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Horrormaxx Vol. 2
H.T. Boyd's Horrormaxx returns with four portraits of evil, warped justice, and bad faith. A hitchhiker is offered shelter from a storm by a friendly Mormon in Arcadia in White. A broke actor in 1970s Hollywood accepts an odd job in Runs from Trouble. Sheriff Babcock solves a brutal homicide with surprising ease in The Caswell Girl Murders. Betram Booth is tasked with taking an elderly cat out to country in Sylvain.
Published December 16, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 18, 2025
“Horrormaxx Volume 2” - True Horrors packed with a punch of reality that will hit you right in the feels!
★★★★★
First of all I have to say “Thank you!” H.T. Boyd for trusting me to be an Alpha reader for “HorrorMaxx Volume 2”. I leave this review voluntarily and it was an absolute pleasure getting to read these 4 stories.
After finishing “Horrormaxx Volume 2” I felt like I had been slapped in the face with the reality of true horrors leaving a lingering aftertaste of sadness.
Each story is completely different and comes with it’s own horrors, making me feel a whole scala of emotions. These stories aren’t light or easy, they are hard and heavy. I went from getting worked up and ready to punch drywall to staring into the void contemplating life.
Honestly, H.T. Boyd’s writing is brilliant, his stories manage to bring out so many emotions and have the ability to make you see things in a different light, to me that is great writing and story telling.
“Horrormaxx Volume 2” is a solid 5 star read and I would recommend getting your hands on a copy as soon as this one is released.
★★★★★
First of all I have to say “Thank you!” H.T. Boyd for trusting me to be an Alpha reader for “HorrorMaxx Volume 2”. I leave this review voluntarily and it was an absolute pleasure getting to read these 4 stories.
After finishing “Horrormaxx Volume 2” I felt like I had been slapped in the face with the reality of true horrors leaving a lingering aftertaste of sadness.
Each story is completely different and comes with it’s own horrors, making me feel a whole scala of emotions. These stories aren’t light or easy, they are hard and heavy. I went from getting worked up and ready to punch drywall to staring into the void contemplating life.
Honestly, H.T. Boyd’s writing is brilliant, his stories manage to bring out so many emotions and have the ability to make you see things in a different light, to me that is great writing and story telling.
“Horrormaxx Volume 2” is a solid 5 star read and I would recommend getting your hands on a copy as soon as this one is released.
October 21, 2025
5 🌟
This horror anthology is the best kind of fucked up. Usually anthologies leave me wishing that the good stories were longer and that the blah stories weren't there at all. Horrormaxx Volume 2 has four stories and each one is a solid hit. I am not exaggerating when I say that it is easily my favorite short story collection that I've ever read.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, but some parts had me laughing, and some parts had me shaking my head, saying WTF?
Literally at the end of each story, this book had me staring at the wall in disbelief.
If you are a horror fan, if you like short story collections, and if you enjoy reading about some of the worst people and situations that humanity has to offer, you need to read this book.
Thank you to HT Boyd for the Alpha copy to review!
This horror anthology is the best kind of fucked up. Usually anthologies leave me wishing that the good stories were longer and that the blah stories weren't there at all. Horrormaxx Volume 2 has four stories and each one is a solid hit. I am not exaggerating when I say that it is easily my favorite short story collection that I've ever read.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, but some parts had me laughing, and some parts had me shaking my head, saying WTF?
Literally at the end of each story, this book had me staring at the wall in disbelief.
If you are a horror fan, if you like short story collections, and if you enjoy reading about some of the worst people and situations that humanity has to offer, you need to read this book.
Thank you to HT Boyd for the Alpha copy to review!
October 20, 2025
Another great work from HT Boyd. Would it even be an HT Boyd book if some of the characters weren’t thoroughly despicable, leaving you a bit sick to your stomach by the end? As always, Boyd does an excellent job highlighting the duality of humanity — capturing the hope, love, and goodness of people, while juxtaposing it against the wickedness and evil that man is capable of.
October 23, 2025
This collection of four stories will take you on an emotional rollercoaster–each one in a completley different direction.
We meet religious fanatics, racists, murderers, war criminals–the absolute scum of humanity, in my opinion. Yet we also meet an unlikely hero… or heroine, I should say. Her story, based on real events, hit hard.
We dive into realationships, trust, lies, and the silent codes between officers of the law. Drug addiction, poverty, desperation–and love. This isn’t a love story; it’s a story that will make you hug your pet, and hold them close for a long time.
H.T. Boyd writes characters so vividly you can feel them–see them, hear them, even smell them. He has a real gift for storytelling.
There’s a lot of «bible babble» in the first story, but it ends up fitting perfectly into the narrative. All four stories are well written, making Horrormaxx vol. 2 a true page-turner.
I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a good read this spooky season.
Happy reading.
-Vibeke.
Thank you, Boyd, for the ARC 🖤
We meet religious fanatics, racists, murderers, war criminals–the absolute scum of humanity, in my opinion. Yet we also meet an unlikely hero… or heroine, I should say. Her story, based on real events, hit hard.
We dive into realationships, trust, lies, and the silent codes between officers of the law. Drug addiction, poverty, desperation–and love. This isn’t a love story; it’s a story that will make you hug your pet, and hold them close for a long time.
H.T. Boyd writes characters so vividly you can feel them–see them, hear them, even smell them. He has a real gift for storytelling.
There’s a lot of «bible babble» in the first story, but it ends up fitting perfectly into the narrative. All four stories are well written, making Horrormaxx vol. 2 a true page-turner.
I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a good read this spooky season.
Happy reading.
-Vibeke.
Thank you, Boyd, for the ARC 🖤
November 18, 2025
“People, Mister Booth, they are obedient. And call it the feline heart inside my chest, but it is obedience that terrifies me the very most.” —Sylvain
This is a beautiful, horrifying collection of stories. If there’s a common theme that ties them together it’s that each of these stories features someone with a tale to tell and someone else who (voluntarily or not) listens. Even with this commonality, each tale is its own unique and disturbing world.
Writing dialogue-focused stories that feel natural, so fluid that you can imagine yourself eavesdropping on these conversations, is an art form that Boyd excels at. And his characters are as varied as the worlds. Some you loathe, some you pity, some you want to beat senseless, and some you want to hug tight and never let go.
I loved each of these stories. My favorite, though they’re all 5 stars to me, was Sylvain, arguable the most ‘chill’ tale of the bunch though it still dives into the depths of the horrors humans can accomplish when fear takes hold. It made me remember my own feline friends from childhood up to my teen years, and how special they were to me. In my 20s, I found out I was allergic to cats and it’s been a long time since I’ve had the pleasure of snuggling a kitty. But these days I have my giant, cat-like greyhound so I did, eventually, get my “feline” friend back.
Anyway, this collection gave me a ton of feels. There’s a lot of hate and hurt in these stories but also love, occasional righteous fury, some laughs, and some heart.
I highly recommend this and the other amazing works in his catalogue.
This is a beautiful, horrifying collection of stories. If there’s a common theme that ties them together it’s that each of these stories features someone with a tale to tell and someone else who (voluntarily or not) listens. Even with this commonality, each tale is its own unique and disturbing world.
Writing dialogue-focused stories that feel natural, so fluid that you can imagine yourself eavesdropping on these conversations, is an art form that Boyd excels at. And his characters are as varied as the worlds. Some you loathe, some you pity, some you want to beat senseless, and some you want to hug tight and never let go.
I loved each of these stories. My favorite, though they’re all 5 stars to me, was Sylvain, arguable the most ‘chill’ tale of the bunch though it still dives into the depths of the horrors humans can accomplish when fear takes hold. It made me remember my own feline friends from childhood up to my teen years, and how special they were to me. In my 20s, I found out I was allergic to cats and it’s been a long time since I’ve had the pleasure of snuggling a kitty. But these days I have my giant, cat-like greyhound so I did, eventually, get my “feline” friend back.
Anyway, this collection gave me a ton of feels. There’s a lot of hate and hurt in these stories but also love, occasional righteous fury, some laughs, and some heart.
I highly recommend this and the other amazing works in his catalogue.
October 25, 2025
Okay, so apparently H.T. Boyd crawled right out of the Twilight Zone and decided to take us on a field trip through nightmare country. Horrormaxx is like four mini horror films stuffed into one creepy anthology ..... every story feels like a late-night channel surf gone wrong (in the best way).
You’ve got:
🚗 a hitchhiker who really should’ve said no to that “kind” Mormon’s hospitality,
🎭 a washed-up actor who learns the hard way that not all gigs are worth the paycheck,
👮♂️ a sheriff solving murders way too easily (uh, suspicious much?),
🐈 and a man with a “simple” job involving a cat that… yeah, let’s just say it’s not your average pet-sitting story.
Boyd’s storytelling is equal parts grimy, weird, and cinematic ...like drive-in horror for the literary crowd. Loved it, devoured it, mildly concerned about what it says about my taste.
Also just realized I’ve got a couple more of Boyd’s books lurking on my TBR 👀 ....guess I’m purchasing more beautifully deranged bedtime stories.
You’ve got:
🚗 a hitchhiker who really should’ve said no to that “kind” Mormon’s hospitality,
🎭 a washed-up actor who learns the hard way that not all gigs are worth the paycheck,
👮♂️ a sheriff solving murders way too easily (uh, suspicious much?),
🐈 and a man with a “simple” job involving a cat that… yeah, let’s just say it’s not your average pet-sitting story.
Boyd’s storytelling is equal parts grimy, weird, and cinematic ...like drive-in horror for the literary crowd. Loved it, devoured it, mildly concerned about what it says about my taste.
Also just realized I’ve got a couple more of Boyd’s books lurking on my TBR 👀 ....guess I’m purchasing more beautifully deranged bedtime stories.
December 18, 2025
Horrormaxx Vol. 2 is a four-story anthology that’s deliberately abrasive: it wants to unsettle you with cruelty, desire, hypocrisy, and the way “ordinary” systems (religion, entertainment, law, government) can chew people up. The book is upfront that it contains extreme material—violence, sexuality, prejudice, and off-page sexual violence—and even flags which stories include which triggers . Believe that warning. This collection doesn’t flirt with the edge; it lives there.
What it is (without big spoilers)
“Arcadia in White” opens with a stranded, freezing narrator in a blizzard, voice-first and propulsive . It escalates into cult horror with a strong “I can’t believe I’m here, but I can’t leave” momentum—right down to the invented scripture/pamphlet energy of “The Book of Benjamite,” which turns into explicit, grotesque doctrine-as-porn .
“Runs From Trouble” is a Hollywood nightmare built around a working actor trapped inside a racist TV stereotype (the character is literally “Runs-From-Trouble”) . It’s satire with teeth, and also a story that uses ugliness to talk about ugliness (some readers will bounce off that immediately; the book warns you for a reason ).
“The Caswell Girl Murders” is a sheriff’s-eye procedural that starts in rot and heat—dead child, blowflies, moral nausea —and then leans hard into small-town corruption and the psychology of complicity.
“Sylvain” shifts tone and setting to a more historical, elegiac horror about cats, grief, and the “British Pet Massacre” during WWII; the book explicitly notes the real event and gives context for its scale . It’s the emotional hammer of the collection, and (for many) the most memorable.
What works really well
1) Voice is the engine. Boyd’s best mode is intimate narration with sharp, character-specific texture. “Arcadia” has punchy, funny, self-protective internal commentary that keeps the dread moving; “Caswell” has a hot, rural, worn-down lawman cadence; “Sylvain” has a storybook confessional quality that can turn tender and then suddenly brutal.
2) Sensory scene-craft. The openings are confident because they land you somewhere physical immediately: the whiteout road terror , the backlot stink of gasoline and the machinery of TV , the insects/heat/body horror of the murder scene . This collection is extremely visual—often in a “wish I could unsee it” way.
3) Cohesive thematic spine. Even when the settings jump (Utah cult → Hollywood → small-town murder → wartime Britain), the obsessions stay consistent: punishment disguised as righteousness, institutions protecting themselves, and people bargaining with evil because they don’t see a clean way out. The anthology even states its intent—kindness, forgiveness, faith, punishment—rather than pretending it’s just shock .
What doesn’t work (or will be divisive)
1) “Extreme” sometimes crowds out nuance. The collection is at its strongest when horror grows from character choices and social pressure. When it leans into escalation-for-escalation (particularly in the more lurid cult-text elements ), the impact can shift from dread to endurance test. Some readers will love that audacity; others will feel the author pushing the thermostat too high.
2) The prejudice content is hazardous even when it’s “the point.” “Runs From Trouble” and “The Caswell Girl Murders” explicitly contain prejudicial language/references . If you’re the kind of reader who doesn’t want slurs or bigotry on the page at all (even in critique), this is not for you. The book does warn you, but warning isn’t the same thing as successfully handling it—your mileage will vary.
3) Editorial roughness (ARC feel). This is labeled an ARC version , and at times the prose has “first-draft heat”: occasional clunky phrasing, long monologue stretches, or moments where the narrative repeats a beat instead of sharpening it. It’s not unreadable—it’s just not as tightly polished as it could be.
Who should buy it
You like horror that’s mean, messy, and thematically angry, not “cozy creepy.”
You’re okay with an anthology that includes explicit sexual material, prejudice, and graphic subject matter, with some violence occurring off-page but heavily discussed .
You want strong voice + vivid scenes more than perfectly elegant structure.
Who should skip it
You want “safe” horror, or you avoid child harm/sexual violence themes entirely (even off-page references) .
You don’t want prejudicial language depicted, regardless of narrative intent .
You prefer minimalist horror over maximalist, confrontational storytelling.
Bottom line: This is a gutsy, voice-driven horror anthology with real craft and real cruelty. When it’s good, it’s cold-hands-on-the-steering-wheel good. When it overreaches, it can feel like it’s daring you to flinch. If you’re the right reader for it, you’ll finish at least one story (“Sylvain,” especially) feeling genuinely haunted—and not in a cheap way . I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What it is (without big spoilers)
“Arcadia in White” opens with a stranded, freezing narrator in a blizzard, voice-first and propulsive . It escalates into cult horror with a strong “I can’t believe I’m here, but I can’t leave” momentum—right down to the invented scripture/pamphlet energy of “The Book of Benjamite,” which turns into explicit, grotesque doctrine-as-porn .
“Runs From Trouble” is a Hollywood nightmare built around a working actor trapped inside a racist TV stereotype (the character is literally “Runs-From-Trouble”) . It’s satire with teeth, and also a story that uses ugliness to talk about ugliness (some readers will bounce off that immediately; the book warns you for a reason ).
“The Caswell Girl Murders” is a sheriff’s-eye procedural that starts in rot and heat—dead child, blowflies, moral nausea —and then leans hard into small-town corruption and the psychology of complicity.
“Sylvain” shifts tone and setting to a more historical, elegiac horror about cats, grief, and the “British Pet Massacre” during WWII; the book explicitly notes the real event and gives context for its scale . It’s the emotional hammer of the collection, and (for many) the most memorable.
What works really well
1) Voice is the engine. Boyd’s best mode is intimate narration with sharp, character-specific texture. “Arcadia” has punchy, funny, self-protective internal commentary that keeps the dread moving; “Caswell” has a hot, rural, worn-down lawman cadence; “Sylvain” has a storybook confessional quality that can turn tender and then suddenly brutal.
2) Sensory scene-craft. The openings are confident because they land you somewhere physical immediately: the whiteout road terror , the backlot stink of gasoline and the machinery of TV , the insects/heat/body horror of the murder scene . This collection is extremely visual—often in a “wish I could unsee it” way.
3) Cohesive thematic spine. Even when the settings jump (Utah cult → Hollywood → small-town murder → wartime Britain), the obsessions stay consistent: punishment disguised as righteousness, institutions protecting themselves, and people bargaining with evil because they don’t see a clean way out. The anthology even states its intent—kindness, forgiveness, faith, punishment—rather than pretending it’s just shock .
What doesn’t work (or will be divisive)
1) “Extreme” sometimes crowds out nuance. The collection is at its strongest when horror grows from character choices and social pressure. When it leans into escalation-for-escalation (particularly in the more lurid cult-text elements ), the impact can shift from dread to endurance test. Some readers will love that audacity; others will feel the author pushing the thermostat too high.
2) The prejudice content is hazardous even when it’s “the point.” “Runs From Trouble” and “The Caswell Girl Murders” explicitly contain prejudicial language/references . If you’re the kind of reader who doesn’t want slurs or bigotry on the page at all (even in critique), this is not for you. The book does warn you, but warning isn’t the same thing as successfully handling it—your mileage will vary.
3) Editorial roughness (ARC feel). This is labeled an ARC version , and at times the prose has “first-draft heat”: occasional clunky phrasing, long monologue stretches, or moments where the narrative repeats a beat instead of sharpening it. It’s not unreadable—it’s just not as tightly polished as it could be.
Who should buy it
You like horror that’s mean, messy, and thematically angry, not “cozy creepy.”
You’re okay with an anthology that includes explicit sexual material, prejudice, and graphic subject matter, with some violence occurring off-page but heavily discussed .
You want strong voice + vivid scenes more than perfectly elegant structure.
Who should skip it
You want “safe” horror, or you avoid child harm/sexual violence themes entirely (even off-page references) .
You don’t want prejudicial language depicted, regardless of narrative intent .
You prefer minimalist horror over maximalist, confrontational storytelling.
Bottom line: This is a gutsy, voice-driven horror anthology with real craft and real cruelty. When it’s good, it’s cold-hands-on-the-steering-wheel good. When it overreaches, it can feel like it’s daring you to flinch. If you’re the right reader for it, you’ll finish at least one story (“Sylvain,” especially) feeling genuinely haunted—and not in a cheap way . I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 11, 2025
Book review!
Horrormaxx Vol. 2 by HT Boyd
It's no surprise that I'm reviewing another HT Boyd book, he's one of the best horror writers I've read. If my shining review of Horrormaxx Vol. 1 has your interest piqued, what are you doing?! Go read that, then read Vol. 2 because it's even better in almost every way.
There are four short stories in this that play on far ends of the horror spectrum, from a hitchhiker story in a blizzard, to the real-life terror of corruption behind a badge. An actor with a family to support finds a suspicious opportunity to break through, and a man must find a new home for a cat.
Boyd is masterful in his ability to hook you into these stories with peculiar details that make you keep reading. His characters have proper minds of their own, and their voices seem like they were effortlessly conjured.
"Arcadia in White", the hitchhiking story, has a mind game element with the narrator having to come up with lies on the fly. Her situation is dire, but her thoughts are funny.
In "The Caswell Girl Murders," we have some off-kilter police officers and an honorable old sheriff who need to work a horrif case. It almost felt like something out of the Twilight Zone since the level of evil is so pungent.
"Runs From Trouble" has a great title, I must say, and the story is like if Once Upon A Time In Hollywood had a grindhouse sister film.
"Sylvain" is the gem that everybody must read. It's historic fiction of a grand-scale conflict told through the eyes of a woman and her cat. The story is layered with rightful criticism of human behavior or our tendency to panic and follow orders, but mostly the poison of power. This one gets as close to what I can imagine it feels like to hold horror in your own hands. The other stories prove Boyd's abilities, "Sylvain" puts them all together like a symphony. I was teary-eyed at the end of this one.
Available 12.19
Horrormaxx Vol. 2 by HT Boyd
It's no surprise that I'm reviewing another HT Boyd book, he's one of the best horror writers I've read. If my shining review of Horrormaxx Vol. 1 has your interest piqued, what are you doing?! Go read that, then read Vol. 2 because it's even better in almost every way.
There are four short stories in this that play on far ends of the horror spectrum, from a hitchhiker story in a blizzard, to the real-life terror of corruption behind a badge. An actor with a family to support finds a suspicious opportunity to break through, and a man must find a new home for a cat.
Boyd is masterful in his ability to hook you into these stories with peculiar details that make you keep reading. His characters have proper minds of their own, and their voices seem like they were effortlessly conjured.
"Arcadia in White", the hitchhiking story, has a mind game element with the narrator having to come up with lies on the fly. Her situation is dire, but her thoughts are funny.
In "The Caswell Girl Murders," we have some off-kilter police officers and an honorable old sheriff who need to work a horrif case. It almost felt like something out of the Twilight Zone since the level of evil is so pungent.
"Runs From Trouble" has a great title, I must say, and the story is like if Once Upon A Time In Hollywood had a grindhouse sister film.
"Sylvain" is the gem that everybody must read. It's historic fiction of a grand-scale conflict told through the eyes of a woman and her cat. The story is layered with rightful criticism of human behavior or our tendency to panic and follow orders, but mostly the poison of power. This one gets as close to what I can imagine it feels like to hold horror in your own hands. The other stories prove Boyd's abilities, "Sylvain" puts them all together like a symphony. I was teary-eyed at the end of this one.
Available 12.19
October 28, 2025
4.5⭐, rounded up.
I want to be upfront. I am reviewing this work as an ARC I received for free from the author. This is my honest review based on my personal reading experience. This review is not based on the technical aspects of writing, but on content of the stories within.
This is a fascinating horror anthology with 4 very different stories included. Each one tackles different aspects of lived experience, with very different main characters for each. I'm not going to review them individually, as I feel to do them justice would also include excessive spoilers, so I'm opting to forego that for the sake of keeping what's inside a surprise. However, my overall rating of the book is an aggregate of the ratings of the individual stories, which are as follows:
Arcadia in White: 4.5⭐
Runs from Trouble: 3.5⭐
The Caswell Girl Murders: 4⭐
Slyvain: 5⭐
As you can see, the final story is my favorite and that's for a reason. While the entire anthology explores themes that are relevant to modern readers, such as queer lived experience, exploitation, racism, sexual abuse, abuse of power, religious cultism, and many, many others, Slyvain is the one that hits closest to my heart. Because the theme of this one resonates around genocide, although there are layers. The entire book is layered, like an onion. But Slyvain, man, that one got to me. The historical context of it makes it even more real. While I find H. T. to be a fine author, I think his talent truly shines in this final story. If you don't pick this up for any other reason, do it for Slyvain.
Overall, I'm very pleased with this reading experience and I look forward to digging into his backlog for future reading adventures.
I want to be upfront. I am reviewing this work as an ARC I received for free from the author. This is my honest review based on my personal reading experience. This review is not based on the technical aspects of writing, but on content of the stories within.
This is a fascinating horror anthology with 4 very different stories included. Each one tackles different aspects of lived experience, with very different main characters for each. I'm not going to review them individually, as I feel to do them justice would also include excessive spoilers, so I'm opting to forego that for the sake of keeping what's inside a surprise. However, my overall rating of the book is an aggregate of the ratings of the individual stories, which are as follows:
Arcadia in White: 4.5⭐
Runs from Trouble: 3.5⭐
The Caswell Girl Murders: 4⭐
Slyvain: 5⭐
As you can see, the final story is my favorite and that's for a reason. While the entire anthology explores themes that are relevant to modern readers, such as queer lived experience, exploitation, racism, sexual abuse, abuse of power, religious cultism, and many, many others, Slyvain is the one that hits closest to my heart. Because the theme of this one resonates around genocide, although there are layers. The entire book is layered, like an onion. But Slyvain, man, that one got to me. The historical context of it makes it even more real. While I find H. T. to be a fine author, I think his talent truly shines in this final story. If you don't pick this up for any other reason, do it for Slyvain.
Overall, I'm very pleased with this reading experience and I look forward to digging into his backlog for future reading adventures.
October 26, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Creepy, Campy, and Delightfully Weird
Horrormaxx 2 feels like someone raided the Creepshow archives, threw in a dash of Goosebumps nostalgia, and said, “Let’s get weird.” And honestly? I’m here for it. The whole thing has that retro TV horror vibe, like you should be watching it at 2 a.m. on a flickering old set while eating stale popcorn and pretending you’re not slightly unsettled.
Was it terrifying? Not exactly. Did it make me laugh? Absolutely, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not, which is part of the fun. The stories were vivid and descriptive, which I genuinely appreciate, there’s something satisfying about an author who knows how to paint a gory picture without making it unreadable or boring.
Now, confession time: the fourth story dragged a little. I get that the cat’s backstory needed setup, but the whole section about the wars and endless exposition kind of slowed things down. The first three stories zipped along with that perfect blend of humor and horror, and then, bam, we hit molasses. Still, it wasn’t enough to ruin the fun.
Would I recommend it? Sure, especially if you’re into that Creepshow-style blend of spooky humor and pulpy absurdity. Would I read this author again? Maybe. If they keep serving up tales like these, I’ll keep the TV on static and the lights dimmed, just in case.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Horrormaxx 2 feels like someone raided the Creepshow archives, threw in a dash of Goosebumps nostalgia, and said, “Let’s get weird.” And honestly? I’m here for it. The whole thing has that retro TV horror vibe, like you should be watching it at 2 a.m. on a flickering old set while eating stale popcorn and pretending you’re not slightly unsettled.
Was it terrifying? Not exactly. Did it make me laugh? Absolutely, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not, which is part of the fun. The stories were vivid and descriptive, which I genuinely appreciate, there’s something satisfying about an author who knows how to paint a gory picture without making it unreadable or boring.
Now, confession time: the fourth story dragged a little. I get that the cat’s backstory needed setup, but the whole section about the wars and endless exposition kind of slowed things down. The first three stories zipped along with that perfect blend of humor and horror, and then, bam, we hit molasses. Still, it wasn’t enough to ruin the fun.
Would I recommend it? Sure, especially if you’re into that Creepshow-style blend of spooky humor and pulpy absurdity. Would I read this author again? Maybe. If they keep serving up tales like these, I’ll keep the TV on static and the lights dimmed, just in case.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 1, 2025
I received this free advanced copy courtesy of BookSirens in exchange for my honest review.
Once again, HT Boyd has me hooked with such dark storytelling. This collection of four short stories was heavy, and each story felt impactful and chilling.
The first story, I identified with greatly as a lesbian myself, left me just feeling blank in the end. It was thrilling, but funny at times, and even though I did foresee how it would end, it was well done. The second story is about a man just trying to get by in Hollywood in preparation for becoming a new father. The time period for this one worked well, and the ending had me chuckling because it was too good. The third story was a dark, crime story of a small town sheriff investigating a terrible crime involving a young girl.
The fourth story is where things really took a turn. I feel that the previous three ended with dark humour, but this one was just straight up dark—the story of horrific war times as told by an elderly cat lady. As a cat lady myself, I found this one particularly hard to get through. This one was impactful in many ways, and I really can't describe all the feelings I went through reading this.
Another solid collection by this author, and I can't wait to read what's next.
Once again, HT Boyd has me hooked with such dark storytelling. This collection of four short stories was heavy, and each story felt impactful and chilling.
The first story, I identified with greatly as a lesbian myself, left me just feeling blank in the end. It was thrilling, but funny at times, and even though I did foresee how it would end, it was well done. The second story is about a man just trying to get by in Hollywood in preparation for becoming a new father. The time period for this one worked well, and the ending had me chuckling because it was too good. The third story was a dark, crime story of a small town sheriff investigating a terrible crime involving a young girl.
The fourth story is where things really took a turn. I feel that the previous three ended with dark humour, but this one was just straight up dark—the story of horrific war times as told by an elderly cat lady. As a cat lady myself, I found this one particularly hard to get through. This one was impactful in many ways, and I really can't describe all the feelings I went through reading this.
Another solid collection by this author, and I can't wait to read what's next.
December 3, 2025
I will read anything this author puts out! He just has a way with words that I can't find anywhere else.
This collection truly showcases H.T. Boyd's talent. His world-building and character work are just impeccable. Even though these are short stories, I felt like I'd known these characters for a lifetime.
Each story is completely different than the last. Most of these center around real-world horrors, such as corrupt cops and the fear and panic of war, the kind of darkness that doesn’t need monsters to be frightening.
If you are looking for a short read to squeeze in before the end of the year, definitely give this a try! AND if you haven't read anything from H.T. Boyd yet, what are you waiting for?
Thanks to the author for an ARC to read and review!
This collection truly showcases H.T. Boyd's talent. His world-building and character work are just impeccable. Even though these are short stories, I felt like I'd known these characters for a lifetime.
Each story is completely different than the last. Most of these center around real-world horrors, such as corrupt cops and the fear and panic of war, the kind of darkness that doesn’t need monsters to be frightening.
If you are looking for a short read to squeeze in before the end of the year, definitely give this a try! AND if you haven't read anything from H.T. Boyd yet, what are you waiting for?
Thanks to the author for an ARC to read and review!
November 20, 2025
Four short horror stories, each with their own twists, and all amazing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
However…. the last one left me dumbfounded. I had no idea, first of all, but I also stopped reading about 20 pages before the end because I couldn't deal with it right before going to sleep. When I continued reading the next day, I swear I was so close to crying and then… "… I shot him in the knee". Color me confused, relieved, shocked, feeling all the feelings. What a journey, thank you for that.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
However…. the last one left me dumbfounded. I had no idea, first of all, but I also stopped reading about 20 pages before the end because I couldn't deal with it right before going to sleep. When I continued reading the next day, I swear I was so close to crying and then… "… I shot him in the knee". Color me confused, relieved, shocked, feeling all the feelings. What a journey, thank you for that.
Review of advance copy
Excellent! Rarely has a short story collection excited me so much! Horrormaxx Vol. 2 contains four richly imagined, wonderfully detailed, and downright disturbing horror stories: the premises are original, the characters feel absolutely real, the voices and the mindsets compellingly different, the endings satisfyingly complete and occasionally heartbreaking.
My favorite story was the last tale, "Sylvain". You won't look at pet-sitting the same again!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My favorite story was the last tale, "Sylvain". You won't look at pet-sitting the same again!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 31, 2025
The beginning of Arcadia in White was a struggle for me. At one point I was going to DNF it but didn't. Something told me to finish the story and then decide. I wound up liking the ending and continued to read on.
The Caswell Girl Murders had me uncomfortable, anxious, and then got me PO'd. This story was intense and had me on the edge of my recliner.
The Sylvain was not the best. It seemed to drag on forever and did not pique my interest.
The Caswell Girl Murders had me uncomfortable, anxious, and then got me PO'd. This story was intense and had me on the edge of my recliner.
The Sylvain was not the best. It seemed to drag on forever and did not pique my interest.
December 6, 2025
Great set of 4 stories with an underlying political lean. I really loved all 4 of these and can't pick a favorite. I really find myself loving the authors writing style. I'd definitely recommend these stories!
November 15, 2025
Another great volume of short stories from Boyd. I liked how these stories were scary but also revolved around politics, religion and cult like themes.
December 17, 2025
Horrormaxx Vol 2 really packs a punch! Another great horror anthology with stories that will make you laugh and be disgusted at the same time. You cannot go wrong with a collection of horror stories from HT Boyd.
For any horror fan out there, who loves a great collection of stories, while also reading about the worst situations you can imagine and the most disgusting of humanity then this is the book for you. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.
For any horror fan out there, who loves a great collection of stories, while also reading about the worst situations you can imagine and the most disgusting of humanity then this is the book for you. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.
December 21, 2025
All of these stories are ones that I’d love to read full books about.
Arcadia in white stuck out to me as someone from Utah, it just hit close to home in the most perfect way!
The ending of Runs from Trouble was devastating and gut wrenching!
The characters portrayed in the Caswell Girl Murders made my skin crawl.
The storytelling in Sylvain was shattering and traumatic.
I’m never disappointed when picking up a novel by Boyd.
I received an Advance review copy for free. I am reviewing voluntarily and honestly.
Arcadia in white stuck out to me as someone from Utah, it just hit close to home in the most perfect way!
The ending of Runs from Trouble was devastating and gut wrenching!
The characters portrayed in the Caswell Girl Murders made my skin crawl.
The storytelling in Sylvain was shattering and traumatic.
I’m never disappointed when picking up a novel by Boyd.
I received an Advance review copy for free. I am reviewing voluntarily and honestly.
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