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Christmas in the Empty Cabin: A Collection of Supernatural and Horror Stories for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Other Holidays
When November and December come around, the horror and the paranormal don’t take a holiday vacation.
In this collection, a girl wakes up to visitors on Dia de los Muertos. A man recounts a sick and twisted Thanksgiving. A boy becomes intrigued with a house and with the girl who resides in it during autumn break. A family man deals with a dilemma that can cost him his soul. A man is caught in the woods during a blizzard as he searches for rescue for his dying friend. A hot holiday toy called Scurry Furry brings terror to a department store.
These are the tales for the shorter and colder nights. The stories for the dark side of the most wonderful time of the year...
In this collection, a girl wakes up to visitors on Dia de los Muertos. A man recounts a sick and twisted Thanksgiving. A boy becomes intrigued with a house and with the girl who resides in it during autumn break. A family man deals with a dilemma that can cost him his soul. A man is caught in the woods during a blizzard as he searches for rescue for his dying friend. A hot holiday toy called Scurry Furry brings terror to a department store.
These are the tales for the shorter and colder nights. The stories for the dark side of the most wonderful time of the year...
102 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2020
73 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
About the author
E. Reyes
34 books157 followersE. Reyes is a writer, a horror fanatic, and the author of the novel The House on Moon Creek Avenue. Overloading on books and movies and working retail, Reyes brings terror and the unimaginable to everyday life with his experiences and transcends them into a different range of characters and situations. When not watching scary movies and reading books, E. Reyes is busy being a father and a husband and putting in time playing Xbox. He resides in Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
December 18, 2023
A horror-filled read for the holidays! E. Reyes really knows how to write a great horror story!
📚Midnight Visitors: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚My Brother Daniel: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (tw: graphic animal murder)
📚The House by the Woods: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (tw: child abuse)
📚Christmas Blues: ⭐️⭐️
📚Christmas in the Empty Cabin: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚A Scurry Furry Christmas: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Average rating: 3.6 stars
Overall rating: 4 stars
📚Midnight Visitors: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚My Brother Daniel: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (tw: graphic animal murder)
📚The House by the Woods: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (tw: child abuse)
📚Christmas Blues: ⭐️⭐️
📚Christmas in the Empty Cabin: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚A Scurry Furry Christmas: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Average rating: 3.6 stars
Overall rating: 4 stars
December 29, 2022
2.5 stars
Over all I think this anthology was a good start but could have done with some more meat to the stories. Each premise I think was solid but the delivery wasn’t always there. Below I include a rating a micro review for each story.
Midnight Visitors- 3/5 It was short and sweet, and the cultural nod to the macabre was nice.
My Brother Daniel- 2/5 A little rushed for the amount of pay off that was possible with that reveal.
The House By The Woods- 3/5 A good old fashioned ghost story, complete with a mysterious search.
Christmas Blues- 1/5 My absolute favorite premise with zero payout which makes me super damn pouty and a little salty.
Christmas In The Empty Cabin- 3/5 The most and year least shocking of them. But again this hit good old fashioned ghost story so I’m not mad at it.
A Scurry Furry Christmas- 4/5 This was hilarious and easily the best story in the anthology. A little kitchy but in a good way.
I will be reading this authors full length novel to see what they can do with a thicker word count.
Over all I think this anthology was a good start but could have done with some more meat to the stories. Each premise I think was solid but the delivery wasn’t always there. Below I include a rating a micro review for each story.
Midnight Visitors- 3/5 It was short and sweet, and the cultural nod to the macabre was nice.
My Brother Daniel- 2/5 A little rushed for the amount of pay off that was possible with that reveal.
The House By The Woods- 3/5 A good old fashioned ghost story, complete with a mysterious search.
Christmas Blues- 1/5 My absolute favorite premise with zero payout which makes me super damn pouty and a little salty.
Christmas In The Empty Cabin- 3/5 The most and year least shocking of them. But again this hit good old fashioned ghost story so I’m not mad at it.
A Scurry Furry Christmas- 4/5 This was hilarious and easily the best story in the anthology. A little kitchy but in a good way.
I will be reading this authors full length novel to see what they can do with a thicker word count.
December 12, 2023
These were fun and bloody short horror stories that definitely will get you into the holiday spirit.
The stories are from different subgenres of horror and take place during holidays that are supposed to be fun and have heart warming family reunions… except here, nobody is laughing.
A really quick read perfect for people looking to read some horror stories during Christmas.
The stories are from different subgenres of horror and take place during holidays that are supposed to be fun and have heart warming family reunions… except here, nobody is laughing.
A really quick read perfect for people looking to read some horror stories during Christmas.
dnf
September 30, 2024A collection of various holiday stories. I DNFed the first two stories and had no interest, whatsoever, of continuing onto the rest of the book. Enough said.
December 18, 2025
This was quite an enjoyable read—I loved it.
No gore, no over-the-top monsters, no sadistic serial killers. Just a fun collection of horror stories with a heartwarming core and somewhat sad endings.
This is definitely the kind of book I’d pick up while sitting cozily in my reading chair, sipping hot chocolate in a sweater, fully getting into the Christmas mood.
Loved it.
No gore, no over-the-top monsters, no sadistic serial killers. Just a fun collection of horror stories with a heartwarming core and somewhat sad endings.
This is definitely the kind of book I’d pick up while sitting cozily in my reading chair, sipping hot chocolate in a sweater, fully getting into the Christmas mood.
Loved it.
December 9, 2020
Halloween is just the beginning of the horror season when you have E. Reyes on your bookshelf. You won’t need to watch the turkey run around headless to satisfy your bloodlust with stories from the Day of the Dead, Thanksgiving, all leading right up to Christmas Eve.
“I remember coming over to visit my parents one summer day when I saw him in the backyard axing a dog’s body in half on the wood stump my dad used to cut wood on.”
Gore is amply provided, but so are real characters that you wonder how you got so attached to in such a short story. Setting is also brought to life with just enough description to make you feel like you are there. Not that you want to be.
This is the second anthology that I have read from E. Reyes and I like his style of writing. I look forward to reading a full length novel from him.
“I remember coming over to visit my parents one summer day when I saw him in the backyard axing a dog’s body in half on the wood stump my dad used to cut wood on.”
Gore is amply provided, but so are real characters that you wonder how you got so attached to in such a short story. Setting is also brought to life with just enough description to make you feel like you are there. Not that you want to be.
This is the second anthology that I have read from E. Reyes and I like his style of writing. I look forward to reading a full length novel from him.
January 10, 2024
Christmas in the Empty Cabin has gone through more surgeries, liposuction, and facelifts than most, but to me, it is still a remnant of being written by a young writer who was starting to get the hang of things. The stories here were written from 2014 to 2019. "A Scurry Furry Christmas" was the one I had written more recently, and that's a fan favorite, also mine.
I first released this book during Christmastime of 2020, put the updated edited one out in 2021, and in 2022, Velox Books reissued it.
FYI, the Scurry Furries have returned in a novelette titled 'Christmas Night of the Scurry Furry.' That one was written by a writer who knows what he is doing.
If you want a taste of my newest books, I suggest The Love Song of Nathan Crane, Jack Forest, Soul Collector, and Evening of the Mutated Undead. Thank you all, and keep it spooky!
Here's some more info taken from my how-to-not-f*ck-it-all-up-from-the-get-go manual:
I got back into writing and reading after I figured out that making rap music wasn't really for me--especially the business and politics part. The last music project I did was in April 2013. I immediately returned to my roots (I was an avid Goosebumps books reader), and, as you can tell by some of my earlier works, I started reading R.L. Stine books again. I started reading the new Goosebumps, Fear Street, and Goosebumps Series 2000 (I was too absorbed in music to even think about reading). When I read Stephen King for the first time, the book was Cell, I was instantly drawn into the more adult side of horror literature, and I knew in my heart and soul that writing books is what I was born to do.
My first short stories were horrendous, but I loved writing them. Most of those got nuked, never to have a life on a page inside a book. And I started reading and reading like the kid I used to be. I knew this was what I was meant to do. I knew it even more after reading more of King's work. In 2016, when I found out that I could publish my books without having to send them off and wish for the best, I was thrilled. But, man, oh man, I wish I could have sat on those stories a little longer while I read more, learned more, wrote more, and had a whole plan before self-publishing.
My mistakes in publishing too early, jumping the gun before proper editing, proofreading, and having some critical insight into my work should be every aspiring author's how-to-not-f*ck-it-all-up-from-the-get-go manual. I was so happy, inspired, and anxious to publish and have a book of mine out there. Little did I know, I needed more insight into the grammar (I got my GED after being out of high school for eight years and had just started community college, taking Writing courses, of course), I needed professional editing, and I needed to let my stories sit somewhere safe while I forgot about them for a while and went on to the following stories.
I first released this book during Christmastime of 2020, put the updated edited one out in 2021, and in 2022, Velox Books reissued it.
FYI, the Scurry Furries have returned in a novelette titled 'Christmas Night of the Scurry Furry.' That one was written by a writer who knows what he is doing.
If you want a taste of my newest books, I suggest The Love Song of Nathan Crane, Jack Forest, Soul Collector, and Evening of the Mutated Undead. Thank you all, and keep it spooky!
Here's some more info taken from my how-to-not-f*ck-it-all-up-from-the-get-go manual:
I got back into writing and reading after I figured out that making rap music wasn't really for me--especially the business and politics part. The last music project I did was in April 2013. I immediately returned to my roots (I was an avid Goosebumps books reader), and, as you can tell by some of my earlier works, I started reading R.L. Stine books again. I started reading the new Goosebumps, Fear Street, and Goosebumps Series 2000 (I was too absorbed in music to even think about reading). When I read Stephen King for the first time, the book was Cell, I was instantly drawn into the more adult side of horror literature, and I knew in my heart and soul that writing books is what I was born to do.
My first short stories were horrendous, but I loved writing them. Most of those got nuked, never to have a life on a page inside a book. And I started reading and reading like the kid I used to be. I knew this was what I was meant to do. I knew it even more after reading more of King's work. In 2016, when I found out that I could publish my books without having to send them off and wish for the best, I was thrilled. But, man, oh man, I wish I could have sat on those stories a little longer while I read more, learned more, wrote more, and had a whole plan before self-publishing.
My mistakes in publishing too early, jumping the gun before proper editing, proofreading, and having some critical insight into my work should be every aspiring author's how-to-not-f*ck-it-all-up-from-the-get-go manual. I was so happy, inspired, and anxious to publish and have a book of mine out there. Little did I know, I needed more insight into the grammar (I got my GED after being out of high school for eight years and had just started community college, taking Writing courses, of course), I needed professional editing, and I needed to let my stories sit somewhere safe while I forgot about them for a while and went on to the following stories.
September 17, 2025
I picked this up for last December’s reading, but I didn’t get to it. So I made a point to get to it this year, and what premium timing, as the book has just been picked up and rereleased be Velox Books! So congrats to the author, and show some support!
I also recently received an e-ARC of Devil’s Hill II (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), which is a great horror short story collection too, but better suited for the Halloween season.
The author is the self-proclaimed Clark Griswold of Halloween and it shows. All of his work is horror or Halloween related, and he does a great job of it besides.
This collection is horror based Christmas and holiday tales. The author can give us different holidays, but he sticks to his horror roots which I respect. Christmas in the Empty Cabin (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) is the title of one of the short stories, it isn’t the first or last, nor is it really longer than the others, but it’s definitely solid enough to get the title card.
Personally my favorite short was the last. It’s like the author’s take on Gremlins, Chucky, and any other shopping store/toy-esque horrors. It read like possessed Ferbies eating peoples faces. Terrifying and fun.
Personally a 4/5* for me. Check it out!
I also recently received an e-ARC of Devil’s Hill II (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), which is a great horror short story collection too, but better suited for the Halloween season.
The author is the self-proclaimed Clark Griswold of Halloween and it shows. All of his work is horror or Halloween related, and he does a great job of it besides.
This collection is horror based Christmas and holiday tales. The author can give us different holidays, but he sticks to his horror roots which I respect. Christmas in the Empty Cabin (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) is the title of one of the short stories, it isn’t the first or last, nor is it really longer than the others, but it’s definitely solid enough to get the title card.
Personally my favorite short was the last. It’s like the author’s take on Gremlins, Chucky, and any other shopping store/toy-esque horrors. It read like possessed Ferbies eating peoples faces. Terrifying and fun.
Personally a 4/5* for me. Check it out!
January 1, 2021
That was fun and really quick.
All the stories are really good and some have fun twist.
A scurry furry Christmas was my favorite.
I will add that it to my top 10 favorite short stories.
If you are looking for a quick read with fun stories, try this one!
All the stories are really good and some have fun twist.
A scurry furry Christmas was my favorite.
I will add that it to my top 10 favorite short stories.
If you are looking for a quick read with fun stories, try this one!
December 16, 2022
Fun, spooky, seasonal shorties!
November 24, 2020
This anthology includes 6 horror stories set during holidays (3 of them on Christmas). Knowing that a lot of horror fans complain about the loss of the Halloween spirit as soon as November rolls in and that first Christmas advertisement hits them, I think this is a great, quick read to keep it spooky through the holidays.
I think the best things about this anthology are its variety - as the stories will take you anywhere in between an unforgiving winter wood and a shopping centre filled with late Christmas shoppers - and its cinematic descriptive quality, which I have already noticed in another of Reyes' work called "The Halloween Grindhouse".
The thing that worked the least for me were the stories "plot twists", as I saw most of them coming. But then again between books, films, series, comics, theatrical plays and games I have consumed way more horror than I'd like to admit, so maybe it's my fault. Still, this is an enjoyable read.
You can tell Reyes was having a ball in writing these stories and this love for the genre it's sort of contagious.
As I said, this is a quick read and if you're a fan of the genre who needs a mouthful of horror to get through Christmas, its bite-sized stories might be what you need.
I think the best things about this anthology are its variety - as the stories will take you anywhere in between an unforgiving winter wood and a shopping centre filled with late Christmas shoppers - and its cinematic descriptive quality, which I have already noticed in another of Reyes' work called "The Halloween Grindhouse".
The thing that worked the least for me were the stories "plot twists", as I saw most of them coming. But then again between books, films, series, comics, theatrical plays and games I have consumed way more horror than I'd like to admit, so maybe it's my fault. Still, this is an enjoyable read.
You can tell Reyes was having a ball in writing these stories and this love for the genre it's sort of contagious.
As I said, this is a quick read and if you're a fan of the genre who needs a mouthful of horror to get through Christmas, its bite-sized stories might be what you need.
December 6, 2023
3.5 I really loved these shorts stories not all of them are about Christmas some about Thanksgiving... but overall really love this. One really creeped me out which that was the goal. I wished there was more to it and now I want to read more by this author. Btw... if you are sensitive to horror stories and gore would not recommend.
March 22, 2025
Entertaining horror listening 😕🙄
This kindle ebook is from my Kindle Unlimited account
There are six short horror stories, each different with interesting characters lots of horror haunting ghosts in each story. 😚😯
I would recommend this novella and various authors to readers of fantasy world 🌐 horror stories novels 👒🌙 2025 🙄🙃
This kindle ebook is from my Kindle Unlimited account
There are six short horror stories, each different with interesting characters lots of horror haunting ghosts in each story. 😚😯
I would recommend this novella and various authors to readers of fantasy world 🌐 horror stories novels 👒🌙 2025 🙄🙃
Read
December 23, 2024this was multiple short stories so no rating from me but def worth the reads!
December 9, 2020
A fun short book of short stories. I really liked the title story the most I think. I did not see the ending coming.
December 11, 2020
I want so badly to love the books written by this author. The seed of a great book is there. The imagination is there. The writing style and most importantly, the editing, sadly, just isn't.
Let's hit the high points first: this is a collection of holiday themed short stories, starting right after Halloween with a Dia De Los Muertos story and marking days off the calendar through Thanksgiving and up to Christmas. 'Midnight Visitors' and 'The House by the Woods' showcase a sad sort of horror, while 'My Brother Daniel' serves up a feast of blood and gore. The two Christmas themed offerings, 'Christmas in the Empty Cabin' and ' A Scurry Furry Christmas' were my favorites, though 'Christmas in the Empty Cabin' was so similar to Simon Bestwick's 'And Dream of Avalon' that I felt a striking sense of deja vu.
.
Once again, as with Reyes' 'Devil's Hill', the stories are four stars but the same old complaints drop the overall rating down to three: weirdly placed commas, telling instead of showing, switching back and forth between past and present tense in the same paragraph; plus glaring editorial oversights like saying someone is "emitted" to a psych hospital, the phrase "could have cared less" (in the immortal words of Weird Al: that means you DO care), and weird little things like describing something as having "bird-like hair"...but birds don't have hair...or saying in the same sentence that someone has a "borderline fever" AND a body that could melt ice, which, you know....is quite a bit more than a borderline fever.
Keep writing, Mr. Reyes, I like your imagination, but pay for a good editor, please.
Let's hit the high points first: this is a collection of holiday themed short stories, starting right after Halloween with a Dia De Los Muertos story and marking days off the calendar through Thanksgiving and up to Christmas. 'Midnight Visitors' and 'The House by the Woods' showcase a sad sort of horror, while 'My Brother Daniel' serves up a feast of blood and gore. The two Christmas themed offerings, 'Christmas in the Empty Cabin' and ' A Scurry Furry Christmas' were my favorites, though 'Christmas in the Empty Cabin' was so similar to Simon Bestwick's 'And Dream of Avalon' that I felt a striking sense of deja vu.
.
Once again, as with Reyes' 'Devil's Hill', the stories are four stars but the same old complaints drop the overall rating down to three: weirdly placed commas, telling instead of showing, switching back and forth between past and present tense in the same paragraph; plus glaring editorial oversights like saying someone is "emitted" to a psych hospital, the phrase "could have cared less" (in the immortal words of Weird Al: that means you DO care), and weird little things like describing something as having "bird-like hair"...but birds don't have hair...or saying in the same sentence that someone has a "borderline fever" AND a body that could melt ice, which, you know....is quite a bit more than a borderline fever.
Keep writing, Mr. Reyes, I like your imagination, but pay for a good editor, please.
December 24, 2024
3-3.5 stars
Particularly enjoyed the midnight visitors and the house by the woods.
Particularly enjoyed the midnight visitors and the house by the woods.
February 4, 2021
I thought this anthology was perfect to read during the Winter. I read it right before Christmas and loved it!! This is my second book by E. Reyes and I can’t wait to read more by him. My three favorite stories were My Brother Daniel. How I wish that one was longer. My mouth dropped towards the end! I loved The House by the Woods. It really broke my heart reading that one. I also loved Christmas in the Empty Cabin. Reminded me in some ways of The Shining.
So if you’re looking for a fast Horror Holiday read, Christmas in the Empty Cabin and other Holiday Stories, would be perfect.
So if you’re looking for a fast Horror Holiday read, Christmas in the Empty Cabin and other Holiday Stories, would be perfect.
October 21, 2023
3.5 rounded to 4.
There were a couple of stories that I wish were a little bit longer, but overall I was highly entertained.
My favourite story was "The House by the Woods". This was a very moving story and I really enjoy horror stories with a more emotional feel to them.
I also enjoyed the title story in which a man tries to rescue his injured friend in the woods during a blizzard. This one was scary for me because it was a race against the elements story (with an interesting ending). Nature is very very real and often terrifying.
The final story "A Scurry Furry Christmas" was perhaps the most entertaining, funny and very rich in pop culture. It had me laughing out loud and made me think of Jingle All The Way and The Gremlins.
This was a really fun festive read. I’m looking forward to checking out some of E. Reyes' other work.
There were a couple of stories that I wish were a little bit longer, but overall I was highly entertained.
My favourite story was "The House by the Woods". This was a very moving story and I really enjoy horror stories with a more emotional feel to them.
I also enjoyed the title story in which a man tries to rescue his injured friend in the woods during a blizzard. This one was scary for me because it was a race against the elements story (with an interesting ending). Nature is very very real and often terrifying.
The final story "A Scurry Furry Christmas" was perhaps the most entertaining, funny and very rich in pop culture. It had me laughing out loud and made me think of Jingle All The Way and The Gremlins.
This was a really fun festive read. I’m looking forward to checking out some of E. Reyes' other work.
December 5, 2020
This was a pleasant find on Kindle Unlimited. Six spooky stories, all set on Christmas or during the season. They take up familiar tropes in horror so you might find them a bit predictable, but there were genuinely humorous moments and the author clearly loved writing these tales.
I really liked Christmas in the Empty Cabin (I could see some influence from The Shining!), and the story about a popular holiday toy turning into a Gremlin-like creature. The first story in the collection was touching while also being a bit scary, and the story about a young boy trying to help a mysterious girl who is wearing shorts in December was moving.
I really liked Christmas in the Empty Cabin (I could see some influence from The Shining!), and the story about a popular holiday toy turning into a Gremlin-like creature. The first story in the collection was touching while also being a bit scary, and the story about a young boy trying to help a mysterious girl who is wearing shorts in December was moving.
December 9, 2020
I love holiday horror! And this one really delivered. The title story was my favorite. Sounds like the perfect Christmas party!
As a mother of a 10 year old daughter I also found ‘A Scurry Furry Christmas’ to be terrifying (did I mention I’m scared of dolls and some animatronics) and hilarious. The scenes depicting adults attacking one another.... Tickle Me Elmo? Hatchimals? I lived that! 😂
If you love the holidays and also love horror, maybe instead of White Christmas you watch Black Christmas every year, then this book is for you!
As a mother of a 10 year old daughter I also found ‘A Scurry Furry Christmas’ to be terrifying (did I mention I’m scared of dolls and some animatronics) and hilarious. The scenes depicting adults attacking one another.... Tickle Me Elmo? Hatchimals? I lived that! 😂
If you love the holidays and also love horror, maybe instead of White Christmas you watch Black Christmas every year, then this book is for you!
December 9, 2024
I don’t know, but this one just seemed to be missing something. The stories were fine with “Christmas in the Empty Cabin” probably being my favorite. It was the only one where I felt some kind of dread reading it. “A Scurry Furry Christmas” was also a fairly fun read as it felt like a B-horror movie. However, some of the story’s just felt rushed with no sustenance. I know it’s an anthology, but still. Can’t really recommend unless you don’t have anything else to read.
December 14, 2021
A lot of fun and quick stories (I think SHORT short stories are a definite plus. I hate a 40+ page short story), all themed around various holidays at the tail of end of the year. Some good ideas and imagination, but some of the writing felt rough-around-the-edges. Nothing was bad, but nothing blew me away either. I'd suggest this to horror fans looking for holiday horror
November 14, 2025
It's a short book with nostalgic cozy horror stories. They remind me of Tales From The Crypt or Goosebumps. This book will be perfect for November, there're stories from Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. All they're creepy and good.
If you are in search for the right mood, this book will fit for November perfectly.
If you are in search for the right mood, this book will fit for November perfectly.
December 22, 2020
I was very kindly gifted a copy of Christmas in The Empty Cabin and other Holiday Tales by and had been saving it to read just before Christmas
'𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫...'
I am so so glad I waited until a few days before Christmas to read this collection of short stories as they were a super quick spooky festive read. I enjoyed each of the stories as they were so fast paced and gripping... I got huge creepypasta vibes!
I do just wish that some of the stories were a bit longer as they had so much potential to be built upon as the combination of writing style and plot hooks just left me wanting more.
A solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
'𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫...'
I am so so glad I waited until a few days before Christmas to read this collection of short stories as they were a super quick spooky festive read. I enjoyed each of the stories as they were so fast paced and gripping... I got huge creepypasta vibes!
I do just wish that some of the stories were a bit longer as they had so much potential to be built upon as the combination of writing style and plot hooks just left me wanting more.
A solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
December 26, 2023
This was a wonderfully festive collection of horror stories.
My favorites were The House by the Woods and Christmas in the Empty
Cabin.
I recommend this to all horror people who enjoy a
Creepy Christmas.
My favorites were The House by the Woods and Christmas in the Empty
Cabin.
I recommend this to all horror people who enjoy a
Creepy Christmas.
June 26, 2021
A chilling collection of macabre tales!
My first read from author E. Reyes will not be my last! This is a great collection of thrilling and shocking tales that will get your heart pounding! From the title story, to The House by the Lake, to the twisted Scurry Furry Christmas, these tales will certainly give you chills!
My first read from author E. Reyes will not be my last! This is a great collection of thrilling and shocking tales that will get your heart pounding! From the title story, to The House by the Lake, to the twisted Scurry Furry Christmas, these tales will certainly give you chills!
December 15, 2020
Midnight Visitors 4⭐️
Sophie, a 12 year old girl, stays up a little too late and sees something she will never be able to unsee. So cool! I’ve never read anything Día de los Muertos related before, so this was fun.
My Brother Daniel 5⭐️
Brandon goes home for Thanksgiving and finds his normally sullen reclusive brother Daniel is happy and talkative. That ending!!! Love it.
The House by the Woods 5⭐️
On the way home from school, Luke always passes one particular house he’s drawn to. One day, a girl comes out he’s never seen before. She needs his help. A good coming of age story!
Christmas Blues 4⭐️
Short, but sweet. Barry is desperate for some Christmas money, so he goes for a job only few have ever done before.
Christmas in the Empty Cabin 5⭐️
Jake and Daniel are on their annual winter camping trip when Daniel gets injured. Jake goes for help when he finds an old cabin. I loved this story! It’s very reminiscent of old Christmas horror stories.
A Scurry Furry Christmas 5⭐️
Tom is going to work at a major retail chain on Christmas Eve. That’s it. That’s the horror story. As an ex-retail worker, I have to say this was my favorite of the collection. It was funny while still being terrifying. I’m also terrified of dolls or doll-like things, so thanks for the nightmares!
Sophie, a 12 year old girl, stays up a little too late and sees something she will never be able to unsee. So cool! I’ve never read anything Día de los Muertos related before, so this was fun.
My Brother Daniel 5⭐️
Brandon goes home for Thanksgiving and finds his normally sullen reclusive brother Daniel is happy and talkative. That ending!!! Love it.
The House by the Woods 5⭐️
On the way home from school, Luke always passes one particular house he’s drawn to. One day, a girl comes out he’s never seen before. She needs his help. A good coming of age story!
Christmas Blues 4⭐️
Short, but sweet. Barry is desperate for some Christmas money, so he goes for a job only few have ever done before.
Christmas in the Empty Cabin 5⭐️
Jake and Daniel are on their annual winter camping trip when Daniel gets injured. Jake goes for help when he finds an old cabin. I loved this story! It’s very reminiscent of old Christmas horror stories.
A Scurry Furry Christmas 5⭐️
Tom is going to work at a major retail chain on Christmas Eve. That’s it. That’s the horror story. As an ex-retail worker, I have to say this was my favorite of the collection. It was funny while still being terrifying. I’m also terrified of dolls or doll-like things, so thanks for the nightmares!
December 5, 2024
Mannnn E. Reyes is so underrated. All of his short stories are great and hit the spot when you want something creepy.
December 16, 2025
3.5 stars
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