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Collected Christmas Horror Shorts #1
Collected Christmas Horror Shorts
Christmas is often thought of as a time of joy and cheer, a time for giving to others, a time of celebration and love…. Well this year some of the best voices in horror fiction decided to band together and tell you some tales about a different kind of Christmas, so grab yourself a mug of hot chocolate, close the curtains, lock the door and get comfy. This will be a Christmas like never before!
Table of Contents:
12 Days (Psychopath Remix) by J.C. Michael (poem)
Thy Will be Done by J.C. Michael
Tommy’s Christmas by John R. Little
Naughty or Nice by Veronica Smith
Santa's Midnight Feast by J.L. Lane
Hung With Care by Ty Schwamberger
Santa Came by Peter Oliver Wonder
In the Bag by Tim Curran
The Christmas Spirit by Lisa Morton
The Tome of Bill Cristmas Carol by Rick Gualtieri
Killing Christmas by Andrew Lennon
All Naughty, No Nice by Michael A. Arnzen
A Disappointed Shade of Blue by C.S. Andserson (poem)
Stuffed Pig by Steven Murray
The Night Before Christmas by Suzanne Fox
Better Watch Out by Willow Rose
Deck The Halls by Xtina Marie (poem)
Christmas Market by Amy Cross
Merry Fuckin' Christmas by Kevin J. Kennedy
The Veil by Rose Garnett
The Last Christmas Dinner by Christina Bergling
The Present by Israel Finn
Christmas Carole by Lisa Vasquez
Edited by Brandy Yassa
Cover design by Lisa Vasquez
Table of Contents:
12 Days (Psychopath Remix) by J.C. Michael (poem)
Thy Will be Done by J.C. Michael
Tommy’s Christmas by John R. Little
Naughty or Nice by Veronica Smith
Santa's Midnight Feast by J.L. Lane
Hung With Care by Ty Schwamberger
Santa Came by Peter Oliver Wonder
In the Bag by Tim Curran
The Christmas Spirit by Lisa Morton
The Tome of Bill Cristmas Carol by Rick Gualtieri
Killing Christmas by Andrew Lennon
All Naughty, No Nice by Michael A. Arnzen
A Disappointed Shade of Blue by C.S. Andserson (poem)
Stuffed Pig by Steven Murray
The Night Before Christmas by Suzanne Fox
Better Watch Out by Willow Rose
Deck The Halls by Xtina Marie (poem)
Christmas Market by Amy Cross
Merry Fuckin' Christmas by Kevin J. Kennedy
The Veil by Rose Garnett
The Last Christmas Dinner by Christina Bergling
The Present by Israel Finn
Christmas Carole by Lisa Vasquez
Edited by Brandy Yassa
Cover design by Lisa Vasquez
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2016
156 people are currently reading
738 people want to read
About the author
Kevin J. Kennedy
140 books325 followersKevin J. Kennedy is a horror author, editor, and anthologist. He is the owner of KJK Publishing and runs the bestselling 'The Horror Collection' series. He is the author of Halloween Land, The Clown and Nothing is Real.
He lives in the heart of Scotland with his beautiful wife, three cats, Carlito, Ariel and Luna, and a Pomchi called Orko. He can be found on Facebook if you want to chat with him.
He lives in the heart of Scotland with his beautiful wife, three cats, Carlito, Ariel and Luna, and a Pomchi called Orko. He can be found on Facebook if you want to chat with him.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
December 21, 2018
These Christmas horror stories were really good and after reading them, I have some new authors to explore. Favorite stories were: Thy Will Be Done, Tommy's Christmas, Hung With Care, In The Bag, The Night Before Christmas, The Present (justice was served well in this story), Slay Bells (I will never think of sleigh bells the same way again after reading this story), Santa's Midnight Feast, and The Christmas Spirit. Giving this book four stars.
December 16, 2018
24 Holiday Horror short stories! I really did enjoy this collection over-all. There were a few I didn't care for but mostly I enjoyed them and loved some of them.
My favorites being
Better Watch Out by Willow Rose
All Naughty, No Nice by Michael A. Arnzen
The Christmas Spirit by Lisa Morton
Merry Fucking Christmas by Kevin J. Kennedy
Killing Christmas by Andrew Lennon
My average rating ended up being 3.35
If you like holiday horror, i'd recommend it.
My favorites being
Better Watch Out by Willow Rose
All Naughty, No Nice by Michael A. Arnzen
The Christmas Spirit by Lisa Morton
Merry Fucking Christmas by Kevin J. Kennedy
Killing Christmas by Andrew Lennon
My average rating ended up being 3.35
If you like holiday horror, i'd recommend it.
January 3, 2019
Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It was easy to rush through this book, because it's not so long. The stories were easy to read as well and I enjoyed most of them. I loved celebrating the Christmas spirit with some good, gory horror stories. The horror in this book is of all different kinds; gory horror, creepy horror, WTF-horror, and I liked the fact that it's something different every story.
I was also very fond of the creativity that the authors show in the stories they write. It's always a lot of fun to get my hands on a book by Kevin J. Kennedy.
Something that I would've liked to see differently, was the fact that at some point in the book, there are a lot of evil Santa stories in a row. I would've loved to see the stories mixed up a bit more.
I had a blast reading this book, 4 stars!
The original review can be found at Bite Into Books
It was easy to rush through this book, because it's not so long. The stories were easy to read as well and I enjoyed most of them. I loved celebrating the Christmas spirit with some good, gory horror stories. The horror in this book is of all different kinds; gory horror, creepy horror, WTF-horror, and I liked the fact that it's something different every story.
I was also very fond of the creativity that the authors show in the stories they write. It's always a lot of fun to get my hands on a book by Kevin J. Kennedy.
Something that I would've liked to see differently, was the fact that at some point in the book, there are a lot of evil Santa stories in a row. I would've loved to see the stories mixed up a bit more.
I had a blast reading this book, 4 stars!
The original review can be found at Bite Into Books
November 30, 2016
I received a free copy of Collected Christmas Horror Shorts, in return for my honest review. I love horror, books, movies, art, all of it! I don't however, care much for Christmas. I have a bad history with Christmas. That being said, this was my FAVORITE Christmas book EVER!!! From the stories with a twist on the classic Christmas favorites, to the poems, to the awesome and terrifying new spins of this most loved (by some) holiday. I don't think there was a story I didn't enjoy. If you love horror this is definitely for you, if you like Christmas also for you, but if you love them both, prepare to have your mind blown. This was a great read from front to back, and please don't skip the Foreword, it is quite a lovely read too. I definitely recommend this book, 5 out of 5 Stars from me!!!
November 30, 2016
Horror is my favorite genre. Christmas is my favorite holiday. You usually don't put two and two together. But when I heard that Kevin was coming out with a book that would combine the two, I knew right away I wouldn't be disappointed. And I was right!
You want scary? Read this!
You want hide under you covers good? Read this!
You want a book so complex, intriguing, and terrifyingly intense you have to read it twice? READ THIS!
Each story presented something new for me to scream about. If my heart didn't feel like it was going jump out of my chest, I was gripping my covers with anticipation to see what scary and terrifying thing happened next. This book of horror stories was simply amazing and I am beyond thankful I got to read it! Well, twice. I read it twice. Because it's that good!
You want scary? Read this!
You want hide under you covers good? Read this!
You want a book so complex, intriguing, and terrifyingly intense you have to read it twice? READ THIS!
Each story presented something new for me to scream about. If my heart didn't feel like it was going jump out of my chest, I was gripping my covers with anticipation to see what scary and terrifying thing happened next. This book of horror stories was simply amazing and I am beyond thankful I got to read it! Well, twice. I read it twice. Because it's that good!
June 8, 2017
Review: COLLECTED CHRISTMAS HORROR SHORTS
A great gift choice for horror lovers or gift to oneself, COLLECTED CHRISTMAS HORROR SHORTS provides a wide range of eclectic horror, to read straight through, or sample a story or a poem at a time, like poisoned candy. The anthology showcases 24 authors, including publisher Kevin Kennedy, and includes a foreword by Nev Murray (edited by Brandy Yassa).
Curl up with frightening Christmas horror.
A great gift choice for horror lovers or gift to oneself, COLLECTED CHRISTMAS HORROR SHORTS provides a wide range of eclectic horror, to read straight through, or sample a story or a poem at a time, like poisoned candy. The anthology showcases 24 authors, including publisher Kevin Kennedy, and includes a foreword by Nev Murray (edited by Brandy Yassa).
Curl up with frightening Christmas horror.
Read
March 11, 2017Full review soon. I'm deliberating on my final star rating too. Be on it soon!
December 31, 2021
Тази беше голямо разочарование. Като изключим доста добрата призрачна история стил М.Р.Джеймс на Лиза Мъртън (което не е голяма изненада), останалото беше доста клиширано и насилено. Сякаш съвременния човек не таи страх от дългата зимна нощ и образите с които подсъзнанието я запълва или си мисли, че се е откъснал от него. Има лоши дядо коледовци, убийци психопати, различни психози (този път без суцидни разкази, слава на боговете и будите). Добре де имаше още 2-3 добри разказа, примерно на Стив Мурей “ Пълнено прасе”, но не бяха това, което ми се четеше като коледен хорър. Може би “Режещи звънчета” на Стив Кинсайд се доближи най-много до представите ми като идея, но изпълнението ми се стори слабичко.
Като цяло, помня първият ми разказ спечели точно коледен конкурс. Тогава внимателно изчетох всички пуснати преди мен разкази и внимателно набутах каквото нямаше. Ъъъ отнесох се. Мисълта ми е, че повечето не бяха хорър, но бяха доста по-добри от тези тук.
Като цяло, помня първият ми разказ спечели точно коледен конкурс. Тогава внимателно изчетох всички пуснати преди мен разкази и внимателно набутах каквото нямаше. Ъъъ отнесох се. Мисълта ми е, че повечето не бяха хорър, но бяха доста по-добри от тези тук.
December 22, 2016
I love reading a good anthology at Halloween because that’s when you get the best collections of horror stories. It’s the time of year that weirdos like me actually fit in. Not Christmas. I mean how can you make an anthology of Christmas horror stories that will be genuine horror? Seriously? It doesn’t’ fit, does it? Christmas is jolly and nice, not evil and nasty. Or is it? – Nev Murray
This is me every single year! So when I saw this fabulous book on Kindle Unlimited of course I was not going to hesitate!
This is chock full of great authors. I was hard pressed to find authors that I did not like. There are a few stories that did not quite hit all the spots but for the most part I kept highlighting all these stories that I wanted to blog about because they are all fabulously horrific.
There are a few stories that really stood out. I was so glad to see Bill the Vampire from Rick Gualtieri and having a short story on Bill is exactly what I needed and it fits this anthology perfectly. A vampire, a mom that is tired of doing everything for her family, a Santa who is finding the Mrs. Claus a bit too dried up, a market with all the yummy food and presents, and the list goes on and on!
I can say that I loved reading this. I only hated the idea that these great stories have to come to an end so quickly!
In short: If you enjoy horror you’ll need this anthology every Christmas!
This is me every single year! So when I saw this fabulous book on Kindle Unlimited of course I was not going to hesitate!
This is chock full of great authors. I was hard pressed to find authors that I did not like. There are a few stories that did not quite hit all the spots but for the most part I kept highlighting all these stories that I wanted to blog about because they are all fabulously horrific.
There are a few stories that really stood out. I was so glad to see Bill the Vampire from Rick Gualtieri and having a short story on Bill is exactly what I needed and it fits this anthology perfectly. A vampire, a mom that is tired of doing everything for her family, a Santa who is finding the Mrs. Claus a bit too dried up, a market with all the yummy food and presents, and the list goes on and on!
I can say that I loved reading this. I only hated the idea that these great stories have to come to an end so quickly!
In short: If you enjoy horror you’ll need this anthology every Christmas!
March 31, 2017
What can I say? I totally loved this collection of horror stories. I was pleased because every story was just as good as the one before. I can't pick out a favorite because it was impossible. The best thing about the book is that it finally put Santa Claus in the right light. Don't read this if you can't stomach excellent horror stories.
December 5, 2020
A mixed bag
A lot of the stories in this collection concern evil Santa, which wears out its welcome quicker than you’d think.
Five stars for Lisa Morton’s Christmas ghost story which is a masterpiece.
A lot of the stories in this collection concern evil Santa, which wears out its welcome quicker than you’d think.
Five stars for Lisa Morton’s Christmas ghost story which is a masterpiece.
December 5, 2016
Review Pending.
March 20, 2017
I love horror short stories, but this collection was a let down. Very amateur and a good few stories were crude and overly-sexual (really not my thing).
April 20, 2017
Great collection of horror shorts covering a range of genres. Some real stand out stuff.
December 2, 2019
A great little collection of Christmas horror stories. A few actually gave me shivers!
December 26, 2018
Rating: 3.5
Thoughts: Overall this was a pretty good mix collection of horror short stories with Christmas as the theme. Some were really good in opinion and had me checking twice (haha) around the tree, and those Santa clad relatives as my favorite holiday was given a different spin this year.
The Last Christmas Dinner, All Naughty, No Nice, The Night Before Christmas, and In the Bag, were some of my favorites.
Thoughts: Overall this was a pretty good mix collection of horror short stories with Christmas as the theme. Some were really good in opinion and had me checking twice (haha) around the tree, and those Santa clad relatives as my favorite holiday was given a different spin this year.
The Last Christmas Dinner, All Naughty, No Nice, The Night Before Christmas, and In the Bag, were some of my favorites.
December 26, 2022
This is a collection of Christmas short stories that is guaranteed to creep you out and make you see Christmas in a total different light. Think red = blood and it's going to be a lot in this book. And remember Krampus? That's just a tiny bit of the horrors brought to life in this book, regardless of them being human, inhuman, natural or supernatural or simply the result of some very twisted minds.
July 2, 2021
Loved the stories
The stories were good. This book was one I didn't want to put down and didn't til I was done.
The stories were good. This book was one I didn't want to put down and didn't til I was done.
April 28, 2019
Great mix of horror
Really great stories contained in this anthology
Definitely recommend this to everyone who loves a great horror mix. I’m definitely buying the next anthology in this series.
Really great stories contained in this anthology
Definitely recommend this to everyone who loves a great horror mix. I’m definitely buying the next anthology in this series.
December 20, 2016
Seasonal chills
Need something to blur the overwhelming consumerism of Christmas? Pick up this little gem,and take a sleigh ride into seasonal horror. Really fun read, with some great exposure to new authors, (to me), in one of my favorite genres.
Need something to blur the overwhelming consumerism of Christmas? Pick up this little gem,and take a sleigh ride into seasonal horror. Really fun read, with some great exposure to new authors, (to me), in one of my favorite genres.
March 20, 2017
Merry Scary Christmas!
This was my first foray into Christmas horror and I loved it!! I didn't really know what to expect, but I was definitely pleasantly surprised. Each story had it's own scary, creepy feel. Some were more subtle than others.
I love this collection!
This was my first foray into Christmas horror and I loved it!! I didn't really know what to expect, but I was definitely pleasantly surprised. Each story had it's own scary, creepy feel. Some were more subtle than others.
I love this collection!
February 19, 2019
Festively creepy.
December 26, 2024
diverse mix
Thoroughly enjoyed this anthology. Festive based but each story diverse and unique. The short poems also added to the collection
Thoroughly enjoyed this anthology. Festive based but each story diverse and unique. The short poems also added to the collection
December 14, 2019
I just cannot get enough Christmas horror this time of year!
Christmas Horror Shorts is such a wonderful collection of stories that range from the mildly spooky to full-blown terror.
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the authors in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Per usual with these types of collections, here are my rating breakdowns for each story along with some immediate thoughts/reactions:
Forward by Nev Murray
A wonderful forward to jump start the book! I loved how honest Nev was and how he told the reader a bit about his personal life. I also really loved how welcoming this intro was!
Better Watch Out by Willow Rose – 4/5
This story hits on so many thoughts I’ve had over the years. The whole idea of Santa can certainly seem terrifying! I loved how this story played on that. And that ending…
Tommy’s Christmas by John R Little – 5/5
Poor Tommy! He was so innocent… but what a twist!
Naughty or Nice by Veronica Smith – 5/5
Yikes! How terrifying! Our neighbors have an inflatable Santa outside… we can see it from our bedroom. I’m going to be a smidge paranoid about that Santa now…
All Naughty, No Nice by Michael A. Arnzen – 5/5
Ever wonder what would happen to the naughty and nice list when zombies take over? This story covers just that! How spooky!!
Slay Bells by Weston Kincade – 4/5
Heartbreaking and so terrifying! What an absolutely horrible annual tradition. These poor people. The gore in this one was intense.
Santa’s Midnight Feast by J. L. Lane – 5/5
So intense!! This tale started out innocently, but then took quite the turn. I love tales like this!
The Christmas Spirit by Lisa Morton – 5/5
I loved that this one centered around a spooky house in the middle of nowhere and that the couple read from a book! What a scary tale! But also quite heartwarming.
Thy Will Be Done by J.C. Michael – 4/5
Yikes! Terrifying. And all in Gods name…
Psychopath Remix by J.C. Michael – 5/5
Phew! This turned dark very quickly!
A Tome of Bill Christmas Carole by Rick Gualtieri – 4/5
A fun twist in the usual Christmas Carol!
Christmas Market by Amy Cross – 5/5
This one made me feel so claustrophobic. That crowd does not sound fun. And what a terrifying situation! And what happens next?!
Deck the Halls by Xtina Marie – 4/5
A short but terrifying poem!
Merry Fuckin’ Christmas by Kevin J. Kennedy – 5/5
Oh my goodness! So heartbreaking, but what wonderfully intense payback. I have zero respect for people that think drunk driving is okay.
Santa Came by Peter Oliver Wonder –
Unfortunately, not for me.
Hung With Care by Ty Schwamberger – 5/5
Ah! Another intense and bloody one with one unhappy Santa!
Killing Christmas by Andrew Lennon – 5/5
What a twisted tale! I loved it!
A Disappointed Shade of Blue by C.S. Anderson – 3/5
A sad one. Oofh.
The Present by Israel Finn – 5/5
A difficult one to read because of the domestic violence. But that ending!
Christmas Carole by Lisa Vasquez –
Unfortunately I don’t think I understood this one. It started with a bang, but then it lost me. I’ll have to give it a re-read another time.
Stuffed Pig by Steven Murray – 5/5
Phew! That was intense and terrifying!! Right when the neighbor called to report someone luring about, I knew we were in for an intense ride.
The Last Christmas Dinner by Christina Bergling – 5/5
Ugh, what rotten and self centered kids! I felt so bad for this poor mother. But yes! What payback!
The Veil by Rose Garnet – 3/5
Oooh! Spooky! I’m so glad this dirtbag got was was coming to him.
The Night Before Christmas by Suzanne Fox – 2/5
Personally not a fan of the erotic elements of this one, but if that’s your jam, you’ll love this! This one was also quite brutal.
The The Bag by Tim Curran – 4/5
I kept picturing something like that book with teeth from Harry Potter for this one. Phew, what a dark and sad tale.
My Final Thoughts
This was such a fun collection!! If you enjoy horror and Christmas, you have to give this a read! This is yet another collection from Mr Kennedy that has a little something for every horror fan!
Christmas Horror Shorts is such a wonderful collection of stories that range from the mildly spooky to full-blown terror.
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the authors in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Per usual with these types of collections, here are my rating breakdowns for each story along with some immediate thoughts/reactions:
Forward by Nev Murray
A wonderful forward to jump start the book! I loved how honest Nev was and how he told the reader a bit about his personal life. I also really loved how welcoming this intro was!
Better Watch Out by Willow Rose – 4/5
This story hits on so many thoughts I’ve had over the years. The whole idea of Santa can certainly seem terrifying! I loved how this story played on that. And that ending…
Tommy’s Christmas by John R Little – 5/5
Poor Tommy! He was so innocent… but what a twist!
Naughty or Nice by Veronica Smith – 5/5
Yikes! How terrifying! Our neighbors have an inflatable Santa outside… we can see it from our bedroom. I’m going to be a smidge paranoid about that Santa now…
All Naughty, No Nice by Michael A. Arnzen – 5/5
Ever wonder what would happen to the naughty and nice list when zombies take over? This story covers just that! How spooky!!
Slay Bells by Weston Kincade – 4/5
Heartbreaking and so terrifying! What an absolutely horrible annual tradition. These poor people. The gore in this one was intense.
Santa’s Midnight Feast by J. L. Lane – 5/5
So intense!! This tale started out innocently, but then took quite the turn. I love tales like this!
The Christmas Spirit by Lisa Morton – 5/5
I loved that this one centered around a spooky house in the middle of nowhere and that the couple read from a book! What a scary tale! But also quite heartwarming.
Thy Will Be Done by J.C. Michael – 4/5
Yikes! Terrifying. And all in Gods name…
Psychopath Remix by J.C. Michael – 5/5
Phew! This turned dark very quickly!
A Tome of Bill Christmas Carole by Rick Gualtieri – 4/5
A fun twist in the usual Christmas Carol!
Christmas Market by Amy Cross – 5/5
This one made me feel so claustrophobic. That crowd does not sound fun. And what a terrifying situation! And what happens next?!
Deck the Halls by Xtina Marie – 4/5
A short but terrifying poem!
Merry Fuckin’ Christmas by Kevin J. Kennedy – 5/5
Oh my goodness! So heartbreaking, but what wonderfully intense payback. I have zero respect for people that think drunk driving is okay.
Santa Came by Peter Oliver Wonder –
Unfortunately, not for me.
Hung With Care by Ty Schwamberger – 5/5
Ah! Another intense and bloody one with one unhappy Santa!
Killing Christmas by Andrew Lennon – 5/5
What a twisted tale! I loved it!
A Disappointed Shade of Blue by C.S. Anderson – 3/5
A sad one. Oofh.
The Present by Israel Finn – 5/5
A difficult one to read because of the domestic violence. But that ending!
Christmas Carole by Lisa Vasquez –
Unfortunately I don’t think I understood this one. It started with a bang, but then it lost me. I’ll have to give it a re-read another time.
Stuffed Pig by Steven Murray – 5/5
Phew! That was intense and terrifying!! Right when the neighbor called to report someone luring about, I knew we were in for an intense ride.
The Last Christmas Dinner by Christina Bergling – 5/5
Ugh, what rotten and self centered kids! I felt so bad for this poor mother. But yes! What payback!
The Veil by Rose Garnet – 3/5
Oooh! Spooky! I’m so glad this dirtbag got was was coming to him.
The Night Before Christmas by Suzanne Fox – 2/5
Personally not a fan of the erotic elements of this one, but if that’s your jam, you’ll love this! This one was also quite brutal.
The The Bag by Tim Curran – 4/5
I kept picturing something like that book with teeth from Harry Potter for this one. Phew, what a dark and sad tale.
My Final Thoughts
This was such a fun collection!! If you enjoy horror and Christmas, you have to give this a read! This is yet another collection from Mr Kennedy that has a little something for every horror fan!
January 3, 2020
Every holiday season I will read a Christmas Horror anthology. I was a bit disappointed with this one (seeing how I loved the Easter collection Kevin Kennedy put together). It was a mixed bag; many of the stories I rated a B (mediocre), either because they sounded like stories I had read before, or the story did not flow. It wasn’t that any of the stories were terrible (although some of the poems were a bit ridiculous) but more that they were bland.
However, there were two gems in the collection and some very good stories. Usually when I read an anthology like this, I look to find authors I haven’t read before. I only found one in this anthology.
Here’s my list of stories that rated A or higher:
1. A Tome of Bill Christmas Carol by Rick Gualtieri. Rated A+ This could have a total rip off of Dickens but it wasn’t. This was the story that prompted me to buy some books from Rick. If you have ever read Jeff Strand and you like black humour with your horror, you need to read this. Great fun!
2. The Veil by Rose Garnett. Rated A+. Excellent story. Creepy with a sense of dark humour. It was also a unique mythology that will cause you to want to learn more about this world.
3. Naughty or Nice by Veronica Smith. Rated A. It is a VERY short story but it will captivate you with its randomness in Kmart.
4. Slay Bells by Weston Kincaid. Rated A. Very well-written. Excellent mythology about Saumen Kar (aka Yeti). Disturbing little story that is reminiscent of ‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson. That comparison is the ONLY reason I did not rate this an A+.
5. Santa’s Midnight Feast by JL Lane. Rated A. For all extreme horror fans, this one’s for you. This is a creepy little tale, with no holds barred. No one is safe. Better watch out, better not cry.
6. The Christmas Spirit by Lisa Morton. Rated A. I have read many short stories from Lisa and always rate them highly. Great author who this time tells you a gothic ghost story. Well-written and conceived.
7. The Present by Israel Finn. Rated A. Excellent story that is a page-turner and has an awesome conclusion. This one was just begging to be rated with a plus sign.
Finally, there were a couple of stories that almost made an A rating but although each was entertaining, they were missing that special quality:
1. The Night Before Christmas by Suzanne Fox (the logic bothered me on this one)
2. Christmas Market by Amy Cross (Well-written short story that fills the reader with a sense of unease. I didn’t care for the ending but the rest of the story was disturbing. This was a close one because Amy can write.)
3. The Last Christmas Dinner by Christina Bergling. (
Even though I saw the reveal coming a mile away, I still thoroughly enjoyed this story. You could picture it perfectly....that’s how good the description was.)
Hope that helps :)
However, there were two gems in the collection and some very good stories. Usually when I read an anthology like this, I look to find authors I haven’t read before. I only found one in this anthology.
Here’s my list of stories that rated A or higher:
1. A Tome of Bill Christmas Carol by Rick Gualtieri. Rated A+ This could have a total rip off of Dickens but it wasn’t. This was the story that prompted me to buy some books from Rick. If you have ever read Jeff Strand and you like black humour with your horror, you need to read this. Great fun!
2. The Veil by Rose Garnett. Rated A+. Excellent story. Creepy with a sense of dark humour. It was also a unique mythology that will cause you to want to learn more about this world.
3. Naughty or Nice by Veronica Smith. Rated A. It is a VERY short story but it will captivate you with its randomness in Kmart.
4. Slay Bells by Weston Kincaid. Rated A. Very well-written. Excellent mythology about Saumen Kar (aka Yeti). Disturbing little story that is reminiscent of ‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson. That comparison is the ONLY reason I did not rate this an A+.
5. Santa’s Midnight Feast by JL Lane. Rated A. For all extreme horror fans, this one’s for you. This is a creepy little tale, with no holds barred. No one is safe. Better watch out, better not cry.
6. The Christmas Spirit by Lisa Morton. Rated A. I have read many short stories from Lisa and always rate them highly. Great author who this time tells you a gothic ghost story. Well-written and conceived.
7. The Present by Israel Finn. Rated A. Excellent story that is a page-turner and has an awesome conclusion. This one was just begging to be rated with a plus sign.
Finally, there were a couple of stories that almost made an A rating but although each was entertaining, they were missing that special quality:
1. The Night Before Christmas by Suzanne Fox (the logic bothered me on this one)
2. Christmas Market by Amy Cross (Well-written short story that fills the reader with a sense of unease. I didn’t care for the ending but the rest of the story was disturbing. This was a close one because Amy can write.)
3. The Last Christmas Dinner by Christina Bergling. (
Even though I saw the reveal coming a mile away, I still thoroughly enjoyed this story. You could picture it perfectly....that’s how good the description was.)
Hope that helps :)
December 27, 2018
Read this review and more on my blog at [Roxie Writes].
‘Collected Christmas Horror Shorts (Collected Horror Shorts Book 1)’ presented by Kevin J. Kennedy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Finished on December 20, 2018
Read with Kindle Unlimited Subscription
FREE on Kindle Unlimited | $2.99 on Kindle | $12.99 in Paperback
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Christmas is often thought of as a time of joy and cheer, a time for giving to others, a time of celebration and love…. Well, this year some of the best voices in horror fiction decided to band together and tell you some tales about a different kind of Christmas, so grab yourself a mug of hot chocolate, close the curtains, lock the door and get comfy. This will be a Christmas like never before!
MY REVIEW:
I am not the biggest fan of Christmas; Halloween is far more my jam. So, to cope with the in-your-face cheer of Christmas, I decided to combine my love of creepy and the holiday. There are many Christmas-centric horror collections easily available on the Kindle store, but I chose this one because it seemed the most diverse. There are even a few poems!
This collection includes the stories:
◆ “12 Days (Psychopath Remix)” by J.C. Michael (poem)
◆ “Thy Will be Done” by J.C. Michael
◆ “Tommy’s Christmas” by John R. Little
◆ “Naughty or Nice” by Veronica Smith
◆ “Santa's Midnight Feast” by J.L. Lane
◆ “Hung With Care” by Ty Schwamberger
◆ “Santa Came” by Peter Oliver Wonder
◆ “In the Bag” by Tim Curran
◆ “The Christmas Spirit” by Lisa Morton
◆ “The Tome of Bill Christmas Carol” by Rick Gualtieri
◆ “Killing Christmas” by Andrew Lennon
◆ “All Naughty, No Nice” by Michael A. Arnzen
◆ “A Disappointed Shade of Blue” by C.S. Andserson (poem)
◆ “Stuffed Pig” by Steven Murray
◆ “The Night Before Christmas” by Suzanne Fox
◆ “Better Watch Out” by Willow Rose
◆ “Deck The Halls” by Xtina Marie (poem)
◆ “Christmas Market” by Amy Cross
◆ “Merry Fuckin' Christmas” by Kevin J. Kennedy
◆ “The Veil” by Rose Garnett
◆ “The Last Christmas Dinner” by Christina Bergling
◆ “The Present” by Israel Finn
◆ “Christmas Carole” by Lisa Vasquez
◆ “Slay Bells” by Weston Kincade
Overall, I enjoyed this collection. There’s an array of stories, so I’m pretty sure everyone will be able to find something enjoyable within. I recognized several names in this collection, some of whose work I have enjoyed in the past and some I didn’t.
I think my favorite story was “Slay Bells” by Weston Kincade. It had everything I enjoy in a good horror story, and it has heart, too.
I’m glad I picked this up. It helped get me through the holiday. There are several more collections compiled by Kennedy, and I’ll likely read them in the future, too.
‘Collected Christmas Horror Shorts (Collected Horror Shorts Book 1)’ presented by Kevin J. Kennedy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Finished on December 20, 2018
Read with Kindle Unlimited Subscription
FREE on Kindle Unlimited | $2.99 on Kindle | $12.99 in Paperback
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Christmas is often thought of as a time of joy and cheer, a time for giving to others, a time of celebration and love…. Well, this year some of the best voices in horror fiction decided to band together and tell you some tales about a different kind of Christmas, so grab yourself a mug of hot chocolate, close the curtains, lock the door and get comfy. This will be a Christmas like never before!
MY REVIEW:
I am not the biggest fan of Christmas; Halloween is far more my jam. So, to cope with the in-your-face cheer of Christmas, I decided to combine my love of creepy and the holiday. There are many Christmas-centric horror collections easily available on the Kindle store, but I chose this one because it seemed the most diverse. There are even a few poems!
This collection includes the stories:
◆ “12 Days (Psychopath Remix)” by J.C. Michael (poem)
◆ “Thy Will be Done” by J.C. Michael
◆ “Tommy’s Christmas” by John R. Little
◆ “Naughty or Nice” by Veronica Smith
◆ “Santa's Midnight Feast” by J.L. Lane
◆ “Hung With Care” by Ty Schwamberger
◆ “Santa Came” by Peter Oliver Wonder
◆ “In the Bag” by Tim Curran
◆ “The Christmas Spirit” by Lisa Morton
◆ “The Tome of Bill Christmas Carol” by Rick Gualtieri
◆ “Killing Christmas” by Andrew Lennon
◆ “All Naughty, No Nice” by Michael A. Arnzen
◆ “A Disappointed Shade of Blue” by C.S. Andserson (poem)
◆ “Stuffed Pig” by Steven Murray
◆ “The Night Before Christmas” by Suzanne Fox
◆ “Better Watch Out” by Willow Rose
◆ “Deck The Halls” by Xtina Marie (poem)
◆ “Christmas Market” by Amy Cross
◆ “Merry Fuckin' Christmas” by Kevin J. Kennedy
◆ “The Veil” by Rose Garnett
◆ “The Last Christmas Dinner” by Christina Bergling
◆ “The Present” by Israel Finn
◆ “Christmas Carole” by Lisa Vasquez
◆ “Slay Bells” by Weston Kincade
Overall, I enjoyed this collection. There’s an array of stories, so I’m pretty sure everyone will be able to find something enjoyable within. I recognized several names in this collection, some of whose work I have enjoyed in the past and some I didn’t.
I think my favorite story was “Slay Bells” by Weston Kincade. It had everything I enjoy in a good horror story, and it has heart, too.
I’m glad I picked this up. It helped get me through the holiday. There are several more collections compiled by Kennedy, and I’ll likely read them in the future, too.
December 12, 2024
4.75 stars!
I love horror short story collections, and I love christmas books... never thought I'd love the two combined. They just don't seem like a good mix, but this wonderful collection proves otherwise! I enjoyed this book a lot! I actually enjoyed it more than I was expecting to. I was a bit dubious because I knew it wasn't going to be the jolly, cheesy, fun, loveable stories that I'm used to reading at this time of year. The stories included in this collection couldn't have been further from the festive norm! They were all centered around christmas in some way, but they all contained their own levels of macabre, gore, and darkness!
I wondered before beginning this book what about christmas could be made horrifying, other than an evil Santa and maybe a home invasion story... this book included both of those ideas and many more!! It had a wide variety of plots; evil Santas, vampires, creepy creatures, people pushed too far by their unloving families, menacing elves, mental breakdowns, or just the evil of humans. The horror ranged from supernatural and creature features to revenge and extremely gory horrors! I was genuinely freaked out and/or repulsed by almost every single one of these stories.
Some of the stories were extremely short, snappy, and to the point, while others were a bit more lengthy. There were even a couple of poems, which was a nice surprise. I loved how each story was written by a different author; I definitely need to read more anthologies in the future. I was very happy to see a couple of authors I've already read books from. The variety of the stories in this book kept it fresh and entertaining from beginning to end.
My average rating for this collection was 4.35 stars, but once I finished it, I felt that as a whole, it deserved a bit more than that. Other than one story, there weren't any that I rated below 3 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection!
I can't pick a favourite out of all 24 stories, but the stand out ones for me were: Better Watch Out, All Naughty No Nice, Slay Bells, Christmas Market, The Present, and The Night Before Christmas... though there were many more that I loved a lot!
My rating for each story:
Story 1: Better Watch Out by Willow Rose - 5 stars
Story 2: Tommy's Christmas by John R. Little - 3 stars
Story 3: Naughty or Nice by Veronica Smith - 4 stars
Story 4: All Naughty, No Nice by Michael A. Arnzen - 5 stars
Story 5: Slay Bells by Weston Kincade - 5 stars
Story 6: Santa's Midnight Feast by J.L. Lane - 5 stars
Story 7: The Christmas Spirit by Lisa Morton - 4.5 stars
Story 8: Thy Will Be Done by J.C. Michael - 5 stars
Story 9: Psychopath Remiz by J.C. Michael - 3.5 stars
Story 10: A Tome of Bill Christmas Carol by Rick Gualtieri - 4 stars
Story 11: Christmas Market by Amy Cross - 5 stars
Story 12: Deck the Halls by Xtina Marie - 5 stars
Story 13: Merry Fucking Christmas by Kevin J. Kennedy - 5 stars
Story 14: Santa Came by Peter Oliver Wonder - 3.5 stars
Story 15: Hung With Care by Ty Schwamberger - 5 stars
Story 16: Killing Christmas by Andrew Lennon - 4.5 stars
Story 17: A Disappointed Shade of Blue by C.S. Anderson - 4 stars
Story 18: The Present by Israel Finn - 5 stars
Story 19: Christmas Carole by Lisa Vasquez - 2.5 stars
Story 20: Stuffed Pig by Steven Murray - 4 stars
Story 21: The Last Christmas Dinner by Christina Bergling - 4 stars
Story 22: The Veil by Rose Garnett - 4 stars
Story 23: The Night Before Christmas by Suzanne Fox - 5 stars
Story 24: In the Bag by Tim Curran - 4 stars
I definitely want to read more from this series of scary festive reads!
I love horror short story collections, and I love christmas books... never thought I'd love the two combined. They just don't seem like a good mix, but this wonderful collection proves otherwise! I enjoyed this book a lot! I actually enjoyed it more than I was expecting to. I was a bit dubious because I knew it wasn't going to be the jolly, cheesy, fun, loveable stories that I'm used to reading at this time of year. The stories included in this collection couldn't have been further from the festive norm! They were all centered around christmas in some way, but they all contained their own levels of macabre, gore, and darkness!
I wondered before beginning this book what about christmas could be made horrifying, other than an evil Santa and maybe a home invasion story... this book included both of those ideas and many more!! It had a wide variety of plots; evil Santas, vampires, creepy creatures, people pushed too far by their unloving families, menacing elves, mental breakdowns, or just the evil of humans. The horror ranged from supernatural and creature features to revenge and extremely gory horrors! I was genuinely freaked out and/or repulsed by almost every single one of these stories.
Some of the stories were extremely short, snappy, and to the point, while others were a bit more lengthy. There were even a couple of poems, which was a nice surprise. I loved how each story was written by a different author; I definitely need to read more anthologies in the future. I was very happy to see a couple of authors I've already read books from. The variety of the stories in this book kept it fresh and entertaining from beginning to end.
My average rating for this collection was 4.35 stars, but once I finished it, I felt that as a whole, it deserved a bit more than that. Other than one story, there weren't any that I rated below 3 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection!
I can't pick a favourite out of all 24 stories, but the stand out ones for me were: Better Watch Out, All Naughty No Nice, Slay Bells, Christmas Market, The Present, and The Night Before Christmas... though there were many more that I loved a lot!
My rating for each story:
Story 1: Better Watch Out by Willow Rose - 5 stars
Story 2: Tommy's Christmas by John R. Little - 3 stars
Story 3: Naughty or Nice by Veronica Smith - 4 stars
Story 4: All Naughty, No Nice by Michael A. Arnzen - 5 stars
Story 5: Slay Bells by Weston Kincade - 5 stars
Story 6: Santa's Midnight Feast by J.L. Lane - 5 stars
Story 7: The Christmas Spirit by Lisa Morton - 4.5 stars
Story 8: Thy Will Be Done by J.C. Michael - 5 stars
Story 9: Psychopath Remiz by J.C. Michael - 3.5 stars
Story 10: A Tome of Bill Christmas Carol by Rick Gualtieri - 4 stars
Story 11: Christmas Market by Amy Cross - 5 stars
Story 12: Deck the Halls by Xtina Marie - 5 stars
Story 13: Merry Fucking Christmas by Kevin J. Kennedy - 5 stars
Story 14: Santa Came by Peter Oliver Wonder - 3.5 stars
Story 15: Hung With Care by Ty Schwamberger - 5 stars
Story 16: Killing Christmas by Andrew Lennon - 4.5 stars
Story 17: A Disappointed Shade of Blue by C.S. Anderson - 4 stars
Story 18: The Present by Israel Finn - 5 stars
Story 19: Christmas Carole by Lisa Vasquez - 2.5 stars
Story 20: Stuffed Pig by Steven Murray - 4 stars
Story 21: The Last Christmas Dinner by Christina Bergling - 4 stars
Story 22: The Veil by Rose Garnett - 4 stars
Story 23: The Night Before Christmas by Suzanne Fox - 5 stars
Story 24: In the Bag by Tim Curran - 4 stars
I definitely want to read more from this series of scary festive reads!
January 12, 2020
The average stars I would give to this book would be 4.14 based on my likes of each individual story. As is to be expected there was good, bad, and in between when it came to stories that were in the book. With twenty-nine (29) stories of varying lengths, there is likely something that will appeal to everyone. If you are looking for something scary however I cannot recommend it based on that because I did not find one scary thing in this book. There are killers galore and some atmosphere but no thrills and chills that will make you afraid of the dark, unless a man in a red suit does that to you.
Out of the 29 stories I found four (4) that I really liked while the rest were so-so.
'Tommy's Christmas' by John R. Little is the story of a burglar dressed as Santa who goes to the wrong house on that most festive of nights. While this is not scary it has a very nice twist ending.
'The Christmas Spirit' by Lisa Morton is about a couple whose marriage is falling apart. They go away to the country home of an aunt and gain possession of a book that entertains them until things become complicated. This had a bit of a gothic feel to it that gave the story a good atmosphere.
'Psychopathic Remix' by J.C. Michael I found to be the most fun and macabre thing in this anthology. The Twelve Days of Christmas with a killer twist. I sang instead of just reading it and it was fun.
'Deck The Halls by Xtina Marie is a nice poem that I liked and think that everyone else will too.
I found the above to be the most creative out the bunch though there were others that were good in their own way.
Out of the 29 stories I found four (4) that I really liked while the rest were so-so.
'Tommy's Christmas' by John R. Little is the story of a burglar dressed as Santa who goes to the wrong house on that most festive of nights. While this is not scary it has a very nice twist ending.
'The Christmas Spirit' by Lisa Morton is about a couple whose marriage is falling apart. They go away to the country home of an aunt and gain possession of a book that entertains them until things become complicated. This had a bit of a gothic feel to it that gave the story a good atmosphere.
'Psychopathic Remix' by J.C. Michael I found to be the most fun and macabre thing in this anthology. The Twelve Days of Christmas with a killer twist. I sang instead of just reading it and it was fun.
'Deck The Halls by Xtina Marie is a nice poem that I liked and think that everyone else will too.
I found the above to be the most creative out the bunch though there were others that were good in their own way.
December 4, 2018
Moderate spoilers.
A perfect gift to get you through the holidays. Keep in mind that a bulk of the stories deal with Santa, whether he takes the form of a burglar, psychological tormentor or humorous pervert. All the St. Nick readings were clever and well crafted, but if that’s not your jam, I strongly recommend you check out the others. My favorites in no particular order:
‘The Christmas Spirit’ by Lisa Morton. A silent horror tale that made me feel like I was watching a hammer horror film starring a young Christopher Lee and Hazel Court. English cottage that creeks and groans, village gossip, and a vengeful spirit.
‘Christmas Market’ by Amy Cross. Sometimes the average holiday shopper is unaware that he/she might be the chosen gift.
‘Merry F*ckin Christmas’ by Kevin J. Kennedy. The publisher of this book presents his own story about a vigilante that goes on a Christmas killing spree and takes the law into his own hands. The main character Alec says it best: “You know I think as the years pass by, the world becomes a worse place.”
‘The Night Before Christmas’ by Suzanne Fox. BDSM author takes a stab in a different direction involving two lovers stranded in a remote cottage, who must relinquish their sexual desires to save themselves from a bloodthirsty...elf?
A perfect gift to get you through the holidays. Keep in mind that a bulk of the stories deal with Santa, whether he takes the form of a burglar, psychological tormentor or humorous pervert. All the St. Nick readings were clever and well crafted, but if that’s not your jam, I strongly recommend you check out the others. My favorites in no particular order:
‘The Christmas Spirit’ by Lisa Morton. A silent horror tale that made me feel like I was watching a hammer horror film starring a young Christopher Lee and Hazel Court. English cottage that creeks and groans, village gossip, and a vengeful spirit.
‘Christmas Market’ by Amy Cross. Sometimes the average holiday shopper is unaware that he/she might be the chosen gift.
‘Merry F*ckin Christmas’ by Kevin J. Kennedy. The publisher of this book presents his own story about a vigilante that goes on a Christmas killing spree and takes the law into his own hands. The main character Alec says it best: “You know I think as the years pass by, the world becomes a worse place.”
‘The Night Before Christmas’ by Suzanne Fox. BDSM author takes a stab in a different direction involving two lovers stranded in a remote cottage, who must relinquish their sexual desires to save themselves from a bloodthirsty...elf?
April 26, 2018
This collection of stories will make you see Santa Claus in a whole new way. There are psycho Santas, zombie Santas, creepy Santas, naked Santas and even a girl Santa that will give you nightmares. There are unusual Christmas dinners, including one that will put you off ham for the rest of your life; as well as bizarre celebrations that will make you wish you were blind. Some have a very twisted sense of humor and will make you wonder what Ebenezer Scrooge would be like as a vampire. My absolute favorite was Stuffed Pig by Steven Murray, which is a Christmassy take on the Manson murders. Merry F*ckin’ Christmas, by Kevin J. Kennedy is disturbing, horrific and extremely sad. Christmas Market by Amy Cross and Slay Bells by Weston Kincade were other exceptional reads. But all the stories are excellent. Even for Christmas lovers such as me, this book will make you shiver next time you see a blow-up Santa in a department store.
I received a free copy from the author, but I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, Kevin J. Kennedy!
I received a free copy from the author, but I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, Kevin J. Kennedy!
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