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Twisted Tales of Halloween Horror: Carnival of Carnage
Come one, come all, to the carnival call, of sirens and mazes- terror for all.
Tickets are free, but you'd best beware, the exit is closed, there's no hope for you there.
Turn the lights off, curl up somewhere safe, and dive into a new collection of twisted tales by the mistresses of horror at The Sisterhood of the Black Pen. An anthology featuring female indie horror authors, Twisted Tales of Halloween Carnival of Carnage is the perfect blend of horror and spice to set you up for spooky season.
Across the fairgrounds, the wind blows cold on a deserted landscape of thrills and chills.
On Halloween, the veil between the living world and the dead is dangerously thin.
What happens when these two collide?
We have your ticket ready, if you dare to punch it...
A trapped siren, journals of memories long forgotten, pumpkin seeds that grow new beginnings bathed in blood. Every story in this hauntingly beautiful anthology has its own twist with characters you'll be rooting for —and some you'll riot against.
Trigger Warnings
Amnesia
Suicide
Self Harm
Domestic Violence
Blood-Gore
Death
Cheating
Dub con
Non con
Tickets are free, but you'd best beware, the exit is closed, there's no hope for you there.
Turn the lights off, curl up somewhere safe, and dive into a new collection of twisted tales by the mistresses of horror at The Sisterhood of the Black Pen. An anthology featuring female indie horror authors, Twisted Tales of Halloween Carnival of Carnage is the perfect blend of horror and spice to set you up for spooky season.
Across the fairgrounds, the wind blows cold on a deserted landscape of thrills and chills.
On Halloween, the veil between the living world and the dead is dangerously thin.
What happens when these two collide?
We have your ticket ready, if you dare to punch it...
A trapped siren, journals of memories long forgotten, pumpkin seeds that grow new beginnings bathed in blood. Every story in this hauntingly beautiful anthology has its own twist with characters you'll be rooting for —and some you'll riot against.
Trigger Warnings
Amnesia
Suicide
Self Harm
Domestic Violence
Blood-Gore
Death
Cheating
Dub con
Non con
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 28, 2024
18 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
September 23, 2024
I received an ARC copy of this book for my honest review.
This book is an anthology of 8 horror stories containing a small amount of spice. I believe it is marketed as a smutty book but the amount of spiciness is at a 1. I found every story to contain great descriptive writing & loved all the bits of artwork included. There were a few stories I did not quite follow as well as others, but the ones I did really took me into the world created along with its characters. And the stories I enjoyed the most, I honestly wished had continued in length. But that is just me being greedy and would defeat the purpose of the short novel.
This was also my first horror novel and honestly I loved all the details written by each author. They gave you betrayal & despair. It was gruesome, terrifying, & twisted. One story even had some sweet vengeance which I enjoyed a lot. I am definitely looking forward to reading some more books from many of the authors.
Overall I found this to be a great read for Spooky season. Not every story will be for everyone so please check trigger warnings. I am usually ok with most TW’s but I know some may not be.
This book is an anthology of 8 horror stories containing a small amount of spice. I believe it is marketed as a smutty book but the amount of spiciness is at a 1. I found every story to contain great descriptive writing & loved all the bits of artwork included. There were a few stories I did not quite follow as well as others, but the ones I did really took me into the world created along with its characters. And the stories I enjoyed the most, I honestly wished had continued in length. But that is just me being greedy and would defeat the purpose of the short novel.
This was also my first horror novel and honestly I loved all the details written by each author. They gave you betrayal & despair. It was gruesome, terrifying, & twisted. One story even had some sweet vengeance which I enjoyed a lot. I am definitely looking forward to reading some more books from many of the authors.
Overall I found this to be a great read for Spooky season. Not every story will be for everyone so please check trigger warnings. I am usually ok with most TW’s but I know some may not be.
September 28, 2024
It’s difficult to rate an anthology since it contains multiple stories. This one is hard because it has 8 stories and the stories are by different authors. Some I enjoyed, and some I didn’t, so I’ll speak in general terms here.
I jumped at the opportunity for this ARC because it’s Spooky Season and what better time to read it? You’ll definitely find spooky components within, such as clowns, cursed pumpkins, nighttime circus ambience, possession/reincarnation, potions, and the like. There is some horror to be found but in my opinion most of the scariness is more of the psychological thriller type.
I also had the impression that there was going to be spicy action in it. To be fair there is some, but it’s very little and not very descriptive. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just felt anticlimactic (no pun intended ).
A good number of the tales took me out of my present reality and into the world of the circus and its characters, but not all. A few of them I did not care for, mostly because I felt no connection to the characters or what was happening so I got bored and ended up reading them in a perfunctory way since I committed to reading them. While I can’t give this 5 stars, I will give it 4 because it was entertaining and I’m going to attribute being bored with some parts to my ADHD struggles.
I jumped at the opportunity for this ARC because it’s Spooky Season and what better time to read it? You’ll definitely find spooky components within, such as clowns, cursed pumpkins, nighttime circus ambience, possession/reincarnation, potions, and the like. There is some horror to be found but in my opinion most of the scariness is more of the psychological thriller type.
I also had the impression that there was going to be spicy action in it. To be fair there is some, but it’s very little and not very descriptive. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just felt anticlimactic (no pun intended ).
A good number of the tales took me out of my present reality and into the world of the circus and its characters, but not all. A few of them I did not care for, mostly because I felt no connection to the characters or what was happening so I got bored and ended up reading them in a perfunctory way since I committed to reading them. While I can’t give this 5 stars, I will give it 4 because it was entertaining and I’m going to attribute being bored with some parts to my ADHD struggles.
September 15, 2024
I can’t rate this book as a whole because it is an anthology of stories so I wanted to give an overall rating based on all the stories I read and then kinda dive deeper into which ones I liked and didn’t.
Overall if you like creepy, circus/carnival themes and horror you’ll like these stories. If you’re in it for the smut/adult themes you’ll be underwhelmed. I like both so I was not disappointed, however, I felt this belonged more in my thriller/horror groups than my spicy groups. I gave this 4/5 simply because I liked most of the stories while others left me feeling wanting more or meh.
1.) Pumpkin Seeds:
Told as a legend of Irene, locked in a miserable marriage to her husband Roland, a greedy and abusive scam artist. When a carnival comes to town Irene chooses between her life now and happiness.
3.5/5
I actually liked the whole legend story, I thought it was well paced but I think it should not have been the opener story. I felt like there were things not really fully explained and overall it was kinda underwhelming. So I liked it but it could have been better. I don’t think it needs to be a longer novel but if it was turned into a novella I’de read it!
2.) Masked Plans
Daphne and her three friends have their annual Halloween carnival girl’s night. After a series of strange events, Daphne fears she might just have a stalker and that her and her friends are in danger.
5/5
This one was one of my favorites. If you like masked men, stalking and a bit of over protectiveness you’ll love this story. It was great for the length, got right into it and didn’t use too many details but just enough to know exactly what was happening. I would love to hear more of Daphne and Sugar!
3.) Carnival Prey
Follows Mamie Summers and her love, River on the night of their anniversary. Mamie’s world is about to change and not in the way she originally thought when River produces a journal Mamie kept following the night they met. A night she doesn’t seem to remember…
1/5
One of my least favorites. I had no idea what was happening or why. Nothing was explained, it was a train wreck read from the beginning. It’s hard to explain why I didn’t like this one without potential spoilers but then again I don’t know what could be a spoiler and what isn’t. I was also angry with River because it was like they kept everything from Mamie. It’s an open end which I don’t normally hate but in this case I had no idea what direction to go with after. I hate to leave such a review, too but I just did not enjoy this. Maybe others will!
4.) The Paper Man
A cute carnival date with her new boo, Alano, turns into a night of horrors for Carolyn, when they stumble into the big top. Lured in by a man with paper white skin, a red top hat, and sharp teeth.
3/5
This one wasn’t bad, not a top contender. This is one I feel like deserves a longer story because the premise is promising and it gives a solid ending. I felt creeped out reading it and it made me anxious. I only give it 3/5 just because it fell short compared to some others.
5.) Krewe de Désir
Josie wants to be a travel influencer and Michelle loves and supports her friend so together they fly out to NOLA, a city full of fun and maybe a little sin….trying to find something unique, they get themselves into some trouble. And it kinda sucks.
5/5
Another top read! This dives into a different New Orleans legend than what you’re used to reading and I loved it. Two girls missing the red flags and getting themselves into a dangerous situation? And the smut in this one was pretty enjoyable if I do say so myself. I felt bad for Michelle lol she was just a supportive friend.
6.) Lost and Found
Following a horrific accident that took her memory, a couple moves to no where so she can recover, until she starts question everything. Her life, her marriage…when a carnival comes to town and with a potion maker that’s got her intrigued and brings up the locked down memories she thought were gone forever.
4/5
I really liked this one! I knew instantly from how he spoke I didn’t trust Bradley. It kept a great pace for the length and I was happy with the ending. I do think there were some cheesy parts but I’m fine with that. I also felt like the blurb before hand was a little misleading possibly? Or I took it different, it doesn’t change that I really liked this story!
7.) The Rage of a Lioness
When the circus comes back to town, Rebecca hunts for answers from a murder case from only a year ago. Pushing Lots O Laugh’s buttons and putting herself in danger to get the secrets this clown holds. Only it’s not what she thinks…
2/5
Meh. I wasn’t impressed with this one really, this one also had a couple of typos in it that were kinda confusing to figure out. Someone so hard out for revenge they don’t pay attention to anything around them. I didn’t like the MFC and I really didn’t care for the clown guy but I guess that’s the point of his character. It just wasn’t for me.
8.) Cold Seafoam
Her sister made a choice that put her in danger and now this Siren has traded her tail for legs to find her. With some help along the way she embarks to free her sister from being a roadside attraction.
3/5
Ended on a meh note. This one also had some typos and I really didn’t like the “secret parts” reference. It was kinda cringey and made me feel like it was trying to cater to a younger audience while having adult themes. The story was bland in taste and for the last story I was hoping for something big and mind blowing.
Overall, I would say read before buying and see what theme you care for more. If it’s pure smut you want? Not this. But if you’re just into some spooky carnival themed adult tales this is your book. These are all 100% my opinions and I hope I didn’t butcher the blurbs. I would def read from this group again! I’ve loved getting to be an ARC reader for this.
Overall if you like creepy, circus/carnival themes and horror you’ll like these stories. If you’re in it for the smut/adult themes you’ll be underwhelmed. I like both so I was not disappointed, however, I felt this belonged more in my thriller/horror groups than my spicy groups. I gave this 4/5 simply because I liked most of the stories while others left me feeling wanting more or meh.
1.) Pumpkin Seeds:
Told as a legend of Irene, locked in a miserable marriage to her husband Roland, a greedy and abusive scam artist. When a carnival comes to town Irene chooses between her life now and happiness.
3.5/5
I actually liked the whole legend story, I thought it was well paced but I think it should not have been the opener story. I felt like there were things not really fully explained and overall it was kinda underwhelming. So I liked it but it could have been better. I don’t think it needs to be a longer novel but if it was turned into a novella I’de read it!
2.) Masked Plans
Daphne and her three friends have their annual Halloween carnival girl’s night. After a series of strange events, Daphne fears she might just have a stalker and that her and her friends are in danger.
5/5
This one was one of my favorites. If you like masked men, stalking and a bit of over protectiveness you’ll love this story. It was great for the length, got right into it and didn’t use too many details but just enough to know exactly what was happening. I would love to hear more of Daphne and Sugar!
3.) Carnival Prey
Follows Mamie Summers and her love, River on the night of their anniversary. Mamie’s world is about to change and not in the way she originally thought when River produces a journal Mamie kept following the night they met. A night she doesn’t seem to remember…
1/5
One of my least favorites. I had no idea what was happening or why. Nothing was explained, it was a train wreck read from the beginning. It’s hard to explain why I didn’t like this one without potential spoilers but then again I don’t know what could be a spoiler and what isn’t. I was also angry with River because it was like they kept everything from Mamie. It’s an open end which I don’t normally hate but in this case I had no idea what direction to go with after. I hate to leave such a review, too but I just did not enjoy this. Maybe others will!
4.) The Paper Man
A cute carnival date with her new boo, Alano, turns into a night of horrors for Carolyn, when they stumble into the big top. Lured in by a man with paper white skin, a red top hat, and sharp teeth.
3/5
This one wasn’t bad, not a top contender. This is one I feel like deserves a longer story because the premise is promising and it gives a solid ending. I felt creeped out reading it and it made me anxious. I only give it 3/5 just because it fell short compared to some others.
5.) Krewe de Désir
Josie wants to be a travel influencer and Michelle loves and supports her friend so together they fly out to NOLA, a city full of fun and maybe a little sin….trying to find something unique, they get themselves into some trouble. And it kinda sucks.
5/5
Another top read! This dives into a different New Orleans legend than what you’re used to reading and I loved it. Two girls missing the red flags and getting themselves into a dangerous situation? And the smut in this one was pretty enjoyable if I do say so myself. I felt bad for Michelle lol she was just a supportive friend.
6.) Lost and Found
Following a horrific accident that took her memory, a couple moves to no where so she can recover, until she starts question everything. Her life, her marriage…when a carnival comes to town and with a potion maker that’s got her intrigued and brings up the locked down memories she thought were gone forever.
4/5
I really liked this one! I knew instantly from how he spoke I didn’t trust Bradley. It kept a great pace for the length and I was happy with the ending. I do think there were some cheesy parts but I’m fine with that. I also felt like the blurb before hand was a little misleading possibly? Or I took it different, it doesn’t change that I really liked this story!
7.) The Rage of a Lioness
When the circus comes back to town, Rebecca hunts for answers from a murder case from only a year ago. Pushing Lots O Laugh’s buttons and putting herself in danger to get the secrets this clown holds. Only it’s not what she thinks…
2/5
Meh. I wasn’t impressed with this one really, this one also had a couple of typos in it that were kinda confusing to figure out. Someone so hard out for revenge they don’t pay attention to anything around them. I didn’t like the MFC and I really didn’t care for the clown guy but I guess that’s the point of his character. It just wasn’t for me.
8.) Cold Seafoam
Her sister made a choice that put her in danger and now this Siren has traded her tail for legs to find her. With some help along the way she embarks to free her sister from being a roadside attraction.
3/5
Ended on a meh note. This one also had some typos and I really didn’t like the “secret parts” reference. It was kinda cringey and made me feel like it was trying to cater to a younger audience while having adult themes. The story was bland in taste and for the last story I was hoping for something big and mind blowing.
Overall, I would say read before buying and see what theme you care for more. If it’s pure smut you want? Not this. But if you’re just into some spooky carnival themed adult tales this is your book. These are all 100% my opinions and I hope I didn’t butcher the blurbs. I would def read from this group again! I’ve loved getting to be an ARC reader for this.
September 28, 2024
When I was a kid, one of my favorite book series was Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Every random holiday, I would sit in front of my TV and watch the Twilight Zone marathons. Some of the best memories of my childhood were when my dad and I would get up early, before anyone else was awake, and watch any and all horror movies that we could find. So when I got the opportunity to read Twisted Tales of Halloween Horror: Carnival of Carnage, I was very pleasantly surprised. This collection of horror short stories was like an adult version of the books I loved as a child. The eight stories were gory, twisted, and filled with surprise twists that you don’t see coming. I loved that these stories could be read quickly on their own and even reading all of them, this book took little time to read. The stories were a perfect length, like a campfire story that breeds nightmares.
Everyone will have different opinions about each of these stories. I have seen where people hated a story that was my favorite. I have had no so glowing opinions about stories that other people declare are the best in the book. But that is the great thing about this book. The stories are so different, that if you like horror stories, you should be able to find at least one, if not more, stories that you will enjoy. One of the stories that I really enjoyed was Carnival Prey, which many others did not like because it is not a straight forward story. But that’s what I loved about it.
Aside from the horror, one thing that I really appreciated about this book was the LGBTQIA+ representation in many of the stories. Now, it wasn’t always a happy ending for the queer characters, but the inclusion of gay, lesbian, and trans/genderqueer characters was a refreshing difference in many of the stories I read. I get to read so little with trans characters, so when I saw this, it made me happy for the inclusion.
This book is not a spicy romance. There is some spice in some of the stories, but this is not a book to read if you are looking for a pure spicy read. This is a collection of horror stories. But if that is your thing, this is a great book to pick up.
Everyone will have different opinions about each of these stories. I have seen where people hated a story that was my favorite. I have had no so glowing opinions about stories that other people declare are the best in the book. But that is the great thing about this book. The stories are so different, that if you like horror stories, you should be able to find at least one, if not more, stories that you will enjoy. One of the stories that I really enjoyed was Carnival Prey, which many others did not like because it is not a straight forward story. But that’s what I loved about it.
Aside from the horror, one thing that I really appreciated about this book was the LGBTQIA+ representation in many of the stories. Now, it wasn’t always a happy ending for the queer characters, but the inclusion of gay, lesbian, and trans/genderqueer characters was a refreshing difference in many of the stories I read. I get to read so little with trans characters, so when I saw this, it made me happy for the inclusion.
This book is not a spicy romance. There is some spice in some of the stories, but this is not a book to read if you are looking for a pure spicy read. This is a collection of horror stories. But if that is your thing, this is a great book to pick up.
September 29, 2024
It was really nice getting an ARC copy of this book!
There were multiple different stories in this book.
Some of the stories were really good, and a few in my opinion were not. One really had me at the end thinking “what was the point of this?” It went no where.
I was expecting really scary and spicey things, but in that department it was meh.
Some stories did have some spice but it was so mild, I wouldnt even advertise it as spice.
Some with the “horror” when i hear that, I think that I will be scared to go to bed, but the stories were not scary at all! Just a little good halloween fright.
Great stories to read for spooky season. Its nice to have a variety, you wouldnt even need to read every story if some didnt sound of interest to you.
If you like very spicy and horror things this may not be enough for you, but if you just want some spooky stories for the season, this is great!
There were multiple different stories in this book.
Some of the stories were really good, and a few in my opinion were not. One really had me at the end thinking “what was the point of this?” It went no where.
I was expecting really scary and spicey things, but in that department it was meh.
Some stories did have some spice but it was so mild, I wouldnt even advertise it as spice.
Some with the “horror” when i hear that, I think that I will be scared to go to bed, but the stories were not scary at all! Just a little good halloween fright.
Great stories to read for spooky season. Its nice to have a variety, you wouldnt even need to read every story if some didnt sound of interest to you.
If you like very spicy and horror things this may not be enough for you, but if you just want some spooky stories for the season, this is great!
September 26, 2024
I rather enjoyed all the stories in this book but 1 I'm not sure if i didn't understand what was happening but I read it twice! And still didn't understand what was happening or what happened!
The Carnival Prey! I'm not sure what happened in that story at all and that's why I rated this story with 4 stars!!
Now I had some favorites! And it just happened to be The pumpkin seeds, the rage of a loiness and the paper man! Even tho that one had no real why is this happening behind it!? It was still a pretty good read! That i enjoyed! Overall the stories grabbed your attention and kept it and the spice didn't over take the stories just added a little OK to them!
Pretty good read.
The Carnival Prey! I'm not sure what happened in that story at all and that's why I rated this story with 4 stars!!
Now I had some favorites! And it just happened to be The pumpkin seeds, the rage of a loiness and the paper man! Even tho that one had no real why is this happening behind it!? It was still a pretty good read! That i enjoyed! Overall the stories grabbed your attention and kept it and the spice didn't over take the stories just added a little OK to them!
Pretty good read.
September 25, 2024
This book is a collection of 8 short, carnival themed stories, and on the most part I really enjoyed it.
I love the combination of carnival and horror, it's my jam, so I absolutely loved that element of these. With the constraints of a word limit I think these authors did a great job of setting their scenes and creating a really creepy atmosphere.
Obviously there were some stories I enjoyed more than others, but I thought all of them gave something cool and unique to the anthology.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys their horror short stories with a dash of spice.
I love the combination of carnival and horror, it's my jam, so I absolutely loved that element of these. With the constraints of a word limit I think these authors did a great job of setting their scenes and creating a really creepy atmosphere.
Obviously there were some stories I enjoyed more than others, but I thought all of them gave something cool and unique to the anthology.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys their horror short stories with a dash of spice.
September 19, 2024
This book is filled with 8 spicy short stories of carnival theme horror. I enjoyed it! I’m big on spooky so it went by real fast!
Each story was horror filled of monster smut. It was more so a slow burn for each story with a few sentences of smut BUT they all had amazing plots. Twisted and terrifying. There is a lot of non-con and dub-con so beware if that’s a trigger warning of yours.
Overall, it was a decent read. They will keep your attention and perfect timing for the Halloween season.
Each story was horror filled of monster smut. It was more so a slow burn for each story with a few sentences of smut BUT they all had amazing plots. Twisted and terrifying. There is a lot of non-con and dub-con so beware if that’s a trigger warning of yours.
Overall, it was a decent read. They will keep your attention and perfect timing for the Halloween season.
October 16, 2024
Last year’s beautiful collection of spooky stories has lived with me all year long. Fast forward to this year’s release from the sisterhood and it honestly fell flat for me in some parts.
Keep in mind this is an anthology of several short stories from various authors.
While I could go in depth on each individual story. I don’t want to spoil your fun.
I will tell you there are of course TW, so be sure to check those. Mental health matters!
There are some spicy scenes, but they are not overly descriptive. My fellow dark romance readers know what I’m talking about.
The story that stuck out to me the most was a toss up between Krewe De Desir (Krystyna Lee and Elizabeth Fey) and Carnival Prey (Sarah Trala). Okay for Carnival Prey I’m pretty sure I’m just bias to the character names haha.
Either way this is a good addition to your spooky reads! Let me know which was your favorite!
Keep in mind this is an anthology of several short stories from various authors.
While I could go in depth on each individual story. I don’t want to spoil your fun.
I will tell you there are of course TW, so be sure to check those. Mental health matters!
There are some spicy scenes, but they are not overly descriptive. My fellow dark romance readers know what I’m talking about.
The story that stuck out to me the most was a toss up between Krewe De Desir (Krystyna Lee and Elizabeth Fey) and Carnival Prey (Sarah Trala). Okay for Carnival Prey I’m pretty sure I’m just bias to the character names haha.
Either way this is a good addition to your spooky reads! Let me know which was your favorite!
September 20, 2024
There were a few stories that were hard for me to follow. I haven't read many horror stories but the ones I did like were amazing. I could picture everything happening. I loved the graphics for each story.
October 5, 2024
I am so glad I took a chance on this creeptastic book. I love carnivals for their rides, games and yummy treats. And this book took the elements of the experience and put them into 8 horrifying stories. After reading this collection I cannot wait to read the other books in the Twisted Tales series.
September 28, 2024
There’s few books that can replicate the eerie feeling of sitting around a campfire and telling scary stories.. this one does just that. All the stories were creepy + it was overall a great read.
November 4, 2024
A twisty horror filled collection of 8 short stories set in the carnival. The collection as a whole was very unique, original, and contained varying degrees of spice. Overall the collection was ★ ★ ★. If I’m being honest, there were stories I thoroughly enjoyed and others I did not enjoy as much. All and all, if you enjoy creepy horror shorts with spice and a variety of LGBTQ representation, this is a solid collection to dive into if you’re looking for a spooky time. Even though some of the stories fell a bit short for me, I enjoyed my time as a whole reading this in its entirety.
September 13, 2024
I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
If horror is your jam, you'll enjoy this. But if you're picking this up because of the promise of smutty goodness like I did, you'll be disappointed.
This book was specifically advertised on a group for monster SMUT books. The description led me to believe that it was a smutty horror anthology. However, it's just a regular horror anthology with mentions of sex. Most stories do not have a described, written sex scene (only mentioning it), and the ones that do, the story does not spend much time on it.
If this was advertised as a purely horror anthology, I would be happy with what I got. But it wasn't, it was advertised as spooky smut, which it sorely lacks.
If you enjoy horror, this WILL be an enjoyable book for you. The stories were definitely frightening and creepy, as well as well-written. But there is no smut to be had here.
I don't enjoy pure horror, so I was ultimately disappointed by the book, but I am not its target audience, even though it pretends I am. I honestly wouldn't have read the book if the ARC advertisement hasn't misrepresented its content.
Two point five stars because the anthology did deliver on the horror part. It achieved its goal of being scary. But smutless horror isn't for me.
If the publisher changes their advertising and is more honest about what the anthology actually is (adult horror), I'll increase my rating, but until then, I'm rating this based on what it was promised to be and not what it actually was.
I ended up DNFing at 51% because there wasn't any of the promised smut beyond like a couple sentences, and I was just getting more and more frustrated with each subsequent story that lacked a proper sex scene. The last one I read had a little bit of one, but it was too little too late for me. I'll go back and finish when I've had a chance to cool off. I will update my review when I can force myself to finish.
EDIT: Got to the smut, the warnings failed to mention that there was NON-CON and dub-con in this anthology. You have trigger warnings for death in a horror anthology but not rape??? That's pretty much the number one trigger warning that needs to be included.
So it takes half the book to get to the first actual real smut scene, and it prominently features a major trigger that was NOT among the trigger warnings. Thanks for the panic attack.
EDIT EDIT: Finished the book. The second half definitely has the smut part (finally). As stated, it had some dubcon and noncon that was NOT mentioned in the trigger warnings.
I'm amending my review to three stars. The second half of the book minus the dubcon and noncon without warning is a four-star read. The first half is probably four stars for pure horror fans, but doesn't feel like it fits with the second half. The second half is more of the smutty horror I expected from the book, whereas the first half is pretty much exclusively horror horror.
What holds the book back ratings-wise for me is:
1. Improper advertisement
2. Lack of appropriate trigger warnings
3. I do not like pure horror, I came for the smutty horror and had to wade through half a book of pure horror just to get to it
Do I recommend this book? Yes, if you are a fan of pure horror and aren't just here for the scary smut like I am, and if you can handle trigger warnings beyond the list they gave, because they missed a lot of important ones.
If horror is your jam, you'll enjoy this. But if you're picking this up because of the promise of smutty goodness like I did, you'll be disappointed.
This book was specifically advertised on a group for monster SMUT books. The description led me to believe that it was a smutty horror anthology. However, it's just a regular horror anthology with mentions of sex. Most stories do not have a described, written sex scene (only mentioning it), and the ones that do, the story does not spend much time on it.
If this was advertised as a purely horror anthology, I would be happy with what I got. But it wasn't, it was advertised as spooky smut, which it sorely lacks.
If you enjoy horror, this WILL be an enjoyable book for you. The stories were definitely frightening and creepy, as well as well-written. But there is no smut to be had here.
I don't enjoy pure horror, so I was ultimately disappointed by the book, but I am not its target audience, even though it pretends I am. I honestly wouldn't have read the book if the ARC advertisement hasn't misrepresented its content.
Two point five stars because the anthology did deliver on the horror part. It achieved its goal of being scary. But smutless horror isn't for me.
If the publisher changes their advertising and is more honest about what the anthology actually is (adult horror), I'll increase my rating, but until then, I'm rating this based on what it was promised to be and not what it actually was.
I ended up DNFing at 51% because there wasn't any of the promised smut beyond like a couple sentences, and I was just getting more and more frustrated with each subsequent story that lacked a proper sex scene. The last one I read had a little bit of one, but it was too little too late for me. I'll go back and finish when I've had a chance to cool off. I will update my review when I can force myself to finish.
EDIT: Got to the smut, the warnings failed to mention that there was NON-CON and dub-con in this anthology. You have trigger warnings for death in a horror anthology but not rape??? That's pretty much the number one trigger warning that needs to be included.
So it takes half the book to get to the first actual real smut scene, and it prominently features a major trigger that was NOT among the trigger warnings. Thanks for the panic attack.
EDIT EDIT: Finished the book. The second half definitely has the smut part (finally). As stated, it had some dubcon and noncon that was NOT mentioned in the trigger warnings.
I'm amending my review to three stars. The second half of the book minus the dubcon and noncon without warning is a four-star read. The first half is probably four stars for pure horror fans, but doesn't feel like it fits with the second half. The second half is more of the smutty horror I expected from the book, whereas the first half is pretty much exclusively horror horror.
What holds the book back ratings-wise for me is:
1. Improper advertisement
2. Lack of appropriate trigger warnings
3. I do not like pure horror, I came for the smutty horror and had to wade through half a book of pure horror just to get to it
Do I recommend this book? Yes, if you are a fan of pure horror and aren't just here for the scary smut like I am, and if you can handle trigger warnings beyond the list they gave, because they missed a lot of important ones.
September 28, 2024
Step 1: READ. YOUR. CONTENT. WARNINGS! The title is a great indicator of what you’re about to consume. Twisted, horror, and carnage.
Step 2: Do not try and eat while reading. Just trust me on this one.
Step 3: Read in bed, with a hot beverage, on a grey and dreary day. Enjoy!
This book is packed with 8 carnival themed horror stories. It gives me “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” vibes but for adults. Because of this it only makes sense to rate and review each story individually before an overall.
Pumpkin Seeds
4 ⭐️
Very interesting, the idea behind it was clever and the perfect “just deserts.” The author did a wonderful job creating a spooky atmosphere and an even better job at providing gory details. (Definitely made me put down the cinnamon rolls 😆) Occasionally I found this story hard to follow, I few times I had to re-read a couple paragraphs because I felt like I was missing something.
The Rage of a Lioness
5 ⭐️
Wow, that one had me on the edge of my seat! That was cleverly crafted for captivating suspense and entertainment. It definitely messed with my mind and left me shocked. Only a couple times did I struggle to understand what the author was trying to convey. But it didn’t take away from the experience or story.
Carnival Prey
1 ⭐️
I’m not quite sure what I just read, I’m thoroughly confused and feeling a little crazy. Maybe that’s the point? Lol
The Paper Man
3 ⭐️
This one was interesting, the idea unique and like nothing I’ve heard before. It definitely gave me the creeps and I couldn’t stop thinking about it while I was trying to fall asleep 🫣 With this one I wanted more, more details, more story.
Krewe De Désir
4.5 ⭐️
Well written, fantastic description that created a vivid sense of place. The story telling was enjoyable and I the FMCs personalities played well into their situation. The guy at the beginning felt a little random, I get the whole foreshadowing aspect but I think it would’ve added a nice creepy touch of he made a reappearance at the end.
Lost and Found
5 ⭐️
For starters, I love Lizzie Strong’s writing! This story was well crafted and captivating. The entire journey was a ride as each piece of the mystery gradually clicked together. Her well written descriptions brought the world to life on my minds eye, putting me in the FMCs shoes, which really added a layer of intensity to the story.
Masked Plans
5 ⭐️
Fantastic story, great writing, the thrill of the unknown really sucked me in. The spice in this one was spicin. The author did a wonderful job at creating a complete and satisfying story. However, this is one I would LOVE a novel on!
Cold Seafoam
4 ⭐️
Love a good revenge story and the homage to the little mermaid with a twist, yes! The sentence structure sometimes lacked flow and pulled me from the story though as I had to re-read sentences multiple times for clarity and understanding.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable spooky season read. Though each story does contain spice, some were very quick snippets. I would give it 2.5 🌶️ with an overall rating of 4 ⭐️
Thank you, The Sisterhood of the Black Pen, for a complimentary e-copy. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Step 2: Do not try and eat while reading. Just trust me on this one.
Step 3: Read in bed, with a hot beverage, on a grey and dreary day. Enjoy!
This book is packed with 8 carnival themed horror stories. It gives me “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” vibes but for adults. Because of this it only makes sense to rate and review each story individually before an overall.
Pumpkin Seeds
4 ⭐️
Very interesting, the idea behind it was clever and the perfect “just deserts.” The author did a wonderful job creating a spooky atmosphere and an even better job at providing gory details. (Definitely made me put down the cinnamon rolls 😆) Occasionally I found this story hard to follow, I few times I had to re-read a couple paragraphs because I felt like I was missing something.
The Rage of a Lioness
5 ⭐️
Wow, that one had me on the edge of my seat! That was cleverly crafted for captivating suspense and entertainment. It definitely messed with my mind and left me shocked. Only a couple times did I struggle to understand what the author was trying to convey. But it didn’t take away from the experience or story.
Carnival Prey
1 ⭐️
I’m not quite sure what I just read, I’m thoroughly confused and feeling a little crazy. Maybe that’s the point? Lol
The Paper Man
3 ⭐️
This one was interesting, the idea unique and like nothing I’ve heard before. It definitely gave me the creeps and I couldn’t stop thinking about it while I was trying to fall asleep 🫣 With this one I wanted more, more details, more story.
Krewe De Désir
4.5 ⭐️
Well written, fantastic description that created a vivid sense of place. The story telling was enjoyable and I the FMCs personalities played well into their situation. The guy at the beginning felt a little random, I get the whole foreshadowing aspect but I think it would’ve added a nice creepy touch of he made a reappearance at the end.
Lost and Found
5 ⭐️
For starters, I love Lizzie Strong’s writing! This story was well crafted and captivating. The entire journey was a ride as each piece of the mystery gradually clicked together. Her well written descriptions brought the world to life on my minds eye, putting me in the FMCs shoes, which really added a layer of intensity to the story.
Masked Plans
5 ⭐️
Fantastic story, great writing, the thrill of the unknown really sucked me in. The spice in this one was spicin. The author did a wonderful job at creating a complete and satisfying story. However, this is one I would LOVE a novel on!
Cold Seafoam
4 ⭐️
Love a good revenge story and the homage to the little mermaid with a twist, yes! The sentence structure sometimes lacked flow and pulled me from the story though as I had to re-read sentences multiple times for clarity and understanding.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable spooky season read. Though each story does contain spice, some were very quick snippets. I would give it 2.5 🌶️ with an overall rating of 4 ⭐️
Thank you, The Sisterhood of the Black Pen, for a complimentary e-copy. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 22, 2024
This is a collection of stories there are 8 in total!
Pumpkin seeds - told as a woman stuck in a horrid marriage so when the carnival comes to town she has a decision to make! I really liked this one it was a breath of fresh air something different. I found this one would be better at the middle of the book. Some bits weren’t explained great which confused me at parts
Masked plans - A girl group of 4 friends have their yearly Halloween night. After some unexplainable events happen one is worried she has a stalker. She definitely does and I really loved this one as it gave me chills from the masked men
Carnival prey - it’s anniversary night! A journal with events that one doesn’t seem to remember? Eerie! This one was really quite hard to follow for me. With some tweaking I’m sure this could be much clearer to understand
The paper man - date night turns into fright night when the couple end up in the big top. This was a super creepy read and I think it was the perfect length for what was in this!
Krewe de desir - a pair of friends fly out together to find some fun! 2 girls missing and getting themselves into a sticky situation? Sign me up! Think this was my favourite out of the collection!
Lost and found - a horrid accident leaves our main character with no memory. She questions everything. Her whole life. The carnival comes to town and she finds a potion maker that brings back memories. Was a little cringe at parts but I did like this one
The rage of a lioness - a lady hunts for answers at the circus. From a previous murder case. Putting herself in danger. There were a few errors in this but I don’t think that took it away from the story. I didn’t like the clown at all but that’s the point! Feel this one delivered
Cold seafoam - a lady tries to free her sister and rescue her. I really did not like this one at all. There’s not much to say but I felt this one was aimed for a younger audience
This is good for people who like their smut mixed with horror. I would say this is good for a Halloween read over that period but some may leave you disappointed but overall I did enjoy a majority of the stories
Pumpkin seeds - told as a woman stuck in a horrid marriage so when the carnival comes to town she has a decision to make! I really liked this one it was a breath of fresh air something different. I found this one would be better at the middle of the book. Some bits weren’t explained great which confused me at parts
Masked plans - A girl group of 4 friends have their yearly Halloween night. After some unexplainable events happen one is worried she has a stalker. She definitely does and I really loved this one as it gave me chills from the masked men
Carnival prey - it’s anniversary night! A journal with events that one doesn’t seem to remember? Eerie! This one was really quite hard to follow for me. With some tweaking I’m sure this could be much clearer to understand
The paper man - date night turns into fright night when the couple end up in the big top. This was a super creepy read and I think it was the perfect length for what was in this!
Krewe de desir - a pair of friends fly out together to find some fun! 2 girls missing and getting themselves into a sticky situation? Sign me up! Think this was my favourite out of the collection!
Lost and found - a horrid accident leaves our main character with no memory. She questions everything. Her whole life. The carnival comes to town and she finds a potion maker that brings back memories. Was a little cringe at parts but I did like this one
The rage of a lioness - a lady hunts for answers at the circus. From a previous murder case. Putting herself in danger. There were a few errors in this but I don’t think that took it away from the story. I didn’t like the clown at all but that’s the point! Feel this one delivered
Cold seafoam - a lady tries to free her sister and rescue her. I really did not like this one at all. There’s not much to say but I felt this one was aimed for a younger audience
This is good for people who like their smut mixed with horror. I would say this is good for a Halloween read over that period but some may leave you disappointed but overall I did enjoy a majority of the stories
September 22, 2024
Carnival of Carnage
I appreciated the opportunity to get an ARC of this eight story, horror set.
I decided to break up my review by title:
Pumpkin Seeds ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was one of my favorites, it was creepy and had a great ending. I could see it being an episode of the Twilight Zone. The author did a great job with her descriptive writing, had my attention from beginning to end.
Masked Plans ⭐️
I felt like the story was rushed, there seemed to be a lot of holes throughout. It was pretty obvious what was going to happen and who the villain was.
Carnival Prey ⭐️
I had a really hard time following along with this story. The author was using pronouns to describe her characters but they didn’t translate to the written word. I couldn’t enjoy the story since I was having to go back to try and understand who was being spoken about.
The Paper Man ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was another pretty creepy story. I enjoyed the plot and the idea of what the Paper Man was doing. The authors descriptive writing was excellent.
Krewe de Desir ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another of my favorites, making me realize a story does not need to have a HEA for me to enjoy it. Again, descriptive writing was great and the gore was very vividly detailed. This story right here encouraged me to complete the book. I really enjoyed it.
Lost and Found ⭐️⭐️
This was a good story that had more mystery than horror. My attention was peaked from the beginning all the way to the last page. I just felt like the ending wasn’t really …complete? I was left with questions that were never answered.
The Rage of a Lioness ⭐️⭐️
This story was very rushed, not much of a back story so I didn’t feel invested in it at all.
Cold Seafoam ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed this short story. It felt like a dark version of what happened after The Little Mermaid left with Eric. My favorite out of all eight stories. I wish it could’ve been longer and would be a really interesting full length novel.
I appreciated the opportunity to get an ARC of this eight story, horror set.
I decided to break up my review by title:
Pumpkin Seeds ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was one of my favorites, it was creepy and had a great ending. I could see it being an episode of the Twilight Zone. The author did a great job with her descriptive writing, had my attention from beginning to end.
Masked Plans ⭐️
I felt like the story was rushed, there seemed to be a lot of holes throughout. It was pretty obvious what was going to happen and who the villain was.
Carnival Prey ⭐️
I had a really hard time following along with this story. The author was using pronouns to describe her characters but they didn’t translate to the written word. I couldn’t enjoy the story since I was having to go back to try and understand who was being spoken about.
The Paper Man ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was another pretty creepy story. I enjoyed the plot and the idea of what the Paper Man was doing. The authors descriptive writing was excellent.
Krewe de Desir ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another of my favorites, making me realize a story does not need to have a HEA for me to enjoy it. Again, descriptive writing was great and the gore was very vividly detailed. This story right here encouraged me to complete the book. I really enjoyed it.
Lost and Found ⭐️⭐️
This was a good story that had more mystery than horror. My attention was peaked from the beginning all the way to the last page. I just felt like the ending wasn’t really …complete? I was left with questions that were never answered.
The Rage of a Lioness ⭐️⭐️
This story was very rushed, not much of a back story so I didn’t feel invested in it at all.
Cold Seafoam ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed this short story. It felt like a dark version of what happened after The Little Mermaid left with Eric. My favorite out of all eight stories. I wish it could’ve been longer and would be a really interesting full length novel.
September 15, 2024
Pumpkin Seeds by A.C. Salazar
Irene is trapped in a loveless marriage to a horrible man. Her savior is found at Lady Rosavier's Carnival of Frights.
I really enjoyed this story. It will get you into the spooky season. In addition, that you can't go wrong with an evil Carnival. After reading this story, I will be checking out this author's books.
Masked Plans by R.C. Lehan
This story gives off the stalker vibes that us dark romance readers love. It has a bit of horror but also a spicy romance story.
Carnival Prey by Sarah Trala
This story was the longest. I was not sure what path it was taking me down, but it did keep my interest. Kind of read like poetry.
The Paper Man by Dahlia Blackwell
This story is what horror stories are made of. The images of the creatures that were featured in this story will be stuck in your mind. I could see this story being turned into a short movie.
Krewe de Desir by Krystyna Lee & Elizabeth Fey
If you like vampire stories, then this one is for you. Dinner is served.
Lost and Found by Lizzie Strong
I was drawn into this one. It had a bit of a psychological aspect to it. My attention was captured as the story was slowly revealed to the truth. Really enjoyed this story.
The Rage of the Lioness by Fay Jekyll
This one features a creepy clown. Beware the lions as they are hungry. I did like this story and felt for the characters.
Cold Seafoam by Nico Silver
Beware a selkie's revenge. If you capture a selkie, you better watch out for her sister.
This is a good collection of horror stories. I liked the variety of stories. A nice sampling of each author's work that I do want to check out more books by all authors.
Irene is trapped in a loveless marriage to a horrible man. Her savior is found at Lady Rosavier's Carnival of Frights.
I really enjoyed this story. It will get you into the spooky season. In addition, that you can't go wrong with an evil Carnival. After reading this story, I will be checking out this author's books.
Masked Plans by R.C. Lehan
This story gives off the stalker vibes that us dark romance readers love. It has a bit of horror but also a spicy romance story.
Carnival Prey by Sarah Trala
This story was the longest. I was not sure what path it was taking me down, but it did keep my interest. Kind of read like poetry.
The Paper Man by Dahlia Blackwell
This story is what horror stories are made of. The images of the creatures that were featured in this story will be stuck in your mind. I could see this story being turned into a short movie.
Krewe de Desir by Krystyna Lee & Elizabeth Fey
If you like vampire stories, then this one is for you. Dinner is served.
Lost and Found by Lizzie Strong
I was drawn into this one. It had a bit of a psychological aspect to it. My attention was captured as the story was slowly revealed to the truth. Really enjoyed this story.
The Rage of the Lioness by Fay Jekyll
This one features a creepy clown. Beware the lions as they are hungry. I did like this story and felt for the characters.
Cold Seafoam by Nico Silver
Beware a selkie's revenge. If you capture a selkie, you better watch out for her sister.
This is a good collection of horror stories. I liked the variety of stories. A nice sampling of each author's work that I do want to check out more books by all authors.
September 23, 2024
First off, I’ve got to give major props to whoever made the cover—it’s amazing, and I loved it. As the title suggests, the book is set in carnivals, which is my absolute favorite! There’s just something about adding a horror element to a carnival that I adore.
The first story really shocked me, especially the ending. I was seriously hoping good things for the lady and bad things for the husband, so this one ended up being my favorite. It also felt like the darkest story in the whole book. Don’t get me wrong, the horror vibe was there throughout, but I do wish it had been a little scarier overall.
I also really loved the second story! It says something about me, I guess—I have a thing for red flags because I absolutely loved the boyfriend's character, even though I know in real life I’d run the other way. But in the book, it was such a wild ride! I did figure out the ending early on, but that didn’t make the story any less enjoyable. The only thing I wish is that we got more of a reason why the girls hated the boyfriend from the start, although the ending pretty much backed up their point.
Now, the story that confused me the most was "Carnival Prey." While I liked it, I felt like some things could’ve been explained better. I’m all for leaving things up to interpretation sometimes, but I would’ve appreciated a little more clarity on this one.
There are eight short stories in total, so there’s plenty of good stuff to dive into. The book does have some spicy scenes, but nothing over-the-top. If you’re looking for something super spicy, this might not be for you. But if you’re okay with a little heat mixed in with horror, this should suit you just fine.
The first story really shocked me, especially the ending. I was seriously hoping good things for the lady and bad things for the husband, so this one ended up being my favorite. It also felt like the darkest story in the whole book. Don’t get me wrong, the horror vibe was there throughout, but I do wish it had been a little scarier overall.
I also really loved the second story! It says something about me, I guess—I have a thing for red flags because I absolutely loved the boyfriend's character, even though I know in real life I’d run the other way. But in the book, it was such a wild ride! I did figure out the ending early on, but that didn’t make the story any less enjoyable. The only thing I wish is that we got more of a reason why the girls hated the boyfriend from the start, although the ending pretty much backed up their point.
Now, the story that confused me the most was "Carnival Prey." While I liked it, I felt like some things could’ve been explained better. I’m all for leaving things up to interpretation sometimes, but I would’ve appreciated a little more clarity on this one.
There are eight short stories in total, so there’s plenty of good stuff to dive into. The book does have some spicy scenes, but nothing over-the-top. If you’re looking for something super spicy, this might not be for you. But if you’re okay with a little heat mixed in with horror, this should suit you just fine.
September 29, 2024
ARC REVIEW
Twisted Tales of Halloween Horror: Carnival of Carnage: Eight spicy carnival themed horror stories set on Halloween by The sisterhood of the black pen.
“Dedicated to those of you who take their horror with a heavy hand of spice. We’ve got your ticket right here…”
Rate: 4/4✨
Spicy: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thoughts: 💭
If you like spooky stuff and maybe a dash of spice this book is for you. But be aware these short stories are something else. 👀 I did only like 3 out of the short stories, but my top tier was Paper man. So this short story book did get the 4/4. ✨
To be honest when I was reading these short stories, my mind was so lost. In some of the stories I did not expect that to happen. Like in one of them I was like huh? 🤔 Because the ending had me thinking! Especially the short story Lost & Found. Like guy you did all that hard work to be with her, because lord have mercy you were clingy to her. But I can lie it did have me at the edge of my seat.
But let’s talk about my favorite short story. Which is Paper Man! I may seem like I’m overhyping this one but I got to admit this one was my all time favorite. 😩 The way how the story had me wondering how this charactered shape shifted, and the way the author was able to connect feelings among the FMC. Like wow, I was mind blown over the twisty part and how they were controlled. It reminded me a lot of Five nights at Freddy’s to be honest. So if you like that game this short story then I highly recommend it!
I recommend this book to anyone who loves:
1) Trick r Treat
2) Spooky season
3) Twisty gore
Twisted Tales of Halloween Horror: Carnival of Carnage: Eight spicy carnival themed horror stories set on Halloween by The sisterhood of the black pen.
“Dedicated to those of you who take their horror with a heavy hand of spice. We’ve got your ticket right here…”
Rate: 4/4✨
Spicy: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thoughts: 💭
If you like spooky stuff and maybe a dash of spice this book is for you. But be aware these short stories are something else. 👀 I did only like 3 out of the short stories, but my top tier was Paper man. So this short story book did get the 4/4. ✨
To be honest when I was reading these short stories, my mind was so lost. In some of the stories I did not expect that to happen. Like in one of them I was like huh? 🤔 Because the ending had me thinking! Especially the short story Lost & Found. Like guy you did all that hard work to be with her, because lord have mercy you were clingy to her. But I can lie it did have me at the edge of my seat.
But let’s talk about my favorite short story. Which is Paper Man! I may seem like I’m overhyping this one but I got to admit this one was my all time favorite. 😩 The way how the story had me wondering how this charactered shape shifted, and the way the author was able to connect feelings among the FMC. Like wow, I was mind blown over the twisty part and how they were controlled. It reminded me a lot of Five nights at Freddy’s to be honest. So if you like that game this short story then I highly recommend it!
I recommend this book to anyone who loves:
1) Trick r Treat
2) Spooky season
3) Twisty gore
October 7, 2024
This is a collection of 8 short stories all based around the mesmerizing and terrifying world of carnivals. It was hard to set a solid rating since the books varied on what I liked and didn't like, and if you are looking for spice this book only has a little sprinkled in but the carnage is very well set throughout the whole book. However I did put a little about some of my favorites.
1. Pumpkin Seeds: This was probably one of my favorites as it tells the story as whole plot and gives you the back story so you understand where this was going. I think this was a great start!
2. Masked Plans: I really liked this one too, but again who doesn't like a stalker masked man! This story had a little more spice than the previous story but it was another great short read.
3.The Paper Man: This! This story was so sad and could easily be turned into a novella as we get to view the world through the FMC's eyes and the horrors/heartbreak that she goes through when she becomes trapped as part of the main attraction.
4. Krewe de Désir: This is about 2 young social media influencers that find themselves in the city of New Orleans for some spooky fun, but they find themselves in deeper than they can imagine. This vampire story isn't so much carnival but it does have a big tent where they find themselves in a new world of horror.
1. Pumpkin Seeds: This was probably one of my favorites as it tells the story as whole plot and gives you the back story so you understand where this was going. I think this was a great start!
2. Masked Plans: I really liked this one too, but again who doesn't like a stalker masked man! This story had a little more spice than the previous story but it was another great short read.
3.The Paper Man: This! This story was so sad and could easily be turned into a novella as we get to view the world through the FMC's eyes and the horrors/heartbreak that she goes through when she becomes trapped as part of the main attraction.
4. Krewe de Désir: This is about 2 young social media influencers that find themselves in the city of New Orleans for some spooky fun, but they find themselves in deeper than they can imagine. This vampire story isn't so much carnival but it does have a big tent where they find themselves in a new world of horror.
October 1, 2024
Upon receiving an ARC copy of the book in return for an honest review, It is hard to rate the book as a whole because it has 8 short stories. A few of them weren't my total vibe, but very well written still. Some were a bit hard to follow. As far as the spiciness level, it was lacking in some stories. There obviously is a little amount of spicy, but not as much as I'd prefer. So if you are into total smut, this would not be the route to go. On the other hand, if you enjoy twisted stories and horror, then absolutely grab a copy. Then again my preference on the spicy level is based on reading full on smut type books. It may be enough for you. The story lines were very intriguing. Lures you in for the thrill. Definitely keeps you at the point of wanting to read more to find out what happens. All together I'd say my personal rating is a 3/5. Just because it's an anthology book, with short stories and not enough spiciness for my desires. But very well written stories by each author. Definitely wish some of the stories kept going. Not a fan of cliff hangers per say. That's why I love book series. Because they go on and on.
September 20, 2024
Carnivals, monsters, and gore… Oh my!
Looking for a creepy compilation of short stories this spooky season? Look no further! Get your tickets to the freak show titled Twisted Tales of Halloween Horror: Carnival of Carnage. This anthology is made up of 8 stories.
There is gore, some creepiness, and only a little splash of spice. I went into reading this thinking it was going to be a collection of erötïc horror but was underwhelmed. There are 2 stories that had more spice than the rest. If you’re looking for a creepy read, I’d recommend this but not if you’re looking for smut.
I did enjoy the writing style of each of these authors and a few stories had me wanting to check under the bed. I found that there was the perfect amount of detail and solid storylines in each, despite their shorter lengths.
The stories you will find in this book are:
Pumpkin Seeds
Masked Plans
Carnival Prey
The Paper Man
Krewe de Désir
Lost and Found
The Rage of a Lioness
Cold Seafoam
The stories that stuck out most for me were Masked Plans and The Rage of a Lioness.
Looking for a creepy compilation of short stories this spooky season? Look no further! Get your tickets to the freak show titled Twisted Tales of Halloween Horror: Carnival of Carnage. This anthology is made up of 8 stories.
There is gore, some creepiness, and only a little splash of spice. I went into reading this thinking it was going to be a collection of erötïc horror but was underwhelmed. There are 2 stories that had more spice than the rest. If you’re looking for a creepy read, I’d recommend this but not if you’re looking for smut.
I did enjoy the writing style of each of these authors and a few stories had me wanting to check under the bed. I found that there was the perfect amount of detail and solid storylines in each, despite their shorter lengths.
The stories you will find in this book are:
Pumpkin Seeds
Masked Plans
Carnival Prey
The Paper Man
Krewe de Désir
Lost and Found
The Rage of a Lioness
Cold Seafoam
The stories that stuck out most for me were Masked Plans and The Rage of a Lioness.
October 2, 2024
It's giving mature "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" making it an great candidate for your Spooktober reads.
This one for me was a unique experience on it's own. For one, I imagined while reading this that all the characters were at the same carnival at one point, each of it's own set of characters going through their narrative to make up this collective works. The stories take place in various settings, but hey, it added to the fun of it. None of the stories were overly "scary" and they all had various levels of spice. They enjoyment of each one, for me, varied. There were some I loved, and some I almost DNFd. It was obvious, albeit I knew going into reading it, that different authors wrote the stories. Personally, it hurt my brain, and I would, if given similar circumstances, probably read each story on different days or something.
Overall, I would check it out if you are looking for a quick read this spooky season. As a reminder, check your triggers as there are many.
This one for me was a unique experience on it's own. For one, I imagined while reading this that all the characters were at the same carnival at one point, each of it's own set of characters going through their narrative to make up this collective works. The stories take place in various settings, but hey, it added to the fun of it. None of the stories were overly "scary" and they all had various levels of spice. They enjoyment of each one, for me, varied. There were some I loved, and some I almost DNFd. It was obvious, albeit I knew going into reading it, that different authors wrote the stories. Personally, it hurt my brain, and I would, if given similar circumstances, probably read each story on different days or something.
Overall, I would check it out if you are looking for a quick read this spooky season. As a reminder, check your triggers as there are many.
October 7, 2024
First and foremost check the TW/CW before diving in some scenes and topics may not be suitable for all.
Twisted tales of Halloween horror is a horror carnival theme anthology
Stories include:
Pumpkin Seeds by A.C. Salazar
Masked Plan by R.C. Lehan
Carnival Prey by Sarah Trala
The Paper Man by Dahila Blackwell
Krewe De Desir by Krystyna Lee & Elizabeth Fey
Lost Andrew Found by Lizzie Strong
The Rage Of A Lioness by Fay Jekyll
Cold Seafoam by Nico Silver
What a great anthology to start off the spooky season, containing 8 short circus/carnival themed horror stories. Lately I have really been enjoying dark horror carnival theme books and this book did not disappoint, I have not read any of the authors books prior to this and I was pleasantly impressed, each story was different and they were all well written.
Overall this was an enjoyable read and if you enjoy horror theme reads with little spice here and there you should check this out
Twisted tales of Halloween horror is a horror carnival theme anthology
Stories include:
Pumpkin Seeds by A.C. Salazar
Masked Plan by R.C. Lehan
Carnival Prey by Sarah Trala
The Paper Man by Dahila Blackwell
Krewe De Desir by Krystyna Lee & Elizabeth Fey
Lost Andrew Found by Lizzie Strong
The Rage Of A Lioness by Fay Jekyll
Cold Seafoam by Nico Silver
What a great anthology to start off the spooky season, containing 8 short circus/carnival themed horror stories. Lately I have really been enjoying dark horror carnival theme books and this book did not disappoint, I have not read any of the authors books prior to this and I was pleasantly impressed, each story was different and they were all well written.
Overall this was an enjoyable read and if you enjoy horror theme reads with little spice here and there you should check this out
September 21, 2024
Twisted Tales of Halloween: Carnival of Carnage" offers readers a unique blend of horror, suspense, and spice with its collection of eight short stories. Each tale, set against the eerie backdrop of a Halloween carnival, brings a different twist to the festive night, with various authors showcasing their creativity. The carnival setting provides a consistent yet spooky atmosphere that enhances the thrill of each story, making it perfect for fans of dark and sensual tales.
While some stories resonated more than others, the diversity in writing styles and themes offers something for every reader. The book delivers on its promise of chills and thrills, though the "spice" in certain stories may not be for everyone. Overall, Carnival of Carnage is an intriguing read for those who enjoy a mix of horror and romance in a Halloween-themed.
While some stories resonated more than others, the diversity in writing styles and themes offers something for every reader. The book delivers on its promise of chills and thrills, though the "spice" in certain stories may not be for everyone. Overall, Carnival of Carnage is an intriguing read for those who enjoy a mix of horror and romance in a Halloween-themed.
October 5, 2024
Carnival of Carnage is a collection of 8 short stories all written by different authors. Each author has their own unique writing style. It's almost like an adult version of Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark. The stories were captivating, beautifully depraved and definitely spicy. There is excellent character development and complex relationships. My personal favorite stories were Masked Plans & Carival Prey. I love the carnival theme of the collection. These stories made me wish most of them were actual books. Every author in this book is incredibly talented. The artwork on page is beautiful. Everything about this book is great. Down to the beautiful eye catching cover. I really enjoyed this book. Take authors warnings seriously this book is very dark and twisted! Perfect Halloween read!
September 15, 2024
I received an ARC copy of this book.
It was really good.
In my copy, the TW’s were accurate, so they must have corrected that. I also found the spice to be relatively even throughout the book, although it’s true some stories have noticeable spicier spice than others. Each story does have spice, some is just mild, but for me that’s okay. It’s hard finding good spicy horror and I do think this delivers all around, when it comes to blending the spice and horror together.
Horror is prevalent with each story. Some really left me with chills, a feeling I quite enjoy. I saw there are other books from The Sisterhood of the Black Pen. I will be checking those out.
A great read for the spooky season.
It was really good.
In my copy, the TW’s were accurate, so they must have corrected that. I also found the spice to be relatively even throughout the book, although it’s true some stories have noticeable spicier spice than others. Each story does have spice, some is just mild, but for me that’s okay. It’s hard finding good spicy horror and I do think this delivers all around, when it comes to blending the spice and horror together.
Horror is prevalent with each story. Some really left me with chills, a feeling I quite enjoy. I saw there are other books from The Sisterhood of the Black Pen. I will be checking those out.
A great read for the spooky season.
September 28, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
This collection of books was a great read before this Halloween season. I enjoyed the fact that there were different authors for all the short stories.
One of my top choices was the story, Pumpkin Seeds. Irene was a wonderfully written character. I was rooting for her and loved the ending that ended in her favor.
I feel as a whole the book was very detailed and every story had me guessing until the end. I do feel that there were some stories that I enjoyed more than others. I think that is why it took me so long to read due to not connecting to some of the stories. Make sure you check your trigger warnings because this book can get pretty dark. If you want a good read of some scary stories about the circus, definitely read this book 🖤
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
This collection of books was a great read before this Halloween season. I enjoyed the fact that there were different authors for all the short stories.
One of my top choices was the story, Pumpkin Seeds. Irene was a wonderfully written character. I was rooting for her and loved the ending that ended in her favor.
I feel as a whole the book was very detailed and every story had me guessing until the end. I do feel that there were some stories that I enjoyed more than others. I think that is why it took me so long to read due to not connecting to some of the stories. Make sure you check your trigger warnings because this book can get pretty dark. If you want a good read of some scary stories about the circus, definitely read this book 🖤
October 4, 2024
I was sent an ARC to give an honest review! Thank you Sisterhood of the Black Pen!
This book I will say is a 3.8 stars, The beginning of the book Pumpkin Seeds has me hooked! There were 8 short stories in the book. It gave me American Horror stories! If you enjoy that show you may enjoy this book. I found a couple of the books slightly harder to follow but I used my reading journal with it which helped. I know it is marketed as Spicy but I will say it was about a 1 chilly pepper for me lol. So if you weren't going to pick it up because of the spice I will say you will be okay with the mild amount of spice in here.
Overall I am a Thriller/Horror lover and this book did it for me! Check it out and support the author's collaborations!
This book I will say is a 3.8 stars, The beginning of the book Pumpkin Seeds has me hooked! There were 8 short stories in the book. It gave me American Horror stories! If you enjoy that show you may enjoy this book. I found a couple of the books slightly harder to follow but I used my reading journal with it which helped. I know it is marketed as Spicy but I will say it was about a 1 chilly pepper for me lol. So if you weren't going to pick it up because of the spice I will say you will be okay with the mild amount of spice in here.
Overall I am a Thriller/Horror lover and this book did it for me! Check it out and support the author's collaborations!
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