From the author of 'Leutogi: A Horror Story', Enter Horrormaxx a yearly horror anthology. This inaugural issue features four stories of strange second chances and desperate bids for escape. A babysitter receives a concerning phone call in The Only House On Chanticlair Lane. A recovering addict on a rehab nature trail faces his literal demons in Old Mint River. A psychic gambler bids farewell to his wife in American Telekinetic. A Russian travels to New York to broker the exchange of an elusive VHS tape in Woman In Chair Film.
Four stories, less than 200 pages, and zero chance you can't pay attention to such a short collection of words. I'd classify the totality of Horrormaxx as sad, riveting, visceral, twisty AND twisted, mopey, original, and genuinely so strange. As there's only four, I'm rating each individually:
The Only House On Chanticlair Lane was my favorite because it was reminiscent of Scream and the original, fun-loving slasher movie trope. Narcissa is babysitting for a wealthy family when she gets entwined in the "personal family business" so to speak, and terror ensues. Her inner dialogue is so hilarious and gripping, that this selection in particular held my interest throughout. To avoid spoiling, I'll leave it at that.
Old Mint River grows on you. Written from the perspective of a drying out coke addict, it takes place in the wilderness on a spiritual retreat with the purpose of rescuing addicts and replacing their need to use with their need to survive in the outdoors. Obviously a very real phenomenon, but the interesting part, to me, were the metaphors that happened throughout the story. Quite a Bumpy ride.
American Telekinetic may be the unanimous least favorite, but I thought it was quite clever and just short of brilliant as a whole. The dialogue may be annoying, but intentional. The human feelings are there, and they are brutal. I can feel for the narrator- but I can't even tell if I'm supposed to. Sometimes life just leads us....there, and here.
Last, and my least favorite, would be Woman In Chair Film This one had a good premise- the snuff film is a popular trope, but it isn't always done well in my opinion. I felt that this one fell short, solely because it could have used more. I'd say this one may be the most visceral, because the length is still so action packed and fraught with tension and the things that go unsaid.
As a reader, this was my first foray into the horror genre, and it was an excellent read. Each of the four stories in this anthology was distinct, captivating, and scary in its own way. H.T. Boyd understands how the human psyche deals with stress and fear. I'm excited to read more from the author.
My favorite stories in the collection were "The Only House on Chanticlair Lane" and "Old Mint River." They stood out to me from the rest. The one story that did not connect with me was "American Telekinetic." I understand that the dialogue was intended and even appropriate for the character, but I must admit that it took me out of the story. That is the only thing that is holding me back from giving this five stars.
While this was my first horror novella, I am a huge horror movie fan and found most of the twists predictable. The ending of "Woman in Chair Film" surprised me the most! Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I hope everyone gives it a go.
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Horror Maxx Vol 1 Thank you to H.T. Boyd for the ARC of this book.
Coming soon to you from the author of Leutogi and Palo Duro is H.T. Boyd’s third published work Horror Maxx Vol 1 containing four insane tales to keep you wanting more. Boyd’s unique talents for tone, wit, humor, gore, and so much more shine in this memorable collection.
The Only House on Chanticlair Lane- hilarious, witty, twisting and gore-filled. I could picture all of the body horror in this clearly, which I usually struggle to do. And I loved every second.
Old Mint River- suspenseful, weird, and even more gory than the last! A recovery retreat gone wrong in very unexpected ways…
American Telekinetic- eerie with a very unique character voice, this story leaves a lot to the reader’s interpretation in the best way; twisting your thoughts this way and that.
Woman in Chair Film- edgy, interesting and jaw dropping right until the last page. I really couldn’t guess where this was going.
I LOVED this collection and I think you will too. I hope to add a physical copy to my shelf once the pub date rolls around. I dare you do pick up a copy. Cerebral, witty, gory and all the good stuff, you don’t want to miss Horror Maxx Vol 1.
This collection of four short stories is horrifically brilliant!
There is a lot packed into 173 pages and the writing style made it feel very visceral, from every babysitter's worst nightmare to the horrible realisation that the hunt for an elusive VHS tape is not what it seems. There is very good range among the four stories; every one has its own worst fear come to life and there was a common thread of addiction without feeling repetitive, but there are some great unexpected twists that ate at my soul. I am actually a little peeved that such horrible things can be written about in such a beautiful way.
If you love reading about the dark side of human nature, this book is for you!
"The Last House of Chanticlair Lane" is very easy to relate to; Narcissa's thoughts and feelings so closely mimic those I imagine I would have in a similar situation.
"Old Mint River" offers an adrenaline rush for the ages!
"American Telekinetic" gave me a bit of a headache to read - hey, that's intentional, right?!
But "Woman in Chair Film" was my worst nightmare come to life and it will stay with me for a very long time.
Thank you very much to the author, H.T. Boyd, via BookSirens for this ARC for my honest review.
As a horror fan, I really enjoy short story collections. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. In this collection of 4 stories, Boyd’s writing style comes across as comfortably as if you were listening to these stories being told around a campfire. He does a great job with character development and descriptions of the settings and events as they happen without giving away how the story will end; you may figure it out near the end but the journey is fun. My only complaint would be with the third story, Telekinetic, which is written as a suicide letter from the main character to his girlfriend. The story is good but written from the perspective of a man who barely learned to read or write, meaning that there are a lot of intentionally misspelled words, which sometimes slowed the pace of my reading as I had to take time to figure out what the character was trying to say. All in all, an entertaining read and an author that I would like to read more from.
Horror thrives in short stories, and in this collection, the four featured hit hard and kept me entertained throughout. This was my first H.T. Boyd book, but it will definitely not be my last
The Only House on Chaunticlair Lane is such a fun teen slasher short. With a fun twist at the end. The main character, a babysitter protecting her territory, is a cutthroat badass, whilst also being a girly-girl. Can relate. Old Mint River is insanity — and so delicious. A powerful representation of obsession and addiction, and the deep drive to self-destruct — letting your obsession literally consume you. Gory in all the best ways. Woman in Chair Film — hits like a slap in the face. I want to cry after reading it. At the horrors of humanity, at the mundanity of it.
Horrormaxx is an anthology containing four great stories.
The Only House on Chanticlair Lane - Think about a babysitter's worst nightmares, and then set that on fire and sprinkle some horror in there while you are at it. A glass house in the middle of nowhere is where Narcissa is babysitting tonight. With the sky day and trees all around, the phone rings and events take a turn for the worst. I found this story both horrific and funny at the same time. It kind of reminded me of scream which I loved. I usually see a plot twist coming, but towards the end this story took me by surprise and I didn't see it coming at all. The dialogue is brilliant and I really felt that the character had raw, adrenaline filled actions towards the events which I think is what gave it a comedic aspect.
Old Mint River: After being in and out of different rehabs, Tanner is forced to go on a nature trail for a month to try and overcome his cocaine addiction. Supposedly, this hike through nature is supposed to help them towards their addictions, but these events get pretty wild. Just like the first story in this book, I found this both funny and relatively disturbing. I love the way we get to know the character and his addictions. Tanner is such a funny character with not just his remarks, but his thoughts and actions.
American Telekinetic: A letter to a loved one, full of twists, turns and confessions. The way this story is written, reminds me of Austen Powers. Not just the dialogue but the character himself. As far as dialogue is concerned, it is very unique and I'd say crucial to the character and his life.
Woman In the Chair Film: Messed up minds, VHS tapes, and snowy New York slog. This story felt like following along on a Mafia job in New York at Christmas. I loved the perspectives of the character and how he perceives New York and the people around him. Very suspense filled and disturbing.
Overall, I enjoyed each of these stories very much. I did find the first two stories more Horror based than the others, but I still liked them all nonetheless. The Only House on Chanticlair Lane had to be my favourite and I definitely won't be forgetting the events that take place any time soon. It's written in such a way that I really felt like it made me ask the question, what would I do in that situation? Throughout this book, I thought there where quite a few great references, that both made the stories funny and relatable.
H. T. Boyd is very good at taking disturbing and horrific topics and turning them into readable stories brought to life with brilliant characters.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes dark subjects, horror, and an overall disturbing tone.
I had the privilege of being selected for the ARC team for Horrormaxx Vol 1, I was not a big horror-reader before this but I will certainly be reading more horror now. H.T. Boyd's storytelling mastery is on full display here, with an undeniable versatility that feels almost chameleonic. Each story has it's own flavor, adopting a unique voice and perspective that gives the impression Boyd is drawing from a deep well of personal experience—or is simply that good at inhabiting his characters.
I'm writing this review after a second read, and I'm raising the score because of it. Horrormaxx's details hold up delightfully to closer inspection. Some spoilers below, but I'll keep them vague. I'm not rating each story individually, because they all belong to the same whole and they deserve the context of each other in the same way an album does.
The Only House on Chanticlair Lane: This story is an instant favorite. Boyd captures the essence of a nostalgic slasher flick, with just the right dose of humor, tension, and gore. Narcissa, the protagonist, is *THE* babysitter, a perfect final girl that is tough as nails. Her inner monologue has provided me with a couple of new phrases that I can't help but repeat.
Old Mint River: This one is a much slower burn to the first. A rich-boy coke addict seeks redemption on a wilderness retreat, I really don't want to spoil this one because the reveal is just *chef's kiss.* This is my favorite story in Vol 1 and I'll be reading it again and again.
American Telekinetic: This may be the most difficult to read of the bunch, not due to the content but the writing style. In my first read this one took me the longest to finish, but on my second read I feel I was able to get more of the rhythm to better appreciate it. I think this could do better in a longer form, but it's a gripping story all the same.
Woman in Chair Film: I initially called this a train wreck, in the way that you know something bad is happening but you can't look away. I think instead it's more apt to think of it as being on a sinking ship, it's a slow danger that you know is there and gets more threatening with each passing word. By the time you reach the end of this, you'll be wishing for a life raft out of the room.
Pick this up! Read it! There is something for every horror fan here. Thanks again to H.T. Boyd for having me on the ARC team for read and review.
The power of a short story is in its ability to leave a lasting impression in a concentrated page count, and in the case of horror, a jolt to the mind. This collection of four shocking tales gives you just that.
"The Last House on Chanticlair Lane" tells the story of a babysitter who gets the worst call of her life. All she needs to do is follow each direction from the strange gargled mouth on the other line. I would bet some details were inspired by the real-life case of JonBenét Ramsey. The babysitter is funny, and I was rooting for her even when she seemed doomed.
"Old Mint River" is my favorite story in the collection. A recovering coccaine addict is in a NA program hiking through Appalachia for 30 days. If I say anymore, I will spoil it, but I was jumping off the couch in complete awe. Boyd effortlessly sets up punchlines that become a fight for survival all the way to the bloody end. Also, some of the biggest laughs I've ever had while reading in my life!
"American Telekinetic" is a somber cautionary tale of an abuse of "gifts" and a gambling addiction. This is an experimental project in the way it is written, and I appreciated the head space Boyd had to get into to pull this one off.
"Woman In Chair Film" is a mysterious and foreboding piece that is a masterful exercise in foreshadowing. This is the one that will gut you.
I was already impressed with Boyd's writing in his novel, Leutogi, which I reviewed earlier this year. After reading this, I am even more of a fan. You will giggle, you will nervous laugh, you will shout "no fucking way", you will have to hold your hand to your mouth in disbelief, you will laugh again, you will be disturbed, and you will feel cold metal lacerations all over your body. You will want to "look away," but you won't be able to.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I did write my reviews for each story right after finishing them. I was hoping to read something new and bloody, but for myself I was only met with two out of four stories that did give me that "oh my God what is happening" feeling. My opinion is solely my own, do not let that steer you away entirely.
The only house on Chanticlair Lane -What a nice new look on the “when a stranger calls” esq story. You might think you know what’s going on until you don’t. I was caught off guard at the last half. Having a main character being so self aware while being in a horror story is so awesome. I didn’t have to “yell and warn” our main girl about the real danger that is coming. The ending was really well written, of course a good amount of blood and gore was described greatly. I do hope to read more like this in the future.
Old mint river -I did not care entirely for this story. At first getting the basics of the setting and then the characters started on a good foot, then it kinda dragged too long which made the climax uninteresting. It had a realistic premise, of doing rehab by walking the insanely long Appalachian mountains. To just reading a plot that was done in a different font through other mediums. It could have been cut down some.
American Telekinetic -Two for two here, the idea was GREAT execution was not. The writing style was creative but was it really necessary? I’m dyslexic and I hated reading this, I could not finish this one.
Women in Chair Film -I did not expect that ending, and it has solidified more so than ever you cannot trust who you work for or with. An original story that was of course gross and twisted to say the least. I will be thinking about this one for a while, it was worth the stretch of the last two stories.
Thank you to H.T Boyd, publishers and booksirens for this story.
the first short story in horror maxx was a fun horror that, as others have mentioned in other reviews, reminds me of Scream a bit! i liked the hints of humor throughout the story while still being freaky and leaving me guessing until the end! i love twists
the second story wasnt bad. i struggled a bit to get into it but pushed myself and ended up liking it more than i thought i would! i love a horror story set in the woods and seeing what hides between the trees and in the dark. always gives an eerie, unsettling feeling.
to be very honest, i did not read the third short story. the way it was written i just couldnt get myself to read that for even the length of a short story unfortunately. i appreciate the unique flair to the writing style through a letter written fully like someone who does not know how to spell or proper grammar and sticking to it. i just think it would give me a migraine reading the ENTIRE story that way
the final story was also pretty good. probably my second favorite due to the twist at the end! i didnt like the main character in the story, but i have a feeling that was intentional. he was a big douche bag and apparently for a reason!! i love found footage type horror movies, which isnt exactly what this was like but did touch upon it which is why i liked it, again, including the twist at the end
overall, the stories were good but not completely my go to vibes. it was nice to get a variation with each story!! i love anything horror and appreciated the free read!
Horror Maxx Vol 1 by H T Boyd, this is the beginning of a horror anthology, and we kick off the collection with four stories. The first is, The Only House On Chanticlair Lane. what a great story to start the anthology with it is one that turns the babysitter folklore story on its head not to mention it has a lot of lol moments. The second is Old Mint River, this one has five guys trying to get sober from their addictions while hiking the Appalachian Trail will all except for one who has plans of his own, but he’s no match for their biggest problem. I enjoyed this one as much as I did the first and really liked the main character whose name I can’t remember the last two stories are American Telekinetic and Woman In Chair Film. The last story to me is the creepiest but all are so worth reading. They read as if they were written in the 80s and or 90s. but in my opinion are just as entertaining had you read them back then. I cannot wait for the next volume. I’m a big fan of short horror stories and these are some of the best I have read in a while. I usually pick a favorite, but that would be hard to do because they were also very good but I do think one and two is absolutely a tie. If you love great short horror stories then you will not regret getting this book, I really loved it!#BookSirens, #HTBoyd, #HorrorMaxx,
This collection was very uneven and not as satisfying as I hoped, unfortunately, though I'd still recommend it for sheer entertainment value. The first story, told from the viewpoint of a babysitter facing a couple of kidnappers/murderers was extremely annoying and tiresome to read: she never stops thinking out everything (probably for readers' sake!), while admitting she's in panic and can't think straight. It felt neither realistic nor funny (if that was its purpose). The second story, told from the viewpoint of an addict who's forced to go on a trip in order to overcome his drug addiction, showed incredible promise, but the ending, though original and unexpected, felt rushed due to bad and choppy writing. The third story, told in one-sided epistolary form (which I love), was simply too long for this format, too dense and ultimately not for me; I liked the plot but it was not convincing at all told in this form. The last story, my favorite and by far the collection's best in my opinion, deserves 5 stars, and should be expanded upon and published in novella form on its own. It's dark, intelligent, well-written, and makes you want more from it. I'd gladly read more about these VHS tapes and their market. It's why I'd recommend picking up the book.
I love short horror stories and this anthology hit the mark! I went in kind of blind and expected some typical stories. They were certainly unique and gripping.
Story 1: I loved the inner monologue and the plot itself. A young babysitter in a horrifying situation, but the way she deals with it is kind of fun. For me it was more the writing I enjoyed.
Story 2: This one was pretty wild once it got going. An addict trying his hardest to stay clean while living in the dark woods for a month. The monsters that haunt him both mentally and physically are really well done.
Story 3: This one didn’t fit in quite well with the rest but I found it charming. It was hard to get into at first with the writing style but I think that’s what made it stand out.
Story 4: I felt this story was the most predictable but I think it was still a fun read. It was scary to think that there are groups of people in the world that really do this stuff.
Overall a solid collection! I will definitely be checking out the authors other works, as I really enjoyed the writing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
“The voice is thick and guttural, this is the voice of a dead man, a body in a coffin. It’s flecked with dust and cobwebs.”
The Only House on Chanticlair Lane - 4* The story was intriguing, kept me guessing as to who was behind it all and whether the threats were real or not. This definitely felt like one of those classic ‘babysitter faces a killer/home invader’ movies; high tension and emotions. What Narcissa goes through is insane. While the ending wasn’t the most satisfying, the story is an edge-of-your-seat thriller.
Old Mint River - 5* I loved this story. It’s crazy and unpredictable, far more than the ‘trek through the unforgiving wilderness to get clean’ premise suggests. Anyone who knows me will know why I love this story. Enjoyable and satisfying.
American Telekinetic - 3.75* Dear god this one took the longest to read, I had to take a break three times, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s a great story. I feel sorry for the MC yet shake my head at his actions. He’s complicated and well written. It’s a bold choice to write an entire story this way and really drives home how messed up the MC is, but it’s a difficult read and not enjoyable, though it is satisfying in the end.
I hope this will be the first of many of these horror anthologies, because the stories were beautiful (in the way horror can be beautiful to people who enjoy the genre).
Each story had it's own charm and twists, but each story was also wildly different because the author wrote it in first person perspective, which allows for all the character traits to show throughout. The author did this fabulously! I loved the character's personality in the first story. The second story was wild and the fourth story was the shortest. A different kind of story with a twist at the end that made me say "daaamn..!".
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The only reason I gave this book 4 stars and not 5 is: story number three (which I also didn't mention earlier in this review). The styling of writing made it so I couldn't get through it. English is not my native tongue, so that probably makes it harder for me to read that in particular. However, I applaud the author for being able to write this in the way they did. Very well done.
• The Only House on Chanticlair Lane. I absolutely loved this story. It felt like watching a horror action-comedy. Main character was brilliant, and very relatable.
• Old Mint River. The Appalachian Rehabilitation. This was a well written, amusing, and captivating story about addiction and survival.
• The American Telekinetic. As a Norwegian, it took me a minute to get into this story because of the way it’s written. Once I did, I thought it was good, and I enjoyed the MMC’s tale.
• The Woman in Chair Film. This story gets dark. I devoured it, and in my opinion, it could have easily been a full-length novel - a five star one at that.
Overall, I would recommend Horrormaxx to anyone who enjoys horror stories with a sharp edge and has a good sense of dark humor.
This was a gripping horror anthology that left me with a strange sense of second chances—though in this collection, they’re more like twisted shots at redemption or desperate attempts to escape. Each story carries an eerie undercurrent, as if every glimmer of hope is bound to something dark and inescapable. While the tales explore themes of fate, redemption, and consequence, they lean into bleak, unsettling endings that really linger. Here’s the breakdown: • The Only House on Chanticlair Lane: 4/5 • Old Mint River: 4/5 • American Telekinetic: 3/5 • Woman in Chair Film: 5/5
If you’re into horror that delves into the darker sides of redemption and escape, this collection is worth a read.
This was a good read I do wish it was scarier only two of the stories really did it for me .
The only house on Chanticlair Lane What a great twist at the end of story one it also had a good amount of blood and gore and to top off knowing you’re in a horror story and can’t get out of it.
Old mint river Doing rehab by walking the insanely long Appalachian mountains that will get you sober for sure. And a drug addicted killer tiger that was an interesting twist.
American Telekinetic I don’t have much to say about this one it seemed like a good plot but it was a hard read for me
Women in Chair Film Another unexpected ending something I love in a book not being predictable. This was a dark, sick and twisted tale. Leaves you wanting to read more about the VSH tapes
The four stories offered are all very different... except in the goal of making the reader uncomfortable. Great characters and situations. Of the four there was only one that I did not really care for. I had a difficult time reading American Telekinetic. I had to slow my reading a great deal to understand what was being said. The second story, Old Mint River, was my favorite. What a horror to find on the trail in the Aopalachian mountains. I could not put that one down. H.T. Boyd does have a way of surprising the reader with his little twists. I received a copy of this book via the author and Book Sirens and I voluntarily leave my opinion of the tale.
Horrormaxx: Vol. 1 presents four new and unique stories from H.T. Boyd. These stories are surprising, funny, gory, and horrific to say the least! I was constantly on the edge of my seat, never knowing what was going to happen next. It's definitely hard to pick a favorite, but I would have to say "The Only House on Chanticlair Lane" was the best. I was truly seeing the story play out like a movie in my head. Highly, highly recommend for all horror readers.
Thanks to the author for an ARC to read and review!
This collection of four stories is perfect for a horror fan who wants a few bite size stories to fulfill that horror need. These stories are twisty, familiar, and follow well loved tropes with a fresh view.
Each story had a new perspective on horror, from the often clever and funny The Only House on Chanticlair Lane to the devastating American Telekinetic.
H.T. Boyd's writing is clever, cinematic, and moves at a great pace. It was easy to forget that I was reading short stories because each plot was well developed and the characters seemed very well thought out and real.
I really enjoyed these short horror stories. I was quickly drawn into each one and engrossed until the end. I highly recommend it. The stories were interesting, thrilling, and often surprising. The Only House on Chanticulair Lane 4/5 Old Mint River 4/5 American Telekenetic 3/5 Woman n Chair Film 5/5
Thank you to H.T. Boyd and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this ARC.
A bunch of horror-filled stories, each equally twisted and entertaining to read. I enjoyed each story and loved it. The writing style is wonderful and effective. The fear, the gore, each written perfectly. Definitely recommended to all horror lovers.
This was a great little collection of short stories. Four stories, each one entertaining with twists and turns and as much horror as you can stand. There wasn't one bad story in the bunch. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.