Year of Horror

by Jesse Datin

Year of Horror is a collection of short stories, with sub-genres such as folk horror, splatter gore, camp slasher, and psychological horror. Inside, you’ll find one story for each month of the year and a birthday story. They are written from a feminist perspective and some include sapphic characters.

If you like stories featuring zombies, clowns, possession, and deranged villains, check it out.

119 pages, ebook

First published February 29, 2024

Reviews

[François G · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Year of Horror" is a rollercoaster ride through a spectrum of spooky tales, each uniquely crafted to send shivers down your spine. With a story for every month of the year and a bonus birthday treat, it promises a chilling experience that caters to the LGBTQ+ community but extends its grasp to all horror enthusiasts.

As I delved into the tales, I found myself oscillating between moments of intrigue and unease. Take "Birthday: Clowns" for instance, where the protagonist's fear of clowns is dissected with surgical precision. The narrative skillfully weaves through therapy sessions and gradual exposure exercises, painting a vivid picture of inner turmoil and eventual acceptance. However, while the exploration of phobias is intriguing, some stories veer into uncomfortable territories, such as "August: For the Girls," where layers of misogyny, ableism, and homophobia overshadow the intended thrill.

Despite occasional missteps, the collection shines in its ability to evoke a myriad of emotions. "June: Grad Night" expertly captures the essence of teenage angst and the horrors lurking beneath seemingly innocent celebrations. Yet, it's important to note that not all tales hit the mark equally. While some, like "October: Halloween High," deliver spine-chilling thrills with finesse, others feel underdeveloped, leaving me yearning for deeper exploration.

In conclusion, "Year of Horror" offers a mixed bag of scares and surprises. While some stories may leave you questioning the depths of human fear, others might fall short of expectations. Approach with caution, but don't let the shadows deter you entirely. After all, isn't the thrill of the unknown what keeps us coming back for more?

[sureshot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a mixed bag of stories. I’d say there are at least a couple of 5s here, like the story Unalive or BYOB. Ther are some that are more like fours, including the opener Birthday Clows. Unfortunately, some were more like 2s or 3s at best. At her best, the author immerses the reader in the head of a character, while holding back just enough info to keep the reader guessing. It kind of seemed like she had developed and knew certain characters better than others. In other stories, I didn’t feel immersed in any character’s perspective, and wasn’t even sure there was a perspective character. These stories had a more of a telling than showing feel. At her best, the author is sparing of details, just giving enough to move the story on. In the lesser stories, including the last one, I felt the author bogged the reader down in too much irrelevant information. Short stories are always a hard sale. If half of your stories are appreciated, you’re doing good. Still, I felt this author seemed very into some stories and others were just filling pages. Over all, I think it was worth reading just to get the gems.