The "Holiday Spirit" just got terrifying. As the year comes to its end and the frigid night hours reach their peak, the old tradition of winter ghost tales makes its return. Christmas ghosts, Solstice spirits, New Year's phantoms, and even armies of killer snowmen haunt the pages of these stories of the supernatural. A Cup of Kindness by Misha Burnett Stranger Come Knocking by David J. West Don't Disturb the Carollers by Lauren Stokeld Echoes at Midnight by Amy Beatty Te Amo, Mamita by Sarah E. Seeley A Solstice Scare by Robin Cranney Silent Night by Allan Evans Love Me, I Pray by Staci Olsen Angel in the Attic by Donea Lee Weaver Ghost Train by John M. Olsen 'Twas The Fight Before Christmas by James T. Lambert The Ghost of Christmas Lost by L'ren Beck Solstice Fire by Jodi Lynne Chase All Through the House by Scott William Taylor A Bloody Merry Christmas by Mark Minson
The first thing to say is that this was a Christmas gift from my friend Jana Brown, who’s also a cracking author herself. In fact, I’m pretty sure that she had a hand in editing some of these stories.
Haunted Yuletide is a collection of Christmas-themed horror stories, which meant that it was right up my alley. It brings together a bunch of indie authors and features a range of horror, from lighter stuff and comedy horror to really brutal stuff that will leave you shaking in your bed and hoping that Santa doesn’t come down your chimney.
It was an interesting little read for me because I picked it up right after reading a collection called ‘Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas in Deathlehem, another Christmas-themed horror anthology that features my own story, Black Solstice. Perhaps I’m biased, but I thought the Deathlehem book was a little better, but for two main reasons – it was a little bit longer and all of its proceeds went to an HIV charity.
But it was still a cracking little collection and it introduced me to a whole heap of indie authors that I hadn’t come across before. There was even a story that reminded me of an idea that I’d had myself, although I’ve never executed it. Now, I probably never will, because I don’t think I could do much better.
All in all then, Haunted Yuletide is a cracker of an anthology and definitely one that I’d recommend, especially if you’re looking for something horrifying during the festive period.