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Blood Bank: A Charitable Anthology
Fourteen masters of horror and dark fantasy come together for a great cause!
Explore the human condition and the dread of losing loved ones. Walk occult paths and knock on cosmic doors. Run from monsters, both human and supernatural. And do it all while helping two great charities.
A portion of the proceeds from every copy of Blood Bank will be donated to Read Better Be Better and Hagar's House, quarterly, over the next five years. More information can be found on our website.
Blood Bank features stories from Livia Llewellyn, Neil Gaiman, Jo Kaplan, Kristopher Triana, Kealan Patrick Burke, Mona Kabbani, Max Booth III, Joseph Sale, Jay Wilburn, Jeremy Robert Johnson, Rena Mason, Lucy Leitner, Patrick Freivald, and Jeff Strand.
Thank you for helping us spread hope through dark fiction!
Explore the human condition and the dread of losing loved ones. Walk occult paths and knock on cosmic doors. Run from monsters, both human and supernatural. And do it all while helping two great charities.
A portion of the proceeds from every copy of Blood Bank will be donated to Read Better Be Better and Hagar's House, quarterly, over the next five years. More information can be found on our website.
Blood Bank features stories from Livia Llewellyn, Neil Gaiman, Jo Kaplan, Kristopher Triana, Kealan Patrick Burke, Mona Kabbani, Max Booth III, Joseph Sale, Jay Wilburn, Jeremy Robert Johnson, Rena Mason, Lucy Leitner, Patrick Freivald, and Jeff Strand.
Thank you for helping us spread hope through dark fiction!
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2022
104 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 23, 2022
A solid collection of new horror stories by some of our favorite authors. They were all pretty great, but the 2 that really stood out for me were Pictures of a Princess by Kristopher Triana. It’s about a family that is on vacation and goes to an amusement park called Fairytale Land for their daughters 6th birthday. Her favorite Princess was Princess Abigail, but it wasn’t only her favorite princess, and that’s when things started getting weird. The next one was Every Breath is a choice where a man named Tom seeks revenge for all he has lost.
The others were a lot of fun too, which included a creepy, laughing Clown Doll, the end of the human race, a really unique first date, a guy that watches a door most of his life, and a cursed black jar. Then we have one about how easy it is to manipulate someone with false information advice you get from your brothers, mothers, sisters, first cousin once removed. One about a man who doesn’t seem to know what to do once his son goes missing. Also a story about a wendigo.
The others were a lot of fun too, which included a creepy, laughing Clown Doll, the end of the human race, a really unique first date, a guy that watches a door most of his life, and a cursed black jar. Then we have one about how easy it is to manipulate someone with false information advice you get from your brothers, mothers, sisters, first cousin once removed. One about a man who doesn’t seem to know what to do once his son goes missing. Also a story about a wendigo.
June 6, 2022
Just look at the names of the authors and as a horror lover, you know you're going to have to pick this collection up. Like with most anthologies, some were liked better than others but what a fun ride this was to go on. Come hither, strap yourself in, grab some delightful eats and an adult beverage and prepare yourself for a variety of stories that will be certain to make your toes curl, your butt pucker and your hairs stand on end.
June 29, 2024
ARC for review. Published May 11, 2022.
Fourteen stories of horror and dark fantasy where a portion of the proceeds from sales for five years goes to two charities, Read Better, Be Better supporting childhood literacy in Arizona and Hagar’s House which offers help to displaced families in New Orleans. Book was published in May 2022, so I’m sure this is being pushed again to garner more support for the charities (and for the book, sure.).
Overall the stories were of good quality. I had read two, maybe three before (definitely the Neil Gaiman and the Lucy Leitner. One other seemed familiar.)
Of the rest my favorites were the comic “First Date” by Jeff Strand, “Doorwatch” by Kealan Patrick Burke and “Every Breath is a Choice” by Max Booth III.
Fourteen stories of horror and dark fantasy where a portion of the proceeds from sales for five years goes to two charities, Read Better, Be Better supporting childhood literacy in Arizona and Hagar’s House which offers help to displaced families in New Orleans. Book was published in May 2022, so I’m sure this is being pushed again to garner more support for the charities (and for the book, sure.).
Overall the stories were of good quality. I had read two, maybe three before (definitely the Neil Gaiman and the Lucy Leitner. One other seemed familiar.)
Of the rest my favorites were the comic “First Date” by Jeff Strand, “Doorwatch” by Kealan Patrick Burke and “Every Breath is a Choice” by Max Booth III.
December 19, 2022
Horror Anthology for some great causes
I’ll start by saying that the majority of anthologies are hit or miss. This was no exception except that all the stories were very well written and the money raised from the sales go to some terrific causes. For that reason alone, I upped my rating from 4 to 5 stars. There are some gems in this collection.
Clown Doll by Jo Kaplan: Clowns are always creepy. I found specific scenes in this story terrifying, but the ending was blah.
Fool’s Blood by Rena Mason: Maybe it’s me, but could not follow or get into this one.
We can get them for you Wholesale by Neil Gaiman: Awesome black humour. Terrific story and imagination. Loved it!
First Date by Jeff Strand: Awesome Jeff Strand! Brilliant blend of humour and horror! Imagine a first date between a serial killer and a mysterious woman. In Jeff’s world, what could go wrong?
Doorwatch by Kealan Patrick Burke: Shades of Abigail Lane which Kealan mentions in the story. It was fine and well written.
Pictures of a Princess - a fable by Kristopher Triana: Excellent short story. I’ve heard of Kristopher Triana before but have never read his books. I think that needs to change. Very macabre and disturbing.
Laws of Virulence by Jeremiah Robert Johnson: Never heard of this author but this was a good read. Very clever alien horror. Engrossing!
Cursed Objects by Mona Kabbani: Complex story of two young girls looking for retribution. Well written, but conclusion was very heavy handed.
The Stone by Joseph Sale: Well written, but just a little too abstract for me. I had a hard time reconciling the symbols within the story with the message. There is a stone that is like a meteor, toads, a sea with shadowed shapes, blood sand, wind gusts…. combined into a story about a loving couple who encounter violence. Maybe I just can’t see it, but I did not get the gist of what one thing had to do with the other. The only part that made sense to me was that the gigantic toad appeared somewhere where it did not belong, just like the violence.
Every Breath is a Choice by Max Booth III: Pretty hard-hitting story. Not very likely ending, but hard-core all the same. The eternal question about what makes the monster and is there a way to stop the vicious circle?
They Say the Sky is full of Snakewolves by Lucy Leitner: Which monster is worse? The one we can’t see but hear about in all our fairytales or the one we can who lives with us? Excellent story about how monsters come in all shapes and sizes
The End of time on Rosewyld Lane by Jay Wilburn: This was an interesting take on a parent’s worst nightmare, and although, I am positive that it was meant to be circular, I didn’t care for it. However, I kept thinking that there must be some symbolism to the names of the streets (which would be very cool) but I could not figure it out, if there was: Hollend, Absyhthe, Coremyyn, Samsonn.
New Fox Smell by Livia Llewelyn : WTF? Is this a story about a girl growing into a woman? A woman aging?Girls being chased by monsters?
A Better Hate by Patrick Freivald: Didn’t care too much for this story. I felt that there was too much missing about Abe’s backstory to give more context.
Must read stories: Gaiman, Strand, Triana, Johnson, Booth III, and Leitner.
I’ll start by saying that the majority of anthologies are hit or miss. This was no exception except that all the stories were very well written and the money raised from the sales go to some terrific causes. For that reason alone, I upped my rating from 4 to 5 stars. There are some gems in this collection.
Clown Doll by Jo Kaplan: Clowns are always creepy. I found specific scenes in this story terrifying, but the ending was blah.
Fool’s Blood by Rena Mason: Maybe it’s me, but could not follow or get into this one.
We can get them for you Wholesale by Neil Gaiman: Awesome black humour. Terrific story and imagination. Loved it!
First Date by Jeff Strand: Awesome Jeff Strand! Brilliant blend of humour and horror! Imagine a first date between a serial killer and a mysterious woman. In Jeff’s world, what could go wrong?
Doorwatch by Kealan Patrick Burke: Shades of Abigail Lane which Kealan mentions in the story. It was fine and well written.
Pictures of a Princess - a fable by Kristopher Triana: Excellent short story. I’ve heard of Kristopher Triana before but have never read his books. I think that needs to change. Very macabre and disturbing.
Laws of Virulence by Jeremiah Robert Johnson: Never heard of this author but this was a good read. Very clever alien horror. Engrossing!
Cursed Objects by Mona Kabbani: Complex story of two young girls looking for retribution. Well written, but conclusion was very heavy handed.
The Stone by Joseph Sale: Well written, but just a little too abstract for me. I had a hard time reconciling the symbols within the story with the message. There is a stone that is like a meteor, toads, a sea with shadowed shapes, blood sand, wind gusts…. combined into a story about a loving couple who encounter violence. Maybe I just can’t see it, but I did not get the gist of what one thing had to do with the other. The only part that made sense to me was that the gigantic toad appeared somewhere where it did not belong, just like the violence.
Every Breath is a Choice by Max Booth III: Pretty hard-hitting story. Not very likely ending, but hard-core all the same. The eternal question about what makes the monster and is there a way to stop the vicious circle?
They Say the Sky is full of Snakewolves by Lucy Leitner: Which monster is worse? The one we can’t see but hear about in all our fairytales or the one we can who lives with us? Excellent story about how monsters come in all shapes and sizes
The End of time on Rosewyld Lane by Jay Wilburn: This was an interesting take on a parent’s worst nightmare, and although, I am positive that it was meant to be circular, I didn’t care for it. However, I kept thinking that there must be some symbolism to the names of the streets (which would be very cool) but I could not figure it out, if there was: Hollend, Absyhthe, Coremyyn, Samsonn.
New Fox Smell by Livia Llewelyn : WTF? Is this a story about a girl growing into a woman? A woman aging?Girls being chased by monsters?
A Better Hate by Patrick Freivald: Didn’t care too much for this story. I felt that there was too much missing about Abe’s backstory to give more context.
Must read stories: Gaiman, Strand, Triana, Johnson, Booth III, and Leitner.
June 11, 2022
Bloody good fun for a bloody good cause. Review available at Kendall Reviews. Link below
http://kendallreviews.com/book-review...
http://kendallreviews.com/book-review...
July 6, 2024
I was excited to check out the Livia Llewellyn story, but it's far from her best.
September 19, 2022
First of all, this is a book written to help a couple of charities, those charities are Read Better Be Better & Hagar's House, (more info can be found on the BBB website), so just by buying this book, you're already onto a good thing!
Secondly, just look at the names that have contributed to this anthology……Neil Gaiman, Jeff Strand, Kristopher Triana, Max Booth III, Lucy Leitner…..to name but a few! 🖤
Ok, on with the review! This collection was fantastic, not a bad story in there, and it kicks off brilliantly with a proper creepy little tale, teasing you with the greatness to come! They all varied in style and genre, and all made you feel different things! The standouts for me were, CLOWN DOLL, CURSED OBJECTS, THE STONE, NEW FOX SMELL, and my most fave was EVERY BREATH IS A CHOICE!!
As always, I will write a few words for each story…
*CLOWN DOLL BY JO KAPLAN* When you're woken at 3am by the sound of manic clown laughter, is there anything more chilling and terrifying?? Yes! The answer is Yes!! I can totally relate to Charlene's fears and anxieties too, making this story that little bit more chilling for me!! Very creepy! 🤡
*FOOLS BLOOD BY RENA MASON* Billy has purchased himself a mine….when he meets the original owner, things get very strange, and mystery and curiosity abound!
*WE CAN GET THEM FOR YOU WHOLESALE BY NEIL GAIMAN* Peter is in need of an assassin, he sees no other way…and he can't resist a special offer!! This was a fun one…
*FIRST DATE BY JEFF STRAND* Cliff is a serial killer, and he is out on a date….with a very annoying woman named June! This was another fun one, if you've read Jeff's work before, you'll know he loves to inject a bit of humour into his stories! 😁
*DOORWATCH BY KEALAN PATRICK BURKE* A mysterious door appears at the bottom of Ned's garden. Ned feels he must watch it and make sure nothing comes through….whatever happens! Chilling and eerie…
*PICTURES OF A PRINCESS (A FABLE) BY KRISTOPHER TRIANA* It's not just Jeff's daughter that's infatuated with Princess Abigail! He's a scarily deluded man! This was pretty creepy and terrifying!
*LAWS OF VIRULENCE BY JEREMY ROBERT JOHNSON* Matthew and his family get a sickness Bug, and it's really not very pleasant! A tale of chilling desperation..
*CURSED OBJECTS BY MONA KABBANI* It's all just a joke, just a game, right? Adena and Rachel keep telling themselves that as they cast their spells. A dark story of love and friendship! 🖤
*THE STONE BY JOSEPH SALE* Mark and Cassandra come across a big ugly toad, and it's left them an unusual gift, after which things take a terrible turn! Melancholic and eerie,,
*EVERY BREATH IS A CHOICE BY MAX BOOTH III* Tom doesn't want to be here anymore, he has absolutely nothing to live for and he is full of grief! What a twist!! Had me gasping out loud! Fantastic! Heartbreaking and visceral…
*THEY SAY THE SKY IS FULL OF SNAKEWOLVES BY LUCY LEITNER* Ava is used to suffering abuse at the hands of her husband/partner, but he's just one monster….outside, the monsters are everywhere!! Terrifying and sad..
*THE END OF TIME ON ROSEWYLD LANE BY JAY WILBURN* A young boy goes missing, his Dad is overwhelmed by guilt and won't give up looking for him! I felt every emotion in this one, heart wrenching..
*NEW FOX SMELL BY LIVIA LLEWELLYN* Laurels going on vacation, she doesn't want to but she has no choice! And things get weird for her as soon as she gets into the car! Bizarre, nightmarish, like a bad trip, and absolutely chilling and horrifying!
*A BETTER HATE BY PATRICK FREIVALD* Its Founders Day, and Benny and his Uncle George are reliving old stories on the front porch, until Abe, a New World Demon gets loose!! A nice fast paced bloodbath of utter carnage to end the collection!! Perfect! 😈
Secondly, just look at the names that have contributed to this anthology……Neil Gaiman, Jeff Strand, Kristopher Triana, Max Booth III, Lucy Leitner…..to name but a few! 🖤
Ok, on with the review! This collection was fantastic, not a bad story in there, and it kicks off brilliantly with a proper creepy little tale, teasing you with the greatness to come! They all varied in style and genre, and all made you feel different things! The standouts for me were, CLOWN DOLL, CURSED OBJECTS, THE STONE, NEW FOX SMELL, and my most fave was EVERY BREATH IS A CHOICE!!
As always, I will write a few words for each story…
*CLOWN DOLL BY JO KAPLAN* When you're woken at 3am by the sound of manic clown laughter, is there anything more chilling and terrifying?? Yes! The answer is Yes!! I can totally relate to Charlene's fears and anxieties too, making this story that little bit more chilling for me!! Very creepy! 🤡
*FOOLS BLOOD BY RENA MASON* Billy has purchased himself a mine….when he meets the original owner, things get very strange, and mystery and curiosity abound!
*WE CAN GET THEM FOR YOU WHOLESALE BY NEIL GAIMAN* Peter is in need of an assassin, he sees no other way…and he can't resist a special offer!! This was a fun one…
*FIRST DATE BY JEFF STRAND* Cliff is a serial killer, and he is out on a date….with a very annoying woman named June! This was another fun one, if you've read Jeff's work before, you'll know he loves to inject a bit of humour into his stories! 😁
*DOORWATCH BY KEALAN PATRICK BURKE* A mysterious door appears at the bottom of Ned's garden. Ned feels he must watch it and make sure nothing comes through….whatever happens! Chilling and eerie…
*PICTURES OF A PRINCESS (A FABLE) BY KRISTOPHER TRIANA* It's not just Jeff's daughter that's infatuated with Princess Abigail! He's a scarily deluded man! This was pretty creepy and terrifying!
*LAWS OF VIRULENCE BY JEREMY ROBERT JOHNSON* Matthew and his family get a sickness Bug, and it's really not very pleasant! A tale of chilling desperation..
*CURSED OBJECTS BY MONA KABBANI* It's all just a joke, just a game, right? Adena and Rachel keep telling themselves that as they cast their spells. A dark story of love and friendship! 🖤
*THE STONE BY JOSEPH SALE* Mark and Cassandra come across a big ugly toad, and it's left them an unusual gift, after which things take a terrible turn! Melancholic and eerie,,
*EVERY BREATH IS A CHOICE BY MAX BOOTH III* Tom doesn't want to be here anymore, he has absolutely nothing to live for and he is full of grief! What a twist!! Had me gasping out loud! Fantastic! Heartbreaking and visceral…
*THEY SAY THE SKY IS FULL OF SNAKEWOLVES BY LUCY LEITNER* Ava is used to suffering abuse at the hands of her husband/partner, but he's just one monster….outside, the monsters are everywhere!! Terrifying and sad..
*THE END OF TIME ON ROSEWYLD LANE BY JAY WILBURN* A young boy goes missing, his Dad is overwhelmed by guilt and won't give up looking for him! I felt every emotion in this one, heart wrenching..
*NEW FOX SMELL BY LIVIA LLEWELLYN* Laurels going on vacation, she doesn't want to but she has no choice! And things get weird for her as soon as she gets into the car! Bizarre, nightmarish, like a bad trip, and absolutely chilling and horrifying!
*A BETTER HATE BY PATRICK FREIVALD* Its Founders Day, and Benny and his Uncle George are reliving old stories on the front porch, until Abe, a New World Demon gets loose!! A nice fast paced bloodbath of utter carnage to end the collection!! Perfect! 😈
July 30, 2022
This Anthology wasn't good, it was great! All fourteen stories were well written. With writers like Neil Gaiman, Max Booth III, Kealan Patrick Burke, Jeff Strand, Kristopher Triana, and all the other talented writers, you get an Anthology packed with a wide array of subgenres guaranteed to creep you out.
We start of with Clown Doll by Jo Kaplan. In Clown Doll we get a creepy doll story with a twist. We end this Anthology with A Better Hate by Patrick Freivald. In A Better Hate we get an Indigenous folk horror tale set during Christmas time. This one was one of my favorites. Other stories that stood out for me were Cursed Objects by Mona Kabbani, Doorwatch by Kealan Patrick Burke, and The End of Time On Rosewyld Lane by Jay Wilburn. Some of the stories were tear jerkers, some just creeped me out, and others scratched that sweet revenge itch. As for me, I highly recommend this Anthology. 5 out 5 bloody tears. Thank you Blood Bound Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
We start of with Clown Doll by Jo Kaplan. In Clown Doll we get a creepy doll story with a twist. We end this Anthology with A Better Hate by Patrick Freivald. In A Better Hate we get an Indigenous folk horror tale set during Christmas time. This one was one of my favorites. Other stories that stood out for me were Cursed Objects by Mona Kabbani, Doorwatch by Kealan Patrick Burke, and The End of Time On Rosewyld Lane by Jay Wilburn. Some of the stories were tear jerkers, some just creeped me out, and others scratched that sweet revenge itch. As for me, I highly recommend this Anthology. 5 out 5 bloody tears. Thank you Blood Bound Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2022
Thank you to Blood Bound Books for providing me with an e-ARC of Blood Bank: A Charitable Anthology!
There is not a miss in this collection AT ALL. I vibed with every single story!
As soon as I saw the line-up of authors, I knew it wouldn’t let me down: Neil Gaiman, Kealan Patrick Burke, Jeff Strand, Lucy Leitner, Max Booth III, Mona Kabanni, and MORE show up in this one & each story shines with the author’s voices & originality. Some of the stories will make you laugh, some will scare you & others will break your heart.
10/10 recommend! Not only do you get a brilliant collection, but you’ll also be supporting a wonderful cause!
Blood Bound Books mission is to spread hope through dark fiction & with BLOOD BANK: A CHARITABLE ANTHOLOGY they are supporting Read Better Be Better, an organization that encourages reading for children in Arizona which has some of the lowest literacy rates in the country.
There is not a miss in this collection AT ALL. I vibed with every single story!
As soon as I saw the line-up of authors, I knew it wouldn’t let me down: Neil Gaiman, Kealan Patrick Burke, Jeff Strand, Lucy Leitner, Max Booth III, Mona Kabanni, and MORE show up in this one & each story shines with the author’s voices & originality. Some of the stories will make you laugh, some will scare you & others will break your heart.
10/10 recommend! Not only do you get a brilliant collection, but you’ll also be supporting a wonderful cause!
Blood Bound Books mission is to spread hope through dark fiction & with BLOOD BANK: A CHARITABLE ANTHOLOGY they are supporting Read Better Be Better, an organization that encourages reading for children in Arizona which has some of the lowest literacy rates in the country.
June 30, 2024
Considering that I have not been having much luck with my anthologies lately, I was very pleased with this collection. The bulk of the stories were good. All were well written. I did not feel like I was dragging myself through the book. Plus it proved to me that Kristopher Triana (my current favorite author) continues his awesome writing in short stories in addition to his novels! Here are the gems that I found and liked.
"We Can Get Them For You Wholesale" by Neil Gaiman - A man seeking payback for a broken heart gets a bargain.
"First Date" by Jeff Strand - A date with a serial killer.
"Doorwatch" by Kealan Patrick Burke - A man takes up the job of watching a door.
"Pictures of a Princess" by Kristopher Triana - A father meets the princess of his daughter's dreams.
"Laws of Virulence" by Jeremy Robert Johnson - An interview for better understanding and containment.
"We Can Get Them For You Wholesale" by Neil Gaiman - A man seeking payback for a broken heart gets a bargain.
"First Date" by Jeff Strand - A date with a serial killer.
"Doorwatch" by Kealan Patrick Burke - A man takes up the job of watching a door.
"Pictures of a Princess" by Kristopher Triana - A father meets the princess of his daughter's dreams.
"Laws of Virulence" by Jeremy Robert Johnson - An interview for better understanding and containment.
June 25, 2022
My favorite thing about this anthology, which you might guess if you’re familiar with any of these authors, is the wide variety of horror sub-genres contained within. Looking for horror comedy? Jeff Strand and Neil Gaiman have you covered. Looking for something a little more extreme? Kristopher Triana has your back. Body horror your bag? Jeremy Robert Johnson can scratch that itch. There are monsters, grief, revenge, magical realism – you get the idea. There is something for everybody in this collection.
While there wasn’t a story in this anthology that I didn’t like, a few stood out as favorites – They Say the Sky is Full of Snakewolves by Lucy Leitner, about the power of fear; Laws of Virulrnce by Jeremy Robert Johnson, about the spreading of a new virus; Every Breath is a Choice by Max Booth III, about a desperate father’s quest for revenge; and New Fox Smell by Livia Llewellyn, about a new kind of fox hunt.
The best part about purchasing this anthology? A portion of the proceeds from every copy of Blood Bank will be donated to Read Better Be Better and Hagar’s House, quarterly, over the next five years! What’s not to love about this? You get a stellar collection of stories AND you get to help out two worthy charities.
Full Review: https://tatteredandbroken.com/2022/06...
While there wasn’t a story in this anthology that I didn’t like, a few stood out as favorites – They Say the Sky is Full of Snakewolves by Lucy Leitner, about the power of fear; Laws of Virulrnce by Jeremy Robert Johnson, about the spreading of a new virus; Every Breath is a Choice by Max Booth III, about a desperate father’s quest for revenge; and New Fox Smell by Livia Llewellyn, about a new kind of fox hunt.
The best part about purchasing this anthology? A portion of the proceeds from every copy of Blood Bank will be donated to Read Better Be Better and Hagar’s House, quarterly, over the next five years! What’s not to love about this? You get a stellar collection of stories AND you get to help out two worthy charities.
Full Review: https://tatteredandbroken.com/2022/06...
November 29, 2022
A particular feature of dark fiction or horror anthologies that I look for is their ability to be variable, which is somewhere Blood Bank excels. That is, even though all the stories in Blood Bank are at home in a dark fiction collection, they still differ in their subject, their tone, and their intention. There is a lot of credit to be given here to Marc Ciccarone for constructing the volume in such a way that made this possible. Some of the stories told in Blood Bank are impossibly bleak, growing only bleaker by the end. Some of the stories in Blood Bank begin as one thing, but then end up being quite another. Still, more of the stories in Blood Bank have a certain levity or sense of fun. Importantly, this range is dynamic throughout the collection, such that a reader devoted to any one genre or theme doesn’t become discouraged as they read on. Rather, it keeps the reader guessing and eager for the next page, the next twist, the next story.
You can read Kat's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Kat's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
June 13, 2022
There are some heavy hitters in this line up of authors, each with their own different writing styles and feels, and if you are not familiar with them this would be an excellent introduction to them.
Like most anthologies, some I loved, others not so much, but overall there is an excellent variety of horror types, from clowns to serial killers, monsters, and even a bit of cosmic horror, some of these stories will make you laugh, others will scare you, and others will make you cry.
I particularly loved these stories;
First Date by Jeff Strand about a serial killer’s first date
Pictures of a Princess by Kristopher Triana, about a father’s obsession with a factional princess.
Every Breath is a Choice by Max Booth III, is about having to choose who lives and who dies.
The End of Time on Rosewyld Lane by Jay Wilburn is the heart-breaking story of never knowing what happens to a missing child.
I want to thank S.C. Mendes and Bloodbound Books for the opportunity to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Like most anthologies, some I loved, others not so much, but overall there is an excellent variety of horror types, from clowns to serial killers, monsters, and even a bit of cosmic horror, some of these stories will make you laugh, others will scare you, and others will make you cry.
I particularly loved these stories;
First Date by Jeff Strand about a serial killer’s first date
Pictures of a Princess by Kristopher Triana, about a father’s obsession with a factional princess.
Every Breath is a Choice by Max Booth III, is about having to choose who lives and who dies.
The End of Time on Rosewyld Lane by Jay Wilburn is the heart-breaking story of never knowing what happens to a missing child.
I want to thank S.C. Mendes and Bloodbound Books for the opportunity to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2022
Every story in this collection is unique in it's own terrifying way. There's some comedy, freaky clown doll, a giant toad and lots lots more.
I don't consider any of the stories "extreme" so I think this would be a great collection to read if you're newer to reading horror.
Some of the authors I had read before, but most I hadn't and now I need to find more of their work.
I don't consider any of the stories "extreme" so I think this would be a great collection to read if you're newer to reading horror.
Some of the authors I had read before, but most I hadn't and now I need to find more of their work.
February 1, 2023
"Blood Bank" a charity anthology. I was sent my copy in exchange for a honest review.
This anthology features fourteen different authors of horror and dark fantasy who have chosen to come together for one amazing cause. In this anthology you'll read about monsters, knock on cosmic doors, feel the incredible emotions of losing a child, and so much more.
Out of these fourteen stories there were four that really stood out to me. My favorites were: "We Can Get Them For You Wholesale" by Neil Gaiman, "First Date" by Jeff Strand, "Pictures Of A Princess" by Kristopher Triana, and "The End Of Time On Rosenwyld Lane" by Jay Wilburn.
"We Can Get Them For You Wholesale" by Neil Gaiman is a story about a man who can't stand the thought of passing up any deal or bargain. I found this one really funny and loved how creative it was.
"First Date" by Jeff Strand is not the story you think it is 🤣 I absolutely loved how the characters interacted together and its ending was *chef's kiss* for me. My jaw hit the floor SO hard.
"Pictures Of A Princess" by Kristopher Triana was a mind warping story. It was so harsh and unforgiving. I felt in comparison to some of the other stories this one was definitely more extreme. If you enjoy f*cked up fairy tales, this would definitely be for you!
"The End Of Time On Rosenwyld Lane" by Jay Wilburn was my favorite story and by far the most haunting. A husband and father makes the guilt ridden decision of allowing his son one more ride around the block on his bike, only to be abducted minutes before leaving for their family vacation. I could feel the hurt and sadness in this story, could imagine myself as that parent desperately avoiding another night at home, just hoping to find a single piece of my child somewhere, anywhere.
Also worth mentioning is everytime you purchase this book a portion of the proceeds from every copy will be donated to Read Better Be Better and Hagar's over the next five years. This will be done quarterly and more information can be found on the Blood Bound Books website if you would like to know more!!
This anthology features fourteen different authors of horror and dark fantasy who have chosen to come together for one amazing cause. In this anthology you'll read about monsters, knock on cosmic doors, feel the incredible emotions of losing a child, and so much more.
Out of these fourteen stories there were four that really stood out to me. My favorites were: "We Can Get Them For You Wholesale" by Neil Gaiman, "First Date" by Jeff Strand, "Pictures Of A Princess" by Kristopher Triana, and "The End Of Time On Rosenwyld Lane" by Jay Wilburn.
"We Can Get Them For You Wholesale" by Neil Gaiman is a story about a man who can't stand the thought of passing up any deal or bargain. I found this one really funny and loved how creative it was.
"First Date" by Jeff Strand is not the story you think it is 🤣 I absolutely loved how the characters interacted together and its ending was *chef's kiss* for me. My jaw hit the floor SO hard.
"Pictures Of A Princess" by Kristopher Triana was a mind warping story. It was so harsh and unforgiving. I felt in comparison to some of the other stories this one was definitely more extreme. If you enjoy f*cked up fairy tales, this would definitely be for you!
"The End Of Time On Rosenwyld Lane" by Jay Wilburn was my favorite story and by far the most haunting. A husband and father makes the guilt ridden decision of allowing his son one more ride around the block on his bike, only to be abducted minutes before leaving for their family vacation. I could feel the hurt and sadness in this story, could imagine myself as that parent desperately avoiding another night at home, just hoping to find a single piece of my child somewhere, anywhere.
Also worth mentioning is everytime you purchase this book a portion of the proceeds from every copy will be donated to Read Better Be Better and Hagar's over the next five years. This will be done quarterly and more information can be found on the Blood Bound Books website if you would like to know more!!
October 11, 2024
Wow I loved this collection! These horror short stories are chilling and don’t flinch away from tough subject matter. I gave out many 5 stars and even the weaker of the stories were still solid reads. My favorites were Every Breath is a Choice and The End of Time on Rosewyld Lane.
Highly recommend this anthology! Below are my breakdowns for each story.
Clown Doll - 5 stars - A chilling story about a couple who are woken up when a neighbor outside their window begins repeatedly shaking an animatronic Halloween clown decoration that laughs.
Fool’s Blood - 3 stars - A man purchases a mine in Elko, Nevada with lofty goals of finding gold.
We Can Get Them For You Wholesale - 3.5 stars - A man seeks out a hitman when he finds his out his fiancé is cheating on him.
First Date - 4.5 stars - A very unique first date.
Doorwatch - 4.5 stars - An old man is tasked with watching an ominous door that appears in his backyard.
Pictures of a Princess - 4 stars - A father on vacation to a Disneyland-esque park with his family is enamored with a princess.
Laws of Virulence - 4 stars - Interview transcript of an infected subject detailing the infection of himself and his family.
Cursed Objects - 3.5 stars - Two girls dabble in witchy activities.
The Stone - 3 stars - A man and woman find a strange otherworldly stone dropped by a large toad.
Every Breath is a Choice - 5 stars - A heartbreaking and dark story of a family torn apart after a home invasion.
They Say the Sky is Full of Snakewolves - 5 stars - In a world overrun with monsters, a woman wonders whether the real danger is inside or outside of her home. TW: DV
The End of Time on Rosewyld Lane - 5 stars - A man reflects on the time since the disappearance of his young son.
New Fox Smell - 3 stars - A girl is invited by a frenemy to spend a summer on Fox Island.
A Better Hate - 3 stars - A wendigo is set loose upon a town.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blood Bound Books for access to this ebook in exchange for an honest review!
Highly recommend this anthology! Below are my breakdowns for each story.
Clown Doll - 5 stars - A chilling story about a couple who are woken up when a neighbor outside their window begins repeatedly shaking an animatronic Halloween clown decoration that laughs.
Fool’s Blood - 3 stars - A man purchases a mine in Elko, Nevada with lofty goals of finding gold.
We Can Get Them For You Wholesale - 3.5 stars - A man seeks out a hitman when he finds his out his fiancé is cheating on him.
First Date - 4.5 stars - A very unique first date.
Doorwatch - 4.5 stars - An old man is tasked with watching an ominous door that appears in his backyard.
Pictures of a Princess - 4 stars - A father on vacation to a Disneyland-esque park with his family is enamored with a princess.
Laws of Virulence - 4 stars - Interview transcript of an infected subject detailing the infection of himself and his family.
Cursed Objects - 3.5 stars - Two girls dabble in witchy activities.
The Stone - 3 stars - A man and woman find a strange otherworldly stone dropped by a large toad.
Every Breath is a Choice - 5 stars - A heartbreaking and dark story of a family torn apart after a home invasion.
They Say the Sky is Full of Snakewolves - 5 stars - In a world overrun with monsters, a woman wonders whether the real danger is inside or outside of her home. TW: DV
The End of Time on Rosewyld Lane - 5 stars - A man reflects on the time since the disappearance of his young son.
New Fox Smell - 3 stars - A girl is invited by a frenemy to spend a summer on Fox Island.
A Better Hate - 3 stars - A wendigo is set loose upon a town.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blood Bound Books for access to this ebook in exchange for an honest review!
June 29, 2024
What a great collection of horror shorts! They were all fantastic for different reasons. I love a great story with no happy ending, and this collection absolutely delivered on that. But I have to say my favorite was the last one, “A Better Hate” by Patrick Freivald. I love folkloric-based horror, like this one involving manitou. (More commonly known as wendigo or windigo). One of my favorite types of monsters that gives a serious comeuppance to people who take what doesn’t belong to them. And this one? It was a happy ending… for some. A fantastic collection and I’d love to see another one!
Huge thanks to Bloodbound Books and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
Huge thanks to Bloodbound Books and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
January 2, 2023
I love horror and what could be better than a horror anthology that raises money for charity. I've never read an anthology where I was in love with every story. That being said each story had its spooky, haunting, creepy, or disturbing parts.
My favorite was We Can Get Them For You Wholesale by Neil Gaiman. Erry story. The writing, like all Gaiman Reads, was excellent.
My other pick is Pictures Of A Princess by Kristopher Triana. The story read like an unearthly haunt style fable.
With any anthology each person will find their own personal favorite. The story that makes them cringe or gives them chills. As for this one don't skip it. Especially on a rainy night.
My favorite was We Can Get Them For You Wholesale by Neil Gaiman. Erry story. The writing, like all Gaiman Reads, was excellent.
My other pick is Pictures Of A Princess by Kristopher Triana. The story read like an unearthly haunt style fable.
With any anthology each person will find their own personal favorite. The story that makes them cringe or gives them chills. As for this one don't skip it. Especially on a rainy night.
April 25, 2023
Great anthology for a great cause. Everybody wins! I enjoyed all the stories in this one, but a few particular stand outs were Every Breath is a Choice by Max Booth III, Pictures of a Princess by Kristopher Triana, They Say the Sky is Full of Snakewolves by Lucy Leitner, and Door watch by Kealan Patrick Burke.
August 4, 2024
I bought this anthology because it was published for a good cause so the level of stories was not main concern.
Not all the stories are on the same level, some are very disturbing.
That said I discovered some interesting authors and hope people will buy it because it's for a good cause
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Not all the stories are on the same level, some are very disturbing.
That said I discovered some interesting authors and hope people will buy it because it's for a good cause
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
February 2, 2025
Overall, this compendium of fourteen tales did not thrill. There was an odd good story of the bunch here and there, but it failed to captivate as a whole. I don’t often read short story compilations like this, but even so, I’d give the genre another go, it was just this particular collection didn’t do much for me.
January 13, 2023
Love
I love short horror stories they really can pack a punch in a relatively short amount of words. There are some very unique shorts in this anthology that many will find interesting.
I love short horror stories they really can pack a punch in a relatively short amount of words. There are some very unique shorts in this anthology that many will find interesting.
July 29, 2024
A mix of horror from all established, well-respected horror authors. As with any anthology, there were stories that I enjoyed more than others, but none that I disliked. Some of the domestic violence type stories were a bit harsh for my comfort level, but I still appreciated the horror behind it.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4⭐️
As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4⭐️
As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2022
Really
I love short stories, Mostly the ones in this book. Makes you think that some of these WRITERS have a few letters short of a word,but in a very god way, dutch
I love short stories, Mostly the ones in this book. Makes you think that some of these WRITERS have a few letters short of a word,but in a very god way, dutch
December 22, 2022
Short stories
Just a bunch of short stories some really good others not nothing really scary but a good read anyways recommend it
Just a bunch of short stories some really good others not nothing really scary but a good read anyways recommend it
January 10, 2023
An interesting collection of fiction, ranging in style and running the gamut in terms of brutality and creepiness.
May 26, 2023
Better than most anthologies, but still a few duds.
November 23, 2023
The stories in this anthology were diverse and ranged across numerous topics and subgenres. I at least liked all of them save for one, and really enjoyed the majority.
January 25, 2024
Usually these anthologies are good and bad stories but nothing good in this one
October 11, 2024
4.5 stars
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