Shadows and Teeth: Ten Terrifying Tales of Horror and Suspense

by Antonio Simon Jr., Trevor Boelter (Contributor), Mia Bravo (Contributor)

Prepare for extreme horror. This unique collection of ten stories features a range of international talent: award-winning authors, masters of horror, rising stars, and fresh new voices in the genre. Take care as you reach into these dark places, for the things here bite, and you may withdraw a hand short of a few fingers.

Water, Ice, And Vice, by Antonio Simon, Jr.
– Jeremy's new apartment harbors a demonic wish-granting fridge, which he uses to exact bloody vengeance on his obnoxious roommate.

The Dinner Party, by Trevor Boelter
– A dinner party devolves into a massacre when the blood flows as freely as the wine.

Routine, by Mia Bravo
– Edward's life is neat and orderly, just the way he likes it. It doesn't stay that way for long once bizarre apparitions threaten to end his life, and worse – break his daily routine.

The Final Spell, by Mark Meier
– Ken, a modern-day wizard, risks life and liberty in pursuit of the ultimate magick. How far will he go to obtain limitless power?

Back Through The Mist, by J.S. Watts
– Police Sergeant Comberton's investigation of a baffling murder strains her resolve to its breaking point. When the enquiry takes an otherworldly turn, she questions whether the past holds the key to her future.

Spawn, by Paige Reiring
– Assassin-for-hire Alice's personality is so keen, it can kill. She'll need every edge she can get when the hunter becomes the hunted.

The Pied Piper's Appetite, by Rich Phelan
– A competitive eater leads a ghastly double life in pursuit of a gruesome personal crusade.

Riana In The Gray Dusk, by Viktoria Faust
– A hastily taken photograph leads to a shocking revelation and a rare glimpse at a singular individual.

The Autobiography Of An Unsuccessful Author, by Brittany Gonzalez
– A one-hit-wonder's search for inspiration blurs the line between reality and insanity, with horrifying results.

Crying, by Darren Worrow
– Vinny's research into an urban legend about a haunted painting reveals more about himself than he ever dared to ask.

Genres: Horror, Anthologies

Audible Audio

First published April 30, 2016

About the author

Antonio Simon, Jr. is a lawyer and author of several short stories and essays. He holds Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Miami (Florida) in the subjects of political science and history, as well as a Juris Doctorate from Saint Thomas University’s School of Law. It is from this unique combination of disciplines which he draws inspiration, always making sure to add healthy doses of tongue-in-cheek humor. As you read this, he’s probably in court, or working on his next novel, or driving really fast in moments in between. He lives in Miami, Florida.

Reviews

[Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the Audio Book of this on Audible. I thought Wyatt S. Gray did an amazing job narrating it. I really enjoyed all of the stories in this collection.

[Nathan Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This unique collection of stories features a range of international talent: award-winning authors, masters of horror, rising stars, and fresh new voices in the genre. Take care as you reach into these dark places, for the things here bite, and you may withdraw a hand short of a few fingers.


Antonio Simon Jr’s opener Water, Ice and Vice is a Twilight Zone-esque cautionary tale about being careful what you wish for, as two college students discover a fridge that offers the possibility of fulfilling any vice.
Routine By Mia Bravo is a stand out story as a man’s OCD spirals out of control with bloody consequences. Despite the obvious reasoning for his escalating condition, I enjoyed his descent into madness.
The Pied Piper’s Appetite by Rich Phelan follows the tale of a competitive eater whose gluttonous appetites go further than just food. A likeable tale that borders on noir and surprises throughout as things get more and more messed up and a sinister agenda comes to light.

[READER VIEWS · Rating 5 out of 5]

SHADOWS AND TEETH: TEN TERRIFYING TALES OF HORROR AND SUSPENSE, VOLUME 1

Various Authors
Darkwater Syndicate, Inc. (2016)
ASIN B01DOV439K
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (04/16)

Article first published as Book Review: ‘Shadows And Teeth: Ten Terrifying Tales Of Horror And Suspense Vol. 1’ – Various Authors on Blogcritics.

I never turn down the chance to read a good horror story. “Shadows and Teeth” attracted my attention immediately - just by the title! Once I began reading, I quickly found myself drawn into the ten horrifying tales of terror that actually caused me to have some bad dreams. Perhaps that is what is so fun about a good horror story because once read, the stories continue on in our nightmares.

Even a short story can actually go a long way when it manages to work its way into our psyches because it can also haunt us when we are awake. While I found all of the tales to be very well written, I am not sure if I can say which one was the most disturbing. Each story is uniquely written by a talented author, and the writing styles varied so that each story stood out on its own. Some of the terrors covered include murder, madness, evil rituals, haunting, and vengeance. The tales with the supernatural elements were unnerving; however, I also found the ones based on mundane people with mental illnesses such as psychotic behavior to be equally disturbing because these things could actually happen.

A gift that comes from reading an anthology is the opportunity to discover new authors. These particular authors come from all walks of life, all ages, and even different countries. As I read, I looked up other works written by the exceptional authors. In doing so, I was able to add new titles to my future reading list. I look forward to being able to catch up on their other works. One of my favorites was the first one on the list, “Water, Ice, and Vice,” by Antonio Simon, Jr. When I started reading it, I assumed it would be a bit quirky because it is about a magical refrigerator that grants wishes. Quirkiness quickly turned to horror when the protagonist in the story learned that he should be more careful about what he wishes.

I highly recommend “Shadows and Teeth” for fans of horror. I also think it would make a great selection for a reader’s group because each tale will generate some interesting discussions. It would also be a great choice for high school students who have to read a book for an assignment. Even students of the opinion that they don’t like to read will find themselves getting caught up in the terror and forget that they are actually doing so! I really look forward to future volumes in this fantastic series.

[J.S. Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please see my review for the paperback version of this book.

[Scherry at The Novel Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't wait for my next camping trip! As we are all sitting around the campfire, roasting s'mores and getting ready to tell ghost stories, I'm going to pull out my Audible version of Shadows and Teeth and terrify all the campers! Then I'm going to crawl into my sleeping bag, zip it up tight, and try to sleep without having nightmares.

I'm not generally a big fan of anthologies, but this was PERFECT! Ten terrifying tales, just long enough for you to sink your teeth into and send chills down your spine, by ten fabulous authors. Hat's off to Darkwater Syndicate, Inc. for bringing this together!

Water, Ice, And Vice, by Antonio Simon, Jr.: This one will make your stomach churn as two college roommates discover what appears to be a demonically possessed refrigerator in their new apartment. It will make you think twice before dispensing ice and water from your own fridge.

The Dinner Party, by Trevor Boelter: This tale was just... weird. It took me a while to grasp what was happening. Not as scarey as it was... weird, and it all occurred at an unplanned dinner party.

Routine, by Mia Bravo: I was surprised to discover that this was Mia Bravo's first published work. This is definitely a tale I will read at the next campfire, although it may cause my camping friends to choke on their s'mores. Good job, Mia Bravo! I hope to read more from you in the future! Excellent visualization... almost too good (trying to keep the shiver from going down my spine). Edward is a bit OCD, but the new events in his life are anything BUT routine.

The Final Spell, by Mark Meier: Magic, Magic, Magic. Ken wants it so badly he will give up more than he could ever imagine. Is it ever too late to ask for forgiveness? This story was good, but not one I would tell around the campfire, unless it was a church retreat. A bit of religion and philosophy are at the heart of The Final Spell.

Back Through The Mist, by J.S. Watts: Set in the U.K., this murder mystery takes on the supernatural. Headless bodies, blood and major creepiness! What will Police Sergeant Comberton do? "Time" will tell. Well written and totally creepy!

Spawn, by Paige Reiring: The Spawn was truly creative and certainly kept my attention. What happens when someone wants to assassinate the assassin? This isn't just someone out to murder. We have Spawn's involved! Creepy Spawn's! Great characters! I'd love to read more from this author.

The Pied Piper's Appetite, by Rich Phelan: Okay, this is the first time I ever heard of a professional eater. Strange. And what is even more strange is what this guy does in his off time. As morbid as this story was, I have to say that the writing was great.

Riana In The Gray Dusk, by Viktoria Faust: When a photographer is hired to take an ID photo of a bland, sickly girl, he is somewhat annoyed but takes several photo's and allows Riana, his client, to choose the one she wants. The rest were stored away. Years later the photographer discovers something strange.

The Autobiography Of An Unsuccessful Author, by Brittany Gonzalez: Wow! Talk about writer's block! And then when the words begin to flow, the horror begins. This tale was REALLY creepy, but REALLY good. Great writing!

Crying, by Darren Worrow: Remembering his childhood, Vinny decides to research a song his grandmother used to sing to him to comfort him. He remembers a painting of a crying child and a wardrobe. Can Gran, who is now in a nursing home, give him the answers? The visualization created by Darren Worrow was amazing!

Like I said, I'm not normally a fan of anthologies, but these were quite entertaining!

Disclosure: A complimentary copy of the Audible version was provided by Antonio Simon, Jr. and Darkwater Syndicate in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.

[Graham Downs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of strange stories, with a variety of different themes, by a variety of different authors. While none of them scared me per se, some of them really freaked me out.

I particularly enjoyed the Pied Piper story, about a championship eater (of all things) with a chip on his shoulder. Spawn stuck with me as well, but only because it was just plain weird.

Other stories were less memorable, as is often the case with collections like this. I had to look back at the table of contents to remember what some of them were, so here's a really quick synopsis of each:

Water, Ice, And Vice by Antonio Simon Jr.: A geeky guy moves in with a jock, and discovers a magic wish-granting refrigerator in their new apartment. I never really got into this one.

The Dinner Party by Trevor Boelter: Interesting concept. It starts out with a woman preparing food in the kitchen while dinner guests get slowly sloshed in the lounge. There's a pretty cool twist that made me sit bolt upright and pay attention, but until the twist happened, I was pretty bored.

Routine by Mia Bravo: I actually really enjoyed this one, but forgot all about it by the time I reached the end. It's very weird, about a guy plagued by weird nightmarish creatures.

The Final Spell by Mark Meier: This story grabbed my attention early on, because of its uniqueness. The entire story is written in the second person, which is very rare, and very difficult to pull off. It's about a wizard relating the story of how he taught the reader magic. I liked the moral at the end.

Back Through The Mist by J.S. Watts: It was... okay, but battled to hold my attention. It's basically a British murder mystery with a paranormal twist and links to ancient Roman mythology. If you enjoy that type of thing, you'll probably like it, but it wasn't my cup of tea.

Spawn by Paige Reiring: Some people have emotions so strong that they're able to create magical creatures known as "Spawn". One such person is an assassin who uses her Spawn to help her ply her trade.

The Pied Piper's Appetite by Rich Phelan: This is the one I mentioned earlier. I can't say too much about it without spoiling it, but you'll love it. The price of the book might even be worth it for this story alone!

Riana In the Gray Dusk by Viktoria Faust: The memoir of a photographer who had a weird encounter with a woman years ago. It's the shortest of the bunch, and while I thought it had potential, it didn't really go anywhere for me.

The Autobiography of An Unsuccessful Author by Brittany Gonzalez: Am I the only author who gets drawn to stories about authors? This one's not bad; it's about a has-been author who tries his hand at a completely different genre. In his case, horror. Weird things ensue.

Crying by Darren Worrow: Oddly enough, I'd just read this story a few weeks before, as a standalone. It's about a guy reminiscing about his childhood, specifically about an old painting that he and his gran used to look at. He discovers some weird things about the painting's history. Generally speaking, Worrow's a comedy writer, not a horror one, so there are elements of comedy in here. It's still pretty deep, though, and makes you think.

So that's it. Some good, some bad... but more good than bad. If you're into weird things, I think these stories are definitely worth a read.

[Aaron Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten novelettes make up this horror collection. Some are great, and some are just okay. I particularly enjoyed 'Water, Ice, Vice'.

[J.S. Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always difficult to review an anthology in which you've got a short story: give it maximum stars and everyone says, "well of course you would"; give it less than maximum and everyone says, "So what's wrong with it?"

So, for the record, I've read the anthology, excluding my own contribution, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a very fine and unsettling anthology, but you don't have to take my word for it. Its value has been recognised by the 2016 International Book Awards in which it was one of two runners up for the Fiction:anthology category.

The anthology consists of ten horror stories by ten different writers. There is an entertaining range of subject and style. The underlying theme is of horror and unease in modern, day to day settings. Only one story breaks this mould: "Spawn" by Paige Reairing, an imaginative horror/fantasy crossover set in a world in which vices and virtues take on a life of their own. Other than that, all the stories have their horror rooted in day to day reality: a fridge which dispenses you what you think you want; a dinner party guest to whom you can't say no; a man whose beloved day to day routine is shattered irrevocably; a modern-day wizard whose pursuit of the ultimate magick takes him to unexpected extremes; a police murder investigation in a quaint old British village which uncovers the past in more ways than one (my contribution to the anthology); the queasy double-life of a competitive eater; the all consuming effects of an addiction to photography; a writer's search for inspiration has unexpected consequences and, finally, a rock musician's obsession with the painting of a crying child. These shadows are ones you might stumble into as you go about your own daily routines.

[Thomas H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories. Riana is the best!