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Nursery Stories for Dumb Crotch Goblins: A Child's Garden of Curses
Gloom House Publishing & Mothers of Mayhem proudly offer this charity anthology of horrors -- Nursery Stories for Dumb Crotch A Child's Garden of Curses. All proceeds go to DONATE LIFE AMERICA.
We all have an inner child. Sometimes that child is joyful and well-behaved, a shining symbol of nostalgia. At other times, that inner presence is decidedly darker and more disturbed, a small figure crouched in our mental shadows, grinning menacingly while holding a sharp knife. Our formative years teach us much about ourselves and the adults we will become. They teach us what delights us and what devastates us. They also reveal to us what we fear most in the world. Whether empirical and rational or imagined and impossible, such fears tend to stay with us. These stories are what happens when adult horror authors give their inner children permission to come out and play. But the authors in this book aren’t just any authors, and their inner children didn’t just come out and play; they ran amok, leaving trails of carnage and bloody sneaker prints across the floor. Good luck getting these uncomfortable and terrifying bedtime stories out of your head.
This title features...
Jay Wilburn
Edward Lee
Christine Morgan
M Ennenbach
Brian Keene
Ruthann Jagge
Allisha McAdoo
Carver Pike
Kristopher Triana
Megan Stockton
Chris Grindstaff
Lucas Milliron
Dani Brown
Russell Holbrook
We all have an inner child. Sometimes that child is joyful and well-behaved, a shining symbol of nostalgia. At other times, that inner presence is decidedly darker and more disturbed, a small figure crouched in our mental shadows, grinning menacingly while holding a sharp knife. Our formative years teach us much about ourselves and the adults we will become. They teach us what delights us and what devastates us. They also reveal to us what we fear most in the world. Whether empirical and rational or imagined and impossible, such fears tend to stay with us. These stories are what happens when adult horror authors give their inner children permission to come out and play. But the authors in this book aren’t just any authors, and their inner children didn’t just come out and play; they ran amok, leaving trails of carnage and bloody sneaker prints across the floor. Good luck getting these uncomfortable and terrifying bedtime stories out of your head.
This title features...
Jay Wilburn
Edward Lee
Christine Morgan
M Ennenbach
Brian Keene
Ruthann Jagge
Allisha McAdoo
Carver Pike
Kristopher Triana
Megan Stockton
Chris Grindstaff
Lucas Milliron
Dani Brown
Russell Holbrook
- GenresHorror
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2023
2 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Edward Lee
273 books1,467 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Edward Lee is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror, and has authored 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York paperback companies such as Leisure/Dorchester, Berkley, and Zebra/Kensington. He is a Bram Stoker award nominee for his story "Mr. Torso," and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen mass-market anthologies, including THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES OF 2000, Pocket's HOT BLOOD series, and the award-wining 999. Several of his novels have sold translation rights to Germany, Greece, and Romania. He also publishes quite actively in the small-press/limited-edition hardcover market; many of his books in this category have become collector's items. While a number of Lee's projects have been optioned for film, only one has been made, HEADER, which was released on DVD to mixed reviews in June, 2009, by Synapse Films.
Lee is particularly known for over-the-top occult concepts and an accelerated treatment of erotic and/or morbid sexual imagery and visceral violence.
He was born on May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bowie, Maryland. In the late-70s he served in the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, in Erlangen, West Germany, then, for a short time, was a municipal police officer in Cottage City, Maryland. Lee also attended the University of Maryland as an English major but quit in his last semester to pursue his dream of being a horror novelist. For over 15 years, he worked as the night manager for a security company in Annapolis, Maryland, while writing in his spare time. In 1997, however, he became a full-time writer, first spending several years in Seattle and then moving to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he currently resides.
Of note, the author cites as his strongest influence horror legend H. P. Lovecraft; in 2007, Lee embarked on what he calls his "Lovecraft kick" and wrote a spate of novels and novellas which tribute Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos. Among these projects are THE INNSWICH HORROR, "Trolley No. 1852," HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD, GOING MONSTERING, "Pages Torn From A Travel Journal," and "You Are My Everything." Lee promises more Lovecraftian work on the horizon.
Edward Lee is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror, and has authored 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York paperback companies such as Leisure/Dorchester, Berkley, and Zebra/Kensington. He is a Bram Stoker award nominee for his story "Mr. Torso," and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen mass-market anthologies, including THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES OF 2000, Pocket's HOT BLOOD series, and the award-wining 999. Several of his novels have sold translation rights to Germany, Greece, and Romania. He also publishes quite actively in the small-press/limited-edition hardcover market; many of his books in this category have become collector's items. While a number of Lee's projects have been optioned for film, only one has been made, HEADER, which was released on DVD to mixed reviews in June, 2009, by Synapse Films.
Lee is particularly known for over-the-top occult concepts and an accelerated treatment of erotic and/or morbid sexual imagery and visceral violence.
He was born on May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bowie, Maryland. In the late-70s he served in the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, in Erlangen, West Germany, then, for a short time, was a municipal police officer in Cottage City, Maryland. Lee also attended the University of Maryland as an English major but quit in his last semester to pursue his dream of being a horror novelist. For over 15 years, he worked as the night manager for a security company in Annapolis, Maryland, while writing in his spare time. In 1997, however, he became a full-time writer, first spending several years in Seattle and then moving to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he currently resides.
Of note, the author cites as his strongest influence horror legend H. P. Lovecraft; in 2007, Lee embarked on what he calls his "Lovecraft kick" and wrote a spate of novels and novellas which tribute Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos. Among these projects are THE INNSWICH HORROR, "Trolley No. 1852," HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD, GOING MONSTERING, "Pages Torn From A Travel Journal," and "You Are My Everything." Lee promises more Lovecraftian work on the horizon.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 8, 2023
First of all, this book is a charity anthology raising money for a charity close to Marian Elaine's (one half of the MoM podcast!) heart! Donate Life America! So, if you needed an excuse, other than the absolutely incredible line up and the amazing cover that will look real pretty on your bookcase, that's it! Buy it to raise funds for amazing people in need! 💚
I loved all the stories in this book, there are lots of different genres and takes on the classic nursery rhymes, as well as some new ones and a couple of poems too! All dark, disturbing and delightful with sinister undertones, just like all the great fairy tales!
My favourites were, THE APYTOX, YOKAI, WHERE IS THUMBKIN, REPULSAL, and my very fave was THEY TELL THIS SHIT TO KIDS? 💜
As always, I will write a few words for each, to try and tempt you into the garden of depravity and darkness……
💚JACK BY JAY WILBURN💚 This story immediately opens with blood, brutality and a high energy narrative, drawing you straight into it. A barbaric twist on Jack and the Beanstalk, Jack fends off murderous intruders in order to save his Mum, but when he stumbles on the Giant's world, this takes a nasty turn, more than once…
Bloody, chilling and twisted.
💚THE APYTOX BY EDWARD LEE💚 Granger is stopped at the airport, and whilst the TSA guy inspects his goods, he happily inspects the female goods around him. He's somewhat of a 'professional' perv, transporting some extremely valuable eye candy. When a woman and her baby sit in the seat next to him on the plane, he's furious, he hates babies. But this baby is different, very different, in fact, he's quite the little demon…. He has ways to make Granger a billionaire, if he so wishes, but of course, it will cum at a price….
Gross and disturbing, but fun!
💚THEY TELL THIS SHIT TO KIDS? BY CHRISTINE MORGAN💚 Waking up in a room full of strangers, not knowing the how, why or where, is bad enough, but to also be dressed as a mouse?! It seems everyone has some sort of fancy dress outfit on and they are all in a kind of display case. This all makes for a confusing, scary time for the characters, but a hilarious one for the reader. It turns out they're all nursery rhyme characters and they're about to play a game….
Kids stuff in horror is some of the most chilling stuff, especially when you look into the true meanings behind some of the nursery rhymes of old. This was just that. Eerie and creepy as all hell….
Fast paced, sinister fun!
💚YOKAI BY MIKE ENNENBACH💚 Beautifully poetic words depicting sheer horror and fearless cunning!
Magnificent! 💜
💚THE FAIRY PRINCESS BY BRIAN KEENE💚 All Eryn wants is to be a princess for Halloween, but her Mum feels otherwise, her Mum has taken her feminist beliefs to the extreme and doesn't want her daughter to be stereotyped. When Eryn and her Dad stumble upon a fairy garden while out trick or treating, could this be just the thing that Eryn needs to cheer her up. Her Dad thinks it will make a nice change for her, and it certainly is that, in ways he could never imagine….
A strong Halloween atmosphere, creepy, chilling and haunting!
💚NUMBER THREE RAINBOW LANE BY RUTHANN JAGGE💚 Mallory is a real estate agent, looking for adventure. The latest house to catch her eye though, comes with a warning about the owner, Ella, and her strange pet. A warning Mallory decides not to heed, to her detriment, and things go downhill fast once she is inside..
A clever Wizard of Oz take, like a horrifically vivid fever dream.
💚NO SLEEP BY ALLISHA MCADOO💚 A poem of a Mother's despair and a love for her devil child! 🖤😈🖤
💚WHERE IS THUMBKIN BY CARVER PIKE💚 Beatrix is a born performer, born into the life of showmanship, she excels, until her Daddy dies and she has to go and live a 'normal' life with her Grandmother! Or that's her dream anyway, in reality, her Dad is still very much alive, but he's nothing special at all. Her friends are always there for her though, her finger friends, her only real friends as she's deemed 'weird' by others. She's good with her hands though, if nothing else, and when she's forced to attend a Halloween party she doesn't want to be at, they come in very handy! She's an empath, she feels what others feel, feels FOR others, strongly, overpoweringly, and when her finger friends go quiet and a darkness takes over, so do her thumbs, and things get very dark and very disturbing!
Extremely descriptive and completely creepy!
💚BEFORE THE BOOGEYMEN COME BY KRISTOPHER TRIANA💚 In this story we meet The Underbeds. The monsters that live under the bed, until their chosen child outgrows them that is, and then the Boogeymen will take over! Time is running out for them to succeed in their terror mission, will they keep their child in fear, or will the boogeyman intervene?
I enjoyed how the story switched from monster to child's POV, it was really good fun.
💚GOOD LITTLE BOYS BY MEGAN STOCKTON💚 A brilliantly chilling little poem!
💚REPULSAL BY CHRIS GRINDSTAFF💚 In the midst of Black Toad Forest stands a tower, surrounded by skulls on spikes and within its walls, a prisoner. Noone ever comes out of the forest alive, but one day, whilst starving, the temptation and desperation is too much for Alexander and his family and they venture forth, into deadly horrors. Years later, Alexander returns to get vengeance for his family and to rescue the prisoner in the tower, but things quickly take a horrific and grotesque turn, with dire consequences.
A great twist!
💚BAREFOOT BEN BY LUCAS MILLIRON💚 Ben is the local mail carrier, but there's a storm brewing on the lake today that's going to delay him, and he's warned against going. But he feels people need him and so he doesn't heed the warning. And later, when he needs shelter, he finds it in the most horrific and bizarre way, which turns into an emotional rescue of his own!
An atmospheric end of the world feel. Poetic. Beautiful 🖤
💚QUEENIES NURSERY RHYMES FOR SHIT HEADS, PERVS AND SHEEP-FUCKERS BY DANI BROWN💚 🥚Humpty Dumpty🥚 WOAH!! 😂 The trenchcoat clad creep in the bushes wants rid of Humpty, he doesn't like sharing his park with anyone, especially when they are doing what Humpty is doing with those sprinkles 😲 Completely sick and nauseating but hilarious too!
🕷️ITSY BITSY🕷️ As the irritating child next door continues to sing, so too does the creature coming out of the drain…. Chilling and gross!
🐑LITTLE BO PEEP🐑 Single Welsh men in drag trying to outwit the farmers so they can have a game of sheep tail lifting…. Hilarious!
💇THE MUFFIN MAN💇 Do YOU know the Muffin Man? Or the Mullet Man? It's probably best that you don't, but I hear he's all business at the front, and party at the back! 😉
💚THE MAN WHO TRIED TO CATCH HIS DEATH BY RUSSELL HOLBROOK💚 First of all, the characters here seem very familiar 😉
Mick and Melody are completely devoted to each other, totally and utterly in love with one another. When Melody is robbed several times, despite being scared and angry, they are thankful that they still have each other, that means so much more than any possessions. But the thief keeps taking, until there is no more left to take….
Heartbreaking! 💔
I loved all the stories in this book, there are lots of different genres and takes on the classic nursery rhymes, as well as some new ones and a couple of poems too! All dark, disturbing and delightful with sinister undertones, just like all the great fairy tales!
My favourites were, THE APYTOX, YOKAI, WHERE IS THUMBKIN, REPULSAL, and my very fave was THEY TELL THIS SHIT TO KIDS? 💜
As always, I will write a few words for each, to try and tempt you into the garden of depravity and darkness……
💚JACK BY JAY WILBURN💚 This story immediately opens with blood, brutality and a high energy narrative, drawing you straight into it. A barbaric twist on Jack and the Beanstalk, Jack fends off murderous intruders in order to save his Mum, but when he stumbles on the Giant's world, this takes a nasty turn, more than once…
Bloody, chilling and twisted.
💚THE APYTOX BY EDWARD LEE💚 Granger is stopped at the airport, and whilst the TSA guy inspects his goods, he happily inspects the female goods around him. He's somewhat of a 'professional' perv, transporting some extremely valuable eye candy. When a woman and her baby sit in the seat next to him on the plane, he's furious, he hates babies. But this baby is different, very different, in fact, he's quite the little demon…. He has ways to make Granger a billionaire, if he so wishes, but of course, it will cum at a price….
Gross and disturbing, but fun!
💚THEY TELL THIS SHIT TO KIDS? BY CHRISTINE MORGAN💚 Waking up in a room full of strangers, not knowing the how, why or where, is bad enough, but to also be dressed as a mouse?! It seems everyone has some sort of fancy dress outfit on and they are all in a kind of display case. This all makes for a confusing, scary time for the characters, but a hilarious one for the reader. It turns out they're all nursery rhyme characters and they're about to play a game….
Kids stuff in horror is some of the most chilling stuff, especially when you look into the true meanings behind some of the nursery rhymes of old. This was just that. Eerie and creepy as all hell….
Fast paced, sinister fun!
💚YOKAI BY MIKE ENNENBACH💚 Beautifully poetic words depicting sheer horror and fearless cunning!
Magnificent! 💜
💚THE FAIRY PRINCESS BY BRIAN KEENE💚 All Eryn wants is to be a princess for Halloween, but her Mum feels otherwise, her Mum has taken her feminist beliefs to the extreme and doesn't want her daughter to be stereotyped. When Eryn and her Dad stumble upon a fairy garden while out trick or treating, could this be just the thing that Eryn needs to cheer her up. Her Dad thinks it will make a nice change for her, and it certainly is that, in ways he could never imagine….
A strong Halloween atmosphere, creepy, chilling and haunting!
💚NUMBER THREE RAINBOW LANE BY RUTHANN JAGGE💚 Mallory is a real estate agent, looking for adventure. The latest house to catch her eye though, comes with a warning about the owner, Ella, and her strange pet. A warning Mallory decides not to heed, to her detriment, and things go downhill fast once she is inside..
A clever Wizard of Oz take, like a horrifically vivid fever dream.
💚NO SLEEP BY ALLISHA MCADOO💚 A poem of a Mother's despair and a love for her devil child! 🖤😈🖤
💚WHERE IS THUMBKIN BY CARVER PIKE💚 Beatrix is a born performer, born into the life of showmanship, she excels, until her Daddy dies and she has to go and live a 'normal' life with her Grandmother! Or that's her dream anyway, in reality, her Dad is still very much alive, but he's nothing special at all. Her friends are always there for her though, her finger friends, her only real friends as she's deemed 'weird' by others. She's good with her hands though, if nothing else, and when she's forced to attend a Halloween party she doesn't want to be at, they come in very handy! She's an empath, she feels what others feel, feels FOR others, strongly, overpoweringly, and when her finger friends go quiet and a darkness takes over, so do her thumbs, and things get very dark and very disturbing!
Extremely descriptive and completely creepy!
💚BEFORE THE BOOGEYMEN COME BY KRISTOPHER TRIANA💚 In this story we meet The Underbeds. The monsters that live under the bed, until their chosen child outgrows them that is, and then the Boogeymen will take over! Time is running out for them to succeed in their terror mission, will they keep their child in fear, or will the boogeyman intervene?
I enjoyed how the story switched from monster to child's POV, it was really good fun.
💚GOOD LITTLE BOYS BY MEGAN STOCKTON💚 A brilliantly chilling little poem!
💚REPULSAL BY CHRIS GRINDSTAFF💚 In the midst of Black Toad Forest stands a tower, surrounded by skulls on spikes and within its walls, a prisoner. Noone ever comes out of the forest alive, but one day, whilst starving, the temptation and desperation is too much for Alexander and his family and they venture forth, into deadly horrors. Years later, Alexander returns to get vengeance for his family and to rescue the prisoner in the tower, but things quickly take a horrific and grotesque turn, with dire consequences.
A great twist!
💚BAREFOOT BEN BY LUCAS MILLIRON💚 Ben is the local mail carrier, but there's a storm brewing on the lake today that's going to delay him, and he's warned against going. But he feels people need him and so he doesn't heed the warning. And later, when he needs shelter, he finds it in the most horrific and bizarre way, which turns into an emotional rescue of his own!
An atmospheric end of the world feel. Poetic. Beautiful 🖤
💚QUEENIES NURSERY RHYMES FOR SHIT HEADS, PERVS AND SHEEP-FUCKERS BY DANI BROWN💚 🥚Humpty Dumpty🥚 WOAH!! 😂 The trenchcoat clad creep in the bushes wants rid of Humpty, he doesn't like sharing his park with anyone, especially when they are doing what Humpty is doing with those sprinkles 😲 Completely sick and nauseating but hilarious too!
🕷️ITSY BITSY🕷️ As the irritating child next door continues to sing, so too does the creature coming out of the drain…. Chilling and gross!
🐑LITTLE BO PEEP🐑 Single Welsh men in drag trying to outwit the farmers so they can have a game of sheep tail lifting…. Hilarious!
💇THE MUFFIN MAN💇 Do YOU know the Muffin Man? Or the Mullet Man? It's probably best that you don't, but I hear he's all business at the front, and party at the back! 😉
💚THE MAN WHO TRIED TO CATCH HIS DEATH BY RUSSELL HOLBROOK💚 First of all, the characters here seem very familiar 😉
Mick and Melody are completely devoted to each other, totally and utterly in love with one another. When Melody is robbed several times, despite being scared and angry, they are thankful that they still have each other, that means so much more than any possessions. But the thief keeps taking, until there is no more left to take….
Heartbreaking! 💔
September 13, 2023
Excellent collection of nursery stories that no child should read written by some of the most amazing authors in the indie horror community, including the late Jay Wilburn.
I laughed, I cried and I gagged reading these stories and poems. I loved the way classic nursery tales were taken and twisted in the most delightful way possible. Highly entertaining you'll blow through this book in no time.
I laughed, I cried and I gagged reading these stories and poems. I loved the way classic nursery tales were taken and twisted in the most delightful way possible. Highly entertaining you'll blow through this book in no time.
September 1, 2023
A Horror Bookworm Recommendation
Nursery Stories For Dumb Crotch Goblins: A Child’s Garden Of Curses
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
A little girl’s adventure in trick-or-treating on Halloween night turns into a most unusual experience. The ordinary ghost walks and haunted hayrides are overlooked by the young child due to a strange fairy garden. The visit evolves into a horrific holiday transformation.
A group of total strangers wake up with no idea where they are or how they got there. Dressed as classic nursery rhyme characters, the abducted individuals are imprisoned inside cages and are forced to face their own fractured fairy tale. Let the “bad fuckery” begin.
Beneath a child’s bed there dwells an ensemble of monsters. The spooky critters are in denial of becoming less frightening to a youngster who is slowly maturing. Refusing to let go of their savory territory, a plan of ultimate ghoulishness has been hatched by the self proclaimed scary brethren.
Nursery Stories For Dumb Crotch Goblins: A Child’s Garden Of Curses is a Mothers Of Mayhem charity anthology. Presented by Gloom House Publishing, this collection of nursery short stories will have all proceeds from the first run go towards Donate Life America, a nonprofit organization designed to save and heal lives.
Heavy horror hitters such as Edward Lee, Christine Morgan, Jay Wilburn, Brian Keene and Kristopher Triana symbolize all things that go bump in the night. From a boy named Jack that bravely enters a land of savage giants atop a beanstalk to a perverted semi-human creature offering wealth for perverted sexual satisfaction…you’ll never find stories like these on “Love American Style.” Creepy shadow monsters, evil old witches and foreboding woods complete the representation of true evil within these pages of depravity.
Then there’s author Dani Brown (insert at least ten seconds of awkward silence here). Well, let’s just say these cherished poems and rhymes take a sharp left turn towards shitheads, pervs and sheep-fuckers. Welcome to the immoral world of Humpty Dumpty, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Little Bo Peep and The Muffin Man. You have been warned.
Crotch Goblins is a place where Carver Pike answers that infamous question, “where is Thumbkin?” It’s a place where one can savor the flavor of the sweet meat of a child. It’s a place where unstable folklore offers sugar and spice and everything not so nice. It’s a place where often is heard “Fe…Fi…Fo…Fum…I smell the trigger warnings to come.” Prepare yourself for this five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
Nursery Stories For Dumb Crotch Goblins: A Child’s Garden Of Curses
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
A little girl’s adventure in trick-or-treating on Halloween night turns into a most unusual experience. The ordinary ghost walks and haunted hayrides are overlooked by the young child due to a strange fairy garden. The visit evolves into a horrific holiday transformation.
A group of total strangers wake up with no idea where they are or how they got there. Dressed as classic nursery rhyme characters, the abducted individuals are imprisoned inside cages and are forced to face their own fractured fairy tale. Let the “bad fuckery” begin.
Beneath a child’s bed there dwells an ensemble of monsters. The spooky critters are in denial of becoming less frightening to a youngster who is slowly maturing. Refusing to let go of their savory territory, a plan of ultimate ghoulishness has been hatched by the self proclaimed scary brethren.
Nursery Stories For Dumb Crotch Goblins: A Child’s Garden Of Curses is a Mothers Of Mayhem charity anthology. Presented by Gloom House Publishing, this collection of nursery short stories will have all proceeds from the first run go towards Donate Life America, a nonprofit organization designed to save and heal lives.
Heavy horror hitters such as Edward Lee, Christine Morgan, Jay Wilburn, Brian Keene and Kristopher Triana symbolize all things that go bump in the night. From a boy named Jack that bravely enters a land of savage giants atop a beanstalk to a perverted semi-human creature offering wealth for perverted sexual satisfaction…you’ll never find stories like these on “Love American Style.” Creepy shadow monsters, evil old witches and foreboding woods complete the representation of true evil within these pages of depravity.
Then there’s author Dani Brown (insert at least ten seconds of awkward silence here). Well, let’s just say these cherished poems and rhymes take a sharp left turn towards shitheads, pervs and sheep-fuckers. Welcome to the immoral world of Humpty Dumpty, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Little Bo Peep and The Muffin Man. You have been warned.
Crotch Goblins is a place where Carver Pike answers that infamous question, “where is Thumbkin?” It’s a place where one can savor the flavor of the sweet meat of a child. It’s a place where unstable folklore offers sugar and spice and everything not so nice. It’s a place where often is heard “Fe…Fi…Fo…Fum…I smell the trigger warnings to come.” Prepare yourself for this five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
April 20, 2024
It's not often I read books written for charity, it's not that I don't like supporting a good cause but because sometimes these books are so limited it's often too late to pick up a copy. This book however isn't limited to a number so you can pick up a copy of this easily. Nursery Stories for Dumb Crotch Goblins is a short story collection written by several different authors that I have been meaning to read for a while now. Edward Lee, Christine Morgan, etc doing their own takes on the common fairy tale, with a few parodies is an exciting idea that I couldn't help but find myself intrigued by.
Jack:
Jack lives a life of carnage, ever since he was born he's had to fight and murder other people or animals to get food. His mother has lived through a traumatic experience but is still willing to grip him by the throat if needed. But when Jack is offered a few beans, a magic beanstalk soon grows out of the ground and into an alternative reality where his family are giants and worst of all happy... Jack may have found the solution to his and his mother's problems, but how long will it take for the giants to realize what's happening and by then will it already be too late?
Jay Wilburn bless his soul has written a really creative and bloodthirsty twist on the Jack and The Beanstalk fairy tale. It's a very unforgiving and gruesome story with a terrific idea and a disturbing ending. It's fascinating to see the differences between Jack and his giant self, we get to follow a character whose life has very much been destroyed by the environment around him, and to see that compared to a much happier life from a Jack in another dimension is depressing. It's a great take on the original story written by a creative talent who was taken away from us too soon. 9/10
The Ayptox:
Granger has an important and expensive delivery to make to a private collector in Geneva, who's waiting for an incredibly rare piece of art. But when a mysterious lady sits next to him with a baby on the airplane, he's in for a night full of terror, greed, lust, and sheer insanity. When is a baby, not a baby and what does it what?
Edward Lee has written an incredibly disturbing tale that is oddly funny in a few places but mostly terrifying, grotesque, shocking, and vile. I've said in the past I wasn't too keen on Edward's other short story 'The Baby', it just didn't impact me in the way his other stuff often does and left me feeling a little disappointed, this on the other hand was brilliant. It's a horrifying tale with some disgusting and messed-up imagery with a terrific ending. The main character in this story is a sexist piece of crap, which is only further enhanced by the baby's mysterious power. Not for the faint of heart, but holy shit is it a shocker! 10/10
They Tell This Shit to Kids?:
Ten strangers in ten different cages, dressed in bizarre costumes all related to classic nursery rhymes. Who's kidnapped them all and why? What monstrous fates await them and will any of them get out alive?
Christine Morgan has written an incredible and brutal story that is really clever. It reminds me of Saw almost but if Saw was about a bunch of traps that all related to crude and sometimes messed up nursery rhymes. It's a fast-paced story with shocking scenes, a terrific sense of humor, an eerie atmosphere, and a sense of hopelessness. Brilliant stuff! 10/10
Yokai:
A beautiful woman spies an intruder on her land and must be cunning to rid this horror for good.
M. Ennenbach has written a fun little story that is beautifully poetic and creepy. I don't have much to say about this story, but it's fun. 8/10
The Fairy Princess:
Eryn is devastated that her mother is forcing her to dress up as a stormtrooper for Halloween instead of a fairy princess. Patrick her dad feels bad for her, but with his divorce from his ex-wife, there isn't much he can do. However, when the two come across an old lady hosting a private fairy walk in her garden it seems to make up for everything. But when his daughter leaves to head out on this brief adventure, something terrible is about to happen.
Brian Keene has written a brilliant trick-or-treat story that is gorgeously atmospheric and haunting. It has a lot to say about how someone's political biases could negatively affect a child's life even if it is with good intentions. It's a very creepy story with a devastating ending. 9/10
Number Three Rainbow Lane:
Mallory Gayle and her pet dog are new to the town of Osgood. She's an estate agent and if she doesn't work fast enough she might not have a permanent place to stay. She's found that the house on Rainbow Lane might actually be worth a fortune and if so she's in for a sale! But the old lady and her pet monkey residing in the house have other ideas.
Ruthann Jagge has written a fun and gruesome little story of an estate agent's deal going disastrously wrong. It's a wild story with some spooky imagery. The ending of this one is very much like that of a dark fairy tale and it's wonderful. 8/10
No Sleep:
A mother's despair and her wailing child. Will the cries ever stop and will she ever sleep?
Allisha Mcadoo has written a rather lovely and oddly eerie little poem about a mother's lack of sleep and love for her demonic child. I'm not a huge fan of poems, but I do appreciate reading them sometimes, since some of them much like this one can still be a lot of fun. 8/10
Where is Thumbkin?:
Beatriz Bell is a curious individual, she's a loner and often bullied at school but she does have an extraordinary talent with her fingers and she can also sense others' emotions. She can talk to her fingers and they talk happily back to her with their own little personalities. However, when a guy called Donovan invites her to a Halloween party events soon burst into chaos. Donovan hasn't brought her out here for a good time, but rather to give her a chance at getting revenge.
Carver Pike has written an atmospheric story that is weird, imaginative, funny, and creepy. Beatriz Bell is a vulnerable and easy-to-sympathize protagonist who falls prey to a supernatural force. The ending to this one is chaotic, shocking, gruesome, and devastating. It's a brilliant story that's also very unique. 10/10
Before The Boogeyman Come:
Ever wonder what the life of a monster scaring children is like? Well, Slither, Meanie, and Fred-Fred are about to scare their victim for good and perhaps they might even give him a phobia!
Kristopher Triana has written a fun and hilarious short story that's reminiscent of Monsters INC except darker. 8/10
Good Little Boys:
Why did the Good Little Boys come? Why did the Good Little Boys kill me?
Megan Stockton has written a haunting poem on the murder of women because they were accused of being witches due to religious corruption and sexism. It's a thought-provoking read that makes you realize just how many innocent women were murdered back in the day for being outside 'the norm' set in motion by men. 8/10
Repulsal:
Anyone who enters the blackwood toad forest doesn't come out alive. That is except for one boy whose family had been brutally murdered near a dark tower, where an imprisoned girl inside sings and has impossibly long hair. Now ten years later the boy has returned to discover a terrifying truth.
Chris Grindstaff has written a brilliant and horrifying twist on the original Rapunzel fairytale. It's a shocking, grotesque, and horrible story with a jaw-dropping ending. It's hard to talk about this story without going into spoilers but it's heartbreaking in the most brutal way imaginable. 10/10
Barefoot Ben:
Ben is a mail carrier and despite a warning from his fathers, he decides to go out into the storm to deliver medicine to those who need help. But it's raining hard and the waves are lapping against the beach with full force. Coming across a house he decides to take shelter only to discover something truly evil in wait for him.
Lucas Milliron has written a very atmospheric and meaningful story of a boy determined to do his job and help others, who ends up rescuing a creature in need. It does have some gruesome imagery toward the story's climax but it's more of an emotional read than a horror story, with likable characters and a bittersweet ending. 8/10
Queenie's Nursery Rhymes for Shitheads, Pervs, Sheep-fuckers:
There have been many alterations or different takes on nursery rhymes, but none of them have been as vile, perverted, or grotesque as this! A pervert wants to take out humpty-dumpty, an evil child next door is bringing a spider into existence, welsh men are out to fuck some sheep and the muffin man is out to play a prank.
Dani Brown has written a sort of mini-compilation of sorts in a book full of compilations. I'm sure Dani Brown is a terrific author, but aside from the story about the Spider which was suitably creepy and horrifying, the others just weren't my cup of tea. 3/10
The Man Who Tried to Catch His Death:
Mick and Melody are a happily married couple, however, when a thief continues to take everything away from her it isn't long before their lives are destroyed.
Russell Holbrook has written a sad story about two lovers getting separated by life itself. The thief is a metaphor for the unfairness of life and how it seems to take away everything whether you're willing to or not. It's a depressing read with a gloomy ending. 7/10
Overall: It's a brilliant collection of short stories and poems. I wasn't keen on one story in particular but aside from that, I loved this collection. It's also a wonderful feeling knowing that in buying this I am supporting an incredible charity that helps people in need. 116/140
Jack:
Jack lives a life of carnage, ever since he was born he's had to fight and murder other people or animals to get food. His mother has lived through a traumatic experience but is still willing to grip him by the throat if needed. But when Jack is offered a few beans, a magic beanstalk soon grows out of the ground and into an alternative reality where his family are giants and worst of all happy... Jack may have found the solution to his and his mother's problems, but how long will it take for the giants to realize what's happening and by then will it already be too late?
Jay Wilburn bless his soul has written a really creative and bloodthirsty twist on the Jack and The Beanstalk fairy tale. It's a very unforgiving and gruesome story with a terrific idea and a disturbing ending. It's fascinating to see the differences between Jack and his giant self, we get to follow a character whose life has very much been destroyed by the environment around him, and to see that compared to a much happier life from a Jack in another dimension is depressing. It's a great take on the original story written by a creative talent who was taken away from us too soon. 9/10
The Ayptox:
Granger has an important and expensive delivery to make to a private collector in Geneva, who's waiting for an incredibly rare piece of art. But when a mysterious lady sits next to him with a baby on the airplane, he's in for a night full of terror, greed, lust, and sheer insanity. When is a baby, not a baby and what does it what?
Edward Lee has written an incredibly disturbing tale that is oddly funny in a few places but mostly terrifying, grotesque, shocking, and vile. I've said in the past I wasn't too keen on Edward's other short story 'The Baby', it just didn't impact me in the way his other stuff often does and left me feeling a little disappointed, this on the other hand was brilliant. It's a horrifying tale with some disgusting and messed-up imagery with a terrific ending. The main character in this story is a sexist piece of crap, which is only further enhanced by the baby's mysterious power. Not for the faint of heart, but holy shit is it a shocker! 10/10
They Tell This Shit to Kids?:
Ten strangers in ten different cages, dressed in bizarre costumes all related to classic nursery rhymes. Who's kidnapped them all and why? What monstrous fates await them and will any of them get out alive?
Christine Morgan has written an incredible and brutal story that is really clever. It reminds me of Saw almost but if Saw was about a bunch of traps that all related to crude and sometimes messed up nursery rhymes. It's a fast-paced story with shocking scenes, a terrific sense of humor, an eerie atmosphere, and a sense of hopelessness. Brilliant stuff! 10/10
Yokai:
A beautiful woman spies an intruder on her land and must be cunning to rid this horror for good.
M. Ennenbach has written a fun little story that is beautifully poetic and creepy. I don't have much to say about this story, but it's fun. 8/10
The Fairy Princess:
Eryn is devastated that her mother is forcing her to dress up as a stormtrooper for Halloween instead of a fairy princess. Patrick her dad feels bad for her, but with his divorce from his ex-wife, there isn't much he can do. However, when the two come across an old lady hosting a private fairy walk in her garden it seems to make up for everything. But when his daughter leaves to head out on this brief adventure, something terrible is about to happen.
Brian Keene has written a brilliant trick-or-treat story that is gorgeously atmospheric and haunting. It has a lot to say about how someone's political biases could negatively affect a child's life even if it is with good intentions. It's a very creepy story with a devastating ending. 9/10
Number Three Rainbow Lane:
Mallory Gayle and her pet dog are new to the town of Osgood. She's an estate agent and if she doesn't work fast enough she might not have a permanent place to stay. She's found that the house on Rainbow Lane might actually be worth a fortune and if so she's in for a sale! But the old lady and her pet monkey residing in the house have other ideas.
Ruthann Jagge has written a fun and gruesome little story of an estate agent's deal going disastrously wrong. It's a wild story with some spooky imagery. The ending of this one is very much like that of a dark fairy tale and it's wonderful. 8/10
No Sleep:
A mother's despair and her wailing child. Will the cries ever stop and will she ever sleep?
Allisha Mcadoo has written a rather lovely and oddly eerie little poem about a mother's lack of sleep and love for her demonic child. I'm not a huge fan of poems, but I do appreciate reading them sometimes, since some of them much like this one can still be a lot of fun. 8/10
Where is Thumbkin?:
Beatriz Bell is a curious individual, she's a loner and often bullied at school but she does have an extraordinary talent with her fingers and she can also sense others' emotions. She can talk to her fingers and they talk happily back to her with their own little personalities. However, when a guy called Donovan invites her to a Halloween party events soon burst into chaos. Donovan hasn't brought her out here for a good time, but rather to give her a chance at getting revenge.
Carver Pike has written an atmospheric story that is weird, imaginative, funny, and creepy. Beatriz Bell is a vulnerable and easy-to-sympathize protagonist who falls prey to a supernatural force. The ending to this one is chaotic, shocking, gruesome, and devastating. It's a brilliant story that's also very unique. 10/10
Before The Boogeyman Come:
Ever wonder what the life of a monster scaring children is like? Well, Slither, Meanie, and Fred-Fred are about to scare their victim for good and perhaps they might even give him a phobia!
Kristopher Triana has written a fun and hilarious short story that's reminiscent of Monsters INC except darker. 8/10
Good Little Boys:
Why did the Good Little Boys come? Why did the Good Little Boys kill me?
Megan Stockton has written a haunting poem on the murder of women because they were accused of being witches due to religious corruption and sexism. It's a thought-provoking read that makes you realize just how many innocent women were murdered back in the day for being outside 'the norm' set in motion by men. 8/10
Repulsal:
Anyone who enters the blackwood toad forest doesn't come out alive. That is except for one boy whose family had been brutally murdered near a dark tower, where an imprisoned girl inside sings and has impossibly long hair. Now ten years later the boy has returned to discover a terrifying truth.
Chris Grindstaff has written a brilliant and horrifying twist on the original Rapunzel fairytale. It's a shocking, grotesque, and horrible story with a jaw-dropping ending. It's hard to talk about this story without going into spoilers but it's heartbreaking in the most brutal way imaginable. 10/10
Barefoot Ben:
Ben is a mail carrier and despite a warning from his fathers, he decides to go out into the storm to deliver medicine to those who need help. But it's raining hard and the waves are lapping against the beach with full force. Coming across a house he decides to take shelter only to discover something truly evil in wait for him.
Lucas Milliron has written a very atmospheric and meaningful story of a boy determined to do his job and help others, who ends up rescuing a creature in need. It does have some gruesome imagery toward the story's climax but it's more of an emotional read than a horror story, with likable characters and a bittersweet ending. 8/10
Queenie's Nursery Rhymes for Shitheads, Pervs, Sheep-fuckers:
There have been many alterations or different takes on nursery rhymes, but none of them have been as vile, perverted, or grotesque as this! A pervert wants to take out humpty-dumpty, an evil child next door is bringing a spider into existence, welsh men are out to fuck some sheep and the muffin man is out to play a prank.
Dani Brown has written a sort of mini-compilation of sorts in a book full of compilations. I'm sure Dani Brown is a terrific author, but aside from the story about the Spider which was suitably creepy and horrifying, the others just weren't my cup of tea. 3/10
The Man Who Tried to Catch His Death:
Mick and Melody are a happily married couple, however, when a thief continues to take everything away from her it isn't long before their lives are destroyed.
Russell Holbrook has written a sad story about two lovers getting separated by life itself. The thief is a metaphor for the unfairness of life and how it seems to take away everything whether you're willing to or not. It's a depressing read with a gloomy ending. 7/10
Overall: It's a brilliant collection of short stories and poems. I wasn't keen on one story in particular but aside from that, I loved this collection. It's also a wonderful feeling knowing that in buying this I am supporting an incredible charity that helps people in need. 116/140
September 6, 2023
This anthology of stories was a collaboration between Mothers of Mayhem and Gloom House Publishing. There are fourteen stories of pandemonium with several drawing from traditional fairy tales. Some are simply horror stories while others are a little more hard core horror. All of them were great and this is a fantastic compilation with a stunning cover. I will highlight my favorites of the group below.
Jack by Jay Wilburn– This is a harrowing tale loosely based on Jack in the Beanstalk. Jack and his brother, Donovan live in a world where thievery and violence is a way of life. Jack must protect his family with any means necessary. Jay Wilburn was a brilliant author and this story is a testament to the skill and emotional pull he puts on the reader in his stories.
The Apytox by Edward Lee– Edward Lee is synonymous with twisted and perverted horror. This story is no different. Granger is a man who is paid extremely well for his job in the delivery of artifacts and bobbles. Life is good, or so he thinks, until he meets another passenger on the plane with a peculiar package. All honesty here… I will never look at a diaper changing station in a bathroom the same way EVER again!
They Tell This Shit to Kids? by Christine Morgan– In this story, a woman is kidnapped and whisked away to her own personal hell. She discovers there are others there trapped with her and they must figure out the nursery rhyme that tells them how they will die based on how they are dressed! Can they get free before its too late? I really enjoyed this one and it brought back some nursery rhymes I had not heard in a long time.
Yokai by M. Ennenbach– This story is written as a poem featuring a Japanese tale. The flow was phenomenal and kept me pulled into the story due to the suspense. I had never heard this tale before and I think that is why it pulled me in so hard! Bravo Mike!
The Fairy Princess by Brian Keene– It’s that time of year when Patrick gets to take his daughter Eryn trick-or-treating! With her parents divorced, Eryn must deal with not getting what she wants due to an overcontrolling mother. She wants to be a fairy for Halloween, but Mom had other plans. Patrick and Eryn come upon a house of an old woman that has a “fairy garden” set up just for the kiddies. Are fairies actually real?
Number Three Rainbow Lane by Ruthann Jagge– Mallory is looking to make a fresh start. She is a real estate agent looking for properties and assist folks with selling their homes. She lines up a meeting with an owner of a promising property. Mallory sits with the peculiar owner and gives her reasons for why it is a good time to sell. Will Mallory earn her listing or something else?
Where is Thumbkin? by Carver Pike– Beatriz is a talented young lady. Her talent makes her a freak to others and she plods through high school as a loner. On top of her amazing talent, she is also an empath which is another reason she operates solo most of the time. She is forced to attend a party where she meets up with Donovan, another loner with a dark presence. This story got emotional with the telling of Beatriz’s ability. This story was done very well! Bravo Carver!
Before the Boogeymen Come by Kristopher Triana– This is a fun story about three entities who realize they are running out of time to scare the kid they haunt. The story is told from the perspective of the boogeymen and is hilarious at times. I loved reading this one.
So this book is out now, don’t wait! Go get your copy! It really is a shelf worthy purchase!
Jack by Jay Wilburn– This is a harrowing tale loosely based on Jack in the Beanstalk. Jack and his brother, Donovan live in a world where thievery and violence is a way of life. Jack must protect his family with any means necessary. Jay Wilburn was a brilliant author and this story is a testament to the skill and emotional pull he puts on the reader in his stories.
The Apytox by Edward Lee– Edward Lee is synonymous with twisted and perverted horror. This story is no different. Granger is a man who is paid extremely well for his job in the delivery of artifacts and bobbles. Life is good, or so he thinks, until he meets another passenger on the plane with a peculiar package. All honesty here… I will never look at a diaper changing station in a bathroom the same way EVER again!
They Tell This Shit to Kids? by Christine Morgan– In this story, a woman is kidnapped and whisked away to her own personal hell. She discovers there are others there trapped with her and they must figure out the nursery rhyme that tells them how they will die based on how they are dressed! Can they get free before its too late? I really enjoyed this one and it brought back some nursery rhymes I had not heard in a long time.
Yokai by M. Ennenbach– This story is written as a poem featuring a Japanese tale. The flow was phenomenal and kept me pulled into the story due to the suspense. I had never heard this tale before and I think that is why it pulled me in so hard! Bravo Mike!
The Fairy Princess by Brian Keene– It’s that time of year when Patrick gets to take his daughter Eryn trick-or-treating! With her parents divorced, Eryn must deal with not getting what she wants due to an overcontrolling mother. She wants to be a fairy for Halloween, but Mom had other plans. Patrick and Eryn come upon a house of an old woman that has a “fairy garden” set up just for the kiddies. Are fairies actually real?
Number Three Rainbow Lane by Ruthann Jagge– Mallory is looking to make a fresh start. She is a real estate agent looking for properties and assist folks with selling their homes. She lines up a meeting with an owner of a promising property. Mallory sits with the peculiar owner and gives her reasons for why it is a good time to sell. Will Mallory earn her listing or something else?
Where is Thumbkin? by Carver Pike– Beatriz is a talented young lady. Her talent makes her a freak to others and she plods through high school as a loner. On top of her amazing talent, she is also an empath which is another reason she operates solo most of the time. She is forced to attend a party where she meets up with Donovan, another loner with a dark presence. This story got emotional with the telling of Beatriz’s ability. This story was done very well! Bravo Carver!
Before the Boogeymen Come by Kristopher Triana– This is a fun story about three entities who realize they are running out of time to scare the kid they haunt. The story is told from the perspective of the boogeymen and is hilarious at times. I loved reading this one.
So this book is out now, don’t wait! Go get your copy! It really is a shelf worthy purchase!
August 29, 2023
Bibliophilia Templum review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2023/08/29/nursery-stories-for-dumb-crotch-goblins/
The charity anthology Nursery Stories for Dumb Crotch Goblins falls firmly in the category of WTF did I just read. These unapologetically irreverent blasphemies of nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and other children’s classics are sure to leave a mark on your sensibilities whether they be delicate or stout. But with a line-up of some of the best authors of impactful brutal horror, one should not be surprised.
Fans of literature history know the original stories and tales behind modern fairy tales and nursery rhymes were often horrific. In that light, this reads more like a tribute to those old horrors—at least that’s what I keep telling myself because, seriously, wtf did I just read?
The Forward identifies the charity and sets the stage but does not truly prepare you for the horror gems awaiting you within. Not even The Wizard of Oz escapes the brutality done to these old tales, though I did find that one, “Number Three Rainbow Lane” by Ruth Ann Jagge, to be quite thought-provoking in a very disturbing way. Also included are stories by Jay Wilburn, Edward Lee, Christine Morgan, Brian Keene, Carver Pike, Kristopher Triana, and Megan Stockton, an incredible piece titled “Yokai” by M. Ennenbach, a twisted collection of shorts by Dani Brown, and more tales from Russell Holbrook, Lucas Milliron, Chris Grindstaff, and Allisha McAdoo. That is a lot of mind-shredding horror for your buck.
This anthology is not only for a good cause, it’s also a great addition to one’s extreme horror collection and library. A highly recommended read for those who enjoy horror with no boundaries—because these stories have none.
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2023/08/29/nursery-stories-for-dumb-crotch-goblins/
The charity anthology Nursery Stories for Dumb Crotch Goblins falls firmly in the category of WTF did I just read. These unapologetically irreverent blasphemies of nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and other children’s classics are sure to leave a mark on your sensibilities whether they be delicate or stout. But with a line-up of some of the best authors of impactful brutal horror, one should not be surprised.
Fans of literature history know the original stories and tales behind modern fairy tales and nursery rhymes were often horrific. In that light, this reads more like a tribute to those old horrors—at least that’s what I keep telling myself because, seriously, wtf did I just read?
The Forward identifies the charity and sets the stage but does not truly prepare you for the horror gems awaiting you within. Not even The Wizard of Oz escapes the brutality done to these old tales, though I did find that one, “Number Three Rainbow Lane” by Ruth Ann Jagge, to be quite thought-provoking in a very disturbing way. Also included are stories by Jay Wilburn, Edward Lee, Christine Morgan, Brian Keene, Carver Pike, Kristopher Triana, and Megan Stockton, an incredible piece titled “Yokai” by M. Ennenbach, a twisted collection of shorts by Dani Brown, and more tales from Russell Holbrook, Lucas Milliron, Chris Grindstaff, and Allisha McAdoo. That is a lot of mind-shredding horror for your buck.
This anthology is not only for a good cause, it’s also a great addition to one’s extreme horror collection and library. A highly recommended read for those who enjoy horror with no boundaries—because these stories have none.
August 30, 2023
Fairy Tales with a twist for adults. Jack plants some beans. This bean stalk has lots of giants and a land of plenty. Mallory wants to sell a house it has, but the old lady who owns it has other ideas. Where is Tumbkin. There he is,but what if he is hungry? These and other tales to creep you out.
July 29, 2023
Gloom House Publishing’s new anthology, ‘Nursery Stories for Dumb Crotch Goblins: A Child’s Garden of Curses’ (yes, that’s really the title of the anthology, and Marian Echevarria, the editor, explains perfectly well its origin and rationale, as well as why she didn’t pick the one her kids suggested – that one will go unmentionable here lol) is great fun to read, as long as you have a very dark sense of humor and consider applying it to children. I hope this sounded right; anyway, the cover should give you a hint, but, with names such as Edward Lee, Kristopher Triana, Christine Morgan, Dani Brown, Brian Keene, Carver Pike, and Lucas Milliron in the roster, it shouldn’t be difficult to form an idea of what to expect: hilarious yet gag-inducing gore, terrific writing, and sick imagery, children (often evil) figuring centrally.
However, of the fifteen stories in the anthology, not all are about children, though, in my opinion, the best of them are. A couple (Jay Wilburn’s and Chris Grindstaff’s) take well-known fairy tales (“Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Rapunzel” respectively) and raise absolute havoc with them. In his “Before the Boogeymen Come,” Triana offers a delightful, sweet little story about monsters terrorizing a kid (remember the movie “Monsters”, anyone?) while trying to survive the economy of the fear market. A couple of poems and prose poems are also included (Megan Stockton’s nicely done “Good Little Boys” and the impressive “Yokai” by M. Ennenbach). Brian Keene’s “Fairy Princess” is a very creepy story about a fairy garden; but it is perhaps Carver Pike’s “Where Is Thumbkin?” that will raise your hackles, with a very original story involving talking fingers, possessed thumbs, and nerds and geeks going against jocks and prom queens in a party. Dani Brown has a story whose title, unfortunately, I cannot write down (the story is even more in-your-face, cheeky, and contentious than the title, if possible!). However, the really provocative story comes from Edward Lee, who in “The Ayptox” does not hesitate to bring a baby in his story, and, well, I really can’t say the words, but there’s sex involved. And lots of laughter (well, I for one laughed). That’s all I’m going to say about Lee’s story.
A final note: DONATE LIFE AMERICA will receive 100% of the profits from the first publication run of this anthology.
Releases August 29, 2023 on both Amazon and Godless.
Thank you to James G. Carlson for the ARC!
However, of the fifteen stories in the anthology, not all are about children, though, in my opinion, the best of them are. A couple (Jay Wilburn’s and Chris Grindstaff’s) take well-known fairy tales (“Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Rapunzel” respectively) and raise absolute havoc with them. In his “Before the Boogeymen Come,” Triana offers a delightful, sweet little story about monsters terrorizing a kid (remember the movie “Monsters”, anyone?) while trying to survive the economy of the fear market. A couple of poems and prose poems are also included (Megan Stockton’s nicely done “Good Little Boys” and the impressive “Yokai” by M. Ennenbach). Brian Keene’s “Fairy Princess” is a very creepy story about a fairy garden; but it is perhaps Carver Pike’s “Where Is Thumbkin?” that will raise your hackles, with a very original story involving talking fingers, possessed thumbs, and nerds and geeks going against jocks and prom queens in a party. Dani Brown has a story whose title, unfortunately, I cannot write down (the story is even more in-your-face, cheeky, and contentious than the title, if possible!). However, the really provocative story comes from Edward Lee, who in “The Ayptox” does not hesitate to bring a baby in his story, and, well, I really can’t say the words, but there’s sex involved. And lots of laughter (well, I for one laughed). That’s all I’m going to say about Lee’s story.
A final note: DONATE LIFE AMERICA will receive 100% of the profits from the first publication run of this anthology.
Releases August 29, 2023 on both Amazon and Godless.
Thank you to James G. Carlson for the ARC!
August 6, 2023
I couldn’t put it down! All the stories were clever and beautifully written and what a great cause they are raising money for! If you love fables and fairytales and horror gove this book a read and you won’t be disappointed
September 9, 2023
Well given the names that were listed on these stories I knew it was going to be good but ooof!
I now unfortunately know what an Ayptox is and it is an image I will never get out of my head thanks to the majestic Edward Lee.
I think Christine Morgan ruined every nursery rhyme going for me.
Kristopher Triana has a hilarious but terrifying take on the boogeyman and explains why you shouldn’t sleep with your feet outside the covers. I cannot get this one out of my brain.
Dani Brown ruined the rest of the nursery rhymes that Christine Morgan didn’t but there was also some melancholic and beautiful poetry in between the knarled fingered witches and and the girl who spoke to her fingers.
I enjoyed these stories so much and cannot pick a favourite. There was more depraved and vile goings on in these pages than I could have wished for.
I have been having weird dreams since starting these stories and hope they don’t stop now I’m finished.
I now unfortunately know what an Ayptox is and it is an image I will never get out of my head thanks to the majestic Edward Lee.
I think Christine Morgan ruined every nursery rhyme going for me.
Kristopher Triana has a hilarious but terrifying take on the boogeyman and explains why you shouldn’t sleep with your feet outside the covers. I cannot get this one out of my brain.
Dani Brown ruined the rest of the nursery rhymes that Christine Morgan didn’t but there was also some melancholic and beautiful poetry in between the knarled fingered witches and and the girl who spoke to her fingers.
I enjoyed these stories so much and cannot pick a favourite. There was more depraved and vile goings on in these pages than I could have wished for.
I have been having weird dreams since starting these stories and hope they don’t stop now I’m finished.
July 18, 2023
An eclectic collection of short stories from multiple authors that have taken children's rhymes and stories and mutated them. Not for the faint of heart but well worth a read.
Between the beautiful artwork of the cover and hilarious title, this grabbed my attention immediately. This large assortment of fascinating tales turns well known stories into unique visions. Make sure you read the introduction, which shares an alternative title and admittedly, it wouldn't have been a good option, especially given a specific story. But it will still make you chuckle.
Overall, I enjoyed the tales, exploring what each one had to offer and loving how they twisted traditional works and made them into something completely new. Some were beautiful, some were creepy and some just made you go 'blegh'. There's something pretty much for everyone's horror tastes in this intriguing blend.
Now, as with any collection of short stories, sometimes not everything reads well and there were a couple of stories that I would not read again.
When this collection is released in August, I would want to own a copy in my library and recommend if you enjoy horror reads, you should snag a copy too. Especially if you have a sense of humor.
Disclaimer: This is an ARC view in I voluntarily reviewed (my twisted motherly side had to when I saw the title)
Between the beautiful artwork of the cover and hilarious title, this grabbed my attention immediately. This large assortment of fascinating tales turns well known stories into unique visions. Make sure you read the introduction, which shares an alternative title and admittedly, it wouldn't have been a good option, especially given a specific story. But it will still make you chuckle.
Overall, I enjoyed the tales, exploring what each one had to offer and loving how they twisted traditional works and made them into something completely new. Some were beautiful, some were creepy and some just made you go 'blegh'. There's something pretty much for everyone's horror tastes in this intriguing blend.
Now, as with any collection of short stories, sometimes not everything reads well and there were a couple of stories that I would not read again.
When this collection is released in August, I would want to own a copy in my library and recommend if you enjoy horror reads, you should snag a copy too. Especially if you have a sense of humor.
Disclaimer: This is an ARC view in I voluntarily reviewed (my twisted motherly side had to when I saw the title)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews