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Demonic Carnival: First Ticket's Free
You are traveling into a dark and humorous place. We start you off with light, soft stories, but be warned. You will find yourself falling into the ever darker, gorier, and more demonic stories with each passing story. From heartwarming endings to feeling like you just walked out of the Carnival Port-a-potty into another dimension - this collection will leave your mind spinning. The Fried Food stall, the Ferris Wheel, and even that carnival themed hotel in Vegas... all of it will never be the same for you after your visit to the Demonic Carnival. Remember... First Ticket’s Free...
183 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2019
13 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
A.E. Santana
13 books14 followersA.E. Santana is a Southern California native who grew up in a farming community surrounded by the desert. A lover of horror and fantasy, she is the author of several short stories and plays. She received her MFA in fiction from UC Riverside and she is a founding playwright for East Valley Repertory Theatre in Indio, California. Her perfect day consists of a cup of black tea and her cat, Flynn Kermit. Twitter & Instagram @foxflur
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 17, 2019
So, wow! This ended up being a great collection. With the exception of FD Gross (and myself), every author here was new to me. The Devil’s Due by Kerilyn Blake and Tilt-A-Whirl by M.B. Meraki were my favorite scary stories – I was blown away by those. G & Z’s Haunted House by Jeremy Rodden was by far the most charming. Really though there was something I loved about each story. Brief details below (as spoiler-free as possible).
***
Welcome by Kim Plasket:
Very lovely intro. I love how the author seems to speak for all stories. It kind of pulls all the stories together even before you’ve read them. Sets the tone. The perspective is especially appreciated; it really pulls you in.
Cotton Candy Caper by Kerry Evelyn:
Creative. I love that the author puts in a message of hope. For some reason I can see this happening on an episode of Supernatural. Which is obviously a good thing! lol
G & Z’s Haunted House by Jeremy Rodden:
This one made me LOL consistently throughout. It has lots of charm that doesn’t let up once. I would definitely recommend this author to anyone who wants to be entertained. 5/5
Sometimes Ignorance Is Not Bliss by K. Walker:
Pretty good character development. Overall a funny story about demon culture that I appreciated.
A Tasty Festival by Angelique Fawns:
Great storytelling and yes, a bit creepy to boot. Nothing overly complicated, just a nice fright, short and sweet.
Here’s to the Future by Jessica Chaleff:
Enjoyable. This had a “Tales from the Crypt” vibe, especially regarding karma being dealt to a snooty person. I think it had just the right amount of pacing to keep you from getting bored.
Beauty Forever More by Ross Ellison:
I enjoyed this story from the beginning and didn’t expect the ending. It left me with a foreboding feeling which is always a great thing.
Dead Man’s Carnival by Valerie Puri:
I was pleasantly surprised by this story, which I loved. Great tale and one you may think about long after you’ve read it.
The Seventh Time is Worth a Try by Teresa Edmond-Sargeant:
A supernatural tale that could have taken place on the show Charmed. Accurately depicts the cycle of some couples being stuck in bad relationships.
It Isn’t Bobby by Erika Lance:
I liked it from the beginning as it has a smooth flow, making it enjoyable and easy to read. Also a really good character setup. In such a small amount of time, the author was able to give you a good rundown on both of these girls’ personalities. As far as the story itself, it made me think and read the story again. Memorable; great job.
Cervantes the Puppet Master by FD Gross:
It’s little surprise that I enjoyed this story, as FD Gross is one of my favorite authors and I am familiar with his style. In spite of this, however, while reading this story I had forgotten he was the author, which is a nod to his versatility. Really impressive. This story is different than his novels, but just as engaging. He has the uncanny ability to pull you into his world.
Don’t Make Waves by Charlotte Platt:
Immediately I was struck by the author’s constant and lovely descriptions. This story truly creeped me out in a fresh new way; I wasn’t expecting to find what I did here. It’s a story that made me uncomfortable down to the core, in a way that I strangely appreciate. I wish this would be made into a novel.
Deep Fried by George Alan Bradley:
A lot of fun to read, very immersive, just the right amount of descriptions given. The story leaves you feeling satisfied, amused, and horrified all at once.
Be Nice by AE Santana:
This story was pretty interesting. After I read it, I felt like I had to read it again. Quite a clever story.
Tilt-A-Whirl by M.B. Meraki:
I was really impressed with this one. One could say it was a perfect story: short and sweet, doesn’t go too deep into the paranormal aspect of it, doesn’t try to cover too much, but gives you just a taste so while the ending is quite satisfying, it leaves you craving more. I loved the turns the story took and everything was unexpected. It made me flip back and re-read some things to get a better understanding.
The Mirror Maze by Stephen Herczeg:
Devilishly delightful. Written very cinematically so it’s quite easy to imagine in your head. Enjoyable.
The Devil’s Due by Kerilyn Blake:
Wow! This one was really good. I love it when an author writes something that puts a spin on everything you've just read. Perfectly done and very well executed. And what an imagination. I love it.
The Architect Scorned by Larry Griffin:
Quite an engaging story and probably the best character-building in this anthology. The main character is fascinating. I wouldn’t mind a prequel to gain some more insight on the MC.
Tourist by Brandon Mead:
Ha! This one was great and so indulgent. I loved this unique style and exceedingly clever narration. The author is quite skilled.
***
Welcome by Kim Plasket:
Very lovely intro. I love how the author seems to speak for all stories. It kind of pulls all the stories together even before you’ve read them. Sets the tone. The perspective is especially appreciated; it really pulls you in.
Cotton Candy Caper by Kerry Evelyn:
Creative. I love that the author puts in a message of hope. For some reason I can see this happening on an episode of Supernatural. Which is obviously a good thing! lol
G & Z’s Haunted House by Jeremy Rodden:
This one made me LOL consistently throughout. It has lots of charm that doesn’t let up once. I would definitely recommend this author to anyone who wants to be entertained. 5/5
Sometimes Ignorance Is Not Bliss by K. Walker:
Pretty good character development. Overall a funny story about demon culture that I appreciated.
A Tasty Festival by Angelique Fawns:
Great storytelling and yes, a bit creepy to boot. Nothing overly complicated, just a nice fright, short and sweet.
Here’s to the Future by Jessica Chaleff:
Enjoyable. This had a “Tales from the Crypt” vibe, especially regarding karma being dealt to a snooty person. I think it had just the right amount of pacing to keep you from getting bored.
Beauty Forever More by Ross Ellison:
I enjoyed this story from the beginning and didn’t expect the ending. It left me with a foreboding feeling which is always a great thing.
Dead Man’s Carnival by Valerie Puri:
I was pleasantly surprised by this story, which I loved. Great tale and one you may think about long after you’ve read it.
The Seventh Time is Worth a Try by Teresa Edmond-Sargeant:
A supernatural tale that could have taken place on the show Charmed. Accurately depicts the cycle of some couples being stuck in bad relationships.
It Isn’t Bobby by Erika Lance:
I liked it from the beginning as it has a smooth flow, making it enjoyable and easy to read. Also a really good character setup. In such a small amount of time, the author was able to give you a good rundown on both of these girls’ personalities. As far as the story itself, it made me think and read the story again. Memorable; great job.
Cervantes the Puppet Master by FD Gross:
It’s little surprise that I enjoyed this story, as FD Gross is one of my favorite authors and I am familiar with his style. In spite of this, however, while reading this story I had forgotten he was the author, which is a nod to his versatility. Really impressive. This story is different than his novels, but just as engaging. He has the uncanny ability to pull you into his world.
Don’t Make Waves by Charlotte Platt:
Immediately I was struck by the author’s constant and lovely descriptions. This story truly creeped me out in a fresh new way; I wasn’t expecting to find what I did here. It’s a story that made me uncomfortable down to the core, in a way that I strangely appreciate. I wish this would be made into a novel.
Deep Fried by George Alan Bradley:
A lot of fun to read, very immersive, just the right amount of descriptions given. The story leaves you feeling satisfied, amused, and horrified all at once.
Be Nice by AE Santana:
This story was pretty interesting. After I read it, I felt like I had to read it again. Quite a clever story.
Tilt-A-Whirl by M.B. Meraki:
I was really impressed with this one. One could say it was a perfect story: short and sweet, doesn’t go too deep into the paranormal aspect of it, doesn’t try to cover too much, but gives you just a taste so while the ending is quite satisfying, it leaves you craving more. I loved the turns the story took and everything was unexpected. It made me flip back and re-read some things to get a better understanding.
The Mirror Maze by Stephen Herczeg:
Devilishly delightful. Written very cinematically so it’s quite easy to imagine in your head. Enjoyable.
The Devil’s Due by Kerilyn Blake:
Wow! This one was really good. I love it when an author writes something that puts a spin on everything you've just read. Perfectly done and very well executed. And what an imagination. I love it.
The Architect Scorned by Larry Griffin:
Quite an engaging story and probably the best character-building in this anthology. The main character is fascinating. I wouldn’t mind a prequel to gain some more insight on the MC.
Tourist by Brandon Mead:
Ha! This one was great and so indulgent. I loved this unique style and exceedingly clever narration. The author is quite skilled.
September 1, 2019
Very spooky, and tantalizingly scary!
As a guy who spent his childhool telling ghost stories around the campfire, I found this anthology to be absolutely delicious. What a great variety of talent and ideas to be found within the pages of this novel. It was creepy, and scary, and quite original. (and I mean creepy in a good way!)
Each story was radically different than the last, and all left you wide-eyed at the end. I have a few friends who are avid horror readers who will be getting print copies of this book for Christmas this year. Yeah, this book was all that and a bag of chips. If you like to feel your skin crawl or have the hairs on the back o your neck suddenly perk up, then pick up a copy of this anthology.
As a guy who spent his childhool telling ghost stories around the campfire, I found this anthology to be absolutely delicious. What a great variety of talent and ideas to be found within the pages of this novel. It was creepy, and scary, and quite original. (and I mean creepy in a good way!)
Each story was radically different than the last, and all left you wide-eyed at the end. I have a few friends who are avid horror readers who will be getting print copies of this book for Christmas this year. Yeah, this book was all that and a bag of chips. If you like to feel your skin crawl or have the hairs on the back o your neck suddenly perk up, then pick up a copy of this anthology.
September 4, 2019
Oh my!
What an awesome, amazing collection of short and not so sweet chilling tales! Carnival rides to Hell, sweet innocence morphing into degradation and terror, and don't ever forget... The first ticket's free....
What an awesome, amazing collection of short and not so sweet chilling tales! Carnival rides to Hell, sweet innocence morphing into degradation and terror, and don't ever forget... The first ticket's free....
September 4, 2019
This well-written Collection is a fun read. The stories are spooky, dark, creepy and the reader will never look at carnivals the same way. I liked it. I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews