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Counting Bodies Like Sheep: Extreme Horror Anthology
17 authors tread through the muck and mud to add their own stories to the every-growing meat-pile of carnage and chaotic aftermath when bad decisions come full-circle. COUNTING BODIES LIKE SHEEP is the fourth extreme horror anthology from The Evil Cookie Publishing. Pushing the limits with fast-paced, high-gore elements and plots, this anthology holds no punches and blurs the line between sanity and insanity.
FEATURING ALL NEW STORIES
- Edward Lee & Roman Neznayu
- Stephen Kozeniewski
- Gerard Houarner
- Armand Rosamilia
- Christine Morton
- Robert Essig
- Lucas Milliron
- Dustin LaValley & Daniel J. Volpe
- Jeremy Megargee
- Sarah Budd
- Bridgett Nelson
- Richard Dansky
- Josh Davis
- Mike James Davis
- Trevor Newton
FEATURING ALL NEW STORIES
- Edward Lee & Roman Neznayu
- Stephen Kozeniewski
- Gerard Houarner
- Armand Rosamilia
- Christine Morton
- Robert Essig
- Lucas Milliron
- Dustin LaValley & Daniel J. Volpe
- Jeremy Megargee
- Sarah Budd
- Bridgett Nelson
- Richard Dansky
- Josh Davis
- Mike James Davis
- Trevor Newton
- GenresHorrorAnthologies
145 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2022
17 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Edward Lee
265 books1,448 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Edward Lee is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror, and has authored 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York paperback companies such as Leisure/Dorchester, Berkley, and Zebra/Kensington. He is a Bram Stoker award nominee for his story "Mr. Torso," and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen mass-market anthologies, including THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES OF 2000, Pocket's HOT BLOOD series, and the award-wining 999. Several of his novels have sold translation rights to Germany, Greece, and Romania. He also publishes quite actively in the small-press/limited-edition hardcover market; many of his books in this category have become collector's items. While a number of Lee's projects have been optioned for film, only one has been made, HEADER, which was released on DVD to mixed reviews in June, 2009, by Synapse Films.
Lee is particularly known for over-the-top occult concepts and an accelerated treatment of erotic and/or morbid sexual imagery and visceral violence.
He was born on May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bowie, Maryland. In the late-70s he served in the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, in Erlangen, West Germany, then, for a short time, was a municipal police officer in Cottage City, Maryland. Lee also attended the University of Maryland as an English major but quit in his last semester to pursue his dream of being a horror novelist. For over 15 years, he worked as the night manager for a security company in Annapolis, Maryland, while writing in his spare time. In 1997, however, he became a full-time writer, first spending several years in Seattle and then moving to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he currently resides.
Of note, the author cites as his strongest influence horror legend H. P. Lovecraft; in 2007, Lee embarked on what he calls his "Lovecraft kick" and wrote a spate of novels and novellas which tribute Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos. Among these projects are THE INNSWICH HORROR, "Trolley No. 1852," HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD, GOING MONSTERING, "Pages Torn From A Travel Journal," and "You Are My Everything." Lee promises more Lovecraftian work on the horizon.
Edward Lee is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror, and has authored 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York paperback companies such as Leisure/Dorchester, Berkley, and Zebra/Kensington. He is a Bram Stoker award nominee for his story "Mr. Torso," and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen mass-market anthologies, including THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES OF 2000, Pocket's HOT BLOOD series, and the award-wining 999. Several of his novels have sold translation rights to Germany, Greece, and Romania. He also publishes quite actively in the small-press/limited-edition hardcover market; many of his books in this category have become collector's items. While a number of Lee's projects have been optioned for film, only one has been made, HEADER, which was released on DVD to mixed reviews in June, 2009, by Synapse Films.
Lee is particularly known for over-the-top occult concepts and an accelerated treatment of erotic and/or morbid sexual imagery and visceral violence.
He was born on May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bowie, Maryland. In the late-70s he served in the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, in Erlangen, West Germany, then, for a short time, was a municipal police officer in Cottage City, Maryland. Lee also attended the University of Maryland as an English major but quit in his last semester to pursue his dream of being a horror novelist. For over 15 years, he worked as the night manager for a security company in Annapolis, Maryland, while writing in his spare time. In 1997, however, he became a full-time writer, first spending several years in Seattle and then moving to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he currently resides.
Of note, the author cites as his strongest influence horror legend H. P. Lovecraft; in 2007, Lee embarked on what he calls his "Lovecraft kick" and wrote a spate of novels and novellas which tribute Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos. Among these projects are THE INNSWICH HORROR, "Trolley No. 1852," HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD, GOING MONSTERING, "Pages Torn From A Travel Journal," and "You Are My Everything." Lee promises more Lovecraftian work on the horizon.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 28, 2022
The Evil Cookie Publishing has popped on my radar and I must say I am impressed with what I have read by them so far.
COUNTING BODIES LIKE SHEEP is an anthology that brings together some enormous talent in the horror industry and you will not be disappointed when you pick this one up. Cruel, bloody, sadistic and even a little weirdness, makes this the perfect wedding gift for that special person who doesn’t want to marry you…
From Ed Lee and Christine Morgan, to Armand Rosamilia and Stephen Kozeniewski, not to mention LaValley and Volpe, and others who is making a name for themselves, there will be something in there for your sick and depraved taste.
All of these stories are entertaining, but there are two I have to put right at the top:
SHITS ‘N GIGGLES by Bridgett Nelson was so terribly dark, yet if you work with doctors long enough, such things doesn’t always seem as unlikely as you might think.
BODY DROP by Gerard Houarner took me by surprise – in a very good way. I loved the idea and I adored the way it was written.
5 Stars!
COUNTING BODIES LIKE SHEEP is an anthology that brings together some enormous talent in the horror industry and you will not be disappointed when you pick this one up. Cruel, bloody, sadistic and even a little weirdness, makes this the perfect wedding gift for that special person who doesn’t want to marry you…
From Ed Lee and Christine Morgan, to Armand Rosamilia and Stephen Kozeniewski, not to mention LaValley and Volpe, and others who is making a name for themselves, there will be something in there for your sick and depraved taste.
All of these stories are entertaining, but there are two I have to put right at the top:
SHITS ‘N GIGGLES by Bridgett Nelson was so terribly dark, yet if you work with doctors long enough, such things doesn’t always seem as unlikely as you might think.
BODY DROP by Gerard Houarner took me by surprise – in a very good way. I loved the idea and I adored the way it was written.
5 Stars!
August 28, 2022
Another slam dunk from evil cookie. K-trap really seems to be able to do no wrong with these anthologies. I’ve read every anthology the publisher has put out, and every one is a must read. If you have even a passing interest in splatterpunk/extreme horror, please check this out
October 7, 2022
Quite a gruesome, disturbing, and entertaining read! Thanks to this title, I have both, followed all the authors, and added their titles to my wish lists. A thank you to author Mort Stone for recommending this title :0)
July 26, 2023
Each story in this anthology was extremely entertaining. If you like extreme horror with a mix of humor and the absurd and good deal of body horror this is an anthology to check out.
October 30, 2022
Various authors wrote some truly horrific and disgusting tales for this collection and I enjoyed them all. I recommend this book for fans of the horror genre.
November 27, 2024
It's been a while since I last read one of the Evil Cookie Anthologies edited by K. Trap Jones. These collections are a mixed bag, but they're a fun way to find new and imaginative authors in the extreme horror genre.
My Chopping List:
He's been mutilating himself for a long time, at the request of a madman. He always tries to beat him against the clock, before old Eyetooth takes what he wants by himself. Beware of the red package; if you ever see it, don't open it.
Stephen Kozeniewski has written a gruesome and disturbing tale of a crazed lunatic who forces his victims to mutilate themselves as a sick game, those who report him succumb to a gruesome and painful fate. If you're someone who's triggered by scenes of self-mutilation, this is a story to stay away from. 8/10
Rats in Sheeps Clothing:
James R. Kapernock is a furry, he believes he was meant to be born as a sheep but was rather tragically born as a human. Heading off to the nearest furry convention, he's about to commit a terrible atrocity, but a sinister force beyond all life on Earth has other ideas.
I wasn't keen on this story, it's essentially a cosmic horror story set in a furry convention with rats, tentacles, furries having sex, etc. The idea of a horror story involving furries is interesting, but this wasn't it. It's an uncomfortable read that made me cringe at times, I'm sure Lucas Milliron has written some amazing short stories, but this wasn't for me. 1/10
The Steak Eating Freak:
The narrator has a story to tell about a mysterious man who could eat steaks unlike any other and the barbarity that then ensues.
Mike James Davis has written a black comedy about a gigantic steak-eating man who goes on to eat humans in a restaurant. It's a weird story that I'll admit I enjoyed and had me laughing a couple of times, but it's not something I'd usually read. 4/10
Payback's a Bitch:
Hank has always lived an uneasy life his parents hate him and he gets bullied by not only his fellow pupils but his teachers as well. He's forced to do so many horrible and sexual things to other people and hates every moment of it. However, when he becomes a Satanist serial killer they all better watch out because Satan's on his side now.
Edward Lee and Roman Neznayu have written a black comedy about a young man getting revenge with the help of satan on everyone who's ever wronged him. This was an alright little short story with some gruesome and hilarious scenes, but I didn't get much out of it. 5/10
Sausages:
Porky The Litter Eater has been at the park for 70 years, but his time is nearly at an end. Children have had their fingers eaten away by Porky whenever they try to put trash into him. Deputy Fisher since he was a child has always been nervous about Porky and one fateful night he's about to discover what has made Porky so bloodthirsty.
Jeremy Megargee has written a creepy and gruesome tale about a childish and old-fashioned litter machine in the guise of a pig eating away the fingers of innocent bystanders. The resolution is a terrifying one with a very bloody climax. 10/10
Blood Expectations:
His friend Adrian, a nurse has always been a crazy son of a bitch. He and Adrian used to share fantasies of killing people when growing up, but as time moved on, they grew apart. But Adrian now has a surprise for his old friend and invites him to a cabin in the woods. His friend's about to have the surprise of his life.
Robert Essig has written a disturbing story about a pair of wannabe killers with demented imaginations. It's a gruesome little story with animal cruelty and bestiality. There's a touch of black comedy here, but it does highlight how thoroughly evil some people can be. 8/10
Body Drop:
A body cleaner who cleans up bodies in the dark and grotesque side of the world is being interviewed for a dark web documentary. The interviewer sees a lot of horrific sights, so much so she doesn't think even her own audience will believe it.
Gerard Houarner has written a very gruesome but experimental bit of prose that is written like a transcript. I got a kick out of this story and loved the general idea and format. I don't know what the Painfreak stuff is like, but I'll admit this story has made me curious. 9/10
Slop:
Eddie North has been paid by thugs to feed dead people to his hogs. Unfortunately for the thugs, Eddie has discovered he gets great sexual satisfaction out of the macabre act.
Armand Rosamilia has written a grotesque and perverted short story about a creepy old farmer who gets sexual gratification from his hogs consuming people. It's a violent and unsettling story that ends with a gruesome climax. 8/10
Dance, Bitch:
She isn't the queen she used to be. A certain girl took all that away from her and now her wedding is due. She wants revenge, but the bride has other ideas in mind.
Christine Morgan's writing is poetic and wonderfully violent. It took me a while to realize what fairy tale this is a continuation of, but once I did I got into it. It's a dark and unique sequel to Snow White that concludes with a very violent but satisfying ending. 8/10
Club Rules:
Jade has been invited to work in an impressive club with her old school friend Amy. She's currently a cleaner but she wants more. She wants to be behind the bar where everyone can see her, where everyone will adore her. But first, she'll have to kill someone.
Sarah Budd has written a very violent and sadistic story about a young woman who has to kill another person to achieve her greatest desire at work. The story ends with a violent and stomach-turning finale. 8/10
Big Hit / Near Miss:
The casino became a major attraction for the city bringing in tourists from all over, some became addicted to it while others like Charlie became a relationship. Now the management has an offer to make to him and for Charlie, it sounds like the deal of a lifetime.
Dustin LaValley and Daniel J. Volpe have written an unsettling story on why you shouldn't make a deal with people who benefit from gambling. It's a horrifying tale with a brutal ending. 8/10
Paper Cut:
Sasha has always been a lonely girl, with no friends and no boyfriend, she'll most likely die a virgin. But when she receives a paper cut, she undergoes a shudder of pleasure that she hasn't felt before and she'll do anything to experience it, over and over again.
Josh Davies has written a grotesque story about lust and suffering, self-mutilation to pleasure one's self. It's a sickening and bloody narrative that ends on a haunting note. 9/10
Garden Club:
Miriam is the seed queen of the garden club, her time is coming to an end as the monarchy however and soon she'll be replaced. Not if she can do anything about it that is.
Trevor Newton has written an okay story that didn't hit it off for me. Not a bad tale by any means, but I didn't find it particularly exciting. 5/10
The Taste of It Fresh:
He has a problem, a terrible problem; he hates himself and because of his self-hatred it comes to the forefront and tries to escape his body in a black liquid. He has to squeeze the liquid out into jars. He has a friend now and hates himself a little less, but his friend is determined to visit his house.
I didn't care for this story at all, I think it's an interesting idea to bring the feeling of self-hatred into a physical form but this story was way too weird for my liking. 1/10
Shits 'N Giggles:
Dr. Lipps despite being respected has always been unpredictable and unfortunately for his fellow surgeons, they're about to find out he's a psychopath.
Bridgett Nelson has written a disturbing and gory story of a lead surgeon with demented desires finally making his dreams come true. It's a brutal story where you feel nothing but sympathy for all the victims. 8/10
A Mishap in The Garden of Eden:
Every year the Squirrel returns to The Garden of Eden at least once and so does a crow, but this time they come across Jesus and are about to make a terrible mistake.
K. Trap Jones has written a fun little story about a pair of animals who accidentally cause a tragedy that could have catastrophic consequences. 7/10
Overall: 107/160
My Chopping List:
He's been mutilating himself for a long time, at the request of a madman. He always tries to beat him against the clock, before old Eyetooth takes what he wants by himself. Beware of the red package; if you ever see it, don't open it.
Stephen Kozeniewski has written a gruesome and disturbing tale of a crazed lunatic who forces his victims to mutilate themselves as a sick game, those who report him succumb to a gruesome and painful fate. If you're someone who's triggered by scenes of self-mutilation, this is a story to stay away from. 8/10
Rats in Sheeps Clothing:
James R. Kapernock is a furry, he believes he was meant to be born as a sheep but was rather tragically born as a human. Heading off to the nearest furry convention, he's about to commit a terrible atrocity, but a sinister force beyond all life on Earth has other ideas.
I wasn't keen on this story, it's essentially a cosmic horror story set in a furry convention with rats, tentacles, furries having sex, etc. The idea of a horror story involving furries is interesting, but this wasn't it. It's an uncomfortable read that made me cringe at times, I'm sure Lucas Milliron has written some amazing short stories, but this wasn't for me. 1/10
The Steak Eating Freak:
The narrator has a story to tell about a mysterious man who could eat steaks unlike any other and the barbarity that then ensues.
Mike James Davis has written a black comedy about a gigantic steak-eating man who goes on to eat humans in a restaurant. It's a weird story that I'll admit I enjoyed and had me laughing a couple of times, but it's not something I'd usually read. 4/10
Payback's a Bitch:
Hank has always lived an uneasy life his parents hate him and he gets bullied by not only his fellow pupils but his teachers as well. He's forced to do so many horrible and sexual things to other people and hates every moment of it. However, when he becomes a Satanist serial killer they all better watch out because Satan's on his side now.
Edward Lee and Roman Neznayu have written a black comedy about a young man getting revenge with the help of satan on everyone who's ever wronged him. This was an alright little short story with some gruesome and hilarious scenes, but I didn't get much out of it. 5/10
Sausages:
Porky The Litter Eater has been at the park for 70 years, but his time is nearly at an end. Children have had their fingers eaten away by Porky whenever they try to put trash into him. Deputy Fisher since he was a child has always been nervous about Porky and one fateful night he's about to discover what has made Porky so bloodthirsty.
Jeremy Megargee has written a creepy and gruesome tale about a childish and old-fashioned litter machine in the guise of a pig eating away the fingers of innocent bystanders. The resolution is a terrifying one with a very bloody climax. 10/10
Blood Expectations:
His friend Adrian, a nurse has always been a crazy son of a bitch. He and Adrian used to share fantasies of killing people when growing up, but as time moved on, they grew apart. But Adrian now has a surprise for his old friend and invites him to a cabin in the woods. His friend's about to have the surprise of his life.
Robert Essig has written a disturbing story about a pair of wannabe killers with demented imaginations. It's a gruesome little story with animal cruelty and bestiality. There's a touch of black comedy here, but it does highlight how thoroughly evil some people can be. 8/10
Body Drop:
A body cleaner who cleans up bodies in the dark and grotesque side of the world is being interviewed for a dark web documentary. The interviewer sees a lot of horrific sights, so much so she doesn't think even her own audience will believe it.
Gerard Houarner has written a very gruesome but experimental bit of prose that is written like a transcript. I got a kick out of this story and loved the general idea and format. I don't know what the Painfreak stuff is like, but I'll admit this story has made me curious. 9/10
Slop:
Eddie North has been paid by thugs to feed dead people to his hogs. Unfortunately for the thugs, Eddie has discovered he gets great sexual satisfaction out of the macabre act.
Armand Rosamilia has written a grotesque and perverted short story about a creepy old farmer who gets sexual gratification from his hogs consuming people. It's a violent and unsettling story that ends with a gruesome climax. 8/10
Dance, Bitch:
She isn't the queen she used to be. A certain girl took all that away from her and now her wedding is due. She wants revenge, but the bride has other ideas in mind.
Christine Morgan's writing is poetic and wonderfully violent. It took me a while to realize what fairy tale this is a continuation of, but once I did I got into it. It's a dark and unique sequel to Snow White that concludes with a very violent but satisfying ending. 8/10
Club Rules:
Jade has been invited to work in an impressive club with her old school friend Amy. She's currently a cleaner but she wants more. She wants to be behind the bar where everyone can see her, where everyone will adore her. But first, she'll have to kill someone.
Sarah Budd has written a very violent and sadistic story about a young woman who has to kill another person to achieve her greatest desire at work. The story ends with a violent and stomach-turning finale. 8/10
Big Hit / Near Miss:
The casino became a major attraction for the city bringing in tourists from all over, some became addicted to it while others like Charlie became a relationship. Now the management has an offer to make to him and for Charlie, it sounds like the deal of a lifetime.
Dustin LaValley and Daniel J. Volpe have written an unsettling story on why you shouldn't make a deal with people who benefit from gambling. It's a horrifying tale with a brutal ending. 8/10
Paper Cut:
Sasha has always been a lonely girl, with no friends and no boyfriend, she'll most likely die a virgin. But when she receives a paper cut, she undergoes a shudder of pleasure that she hasn't felt before and she'll do anything to experience it, over and over again.
Josh Davies has written a grotesque story about lust and suffering, self-mutilation to pleasure one's self. It's a sickening and bloody narrative that ends on a haunting note. 9/10
Garden Club:
Miriam is the seed queen of the garden club, her time is coming to an end as the monarchy however and soon she'll be replaced. Not if she can do anything about it that is.
Trevor Newton has written an okay story that didn't hit it off for me. Not a bad tale by any means, but I didn't find it particularly exciting. 5/10
The Taste of It Fresh:
He has a problem, a terrible problem; he hates himself and because of his self-hatred it comes to the forefront and tries to escape his body in a black liquid. He has to squeeze the liquid out into jars. He has a friend now and hates himself a little less, but his friend is determined to visit his house.
I didn't care for this story at all, I think it's an interesting idea to bring the feeling of self-hatred into a physical form but this story was way too weird for my liking. 1/10
Shits 'N Giggles:
Dr. Lipps despite being respected has always been unpredictable and unfortunately for his fellow surgeons, they're about to find out he's a psychopath.
Bridgett Nelson has written a disturbing and gory story of a lead surgeon with demented desires finally making his dreams come true. It's a brutal story where you feel nothing but sympathy for all the victims. 8/10
A Mishap in The Garden of Eden:
Every year the Squirrel returns to The Garden of Eden at least once and so does a crow, but this time they come across Jesus and are about to make a terrible mistake.
K. Trap Jones has written a fun little story about a pair of animals who accidentally cause a tragedy that could have catastrophic consequences. 7/10
Overall: 107/160
Currently reading
June 11, 2024My review is for the eBook.
I just wanted to make it clear for clarification, sometimes I might not like some aspects of Extreme Horror & Splatterpunk short stories in a anthology, it doesn't mean that I don't like the author as a person or that I hate the author or that i'm judging/shaming the author(s) for what they have written about which is fictional.
I always give my honest opinion and I have genuinely read books & eBooks I have reviewed 😊
I have already read and liked most of the short stories in the Bludgeon Tools Splatterpunk Anthology-except two short stories that I didn't like.
I did discover Authors that I like or haven't heard of which is great.
I like the Evil Cookie Publisher of Extreme Horror & Splatterpunk Books.
My Chopping List: Stephen Kozeniewski
I like this short story, the serial killer character that is uniquely named EyeTooth is interesting.
How did the serial killer know where their victims live or when they report their multiple mutilations to the Police? 🤨🤔
I'm curious if EyeTooth is a cannibal, or if any of his trophies he kept were consumed or used for rituals.
Rats in Sheep's Clothing: Lucas Miliron
I don't like this short story, I have a phobia of rats-(they creep me out & make my skin crawl)
I don't understand why people are "Furries" or why people want/need to have a "Fursona" either.
Why do you want to dress like a animal to be sexual with other people?
It just seems borderline beastiality to me in some aspects, but i'm not judging/shaming anyone that is a "Furry" I just don't understand the appeal of it 🤨😕
What the fuck is Yiffing? 🤨
The Steak Eating Freak: Mike james Davies
The man that is obsessed with eating steak, some raw, not even probably cooked steak, seems like their real intention is to eat people, they have cannibalistic intentions.
The other customers' in the restaurant are mesmerized, intrigued but also horrified and disgusted by the cannibal, eating the endless supply of steaks & occasionally gnawing on the waitresses & waiters. He is trying to determine who tastes the best, out of all the staff members or other customers in the restaurant, no one seems to want to leave though, people are fascinated by the cannibal.
This was a crazy short story but I really liked the short story, one of my favourites from this anthology of short stories, it is well written and unique.
Payback's A Bitch: Edward Lee & Roman Neznayu
I liked this short story about a inexperienced Satanic serial killer, occultist that murders various people and sacrifice them to Satan & Lucifer but he doesn't always get the results he wants or expects.
I like the part of the short story when the Satanic serial killer takes their true, demonic form.
Sausages: Jeremy Megargee
Blood Expectations: Robert Essig
Body Drop: Gerard Houarner
Slop: Armand Rosamilia
Dance, Bitch: Christine Morgan
Club Rules: Sarah Budd
Big Hit/Near Miss: Dustin LaValley & Daniel J. Volpe
Paper Cut: Josh Davis
Garden Club: Trevor Newton
The Taste of it Fresh: Richard Dansky
Shits 'N Giggles: Bridgett Nelson
My favourite short stories:
My Chopping List: Stephen Kozeniewski
The Steak Eating Freak: Mike james Davies
Payback's a Bitch: Edward Lee & Roman Neznayu
I just wanted to make it clear for clarification, sometimes I might not like some aspects of Extreme Horror & Splatterpunk short stories in a anthology, it doesn't mean that I don't like the author as a person or that I hate the author or that i'm judging/shaming the author(s) for what they have written about which is fictional.
I always give my honest opinion and I have genuinely read books & eBooks I have reviewed 😊
I have already read and liked most of the short stories in the Bludgeon Tools Splatterpunk Anthology-except two short stories that I didn't like.
I did discover Authors that I like or haven't heard of which is great.
I like the Evil Cookie Publisher of Extreme Horror & Splatterpunk Books.
My Chopping List: Stephen Kozeniewski
I like this short story, the serial killer character that is uniquely named EyeTooth is interesting.
How did the serial killer know where their victims live or when they report their multiple mutilations to the Police? 🤨🤔
I'm curious if EyeTooth is a cannibal, or if any of his trophies he kept were consumed or used for rituals.
Rats in Sheep's Clothing: Lucas Miliron
I don't like this short story, I have a phobia of rats-(they creep me out & make my skin crawl)
I don't understand why people are "Furries" or why people want/need to have a "Fursona" either.
Why do you want to dress like a animal to be sexual with other people?
It just seems borderline beastiality to me in some aspects, but i'm not judging/shaming anyone that is a "Furry" I just don't understand the appeal of it 🤨😕
What the fuck is Yiffing? 🤨
The Steak Eating Freak: Mike james Davies
The man that is obsessed with eating steak, some raw, not even probably cooked steak, seems like their real intention is to eat people, they have cannibalistic intentions.
The other customers' in the restaurant are mesmerized, intrigued but also horrified and disgusted by the cannibal, eating the endless supply of steaks & occasionally gnawing on the waitresses & waiters. He is trying to determine who tastes the best, out of all the staff members or other customers in the restaurant, no one seems to want to leave though, people are fascinated by the cannibal.
This was a crazy short story but I really liked the short story, one of my favourites from this anthology of short stories, it is well written and unique.
Payback's A Bitch: Edward Lee & Roman Neznayu
I liked this short story about a inexperienced Satanic serial killer, occultist that murders various people and sacrifice them to Satan & Lucifer but he doesn't always get the results he wants or expects.
I like the part of the short story when the Satanic serial killer takes their true, demonic form.
Sausages: Jeremy Megargee
Blood Expectations: Robert Essig
Body Drop: Gerard Houarner
Slop: Armand Rosamilia
Dance, Bitch: Christine Morgan
Club Rules: Sarah Budd
Big Hit/Near Miss: Dustin LaValley & Daniel J. Volpe
Paper Cut: Josh Davis
Garden Club: Trevor Newton
The Taste of it Fresh: Richard Dansky
Shits 'N Giggles: Bridgett Nelson
My favourite short stories:
My Chopping List: Stephen Kozeniewski
The Steak Eating Freak: Mike james Davies
Payback's a Bitch: Edward Lee & Roman Neznayu
April 11, 2024
A very enjoyable collection of extreme horror stories including an hilarious one set in the Garden of Eden. Introduced me to a few new authors to check out. These are mostly on the lower scale of nastiness when it comes to the genre which is good for me because I’ve not really enjoyed the over the top extreme stories I’ve read recently.
October 4, 2025
I am currently in the process of reading both Aron Beauregard and Daniel J. Volpe's bibliographies in publication order (as best as I can) and have been alternating between the two authors. However, both writers have collaborated together on a book - Sew Sorry - which is my next Volpe read. But it is not my next Beauregard read - I have two additional books to read first. But I’ve been enjoying Volpe’s work so much that I still want a Volpe hit, and so I've decided that whilst I catch up with my Beauregard books I'm going to alternate with anthologies that Volpe has contributed to (in no particular order). Therefore, I have decided to read Counting Bodies Like Sheep: An Extreme Horror Anthology edited by K. Trap Jones. There are fifteen short stories here (plus a bonus one) and a couple of names that I’ve heard of before, but hadn’t previously experienced their writing.
My Chopping List – Stephen Kozeniewski
Counting Bodies Like Sheep starts strong with this fun short, and wastes no time in immediately setting the tone – there will be extreme violence present in this book. The entire idea behind this story is warped in the best of ways.
Rats in Sheep’s Clothing – Lucas Milliron
Setting this short story at a furry convention immediately makes it stand out, and if anything I think this entry is at its best when it’s examining the relationships and identities of those that attend. When the horror kicks in it adds a more fantastical element that feels like it squanders an intriguing idea. This short ends just as it seems like it’s really getting started, which happens a few times during this book.
The Steak Eating Freak – Mike James Davis
Although fairly simple conceptually, this story is executed pretty well. I think it suffers a little by following two stories that are perhaps a bit more daring in their ideas, but there’s nothing necessarily bad here.
Payback’s A Bitch – Edward Lee & Roman Neznayu
Up until now I haven’t read any of Edward Lee’s work, but I am familiar with his name - White Trash Gothic is one I would like to get around to – and this short story has only made me more curious. There’s a nasty streak running through this entry with some moments of real darkness.
Sausages – Jeremy Megargee
The set-up is a little slower here, but Megargee uses that time to quite effectively establish a good atmosphere. I actually quite appreciated the slow-burn approach and it all leads to a rather delightfully gruesome climax.
Blood Expectations – Robert Essig
Robert Essig is another name I’m familiar with - Disco Rice is a title I’ve been hearing about a lot lately – and like Rats in Sheep’s Clothing, this presents an intriguing set-up before introducing a more fantastical horror element. However, it worked better for me here – Essig takes this story in a direction I did not see coming.
Body Drop – Gerard Houarner
This short story is presented like a transcript of a dark web documentary, and I think this writing style has a lot of potential. Whilst the subject matter is okay, I was hoping for just a little bit more from this. It’s still decent and I do like the unique format, I just think it maybe could’ve been utilised better.
Slop – Armand Rosamilia
Like The Steak Eating Freak, this is another short that is simple in its concept, but Roasmilia does an excellent job telling this story. It’s delightfully twisted in all the right ways, and it’s another entry that feels like it’s over too soon. Which I think is a good thing because it does mean I’m left wanting more.
Dance, Bitch – Christine Morgan
Okay so we’re now over halfway through the book and we have finally encountered an entry that just didn’t really work for me. Honestly I’m impressed it’s taken this long, I typically find anthologies like this to be way more hit and miss. There is nothing inherently wrong with Morgan’s twist on a familiar fairy-tale, I just found the language a little too flowery for my tastes and the journey to the conclusion a little too meandering. It reminded me of Caroline B. Cooney’s entry Where the Deer Are in 13 Tales of Horror , which stood quite starkly in contrast to the other stories, but then when I read Cooney’s The Cheerleader I found the writing worked really well when stood alone. Anyway, all that to say that although here in this collection I found myself underwhelmed by Dance, Bitch, I can appreciate that Morgan has a unique voice that might work better for me elsewhere.
Club Rules – Sarah Budd
There are elements of this short story that work quite well, but the twist didn’t really land for me. There’s a myriad of different directions this story could’ve taken, and I suppose I feel a little underwhelmed by what was chosen. Like with Rats in Sheep’s Clothing, it’s another great location that isn’t fully utilised and it’s also another example of a short feeling like it’s ended just as it’s getting started.
Big Hit / Near Miss – Dustin LaValley & Daniel J. Volpe
Finally, the reason I picked up this book in the first place, and I have to say, and much to my surprise, that unlike Frightening Fables: An Anthology Compiled by Literati Publications (which is another anthology I picked up purely for Daniel J. Volpe), and despite going into this entry with the same bias, Big Hit / Near Miss shockingly isn’t my favourite of this collection – that honour goes to Payback’s A Bitch. Don’t get me wrong, I still liked this short story just fine, I just found it a little lacking in Volpe’s signature style. Now, I know this short is a collaborative effort between Volpe and Dustin LaValley, and I’ll be honest, I don’t really know how such endeavours work. I had a similar issue with Stephen King and Peter Straub’s The Talisman , where it was hard to differentiate the two authors contributions, and so instead you get faded echoes of their styles. And so whilst this short story is absolutely fine, it didn’t quite grab me in the way I’ve come to expect from Volpe.
Paper Cut – Josh Davis
This is another missed opportunity for me – I think there’s a kernel of a really good idea here, but it just misses the mark. The way the climax is described read a little confusingly for me, and the escalation of events happens just a little too rapidly. Also, and maybe this is just a me thing, but I felt the way the protagonist is depicted lacked authenticity.
Garden Club – Trevor Newton
Not a bad short story, but yet another one that ends too soon. I would’ve appreciated Newton exploring the protagonist a little further – we’re given their motivation, but I’ll be honest, I think there’s more depth that could’ve been plunged here. Still, overall I liked this just enough.
The Taste of It Fresh – Richard Dansky
A really good idea trapped in just an okay story. I really like the concept of self-loathing manifesting itself physically, but I think more focus on the reluctant friendship maybe would’ve helped. Also can’t say I’m a fan of the ending – it feels like one of those endings that’s used because the ideas have run dry.
Shits N’ Giggles – Bridgett Nelson
This short makes it very apparent that Nelson has lived experience working in a medical setting, and she uses this knowledge excellently to paint a compelling story. It’s violent and nasty and marks a good way to close out the book… almost.
A Mishap in the Garden of Eden – K. Trap Jones
Tucked away at the back of the book, following the About the Authors / Editor section, is this bonus short story from editor K. Trap Jones. This story is delightfully batshit in the best of ways. I had so much fun reading this. It leaves a hell of an impression.
I must admit I’m actually very pleasantly surprised by Counting Bodies Like Sheep. I liked the consistency between the stories – whilst I would’ve liked to have seen a few expanded, none of them really felt like they overstayed their welcome. Following Frightening Fables I will admit I went into this book with some trepidation, readily expecting more hits than misses again. But honestly, it’s actually pretty impressive just how many of these short stories not only worked, but each for their own unique reasons. There’s a serious variety of flavours of extreme horror here.
3.5/5
My Chopping List – Stephen Kozeniewski
Counting Bodies Like Sheep starts strong with this fun short, and wastes no time in immediately setting the tone – there will be extreme violence present in this book. The entire idea behind this story is warped in the best of ways.
Rats in Sheep’s Clothing – Lucas Milliron
Setting this short story at a furry convention immediately makes it stand out, and if anything I think this entry is at its best when it’s examining the relationships and identities of those that attend. When the horror kicks in it adds a more fantastical element that feels like it squanders an intriguing idea. This short ends just as it seems like it’s really getting started, which happens a few times during this book.
The Steak Eating Freak – Mike James Davis
Although fairly simple conceptually, this story is executed pretty well. I think it suffers a little by following two stories that are perhaps a bit more daring in their ideas, but there’s nothing necessarily bad here.
Payback’s A Bitch – Edward Lee & Roman Neznayu
Up until now I haven’t read any of Edward Lee’s work, but I am familiar with his name - White Trash Gothic is one I would like to get around to – and this short story has only made me more curious. There’s a nasty streak running through this entry with some moments of real darkness.
Sausages – Jeremy Megargee
The set-up is a little slower here, but Megargee uses that time to quite effectively establish a good atmosphere. I actually quite appreciated the slow-burn approach and it all leads to a rather delightfully gruesome climax.
Blood Expectations – Robert Essig
Robert Essig is another name I’m familiar with - Disco Rice is a title I’ve been hearing about a lot lately – and like Rats in Sheep’s Clothing, this presents an intriguing set-up before introducing a more fantastical horror element. However, it worked better for me here – Essig takes this story in a direction I did not see coming.
Body Drop – Gerard Houarner
This short story is presented like a transcript of a dark web documentary, and I think this writing style has a lot of potential. Whilst the subject matter is okay, I was hoping for just a little bit more from this. It’s still decent and I do like the unique format, I just think it maybe could’ve been utilised better.
Slop – Armand Rosamilia
Like The Steak Eating Freak, this is another short that is simple in its concept, but Roasmilia does an excellent job telling this story. It’s delightfully twisted in all the right ways, and it’s another entry that feels like it’s over too soon. Which I think is a good thing because it does mean I’m left wanting more.
Dance, Bitch – Christine Morgan
Okay so we’re now over halfway through the book and we have finally encountered an entry that just didn’t really work for me. Honestly I’m impressed it’s taken this long, I typically find anthologies like this to be way more hit and miss. There is nothing inherently wrong with Morgan’s twist on a familiar fairy-tale, I just found the language a little too flowery for my tastes and the journey to the conclusion a little too meandering. It reminded me of Caroline B. Cooney’s entry Where the Deer Are in 13 Tales of Horror , which stood quite starkly in contrast to the other stories, but then when I read Cooney’s The Cheerleader I found the writing worked really well when stood alone. Anyway, all that to say that although here in this collection I found myself underwhelmed by Dance, Bitch, I can appreciate that Morgan has a unique voice that might work better for me elsewhere.
Club Rules – Sarah Budd
There are elements of this short story that work quite well, but the twist didn’t really land for me. There’s a myriad of different directions this story could’ve taken, and I suppose I feel a little underwhelmed by what was chosen. Like with Rats in Sheep’s Clothing, it’s another great location that isn’t fully utilised and it’s also another example of a short feeling like it’s ended just as it’s getting started.
Big Hit / Near Miss – Dustin LaValley & Daniel J. Volpe
Finally, the reason I picked up this book in the first place, and I have to say, and much to my surprise, that unlike Frightening Fables: An Anthology Compiled by Literati Publications (which is another anthology I picked up purely for Daniel J. Volpe), and despite going into this entry with the same bias, Big Hit / Near Miss shockingly isn’t my favourite of this collection – that honour goes to Payback’s A Bitch. Don’t get me wrong, I still liked this short story just fine, I just found it a little lacking in Volpe’s signature style. Now, I know this short is a collaborative effort between Volpe and Dustin LaValley, and I’ll be honest, I don’t really know how such endeavours work. I had a similar issue with Stephen King and Peter Straub’s The Talisman , where it was hard to differentiate the two authors contributions, and so instead you get faded echoes of their styles. And so whilst this short story is absolutely fine, it didn’t quite grab me in the way I’ve come to expect from Volpe.
Paper Cut – Josh Davis
This is another missed opportunity for me – I think there’s a kernel of a really good idea here, but it just misses the mark. The way the climax is described read a little confusingly for me, and the escalation of events happens just a little too rapidly. Also, and maybe this is just a me thing, but I felt the way the protagonist is depicted lacked authenticity.
Garden Club – Trevor Newton
Not a bad short story, but yet another one that ends too soon. I would’ve appreciated Newton exploring the protagonist a little further – we’re given their motivation, but I’ll be honest, I think there’s more depth that could’ve been plunged here. Still, overall I liked this just enough.
The Taste of It Fresh – Richard Dansky
A really good idea trapped in just an okay story. I really like the concept of self-loathing manifesting itself physically, but I think more focus on the reluctant friendship maybe would’ve helped. Also can’t say I’m a fan of the ending – it feels like one of those endings that’s used because the ideas have run dry.
Shits N’ Giggles – Bridgett Nelson
This short makes it very apparent that Nelson has lived experience working in a medical setting, and she uses this knowledge excellently to paint a compelling story. It’s violent and nasty and marks a good way to close out the book… almost.
A Mishap in the Garden of Eden – K. Trap Jones
Tucked away at the back of the book, following the About the Authors / Editor section, is this bonus short story from editor K. Trap Jones. This story is delightfully batshit in the best of ways. I had so much fun reading this. It leaves a hell of an impression.
I must admit I’m actually very pleasantly surprised by Counting Bodies Like Sheep. I liked the consistency between the stories – whilst I would’ve liked to have seen a few expanded, none of them really felt like they overstayed their welcome. Following Frightening Fables I will admit I went into this book with some trepidation, readily expecting more hits than misses again. But honestly, it’s actually pretty impressive just how many of these short stories not only worked, but each for their own unique reasons. There’s a serious variety of flavours of extreme horror here.
3.5/5
February 27, 2023
This was a great splatterpunk book to discover new authors from. There are some that I will be checking out and others that didn’t catch my eye because I felt that their stories weren’t as strong. The ones that I didn’t like as much felt like they were trying too hard to be splatterpunk and made the story fall flat and sound silly. I do have another book by the publisher (Bludgeon Tools: Splatterpunk Anthology), and I look forward to reading that one and comparing it to these authors.
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