The Carnage Kitchen Presents: Table For Ten, A Horror Anthology

by Jed Kent, Amanda Ruzsa, John Ashley

352 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2025

About the author

Jed Kent is a masterful weaver of psychological thrillers and horror, drawing readers into the shadowy depths of the human psyche with his gripping narratives. Residing in the picturesque Pacific Northwest (PNW), Jed finds himself surrounded by the region's natural beauty and enigmatic landscapes, which serve as the perfect canvas for his dark and intricate stories.

Alongside his wife and family, Jed lives a life that balances the tranquility of the PNW with the thrill of crafting stories that challenge the boundaries between reality and the macabre. His novels are not just books but portals to worlds where the line between sanity and madness is as thin as the paper they're printed on.
Join him as he continues to explore the darkest corners of the human experience, leaving readers both haunted and eagerly anticipating what nightmares he will conjure up next.

Reviews

[Shannon Reviews]

Table for Ten is a captivating culinary anthology with diverse stories, including tales of chefs, cannibals, and family dinners. Notable stories are Green Beans Aren’t Always Green, Brisket, and Clean Plates.

[ScarlettAnomalyReads]

So, how to start this review, no idea because its a little different than the usual ones lol .

Typically I find a book or I’m recommended one and I check it out, this one though I wished for and someone swooped in and delivered lol and by someone I mean Jed Kent.

Jed saw me post about wanting an anthology where people bring a dish and have a story with it and make it horror. I love stuff like that so I cannot freaking believe this exists now ??

And it’s amazing, I will have a hard copy here soon, but for now, my digital review.

Let’s dine in….

I’m only going to pick two as hard as this is because this was too amazing, I’m actually tempted to do a video review about it but we will see lol

I lied I picked three lol

Green Beans aren’t always Green by Z Martin ( one of my favorites for short stories)
Okay so I totally understood Dennis, cooking while also missing ingredients and the constant interruptions, I could write my own novel on, so I loved this, and I was irritated by the first sentence haha. The landlord had me also irritated on Dennis’ behalf, who just comes in randomly it was so weird. But the end, started falling into place and I audible hollered, this kind of thing is why Z is one of the best short story authors I have read. Holy crap, that twist was perfection, just like that soufflé..

Brisket by Jerry Blaze, this I will keep it short and say oh my god Jackal was absolutely unhinged and brutal. If you are a Blaze fan you know what I am, this was fantastically dark and cruel. Just casually sawing a guys leg, just another day.

Finger Foods by Jed Kent that second paragraph had me on high alert and already had my stomach turning, something about the way it was written had me worried and concerned lol
However I was invested and I was racing ahead of myself trying to figure out what was about to happen, so many choices after the other stories in this book..Thomas, well Thomas remembers something’s and one of those is the hunger..The flashback, I know I am being so annoyingly vague, but I am telling you, this story is a must read, that last sentence fucked me up.


I loved this collection, I am obsessed but I also wont be eating for a bit, no big deal.

[D.E. Fox]

What a fun anthology for horror fans and foodies alike. Enjoyed them all but have to pick out The Clucking as my fav. Does answer the question of what came first, chicken or egg..or what indeed came last..5 stars for me

[Trish]

The Carnage Kitchen presents Table for Ten: A Horror anthology

Carne Grasse by Amanda Ruzsa - Chef Henry puts everything into his delicacies. Everything!

It’s only Good Manners by Charlene Matson - potluck food offerings are left in the cemetery in Bethany’s street. Following the dancing lights, Bethany’s curiosity gets the better of her. When dinner guests never leave!

Green Beans Aren’t Always Green by Author Z Martin - Dennis, a creative self-taught cook loves to prepare food for his block. But the intrusions and lack of ingredients are getting a bit much. This casserole won’t prepare itself.

Pecker Mushi Zushi by Dan B. Fierce - a live broadcast cookery show with a special guest chef, and a protein to die for.

Brisket by Jerry Blaze - the cruelty of Jackal leaps from the very first sentence. This is a character to loathe with every ounce of being, and karma is a dish served braised to perfection.

Clean Plates by Thomas Stewart - if someone invites you to dinner it’s only polite if you clean your plate, right? Bunch of ingrates!

Carnivore by Jet Garner - hikers need sustenance on their travels. Pack well, reserve your food supply and respect others - simple. Unless you get pissed !

The Clucking by Hayley Bernard-Ryan Author - Cucked by his wife, her family and his boss, Ernst finishes the worst day at work with an errand to run. And it all started with a Breakfast Burrito! Great fun

His Favourite Meal by John Ashley - Serena had no regrets, but she would always be looking over her shoulder; her nightmares bleeding into reality. But as she rediscovers her appetite she reclaims herself.

Finger Foods by Jed Kent - Thomas remembers the hunger; the cure; the appetite to survive. Stunning !

[Milt Theo]

I once had the chance to read a horror short story collection formatted as a menu of many courses, and it was fun to read a horror anthology based on a similar idea (inspired by a social media post by reviewer extraordinaire and Purgatory Media administrator, Alexus Johnson): a volume of stories "themed around a potluck," as Jed Kent puts it in his foreword; ten authors each bringing a "dish of dread to the table," whence "Table for Ten" as the name of the anthology!

And it works wonders! Food horror in abundance for readers starving for disturbing, brilliantly written horror tales. The opening story belongs to Amanda Ruzsa, who's also done the cover: "Pièce de Resistance: Carne Grassa" figures a gathering of super-wealthy people, hungry for a famous Chef's food; that night, the latter is serving them a surprise, planning even more surprises for them in the future. Good time for all! There follows "It's Only Good Manners" by Charlene Mattson, about a creepy ritualistic potluck in a cemetery, and a local resident discovering how rude it is not to bring something of your own to the feast. "Green Beans Aren't Always Green" by Z. Martin was both unsettling and disgusting (in hindsight): a chef enjoys preparing food for people, decides to serve green bean casserole, runs out of beans, has to improvise, and then... a WTF moment, and my favorite ending in the book! "Pecker Mushi Zushi" by Dan B. Fierce, takes on cooking shows: a female chef preparing a special dish inspired by a recipe from Medieval Japan, proves to be too much for the live audience when she brings her domestic troubles to the stage! Jerry Blaze's "Brisket" blends food preparation with torture to tell a nicely done story of revenge well-deserved. Thomas Stewart in "Clean Plates" tells of a working man's dinner with his mother-in-law; this is a revolting, extreme horror story (well, in a sense they all are) with a totally insane ending! Jet Garner's "Carnivore" is a superbly written tale of a couple finding love on a hiking trail, though the woman eats solely meat; why? Welp: as the hints keep dropping during the story, it's not that hard to imagine why - but the writing is sooo good I couldn't stop reading. "The Clucking" by Hayley Bernard-Ryan proves that every potluck just has to include chicken on the menu! Jonathan Ashley's "His Favorite Meal" is an extraordinary story of partner abuse, ghosts, and second chances: the author's attention to detail and his grasp of the traumatized mind were quite impressive! Jed Kent closes the anthology with "Finger Foods," my favorite story in the volume: an infected family craving for a cure is fortunate enough to actually discover it; but the cure proves to be worse than the disease. I was wondering, What would I do?, throughout, and didn't like the answer...

Although the food and the recipes vary, the themes not so much (the stories mostly figuring cannibalism and revenge, with strong extreme horror elements) - but the writing is consistently good, and the endings are always entertaining. I loved all the stories and highly recommend them!

[Jon Emerson]

Each story in this anthology stands out in its own unique way. I love the premise behind the collection, and it’s clear the concept was executed well. Every author brings their distinct voice to the table, offering a variety of treats for readers to enjoy.

I also discovered a few new writers whose work I’ll definitely be adding to my TBR list. It just got a lot longer! One unexpected favorite was The Clucking—a chicken-themed comedy horror I didn’t know I needed. It was the perfect bit of levity amid some of the darker tales. And after finishing this collection, let’s just say I won’t be visiting any cemeteries any time soon.

Two stories that really stood out to me were by John Ashley and Jed Kent. While every entry was strong and memorable in its own right, these two stood out for their creativity and storytelling depth.

Overall, this is easily one of the best anthologies I’ve read this year, diverse, well-crafted, and packed with surprises. It absolutely deserves a spot on your shelf.

[Kari Bowman]

Ten great "chefs" serve up very different dishes for your dining pleasure. Some are lighter than others, but all are quite delicious! After one particularly heavy course, I had to step away from the table for a little bit to digest. But of course, I sat back down and finished this delightful meal! As good as any 5 star restaurant. Don't miss this feast!

[Jenny Coyne]

Rounding up from 4.5 stars

This is a great assortment of short stories. Some of them aren't for the faint of heart. My favorite was The Hunger Plague by Jed Kent. I love his short stories and would love to see this expanded into a longer book.

[Chastity Raven]

Not for the faint of heart. Check your triggers at the door or don't sit at this table.
Some stories were certainly better than others. A few I just skipped after a few paragraphs as it obviously wasn't a story I wanted to finish.
Great job to all the authors though for their great creativity and amazing writing.

[Emily Haynes]

Each tale is unique and horrifying in there own way.