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Violent Advents: A Christmas Horror Anthology by L. Stephenson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A blood-splattered Christmas cornucopia.

'Violent Advents' is an anthology of festive horror short stories, edited by L. Stephenson and featuring twenty-six tales, each by a different indie horror author, designed as a creepy Advent calendar for each day of December through to Boxing Day. We indulge in a selection of possessed toys and ornaments, haunted trees, ghosts, slashers, demons, spectres from beyond the grave, witches, zombies, creepy crawlies and folkloric creatures, as we count down to Christmas. From deep insightful tales to completely off the wall lunacy, this collection boasts a range that will appeal to all tastes across the horror spectrum.

Highlighting favourites amongst the twenty-six proved a difficult task, as there was much to enjoy in this anthology! Nevertheless, my personal special mentions are:
“And I Would've Gotten Away With it Too” by A.D. Jones – an old-school, brutal stalk and slash at a Christmas tree farm;
“Biodiversity” by Mallory Cywinski – the spectre of abuse looms over a family reunion in this haunting story;
“Emuki” by Scott McGregor – a creepy, atmospheric chiller making Christmas Eve visitations nightmarish;
“What You Had” by Kev Harrison – a gripping tale of guilt and vengeance reaching from beyond the grave;
“Right Where You Need to Be” by Loki DeWitt – a mystery of folklore and belonging harking back to yesteryear;
“Nan” by Hayden Robinson – an emotional story of grief and the power of memory;
“Kw'arma I'th a Bw'itch” by Ross Jeffrey – a sublime revenge thriller that captivates in every syllable.

Overall, this is a fabulous Yuletide treat for anyone who enjoys their festive fun with dashes of terror and more than generous splashes of blood. Brimming with gore, thrills, and violence, the anthology covers multiple sub-genres, amongst them splatter, slasher, supernatural horror, natural horror, and dark fantasy, from the darkly comical to the richly atmospheric.

Plus, as an angelic finish atop this fiendish Christmas evergreen, all profits from sales of the anthology go towards the British Heart Foundation and the American Heart Foundation, perfect charitable causes for the season of giving, commemorating those who are sadly no longer with us, and looking towards a brighter future.

Thrilling and entertaining, ‘Violent Advents’ is an indulgent treat for horror and Christmas fans alike, a festive feast of work from the pens of indie authors, showcasing their talent and diversity all for a worthy cause.



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