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The Halloween Bride
Halloween is approaching, but Deacon Croswell can't get into the spirit of the season due to the recent tragic loss of his girlfriend in an accident. But then he sees a mysterious woman in black wandering through his neighborhood followed by a procession of strange, ghostly children. Deacon makes a fateful decision to follow the woman and her young attendants into the night, marking the beginning of a nightmarish journey through a phantasmagoric landscape and a rendezvous with dark destiny on All Hallow's Eve.
Ebook contains bonus story "Standing In Line For The Death Machine" for a total of 33,000 words of previously unpublished material.
Ebook contains bonus story "Standing In Line For The Death Machine" for a total of 33,000 words of previously unpublished material.
87 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2013
6 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Smith
103 books759 followersBryan Smith is the Splatterpunk Award-winning author of more than forty horror and crime books, including 68 Kill, the cult classic Depraved and its sequels, as well as The Killing Kind, Slowly We Rot, The Freakshow, and many more. Bestselling horror author Brian Keene called Slowly We Rot, "The best zombie novel I've ever read."
68 Kill was adapted into a motion picture directed by Trent Haaga and starring Matthew Gray Gubler of the long-running CBS series Criminal Minds. 68 Kill won the Midnighters Award at the SXSW film festival in 2017 and was released to wide acclaim, including positive reviews in The New York Times and Bloody Disgusting.
Bryan also co-scripted an original Harley Quinn story for the House of Horrors anthology from DC Comics. He has worked with renowned horror publishers in both the mass market and small press spheres, including Leisure Books, Samhain Publishing, Grindhouse Press, Death’s Head Press, and more. His works are available wherever books are sold, with select titles also available in German and Italian.
68 Kill was adapted into a motion picture directed by Trent Haaga and starring Matthew Gray Gubler of the long-running CBS series Criminal Minds. 68 Kill won the Midnighters Award at the SXSW film festival in 2017 and was released to wide acclaim, including positive reviews in The New York Times and Bloody Disgusting.
Bryan also co-scripted an original Harley Quinn story for the House of Horrors anthology from DC Comics. He has worked with renowned horror publishers in both the mass market and small press spheres, including Leisure Books, Samhain Publishing, Grindhouse Press, Death’s Head Press, and more. His works are available wherever books are sold, with select titles also available in German and Italian.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 29, 2021
In the first story (the title story) we see Deacon moaning about his girlfriend who got killed in a car accident. A mysterious woman in black appears the night before Halloween promising him a reunion with the deceased girl. Will she keep her promise? What happened to Deacon's girlfriend? Why is Deacon given a double bladed ax? Very dark an intriguing tale with a fine denouement at the end. Ideal read as preparation for Halloween. The second story Midpoint was about a man, Kyle, finding himself in a black room without memory. What is going on here. Another page turning story with some creepy passages. Those two novellas were really well done and can be highly recommended to every horror fan.
October 9, 2019
Good enough reading for Halloween's time!
This is a short story about a man who is suffering due losing his beloved girlfriend in a car accident...
...that wasn't an accident at all!
A mysterious strange lady in black, walking around with a court of creepy kids...
...will make him an offer that he wouldn't resist...
...to do something about that unfair tragedy and maybe finding...
...peace.
This is a short story about a man who is suffering due losing his beloved girlfriend in a car accident...
...that wasn't an accident at all!
A mysterious strange lady in black, walking around with a court of creepy kids...
...will make him an offer that he wouldn't resist...
...to do something about that unfair tragedy and maybe finding...
...peace.
November 18, 2016
The night before Halloween, Deacon Croswell, still suffering from the recent loss of his girlfriend, finds himself stalking after a ghostly woman dressed all in black. When he finally catches up to her she has an offer for him that he cannot refuse.
A solid novella, but a wee predictable and ended “seemingly” abruptly for me. (I was surprised it ended when it did, because I was looking at the page count and forgot there was an additional story attached to this one.) That’s me being a knucklehead and my fault entirely. Oops. At least it wasn’t a bunch of blurbs from upcoming work or other publishers’ titles. I hate that sh*t. Mini-rant over. Sorry, Bryan.
The Halloween Bride is exactly what it sounds like and penned well, I just felt like it was missing something (and I don’t know what.) Seasonally appropriate for sure. 3+ Stars
Now, on to the bonus short. “Standing in Line for the Death Machine” was an extremely good short story. It had all the right amounts of creepy and wtf. Who doesn’t hate standing in line? Especially, if it may lead straight to hell. A Super Solid 4+ Stars
I needs me to read some more Bryan Smith.
A solid novella, but a wee predictable and ended “seemingly” abruptly for me. (I was surprised it ended when it did, because I was looking at the page count and forgot there was an additional story attached to this one.) That’s me being a knucklehead and my fault entirely. Oops. At least it wasn’t a bunch of blurbs from upcoming work or other publishers’ titles. I hate that sh*t. Mini-rant over. Sorry, Bryan.
The Halloween Bride is exactly what it sounds like and penned well, I just felt like it was missing something (and I don’t know what.) Seasonally appropriate for sure. 3+ Stars
Now, on to the bonus short. “Standing in Line for the Death Machine” was an extremely good short story. It had all the right amounts of creepy and wtf. Who doesn’t hate standing in line? Especially, if it may lead straight to hell. A Super Solid 4+ Stars
I needs me to read some more Bryan Smith.
October 22, 2015
This was my first foray into Bryan Smith's catalog. This has been on my Kindle for at least a year and I just now got around to reading it. Wow!
Smith is amazingm if this novella, and the accompanying bonus story are any indicator as to how the man's writing is as a whole.
The Halloween Bride is dynamite. Tension and dread mount from the start, and build to a climax that, though I predicted it, packed a giddy punch.
The bonus story was sick, twisted, and something I could only compare to Bentley Little at his deranged best.
Highly recommended. I can't wait to read more from this author!
Smith is amazingm if this novella, and the accompanying bonus story are any indicator as to how the man's writing is as a whole.
The Halloween Bride is dynamite. Tension and dread mount from the start, and build to a climax that, though I predicted it, packed a giddy punch.
The bonus story was sick, twisted, and something I could only compare to Bentley Little at his deranged best.
Highly recommended. I can't wait to read more from this author!
February 15, 2014
4.5*
WHAT'S IT ABOUT
Deacon is grieving his girlfriend when he sees a woman in black being followed by a group of children. Something about them seems different and Deacon decides to follow them into a new world, there he makes a pact to be united with his lost love.
WHAT I LIKED
- The world created for the Halloween dimension, loved the details.
- A tightly edited story that packed a lot into such a short read.
- The bonus story was great.
NOT SO KEEN ON
- Nothing much, the ending felt a little rushed.
A good solid, fun read.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT
Deacon is grieving his girlfriend when he sees a woman in black being followed by a group of children. Something about them seems different and Deacon decides to follow them into a new world, there he makes a pact to be united with his lost love.
WHAT I LIKED
- The world created for the Halloween dimension, loved the details.
- A tightly edited story that packed a lot into such a short read.
- The bonus story was great.
NOT SO KEEN ON
- Nothing much, the ending felt a little rushed.
A good solid, fun read.
January 12, 2014
This was a great novella (with an added short story bonus at the end). The emphasis placed on a grieving man's suffering over a tragedy that changed his life profoundly was so poignant that I could actually feel as though I was seeing the world through HIS eyes. Is he really seeing the things he "thinks" that he is, or is his mind simply grasping at any hallucination as a means of temporary escape from his depression?
Recommended!
Recommended!
October 21, 2015
I'm a Bryan Smith fan, Halloween is around the corner (at least on my social media it is; at this end of the world, we could scarcely care less), and I was in the mood for something short after some mammoth reads of late. So The Halloween Bride looked like a very safe bet.
Only this was far from Smith's best work. It's the story of a man grieving for his dead girlfriend who feels compelled to follow a woman dressed in black and an entourage of children one night for no apparent reason. For mine, it's also long on detail and short on surprises, and possessed one of those overly convenient plots where a character's actions are explained away by him knowing something without knowing why. I lost count of the number of times Deacon did something or chose not to do something else because he somehow knew this was the option he was meant to take. It just felt lazy and uninspiring - especially from Smith who usually provides greater depth than you might imagine reading the blurbs on the backs of his books. 2 stars.
Thankfully the bonus short included in the kindle edition, STANDING IN LINE FOR THE DEATH MACHINE, is a far more inventive and engaging effort. Though perhaps providing too much detail in the title, this Smith short contains an intriguing mystery, a very nasty set of tortures, and an unpredictable plot - all of which elevate it to a 4.5 star rating. This is more like the Bryan Smith I know and love to read. And since the less you know about this one, the better it is likely to be, so I'll refrain from describing any of the plot. Just read it.
So, overall, this one is a ...
... 3 Lines Extending Out of Sight for The Halloween Bride.
Only this was far from Smith's best work. It's the story of a man grieving for his dead girlfriend who feels compelled to follow a woman dressed in black and an entourage of children one night for no apparent reason. For mine, it's also long on detail and short on surprises, and possessed one of those overly convenient plots where a character's actions are explained away by him knowing something without knowing why. I lost count of the number of times Deacon did something or chose not to do something else because he somehow knew this was the option he was meant to take. It just felt lazy and uninspiring - especially from Smith who usually provides greater depth than you might imagine reading the blurbs on the backs of his books. 2 stars.
Thankfully the bonus short included in the kindle edition, STANDING IN LINE FOR THE DEATH MACHINE, is a far more inventive and engaging effort. Though perhaps providing too much detail in the title, this Smith short contains an intriguing mystery, a very nasty set of tortures, and an unpredictable plot - all of which elevate it to a 4.5 star rating. This is more like the Bryan Smith I know and love to read. And since the less you know about this one, the better it is likely to be, so I'll refrain from describing any of the plot. Just read it.
So, overall, this one is a ...
... 3 Lines Extending Out of Sight for The Halloween Bride.
December 4, 2013
This was a fun little story. I felt it could have been a little longer and maybe explained a few things in more detail, but I was content with what I was given by the author.
This was my first time reading Bryan Smith, and I like his writing style and think I'll be delving into more of the man's work.
This was my first time reading Bryan Smith, and I like his writing style and think I'll be delving into more of the man's work.
November 1, 2013
Great short story, enjoyed the bonus short story as well.
April 16, 2023
Deacon lost the love of his life recently. A hit and run that left him utterly alone. Somehow, the day before Halloween (i.e. Devil's Night), he sees a woman in black clothes and veil walking down the road. Behind her are children, following like snakes to her St. Patrick. Deacon decides to follow them and what he finds is that there is more to this woman and what she can do than he ever imagined.
I generally love Bryan Smith's writing and, even when I don't fully connect to a book (like this one), I still end up walking away entertained. The things that I enjoy most about his writing include his sense of humor and a sense that anything can happen. Both are on display here, but the story ends up following a path that...without giving spoilers, what I guessed would happen did happen. So, while the story is unique, it follows a pretty obvious path. The title story is short though, so it's not like there is a giant time drain here and it's fun enough to be entertained even if you're not overly impressed.
The second story, Standing In Line For The Death Machine was more enjoyable to me. It's a lot more confusing and therefore thought provoking. It also includes more of the shocking twists and violence that Smith is known for. SILFTD would be a solid 4 for me. Again, it's short (shorter even than The Halloween Bride), so don't expect world building and extensive characterization. But it comes together well and leaves more questions behind that draw me back to the story, whereas The Halloween Bride, enjoyable as it is, felt pretty much complete and dropped from my thoughts once it finished.
Okay, so keeping in mind this isn't what I'd consider to be prime Smith, it's still worth reading for any fan of his. New readers, start elsewhere, but for the converted, jump in without hesitation.
I generally love Bryan Smith's writing and, even when I don't fully connect to a book (like this one), I still end up walking away entertained. The things that I enjoy most about his writing include his sense of humor and a sense that anything can happen. Both are on display here, but the story ends up following a path that...without giving spoilers, what I guessed would happen did happen. So, while the story is unique, it follows a pretty obvious path. The title story is short though, so it's not like there is a giant time drain here and it's fun enough to be entertained even if you're not overly impressed.
The second story, Standing In Line For The Death Machine was more enjoyable to me. It's a lot more confusing and therefore thought provoking. It also includes more of the shocking twists and violence that Smith is known for. SILFTD would be a solid 4 for me. Again, it's short (shorter even than The Halloween Bride), so don't expect world building and extensive characterization. But it comes together well and leaves more questions behind that draw me back to the story, whereas The Halloween Bride, enjoyable as it is, felt pretty much complete and dropped from my thoughts once it finished.
Okay, so keeping in mind this isn't what I'd consider to be prime Smith, it's still worth reading for any fan of his. New readers, start elsewhere, but for the converted, jump in without hesitation.
November 11, 2017
A wonderful short read for the Halloween season. Smith creates a dreamlike experience with this tale, with loads of atmosphere to spare, sprinkled with delightful moments of gruesomeness.
October 24, 2016
The Halloween Bride captured the essence of Halloween more than any other book I've ventured in to this year as part of my annual October reading. The setting of Willowblack lane, a street lined by weeping willow trees adorned with black leaves, was essentially a whole different dimension belonging to the dead. The house Deacon enters on Willowblack Lane was like a house of horrors brought to life, with a different display of depravity within each room and unknown dangers around every corner.
While I loved the spooky vibe and creative setting, the lack of character building or any sort of emotional appeal prevented me from liking this story as much as I could have potentially liked it. A love as strong as Deacon and Anna's that can transcend death should have been a bit more palpable to me as a reader. I understand this is a horror novella, but I love a little more of the human experience to be present in a horror story, as it makes the horror more relatable and therefore more horrifying.
☆☆☆
While I loved the spooky vibe and creative setting, the lack of character building or any sort of emotional appeal prevented me from liking this story as much as I could have potentially liked it. A love as strong as Deacon and Anna's that can transcend death should have been a bit more palpable to me as a reader. I understand this is a horror novella, but I love a little more of the human experience to be present in a horror story, as it makes the horror more relatable and therefore more horrifying.
☆☆☆
November 4, 2015
Short rushed little story with little surprises or scares. There is a sea of Smith stuff out there you should read first, or instead of, I implore you if this is the only thing you have read by Bryan Smith and feel turned off please read some of his other stuff, almost any of it is leaps and bounds better than this story.
October 24, 2014
Two ok short stories. Not Bryan Smith's best work, but not too bad.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews