HellBound Books Anthology of Horror

by Jaime Powell, Kathrin Classen, William Presley

Rest assured, HellBound Books knows what scares you!

Skulking around in the deepest, thickest, darkest shadows of our authors' imaginations lies a whole host of terrifying tales to scare you witless and stir your greatest fears and, dear reader, we have compiled twenty-one such short stories for that specific purpose within the beautifully crafted pages of this very tome!

So, please, dig in - we dare you - and do remember to leave a light on!

Featuring short tales of terror Cory Andrews, Kathrin Classen, William Presley, John Schlimm. K.L. Lord, Jane Nightshade, K. John O'Leary, Dante Bilec, D. H. Parish, Whitney McShan, Keiran Meeks, Josh Darling, Paul Lonardo, Martyn Lawrence, Eric J. Juneau, Terry Campbell, Brett King, Sophia Cauduro, Christina Meeks, Kody Greene, and HellBound Books' very own James H Longmore,

Genres: Horror

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2024

Reviews

[Sophia Cauduro · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tad biased since I’m one of the authors 😂 but you don’t want to skip out on this one!! This is a perfect anthology for all horror lovers who want to indulge in a classic scare.

[Lia's Haunted Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology is like a sampler platter of horror—offering something for everyone who loves the genre. With 21 short stories by different authors, the collection explores a wide range of horror, from demon possessions to unsettling body horror and everything in between. Each story feels distinct, with unique twists and tones that keep you turning the pages.

Normally, I’d rate each story individually, but with such a wild amount of entries, it would be impossible to fit them all into one review. What I can say is that the variety here is fantastic—each tale brings something fresh, whether it’s spine-chilling atmospheres, haunting themes, or gut-punch endings. While not every story landed perfectly for me, that’s the beauty of anthologies—you’re bound to find gems.

A huge thanks to HellBound Books for the ARC.

[Tricia Montes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t normally reach for shorts. This my have changed my mind.

It’s like a bunch of little ‘Tales From The Crypt’ episodes eerily and neatly written in 10-15 page shorts. It’s campfire scary stories kind of fun.

A few of my favorites:
It started out pretty strong w/
•𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 -hey teenage satanist, f*cked around and found out
•𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒖𝒕 - a brutal inside look at self harm
•𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 ‘74 - it’s a real lady killer

[Balthazarinblue · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The pro and con of an unthemed anthology is the sheer breadth of stories included.

In the gruesome and haunted ALL THE SWEET THINGS by K. John O'Leary, a burnt out candy factory blights the town skyline. For generations, kids have dared each other to sneak inside.

TODAY'S SPECIAL AT THE FORGET-ME-NOT-CAFE: MUDDY BONES AND A SLICE OF GUILT by Terry Campbell is a cautionary tale of spiralling madness. The consequences of the narrator's actions finally catch up to him.

MY FRIEND EDDIE by Sophia Cauduro features a lonely young girl whose only friend is the imaginary one who is always there, wherever she goes. This satisfying story would fit right in with the best of r/letsnotmeet.

The stand outs I singled out above had the feel of a classic urban legend, ie what I like most in short horror stories! I was personally less interested in the more extreme gore, creature features, and serial killers, but rest assured HELLBOUND BOOKS' ANTHOLOGY OF HORROR truly has something for everyone. It's also a great introduction to many indie authors whose work may have escaped your attention until now. I definitely noted down some names to check out in the future as I was reading.

I received this eARC for free from Hellbound Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Hannah Edmonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

The short stories in this book are of the same calibre as those written by well-known horror legends. I wish I could write about each of them.

My favourites were; Bone Broth by John Schlimm , the narrator is an ex-child star who played the son of Satan in a franchise before falling into obscurity. His last hurrah is a murderous rampage. The story kept me gripped from the start and my stomach churning by the end. Absolutely brilliant.

Next was Summer of '74 by Jane Nightshade. Shortly after finding the body of a woman, a boy falls in a hole, breaking his ankle leaving him stuck at the crime scene in agony. The killer returns, someone who will be well-known by virtually everyone. This one was incredibly well-written, and I also had fun playing detective, trying to work out who the murderer was.

All the Sweet Things by K. John O'Leary also deserves a mention. Brothers sit outside an abandoned factory sharing ghost stories about what happened inside. A few years later, the younger brother, drawn to the old building is invited inside by the caretaker. This story was very Kingesque.

In The Dollhouse by Martyn K. Lawrence, a woman chasing after her dog stumbles upon the terrifying house of the local weirdo. I don't want to give too much away, but it was like a nightmare and would translate well to screen.

Lastly, I'll mention Bon Appetit by Brett King; this story was so depressing! Perhaps having recently lost my Dad to cancer, the deathbed scenes were particularly upsetting, but kudos to the author because he was spot on. Ryan's husband, Travis has a brain tumour, slowly killing him. Ryan loves Travis so much that he will sacrifice everything to make Travis better.

This is one of the best short story collections I've ever read. The stories above were only some of my favourites, but there wasn't a single one I didn't enjoy.

[Nicole H. ✨️nicoledreamsofbooks✨️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
11/125📚

If you need a little horror pick me up, this is the book for you. It has 21 short stories, so it's easy to read one a night- before bed-like me 😅. Have you ever seen Tales from the Crypt, Goosebumps, or Are You Afraid of the Dark?? I think that is the best way to explain this anthology without giving any of the stories away. I absolutely loved this book! My top two from this was Summer of '74 and The Dollhouse, but honestly, they are all really good.

[Peter Giles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing spooky book.
My Friend Eddie gave me chills.
Would recommend this anthology for that story alone.

[DaniPhantom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, the lucky number 21. The year that your years of being carded, hangovers and adult existential dread starts to kick in.

If that scares you, then I shall tempt you with an even scarier idea topic that will help you forget about your back pain and medical bills for just a moment:
Hellbounds Anthology of Horror, brought to you by @hellboundbooks publishing.

These 21 short spooky stories are each written by indie horror authors within the community, each one with it’s own version of the place that we all fear: Hell, or the horrors that are a byproduct of it. I quite enjoyed this read, as I do most horror short story collections, because you can see how each author interprets the prompt given to them. Each story has its own unique flow, making you excited for each one no matter the storyline.

If you’re looking for a spooky book to cozy up with on your winter break, then this is the one for you!👹

[Shannon Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! All the stories were amazing and scary and hit just right with the horror! A few of the stories I would like to see made into longer novels as they were that good! But overall this has been one of my favorite short stories books of 2024!!

[Book Morphine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if the book you were reading seemed to blur the line between fiction and the shadows around you? This collection doesn’t just tell creepy tales; it pulls you into its world and leaves you questioning your own.

This collection of 21 short stories dives deep into the darkest corners of human fears and imagination, offering a variety of tales to chill your spine and stir your nightmares.

What I loved most is how diverse the stories are, some build slow, creeping dread, while others throw you into the heart of the terror right away. A few stood out as instant favorites, such as Bone Broth, Summer of ‘74, All the Sweet Things, and Be Back at Three. These left me genuinely unsettled long after I finished them.

There were a couple of stories that didn’t hit as hard for me, but that’s to be expected in an anthology. The overall quality of the writing is impressive, and you can feel the authors’ passion for the genre shining through.

Reading this book felt like inviting something sinister into my home, each story more chilling than the last, and now I’m not sure I’m alone anymore.

If you’re a fan of horror, this collection is well worth picking up. Let me know which story scared you the most, I’m dying to discuss! Pro tip: don’t make the same mistake I did and read this at 2 AM unless you enjoy questioning every creak and shadow around you.

TW: Death, gore, violence, body horror, psychological terror, and unsettling themes.

Thank you to HellBound Books for providing me with a gifted copy of this book! Please note, all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own and are in no way influenced by receiving the book.

[Saambavi Purushoth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great pick for anyone new to horror. It starts off strong with "The Gates," which really sets the tone for the rest of the stories.

Some of my favorites were "Blood in the Cut," "Summer of '74'," and "The Dollhouse." Each story had a unique vibe.

What I liked most about this anthology is how it dives into different types of horror and does a pretty good job with all of them. I’ll admit, though, there were a few stories I didn’t want to end (I just wanted a bit more😅).

[Ben Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun book of short horror stories. The stories were really dark and great fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick little collection of Horror that actually was pretty good.
Id give it a 3.75 rounded up to 4

I was provided a copy for a honest review, and if you know me, life is too short to sugar coat reviews .

This was a good little anthro

I would love to tell these around a campfire, i got huge Are You Afraid of the Dark, but in a good way, they were really entertaining, i don't want to say scary, because that's subjective and books don't scare me, but the stories were spooky and had a great horror vibe that passed the tension .

I think I have to name my favorites as
The Gates - what is is about young idiots that just cannot leave well enough alone?

Summer of 74'-This one is hard for me to say WHY its one of my favorites, with out giving everything away, but lets just say, summer is a killer.

There is something for everyone in there, which another reason i love anthros, if you don't like one story, there is almost always something you will like.

Would recommend this to anyone that's just dipping their toes into horror, or loves No Sleep/ CreepyPastas ( they are my secret weakness haha)

Saddle on up to the fire yall, and let these authors spin you a tale.

[Lola Jansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good collection of short horror tales! Story 1 and 4 were my favorites.

A lot of the stories are very unique and the writing style is pleasant

Some stories didn’t make a lot of sense but still entertaining

Good read!

[Smutty Demi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining anthology with a creepy atmosphere, all with a unique writing style. There were a few original concepts in there, it was a good read.

[Donna Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book of short horror stories, there are a lot of stories all with different themes some scary some body horror well worth reading would recommend!

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are 21 short horror stories here, by different authors, so you never know what you're going to get. Most of these are good solid tales, unique and entertaining enough, but there were a couple that rubbed me the wrong way, bringing this from 4 stars to 3. The beauty of collections is that even if you don't like a story, it's not long and the next story will probably be better. I'd still recommend this to people who love the genre, just be aware that a few may go to a darker place than feels comfortable.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Corey Niles]

I recently finished Hellhound Books Anthology of Horror, which was curated and edited by Jaime Powell.

As I often do when reading anthologies, I wrote down the stories that I particularly enjoyed as I read along, but pretty soon, I just about had a table of contents. As a result, I will refrain from diving into each specific story in this review.

Overall, what I loved about this anthology is how well it showcases the versatility and experimentation of the horror genre. Many stories in this collection blend genres of fantasy and crime fiction. Some are more experimental. One in particular comes to mind that is solely told through dialogue.

This is what gets me excited to write and read horror. Great horror pushes the boundaries of what we are comfortable with as far as plot and form are concerned and keeps readers eager to see what will unfold on the next page.

Thank you, Hellhound Books, for giving me the chance to read this anthology.

[Brittnee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this anthology. One reason I love to read anthologies is they are a great way to find new to me authors. I also enjoy anthologies because even when there is a central theme, it can go in so many unique and unexpected directions.

Anthology of Horror started out really strong for me and I could clearly picture each of these stories as I read so the authors did a great job within a small amount of space.

This is a good pick if you’re wanting tastes of horror, looking for new horror authors, and don’t mind some gore.

[Gillian Casso Speicher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a creepy collection of short horror stories that ranged from demon possession to serial killers. I enjoyed how each story focused on different aspects of horror and created characters that you either rooted for or hated. While each story was intriguing, my personal favorites were: Toys to Play With by Eric J. Juneau; Visions of Hell by William Presley; Be Back at Three by D.H. Parish; The Dollhouse by Martyn Lawrence; My Possession: An Introspective by James H.Longmore and My Friend Eddie by Sophia Cauduro. This was definitely a horror collection worth reading. Thanks to Hellbound Books for an ecopy of this book,

[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading every part of this book. Each chapter is written by a different author-all horror related with their own twist and turns. Each chapter found a sweet spot of not too long and not too short-though i would love to see some of the stories turned into longer books or short film adaptations!
Personally my favorites were 'Bone broth' by John Schlimm, 'My Friend Eddie' by Sophia Cauduro, and 'Summer of '74' by Jane Nightshade!
There are two chapters 'Blood in the Cut' by K.L. Lord and 'Jukai' by Dante Bilec that mentions self ha*m or thoughts of that nature so be mindful of that.

[⋆｡‧˚ʚ Chantal ɞ˚‧｡⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would recommend this to people who are beginners to horror — this book was like a mixture of Goosebumps and Creepypasta, in my opinion.

If you do read this, please be mindful that there are triggering topics. While I'm not one to be sensitive I admit I did have to take breaks on one story containing self-harm.

Some stories had me feeling uneasy because I would picture myself in the MCs situation 🙈
I will say, the ending in all of them were a bit cheesy. But I still had fun :)

I'd give it a 3.5/5

[Twistedreaders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology does not hold back. It’s dark, unsettling, and at times, downright terrifying. Some stories creep under your skin, others hit like a gut punch. If you’re looking for a horror collection that actually scares you, this is it.

[Ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

absolutely solid anthology, so many stories that were so unique all of the authors in this are extremely talented

my favourites would probably be today’s special at the forget me not cafe and blood in the cut

[Jane Nightshade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glad to have a story of mine, The Summer of '74, in this unique horror anthology. I've so far only read a few stories but what I've read have been excellent. Proud to be among the chosen authors!

[Lauren Vick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get ready to be scared by these brilliant stories full of horror, jump scares, and frightful characters. Perfect for the spooky season.