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The Horror Collection #30
The Horror Collection: Neon Edition
The Neon Edition explodes onto the page as the thunderous 30th instalment in Kevin J. Kennedy’s celebrated horror series - an unthemed, unchained, full-throttle descent into chaos. This is horror without boundaries. Without mercy. Without brakes.
Inside, the future is a merciless wasteland where the desperate barter their own body parts just to survive. Flesh warps and betrays. Lovecraftian wormholes rip open the fabric of reality. Urban legends stalk the streets in broad daylight. Faith curdles into fanaticism and dread. Neighbours hide unspeakable secrets. Funhouses pulse with neon delirium, bending sanity until it snaps.
Savage, surreal, and relentlessly imaginative, The Neon Edition doesn’t just cross lines - it obliterates them. Thirty books in, and the nightmare is louder than ever.
Inside, the future is a merciless wasteland where the desperate barter their own body parts just to survive. Flesh warps and betrays. Lovecraftian wormholes rip open the fabric of reality. Urban legends stalk the streets in broad daylight. Faith curdles into fanaticism and dread. Neighbours hide unspeakable secrets. Funhouses pulse with neon delirium, bending sanity until it snaps.
Savage, surreal, and relentlessly imaginative, The Neon Edition doesn’t just cross lines - it obliterates them. Thirty books in, and the nightmare is louder than ever.
- GenresHorror
497 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2026
About the author
Kevin J. Kennedy
169 books353 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 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 17, 2026
I can’t believe this is the 30th book in the Horror Collection! Kudos to Kevin for getting these awesome stories out into the world.
Within these pages you’ll find a huge variety of creepy stories; from different settings around the world, a multitude of horror sub genres plots, and well written characters galore.
Travel to Hawaiian paradise as a family sets out on a surfing adventure that goes way off track in “Incident on Saddle Road” by Brian Moreland.
Jump into an unaffordable future where basic amenities cost more than people can pay in “Zero Sum” Laurel Hightower.
Traverse the darkened alleys of Tokyo, but be wary of seeking answers you may not actually want to find in “Ink Runs Red” by M.P. Norman.
These were just a few of my favourites, but each entry was a horrific treat to read!
Within these pages you’ll find a huge variety of creepy stories; from different settings around the world, a multitude of horror sub genres plots, and well written characters galore.
Travel to Hawaiian paradise as a family sets out on a surfing adventure that goes way off track in “Incident on Saddle Road” by Brian Moreland.
Jump into an unaffordable future where basic amenities cost more than people can pay in “Zero Sum” Laurel Hightower.
Traverse the darkened alleys of Tokyo, but be wary of seeking answers you may not actually want to find in “Ink Runs Red” by M.P. Norman.
These were just a few of my favourites, but each entry was a horrific treat to read!
March 30, 2026
The Horror Collection Neon Edition is my first foray into this series of anthologies, and now that I see what I have been missing, I am beside myself, wondering where and how I can cram the earlier volumes into my TBR.
From the first story, Zero Sum by Laural Hightower, where electricity and basic needs cost far more than cash, to the last story, Alone Together by James Jobling, where parents make an annual pilgrimage in search of what happened to their missing daughters, and all the kink, ghosts, dark humor, and gore in the stories in between this is an unforgettable collection that belongs on every horror lover's shelf.
If there were an award I could give for best opening lines I have read this year, it would go to Carlton Mellick III and his story Simple Machines for "Oliver Madu awoke one morning to discover two tiny copper doorknobs growing from the corners of his eyes. He didn't remember ever having doorknobs in his eyes before." If you can read that and not keep reading, then you are even stronger-willed than those people who can stop at just one salty potato chip.
My thanks to KJK Publishing for the e-ARC
From the first story, Zero Sum by Laural Hightower, where electricity and basic needs cost far more than cash, to the last story, Alone Together by James Jobling, where parents make an annual pilgrimage in search of what happened to their missing daughters, and all the kink, ghosts, dark humor, and gore in the stories in between this is an unforgettable collection that belongs on every horror lover's shelf.
If there were an award I could give for best opening lines I have read this year, it would go to Carlton Mellick III and his story Simple Machines for "Oliver Madu awoke one morning to discover two tiny copper doorknobs growing from the corners of his eyes. He didn't remember ever having doorknobs in his eyes before." If you can read that and not keep reading, then you are even stronger-willed than those people who can stop at just one salty potato chip.
My thanks to KJK Publishing for the e-ARC
March 14, 2026
This is the 30th volume of Kennedy's "The Horror Collection" anthology series, and it reads like it fell directly from horror heaven: if there's a Borges library up there, collecting the best horror fiction in all eternity, this volume surely goes on the shelves! It's a superb feat of horror storytelling, and I'm not at all exaggerating: Kennedy has done a fine job picking twenty amazing tales of high quality writing, a great roster of familiar indie horror names, every story a stunning melange of themes, characters and settings, with great premises and often disturbing endings.
A few words on my top eleven.
"The Dripping of Sundered Wineskins" by Brian Hodge, a religious horror tale of unusual depth and insight: Irish boy saved from a bombing incident encounters an angelic figure, grows up with ambitions of sainthood, experiences physical symptoms of divinity, and finally gets a glimpse of what religious faith, salvation, and redemption really involve - hands down the best story in the volume.
"The Unfinished Maze" by Jeffrey Thomas, grief horror or a ghost story? Either way, this feels like a riveting character study of a father's troubled mind told as an interesting supernatural take on "prayer mazes," of which I'd never heard before. Creepy and heartbreaking.
"Alone Together" by James Jobling, an urban legend story of grief horror, about a couple who've lost their girls to the Weeping One, a mysterious entity haunting an entire seaside village; incredible atmosphere, escalating tension and suspense, flawless dialogue, poignant ending.
"Simple Machines" by Carlton Mellick III - wow, a bizarro love story of awesome imagery, go into this blind, you won't regret it!
"Prom Screams" by Calvin Demmer, a wonderfully written tale of a boy "renting" a stripper to bring to prom - so many twists, and such an unexpected ending!
"Burner Phone" by Flint Maxwell, a intense sex horror story within a story, whose imagery hits fast and hard: a man decides to employ sex workers in a certain way that allows him to stay faithful to his pregnant wife - the ending is well, explosive LOL (pun intended)! Or actually, chilling and perhaps even sad.
"Ink Runs Red" by M.P. Norman, occult Japanese horror, about an old tatoo artist whose tattooing prowess hides more than what appears on the surface (yep, that's another pun). I loved this story, excellent writing with a superior sense of place.
"Incident on Saddle Road" by Brian Moreland: this is probably the most 'traditionally' themed story in the book, though it's remarkably well done from start to finish, a father and his daughters finding themselves unwillingly involved in a botched secret military operation, hunted down by an alien creature unleashed by mistake. Perfect pacing, solid ending.
"Nocturnal Pursuits of the Elderly" by Mark Towse, a kinky sex horror thriller tale of an old man's fetish revolving around his young female neighbor - many shocking story turns, authentic dialogue, outrageous ending!
"Zero Sum" by Laurel Hightower, the opening story, and the volume's single sci fi horror tale: bleak, dystopian, atmospheric, appalingly realistic, but what stopped me in my tracks was the profound subtlety of the grim ending. People should talk of this one in the future.
"Glory Hole" by Ryan Colley, sex horror but really it's a meditation on the psychology of addiction. Equally sickening and astounding, it narrates a man's compulsive visits to the titular glory hole, and his gruesome discovery of what's actually happening behind that partition!
I’d say this was one of the most powerful and consistently brilliant anthologies I've ever read - but the next "Horror Collection" volume will probably surprise me! Anyway, no duds here, just an abundance of compelling stories worth running out to get 'em as soon as possible!
March 4, 2026
It's here! The wait is over, The Horror Collection Neon is casting its luminous tendrils across the landscape of horror literature, and illuminating its darkest, most visceral recesses.
Envision a dystopian economy in which human body parts serve as currency. Contemplate the harrowing psychological deterioration induced by a substance of decidedly extraterrestrial origins. Bear witness to a homicidal sociopath whose pathological self-perception renders her disturbingly convinced of her own normalcy.
Perhaps you would find yourself more drawn to a prom date who manifests as a creature of pure combustion, an enigmatic ram standing sentinel among your flock, or are you corporeal flesh and blood, or merely a mirror reflection? What is the nature of that encroaching black spot on the bathroom wall, the aberration that continues to grow, slowly proliferating grotesque tentacles?
Envision a dystopian economy in which human body parts serve as currency. Contemplate the harrowing psychological deterioration induced by a substance of decidedly extraterrestrial origins. Bear witness to a homicidal sociopath whose pathological self-perception renders her disturbingly convinced of her own normalcy.
Perhaps you would find yourself more drawn to a prom date who manifests as a creature of pure combustion, an enigmatic ram standing sentinel among your flock, or are you corporeal flesh and blood, or merely a mirror reflection? What is the nature of that encroaching black spot on the bathroom wall, the aberration that continues to grow, slowly proliferating grotesque tentacles?
March 17, 2026
Great mix of horror shorts.
My fave this time was a trip to a tattoo shop. Not its title but a hint to the story.
You will have to read them to find it now.
Enjoy
Edit: adding I’ve now listened to this and it’s great in audio too. I really enjoyed it as an audio and listened to a couple of the stories a couple of times.
My fave this time was a trip to a tattoo shop. Not its title but a hint to the story.
You will have to read them to find it now.
Enjoy
Edit: adding I’ve now listened to this and it’s great in audio too. I really enjoyed it as an audio and listened to a couple of the stories a couple of times.
June 17, 2026
The Horror Collection: Neon Edition edited by Kevin J. Kennedy
The Horror Collection: Neon Edition is the thirtieth installment in Kevin J. Kennedy's long-running anthology series, and it delivers exactly what the title promises: a vivid, neon-soaked descent into horror.
The collection gathers stories that range from cosmic nightmares and body horror to psychological terror and dystopian futures.
Rather than adhering to a single theme, the anthology embraces a wide spectrum of horror, allowing each author to bring their own unique vision of fear to the page. The result is a collection that feels unpredictable, energetic, and often delightfully disturbing.
What I enjoyed most was the variety. One story might leave you unsettled with creeping dread, while the next throws you headfirst into bizarre, surreal chaos. That's the beauty of a well-curated anthology: if one tale doesn't fully connect with you, another is waiting just around the corner. The pacing rarely slows, and the constant shift in styles and settings keeps the reading experience fresh throughout.
The lineup of contributors is one of the anthology's biggest strengths. Alongside stories from established horror talents such as Amy Cross, Carlton Mellick III, Brian Hodge, Laurel Hightower, and Jeffrey Thomas, while readers also discovering newer voices like M.P. Norman and other rising authors.
Standout stories in the book:
Bright Reflections, for Two Days Only by Viggy Parr Hampton.
99 Red Balloons by Elizabeth Massie
Glory Hole by Ryan Colley.
The mix creates a collection that feels both professional and adventurous, showcasing different corners of the modern horror landscape.
Kevin J. Kennedy has become one of the most recognizable names in independent horror anthologies. If you haven't been introduced to this fabulous guy, then you really should do your best. Beyond his own fiction, he has spent years championing horror authors through The Horror Collection series and other publishing projects.
His talent as an editor lies in assembling stories that complement one another while still allowing each writer's individual voice to shine. Thirty volumes into the series, it's clear that Kennedy understands what horror fans want: variety, imagination, and stories that aren't afraid to take risks.
Overall, The Horror Collection: Neon Edition is a fun and diverse horror anthology. With its mix of veteran authors and fresh talent, there's plenty here to satisfy horror fans looking for their next unsettling read.
Don't forget to check out my neon drenched Tokyo cosmic story: Ink Runs Red by M.P. Norman.
The Horror Collection: Neon Edition is the thirtieth installment in Kevin J. Kennedy's long-running anthology series, and it delivers exactly what the title promises: a vivid, neon-soaked descent into horror.
The collection gathers stories that range from cosmic nightmares and body horror to psychological terror and dystopian futures.
Rather than adhering to a single theme, the anthology embraces a wide spectrum of horror, allowing each author to bring their own unique vision of fear to the page. The result is a collection that feels unpredictable, energetic, and often delightfully disturbing.
What I enjoyed most was the variety. One story might leave you unsettled with creeping dread, while the next throws you headfirst into bizarre, surreal chaos. That's the beauty of a well-curated anthology: if one tale doesn't fully connect with you, another is waiting just around the corner. The pacing rarely slows, and the constant shift in styles and settings keeps the reading experience fresh throughout.
The lineup of contributors is one of the anthology's biggest strengths. Alongside stories from established horror talents such as Amy Cross, Carlton Mellick III, Brian Hodge, Laurel Hightower, and Jeffrey Thomas, while readers also discovering newer voices like M.P. Norman and other rising authors.
Standout stories in the book:
Bright Reflections, for Two Days Only by Viggy Parr Hampton.
99 Red Balloons by Elizabeth Massie
Glory Hole by Ryan Colley.
The mix creates a collection that feels both professional and adventurous, showcasing different corners of the modern horror landscape.
Kevin J. Kennedy has become one of the most recognizable names in independent horror anthologies. If you haven't been introduced to this fabulous guy, then you really should do your best. Beyond his own fiction, he has spent years championing horror authors through The Horror Collection series and other publishing projects.
His talent as an editor lies in assembling stories that complement one another while still allowing each writer's individual voice to shine. Thirty volumes into the series, it's clear that Kennedy understands what horror fans want: variety, imagination, and stories that aren't afraid to take risks.
Overall, The Horror Collection: Neon Edition is a fun and diverse horror anthology. With its mix of veteran authors and fresh talent, there's plenty here to satisfy horror fans looking for their next unsettling read.
Don't forget to check out my neon drenched Tokyo cosmic story: Ink Runs Red by M.P. Norman.
March 14, 2026
Ok so this collection seemed to be more on the strange side than your classic horror. Still really enjoyed it though as it changed things up a bit. Im glad I took my time with this collection as I absorbed the tales better that way. There was no way I could pick a favourite with this one so here is my favourites. The Unfinished maze made me unconsciously rub my knees while reading. Simple Machines made me laugh out loud and scare the cat and Zero Sum just creeper me out in such a good way.
March 17, 2026
Horror comes in many forms, and this book is full of stories that capture its many different faces. With stories from amazing indie authors, the 30th book of the series pushes harder into the horror realms than ever before, and there really is something for everyone!
April 4, 2026
I loved this book while I was reading it. It is one of those books you can't put down at all. All the authors have written excellent stories all with unique mind blowing events. I definitely will be reading this one again.
May 2, 2026
The Horror Collection: Neon Edition is book 30 in the acclaimed The Horror Collection anthology series from Kevin J Kennedy. This is a mix of stories of different subgenres and themes and intensity by a truly diverse set of talented authors.
It starts with “Zero Sum” by Laurel Hightower, a powerful splatterpunk tale about the cost of basic living, the price we pay, the sacrifices we make. Then there’s “Caviar” by Harrison Phillips, a twisted and gruesome extreme horror story about a designer drug with a horrifying secret ingredient and even more horrifying side effects. “Glory Hole” by Ryan Colley is a surprisingly poignant and excessively disturbing tale I can’t begin to do justice to.
And there’s much more. There are 20 stories in this book. Disaster horror, supernatural horror, cosmic horror, sci-fi horror, extreme horror, a bizarro tale by bizarro master Carlton Mellick III, dark rituals, curses, vengeance, urban legends, and, of course, a twisted Funhouse. Neon Edition is a fantastic assortment of stories to chill your blood, creep you out, twist your guts, and horrify your mind.
A Bibliophilia Templum review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2026/05/02/the-horror-collection-neon-edition/
It starts with “Zero Sum” by Laurel Hightower, a powerful splatterpunk tale about the cost of basic living, the price we pay, the sacrifices we make. Then there’s “Caviar” by Harrison Phillips, a twisted and gruesome extreme horror story about a designer drug with a horrifying secret ingredient and even more horrifying side effects. “Glory Hole” by Ryan Colley is a surprisingly poignant and excessively disturbing tale I can’t begin to do justice to.
And there’s much more. There are 20 stories in this book. Disaster horror, supernatural horror, cosmic horror, sci-fi horror, extreme horror, a bizarro tale by bizarro master Carlton Mellick III, dark rituals, curses, vengeance, urban legends, and, of course, a twisted Funhouse. Neon Edition is a fantastic assortment of stories to chill your blood, creep you out, twist your guts, and horrify your mind.
A Bibliophilia Templum review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2026/05/02/the-horror-collection-neon-edition/
March 6, 2026
great
This was a very good collection of creepy and scary stories. I look forward to the next book in this series
This was a very good collection of creepy and scary stories. I look forward to the next book in this series
April 26, 2026
Love a good short story
As always some are better than others but on the whole a good collection. One in particular has stayed in my head for a while. I like it when they do that. Ive read quite a few now but will continue to get them and see where they lead
As always some are better than others but on the whole a good collection. One in particular has stayed in my head for a while. I like it when they do that. Ive read quite a few now but will continue to get them and see where they lead
September 3, 2026
I struggled a lot more with Neon than I did many of the other KJK Horror Collections that I read. There were some stories that stood out to me, however:
"The Next Door Collector" by Elizabeth Massie. I wasn't really expecting the twist about who the real bad guy was, so that made this story a pretty fun read. I thought the ending was a bit rushed and didn't wrap things up like it could have but overall an interesting story.
"Daisy Chains" by MJ Mars. You'd be hard pressed to find an MJ Mars work that I didn't like. She always delivers and this story was no different. I'd love to see more of The Roaming Captive and learn who she was and how she became an urban legend.
"Nocturnal Pursuits of the Elderly" by Mark Towse. What a wild ride! I was absolutely not expecting the turn that Mark took and loved it for catching me completely wrong-footed. The elderly have to have fun too, huh?
"Ink Runs Red" by M.P. Norman and "The Dripping of Wineskins" by Brian Hodge both get honourable mentions as I'd love to see those as full stories. They were both so fascinating to read and I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the worlds that they began crafting. If either of those stories ever became full books on their own, I'd buy them in a heartbeat.
Overall, I just couldn't get into Neon as much as I wanted to. It turned out to be a quick read, but not something that I was super blown away by.
"The Next Door Collector" by Elizabeth Massie. I wasn't really expecting the twist about who the real bad guy was, so that made this story a pretty fun read. I thought the ending was a bit rushed and didn't wrap things up like it could have but overall an interesting story.
"Daisy Chains" by MJ Mars. You'd be hard pressed to find an MJ Mars work that I didn't like. She always delivers and this story was no different. I'd love to see more of The Roaming Captive and learn who she was and how she became an urban legend.
"Nocturnal Pursuits of the Elderly" by Mark Towse. What a wild ride! I was absolutely not expecting the turn that Mark took and loved it for catching me completely wrong-footed. The elderly have to have fun too, huh?
"Ink Runs Red" by M.P. Norman and "The Dripping of Wineskins" by Brian Hodge both get honourable mentions as I'd love to see those as full stories. They were both so fascinating to read and I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the worlds that they began crafting. If either of those stories ever became full books on their own, I'd buy them in a heartbeat.
Overall, I just couldn't get into Neon as much as I wanted to. It turned out to be a quick read, but not something that I was super blown away by.
June 8, 2026
The Horror Collection: Neon Edition by KJK Publishing is officially the collection from this publisher that took me the longest to get through. Unlike my normal with these collections, I really spread these out as life has been WILD. Each time I dove back in, I knew I was in for a dark treat.
And my apologies again to the folks in the waiting room with me that witnessed my live reaction to Candace Nola’s tale in here… 🙂
Hollllly, this collection started off with a bang and didn’t let up at all! Each of these tales had such a chilling vibe, and each had so much darkness included. I had a blast with each and every one!
My favorites from this collection included:
Zero Sum by Laurel Hightower
Bright Reflections, for Two Days Only by Viggy Parr Hampton
Incident on Saddle Road by Brian Moreland
The Final Curtain by Amy Cross
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/the-h...
And my apologies again to the folks in the waiting room with me that witnessed my live reaction to Candace Nola’s tale in here… 🙂
Hollllly, this collection started off with a bang and didn’t let up at all! Each of these tales had such a chilling vibe, and each had so much darkness included. I had a blast with each and every one!
My favorites from this collection included:
Zero Sum by Laurel Hightower
Bright Reflections, for Two Days Only by Viggy Parr Hampton
Incident on Saddle Road by Brian Moreland
The Final Curtain by Amy Cross
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/the-h...
April 17, 2026
This is an intense, sprawling anthology, the 30th in Kennedy’s horror series. They delivers chaos, gore, and mind bending surrealism. From urban legends stalking the streets in daylight, Lovecraftian wormholes tearing reality apart, Religious horror with depth. A Grief and ghost themed tale, Occult Japanese horror featuring a sinister tattoo artist, dark twist teen drama about prom, Kinky unsettling horror involving voyeuristic obsessions and Sci-fi horror elements that add a chilling twist. You get so much with each story is vivid, shocking, and unpredictable.
This collection is brutal, surreal, and imaginative, perfect for readers who like their horror chaotic, boundary pushing, and relentlessly creepy. Each story lands hard, often leaving you unsettled long after finishing
This collection is brutal, surreal, and imaginative, perfect for readers who like their horror chaotic, boundary pushing, and relentlessly creepy. Each story lands hard, often leaving you unsettled long after finishing
June 25, 2026
I really wasn't a fan. There were about two or three well written ones in the entire book and one of the stories called "The Glory Hole" just made me feel like I needed to take a shower when I was reading it. I wasn't particularly scared or unnerved by anything written in it. I didn't really consider most off the stories to be horror and I've never before in my life read anything that made me feel the need to shower it off me. The only word I have for The Glory Hole is that I just thought it was gross. Gross is literally the best way to describe it.
August 26, 2026
Mostly pretty enjoyable. This collection has a few that will stay with you but maybe not in a good creepy way more in a disturbing callus way. I don't love unmotivated gendered violence so you'll know the stories I'm referring to if you read the collection but besides that another good collection.
March 2, 2026
There is something for every horror reader in this collection, and the lineup of contributing authors is awesome! These stories range from creepy to absolutely unhinged!
July 11, 2026
Another awesome cover and another great collection. Kevin is THE master at story collections!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews