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The Horror Collection #23
The Horror Collection: Amber Edition
Book 23 in The Horror Collection series brings you over 100,000 new words from some of the best indie horror authors working today.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2025
About the author
Kevin J. Kennedy
151 books335 followersKevin J. Kennedy is a Scottish horror author known for his fast-paced storytelling, dark humor, and unforgettable characters. He is also the curator of the bestselling The Horror Collection and Classic Monsters anthology series.
When he’s not writing tales of blood-soaked chaos, Kevin champions indie horror, supports fellow authors, and dreams up new ways to keep readers sleeping with the lights on.
When he’s not writing tales of blood-soaked chaos, Kevin champions indie horror, supports fellow authors, and dreams up new ways to keep readers sleeping with the lights on.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 22, 2025
Another terrific entry (#23) in the hugely successful "Horror Collection" anthology series, curated as always by Kevin Kennedy! The "Amber Edition" contains eighteen horror tales, by such talented authors as Graham Masterton, Jeff Strand, MJ Mars, Mark Towse, Brian Moreland, Ben Young, Chisto Healy, and S.E. Howard, among many others - easily recognizable names, acknowledged masters of the eerie, the horrific, and the weird. As usual, the anthology's strength lies in the incredible variety of themes, settings, horror tropes, writing styles, and types of endings. There's something here for everyone, and not one story disappoints: they're all interesting, entertaining, no fluff, no unnecessary dialogue or absurd introspective moments.
A few words on my personal highlights follow. "Torture Porn For Prudes," Jeff Strand's contribution, draws on his trademark dark humor, featuring a victim trying to stall for time against the prudish serial killer who has him tied up in his basement. Mark Lukens' "Misty's Vision," is apparently the author's answer to Tremblay's "The Cabin At The End of the World," responding to that book in the bleakest way possible. Mark Towse's "Black Beauty" employs the cursed object horror trope to tell a story of an author's mental collapse (Towse's trademark "crack in the ceiling" included!), demonstrating how writer's block can also set massive domestic problems. MJ Mars' "Initiations," one of the best stories in the volume, takes a gang initiation ritual gone wrong, and spins a sinister ghost tale with an uncomfortable ending. "Trapped in the Birth Canal" by Sheri White transforms the joys of spelunking into truly disturbing cave horror, as a group of three friends is forced to renegotiate their friendship. Ben Young's "Pinstick" will give you another reason to avoid annoying kids... uhmm, I mean stuffed toys. Chisto Healy's "Stabby McStabbington" takes the creepy child horror trope and turns it into an occasion for ... gory carnage! Joel Austin in "Speak Of The Devil" is another tale about the meaning of friendship: a mysterious carnival booth appears out of nowhere, and three friends go visit - the ending will make you think! Finally, S.E. Howard's "It Will Have Blood," the volume's closing story, is a supernatural eco-horror story, satisfyingly detailed, with a horrifying ending.
If you’re looking for an anthology full of top tier, wide-ranging, horror stories, this is definitely it!
A few words on my personal highlights follow. "Torture Porn For Prudes," Jeff Strand's contribution, draws on his trademark dark humor, featuring a victim trying to stall for time against the prudish serial killer who has him tied up in his basement. Mark Lukens' "Misty's Vision," is apparently the author's answer to Tremblay's "The Cabin At The End of the World," responding to that book in the bleakest way possible. Mark Towse's "Black Beauty" employs the cursed object horror trope to tell a story of an author's mental collapse (Towse's trademark "crack in the ceiling" included!), demonstrating how writer's block can also set massive domestic problems. MJ Mars' "Initiations," one of the best stories in the volume, takes a gang initiation ritual gone wrong, and spins a sinister ghost tale with an uncomfortable ending. "Trapped in the Birth Canal" by Sheri White transforms the joys of spelunking into truly disturbing cave horror, as a group of three friends is forced to renegotiate their friendship. Ben Young's "Pinstick" will give you another reason to avoid annoying kids... uhmm, I mean stuffed toys. Chisto Healy's "Stabby McStabbington" takes the creepy child horror trope and turns it into an occasion for ... gory carnage! Joel Austin in "Speak Of The Devil" is another tale about the meaning of friendship: a mysterious carnival booth appears out of nowhere, and three friends go visit - the ending will make you think! Finally, S.E. Howard's "It Will Have Blood," the volume's closing story, is a supernatural eco-horror story, satisfyingly detailed, with a horrifying ending.
If you’re looking for an anthology full of top tier, wide-ranging, horror stories, this is definitely it!
May 21, 2025
The latest installment in Kevin Kennedy's horror anthology series presents itself with the characteristically amber-hued "Honeycomb" cover—a visual metaphor that aptly presages the concentrated venom of the collected narratives within. This compilation demonstrates remarkable versatility in contemporary horror fiction, showcasing both established voices and emerging talents who collectively expand the boundaries of the genre.
Kennedy's curation reveals a deliberate organizational strategy that balances traditional horror tropes with innovative narrative techniques. The anthology's cellular structure—mirroring its honeycomb title—allows each story to function independently while contributing to a collective exploration of horror's psychological dimensions.
"Misty's Vision" by Mark Lucas
demonstrates sophisticated temporal manipulation reminiscent of Pinter's "Betrayal" but inverted for horrific effect. While the premise of captivity as prevention superficially recalls films like "The Cabin At The End of the World," Lucas transcends mere homage through meticulous misdirection. The narrative's concluding revelation represents a masterclass in perspective shift that recontextualizes all preceding events—a technique that places the work within the literary tradition of unreliable narration pioneered by Henry James and perfected by contemporary horror practitioners.
Mark Towse's "Black Beauty" engages directly with the metafictional anxieties that have permeated literature since Borges. The typewriter as conduit between fiction and reality operates simultaneously as plot device and philosophical inquiry into the nature of authorship. Unlike Serling's more moralistic approach in similar "Twilight Zone" narratives, Towse leaves the metaphysical implications deliberately unresolved, creating a more sophisticated ambiguity.
Several entries demonstrate conscious engagement with horror's literary lineage. Graham Masterson and Karolina Mogielska's "Small Fly" represents a particularly noteworthy collaboration that reconfigures Stevensonian dualism for contemporary sensibilities. Rather than positioning the transformation externally, they internalize the conflict through the seemingly innocent vessel of a pet—creating a domesticated horror that subverts expectations of safety within familiar spaces.
"Village of the Wolf" by Alyson Fae warrants deeper analysis than merely noting its lycanthropic connections to "The Howling." Fae's community-centered approach to werewolf mythology engages with anthropological perspectives on cultural isolation and enforced otherness. The narrative employs subtle socioeconomic commentary through its depiction of insular communities maintaining traditions through violence—positioning it within the folk horror tradition alongside works like Jackson's "The Lottery" and contemporary offerings from authors like Adam Nevill.
Jeff Strand's "Torture Porn for Prudes" provides essential tonal variation through its meta-humorous examination of horror nomenclature. The linguistic playfulness serves as both palate cleanser and commentary on genre conventions, demonstrating self-awareness without descending into parody—a delicate balance rarely achieved in anthologized horror.
The collection demonstrates remarkable diversity in narrative voice and technical execution. Christina Bergling's "One Last Kill" employs a perspective rarely explored in serial killer fiction: the geriatric murderer. This temporal displacement creates cognitive dissonance between the physical limitations of aging and the persistence of homicidal compulsion. Bergling's execution evokes the psychological depth of Thomas Harris while incorporating gerontological concerns typically absent from the subgenre.
"It Will Have Blood" by S.E. Howard represents perhaps the most ambitious conceptual marriage in the collection, fusing ecological disaster fiction with supernatural horror. The volcano operates simultaneously as literal threat and metaphorical vessel for ancient malevolence—a dual purpose that recalls Ligotti's philosophical position that natural systems themselves may harbor malignant consciousness. Howard's approach aligns with contemporary ecological horror trends that position environmental catastrophe as both literal threat and metaphorical vessel for deeper anxieties.
While the anthology demonstrates overall cohesion, R.J. Meldrum's "The Damned Poor" represents a comparative weakness despite its promising nominal connection to vampire literary canon, Lucy Collins ( Lucy Westenra and Barnabas Collins.) The narrative fails to transcend its referential framework, ultimately delivering predictable execution without the subversive elements that elevate other entries. This comparative disappointment highlights the consistent quality maintained elsewhere in the collection.
Ben Young's "Pinstick" presents conceptual brilliance in its exploration of corporeal text—reminiscent of Barker's "Books of Blood" taken to literal extremes—but suffers from structural imbalance. The premise deserves more thorough exploration, presenting a rare case where additional length would benefit the work. The concept of dermal inscription as magical practice connects to ancient traditions across cultures, and Young's contemporary horror interpretation merits expanded treatment.
Kennedy's "Honeycomb" anthology represents a significant contribution to contemporary horror literature, demonstrating the genre's continued vitality and capacity for innovation within established frameworks. The collection successfully balances reverence for horror traditions with subversive approaches that challenge reader expectations. Through varied approaches to narrative structure, psychological depth, and conceptual experimentation, these stories collectively demonstrate horror's unique capacity to address contemporary anxieties through metaphorical displacement—proving once again that the genre functions not merely as entertainment but as essential cultural processing of collective fears.
The anthology's sophisticated engagement with literary tradition, psychological complexity, and contemporary concerns positions it as a valuable text for scholars of horror fiction as well as enthusiasts of the genre. Kennedy's curatorial vision has produced a collection that, like its namesake, contains concentrated instances of sweetness and pain—each cellular story contributing to a complex whole that rewards careful analysis and repeated visitation.
Kennedy's curation reveals a deliberate organizational strategy that balances traditional horror tropes with innovative narrative techniques. The anthology's cellular structure—mirroring its honeycomb title—allows each story to function independently while contributing to a collective exploration of horror's psychological dimensions.
"Misty's Vision" by Mark Lucas
demonstrates sophisticated temporal manipulation reminiscent of Pinter's "Betrayal" but inverted for horrific effect. While the premise of captivity as prevention superficially recalls films like "The Cabin At The End of the World," Lucas transcends mere homage through meticulous misdirection. The narrative's concluding revelation represents a masterclass in perspective shift that recontextualizes all preceding events—a technique that places the work within the literary tradition of unreliable narration pioneered by Henry James and perfected by contemporary horror practitioners.
Mark Towse's "Black Beauty" engages directly with the metafictional anxieties that have permeated literature since Borges. The typewriter as conduit between fiction and reality operates simultaneously as plot device and philosophical inquiry into the nature of authorship. Unlike Serling's more moralistic approach in similar "Twilight Zone" narratives, Towse leaves the metaphysical implications deliberately unresolved, creating a more sophisticated ambiguity.
Several entries demonstrate conscious engagement with horror's literary lineage. Graham Masterson and Karolina Mogielska's "Small Fly" represents a particularly noteworthy collaboration that reconfigures Stevensonian dualism for contemporary sensibilities. Rather than positioning the transformation externally, they internalize the conflict through the seemingly innocent vessel of a pet—creating a domesticated horror that subverts expectations of safety within familiar spaces.
"Village of the Wolf" by Alyson Fae warrants deeper analysis than merely noting its lycanthropic connections to "The Howling." Fae's community-centered approach to werewolf mythology engages with anthropological perspectives on cultural isolation and enforced otherness. The narrative employs subtle socioeconomic commentary through its depiction of insular communities maintaining traditions through violence—positioning it within the folk horror tradition alongside works like Jackson's "The Lottery" and contemporary offerings from authors like Adam Nevill.
Jeff Strand's "Torture Porn for Prudes" provides essential tonal variation through its meta-humorous examination of horror nomenclature. The linguistic playfulness serves as both palate cleanser and commentary on genre conventions, demonstrating self-awareness without descending into parody—a delicate balance rarely achieved in anthologized horror.
The collection demonstrates remarkable diversity in narrative voice and technical execution. Christina Bergling's "One Last Kill" employs a perspective rarely explored in serial killer fiction: the geriatric murderer. This temporal displacement creates cognitive dissonance between the physical limitations of aging and the persistence of homicidal compulsion. Bergling's execution evokes the psychological depth of Thomas Harris while incorporating gerontological concerns typically absent from the subgenre.
"It Will Have Blood" by S.E. Howard represents perhaps the most ambitious conceptual marriage in the collection, fusing ecological disaster fiction with supernatural horror. The volcano operates simultaneously as literal threat and metaphorical vessel for ancient malevolence—a dual purpose that recalls Ligotti's philosophical position that natural systems themselves may harbor malignant consciousness. Howard's approach aligns with contemporary ecological horror trends that position environmental catastrophe as both literal threat and metaphorical vessel for deeper anxieties.
While the anthology demonstrates overall cohesion, R.J. Meldrum's "The Damned Poor" represents a comparative weakness despite its promising nominal connection to vampire literary canon, Lucy Collins ( Lucy Westenra and Barnabas Collins.) The narrative fails to transcend its referential framework, ultimately delivering predictable execution without the subversive elements that elevate other entries. This comparative disappointment highlights the consistent quality maintained elsewhere in the collection.
Ben Young's "Pinstick" presents conceptual brilliance in its exploration of corporeal text—reminiscent of Barker's "Books of Blood" taken to literal extremes—but suffers from structural imbalance. The premise deserves more thorough exploration, presenting a rare case where additional length would benefit the work. The concept of dermal inscription as magical practice connects to ancient traditions across cultures, and Young's contemporary horror interpretation merits expanded treatment.
Kennedy's "Honeycomb" anthology represents a significant contribution to contemporary horror literature, demonstrating the genre's continued vitality and capacity for innovation within established frameworks. The collection successfully balances reverence for horror traditions with subversive approaches that challenge reader expectations. Through varied approaches to narrative structure, psychological depth, and conceptual experimentation, these stories collectively demonstrate horror's unique capacity to address contemporary anxieties through metaphorical displacement—proving once again that the genre functions not merely as entertainment but as essential cultural processing of collective fears.
The anthology's sophisticated engagement with literary tradition, psychological complexity, and contemporary concerns positions it as a valuable text for scholars of horror fiction as well as enthusiasts of the genre. Kennedy's curatorial vision has produced a collection that, like its namesake, contains concentrated instances of sweetness and pain—each cellular story contributing to a complex whole that rewards careful analysis and repeated visitation.
May 17, 2025
The best for last
While all the stories were very good, the last two will stay with me for a while. The bees, because I am very allergic and go into anaphylactic shock. Also I was sure the Uncle was crazy not Ben. The last story, " They will have blood" another of my allergies..sulfur. To be devoured by it will haunt me for a long time. They hit me hard due to my fear of bees and sulfur. Thanks for the nightmares 😁😉🤯
While all the stories were very good, the last two will stay with me for a while. The bees, because I am very allergic and go into anaphylactic shock. Also I was sure the Uncle was crazy not Ben. The last story, " They will have blood" another of my allergies..sulfur. To be devoured by it will haunt me for a long time. They hit me hard due to my fear of bees and sulfur. Thanks for the nightmares 😁😉🤯
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May 26, 2025How to find new, favorite authors in 3,2,1
I just finished reading this book and it was no surprise that I loved it. I've never been disappointed by a Kevin J. Kennedy anthology. A few of these stories made me squirm and some had me laughing as dark comedy showed itself. I could read these stories over and over. I enjoyed them so much. I've read stories and books but some of these authors but not all of them. I plan follow them all and read everything they have written.
I loved all the stories but I had a few favorites.
Black Beauty by Mark Towse
Hella Weird by Calvin Demmer
The Murderer by Michael S.A. Graziano
Teeth by Brian Moreland
Telling the Bees by Jue Collins
One stood out as my top favorite:
One Last Kill by Christina Bergling
I could easily see this as a far off sequel to a story about Mr. Kryer's life. I'd like to see a book about that.
I can't recommend this book enough!
Veronica Smith - author of Salvation in the Wasteland, Nightmare on Indigo Street, & Chalk Outline
I just finished reading this book and it was no surprise that I loved it. I've never been disappointed by a Kevin J. Kennedy anthology. A few of these stories made me squirm and some had me laughing as dark comedy showed itself. I could read these stories over and over. I enjoyed them so much. I've read stories and books but some of these authors but not all of them. I plan follow them all and read everything they have written.
I loved all the stories but I had a few favorites.
Black Beauty by Mark Towse
Hella Weird by Calvin Demmer
The Murderer by Michael S.A. Graziano
Teeth by Brian Moreland
Telling the Bees by Jue Collins
One stood out as my top favorite:
One Last Kill by Christina Bergling
I could easily see this as a far off sequel to a story about Mr. Kryer's life. I'd like to see a book about that.
I can't recommend this book enough!
Veronica Smith - author of Salvation in the Wasteland, Nightmare on Indigo Street, & Chalk Outline
May 30, 2025
An amazing collection of stories by authors I both know and love, and authors that are new to me. This book had something for everyone and is a fun read with lots of different styles and horror ideas. Well told with interesting characters.
May 22, 2025
This one is going to sit at the top of my favorites from KJK, but that also made this really hard for me to review because I like to talk about my top picks when its a anthology, but they were all so good.
So I think I'm going to list my top picks and just wing this one.
I will also be purchasing a hard copy of this one, it is AMAZING.
Torture Porn For Prudes by Jeff Strand
This one had me laughing but that was concerning considering the dark turn this story takes, locked in the basement trying not to be murdered by a prudish serial killer??
Chaos and I love it.
Initiations by MJ Mars
Holy crap, initiations are never easy, even in the most calm of organizations, but what happens when its more then a normal organization and its a gang? Even more so, lets toss in the supernatural, will anyone survive this one?
Pinstick by Ben Young
What can I say, I'm a "insert whatever this authors fanbase is calling ourselves" and have zero shame, and again, I loved this one, kids are fine right. Right?
Speak Of The Devil Joel Austin
I am a little obsessed with anything dealing with carnivals or amusement parks gone wrong, but what happens when three friends find a mysterious carnival booth, and will their friendship survive it?
Village of the Wolf by Alyson Fae
This had big, what can go wrong when isolated, small town vibes and mixed it with some old time lore and I ate it up.
It was hard to narrow it down, but I did what I could.
This book is so full of stories, I don't see how anyone cant find one or more that will delight or kill them haha.
or
Delightfully kill them ?
Whose to say.
So I think I'm going to list my top picks and just wing this one.
I will also be purchasing a hard copy of this one, it is AMAZING.
Torture Porn For Prudes by Jeff Strand
This one had me laughing but that was concerning considering the dark turn this story takes, locked in the basement trying not to be murdered by a prudish serial killer??
Chaos and I love it.
Initiations by MJ Mars
Holy crap, initiations are never easy, even in the most calm of organizations, but what happens when its more then a normal organization and its a gang? Even more so, lets toss in the supernatural, will anyone survive this one?
Pinstick by Ben Young
What can I say, I'm a "insert whatever this authors fanbase is calling ourselves" and have zero shame, and again, I loved this one, kids are fine right. Right?
Speak Of The Devil Joel Austin
I am a little obsessed with anything dealing with carnivals or amusement parks gone wrong, but what happens when three friends find a mysterious carnival booth, and will their friendship survive it?
Village of the Wolf by Alyson Fae
This had big, what can go wrong when isolated, small town vibes and mixed it with some old time lore and I ate it up.
It was hard to narrow it down, but I did what I could.
This book is so full of stories, I don't see how anyone cant find one or more that will delight or kill them haha.
or
Delightfully kill them ?
Whose to say.
August 2, 2025
One of the best collections out there
June 21, 2025
The Horror Collection:
When I see that KJK is putting out an antho, I always know it’s going to be a good one. The TOC always hits and the stories never disappoint. This is yet another example of that. This anthology is jam-packed with 18 amazing short stories. If I tried to review every single one, it’d be novel length, so I’m going to highlight a few standout reads for me:
Misty’s Vision
By Mark Lukens
“She didn’t need to console me; she didn’t need to inspire me—she knew that. Just a look from her could calm me down.”
This was one hell of a way to start an anthology. Home invasion. Completely thrilling. Total page turner from the FIRST sentence. An absolutely BRUTAL story. Not one thing about this one was happy… and I mean that in the best way possible. Toxic love gone rogue.
Black Beauty
By Mark Towse
“hastobeagoodending”
This story was absolutely chaotic and I’m obsessed. You literally feel manic and scatter brained reading it. Super impressive writing. When a writer goes mad and a typewriter goes rogue… yeah… imagine.
Trapped in the Birth Canal
By Sheri White
“You’re right, killing won’t make him thinner. Cutting pieces of him will.”
Friends from high school get together and decide to go explore a cave. What could possibly go wrong?! This one was phenomenal. Have a TINY bit of Lord of the Flies vibes. Some cannibalism. And an ending that will make you say “DAMN.”
Torture Porn for Prudes
By Jeff Strand
“I said, I shall do the unthinkable. I shall cut off your ding-dong.”
I’m not sure how this is the first story I’ve read by Strand, but lol. I went from gagging to laughing. This one was so enjoyable. The characters were done REALLY well. I think this is going to be a standout for a lot of readers.
One Last Kill
By Christina Bergling
My anger is pure, young, the most elemental part of me. It is the first sensation I ever remember. My lifelong companion.
Yassss. I love a good first person POV. This one takes on a geriatric serial killer who is in a nursing home but just can’t shake the fact that his final girl got away… or does she?! The plot twist in this one was chefs kiss!
Telling the Bees
By Ju Collins
“Bees have such an intricate relationship with the ones who care for them that there’s an entire collection of lore surrounding it.”
I had NO clue where this story was going to go at any given time. And wow, it went ROGUE. This story was incredibly unhinged in the most amazing ways possible. A total mind penetration of WTF’s. I absolutely loved everything about this one.
Overall, as I said before, this entire anthology was great. I highly recommend it to all horror readers. There’s really something for everything. And it’s available on KU! So run to Amazon and grab it now. It’s certainly one you want on your shelves.
When I see that KJK is putting out an antho, I always know it’s going to be a good one. The TOC always hits and the stories never disappoint. This is yet another example of that. This anthology is jam-packed with 18 amazing short stories. If I tried to review every single one, it’d be novel length, so I’m going to highlight a few standout reads for me:
Misty’s Vision
By Mark Lukens
“She didn’t need to console me; she didn’t need to inspire me—she knew that. Just a look from her could calm me down.”
This was one hell of a way to start an anthology. Home invasion. Completely thrilling. Total page turner from the FIRST sentence. An absolutely BRUTAL story. Not one thing about this one was happy… and I mean that in the best way possible. Toxic love gone rogue.
Black Beauty
By Mark Towse
“hastobeagoodending”
This story was absolutely chaotic and I’m obsessed. You literally feel manic and scatter brained reading it. Super impressive writing. When a writer goes mad and a typewriter goes rogue… yeah… imagine.
Trapped in the Birth Canal
By Sheri White
“You’re right, killing won’t make him thinner. Cutting pieces of him will.”
Friends from high school get together and decide to go explore a cave. What could possibly go wrong?! This one was phenomenal. Have a TINY bit of Lord of the Flies vibes. Some cannibalism. And an ending that will make you say “DAMN.”
Torture Porn for Prudes
By Jeff Strand
“I said, I shall do the unthinkable. I shall cut off your ding-dong.”
I’m not sure how this is the first story I’ve read by Strand, but lol. I went from gagging to laughing. This one was so enjoyable. The characters were done REALLY well. I think this is going to be a standout for a lot of readers.
One Last Kill
By Christina Bergling
My anger is pure, young, the most elemental part of me. It is the first sensation I ever remember. My lifelong companion.
Yassss. I love a good first person POV. This one takes on a geriatric serial killer who is in a nursing home but just can’t shake the fact that his final girl got away… or does she?! The plot twist in this one was chefs kiss!
Telling the Bees
By Ju Collins
“Bees have such an intricate relationship with the ones who care for them that there’s an entire collection of lore surrounding it.”
I had NO clue where this story was going to go at any given time. And wow, it went ROGUE. This story was incredibly unhinged in the most amazing ways possible. A total mind penetration of WTF’s. I absolutely loved everything about this one.
Overall, as I said before, this entire anthology was great. I highly recommend it to all horror readers. There’s really something for everything. And it’s available on KU! So run to Amazon and grab it now. It’s certainly one you want on your shelves.
October 5, 2025
Great book!!
I loved this horror collection. Super intense and fun read. Im looking forward to more. Thank you for putting it together.
I loved this horror collection. Super intense and fun read. Im looking forward to more. Thank you for putting it together.
October 11, 2025
Good collection of short stories. The last one hit home, There will be blood. Recently in my country, there was an eruption on White Island. Tourists were trapped and some died. The island has lots of sulfur deposits too. It was eerie reading that story
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews