. As she grapples with her tumultuous emotions and the malevolent influences within her, the music becomes both a refuge and her battleground.

Nothing mattered except how I felt. My reality was the only reality.

David returned a moment later with a small fire extinguisher, setting it on the table next to the bowl.
“Did you check that it’s safe for putting out hellfire?” Ruby asked
David laughed. “Says it’s safe for grease fires. Gotta be about the same. Right?”
Ruby groaned.

It is good to leave the bad behind, to let it go. But sometimes things are shut away before they are delt with, They linger, fester like an infected wound, spreading their poison. Often it is not something intentional, just sometimes a person is born a bit broken … unable to deal with life’s struggles.

This tale was a frustrating and wild ride from start to finish! At every fork in the road that Ruby faced, I wanted to reach through my Kindle screen to violently shove her in the right direction. But of course, that wouldn’t have made for a fun storyline!

If you enjoy Brom’s storytelling mixed with characters you just want to see good things happen to, this is going to be a hit for you!

Picking You Out Of My Teeth by Somer Canon is a collection of dark horrors that flow between real-world terror that reads like a punch to the gut and supernatural horror that will give you goosebumps! 

Per usual with Somer’s writing, there is terrible darkness here, but many times it’s combined with something else, each pair going together as perfectly as macaroni and cheese. 

My two favorites from this collection were both quieter horror tales. I absolutely loved:

Here are my thoughts on each tale: 

A wonderful intro to kick off the collection. I loved the heads-up about the tales about motherhood. 

Desperately wanting her pregnancy to be over, this woman hates everything about being pregnant. One evening, her labor takes her by surprise. 

Oh, this poor woman. I immediately felt for her and being just over seven months away from my own pregnancy, this tale hit extra hard. Like her, I hated being constantly touched and didn’t find a single moment of pregnancy to be a good time. And oh gosh, her itching. As someone who had PUPPS, I felt extra terrible for her. Oh man, Somer crushes this tale with a perfect mix of everyday pregnancy and the much more extreme side effects. 

Escaping the house to be outside where things are safe, this boy hears a knocking. Of course, his curiosity wins out over his hesitation. 

This poor kid. What a heartbreaking tale. 

Trying her best after running into a series of difficult life hurdles, this woman lets her anger and grief get the best of her. But that’s not the end of her tale yet!

Ah, another super heartbreaking tale! And oh my gosh, that ending!! 

Tasked to tear down an old house to make way for low-income housing, things don’t go as smoothly as planned. When three men die, the project lead goes out to the property herself to investigate. 

What a quiet little chilling ghost story! Ugh, the grief woven into the suspense is so sad. 

Working on a reality TV show, this crew member can’t help but be unsettled by the whole process. But when a big makeover is revealed, she’s even more unsure about things. Soon, she’ll learn why her alarm bells were ringing. 

Oh my gosh, this was wild! The things people will do to their bodies to look “perfect” is already terrifying. But Somer has taken that to an extreme here! 

A quick tale of a sudden loss that the main character is struggling with.

There is such good body horror in this one! The descriptions will leave you queasy! And oh gosh the Cool Whip… I did what this mom did ONE time as a kid, got sick, and still can’t think about it without getting nauseous. Haven’t had any form of whipped cream since! 

When a woman finds out her cat brought in fleas, she’s determined to get rid of them all one way or another. 

Oh, this one made me itchy. What nerve-wracking body horror!

While going to a very old and forgotten graveyard, this character wants to make some charcoal rubbings. But she sees something else while there that makes her think it’s time to let the site rest. 

This was so eerie and beautiful at the same time! I love the format of this one as we got to jump back into a memory to learn about what was happening in the present. 

As the title states, this woman reluctantly makes a trip back home. Once there she learns two things that collide later in a horrible manner. 

The grief horror here has many layers. As we get deeper into the tale, things only get worse.

Waking up to realize their garden beds have been overgrown with weeds, people in this neighborhood rush to pull them before getting in trouble with their HOA. But then the first scream echoes around the area…

HOA’s are terrifying in and of themselves, but what happens here was wild! I have so many questions!! I loved this story! 

Living in a cult, this woman struggles to stay compliant. Determined to get her and her daughter to safety, she’ll never stop trying no matter what they do to her. 

Oh, the rage this one will make you feel! Every page was just dripping with horrors of the situation and each scene got darker.  

The woman reached out and grasped Claudia’s stomach, as so many people did. Pregnant women feeling like their bodies were public property to touch and comment on was nothing new, and Claudia knew to expect it, but as someone who usually did not like being touched, it was nothing worth getting used to.
— A Pretty Intense Case of Abjection

Pregnancy was an unmapped level of hell that people had sugar-coated and she found that deception infuriating.
— A Pretty Intense Case of Abjection

The morning fog stayed close to the ground, thick and dense, as if during the night a blanket has been draped over the earth as it slept.
— The Boneyard Grim

The only thing more destructive to that graveyard than erosion was the short memories of the people who let it fall to such a state.
— The Boneyard Grim

I can’t say whether I picked this one up at the perfect time, or the worst time as I am still new to being a mother and many of these tales had me ready to run to my little guy for a cuddle. But either way, I thought this was such a killer collection with a great range of darkness.

Horror fans will love this one as it forces you right into the shoes of the characters within each tale!

When Painted With Deceit by Shana Frost is a heart-pumping tale of false hope, deceit, and murder mixed with our usual dose of cozy romance set in a small town. 

The town has gotten some big news – A developer is planning to set up a glamping site. It has been promised that this new addition will bring more tourists to the area, but a few of the locals believe otherwise. 

When things quickly turn sour, Aileen puts on her investigative cap and gets to work. But soon she finds herself in the hospital after being run off the road a second time in just a short period, this time, leaving one person dead. Of course, this is Aileen, so she doesn’t let that slow her down. Unfortunately, that’s just a precursor to the terrible things to come… 

Starting with a terrifying scene of a car being run off the road, this book takes off just like the car that caused the accident! 

I’ve loved every entry in this series, but this one is my favorite so far! This one seemed a bit grittier to me. Things had been dark before, sure, but this one was filled with a whole new level of darkness. There’s so much packed in here. There’s mystery, suspense, drama, and per usual, there are life-threatening situations and things that could be resolved if Aileen and Callan could stop being so stubborn and stay on the same page! 

Whenever I pick up one of the books in this series, I know that I need to be careful with my timing as my mind will be stuck in Loch Fuar with these characters. I started reading this one on a Sunday and unfortunately wasn’t able to finish it until Monday evening. And phew was that Monday the world’s longest workday! All I wanted to do was get back to the book! 

The green grass gleamed, a contrast to the greyish-blue waters of the Loch Fuar. The mountains in the background also shimmered adding that awestruck gasp to the entire scene.

By half two in the afternoon, Aileen had scrubbed, washed, hoovered and ticked off every minuscule task on her list. The scent of fresh washing and home-made cookies wafted through every crevice of the inn. And there wasn’t a single particle of dust to be seen in any of the rooms. Clean, dusted, homely, calming, restful. Except a tornado spooled chaos in Aileen’s mind.

Aileen sighed a breath leaden with stress. She sat at one of the dining tables, staring out at Loch Fuar. No matter the weather, the view always took her breath away; living here was like having access to heaven before you died.

If you haven’t picked up this series yet, but love cozy and yet heart-pounding mysteries, you gotta check this series out! 

I had an absolute blast with this one! I’m so sad I’ve already reached the end! Now I will patiently await the next book!