Through the Ravenous Night We Ride

by Calvin Demmer

Secret societies, serial killers, malevolent criminals, and other evils stalk these pages.

A short story collection.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Thriller, Anthologies, Fiction

117 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2024

About the author

Calvin Demmer is a South African author of horror, dark fantasy, science fiction, and crime. His books include the flash fiction collection The Sea Was a Fair Master and the short story collections Dark Celebrations, Her Heart Beats for Ancient Beasts, Through the Ravenous Night We Ride, Duel the Darkness for Nightmare Rule, and The Town That Feared Dusk. When not writing, he is intrigued by that which goes bump in the night and the sciences of our universe.

You can find him online at calvindemmer.com or sign up for his newsletter to stay up to date with his latest projects.

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a good few Calvin Demmer short stories and I have always been impressed by his work. This collection was a pleasure to read. I'd go as far as to say he is one of the best short story writers in the horror genre today. Plenty of variety and not a dud in the book.

[Caiti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read. Love me some mini “wtf did I just read???” horror stories

[Amy Schmid · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride. An intense, spine tingling, goosebump inducing ride! The pictures these stories painted are forever ingrained in my brain. Phenomenal.

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me just say it's great to read a new Calvin Demmer collection. This one is probably my favorite of the three I've read (he released another one alongside this which I'll be reading soon). This is short, but it packs a lot of great stories here. Most horror fans will find things to like: deals with the devil, hell, diseases, serial killers, Frankenstein-esque things, plus more. Every story is tight and well written. I highly suggest this collection to any horror fans.

[Josh reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful volume of short stories by Calvin Demmer, I’ve been a fan of the author’s writing since reading his volume of micro-fiction several years ago. Each of these stories are wonderfully nuanced and at times horrifyingly shocking. I loved it!

[KB · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a difficult feat to create short stories that deliver. Calvin Demmer has a gift. Thoroughly entertaining ‘wtf did I just read’ short horror stories. May need to bring these along a family camping trip this summer 😂.

[Paige Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection was dark and very thought provoking. I had a great time reading these stories and highly recommend checking out this collection! Every horror fan needs to add this to their TBR.

Motel Madness
Imagine waking up and realizing that you’re in hell. I’m just going to leave it at that…
This was an intense opening story!

The Lioness Must Hunt
The title is very fitting for this story. Bella is very much a dominatrix of sorts and is always on the hunt for her next thrill. This story took a very unexpected turn and was quite the twist!

Heartless
This gives “through sickness and in health, for better, for worse” a whole new meaning…
This story was NUTS.

Through the Ravenous Night We Ride
WOW. I wasn’t ready for this one at all. That ending…

Scarecrow
Well this was one hell of a ride. We have a scarecrow that pits a team of cops against each other and then it leads to another unexpected ending like most of the stories thus far in the collection.

Love Electric
This painter uses a special kind of paint…😳

Faster
When you make a deal with the devil there’s no going back. This might be my favorite of the collection so far!

Blackheart’s Traveling Carnival
“What happens in Blackheart’s traveling carnival stays in Blackheart’s traveling carnival.”
Nuff said right there! I love these types of stories.

Angels
Darkness is eternal in this story…

Xmas
When a sick reindeer is brought into the family home, things take a dark turn.

[Milica · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Calvin Demmer and I must say, I'm quite impressed. Especially considering the fact that I'm not a fan of short stories in general. Each story was gripping and weird, and each had a unique plot.
I liked all of them, but Faster had me in a chokehold. It left me wanting more of course, as most short stories do. Maybe Demmer eventually decides to develop it into a full length novel, one can only hope...
*squints at Demmer meaningfully and crosses fingers *

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read. I'm glad this author was recommended to me!

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not my first walk on the dark side with Calvin Demmer. This short story collection brought horrible surprises to light and the evil stalking the pages never let up. Definitely cringe worthy. I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Through The Ravenous Night by Calvin Demmer.

See more at http://www.fundinmental.com

[Becks! · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️'s

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ The Master of Flash Fiction is back with a new short story collection!

See what happens when you make a deal with the Devil and sign on the dotted line or when a beauty pageant manager wakes up in a motel room with no memory of how she got there and no apparent way out.

If you’ve wondered what and where Mr. Demmer has been up to, if you’re a fan or never read him before, this is a must read!

[Risshan Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is was my first Calvin Demmer book. Normally, I am not the biggest fan of short story collections. But these stories were excellent! All had really original ideas that were very well done. Each story is gripping in its own way. Definitely five star horrors ☺️

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a few stories in this collection that really stood out to me:

“Motel Madness”- this was equally horrifying and fascinating. Loved the concept of the establishment! “Blood stained the wall of the room like a Rorschach inkblot gone wrong.”

“Scarecrow”- very freaky! I love going to the corn maze at night to get super scared; this story gave me the same vibe. What an ending too.

“Xmas”- damn, this one was too short! I zoomed through it and really want to know what happens next for Damien! What a crazy Christmas tale.

The other stories were pretty good, but I didn’t feel they were quite as intriguing as the few I highlighted. I really appreciate the varied plots and scenarios Demmer has created; utilizing natural and supernatural horrors keeps the reader on their toes, never knowing what could happen next.

[Molly-Jane Eley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever little book of short stories!

Creepy, campy horror fun!

[Kathryn Grace Loves Horror · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw this was a contender for the Books of Horror Facebook group's Short Smack contest, and I've always enjoyed Demmer's writing, so I picked this one up right away. It was a lot of fun, as Demmer's stories generally are.

Personal favorites:

"Through the Ravenous Night We Ride" - A paramedic is a little out of it due to bad dreams he's been having. That's all I can say without spoiling this one, but it really worked for me and may be my favorite in the collection.

"Faster" - A man with a crystal that absorbs people's lives to keep him young must always keep moving for fear of what may happen if he stops. This was such an interesting and unique story. I would love to read more about this man with the devil on his tail.

"Blackheart's Traveling Carnival" - A prank gone wrong (involving hallucinogens and a carnival haunted house) results in carnage. Hmm...I actually think this one might be my favorite, and I loved the cunning Mr. Blackheart.

Demmer has really done it again with this collection, another one that just knocked it out of the park. If you haven't read Demmer yet, this is an excellent starting point, and might be my favorite book of his to date.

[Amanda Ruzsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each and every story in this collection is magnificent. The very first line in the book had me intrigued. And the first story made it impossible to put this book down. While each of the stories were enjoyable, the ones that really stood out were: MOTEL MADNESS; HEARTLESS; SCARECROW; and XMAS — my favorite! I wholeheartedly recommend this book, along with Demmer’s other tales. I’ve been pleased by all his work.

[DaniPhantom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice dose of variety amongst these horrific and depraved short stories. Most of these I just found depressing rather than scary, but they will stick with me.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover to this short story collection really drew my eye, and I had seen the book making the rounds in Books of Horror. This was my first experience with Calvin Demmer, and overall I'm pretty impressed. 3.5 stars

Motel Madness ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Lioness Must Hunt ⭐⭐⭐
Heartless ⭐⭐⭐.5
Through the Ravenous Night We Ride ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scarecrow ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Love Electric ⭐⭐.5
Faster ⭐⭐⭐
Blackheart’s Traveling Circus ⭐⭐⭐.5
Angela ⭐⭐⭐.75
Xmas ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Sunshine Somerville · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Through the Ravenous Night We Ride” was not a disappointment, even though I’ve come to expect a lot from this fantastic writer – it had a high bar to clear! I’ve come to expect great twists in Demmer’s stories, and I found myself reading with that expectation in mind, trying to guess where things would go, and yet I still didn’t see some of the endings coming.

What really stood out to me about this collection was that the “monsters” were mostly just people. Yes, there was some supernatural or horrific element involved, but the “bad guys” that caused all the trouble were usually human characters. Many of the stories were set in modern times, in ordinary settings, but then there’d be some horrible twist that showed everything was wrong.

A few of these stories I’ve read before – like “Motel Madness” and “Faster” – but they fit well in this collection, and I happily read them again. One of my favorites was “Blackheart’s Traveling Carnival” simply because I kind of cheered for her in the end. “Scarecrow” was creepy in a “I really hope that wouldn’t happen,” believable kind of way, same as “The Lioness Must Hunt.”

Highly recommend!

[Danielle Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐s

[nightmares.of.eliza]

Carnival of Bad Decisions. 🎪😏

Reading Through the Ravenous Night We Ride feels like stepping into a fairground built by your worst impulses — every light buzzing, every booth sticky with sin. There’s no curator here, no guiding hand; just chaos wearing a smirk. Calvin Demmer doesn’t organize his horrors; he lets them spill. The result is gloriously uneven, gloriously alive — a mash-up of fever, blood, and bad timing.

The first story hits like an electric shock and sets the tone: a collection of human implosions disguised as entertainment. Husbands get what’s coming, wives bite back (sometimes literally), and ordinary people spiral into extraordinary ruin. It’s grotesque, brisk, and slyly funny — the kind of macabre that makes you think, of course this is how it ends.

Demmer writes like someone who knows exactly how long a nightmare should last. His pacing is razor-sharp — each story builds with cinematic precision, then ends in a flash that leaves you blinking, slightly disoriented. The transitions are fast, sometimes startlingly so, but never careless. He understands that horror doesn’t always need resolution — just the moment before the scream cuts off.

I read it slowly, booth by booth, tasting the smoke between stories. Each tale offers a flicker of catharsis — the killer caught, the sinner punished — but it never lasts. Relief curdles into unease before you can swallow it. These aren’t morality plays; they’re funhouse reflections. You laugh, wince, move on, wondering what the next mirror will show you.

Demmer opens a carnival for the damned, and no one leaves with a clean conscience. It’s messy, fast, and deliciously mean — like a box of cursed fireworks, each burning a little unevenly but always leaving a mark.

Verdict: 4.5 / 5. (An overgenerous score, maybe, but this one hit exactly my taste.) Grotesque, clever, and impossible to binge. You read it for the same reason people go to haunted houses — to see which part of yourself screams first.

For those who like their horror bite-sized and blood-warm:
• V/H/S (film anthology) — the same jittery, cursed energy on tape.
• Books of Blood by Clive Barker (books) — horror that dares to get dirty.
• Night Shift by Stephen King (book) — classic nightmares that never quite fade.

#MessyMacabre #CatharsisCurdled #ChaosIsThePoint

[Abigail Grimm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! it has been a long time since I last finished reading a book, and Through the Ravenous Night We Ride was worth breaking out of my slump for. If you’re into anthologies, this collection of ten short stories satisfied my craving for bite-sized pieces of horror. I received this book as an ARC from the author over a year ago, so this review is way overdue. That has not affected my review.

My favorite story in this collection is the first, “Motel Madness”, because its depiction of Hell is horrifyingly similar to episodes of psychosis I have endured. I also enjoyed “Faster”, which tells the story of a deals with devils gone wrong—as they oft do. “Blackheart’s Traveling Carnival” was a big whoops! that amused me, and “Scarecrow” was something else entirely.

I’d go into more detail, but unfortunately these stories are short enough that I can’t really say much without spoiling vital information—Demmer does not use filler in his work. Every sentence matters, every detail is important, and each character has a role to serve: none of them are truly left to the side and forgotten in any of the stories.

I hope in the future to read longer works from this author.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many freakish and "where did this come from" stories in this collection. A quick read for sure.

[Cal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little short stories, enjoyed these this year! I just don't like anthologies that much! I'm learning that this year! More a 3.5 honestly.

[Mikayla Wesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just don't get it.
Yes, it's giving 'Wtf did I just read?' But not really in the way that I like. I found myself not understanding the point of some of the stories, not understanding how the plot fits together. I'm not someone who needs fiction to be particularly realistic but in these stories I just legitimately do not see how A+B=C.

[Kimyona Dietter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ravenous, this book itched a scratch

Sometimes I get in slumps and collections of short stories always give me a pick me up. This book was a great example. I do not regret the amount of time it took me to read this one. No fault of the talented Calvin Demmer. Every story was a refreshing drink to this thirsty reader. Each story had a little bit of uneasy and a lot of creeping dread that made this read fun and entertaining. I could read a story or several at a time. I appreciate the no stress vibe of this book. This is an easy read for someone that likes a little intensity in their reading menu.

[Tayler · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.

Great collection of stories that kept me entertained. Would recommend.

Reread.

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read anything by Calvin, so my first ride, so to speak .

I love when i pick up a short story collection from a author, because i get a little bit of all of them in short snips, really get an idea of what they are about.

I always try to pick my favorite from a collection, and this was hard, because they were all very good.
But my top pick was probably Motel Madness, and not just because I'm in a fucked up hotel mood for reading, it was just so good.

Each story was actually complete, and i felt satisfied when i finished, its not always a good thing to obsessively want more, sometimes an author just manages to wrap up a perfect package in a short story, and i am very impressed.

The only one i really could say i NEED more of was Xmas, i just really need to know what's going to happen now lol . And that's just me being greedy as a reader.

Would actually recommend, 3.5 Stars rounded up to 4

[Fauwxx · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story collection had been on my TBR for EONS. I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it!
.
This was such a great collection of short stories. Calvin Demmer's writing is interesting and easy to read. I found the stories to be very thought provoking.
.
If you like horror, I definitely recommend adding this to your never ending tbr.