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Yuletide Nightmares
Santa's got some blood on his hands this holiday season. Rampaging reindeer deck the halls with brains and bones. Scream along with late-night Christmas shoppers as a terrifyingly mutated Santa Claus leaves the town bloody with corpses. Arm yourself to defend against a ruthless, out-of-control military project on the loose. Each unique tale inside is woven with the spirit of the season, sheared open and dumped in your lap with a heavy dose of gore and fun.Featuring all-new stories John Lynch, Patrick C. Harrison III, Kristopher Rufty, Tim Curran, David Irons, Judith Sonnet, Tim Meyer, Robert Essig, Carl John Lee, Brian G. Berry
198 pages, Paperback
First published December 10, 2023
22 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Brian G. Berry
56 books284 followersa.k.a Brian Berry
Brian G Berry is new to the world of writing. He writes everything from 1980s inspired horror, SCIFI/Action-horror, to the strange. His biggest influences are the writers of the weird including Lovecraft, Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, to the pulp horror authors of the golden age 70s/80s- and a splattering of others. Author of The Pail, A Bloody Christmas, Splatter Fiend Series, Slasherback Series, Campfire Tales Beneath a Pallid Moon, Accursed Ground, Blood Lanes, The Night Mutilator, Thanksgiving Day Massacre, and his newest: SNOW SHARK.
Brian G Berry is new to the world of writing. He writes everything from 1980s inspired horror, SCIFI/Action-horror, to the strange. His biggest influences are the writers of the weird including Lovecraft, Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, to the pulp horror authors of the golden age 70s/80s- and a splattering of others. Author of The Pail, A Bloody Christmas, Splatter Fiend Series, Slasherback Series, Campfire Tales Beneath a Pallid Moon, Accursed Ground, Blood Lanes, The Night Mutilator, Thanksgiving Day Massacre, and his newest: SNOW SHARK.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 29, 2023
Yuletide Nightmares is a fantastic collection of horrifying Christmas anthologies written by some of the best horror authors, I thoroughly enjoyed each and everyone of these demonic tales.
Several favorites:
Abomination in Wax by Judith Sonnet.
The direction of the story turned on a dime and the ending was absolutely epic and jaw dropping.
Deaf and Dumb Danny Does Christmas by David Irons.
Depravity and gruesomeness to the max. The title says it all.
Santa's Bloody Terror by Tim Curran.
As if it were possible, Santa turns into something more lethal and difficult to kill than any zombie. As a zombie genre fanatic this was right up my alley.
Demon Claus by Brian G. Berry.
I will never look at a shopping mall Santa the same way after reading this mind bending Christmas eve tale.
Highly recommend.
Several favorites:
Abomination in Wax by Judith Sonnet.
The direction of the story turned on a dime and the ending was absolutely epic and jaw dropping.
Deaf and Dumb Danny Does Christmas by David Irons.
Depravity and gruesomeness to the max. The title says it all.
Santa's Bloody Terror by Tim Curran.
As if it were possible, Santa turns into something more lethal and difficult to kill than any zombie. As a zombie genre fanatic this was right up my alley.
Demon Claus by Brian G. Berry.
I will never look at a shopping mall Santa the same way after reading this mind bending Christmas eve tale.
Highly recommend.
December 30, 2023
Yuletide Nightmares is an anthology of gruesome festive-themed horror stories, by a who’s-who of (some of) the most talented indie horror writers around. Of course TW for all things gore! If you have a weak stomach, give this one a miss.
Judith Sonnet’s ”Abominations in Wax” was a highlight of the entire collection for me. It stood out as such a solid concept for a short story behind the nightmarish details of the wax figures.
The Kringle Conduit by Patrick C. Harrison III is also very well-written and has a unique concept!
Deaf and Dumb Danny Does Christmas was my least favourite of the bunch, this appeared to be written purely for shock value, with little to no substance to the story.
There’s horror stories of all subgenres here - from splatterpunk, to monstrous creature-features, to everything in between!
4 stars 💀🔪🖤
Judith Sonnet’s ”Abominations in Wax” was a highlight of the entire collection for me. It stood out as such a solid concept for a short story behind the nightmarish details of the wax figures.
The Kringle Conduit by Patrick C. Harrison III is also very well-written and has a unique concept!
Deaf and Dumb Danny Does Christmas was my least favourite of the bunch, this appeared to be written purely for shock value, with little to no substance to the story.
There’s horror stories of all subgenres here - from splatterpunk, to monstrous creature-features, to everything in between!
4 stars 💀🔪🖤
December 20, 2023
Fantastic collection of horrific Christmas storys all very different from each other and featuring a who's who of indie horror authors.
Normally with anthologies they can be hit or miss but honestly this collection is nearly all hits and great ones at that.
My top 3 for the collection are Judith Sonnets "Abomination in Wax" David Irons "Deaf and Dumb Danny Does Christmas" and Carl John Lee's "Blitzen". That is only if I had to chose a top 3 because they are all great in there own way.
If this is the quality of stuff Brian G Berry and Slaughterhouse Press are producing I'm looking forward to continuing to support them.
Normally with anthologies they can be hit or miss but honestly this collection is nearly all hits and great ones at that.
My top 3 for the collection are Judith Sonnets "Abomination in Wax" David Irons "Deaf and Dumb Danny Does Christmas" and Carl John Lee's "Blitzen". That is only if I had to chose a top 3 because they are all great in there own way.
If this is the quality of stuff Brian G Berry and Slaughterhouse Press are producing I'm looking forward to continuing to support them.
December 13, 2023
3.5 stars
It seems like every year for the past 3 years I somehow pick up some weird or twisted Christmas themed horror book. With Slaughter House Press’s anthology Yuletide Nightmares, 2023 is no exception.
Whether it’s killer Santas, wax museums, or creepy Christmas inventions, the 10 short stories within from some of the most popular and talented indie horror authors, definitely deliver on this anthology’s title.
I think what really surprised me is just how solid this entire collection was. Out of the 10 stories, 4 were awesome, 3 were great, 2 were ok, and only 1 failed to do anything for me.
Even though I’ve kind of phased out of the extreme gore and solatterpunk genres of horror, Tim Curran’s “Santa’s Bloody Terror” once again reminded me why he’s the absolute king of descriptive horror. Harrison Phillips’s “The Kringle Conduit” was easily the most original and creative of this batch. “Keepers of Christmas” by Kristopher Rufty felt like a perfect homage to bizarro master Carlton Mellick III and Judith Sonnet’s “Abominations in Wax” stole the show for reading like a perfect love child of Wdgar Alan Poe and Robert McCammon. Even Tim Meyer’s “Like Stars” was a fun one that I enjoyed from beginning to end.
This may only be Slaughter House Press’s second release but if Brian G. Berry keeps publishing great stuff like this, there is no reason why his publishing house can’t start competing with some of the big boys. Severed Press, you better pay attention!
It seems like every year for the past 3 years I somehow pick up some weird or twisted Christmas themed horror book. With Slaughter House Press’s anthology Yuletide Nightmares, 2023 is no exception.
Whether it’s killer Santas, wax museums, or creepy Christmas inventions, the 10 short stories within from some of the most popular and talented indie horror authors, definitely deliver on this anthology’s title.
I think what really surprised me is just how solid this entire collection was. Out of the 10 stories, 4 were awesome, 3 were great, 2 were ok, and only 1 failed to do anything for me.
Even though I’ve kind of phased out of the extreme gore and solatterpunk genres of horror, Tim Curran’s “Santa’s Bloody Terror” once again reminded me why he’s the absolute king of descriptive horror. Harrison Phillips’s “The Kringle Conduit” was easily the most original and creative of this batch. “Keepers of Christmas” by Kristopher Rufty felt like a perfect homage to bizarro master Carlton Mellick III and Judith Sonnet’s “Abominations in Wax” stole the show for reading like a perfect love child of Wdgar Alan Poe and Robert McCammon. Even Tim Meyer’s “Like Stars” was a fun one that I enjoyed from beginning to end.
This may only be Slaughter House Press’s second release but if Brian G. Berry keeps publishing great stuff like this, there is no reason why his publishing house can’t start competing with some of the big boys. Severed Press, you better pay attention!
December 15, 2023
A gory, nasty, blood soaked group of Christmas tales that really pushed it to the extreme.
December 20, 2023
The most blood-soaked Christmases imaginable with the stories in this anthology! I really hope we get one of these every year, but I can also see myself revisiting some of the stories in this one over time, too.
April 24, 2024
Review to come.
December 29, 2023
A very solid selection of Christmas themed horror stories. Only a couple of them were misses for me, and most were very strong, with my favourites coming from Judith Sonnet, Tim Curran and Kristopher Rufty.
December 1, 2025
What better way to set the table than with decapitated heads. What better way to feel the christmas spirit than with that spirit coming to life as a flesh-eating demon. What better way to see the twinkle in children's eyes than to see them pop in the mouth of some mutated christmas horror. I could go on and on, but it's pretty clear that this book is a perfect way to stretch the shadow of Halloween right up to Christmas.
There are many tales that mix different levels of sexuality, from raw thoughts to depraved acts which I thought was gratuitous and sometimes unecessary. It could take away from the story. And with some, that was the story. Some were mixed perfectly while some left me feeling dirty which could have been the point.
In a collection of tales, the order those tales are placed is important and I feel like a good one was achieved for this one. It starts off with a completely degenerate story and finishes with one that gives a glimmer of hope to the reader. It's not to say that the progression was steadily going in that direction, but, at least, it opened and ended with an enjoyable narrative structure.
There are many tales that mix different levels of sexuality, from raw thoughts to depraved acts which I thought was gratuitous and sometimes unecessary. It could take away from the story. And with some, that was the story. Some were mixed perfectly while some left me feeling dirty which could have been the point.
In a collection of tales, the order those tales are placed is important and I feel like a good one was achieved for this one. It starts off with a completely degenerate story and finishes with one that gives a glimmer of hope to the reader. It's not to say that the progression was steadily going in that direction, but, at least, it opened and ended with an enjoyable narrative structure.
December 22, 2024
Such a gross collection of holiday terror.... my faves where
*ABOMINATION IN WAX
*DEAF AND DUMB DANNY DOES CHRISTMAS
*BLITZEN
*ABOMINATION IN WAX
*DEAF AND DUMB DANNY DOES CHRISTMAS
*BLITZEN
January 2, 2024
This collection of holiday horror has made me thankful Christmas is over. What a gruesome, twisty, terrifying bunch of stories. I loved each of them. Instead of reviewing each story individually, I picked out some lines that really hit me. These are not your Grandma's Christmas stories!
A Choir of Ill Angels
Her eyes were gone, replaced by large Christmas light bulbs that suddenly came aglow.
Abomination in Wax
She looked like a human sacrifice on an altar composed of her own bloody fluids.
The Kringle Conduit
Looking into the emerald eyes of the Santa, he thought of how she'd cooked the baby in a pot of stew and how they'd both eaten it for dinner.
Feed the Straggele
The thing smiled at Reggie, flaps of skin and muscle visible between its teeth.
Deaf and Dumb Danny Does Christmas
Scotty's face fell from Danny's head, making a cold thud as it hit her floor.
Keepers of Christmas
Hong's skin was shriveling, forcing his bones to downsize with a horrible series of crunches.
Santa's Bloody Terror
One swipe of Santa's had and the employee was on the floor screaming, sans face.
Like Stars
It was like something that wasn't human trying to imitate something that was.
Blitzen
Hooves stamped against the wood, antlers emerging from the darkness, set above piercing white eyes that sparkled with festive cruelty.
Demon Claus
The air expelled by that voice was toxic, pestiferous, the opening of a mass grave.
A Choir of Ill Angels
Her eyes were gone, replaced by large Christmas light bulbs that suddenly came aglow.
Abomination in Wax
She looked like a human sacrifice on an altar composed of her own bloody fluids.
The Kringle Conduit
Looking into the emerald eyes of the Santa, he thought of how she'd cooked the baby in a pot of stew and how they'd both eaten it for dinner.
Feed the Straggele
The thing smiled at Reggie, flaps of skin and muscle visible between its teeth.
Deaf and Dumb Danny Does Christmas
Scotty's face fell from Danny's head, making a cold thud as it hit her floor.
Keepers of Christmas
Hong's skin was shriveling, forcing his bones to downsize with a horrible series of crunches.
Santa's Bloody Terror
One swipe of Santa's had and the employee was on the floor screaming, sans face.
Like Stars
It was like something that wasn't human trying to imitate something that was.
Blitzen
Hooves stamped against the wood, antlers emerging from the darkness, set above piercing white eyes that sparkled with festive cruelty.
Demon Claus
The air expelled by that voice was toxic, pestiferous, the opening of a mass grave.
December 24, 2023
You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout, I'm telling you why. Santa Claus is...
...going to hear you and then chase you down, tear into your body like a child tears into a present on Christmas morning. Then he'll suck in your innards like a plate full of spaghetti and wear the skin from your face like a mask. So,you think you can trust the jolly ol elf? Think again! Yuletide Nightmares is a horrific collection of Christmas fear that'll be sure to have you rethinking about taking your children to visit the fat man in red. Next time you hear carolers, pay close attention to their song. Don't forget to leave leftovers on your front porch. Drive cautiously in the dark, and for the love of God, avoid Santa Claus and abandoned toy factories!
Every story in this book is a 5 star read, which is quite understandable if you take a look at the talented names involved in this collection.
...going to hear you and then chase you down, tear into your body like a child tears into a present on Christmas morning. Then he'll suck in your innards like a plate full of spaghetti and wear the skin from your face like a mask. So,you think you can trust the jolly ol elf? Think again! Yuletide Nightmares is a horrific collection of Christmas fear that'll be sure to have you rethinking about taking your children to visit the fat man in red. Next time you hear carolers, pay close attention to their song. Don't forget to leave leftovers on your front porch. Drive cautiously in the dark, and for the love of God, avoid Santa Claus and abandoned toy factories!
Every story in this book is a 5 star read, which is quite understandable if you take a look at the talented names involved in this collection.
December 23, 2024
Yuletide Nightmares is a extreme horror anthology collecting Christmas-themed stories edited by Brian G. Berry. The first one is great. A bloody tale with Christmas-themed characters and displays coming to life. And I loved the use of Xmas lights in the story. Judith Sonnet’s story Abomination in Wax was macabre and a different tone focusing on a creepy wax museum. Crazy yet satisfying twist ending that I didn’t see coming. "The Kringle Conduit" is brilliant. A machine that erases the bad memories and a naughty deeds of children and everyone who witnessed it. “Deaf and Dumb Danny”’is the story that inspired the antho’s book cover. Shocking, compelling, and dope. “Keepers of Christmas” by Kristopher Ruffy is a sort of Bizarro-infused cosmic horror take on the legends of Santa Claus and a team of students trying to decipher an ancient text inside a toy factory. Shit hits the fans and Christmas horrors begin blooming everywhere.
January 14, 2025
A good way to lure me into a white van is to present a Christmas Horror anthology; these aren't the best written, or even the most inventive, but they're so much fun you can't help but to have a good time.
Gore soaked, disturbing, and surprisingly hilarious, the stories collected here are perfect for those long, cold nights when the snow piles up against the window and the shadows move just a little more than normal.
3/5, honestly the number of ways candy canes are used to, uh, injure, is astounding.
Gore soaked, disturbing, and surprisingly hilarious, the stories collected here are perfect for those long, cold nights when the snow piles up against the window and the shadows move just a little more than normal.
3/5, honestly the number of ways candy canes are used to, uh, injure, is astounding.
December 25, 2023
This was a delightfully disturbing and gore filled read and has now become a Christmas favourite.
Filled with dark, twisted tales, I can’t pick a favourite because they are all consistently awesome.
This one was a definite 5 maggot filled Santa’s out of 5.
Filled with dark, twisted tales, I can’t pick a favourite because they are all consistently awesome.
This one was a definite 5 maggot filled Santa’s out of 5.
December 31, 2023
Well this is not my usual kind of thing! I feel like I have been splattered all over with gore! 😯🫣 There were a few silly-type stories, but some fun ones too. I enjoyed demon claus, and santa's blood terror, the most! 🎅
This was my fourth read, for creepy christmas.
This was my fourth read, for creepy christmas.
January 1, 2024
Revolting and yet non stop readable!
Just when you think you can't be more scared of all things holiday! Santa and the elves are not what you think. Demons from hell, or somewhere else? Sick and twisted, I couldn't put it down!
Just when you think you can't be more scared of all things holiday! Santa and the elves are not what you think. Demons from hell, or somewhere else? Sick and twisted, I couldn't put it down!
December 23, 2023
Great stories by fantastic authors! Never heard of Carl John Lee but Blitzen was my favorite story. I need to check out more of his work.
January 7, 2024
Hate to give one stars but this just didn’t work for me. The writing is actually quite good but there were too many things in the stories that, for whatever reason, are now trigger warnings for me.
April 10, 2024
Superb seasonal violence.
An absolutely brilliant collection of seasonal gore and violence that is constantly turned up to 11. Each story is fantastic and more than deliver.
An absolutely brilliant collection of seasonal gore and violence that is constantly turned up to 11. Each story is fantastic and more than deliver.
December 15, 2024
Overall a very solid read. I read through this anthology faster than I read most books. Every story was interesting. I would caution you to not recommend this to anyone younger than 18 has there are adult themes in some stories and the gore can be quite graphic. I had a wonderful time and would recommend this if you’d like to try some great splatter punk and more hard core horror.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews