Reality Squall by Jason Krawczyk is a psychological tale of second chances that is filled with oddities, grief, and love. 

A trucker with chronic pain and a tendency to lose time carries loads of trauma and grief with her every day. While she can tune out the world while on a run, strange things begin to happen and the grief won’t stand to be left out for long. 

I am obsessed with the organization of this story! At the very beginning, I love that you meet the character and learn that something is deeply wrong. Fearing the worst, answers are very slowly revealed as you get deeper into the story and see the main character grapple with her past. 

When the strange things begin to occur, it’s hard to tell if it’s really happening or if it’s all in her mind. After that point, things just get more and more mind-bending and grief-filled. 

I loved every second of this wild ride! 

General consciousness shouldn’t harbor such grief.

She sits behind a waist-high mound of paperwork that presumably has a desk underneath.

Free of pain at the moment, she knows pain is stalking her next movement.

This is a man carved by choppy ocean weather. Sun-bleached and rough, his face only allowed a thin scraggily line of hair to outline his jaw. His eyes are shielded from the elements by wrinkles of bronze skin, an exaggerated brow and craggy patches of wild white eyebrows.

Time has transformed the whisper of experience into a scream.

If you enjoy tales that pull you deep into their darkness while leading the way with just a small pin light, slowly showing you what’s going on, you’re going to love this! I had such a blast learning more about the situation these characters found themselves in! 

Preorder your copy as soon as you can! This book launches from Nosetouch Press on Aug 13, 2024

KJK Publishing has done it again! The Horror Collection: Topaz Edition is another collection of killer tales. So many stories within these pages had me squirming in my seat while reading. These nightmares are going to haunt me… I’m not sure I’ll be able to look at a razor or a burger the same way again.

Let’s get right into it! My favorites from the collection include: 

Per usual, here are my notes on each tale!

After two children are found on the shores, dead, a small town is rocked with grief and fear. One man thinks he may know what is going on, but he can’t tell anyone. Not even the priest. 

Kicking off this collection with a doozy! This is such a good supernatural tale with grief-horror mixed in. The last two paragraphs are so chilling! 

Thrilled that a group of women have completely booked up their inn, this man quickly becomes unsettled by these women. Little does he know, they aren’t just there for a vacation. 

This tale is so eerie! From the first moment of unease, the tension just continues to build. I loved the ending! 

Living in a civilization where they believe they’re safe from the beings they call their ancestors, a young couple dreams of getting away. But of course, things do go as planned. 

Oh, this one will get your blood boiling! The first scene of death was so vivid and heartbreaking! 

Finding an old circus ship, this crew goes aboard to see if they can determine what happened to them so many years ago. They think they’ll only find bodies, which they do, but they find something else as well. 

My anxiety started building the second this tale opened. The claustrophobic element of being in space, that fear of the unknown, the sadness of death. Then of course there’s the sheer terror of what they discover. Phew!

A man with a special ability explains his dilemma and the fears that come with it. 

My gosh, the emotional journey readers will take with this one! 

A talented in mixed storylines of a woman sharing her past and giving readers glimpses into what is happening now. The two tales crash together in an explosive ending. 

I had first read this one in Into the Light: Stories Volume 2 by Steven Stred and my gosh. It was even more of a heartbreaking tale the second time around knowing how it ends! 

Looking for something action, this man decides to follow up on a note scrawled on a wall. The promise of pleasures is fulfilled, but at what cost?

Fans of sexual horror will love this one!

New fear unlocked… that bubble-popping explanation.

Venturing out into the desert to find an abandoned cult compound, this girlfriend is uneasy. When they get a flat tire and her boyfriend leaves to get help, she only gets more and more unsettled as she sits and waits in the extreme heat.

Ah, the heat had me sweating just reading about it! This poor girl… Everything unraveled so quickly, leading readers down a terrifying path. 

When delivering a creation to his investor, this man soon regrets taking the job. But the creation isn’t the biggest thing he fears… 

That ending was wild!

Focused solely on beauty, this teenager is determined to sleep to make sure she looks her best. But when sleep evades her, she’s told about something that can help. Bit of course, things aren’t what they seem.

Oh my gosh the body horror here was brutal! I cringe just thinking about it!

Working for a circus as a dancer, this woman raises a small family of children with unique features. The leader of the circus is wicked and has her stuck. But she’s determined to start a new life. 

My heart broke over and over again for this poor woman! My gosh, this is such a dark carnival horror tale! 

A teenage boy struggling with acne and voices in his head focuses in on his father’s razor…

I don’t think I’ve ever squirmed as much as I did reading this short story! The tension and build-up was so nerve-wracking! 

Unable to turn down a dare from his bullies, this kid goes with them to a cemetery at night. Before he can put together what was wrong, it was too late…

This tale made me so claustrophobic! The suspense and terror that was present at literally every moment was intense.

After two odd things occur, this girlfriend starts warning of biblical things, losing herself in an eerily calm mindset. 

Oh this was so unsettling. The first half will have you nauseous while the second half will make you nervous.

When turning away an old woman, this man soon goes outside to try to find her to invite her back in. Little does he know, the act of turning her away has set something wicked in motion.

Such a quick moment with a thoughtless answer that leads to quite the tale of horror! 

When an undercover cop gets hooked on a drug, he’ll do anything to find the creator to get his fix. 

This one took such a wild turn into bizarre and very creepy horror! 

After years of canceling their annual Halloween party due to COVID, they’re finally having the party this year! But while driving over, something strange occurs, and it only gets more bizarre from there. 

This was so much fun! Terrifying when you don’t understand what’s happening, but once the puzzle pieces begin to fall in place, it’s all fun and games with a splash of horror. 

When a man has to have his leg amputated, he goes through the usual mourning and healing process. But when things got a bit dark, he remembered the coupon to a burger joint his doctor had given him. They go and love the food! But of course, this is a horror tale…

That one line that the man makes while waiting for his food set off alarm bells for me. I was so nervous to see where this was going after that! So dark. 

Waking up after a shocking landing, this man is in for a few more shocking revelations before this story comes to a close!

The suspense and action here were wild! What a terrifying premise that only got worse and worse!

The fireplace crackled as Travis stared into it, his thoughts as wild and chaotic as the fire.
— Culpa by Lex H Jones

He tried counting them. He got to three and had to stop. Their bobbing heads, their flailing limbs; it was a mob of monster parts, indistinguishable as individual beings in the gloom.
— The Ancestors by D.W. Hitz

“…We don’t sleep much and have to be careful about where we look because those things are always nearby someplace, looking like normal shit to you – knots of tree bark, shapes in clouds, patterns in wallpaper or sloppy drywall or an old lady’s quilt – stuff that you see every day but never think might be looking back at you, just waiting for its chance.”
— Shoo Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy by Gary A. Braunbeck

She wondered briefly how many of the wild things out here could kill her. She hoped none of them were interested today.
— High Desert by Lisa Morton

Everything in this place was dead, including the silence.
— Grave Danger by Devin Cabrera

Thunder crashed so loudly he felt the immense sound in his guts as much as he heard it with his ears.
— A Monstrous Hunger by Simon Clark

I cannot get enough of this series! Each time a new one comes out, I think it’s my favorite one (so far, anyway!)! I had such a blast with this collection. Horror fans, this one needs to be on your radar!

Shrouded Horror: Tales of the Uncanny by K.C. Grifant is such a fun collection of stories! The tales are all over the place when it comes to plot elements, creating a thrilling reading experience where surprises abound, promising both spookiness and enjoyment at every turn!

I’m so excited I was able to snag an early copy of this one via NetGalley. While I took my sweet time reading though since my reading time was very scarce, I was so grateful for these short stories each time I picked up the book to read one when time allowed. 

Right from the first tale, I knew this collection was going to be a hit for me. 

My favorites include:

Per usual, here are my thoughts on each tale!

This intro gives readers a peek into what’s to come in such a spooky way! And the last sentence… are you kidding me?! I was even more pumped to dive in after that! However, I paused for a moment to ask myself if I really wanted to start reading right before bed. (I did)

Determined to get pizza, but not wanting to wait in the long line, this crew decides to follow a creepy man into a tunnel after he promises them quick access to the pizza.

Following a creepy dude into a tunnel is never a grand idea! All the alarm bells were going off here but they were just too blinded by the smell of the food! Ugh, the claustrophobia this one gives for a bit! 

Finding an old beat-up jewelry box in a shop, this woman is immediately drawn to it as she is a bit battered herself. Finding an impossible item inside, she’s shocked to find that’s not the only thing the box provides. 

My heart hurts for this poor woman. The grief and blood-boiling unfairness makes the ending that much sweeter!

When a sickness runs rampant, extreme quarantine measures are taken to keep people safe. But will this group of exposed be safe?

Oh my gosh, this is too real-world terrifying! Illness already terrifies me, but mob mentality especially freaks me out!

While on the set of a true crime film, this woman decides she has had enough of the expectations of sexual favors. When an unusual being appears, she’s offered another path. 

Ugh, men that expect sexual favors. Congress! The turn this tale took was wonderfully satisfying! I would love a whole book dedicated to this woman and what comes next for her!

After getting picked up while hitchhiking, this character has bonded with the couple. But when a zombie sneaks up in them, will they stick together or split?

Oh my gosh! This is such a fun twist on the zombie element. I’m obsessed with this tale! 

When a terrible storm approaches, a man appears on her doorstep. Knowing that he needs shelter, she lets him into her basement to ride out the storm. But as soon as he’s through the doorway, strange things begin to occur. 

How quickly things go sideways here is absolutely terrifying! 

While on a weekend away, things with this group are tense. When the woman who organized overhears her friends talking about her, she finds a new friend to confide in. 

Oh, this was so eerie! I love not knowing how to feel about the main character! 

When a girl burdened with far too much is shown a dark path, it’s up to her to see which way she will go. 

My heart broke for this poor girl. So much grief packed into such a short tale! 

Determined to prove that Bigfoot is real, this woman plans one more trip. If she doesn’t find anything this time, she promises she’ll move on. 

Ah but of course she finds more than she hoped. That ending! It just begs for more! How did this end?! 

Stuck waiting for the train, this random bunch soon realizes that they can’t leave and are about to be put to the test. 

I loved this spooky real-world tale so much! Waiting certainly is the worst, but what came next for these folks was of true nightmare. 

While out in his “space condo,” this man makes a connection with another life form. He thinks this will be his ticket into popularity with a better light, but he gets way more than he bargained for. 

Anything around AI in horror tales freaks me out. This one continued that trend. The ending is terrifying. 

Unrest – 

Sent to finally allow a place to rest? This being must stay strong and do what needs to be done. 

Oh, your blood will just boil over this man saying he just can’t help himself. 

Escaping his apartment and his fighting parents, this young man plays with his butterfly knife. When it slips and he feels it cut him, he waits for the pain to subside. While waiting, he gets a visitor. 

Oh my gosh, I was so nervous throughout this one! As soon as he cut himself, I feared the worst.

While away on a trip that’s supposed to be relaxing, this woman is more stressed than ever. When she feels that something g is off, she’s drawn to a mirror in their honeymoon suite… 

This tale is such a quiet and slow-burn horror! I was so ready for something big to happen at any turn, but the pacing continued to crawl and add more and more unease! 

While fishing for jellyfish, this character gets a warning for something that may be to come. 

Everything about this one is fast! Phew, what a tale!

Blessed – 

When an invasion reaches them, one woman believes she is safe. Even swept up by the survivors, she keeps telling them she will be soared, but they don’t share that same faith… 

What an intense start! I loved that we slowly learned what was going on! 

The Circus King –

Working a strange and unusual circus with peculiar clowns, the Circus King is surprised when the act suddenly doesn’t go as planned. 

Puddle of Comradely Despair –

Finding himself stuck in a helpless state, he begs anyone to help. When someone finally pauses to look at him, he promises them a wish. 

This was so unsettling, strange, mysterious, and exciting all at once! I had so much fun reading this one. I’d love to see what these two got up to next! 

Macabre Elves – 

When a group of elves appears but are never quite captured on camera, these two teenage boys are intrigued. Whether they’re a gang or something else, the boys don’t care, they just want to join them. But little do they know, these elves have more with them than just their knives. 

I love a good holiday-themed tale! This one reminded me of the year we had clowns randomly showing up in random places, just creepily standing there. The dark interest in learning who they are is strong! 

The Peerlings – 

Trying to start a colony in a new world, this crew soon learns that there’s something already there. As they start disappearing, the mayor is forced to face the beings or deal with the backlash from their people. 

Oh my gosh, this one had a killer claustrophobia element to it mixed perfectly with the suspense. 

It’s amazing how even in a span of two days you can get to know someone well enough that you don’t have to talk to communicate. One of the few perks of being in constant life-or-death situations, I guess.
— Just Another Apocalypse

They say waiting is its own kind of hell. Whoever said that was probably familiar with the NYC subway system.
— The U Train

So at night, we all pretend to be asleep though we’re far from it, willing ourselves not to peek as the buzzing intensifies. The curiosity almost kills you as much as the fear itself.
— The Peerlings

I can’t say enough how much fun reading this collection was! Each tale was so wonderfully unique. I’m already eager to delve into more of this author’s work!

The Vast by Matt Wildasin delves into the somber depths of a man’s inner turmoil. As he grapples with the burdens that bind him, the pressing question remains: Can he find solace and heal before the darkness consumes him entirely?

Wow, this one left me reeling — I’m still catching my breath. Trying to write a review for The Vast has been an ongoing struggle for over a week now. It’s a book I wholeheartedly recommend going into as dark as possible. If you’d like to learn more, I will leave some high level notes below!

While the narrative has a captivating cosmic and supernatural glamour, it’s evident that many elements are deeply-rooted in the author’s personal experiences. Reviewing this book has been a challenge because I felt connected to many of the situations in the story.

From the black sludge seeping in and the terror that comes when you know you’re slipping into the darkness in your mind, to things like believing every command when young but learning how to work against them when you’re older, each moment resonated, transporting me back to my own darkest memories.

The darkness in this tale is richly layered and incredibly captivating. The body horror was particularly striking, while the pulse-pounding action and relentless terror kept me eagerly anticipating what was to come anytime I had to set it down.

Matt also has some really fun elements where he turns mental health-related things into physical creations. Just one example of that was the main character’s physical search for his intrusive thoughts.

And my goodness, when the main character meets the woman smoking, one of her blunt comments will hit you like a ton of bricks. 

The Vast masterfully balances darkness and horror with the glimmer of resilience and the pursuit of closure. For those familiar with the depths of depression, it offers a uniquely resonant journey, ultimately leaving you in a happy place. For those unacquainted with depression, it’s a fun and captivating exploration of grief and cosmic horror.

Suddenly, it all went dark as the sound of a single footstep echoed through the wall.

As Mark sat there in the sand, feeling its dampness soak into his clothes and against his skin, he witnessed a foreboding sight. Lightning snaked from between the clouds and struck the tossing ocean like an elongated crooked finger. Thunder cracked and rolled over the sky, forcing Mark to scramble to his feet.

The boy didn’t reply; instead, he continued to pluck petals until the flower was bald, then discarded the corpse. Mark watched as the boy eyed up a bunch of purple Cornflowers swaying in the breeze on his other side, then snatched up a handful. He yanked at their tiny petals too.

A folded piece of lined paper sat between the two men. It was yellowed enough to alter the blue lines, making them appear green. The bubbly tight-knit lettering on the note was somewhat visible through the thin paper. Mark’s name was on the front of the letter, written in the same bloated font that comprised the body of the paper. A few hearts floated around his name.

“…Well…I guess it’s always going to be there. Ya can’t have such a traumatic thing happen to a person and expect there to not be some kind of darkness to stick around.”

“…It’s just, you’ve been hiding things from yourself all your life. Instead of coming to peace with any of it, you’ve buried them and left them to fester for a long, long time. And they want to have a word.”

“With every darkness, there is a light. It might be hard to find; like sometimes the light isn’t very bright or doesn’t carry far, but it’s there.” 

If there could only be one book that I recommend to all my horror-reading friends this year, this is it.

Brace yourselves before embarking on this narrative. The journey you’re about to take is quite something and many scenes are going to stick with you for a long time to come.

Move aside nudie mags! In Find Him and Kill Him by Cody J. Thompson, this young man has a new obsession — a darker obsession — murder. Get wrapped up in the unease of how normalized killing becomes for this teen and what journey it sets him on for the rest of his life… 

When a kid winds up in the wrong place at the wrong time, he witnesses a murder. Rather than fleeing, this kid has questions. Lots of questions. Luckily for him, the murderer/drifter actually agrees to take the kid under his wing and teach him the best ways to end someone’s life. 

Fast forward sixteen years – this kid is all grown up and has a special birthday surprise for his sister. But will the gift be a hit?

My gosh. When I tell you I was totally sucked into this story… it was like I had tunnel vision while reading. Right from the start, this was such a normal, everyday life kind of setting, and even though many things changed and a lot of blood was spilled, it all kept that same vibe. I thought this was so interesting as the quiet and the brutality objectively clash, but blended so well here.  

I absolutely loved Myrna’s character. I feel like she and I would have been friends, especially with her taste in music! I mean, talking about My Chemical Romance and playing the Misfits? Two of my favorites!

Another element that I will continue to comment on when it comes to Cody’s writing is how well he places you in a scene with various senses. I mean, just read the passage below and tell me you don’t feel like you’re right there with the character, ready for a shower.

“A blower from overhead burst to life covering their bodies with recycled, stale air. The smell inside was anything but comforting or inviting. The stench of travelers on the road for way too long floated all around, intermingled with the heavy odor of chemicals all too familiar in these roadside establishments. Like some sort of bionic lemons grown in a laboratory somewhere that had fallen into a batch of acid and ammonia.“

And no spoilers, but that ending… I’m obsessed.

“Hey!” the drifter shouted, using the back of his arm to wipe the splatter from his face. “The kid’s already dead. You’re not going to hurt him any worse than you already have. Hack at it. Slash away. That sawing shit might work on some weeds in your backyard, but that ain’t gonna cut it here. Let me show you.”

The sun continued to fall beyond the horizon; the night taking over quicker and quicker, yet the nameless killer never showed. As the darkness took over any remaining light, he shivered. Not just from the chill in the air, but also from being alone with the ghosts that now lived in and were stuck forever within those containers. His own hands had created some of those ghosts.

“You know, My Chemical Romance reunited and are touring again. Couldn’t you just get us tickets to go see them? That would be a much better gift if you ask me.”
“No. Forget the tickets,” he said, shuffling in his seat. “Come on, it’ll be perfect. You and I… [redacted to avoid spoilers].”
“Three cheers for sweet revenge, huh?”

A blower from overhead burst to life covering their bodies with recycled, stale air. The smell inside was anything but comforting or inviting. The stench of travelers on the road for way too long floated all around, intermingled with the heavy odor of chemicals all too familiar in these roadside establishments. Like some sort of bionic lemons grown in a laboratory somewhere that had fallen into a batch of acid and ammonia.

Left to your own imagination, nightmares play not only within your head, they become all too real. Almost like you can reach out and touch them, slicing your fingertips on the memories.

Not quite a full-blown horror comedy, but very close. This book was such a hit for me! I had a blast following these characters and seeing their lighthearted banter with one another. But more than a few times, I had to pause and remember that people were dying here. The author had me so deep in the same mindset as these characters that I kept thinking this was normal. 

Horror fans, if you enjoy everyday life types of tales combined perfectly with brutal slashers that have many twists and turns, you gotta check this one out! 

Be warned though, you’re not going to want to put this one down!

Into the Light: Stories Volume 2 by Steve Stred is another killer collection of tales that will lead you to believe all is well (or at least will be well) before the rug is pulled out from under you!

I took my sweet time with this collection, really letting each tale sink in. Whether or not that was a good idea… my nightmares will soon tell I’m sure!

When reviewing the notes I took while reading, I noticed that I had started each of my thoughts with “my gosh…” So needless to say, each of these tales was a wild ride! I had such a blast reading and seeing where each one brought us.

My favorites from the collection include:

Per usual, here are my thoughts on each story!

Like the previous collection, I just have to note how much I love it when authors put their published works together in a collection like this so readers can access them all! 

Interviewing for a science research project, this young man gets in based on his willingness to experiment with different … foods… Of course, there’s a catch.

This is one of those tales that once you read it, it’s forever cemented in your mind, for better or for worse!

Forced to move due to financial reasons, this family is making the best of their new start. But one day, black sludge begins to appear and take over the house. But by the time they notice, is it already too late?

Ugh, your heart just breaks for this family! 

Two teenage boys keep going to the beach in hopes of glimpsing more of a new woman in town. Curious and obsessed, as only teenage boys are, their curiosity gets the best of them. 

This tale is wild! That ending!

Nearing the end of his ability to deal with these bullies, this kid listens to his uncle and takes a hike to ask an old one for help. But can they help in time?

Oh, my heart breaks for this poor kid!

Such a short and killer tale! This perfect snippet makes you want more! 

Another short and terrifying one! Love this tale written in honor of Kevin J Kennedy! This one gave me chills!

I first read this one in 100 Word Horrors 4 from KJK Publishing and loved it just as much this time around.

Waking up in a saw-like nightmare but so much worse, this character is desperate to find a way to leave alive…

My gosh, the last line made my mouth drop open! 

Determined to prove he wasn’t crazy and that merpeople were real, this man wasn’t afraid to step into the water. 

Oh, this poor man. 

A character on the run has no other option but to keep going…

This one is terrifying every second one way! Such a killer short tale!

Setting foot on a new planet, their excitement takes over any caution. 

Ah! A short and terrifying snippet that makes you both happy and sad there isn’t more here! I love shorts like this so much! I first read this in 100 Word Horrors 4 from KJK Publishing as well!

When robbing a bank, this man can’t believe how smoothly it went. Until he opens the bag that is…

This took such a fun turn!

A dog reflects on his life, overcoming trauma and finding his purpose. 

This tale is filled with grief, terror, and so much love. What a fun perspective! 

On a trip of enlightenment, this character is in good spirits. 

That ending! Ah! What happens next?! I love this short! 

While out in the woods with her boyfriend of a year, something begins to change in him, and she doesn’t like it. Being forced to flee, she thinks she finds safety. 

This story is so unsettling! The transformation is terrifying in itself, but what happens next is even more horrific! This one had my chest pounding in anticipation of what would happen next! 

While flying, they realize that something is wrong on the ground. With no communication coming in, will they be able to hand safely? 

I read this tale once before in The Horror Collection: Ruby Edition by KJK Publishing. My gosh, I’m already an anxious flyer… add something like this to it and I’d be happy to never get on a plane again. What a terrifying end of the world! 

Warning the psychologist that if he knows what’s on an online video, that the bad stuff will happen to him too. The psychologist isn’t phased, even when presented with the video. But will he manage to escape the darkness?

This one is so chilling and stressful! 

When a man who has lived a life of pranks and wild behavior realizes he’s hit the end of that road, and has isolated himself because of it. So he cooks up a new plan, but will he be able to start fresh so easily?

I first experienced this in The Horror Collection: Lost Edition by KJK Publishing, and I was still so nervous to reread how it would play out. 

Seeing his doppelganger one day sends this man into a tailspin. Unsure what to believe, he finally gets answers that change everything. 

This tale is so unsettling! The freezer scenes will haunt you! 

After the brutal slaying of his family, this young man is discovered by someone who can help him get revenge and end the slaughter. 

I so expected something bad to jump out of the trees at any moment during this tale! 

Slowly as we learn more and more about this woman’s life, we also get glimpses into what’s happening now in her apartment. 

Ugh, this poor girl! And that ending! My gosh, what a tale to end the collection with!

On that Sunday, the construction finished, champagne toasts were made and while the family wasn’t watching, evil moved in.
– Tendrils

From where he stood, he could look between them and see a stone circle with trees. Everything stilled. All he could hear was his breath, a hostile noise in the silent wilderness.
– The Oak

We’d seen what had happened at Chernobyl and Hiroshima, but still the ones making the decisions let their anger get the best of them and they sentenced the world’s population without a second thought.
– September in the New World

After he left, I could feel the crackle of my father’s fury infesting the air.
– In Name, Only

Steve is so talented when it comes to writing a short story! This collection is a must-read for horror short story fans. Readers will love how quickly things twist and turn!

Cranberry Cove by Hailey Piper is a tense tale of horror and the determination to figure out a dark mystery.

Let’s dive in!

When sent to get answers about an assault that occurred to their boss’s son, all signs begin to point to something unexplainable. To add to the already tense situation, our main character is also assaulted and then battles with her feelings over the fact that things weren’t worse, not allowing herself the space to process what did. 

From there, she sets out to learn more, while our other main character is determined to prove it was something that can be explained. Both are determined to solve the mystery, even if it puts them back in harm’s way.

My gosh, the anxiety I felt while reading this! There’s a very interesting blend of content that feels both stressful and lovely at the same time. I was so darn nervous throughout this entire read, just sure that something bad was going to happen at any second!

Each room had one way in, one way out, unless you counted the window for a permanent check-out. 

She couldn’t remember whether she had it rough when she was small, could only speculate that was the case by the black chasms in her memory, and she was pretty sure she hadn’t spent all those years with the lights off.

Angelica’s house had a compact nature, like a fist tightened around a treasured jewel. Its warmth came less from sunshine and poor airflow, more from the oppressive heat of those grasping fingers, desperate to hold its possessions and never let them go, even if it had to crush them into place.

Hailey’s writing style will forever be one of my favorites. This tale sucked me right into the darkness and I was as desperate for answers as the characters themselves. I had such a blast with this tale of horror.

Undead Folk by Katherine Silva is a short and intense tale of grief, horror, and the lengths in which someone will go for closure and vengeance.

Wandering a barren landscape, this character finds what she was looking for; a dead fox. Carrying it back to an abandoned space, she completes a ritual and falls asleep. Waking up to a voice, she sees that her ritual has worked and begins her journey of revenge.

I don’t want to go too in-depth here as readers need to explore the darkness for themselves. But like all of Kat’s work, it’s just stunning. I had such a hard time picking out my favorite passages to feature as I found myself highlighting passages on almost every page. The grief is thick here, weighing on readers’ shoulders like a backpack filled with rocks. You just know something dark is simmering underneath the character’s cool exterior, but she keeps the reasoning behind this mission to herself, only slowly revealing bits and pieces as they travel.

Showing strength in every meaning of the word, readers’ hearts will break time and time again as more of her past is revealed.

One other quick note – Chapter Seven! Oh my gosh! My heart… this poor girl. And this wasn’t even the most intense chapter of the book!

“Okay. The reason I ask is because the house we’re in looks pretty fucked up. Like someone committed an armed robbery and then maybe a triple homicide happened and then after a few years of rumors milling around town, a bunch of kids had a rager-party in it.”

The darkness swam like schools of frightened fish in her vision, lurching this way and that.

The encampments were the last bastion of the unlucky ones: a collective of wanderers who broke apart and came together like a hive of bees.

The image of her dad’s body on the tracks renewed in her mind’s eye: a sight she’d sworn to herself she’d bury beneath the memories of a hundred beautiful things he’d done for her before his death.

Are you ready to dive into this story with an atmosphere thick with sorrow that will utterly captivate you as you journey right alongside the main character and her companion?

Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert is a chilling narrative filled with unexpected twists and harrowing turns. At its core lies the abduction of innocent children, beginning a desperate race against time to locate them before the unthinkable occurs.

When a famous serial killer is put to death, many people think that the nightmare has ended… but it’s only just begun.

The next morning, the detective who had arrested the killer years ago is found dead. Reeling from the news, the victim’s daughter, Tess Claibourne, doesn’t have time to mourn her father before she’s set on a path of even more terror; her daughter has been kidnapped by the man that they believe did the killing.

Throughout the investigation, the killer/kidnapper toys with Tess, forcing her to face her past and uncover her long-buried memories.

My gosh, could Tess have anything more to deal with all at the same time?! She had her husband’s infidelity, the death of her parents, the kidnapping of her only child, and so much lingering trauma from her past both recent and decades old. As the story centers mainly around her, we’re really able to get into her head to see how she is processing everything. My heart broke for her the more we learned about her and saw her go through.

Mixed in between the chapters from Tess, we also get the perspective of the kidnapper himself as well as the little girl that he kidnapped. As each storyline was so perfectly placed, readers won’t want to put this one down! I was so anxious to see what would happen at each twist and turn that we came to!

One last note, I would definitely caution readers with this one as it covered a lot of elements that could be triggering. I think the author handled each one perfectly, but please be aware that the darkness is there.

In hindsight, a lot of people should have known a lot of things. But unfortunately, the world doesn’t ever run in reverse. And one thing I’ve learned to be a hard truth is that hindsight never proves useful.

He squeezed the sides of his head to keep his thoughts in order. Sometimes they got muddled.

At least he sounded less drunk now, Tess thought, like Danny had somehow punched the alcohol right out of his bloodstream. Or at least, some sense into him.

Julia might be alive, but they both knew that sometimes for victims, it was better off if they weren’t.

Her grandfather’s voice, when he’d taken a break at the kitchen table, grandmother fixing a pot of coffee as the sun began to rise, a sliver of orange glow amid the trees out there, like the horizon was on fire.

Wind pushed the tall grass like ocean waves, and Tess smelled rain, Dark clouds had gathered suddenly from the west. The news had forecast storms, and they’d arrived. As if on cue, distant thunder rumbled. The approaching clouds looked ominous.

I had a blast immersing myself in this gripping dark mystery, which intertwines real-world horrors with inexplicable supernatural phenomena.

If you enjoy exploring the human psyche’s complex and sometimes dark framework, set in a fast-paced race for answers, this read is for you!

Spectrum: An Autistic Horror Anthology is a collection of chilling horror tales crafted to sink deep into your psyche, allowing the terror to linger while also offering varied perspectives on the human experience.

The authenticity of each tale and the things that the authors each bring to the page is astonishing. Readers will never know what to expect with any turn of the page! The tales cover such an awesome range, with very real-world horrors that each one centers around.

While I enjoyed each and every story here, my favorites from this collection include: 

Per usual, here are my thoughts on each tale!

The severed head of their husband sits in a box next to them, talking and still very much alive after some magic was done. Even though they’re together, they’re not free from danger just yet.

The opening of this tale made me do a double-read! I chuckled but that laugh died fast when we got to the meat of the tale. Ugh, my heart hurts for these two! 

Arriving home one day to find his partner dead after an accident in the bathroom, this man is determined to set things right using a gift he learned about as a kid.

Ah, a killer take on the “sometimes dead is better” focus. Seeing this through only the eyes of one character made it extra terrifying! I can’t imagine being in either of their shoes. 

Oh my gosh, I don’t even have the right words for this one. This reminded me a bit of the thing I used to do as a kid where I’d say like, “the monster is here but it won’t grab me if I…” and then list off every single thing I did until I got settled. For example, “the monster is here, but it won’t grab me if I adjust my sheet, reach up and scratch my forehead, fix my hair, get back under the sheet…” In the end, did it help or just add to the night terror? 

Determined to solve a riddle he comes across, this being will stop at nothing to find the answer.  

Oh, this one reads like a fever dream! What fun! The determination to get answers had me so anxious! 

A reality TV host goes into a world where danger lurks around every corner, but lack of supplies is one of the biggest threats. 

Oh, this was fun! I love the setup and how everything was narrated to us. 

Nigel Thorne meets Lord Ridgely and they become fast friends. Soon, Lord Ridgely tells Nigel about the seven-headed monkey. 

What a wild tale of two eccentric friends! Mixed in with descriptions of the monkey heads, this tale keeps you on your toes! And Nigel Thorne… I couldn’t help but picture Nigel Thornberry during this read! 

Having trouble with the dark, this character goes to a witch to find a way to make it light all the time just for them. It works, but is it really what they want? 

Oh my gosh, the dread over the darkness in the beginning hit me like a punch! The line about the day taking a step toward night was exactly the dread I felt early on in postpartum. My heart hurts for this character! 

As time goes by, the sun appears to get closer and closer, and people start to die. When one man is left, he questions why. 

Oh my gosh, I definitely would have been one of the first to go. I get heat exhaustion all the time and I’ve gotten heat stroke a few times. What a terrifying premise presented in such a quiet day-to-day tale. 

Going to a remote town to stay in a motel that her college friend owned after a break-up, she’s looking for some quiet. Planning to get work done, her schedule is thrown off by a gnarly migraine. But that’s not the worst of it… 

Oh, this one made my head ache in sympathy. Migraines are horrible. 

Going back home to introduce his lady to his folks, it seems like they’re going to have a nice getaway. But the element of the creepy man at the gas station starts to hint otherwise.

This was such a beautiful tale of grief horror mixed with curiosity.

In a terrible situation with their father, this character doesn’t know how to go on. One day, they find something left behind by their mother that may just change everything. 

This one had my blood boiling so badly! Ugh, what an abusive and toxic father. 

Cursed to hear everything this house has to say, this character is about to go mad. But before losing themselves, they try to warn off their love to prevent them from visiting and getting stuck there. 

While terribly sad to think about being haunted by all of these voices, seeing what came next at each description of the house and what the elements were up to was so much fun! 

While at work at a gas station, this man repeats a mantra from therapy that soon becomes more real than he anticipated. 

Oh, the body horror here is so creepy! 

One night while working in a jump scare attraction, things don’t go as the routine dictated. This time, things have taken a deadly turn. 

Oh my gosh, that ending!! I love tales set in theme parks and attractions, so this one was right up my alley!

Freedom Was A Flaying by Onyx Osiris –

After a vicious attack, this character is left for dead. But an old god appears to him and makes a deal.

Oh my gosh, the body horror and gore here is brutal! That ending!! 

Walking free from a trial in which she was seen as the victim who fought back, this woman’s troubles aren’t over yet. 

WOW, this took such a turn! 

In a city of chaos, this character just wants peace and quiet. When he meets someone who just wants to help others relax, he’s smitten. But there’s something else going on here… 

Oh my gosh, the tension! I was so nervous to see what would happen next! 

A grief horror tale broken up by a review of an album, this story will make your heart ache for the main character.  

I loved the format of this one and how we learned more and more about the character slowly. 

Stuck in a wood where Fascism is the norm, this character does everything in their power to mask and keep who they are private to survive. 

Far too close to current times, this one has a tension that gets more and more intense with every step the character takes. That ending!! 

Waking up in a hospital, this little kid knows something is different but they aren’t quite sure what. They are sure that their parents are acting strangely. 

Oh, what a heartbreaking one to end on! This poor kid. With such a quick snapshot into their lives, the grief horror and confusion are potent.

“Dying and surviving are on the same side of the great river, dear heart. Living, really living, is on the other side,” he says.
— Worry Your Head by Rain Corbyn

Blood outside a living body is a life gone slightly wrong.
— Like No Blood by Adrian Speth

Every step towards daylight is ultimately just a step closer to night again.
— Curse The Darkness by Die Booth

Lowering his backpack over the gate, he climbs over after it, a jagged creep of unease spidering up his spine at the night and the quiet and the woods crouched beside him. It’s darker among the trees. Twigs crack beneath his step, and things rustle in the bushes.
— Curse The Darkness by Die Booth

The most interesting sight was a pond at the bottom of a deep depression, jagged and dramatic. The land was creased and folded for yards around it, like wrinkles in the corner of a wincing eye. Char wondered what had happened to make such an impression on the earth. Tiny toads chirped along the pond’s otherwise barren banks.
— But The Wi-Fi Is Great by John Wiswell

None of this needed to happen. Then again, it never does.
— The Mask It Wears by Sarah Musnicky

Still, he recognized the trail his torn skin had left, leading all the way back to the tree in the park. The scarlet stains were so vibrant against the dingy ground… It might have been beautiful if it didn’t end in a crime scene.
— Freedom Was A Flaying by Onyx Osiris

The staircase served as the spine of a decaying warehouse-turned-dwelling. Humans latched on to each landing as though they were scavengers, and the last pieces of the carcass had yet to be consumed.
— Neighborly by Aquino Loayza

Their arms are mottled with homemade tattoos, snatches of Dad’s favorite songs, lyrics they never wanted to forget, interesting chord progressions, moments etched into flesh to be recalled even when their brain decides to forget.
— The Silence Of Broken Things by Xan Van Rooyen

Sometimes you wish you didn’t know. But ignorance is a luxury afforded only to the complacent.
— Shabbat Dinner by Zachary Rosenburg

Her mother turned around in her seat. Only her nose was in focus; the rest of her face was blurry, like a watercolor painting ruined by a tipped rinsing cup.
— Different by Ashley Lezak

In the final pages of the book, Aquino writes that while this was Third Estate’s first release, it’s just “the first paint stroke in a much broader canvas we hope to paint.” I cannot wait to read more from this press!

This anthology is the kind of collection that makes me want to shout from the rooftops, urging everyone to grab a copy! So what are you waiting for? Grab yours today!