What do you think?
Rate this book
Killers and Demons #2
Killers and Demons II: They Return
Evil is back, with a greater appetite for death.
Killers.
Demons.
They lurk forever in the shadows, smile at you in the morning, and haunt your dreams at night. You can’t hide, you can’t run, and there’s no escape. You can only scream when they come for you.
Killers and Demons II: They Return is a collection of thirteen tales, blending short stories and flash fiction, tales where the blood lingers on your tongue or spurts quickly from the swift cut.
The Villainous Roster:
Wade, every parent’s nightmare
Hannah and Mr. Greeley. Who is the victim and who is the villain?
Simon and Zoe, a married couple who are dying to be single again.
Norman and his "cookie" of a wife, Mabel.
Millicent and Jane, a delightful duo you shouldn’t invite to your Regency tea party
Amanda, who literally has a skeleton in her closet
Balthazar, the demon bounty hunter on the hunt once more.
Sarah, a young woman going through some changes and craving new tastes
Emmeline, hanged as a witch, now back from the dead for revenge
Gabrielle, a woman haunted by shadows
The Dollmaker, she showers death, and an umbrella won’t help
Nightmare Demons, bent on driving a town insane
And then there’s Alice, a little girl locked in the basement by her Daddy…
Together they form a spine-chilling cadre of predators.
Killers.
Demons.
They lurk forever in the shadows, smile at you in the morning, and haunt your dreams at night. You can’t hide, you can’t run, and there’s no escape. You can only scream when they come for you.
Killers and Demons II: They Return is a collection of thirteen tales, blending short stories and flash fiction, tales where the blood lingers on your tongue or spurts quickly from the swift cut.
The Villainous Roster:
Wade, every parent’s nightmare
Hannah and Mr. Greeley. Who is the victim and who is the villain?
Simon and Zoe, a married couple who are dying to be single again.
Norman and his "cookie" of a wife, Mabel.
Millicent and Jane, a delightful duo you shouldn’t invite to your Regency tea party
Amanda, who literally has a skeleton in her closet
Balthazar, the demon bounty hunter on the hunt once more.
Sarah, a young woman going through some changes and craving new tastes
Emmeline, hanged as a witch, now back from the dead for revenge
Gabrielle, a woman haunted by shadows
The Dollmaker, she showers death, and an umbrella won’t help
Nightmare Demons, bent on driving a town insane
And then there’s Alice, a little girl locked in the basement by her Daddy…
Together they form a spine-chilling cadre of predators.
- GenresHorror
ebook
First published October 4, 2014
30 people want to read
About the author
A.F. Stewart
60 books403 followersI'm from Nova Scotia, Canada, and I write speculative fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, horror), as well as poetry. I have been plying the trade for several years, periodically interrupted by those pesky events from life.
I have published independently and authored such books as the Saga of the Outer Islands series, the Killers and Demons series, Fairy Tale Fusion, and Ruined City. I've also had stories published in various anthologies, including Hell's Empire, A Twist of Fate, the Christmas Lites series and Mechanized Masterpieces from Xchyler Publishing.
I have published independently and authored such books as the Saga of the Outer Islands series, the Killers and Demons series, Fairy Tale Fusion, and Ruined City. I've also had stories published in various anthologies, including Hell's Empire, A Twist of Fate, the Christmas Lites series and Mechanized Masterpieces from Xchyler Publishing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 7, 2017
This is the second book of the Killers and Demons short story series and it's even better than the first! Yet again the book was divided into separate "chapters" - one for the "Killers" short stories and one for the "Demons". It's a novel approach to setting a book out and in this instance it works really well.
There are quite a few more stories included in this novella compared to the last and it is one of the very few short story collections where I've found all the stories equally well written and paced, and that held you riveted to the page from first story until last.
A highly recommended read for short story lovers who like their reads with a heavy dollop of the weird, the eerie and full of spine-tingling chills.
There are quite a few more stories included in this novella compared to the last and it is one of the very few short story collections where I've found all the stories equally well written and paced, and that held you riveted to the page from first story until last.
A highly recommended read for short story lovers who like their reads with a heavy dollop of the weird, the eerie and full of spine-tingling chills.
September 20, 2014
These thirteen stories have two sections. There are the killers, the human monsters, and then there are the demons.
The killers aren’t even recognizable as human except in their appearance. I found this out from the very first story. It was so brutal I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read on. Then I thought about all of the books I’ve read, the thrillers, the true crime, and the shows I watch, like my favorite, The Walking Dead. No one is safe in the pages, even the young aren’t spared. So I pressed on.
My favorite of the killers stories was Break Down in Communication. A couple that never thought about divorce. The author applied a warped sense of humor in the story and had me chuckling.
Another that really grabbed me was Alice in the Basement. It made me think of The Bad Seed and Case 39. Killers can come in small packages.
From child kidnapping, to black widows, to a different kind of Jack the Ripper, there’s much to give you nightmares.
Then I got to the demons. Family Trait completely grossed me out. Not so much by what the character is as by her dreadful appetite. Eww.
My favorite in the demons section was The Skeleton. Talk about a skeleton in your closet. The suspense just built and built. I knew what was probably going to happen and still the suspense built. And when the story came to an end, there was a wicked little twist.
The thing about demons is they were never human so begging them for mercy is futile. It just adds to their malevolent glee as two people found out in Runner.
Beware, the demons have come out to play, the witch will have her vengeance, and don’t listen to those whispers from the dark.
“Welcome to my nightmare. I think you’re gonna like it.” That song from Alice Cooper kept playing in the background of my mind while reading these.
These are not scary stories. These are horror stories, and as such, I only recommend them to those who appreciate the telling, the showing, of the darker side of evil.
I was given this book by the author for my honest review. Now that I’ve read this second collection, I’m curious about the first set. Halloween is right around the corner.
The killers aren’t even recognizable as human except in their appearance. I found this out from the very first story. It was so brutal I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read on. Then I thought about all of the books I’ve read, the thrillers, the true crime, and the shows I watch, like my favorite, The Walking Dead. No one is safe in the pages, even the young aren’t spared. So I pressed on.
My favorite of the killers stories was Break Down in Communication. A couple that never thought about divorce. The author applied a warped sense of humor in the story and had me chuckling.
Another that really grabbed me was Alice in the Basement. It made me think of The Bad Seed and Case 39. Killers can come in small packages.
From child kidnapping, to black widows, to a different kind of Jack the Ripper, there’s much to give you nightmares.
Then I got to the demons. Family Trait completely grossed me out. Not so much by what the character is as by her dreadful appetite. Eww.
My favorite in the demons section was The Skeleton. Talk about a skeleton in your closet. The suspense just built and built. I knew what was probably going to happen and still the suspense built. And when the story came to an end, there was a wicked little twist.
The thing about demons is they were never human so begging them for mercy is futile. It just adds to their malevolent glee as two people found out in Runner.
Beware, the demons have come out to play, the witch will have her vengeance, and don’t listen to those whispers from the dark.
“Welcome to my nightmare. I think you’re gonna like it.” That song from Alice Cooper kept playing in the background of my mind while reading these.
These are not scary stories. These are horror stories, and as such, I only recommend them to those who appreciate the telling, the showing, of the darker side of evil.
I was given this book by the author for my honest review. Now that I’ve read this second collection, I’m curious about the first set. Halloween is right around the corner.
September 14, 2014
Killers and demons II: They Return(Book 2 of Killers and Demons) by A.F. Stewart
A great collection of short (horror) stories. The first set of stories are about killers, killers with no remorse, no empathy, dark souls. People who only have one thing on their mind, and that is to viciously take the lives of others. The second set of stories are about demons, witches, ghosts, things that are not human and oh so terrifying!
Some (Stories) are gruesome, some are spooky, but all are guaranteed to have you checking under your bed and keep the lights on! A fantastic collection of horror stories. I highly recommend Killers and Demons II: They Return by A.F. Stewart to those who love tales of terror and horror.
A great collection of short (horror) stories. The first set of stories are about killers, killers with no remorse, no empathy, dark souls. People who only have one thing on their mind, and that is to viciously take the lives of others. The second set of stories are about demons, witches, ghosts, things that are not human and oh so terrifying!
Some (Stories) are gruesome, some are spooky, but all are guaranteed to have you checking under your bed and keep the lights on! A fantastic collection of horror stories. I highly recommend Killers and Demons II: They Return by A.F. Stewart to those who love tales of terror and horror.
November 17, 2014
Warning this book contains graphic depictions of violence and sex.
I was given a free copy in exchange for this review, all the opions I present are entirely my own.
A disturbing and painfull read…in the beginning: This book hurt me to read at first. Not because its horrific but painful. Most modern day horror goes for cheap scares and in the first few stories that’s this book. Through this will obviously unsettle people it is not the horrific affect. I found myself cringing reading the passages. Not because it gives a physiological thrill but because of the pain the characters are enduring. This does not make the book bad however.
One these passages are less common than you would believe from the start. And two for the passages that aren’t this way there are legitimate horrors and terrors to be had. ^__^
Writing: the book is excellently written. It gives you the facts and doesn’t bother you with poor or unimportant details. It’s well put together and I enjoy the style.
Ableism: in bits of the book I found it to be ableist. Given how description of intellect and those who “lack intelligence” are perceived. I won’t dive into it to much for I am sure most readers won’t mind however as a neuroatypical person it greatly stood out to me.
Formatting: I love how easy it is to read this book. It’s easy on the eyes and given it’s on smash words I read little at a time. I think the book is formatted excellently. It’s not overwhelming or hurting the eyes its just right.
Not bad: Overall I wouldn’t say that the book is bad, simply that its not for me. I greatly enjoyed it, despite my criticism’s, which is why I gave it such a high review. It’s an decent book.
Does it have flaws? Yes. But even if its not my personal favorite type of literature does not mean that I shan't enjoy a book of it’s nature. It’s a great book for what it is.
Horror is horror: It’s the kind of horror that only brave souls may endure and only wicked souls would seek. I mean that in the best way possible. At the end of the day horror is horror and no matter what your preferred dose, this book offers plenty. It’s exactly what it needs to be for those who are looking to need it. ^__^ thank you for the copy I look forward to reading more from you in the future.
I was given a free copy in exchange for this review, all the opions I present are entirely my own.
A disturbing and painfull read…in the beginning: This book hurt me to read at first. Not because its horrific but painful. Most modern day horror goes for cheap scares and in the first few stories that’s this book. Through this will obviously unsettle people it is not the horrific affect. I found myself cringing reading the passages. Not because it gives a physiological thrill but because of the pain the characters are enduring. This does not make the book bad however.
One these passages are less common than you would believe from the start. And two for the passages that aren’t this way there are legitimate horrors and terrors to be had. ^__^
Writing: the book is excellently written. It gives you the facts and doesn’t bother you with poor or unimportant details. It’s well put together and I enjoy the style.
Ableism: in bits of the book I found it to be ableist. Given how description of intellect and those who “lack intelligence” are perceived. I won’t dive into it to much for I am sure most readers won’t mind however as a neuroatypical person it greatly stood out to me.
Formatting: I love how easy it is to read this book. It’s easy on the eyes and given it’s on smash words I read little at a time. I think the book is formatted excellently. It’s not overwhelming or hurting the eyes its just right.
Not bad: Overall I wouldn’t say that the book is bad, simply that its not for me. I greatly enjoyed it, despite my criticism’s, which is why I gave it such a high review. It’s an decent book.
Does it have flaws? Yes. But even if its not my personal favorite type of literature does not mean that I shan't enjoy a book of it’s nature. It’s a great book for what it is.
Horror is horror: It’s the kind of horror that only brave souls may endure and only wicked souls would seek. I mean that in the best way possible. At the end of the day horror is horror and no matter what your preferred dose, this book offers plenty. It’s exactly what it needs to be for those who are looking to need it. ^__^ thank you for the copy I look forward to reading more from you in the future.
October 8, 2014
With 13 tales of horrifying murder and demonic possession, A.F. Stewart's second installment of Killers and Demons will have you looking over your shoulder and jumping at every unexplained sound that you hear. Split into two parts, this book examines both human and hell bound monsters and the terror they inflict.
The first section of the book focuses on the human monsters and does a superb job of capturing the essence of pure evil. There are six stories that show just how truly terrifying human's can be. While all six of the stories in this section are excellent, I especially enjoyed "Breakdown in Communication" and "Alice in the Basement."
The second section of the book focuses on the demons. The seven stories bring these fantastical creatures to life. Stewart captures their monstrous nature perfectly and even throws a few surprises in the mix. The stories "Family Trait" and "The Dollmaker" are especially disturbing, which is why they have found a spot at the top of my list as the best of the best in the section on demons.
"Killers and Demons II: They Return," is a great collection of macabre tales for anybody that likes to read horror. Stewart has succeeded in creating 13 tales that will have you checking under the bed and making sure the closet door is closed before you turn off the light.
The first section of the book focuses on the human monsters and does a superb job of capturing the essence of pure evil. There are six stories that show just how truly terrifying human's can be. While all six of the stories in this section are excellent, I especially enjoyed "Breakdown in Communication" and "Alice in the Basement."
The second section of the book focuses on the demons. The seven stories bring these fantastical creatures to life. Stewart captures their monstrous nature perfectly and even throws a few surprises in the mix. The stories "Family Trait" and "The Dollmaker" are especially disturbing, which is why they have found a spot at the top of my list as the best of the best in the section on demons.
"Killers and Demons II: They Return," is a great collection of macabre tales for anybody that likes to read horror. Stewart has succeeded in creating 13 tales that will have you checking under the bed and making sure the closet door is closed before you turn off the light.
July 30, 2019
Quick read!
November 2, 2016
Killers vs Demons
There are two distinct sections within this collection of short stories. Those that deal with humans that are depraved killers and those that deal with demons and their depraved existences. And there is one story cleverly tucked into the fold between those two sections that out and out surprises you with the shift in topics.
The Killers
Our human murders take the lead in this collection, tearing into the pages and splashing blood out at your right off the bat. These stories felt a little bit rushed, because they were speeding past the set-up to get to the fun slasher-splatter parts. However, this felt like a purposeful choice. The pacing of the book as a whole was pretty fantastic.
The first few stories rip right in and then as you get deeper in they start to slow down and fill in the details. I did enjoy the scenarios that were explored in these stories though. The one that disturbed me the most started off with a man witnessing a brutal mugging. It went down-hill from there real fast. Well, down-hill in a “Holy S**t, did that seriously just happen?!” Kind of way.
And then there’s Alice. Poor depraved Alice who just wanted to have a little fun. It’s her story that I created the artwork off of, and she is- by far- my favorite story from the Killer side of things. I think a big part of that is the sweet, yet chilling, way the story is told through her voice. You can sympathize with her, she is just a little girl locked in the basement after all. Right?
The Demons
As soon as we got into the demons side of the collection I felt like the stories started to slow down just enough to build a little more atmosphere before getting into wickedly written stabbing-tearing-action. But with the demons, a little more time was given to build up the details of the world around them, and how the demons played into it. Most of my favorite stories from this book come from the demons section.
The one story that will stick with me the longest though is the one that starts off with a young woman questioning her life choices in a coffee shop. I do not want to ruin the surprise of this story, but what I will say is -the way this story was fleshed out left me wanting more. I could read an entire series based on this one. The world that built up around the main character is absolutely fascinating.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced read with a lot of gore and violence splashed across it’s pages this is a great book to pick up.
There are two distinct sections within this collection of short stories. Those that deal with humans that are depraved killers and those that deal with demons and their depraved existences. And there is one story cleverly tucked into the fold between those two sections that out and out surprises you with the shift in topics.
The Killers
Our human murders take the lead in this collection, tearing into the pages and splashing blood out at your right off the bat. These stories felt a little bit rushed, because they were speeding past the set-up to get to the fun slasher-splatter parts. However, this felt like a purposeful choice. The pacing of the book as a whole was pretty fantastic.
The first few stories rip right in and then as you get deeper in they start to slow down and fill in the details. I did enjoy the scenarios that were explored in these stories though. The one that disturbed me the most started off with a man witnessing a brutal mugging. It went down-hill from there real fast. Well, down-hill in a “Holy S**t, did that seriously just happen?!” Kind of way.
And then there’s Alice. Poor depraved Alice who just wanted to have a little fun. It’s her story that I created the artwork off of, and she is- by far- my favorite story from the Killer side of things. I think a big part of that is the sweet, yet chilling, way the story is told through her voice. You can sympathize with her, she is just a little girl locked in the basement after all. Right?
The Demons
As soon as we got into the demons side of the collection I felt like the stories started to slow down just enough to build a little more atmosphere before getting into wickedly written stabbing-tearing-action. But with the demons, a little more time was given to build up the details of the world around them, and how the demons played into it. Most of my favorite stories from this book come from the demons section.
The one story that will stick with me the longest though is the one that starts off with a young woman questioning her life choices in a coffee shop. I do not want to ruin the surprise of this story, but what I will say is -the way this story was fleshed out left me wanting more. I could read an entire series based on this one. The world that built up around the main character is absolutely fascinating.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced read with a lot of gore and violence splashed across it’s pages this is a great book to pick up.
August 25, 2016
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. A.F.Stewart does it again! Chilling and dark, and full of characters that will send a chill down your spine. Definitely a must read!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews