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The Darkest Night
From some of the biggest names in horror comes an Advent calendar of short holiday horror stories perfect for the darkest nights of the year.
Edited by award-winning author and anthologist Lindy Ryan and with contributions from masters of horror like Josh Malerman, Eric LaRocca, and Clay McLeod Chapman, this horrific anthology will chill you to the bone.
From New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box, Josh Malerman, comes a story of a dark Christmas past in “Children Aren’t the Only Ones Who Know Where the Presents Are Hidden.”
From national bestselling author Rachel Harrison, in “Thaw,” a couple spends their first Christmas together in a cabin—but are they alone, or does something else watch them from the tree line?
New York Times bestselling authors Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon’s “Wintry Blue” sets an innocent child on the road with a strange and monstrous creature.
From the Bram Stoker Award–winning screenwriter of Netflix’s Haunting of Bly Manor and The Fall of the House of Usher, in Jamie Flanagan’s “Bruiser,” something sinister stalks the chilling hallways of a nursing home at night.
Author of Such a Pretty Smile, Kristi DeMeester, tells a tale of “Eggnog”: a Christmas party, an overfriendly female coworker, and an angry wife are the recipe for a deadly cocktail party.
Plus stories by Nat Cassidy, Darcy Coates, Clay McLeod Chapman, Tim Waggoner, and many more, with an introduction by George C. Romero and art by renowned British horror artist Mister Sam Shearon.
Edited by award-winning author and anthologist Lindy Ryan and with contributions from masters of horror like Josh Malerman, Eric LaRocca, and Clay McLeod Chapman, this horrific anthology will chill you to the bone.
From New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box, Josh Malerman, comes a story of a dark Christmas past in “Children Aren’t the Only Ones Who Know Where the Presents Are Hidden.”
From national bestselling author Rachel Harrison, in “Thaw,” a couple spends their first Christmas together in a cabin—but are they alone, or does something else watch them from the tree line?
New York Times bestselling authors Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon’s “Wintry Blue” sets an innocent child on the road with a strange and monstrous creature.
From the Bram Stoker Award–winning screenwriter of Netflix’s Haunting of Bly Manor and The Fall of the House of Usher, in Jamie Flanagan’s “Bruiser,” something sinister stalks the chilling hallways of a nursing home at night.
Author of Such a Pretty Smile, Kristi DeMeester, tells a tale of “Eggnog”: a Christmas party, an overfriendly female coworker, and an angry wife are the recipe for a deadly cocktail party.
Plus stories by Nat Cassidy, Darcy Coates, Clay McLeod Chapman, Tim Waggoner, and many more, with an introduction by George C. Romero and art by renowned British horror artist Mister Sam Shearon.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2024
147 people are currently reading
12087 people want to read
About the author
Lindy Ryan
32 books518 followersLindy Ryan is an award-winning author, anthologist, and short-film director whose books and anthologies have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist and Library Journal. Several of her projects have been adapted for screen. Ryan is the current author-in-residence at Rue Morgue. Declared a “champion for women’s voices in horror” by Shelf Awareness, Ryan was named a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree in 2020, and in 2022, was named one of horror's most masterful anthology curators. Born and raised in Southeast Texas, Ryan currently resides on the East Coast. She is a professor at Rutgers University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
July 17, 2025
This was our first read for the Night Worms Fable Book Club and it was a huge success.
We all really enjoyed the discussion and had fun reading the stories together. Highly recommend this anthology for winter/holiday vibes/mood reading
We all really enjoyed the discussion and had fun reading the stories together. Highly recommend this anthology for winter/holiday vibes/mood reading
November 29, 2024
A decent horror anthology revolving around the darkest season of the year; a lot of snow, festive time, Christmas celebrations, snowed in remote cabins, etc.
My highlights:
Cold as Ice by Tim Waggoner, in which a man finally finds the roots of his unsuccessful dating life in the weird, horned creatures following his car during a snow storm.
Mr. Butler by Clay McLeod Chapman – gut punch psychological horror. An orphaned child, mistreatment through step father and Mr. Butler to make it all good again.
In Nice Nat Cassidy tells us what happens when children are told to be nice so they'll get stuff from Santa, but what exactly is “nice”? Horrid things happen when the term is up for interpretation.
Eggnog by Kristi DeMeester is the absolute winner of this anthology! I'm not a big fan of writings about the motherhood and nuclear family experience but the situation DeMeester sets up in this short story about a company Christmas party and one of those hated “work wives” has managed to get under even my skin. %100 satisfaction guaranteed.
My highlights:
Cold as Ice by Tim Waggoner, in which a man finally finds the roots of his unsuccessful dating life in the weird, horned creatures following his car during a snow storm.
Mr. Butler by Clay McLeod Chapman – gut punch psychological horror. An orphaned child, mistreatment through step father and Mr. Butler to make it all good again.
In Nice Nat Cassidy tells us what happens when children are told to be nice so they'll get stuff from Santa, but what exactly is “nice”? Horrid things happen when the term is up for interpretation.
Eggnog by Kristi DeMeester is the absolute winner of this anthology! I'm not a big fan of writings about the motherhood and nuclear family experience but the situation DeMeester sets up in this short story about a company Christmas party and one of those hated “work wives” has managed to get under even my skin. %100 satisfaction guaranteed.
April 22, 2024
My thanks to Lindy Ryan, Crooked Lane books and Netgalley.
This was not as terrific as I was hoping for.
Truth is that I nearly d.n.f.'d this thing. So many wonderful authors that I figured this would be pretty damned good. Oops! I'm not going to say who I thought stunk, but I will say that some of the stinkiest came from established authors.
I do often wonder if some established authors send in their crap to lesser known editors and publishers. If so, then it was on full display here.
It did take me up until the forth or fifth story to even find something that I liked. And that's usually too late.
There are most certainly some really decent shorties here. There's just enough bad ones though that makes me give this anthology a middle of the road rating.
This was not as terrific as I was hoping for.
Truth is that I nearly d.n.f.'d this thing. So many wonderful authors that I figured this would be pretty damned good. Oops! I'm not going to say who I thought stunk, but I will say that some of the stinkiest came from established authors.
I do often wonder if some established authors send in their crap to lesser known editors and publishers. If so, then it was on full display here.
It did take me up until the forth or fifth story to even find something that I liked. And that's usually too late.
There are most certainly some really decent shorties here. There's just enough bad ones though that makes me give this anthology a middle of the road rating.
November 29, 2024
Release Date: 24th September 2024
A unique selection of ghost stories to enjoy in the darkest nights, that you could use as a horror advent of 22 unique stories.
There is a great mix of stories and styles from some brilliant authors (Nat Cassidy, Clay McLeod Chapman, Eric LaRocca and Darcy Coates), which I would rate from a solid 3 up to 4.5 stars (out of 5)
I really enjoyed being able to dip in and out of these reading one story an evening, especially as the nights are drawing in and I'm reading myself for spooky season, this book certainly helped get me in that mood.
If you like short horror stories then this is the book for you.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
Reviews also published on:
Instagram || Threads || BSky || Coffee and Kindle Blog || The StoryGraph || Amazon || Bookmarks
Happy to make friends on all socials
A unique selection of ghost stories to enjoy in the darkest nights, that you could use as a horror advent of 22 unique stories.
There is a great mix of stories and styles from some brilliant authors (Nat Cassidy, Clay McLeod Chapman, Eric LaRocca and Darcy Coates), which I would rate from a solid 3 up to 4.5 stars (out of 5)
I really enjoyed being able to dip in and out of these reading one story an evening, especially as the nights are drawing in and I'm reading myself for spooky season, this book certainly helped get me in that mood.
If you like short horror stories then this is the book for you.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
Reviews also published on:
Instagram || Threads || BSky || Coffee and Kindle Blog || The StoryGraph || Amazon || Bookmarks
Happy to make friends on all socials
August 22, 2024
I was excited to receive this ARC as it promised chilling yuletide stories from some of the top names in modern horror: Josh Malerman, Clay McLeod Chapman, M. Rickert, Nat Cassidy, Rachel Harrison, Darcy Coates, and more! With tales of grief and familial disputes to creature features and hauntings, there is bound to be something in this collection for every kind of horror lover. Best read—I imagine—with a cup of hot apple cider on a snowy day during the winter solstice.
Thoughts:
It’s a bold move to begin a collection with two stories told in second person narrative as I know this could turn a lot of people off. While reading the second story, I found myself begging with the short story gods that this was not going to be a recurring theme and that all of the stories would not be in second person. Luckily, my prayers were answered. Still, many of the stories in this collection were rather mundane and failed to grasp me in their claws. Some were great, some were not. And since the audience seems so skewed on their likes and dislikes, I can’t really recommend one story over another… You will just have to read and find your own favorites!
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the digital copy! Out 09/24/2024!
Thoughts:
It’s a bold move to begin a collection with two stories told in second person narrative as I know this could turn a lot of people off. While reading the second story, I found myself begging with the short story gods that this was not going to be a recurring theme and that all of the stories would not be in second person. Luckily, my prayers were answered. Still, many of the stories in this collection were rather mundane and failed to grasp me in their claws. Some were great, some were not. And since the audience seems so skewed on their likes and dislikes, I can’t really recommend one story over another… You will just have to read and find your own favorites!
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the digital copy! Out 09/24/2024!
November 23, 2025
What a delightful and chilling collection! I enjoyed near every story, and many of them were breath-taking. The collection has a range, with some supernatural horror, some dark psychological horror, a few creature features here and there, a little folk horror, some domestic horror… and lots of blood. Winter is a time of darkness, a time when our thoughts go to family and traditions, to expectations and demands. This collection captures that darkness, that sense that certain things have run their course and in the icy womb of a feral winter new shadows will find flesh to house their depths. The first two stories both feature second-person narration, and as a reader I just felt hooked from the start, part witness, part acolyte. A lot of these stories got under my skin, some choosing to simply flay it instead. Stand outs, for me, include the stories by Tim Waggoner, Hailey Piper, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Lindy Ryan & Christopher Brooks, Christopher Golden & Tim Lebbon, Nat Cassidy, Kristi DeMeester, Jeff Strand, and Mercedes M. Yardley… but honestly this collection kept me engaged and interested story after story. The diversity is broad enough to always keep the collection fresh and moving, with consistently strong writing across all 22 stories. Some played into expectations and tropes but did so in ways that felt festive and fun and were great to read, whereas others took more melancholic left turns that filled the page with ambience and the type of sincerity that dawns only under midnight moons.
Not every story was perfect, but they were all fun, and enough were great enough to really make this collection stand out.
Not every story was perfect, but they were all fun, and enough were great enough to really make this collection stand out.
January 10, 2025
2.5 Stars — I read this in December, and it was...ok? THE DARKEST NIGHT is a winter/holiday-themed collection of horror stories. Out of the 22 short stories, I really liked five of them, and another four were ok.
My two favorites were "Wintry Blue" by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon, and "Thaw" by Rachel Harrison (Yikes, I'm done with snowmen now!).
Honorable mentions go to "Mr. Butler" by Clay McLeod Chapman, "Carol of the Hells" by Kelsea Vu, and "Eggnog" by Kristi DeMeester. Unfortunately, many of the stories were too gross for me, or just weird.
What are your thoughts on short stories? I'm enjoying them more than I used to. A couple of creepy collections I'd recommend are "The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights" and "The Haunting Season: Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights."
My two favorites were "Wintry Blue" by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon, and "Thaw" by Rachel Harrison (Yikes, I'm done with snowmen now!).
Honorable mentions go to "Mr. Butler" by Clay McLeod Chapman, "Carol of the Hells" by Kelsea Vu, and "Eggnog" by Kristi DeMeester. Unfortunately, many of the stories were too gross for me, or just weird.
What are your thoughts on short stories? I'm enjoying them more than I used to. A couple of creepy collections I'd recommend are "The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights" and "The Haunting Season: Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights."
October 20, 2024
The Darkest Night is overall a strong collection of Winter Horror stories, but I will say there were probably too many stories. It's always hard to review a short story collection but the way I do it is based on overall vibes. I enjoyed more stories than I didn't like. I didn't hate any of the stories and I even found some authors I wanna read more from.
My favorite stories in no particular order:
+Mr. Butler by Clay McLeod Chapman. I've actually read a novel by this author and it was really good and original What Kind of Mother.
+Being Nice by Jeff Strand. A cruelly funny Christmas tale.
+ Wintry Blue by Christopher Golden & Tim Lebbon. I think this needs to be adapted for Creepshow.
+Carol of the Hells by Kelsea Yu. I need to read more from this author.
+Thaw by Rachel Harrison. If you liked the 90s Horror movie Jack Frost, you'll like this story.
Eggnog by Kristi DeMeester. Just a funny dumb story but I loved it. Real good for her vibes.
Once again this was just a good collection, 7 other stories were 4 stars and 5 were 3 Stars. If you love Horror stories and you love Winter than you can't go wrong.
I highly recommend this
My favorite stories in no particular order:
+Mr. Butler by Clay McLeod Chapman. I've actually read a novel by this author and it was really good and original What Kind of Mother.
+Being Nice by Jeff Strand. A cruelly funny Christmas tale.
+ Wintry Blue by Christopher Golden & Tim Lebbon. I think this needs to be adapted for Creepshow.
+Carol of the Hells by Kelsea Yu. I need to read more from this author.
+Thaw by Rachel Harrison. If you liked the 90s Horror movie Jack Frost, you'll like this story.
Eggnog by Kristi DeMeester. Just a funny dumb story but I loved it. Real good for her vibes.
Once again this was just a good collection, 7 other stories were 4 stars and 5 were 3 Stars. If you love Horror stories and you love Winter than you can't go wrong.
I highly recommend this
February 19, 2025
Like most anthologies, this was definitely a mixed bag for me. While there were some real gems, there were also an unfortunate number of stories that left me wanting more. I'd rather focus on the standout pieces, though, so I have to shout out a few favorites: 'Mr. Butler' by Clay McLeod Chapman, 'Nice' by Nat Cassidy, 'Thaw' by Rachel Harrison, and 'Ghosted' by Mercedes M. Yardley.
I'm not sure this anthology will stick out in my memory much overall, but I enjoyed my time with it enough to recommend it to any readers looking for some chilling, wintry horror tales.
I read a final copy borrowed from the library, but for the sake of disclosure, I was also gifted an early review copy. All thoughts are honest and my own.
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I'm not sure this anthology will stick out in my memory much overall, but I enjoyed my time with it enough to recommend it to any readers looking for some chilling, wintry horror tales.
I read a final copy borrowed from the library, but for the sake of disclosure, I was also gifted an early review copy. All thoughts are honest and my own.
—→ find me on...
bookstagram | threads | bluesky | blog | booktube
September 24, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.
I'm going to be 100% honest here: I requested this ARC because of a handful of the horror authors in it: namely, Rachel Harrison, Josh Malerman, and Darcy Coates. They're all authors I really love! Luckily for me, so many of the other stories really grabbed me, so now I have a long list of potential new horror authors to check out further.
Rather than do an average of scores, I'm going to give this one an overall four stars, because even the stories that weren't my favorites were still fun, which is just what I wanted from this anthology.
---
The Mouthless Body in the Lake by Gwendolyn Kiste
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three and a half
Interesting concept and good writing, but not sure the ending hit for me. I'd say I'm intrigued enough to potentially check out more of her stories one day.
---
Cold as Ice by Tim Waggoner
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four
Oh, this one was fun!
---
Children Aren't the Only Ones Who Know Where the Presents Are Hidden by Josh Malerman
My Fan Status: Big Fan
Stars: Three and a half
Love Josh Malerman, but I didn't feel like this one had much of a plot. The twist at the end was clever-ish.
---
The Vermin Moon by Hailey Piper
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three
I can't say I loved this one, but I didn't hate it either. It was... weird. But also heartbreaking.
---
The Body of Lenora James by Stephanie M. Wytovich
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four and a half
Can we get a full length novel of this please? Loved!
---
Mr. Butler by Clay McCleod Chapman
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four and a half
Albeeeeeeeee, Mr. Butler was creepy as heck! Loved the personal nature of this one, and really disturbed by Mr. Butler.
---
Feast of Gray by Lindy Ryan and Christopher Golden
My Fan Status: New to me (Ryan) and Fan (Golden)
Stars: Three
I liked this one fine, but felt like it needed more.
---
I Hope This Finds You Well by Eric LaRocca
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three and a half
That ending though!
---
The Buried Child by M. Rickert
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three
Kind of confusingly written and muddled, brought me out of the story a bit.
---
Father's Last Christmas by Lee Murray
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four
Lots of fun (for us) and reminiscent of Gaiman's Stardust (in a good way)
---
The Warmth of Snow by Cynthia Pelayo
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three
Decent little shorty, didn't feel like much of a plot though
---
Wintry Blue by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon
My Fan Status: Fan (Golden) and New to me (Lebbon)
Stars: Five
Absolute yes. I wanna see this made into a movie!
---
Carol of the Hells by Kelsea Yu
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four
Man, that ending tore me up!
---
Full of Toys by Jessica McHugh
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three
A poem on a creepy gross bloody Santa picture.
---
Nice by Nat Cassidy
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four
You know what? There's not much creepier than kids in horror. Yikes.
---
Thaw by Rachel Harrison
My Fan Status: Devoted Follower/Obsessee/Stan/Fanboy
Stars: Five+
I'm a huge fan of Rachel Harrison's. This story is no exception to that. Nothing quite like dealing with a jerk of a significant other AND a possibly living creepy snowman hunting you.
---
Candy Cane by Thomas Hutson
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Five
Sometimes it's best to write what you know. Insert devil emoji here.
---
Eggnog by Kristi DeMeester
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four
Don't mess with momma!
---
Threads of Epiphany by Sara Tantlinger
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four
I'd read this full length novel!
---
The Ladies' Society for the Dead by Darcy Coates
My Fan Status: Big Fan
Stars: Four
Nice twist!
---
Being Nice by Jeff Strand
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four
Interesting play on the Naughty/Nice List and last minute makeup points lol
---
Ghosted by Mercedes M. Yardley
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three
Decent little ghost story about a partner who died who you didn't really know
---
Bruiser by Jamie Flanagan
My Fan Status: New to me/Fan of his shows
Stars: Four
Weird but I'd watch this show!
I'm going to be 100% honest here: I requested this ARC because of a handful of the horror authors in it: namely, Rachel Harrison, Josh Malerman, and Darcy Coates. They're all authors I really love! Luckily for me, so many of the other stories really grabbed me, so now I have a long list of potential new horror authors to check out further.
Rather than do an average of scores, I'm going to give this one an overall four stars, because even the stories that weren't my favorites were still fun, which is just what I wanted from this anthology.
---
The Mouthless Body in the Lake by Gwendolyn Kiste
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three and a half
Interesting concept and good writing, but not sure the ending hit for me. I'd say I'm intrigued enough to potentially check out more of her stories one day.
---
Cold as Ice by Tim Waggoner
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four
Oh, this one was fun!
---
Children Aren't the Only Ones Who Know Where the Presents Are Hidden by Josh Malerman
My Fan Status: Big Fan
Stars: Three and a half
Love Josh Malerman, but I didn't feel like this one had much of a plot. The twist at the end was clever-ish.
---
The Vermin Moon by Hailey Piper
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three
I can't say I loved this one, but I didn't hate it either. It was... weird. But also heartbreaking.
---
The Body of Lenora James by Stephanie M. Wytovich
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four and a half
Can we get a full length novel of this please? Loved!
---
Mr. Butler by Clay McCleod Chapman
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four and a half
Albeeeeeeeee, Mr. Butler was creepy as heck! Loved the personal nature of this one, and really disturbed by Mr. Butler.
---
Feast of Gray by Lindy Ryan and Christopher Golden
My Fan Status: New to me (Ryan) and Fan (Golden)
Stars: Three
I liked this one fine, but felt like it needed more.
---
I Hope This Finds You Well by Eric LaRocca
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three and a half
That ending though!
---
The Buried Child by M. Rickert
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three
Kind of confusingly written and muddled, brought me out of the story a bit.
---
Father's Last Christmas by Lee Murray
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four
Lots of fun (for us) and reminiscent of Gaiman's Stardust (in a good way)
---
The Warmth of Snow by Cynthia Pelayo
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three
Decent little shorty, didn't feel like much of a plot though
---
Wintry Blue by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon
My Fan Status: Fan (Golden) and New to me (Lebbon)
Stars: Five
Absolute yes. I wanna see this made into a movie!
---
Carol of the Hells by Kelsea Yu
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four
Man, that ending tore me up!
---
Full of Toys by Jessica McHugh
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three
A poem on a creepy gross bloody Santa picture.
---
Nice by Nat Cassidy
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four
You know what? There's not much creepier than kids in horror. Yikes.
---
Thaw by Rachel Harrison
My Fan Status: Devoted Follower/Obsessee/Stan/Fanboy
Stars: Five+
I'm a huge fan of Rachel Harrison's. This story is no exception to that. Nothing quite like dealing with a jerk of a significant other AND a possibly living creepy snowman hunting you.
---
Candy Cane by Thomas Hutson
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Five
Sometimes it's best to write what you know. Insert devil emoji here.
---
Eggnog by Kristi DeMeester
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four
Don't mess with momma!
---
Threads of Epiphany by Sara Tantlinger
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four
I'd read this full length novel!
---
The Ladies' Society for the Dead by Darcy Coates
My Fan Status: Big Fan
Stars: Four
Nice twist!
---
Being Nice by Jeff Strand
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four
Interesting play on the Naughty/Nice List and last minute makeup points lol
---
Ghosted by Mercedes M. Yardley
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three
Decent little ghost story about a partner who died who you didn't really know
---
Bruiser by Jamie Flanagan
My Fan Status: New to me/Fan of his shows
Stars: Four
Weird but I'd watch this show!
May 22, 2024
The Goodreads description for this anthology says “Perfect for Halloween” but this is actually a Winter/holiday collection, and even then many of them follow that theme very loosely. I do enjoy a good frosty scare, and personally I would recommend reading something like this in November - January.
However, let me caution you that this collection is not what I would call “scary.” My overall critique will probably sound harsh, but I’ve read several of these holiday anthologies now and it’s getting pretty tough to find good ones. I’m also a bit letdown that a dusting of snow on the ground at one point in the story for a brief moment is enough to qualify some of these for the theme.
Out of 22 stories I only liked maybe 8 or 9 of them, and as I went through and gave them individual ratings I would say only a few got 4 or 5 stars.
A couple of tales in this collection would do pretty well in a gross out contest, many were just kind of boring or mediocre, and a few were a bit cringe. I’ve definitely seen better from most of these talented and established authors. I even disliked some stuff here by writers whose work I usually enjoy. (Examples: Nat Cassidy, M Rickert and Clay McLeod Chapman.)
The stories that I did like were good because they were either very unique or extremely holiday forward and fun. It’s always interesting to read other reviews and see how nobody ever likes the same pieces that I did. A few highlights (for me) were:
- “Threads of Epiphany” by Sara Tantlinger, a beautiful and haunting folk tale (typically not my thing!)
- “The Vermin Moon” by Hailey Piper. Really fucking weird and I liked it a lot. Many reviewers seemed to dislike this one but I was surprised by how much it appealed to me, especially considering that this author’s work hasn’t been my thing in the past.
- “Children Aren’t the Only Ones Who Know Where the Presents Are Hidden” by Josh Malerman. Very creepy and effective, but also felt like a companion story for his upcoming novel “Incidents Around the House,” which I loved.
- “Wintry Blue” by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon. So much more action and plot than all the others. A little trope-y but I’ll forgive it because it was exciting and the closest thing to actual Winter horror in this whole anthology. Except for maybe….
- “Thaw” by Rachel Harrison, *Cute* and very Christmasy. I love her books.
There are indeed lots of big authors in this story collection, but I would personally recommend that you seek out their solo works or look elsewhere if you want a truly satisfying Wintery or holiday horror experience. This is not their shining moment, for the most part, nor did it make me feel the chills I was hoping for.
Regardless, thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
TW: Child death, Animal harm/death, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Cannibalism, Depression, Mention of SA
However, let me caution you that this collection is not what I would call “scary.” My overall critique will probably sound harsh, but I’ve read several of these holiday anthologies now and it’s getting pretty tough to find good ones. I’m also a bit letdown that a dusting of snow on the ground at one point in the story for a brief moment is enough to qualify some of these for the theme.
Out of 22 stories I only liked maybe 8 or 9 of them, and as I went through and gave them individual ratings I would say only a few got 4 or 5 stars.
A couple of tales in this collection would do pretty well in a gross out contest, many were just kind of boring or mediocre, and a few were a bit cringe. I’ve definitely seen better from most of these talented and established authors. I even disliked some stuff here by writers whose work I usually enjoy. (Examples: Nat Cassidy, M Rickert and Clay McLeod Chapman.)
The stories that I did like were good because they were either very unique or extremely holiday forward and fun. It’s always interesting to read other reviews and see how nobody ever likes the same pieces that I did. A few highlights (for me) were:
- “Threads of Epiphany” by Sara Tantlinger, a beautiful and haunting folk tale (typically not my thing!)
- “The Vermin Moon” by Hailey Piper. Really fucking weird and I liked it a lot. Many reviewers seemed to dislike this one but I was surprised by how much it appealed to me, especially considering that this author’s work hasn’t been my thing in the past.
- “Children Aren’t the Only Ones Who Know Where the Presents Are Hidden” by Josh Malerman. Very creepy and effective, but also felt like a companion story for his upcoming novel “Incidents Around the House,” which I loved.
- “Wintry Blue” by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon. So much more action and plot than all the others. A little trope-y but I’ll forgive it because it was exciting and the closest thing to actual Winter horror in this whole anthology. Except for maybe….
- “Thaw” by Rachel Harrison, *Cute* and very Christmasy. I love her books.
There are indeed lots of big authors in this story collection, but I would personally recommend that you seek out their solo works or look elsewhere if you want a truly satisfying Wintery or holiday horror experience. This is not their shining moment, for the most part, nor did it make me feel the chills I was hoping for.
Regardless, thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
TW: Child death, Animal harm/death, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Cannibalism, Depression, Mention of SA
September 3, 2024
“Snow! It pelted the windows. It drifted softly. It hardened to ice. It blew in angry swirls like the dust of ghosts. It came with a howling wind. It arrived in the night, hushed as whispers.”
While in the midst of autumn, it’s never too early to start dreaming of darker nights in the bitter cold of winter. And if you’re wondering what to read when the icy fingers of winter’s frost come knocking at your door, might I suggest a short story collection?
THE DARKEST NIGHT features 22 wintery stories ranging from dark fantasy to pure horror and written by many of our favorite authors. In Josh Malerman’s Children Aren’t the Only Ones Who Know Where the Presents Are Hidden, a repressed memory has returned to haunt its holiday-hating protagonist. In Clay Chapman McLeod’s Mr. Butler, a child’s imaginary friend (or foe?) returns at his doorstep. Eric LaRocca’s I Hope This Finds You Well follows a narrator who receives a letter from an acquaintance about ominous concerns involving a very exclusive gentlemen's club. And author Lee Murray’s Father’s Last Christmas is a contemporary retelling of a dark Brothers Grimm fairytale.
Many of these stories center grief, loss, death, and melancholy memories–perfect for a season where all life is in hibernation or met its end. Get a head start on your winter reading list by adding this collection to your shelves when it arrives September 24th, and prepare for the chills!
(Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for this early review copy!)
While in the midst of autumn, it’s never too early to start dreaming of darker nights in the bitter cold of winter. And if you’re wondering what to read when the icy fingers of winter’s frost come knocking at your door, might I suggest a short story collection?
THE DARKEST NIGHT features 22 wintery stories ranging from dark fantasy to pure horror and written by many of our favorite authors. In Josh Malerman’s Children Aren’t the Only Ones Who Know Where the Presents Are Hidden, a repressed memory has returned to haunt its holiday-hating protagonist. In Clay Chapman McLeod’s Mr. Butler, a child’s imaginary friend (or foe?) returns at his doorstep. Eric LaRocca’s I Hope This Finds You Well follows a narrator who receives a letter from an acquaintance about ominous concerns involving a very exclusive gentlemen's club. And author Lee Murray’s Father’s Last Christmas is a contemporary retelling of a dark Brothers Grimm fairytale.
Many of these stories center grief, loss, death, and melancholy memories–perfect for a season where all life is in hibernation or met its end. Get a head start on your winter reading list by adding this collection to your shelves when it arrives September 24th, and prepare for the chills!
(Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for this early review copy!)
August 25, 2024
These 22 wintery horror stories are a great way to wave goodbye to the heat of summer and kick off the start of spooky season.
I enjoyed the thrills, chills and a bit of dark humor.
A girl seeks out the help of a witch to heal her brother's failing heart.
A teenager on the cusp of adulthood learns that his final childhood gift from Santa will be a lump of coal. Is there time to get on the nice list before Christmas Eve is over? His attempts are gruesome and hilarious.
A very good boy learns from an elf that working conditions are unbearable at the North Pole. It would be so much easier at Santa's workshop if the naughty list was longer. Of course any good child would want to help make that happen, with bloody and horrific results.
An exhausted new mother is made to feel like a frumpy house frau by the office flirt at her husband's work party. Revenge is not a dish served cold, but a festive glass of Christmas cheer.
A woman who blames herself for a Christmas tragedy gets a chance for a do-over.
A romantic weekend in a cozy cabin complete with festive decorations and a snowman in the yard doesn't go quite as planned as a woman starts to notice some traits of toxic masculinity... and hey is that snowman coming closer?
A good Samaritan stops his car on an icy mountain road to help an injured woman, and puts himself and his daughter at risk.
An empty box mysteriously appears on the porch and there is no way to be rid of it until it gets what it wants.
The Darkest Night is 322 pages of delightfully deadly fun.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books.
I enjoyed the thrills, chills and a bit of dark humor.
A girl seeks out the help of a witch to heal her brother's failing heart.
A teenager on the cusp of adulthood learns that his final childhood gift from Santa will be a lump of coal. Is there time to get on the nice list before Christmas Eve is over? His attempts are gruesome and hilarious.
A very good boy learns from an elf that working conditions are unbearable at the North Pole. It would be so much easier at Santa's workshop if the naughty list was longer. Of course any good child would want to help make that happen, with bloody and horrific results.
An exhausted new mother is made to feel like a frumpy house frau by the office flirt at her husband's work party. Revenge is not a dish served cold, but a festive glass of Christmas cheer.
A woman who blames herself for a Christmas tragedy gets a chance for a do-over.
A romantic weekend in a cozy cabin complete with festive decorations and a snowman in the yard doesn't go quite as planned as a woman starts to notice some traits of toxic masculinity... and hey is that snowman coming closer?
A good Samaritan stops his car on an icy mountain road to help an injured woman, and puts himself and his daughter at risk.
An empty box mysteriously appears on the porch and there is no way to be rid of it until it gets what it wants.
The Darkest Night is 322 pages of delightfully deadly fun.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books.
November 29, 2024
When I spotted The Darkest Night: 22 Winter Horror Stories on #bookstagram I knew I had to read it, and it turned out to be one of my favorite anthologies I have ever read! Short stories are always hit or miss for me, and while I didn’t love every single one in this collection, the amount I loved or just really got a thrill out of was immense. Many of the authors I hadn’t read before, but I especially enjoyed The Mouthless Body in the Lake by Gwendolyn Kiste, Children Aren’t the Only Ones Who Know Where the Presents are Hidden by Josh Malerman, The Body of Leonora James by Stephanie M. Wytovich (very disturbing but awesome revenge elements), Eggnog by Kristi DeMeester (omg can we just talk about the way I fist pumped during that one? 🤣) and Nice by Nat Cassidy to name a few.
The other awesome part of this anthology ended up being the audiobook which is narrated by multiple narrators. According to Libro.fm there are 11 total 🤯 which included some of my favorites like January LaVoy, Imogen Church, and Andi Arndt. I loved every single one and have to give a special shoutout to whoever narrated Mr. Butler by Clay McLeod Chapman. He really nailed the last sentence of that story making it exceptionally creepy. The audio also includes every bit of the book down to the About the Authors section at the end which was a nice touch. Read this if you are in the mood for something spooky and wintery, love chilling short stories, and bask in the glow of dark humor.
The other awesome part of this anthology ended up being the audiobook which is narrated by multiple narrators. According to Libro.fm there are 11 total 🤯 which included some of my favorites like January LaVoy, Imogen Church, and Andi Arndt. I loved every single one and have to give a special shoutout to whoever narrated Mr. Butler by Clay McLeod Chapman. He really nailed the last sentence of that story making it exceptionally creepy. The audio also includes every bit of the book down to the About the Authors section at the end which was a nice touch. Read this if you are in the mood for something spooky and wintery, love chilling short stories, and bask in the glow of dark humor.
December 15, 2025
This anthology contains 22 horror/creepy short stories that are Christmas/winter time themed. Some were hits but I would say the majority were either misses (2 star) or neutral (3 star). A combination of factors would lead to a miss, predominant among which was the story would start off with an interest concept, and then I feel like it never really had a resolution. I’m not sure if this is a me problem with short story format or if the stories really were just missing that final element to bring the story together. Other reasons included 2nd person narrative (and for the first two stories no less!). Overall, there were definitely some good stories in here and some super cool ideas, but nothing totally out of this world.
Some of my favorites:
Father’s Last Christmas (Lee Murray)- a gruesome gathering of a royal family vying for the throne on Christmas Eve as their sick father sorts through their offered “gifts” to determine who will earn his throne. This was like a twisted fairytale and I ate it up.
Wintry Blue (Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon)-A single dad and his daughter are driving up a secluded mountain side to her grandparents house for Christmas. At the same time a couple is stalking the surrounding woods looking for evil beings and spirits that are said to haunt a nearby cabin. Things come to a head when the evil takes root in the man and his girlfriend has to run for her life and seek the help of the father and daughter to destroy the evil “creature”. The ending for this was absolutely chilling, and after multiple unsatisfying endings, this was a home run. (Seeing your name in a story is fun too 😂).
Nice (Nat Cassidy)- An elf comes from the North Pole and asks Santa’s biggest fan to be naughty so he doesn’t have to work so hard making toys. This was my favorite thing by Nat Cassidy I’ve read yet…absolutely nailed it. 100% horrified.
Thaw (Rachel Harrison)- a couple is celebrating a romantic Christmas together in a remote cabin in the woods. In the distance, someone has made the perfectly symmetric snowman…who seems to be waving hello. This was absolutely creepy, frightening and I’ll never like snowmen again.
Honorable mentions: The Body of Lenora James (Stephanie M. Wytovich), Mr. Butler (Clay McLeod Chapman), The Buried Child (M. Rickert).
Some of my favorites:
Father’s Last Christmas (Lee Murray)- a gruesome gathering of a royal family vying for the throne on Christmas Eve as their sick father sorts through their offered “gifts” to determine who will earn his throne. This was like a twisted fairytale and I ate it up.
Wintry Blue (Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon)-A single dad and his daughter are driving up a secluded mountain side to her grandparents house for Christmas. At the same time a couple is stalking the surrounding woods looking for evil beings and spirits that are said to haunt a nearby cabin. Things come to a head when the evil takes root in the man and his girlfriend has to run for her life and seek the help of the father and daughter to destroy the evil “creature”. The ending for this was absolutely chilling, and after multiple unsatisfying endings, this was a home run. (Seeing your name in a story is fun too 😂).
Nice (Nat Cassidy)- An elf comes from the North Pole and asks Santa’s biggest fan to be naughty so he doesn’t have to work so hard making toys. This was my favorite thing by Nat Cassidy I’ve read yet…absolutely nailed it. 100% horrified.
Thaw (Rachel Harrison)- a couple is celebrating a romantic Christmas together in a remote cabin in the woods. In the distance, someone has made the perfectly symmetric snowman…who seems to be waving hello. This was absolutely creepy, frightening and I’ll never like snowmen again.
Honorable mentions: The Body of Lenora James (Stephanie M. Wytovich), Mr. Butler (Clay McLeod Chapman), The Buried Child (M. Rickert).
December 10, 2024
All the best horror writers in one book! Every story is their own kind of chilling tale. There is a mix of folklore, winter themed horror and evil holiday stories for everyone’s tastes.
I listened to this on audio, which I highly recommend. There are several narrators that give the stories something extra. It’s like listening to scary stories by the fireplace on Christmas Eve. I’m sure that’s everyone’s tradition, right?
It’s hard to pick a favorite but I think of them all I liked Nat Cassidy’s story, Nice. It fits the Christmas horror vibe I’ve been craving. There’s an elf, and a kid who loves Christmas. A negotiation is made, and bad things occur. It’s awesome.
I listened to this on audio, which I highly recommend. There are several narrators that give the stories something extra. It’s like listening to scary stories by the fireplace on Christmas Eve. I’m sure that’s everyone’s tradition, right?
It’s hard to pick a favorite but I think of them all I liked Nat Cassidy’s story, Nice. It fits the Christmas horror vibe I’ve been craving. There’s an elf, and a kid who loves Christmas. A negotiation is made, and bad things occur. It’s awesome.
September 26, 2024
I have never been much for short stories, but I figured horror mixed with holiday was a new twist I shouldn't resist.
Oh, how I wish I had.
I thought maybe I was missing something, when the first few stories just seemed to drift off, not really resolving into anything other than a woman going into a lake or a man's body disappearing so he could join some cold alternate universe consciousness. But they never got any better, and I can't name one that could actually be considered "horror". So disappointed.
Oh, how I wish I had.
I thought maybe I was missing something, when the first few stories just seemed to drift off, not really resolving into anything other than a woman going into a lake or a man's body disappearing so he could join some cold alternate universe consciousness. But they never got any better, and I can't name one that could actually be considered "horror". So disappointed.
December 7, 2024
Eine wirklich gute Horror-Anthologie die einem allerdings alles andere als weihnachtliche Gefühle beschert. Insgesamt ist die Sammlung wirklich düster und ich hätte mir doch ein oder zwei mehr humorvolle Geschichten wie z.B. Being Nice von Jeff Strand gewünscht, aber die Qualität der einzelnen Stories ist durchgängig hoch, so dass es nur wenig zu kritisieren gibt.
Meine Favoriten waren:
Cold as Ice - Tim Waggoner
I Hope This Finds You Well - Eric LaRocca
Wintry Blue - Christopher Golden & Tim Lebbon
Carol of the Hells - Kelsea Yu
Nice - Nat Cassidy
Thaw - Rachel Harrison
Candy Cane - Thommy Hutson
Being Nice - Jeff Strand
Meine Favoriten waren:
Cold as Ice - Tim Waggoner
I Hope This Finds You Well - Eric LaRocca
Wintry Blue - Christopher Golden & Tim Lebbon
Carol of the Hells - Kelsea Yu
Nice - Nat Cassidy
Thaw - Rachel Harrison
Candy Cane - Thommy Hutson
Being Nice - Jeff Strand
May 12, 2024
Mediocre collection of wintertime horror tales from a varying group of authors. Nothing great contained in here, as even the better stories are not particularly memorable. The worst is by Jeff Strand, a lame attempt at dark humor with Santa and a misbehaving 17-year-old. So cringy. Felt like the authors just submitted something they had lying around to get a place in the book. 2-2.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2024
The Darkest Night: 2 Stories worth mentioning, 20 stories you could easily just tell had "horror" somewhere loosely in them.
Personally would have preferred an advent calendar with chocolate or bath bombs than this.
Personally would have preferred an advent calendar with chocolate or bath bombs than this.
November 18, 2024
The Darkest Night, edited by Lindy Ryan is an anthology of 22 winter horror stories.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis and Opinions.
These stories all take place around the Christmas season. As always, I will review each story individually.
The Mouthless Body in the Lake by Gwendolyn Kiste... A lonely eight year old girl finds her own body (minus the mouth) in the frozen lake at her grandmother's house. She tells no one. No one really cares about her anyway. Amazing short story! Loved it! Loved Taylor! 5 stars
Cold as Ice by Tim Waggoner... A divorced man is trying to date, but has no real desire. While driving home in a storm he sees a strange creature running beside him. Really interesting. 5 stars
Children Aren't The Only Ones Who Know Where The Presents Are Hidden by Josh Malerman... A woman has always declared she hates all holidays. She never tried to figure out why. Then she finds a closet door on the highway to Vegas. The door reminds me of SK's Dark Tower Series which I loved, so I was annoyed. 3 stars
The Vermin Moon by Hailey Piper... A grieving mother promised to look after her daughter's pet rats if anything should happen to her. Mom wants to let her know she kept the promise. Strange. 3 stars
The Body of Leonora James by Stephanie M. Wytovich... A woman's rebirth every 19 years wreaks havoc on a small town where she tortures and drinks the blood of her victims. One year is different. This was amazing, a fresh and entertaining read! Loved it. 5 stars
Mr. Butler by Clay McLeod Chapman... A cardboard box shows up at the home of a man. This same cardboard box had once been his only friend. This one an amazing story, definitely different! 5 stars
Feast of Gray by Lindy Ryan and Christopher Brooks... A man visits the grave of his mother with whom he did not get along. Did not do anything for me. 2 stars
I hope this finds you well by Eric LaRocca... A young man joins an elite club for gay men, only to find some of the practices worrisome. Rather disturbing, but quite good! 5 stars
The Buried Child by M. Rickert... A woman who has kept the hands of her brother buried beneath a tree, finds that they have gone missing. The author says this is a tribute to The Juniper Tree by The Brothers Grimm. Not sure about that, or the story. I may have to re-read this one. 2 stars
Father's Last Christmas by Lee Murray.. The King is dying and his children gather around to see who he will pick to succeed him....which will depend on the gift that they provide. This was interesting, if somewhat predictable. 4 stars
The Warmth of Snow by Cynthia Pelayo... A mother and daughter spend every day indoors. They read a lot! The daughter is fascinated by Hamlet, although her mother disapproves. This was quite good. 4 stars
Wintry Blue by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon... A father takes his daughter to see her grandparents up a snowy mountain road, where they encounter a woman trying to escape from her boyfriend-turned-monster. This was really good, very descriptive, and hooked me from the start. 5 stars
Carol of the Hells by Kelsea vu...Holly always drives by all the houses lit by Christmas decorations, remembering how much her father and brother loved this time of year. Both she and her mother blame Holly for their deaths, and this year her mother plans to correct things. This was just sad....but good. 4 stars
Nice by Nat Cassidy... Six year old Mitchell has been really good this year, and is sure Santa knows it. But when the Elf on the Shelf comes alive and tells him he should really be naughty, and tell his friends to be naughty too, Mitchell decides the elf is right. If somewhat predictable, it was surprisingly good! 5 stars
Thaw by Rachel Harrison... A romantic weekend at a cabin turns sour when a snowman comes to life. The premise is funny, but the story is true horror. Really good! 5 stars
Candy Cane by Thommy Hutson... An author is interrupted by a visitor who has read every one of his books, and takes them to heart. Somewhat predictable, a little gruesome, but quite good. 4 stars
Eggnog by Kristi deMeester... Gillian's first outing after the birth of her child is to her husband's Christmas event. Feeling anything but pretty, she meets a woman who seems to be all over her husband. Don't mess with a postpartum woman! LOL, quite good, but too realistic to be horror. 3 stars
Threads of Epiphany by Sara Tantlinger... Minna makes a deal with a witch to get her brother a new heart. Meanwhile, she will stay with the witch, and weave thread. She begins to enjoy it, when another woman comes who has also made a deal, but has an ulterior motive. Interesting. 3 stars
The Ladies' Society for the Dead by Darcy Coates... A group of women come together to get justice for the dead. Love the author, disappointed in the story - just lacked the punch. 2 stars
Being Nice by Jeff Strand... An eighteen year old has a disagreement with Santa, who plans to leave a lump of coal in his stocking. Rather funny, but not scary. 2 stars
Ghosted by Mercedes M. Yardley... A woman mourns the death of her husband. Loved it...sentimental and sweet. 5 stars
Bruiser by Jamie Flanagan... A nursing home attendant befriends an old man who has some strange plans. It may not be horror, but it was quite good. 4 stars
Overall, I was really impressed with the number of 5 star stories in this collection. What disappointed me was that some of my favorite authors in this collection submitted rather poor stories.
These stories are definitely all centered around the winter season, and if you like scary stories at Christmas, you may want to check out this book. That being, said, they aren't all that scary, so....
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, author information and a favorite quotation from the book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
December 24, 2024
It’s really disappointing because I was looking forward to this anthology for months. However, despite the memorable and distinguished author roster, this collection really flopped on so many levels. It should have been titled, “The Darkest Whine” because the majority of the tales villainized parents and grandparents with the only “horror” being (mild) childhood trauma. The opening story by Gwyendolyn Kiste was literally sigh-inducing. And there were plenty of other cringey, forced stories by otherwise ridiculously talented authors. On a positive note, there were a few outstanding stories that absolutely deserve mentioning…
Josh Malerman contributed a fantastic tale about Christmas family drama that was both scary and heartbreaking.
Rachel Harrison did an outstanding job of flipping a romantic Christmas getaway into a terrifying feminist victory.
Sara Tantlinger fashioned old winter myths into a gorgeous fairytale that was as chilling as the solstice itself.
Darcy Coates told a tale of solstice ghosts that was absolutely stunning and was my favorite in this anthology.
Jamie Flanagan used his film writing prowess to craft a melancholy story that served as an appropriate ending to this collection.
So, five out of 22 ultimately doesn’t cut it for such a high-profile anthology.
Josh Malerman contributed a fantastic tale about Christmas family drama that was both scary and heartbreaking.
Rachel Harrison did an outstanding job of flipping a romantic Christmas getaway into a terrifying feminist victory.
Sara Tantlinger fashioned old winter myths into a gorgeous fairytale that was as chilling as the solstice itself.
Darcy Coates told a tale of solstice ghosts that was absolutely stunning and was my favorite in this anthology.
Jamie Flanagan used his film writing prowess to craft a melancholy story that served as an appropriate ending to this collection.
So, five out of 22 ultimately doesn’t cut it for such a high-profile anthology.
December 14, 2024
❄️❄️❄️❄️
December 26, 2024
”The Mouthless Body in the Lake” by Gwendolyn Kiste: 3.5 stars
This had a super cool concept, and I was immediately sucked in by the POV character seeing her own body in a frozen lake. It was a little too symbolic for me though.
”Cold as Ice” by Tim Waggoner: 3 stars
This was definitely unique. It opens with the POV character driving in a snow storm with some sort of creature keeping pace with the car. It was weird!
”Children Aren’t the Only Ones Who Knows Where the Presents Are Hidden” by Josh Malerman: 3 stars
This one was about Lydia, who hates the holidays but doesn’t know why. It did take a cool turn, I’d just have liked it to lean into the creepiness a bit more.
”The Vermin Moon” by Hailey Piper: 3.5 stars
About a mother grieving her dead child, who hopes she’s being haunted by her. This had a lot of depth for a short story!
”The Body of Leonora James” by Stephanie M. Wytovich: 4 stars
Uh, holy crap 😳 This was the first one I’d really consider horror.
”Mr. Butler” by Clay McLeod Chapman: 2 stars
About a haunted cardboard box?? Idk man this was the weirdest one yet.
”Feast of Gray” by Lindy Ryan and Christopher Brooks: DNF
I think this was about a guy talking to his mother’s grave but I didn’t get very far because it was so boring.
”I Hope This Finds You Well” by Eric LaRocca: 2 stars
This was an interesting idea but I felt like it ended before the story really started.
”The Buried Child” by M. Rickert: 2.5 stars
This one had potential to be a really cool story, but it was just so disjointed.
”Father’s Last Christmas” by Lee Murray: 3 stars
This one had courtly intrigue and was pretty brutal! I enjoyed it!
”The Warmth of Snow” by Cynthia Pelayo: 1.5 stars
The narrator mainly just rambled on about Shakespeare. Didn’t feel like much of a story at all.
”Wintry Blue” by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon: 5 stars
Oh, this was fantastic. It hooked me right away and kept my eyes glued to the page. And the ending was a great shock!
”Carol of the Hells” by Kelsea Yu: 2 stars
This was okay but ultimately I didn’t really connect with it or feel like I should care.
”Nice” by Nat Cassidy: 4.5 stars
Omggggg. This was wild and unpredictable. It sort of has to do with Elf on the Shelf but is way more than that. It was so creative and freaky.
”Thaw” by Rachel Harrison: 3 stars
About a couple who stay in a cabin for Christmas that has a creepy snowman outside. It was definitely readable but was more cheesy than scary.
”Candy Cane” by Thommy Hutson: 4 stars
Misery vibes! This one started out with a bang and took lots of crazy turns. I enjoyed it.
”Eggnog” by Kristi DeMeester: 2.5 stars
Basically about a new mother having a really hard time lol
”Threads of Epiphany” by Sarah Tantlinger: 3 stars
A pretty good story about the Spinnstubenfrau legend!
”The Ladies’ Society for the Dead” by Darcy Coates: 4.5 stars
Unsurprisingly, Darcy Coates’ story was awesome. Well-written, engrossing, and with a great twist.
”Being Nice” by Jeff Strand: 4 stars
This was absolutely WACKY from start to finish but I kind of loved it 😂
”Ghosted” by Mercedes M. Yardley: 2 stars
The story was fine, but it wasn’t horror whatsoever. It was just about a woman mourning her dead husband.
”Bruiser” by Jamie Flanagan: 2.5 stars
I expected more from this since it was written by a Flanagan. It was okay just not spooky to me.
This had a super cool concept, and I was immediately sucked in by the POV character seeing her own body in a frozen lake. It was a little too symbolic for me though.
”Cold as Ice” by Tim Waggoner: 3 stars
This was definitely unique. It opens with the POV character driving in a snow storm with some sort of creature keeping pace with the car. It was weird!
”Children Aren’t the Only Ones Who Knows Where the Presents Are Hidden” by Josh Malerman: 3 stars
This one was about Lydia, who hates the holidays but doesn’t know why. It did take a cool turn, I’d just have liked it to lean into the creepiness a bit more.
”The Vermin Moon” by Hailey Piper: 3.5 stars
About a mother grieving her dead child, who hopes she’s being haunted by her. This had a lot of depth for a short story!
”The Body of Leonora James” by Stephanie M. Wytovich: 4 stars
Uh, holy crap 😳 This was the first one I’d really consider horror.
”Mr. Butler” by Clay McLeod Chapman: 2 stars
About a haunted cardboard box?? Idk man this was the weirdest one yet.
”Feast of Gray” by Lindy Ryan and Christopher Brooks: DNF
I think this was about a guy talking to his mother’s grave but I didn’t get very far because it was so boring.
”I Hope This Finds You Well” by Eric LaRocca: 2 stars
This was an interesting idea but I felt like it ended before the story really started.
”The Buried Child” by M. Rickert: 2.5 stars
This one had potential to be a really cool story, but it was just so disjointed.
”Father’s Last Christmas” by Lee Murray: 3 stars
This one had courtly intrigue and was pretty brutal! I enjoyed it!
”The Warmth of Snow” by Cynthia Pelayo: 1.5 stars
The narrator mainly just rambled on about Shakespeare. Didn’t feel like much of a story at all.
”Wintry Blue” by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon: 5 stars
Oh, this was fantastic. It hooked me right away and kept my eyes glued to the page. And the ending was a great shock!
”Carol of the Hells” by Kelsea Yu: 2 stars
This was okay but ultimately I didn’t really connect with it or feel like I should care.
”Nice” by Nat Cassidy: 4.5 stars
Omggggg. This was wild and unpredictable. It sort of has to do with Elf on the Shelf but is way more than that. It was so creative and freaky.
”Thaw” by Rachel Harrison: 3 stars
About a couple who stay in a cabin for Christmas that has a creepy snowman outside. It was definitely readable but was more cheesy than scary.
”Candy Cane” by Thommy Hutson: 4 stars
Misery vibes! This one started out with a bang and took lots of crazy turns. I enjoyed it.
”Eggnog” by Kristi DeMeester: 2.5 stars
Basically about a new mother having a really hard time lol
”Threads of Epiphany” by Sarah Tantlinger: 3 stars
A pretty good story about the Spinnstubenfrau legend!
”The Ladies’ Society for the Dead” by Darcy Coates: 4.5 stars
Unsurprisingly, Darcy Coates’ story was awesome. Well-written, engrossing, and with a great twist.
”Being Nice” by Jeff Strand: 4 stars
This was absolutely WACKY from start to finish but I kind of loved it 😂
”Ghosted” by Mercedes M. Yardley: 2 stars
The story was fine, but it wasn’t horror whatsoever. It was just about a woman mourning her dead husband.
”Bruiser” by Jamie Flanagan: 2.5 stars
I expected more from this since it was written by a Flanagan. It was okay just not spooky to me.
November 24, 2024
Overall this was a very enjoyable winter horror collection! There is a really varied mix of settings, moods, and plots. Grief horror, ghosts, creatures, & slashers; from darkly atmospheric & moody to funny & gory. Some take place at Christmas, some are just set during winter. We get isolated snowy locations, desert roads, forests, and suburban neighborhoods. I really think there is something here for everyone!
I did rate each story individually to help me decide on an overall rating for the collection and while I didn’t love every single story, a little over half of the 22 stories were a 4-5⭐️, which is a percentage I am very happy with! Especially considering how much I loved the ones I did enjoy and less than a handful of the others were under a 3 star experience.
My very fave stories:
- The Vermin Moon by Hailey Piper
- Mr. Butler by Clay McLeod Chapman
- Nice by Nat Cassidy
- Being Nice by Jeff Strand
- Threads of Epiphany by Sara Tantlinger
Others I loved:
- The Warmth of Snow by Cynthia Pelayo
- Candy Cane by Tommy Hudson
- Eggnog by Kristi DeMeester
- The Ladies Society for the Dead by Darcy Coates
- Thaw by Rachel Harrison
- The Body of Leonora James by Stephanie M. Wytovich
- I Hope This Finds You Well by Eric LaRocca
Very happy with my overall experience with the anthology and definitely recommend if you like short horror stories and are looking for something with lots of winter and Christmas vibes.
This book is available now in all formats. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the arc!
I did rate each story individually to help me decide on an overall rating for the collection and while I didn’t love every single story, a little over half of the 22 stories were a 4-5⭐️, which is a percentage I am very happy with! Especially considering how much I loved the ones I did enjoy and less than a handful of the others were under a 3 star experience.
My very fave stories:
- The Vermin Moon by Hailey Piper
- Mr. Butler by Clay McLeod Chapman
- Nice by Nat Cassidy
- Being Nice by Jeff Strand
- Threads of Epiphany by Sara Tantlinger
Others I loved:
- The Warmth of Snow by Cynthia Pelayo
- Candy Cane by Tommy Hudson
- Eggnog by Kristi DeMeester
- The Ladies Society for the Dead by Darcy Coates
- Thaw by Rachel Harrison
- The Body of Leonora James by Stephanie M. Wytovich
- I Hope This Finds You Well by Eric LaRocca
Very happy with my overall experience with the anthology and definitely recommend if you like short horror stories and are looking for something with lots of winter and Christmas vibes.
This book is available now in all formats. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the arc!
September 19, 2024
I received this as an ARC and couldn’t wait to see what horror surprises were in it. It’s packed full of 22 short stories by some great horror authors. I guess I would say I was expecting a bit…more out of it. I believe they should’ve picked stronger stories to open the book with. Some didn’t give off winter vibes other than mentioning it was snowing or chilly. Some I would LOVE to see turned into a novel while others I wish I could unread. This is probably something I would read once and leave out for décor on the table during the winter months.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books & NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books & NetGalley for the ARC.
April 10, 2024
The Darkest Night is a collection of winter-themed horror that offers something to satisfy almost any reader. While many of the stories are just above average in quality, there are very few that are below average. If you're in the mood for a return to the Christmas season, or you just want to read a few thoughtful, dark stories by good writers, this book is for you. Standouts include contributions by Clay McLeod Chapman, Nat Cassidy, Jeff Strand and Jamie Flanagan.
A frosty thank you to Penguin Random House and Edelweiss+ for the ARC.
A frosty thank you to Penguin Random House and Edelweiss+ for the ARC.
September 16, 2024
This was a really strong short story collection! With there being 22, there were some stories that felt stronger than others, but each story delivered on the horror vibes. This would be a great collection to start at the beginning of December and read a story a night till Christmas. Looking forward to check out more works from the authors to my favorite stories!
Loved the audiobook! It has a lot of great narrators in here!
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
Loved the audiobook! It has a lot of great narrators in here!
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
October 8, 2024
3.5 rounded up. Thank you Crooked Lane books for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A collection of short winter horror stories by various authors. Some were nothing special, a few that I was disappointed with, and a few really hit like Nate Cassidy’s story, Rachel Harrison’s, Cynthia Pelayo’s, Josh Malerman’s, and Darcy Coates’
Video thoughts: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFPYVA1s/
A collection of short winter horror stories by various authors. Some were nothing special, a few that I was disappointed with, and a few really hit like Nate Cassidy’s story, Rachel Harrison’s, Cynthia Pelayo’s, Josh Malerman’s, and Darcy Coates’
Video thoughts: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFPYVA1s/
December 24, 2024
This is my favorite anthology I have read in a long time. With the amazing Lindy Ryan at the helm of this ship I wouldn’t expect anything less! With a who’s who of the horror community there’s so many incredibly creepy stories in this but my absolute favorites were Clay McLeod Chapman’s Mr Butler and Cynthia Pelayo’s The Warmth of Snow. This is a must read, so many great stories in here!!
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