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Devil's Hill: A Collection of Short Horror Stories
Stephen King has Castle Rock. R. L. Stine has Fear Street. E. Reyes has Devil’s Hill.
Welcome to Devil’s Hill, Arizona; a place that runs rampant with the occult, paranormal, and supernatural. As Halloween approaches and a group of teenage witches inadvertently summon an ancient deity into a scarecrow, they set off a chain of events that unleashes true evil upon the town.
In these interconnected stories, you’ll encounter ghostly spirits, killers, malevolent deities, and other unexplainable horrors as the town of Devil’s Hill is plunged into darkness.
Don’t miss out on the terror that awaits in Devil’s Hill!
Praise for Devil’s Hill:
“Where do fans of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps go when we grow up? There's plenty of room in Devil's Hill, Arizona...if you dare.”—Julia DeBarrioz, author of Cazadora
“Absolutely worth reading.”—Heather Miller, author of One Night Stand at the End of the World
“I would FOR SURE recommend this book to horror lovers and horror newbies alike, and I will certainly be looking for more E. Reyes in the future!”—Spooky Octopus Reads
Welcome to Devil’s Hill, Arizona; a place that runs rampant with the occult, paranormal, and supernatural. As Halloween approaches and a group of teenage witches inadvertently summon an ancient deity into a scarecrow, they set off a chain of events that unleashes true evil upon the town.
In these interconnected stories, you’ll encounter ghostly spirits, killers, malevolent deities, and other unexplainable horrors as the town of Devil’s Hill is plunged into darkness.
Don’t miss out on the terror that awaits in Devil’s Hill!
Praise for Devil’s Hill:
“Where do fans of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps go when we grow up? There's plenty of room in Devil's Hill, Arizona...if you dare.”—Julia DeBarrioz, author of Cazadora
“Absolutely worth reading.”—Heather Miller, author of One Night Stand at the End of the World
“I would FOR SURE recommend this book to horror lovers and horror newbies alike, and I will certainly be looking for more E. Reyes in the future!”—Spooky Octopus Reads
205 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 11, 2023
76 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
About the author
E. Reyes
34 books158 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 40 reviews
April 23, 2019
I enjoyed this short story collection so much, and was thoroughly creeped out more than once. E. Reyes has great ideas, utterly dark and twisty, and it was fun to find little things connecting the stories in this collection to one another. I will absolutely read more by him in the future.
I gave this collection 3 stars, not because it isn’t good, but because it could really use some editing and tweaking. It’s obvious that Reyes spent a lot of time on these stories and I have no doubt whatsoever that he edited them, but I’m not sure if anyone else went over it for him. I think the book as a whole would benefit from another set (or two)!of eyes and perhaps some rewording here and there.
That being said, there is nothing so “wrong” that it makes the book unreadable, and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a new author to enjoy and some truly disturbing and creepy stories.
I gave this collection 3 stars, not because it isn’t good, but because it could really use some editing and tweaking. It’s obvious that Reyes spent a lot of time on these stories and I have no doubt whatsoever that he edited them, but I’m not sure if anyone else went over it for him. I think the book as a whole would benefit from another set (or two)!of eyes and perhaps some rewording here and there.
That being said, there is nothing so “wrong” that it makes the book unreadable, and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a new author to enjoy and some truly disturbing and creepy stories.
October 23, 2020
Perfect Halloween read! This is a collection of short stories, all tied together with Devil’s Hill. Some pretty spooky tales!
November 2, 2023
I grabbed this one during the Velox Books rerelease, but decided to also grab the audio so that I’d have time to get through it for Hispanic Heritage Month. Horror anthologies are my jam and this one didn’t disappoint.
Reyes puts some fun, some horrific, and some really unique ideas into this one. I definitely imagined that some of these could have been longer, or later adapted out into full length works. There are just a couple that mesh a few things in a new way, and that would be cool to see it explored further. Not that the short form isn’t good too!
A lot of these take place on Halloween night, or close to it, and it definitely works as I personally tend to pick up horror short story collections around Spooky Season.
Also shoutout to Jack Forest making an appearance, I will definitely be reading that novelette soon too.
I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for Devil’s Hill II, so it was cool to step back and see where it all started.
Personally a 4/5*. House of Souls and The Monster Slash were my favorites.
Reyes puts some fun, some horrific, and some really unique ideas into this one. I definitely imagined that some of these could have been longer, or later adapted out into full length works. There are just a couple that mesh a few things in a new way, and that would be cool to see it explored further. Not that the short form isn’t good too!
A lot of these take place on Halloween night, or close to it, and it definitely works as I personally tend to pick up horror short story collections around Spooky Season.
Also shoutout to Jack Forest making an appearance, I will definitely be reading that novelette soon too.
I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for Devil’s Hill II, so it was cool to step back and see where it all started.
Personally a 4/5*. House of Souls and The Monster Slash were my favorites.
August 2, 2019
Where do fans of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps go when we grow up? Well pull up a chair, friend. There's plenty of room in Devil's Hill, Arizona...if you dare.🎃🦇😈🧟♂️🤡👹☠
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I have massive respect for the art of the short story. It's way harder than writing a 400 page novel, and Mr. Reyes pulls it off with aplomb. The way this collection of creepy stories entwines, and yet they manage to stand on their own, was 100% pure Halloween delight! They touch on all the tropes you crave, and yet the creative spin on each and every one had me hooked.
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A lot of the stories have a grain of social justice, or at least moral warning. (I do love it when a bully or a mean girl gets theirs). But in some of them EVERYONE dies 🔪😂 and you'll be on the edge of your seat trying to guess what happens next!
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I think Jack Forest, the bounty hunter from Hell who saves and avenges abused women was my favourite, and I hope he gets his own spin off book someday!
.
I have massive respect for the art of the short story. It's way harder than writing a 400 page novel, and Mr. Reyes pulls it off with aplomb. The way this collection of creepy stories entwines, and yet they manage to stand on their own, was 100% pure Halloween delight! They touch on all the tropes you crave, and yet the creative spin on each and every one had me hooked.
.
A lot of the stories have a grain of social justice, or at least moral warning. (I do love it when a bully or a mean girl gets theirs). But in some of them EVERYONE dies 🔪😂 and you'll be on the edge of your seat trying to guess what happens next!
.
I think Jack Forest, the bounty hunter from Hell who saves and avenges abused women was my favourite, and I hope he gets his own spin off book someday!
October 29, 2019
There were a lot of good stories and creepy plots in this Halloween collection. I’m still reeling over the darkness in The Monster Slash! I wish it had been more carefully edited. The potential of the stories was diminished by writing errors and awkward pieces of dialogue. But overall, the collection is good. I would read more work from Reyes, who has a host of great ideas.
November 15, 2022
Really fun and entertaining, perfect for Halloween and fall!
October 15, 2021
I loved this collection! I love how some of the stories tied into the others and I will definitely read this one again in the future!
CW: I will say content warning for Mister Razor for self harm, suicide and DV. just for those who need it.
CW: I will say content warning for Mister Razor for self harm, suicide and DV. just for those who need it.
August 16, 2022
A wonderful collection of stories that ended up working together for the book. E. Reyes knocks it out of the park again!
November 25, 2019
OMGGG! Were you one of the awkward teenagers who grew up devouring every R.L. Stein, Christopher Pike, and Caroline B. Cooney book in the school library? **raises hand** I know I was, and this book totally brought back those "middle school horror" feels, but in a totally more grown-up way.
I loved that even though every story in this book could be a stand-alone short, they were all tied together with the the town of Devil's Hill, Arizona. Devil's Hill is such a creeptastic town that reminded me a little of Fear Street. Every story was unique, and it is evident that E. Reyes certainly has a mind for the dark, ominous, and eerie.
There are so many different horror troupes, so there is really something in this book for every horror fanatic to sink their claws into. I especially loved "Isabella's Doll" and "First Day on the Job." Who doesn't love a creepy doll story or a story in which the bad guy "gets his." Seriously though, the whole concept of someone working for the devil to recruit men who commit crimes against women to a damnation in Hell...well, that was an awesome story!
The only reason I had to take a star off of my review is simply because the book could use some editing and revision. There were some simple errors that may have been typos, but there were other areas where the wording was awkward and drew me out of the story I was immersed in. (EDITED TO ADD: The author has since created another edition that corrects may of the previous errors.)
Overall, I would FOR SURE recommend this book to horror lovers and horror newbies alike, and I will certainly be looking for more E. Reyes in the future!
I loved that even though every story in this book could be a stand-alone short, they were all tied together with the the town of Devil's Hill, Arizona. Devil's Hill is such a creeptastic town that reminded me a little of Fear Street. Every story was unique, and it is evident that E. Reyes certainly has a mind for the dark, ominous, and eerie.
There are so many different horror troupes, so there is really something in this book for every horror fanatic to sink their claws into. I especially loved "Isabella's Doll" and "First Day on the Job." Who doesn't love a creepy doll story or a story in which the bad guy "gets his." Seriously though, the whole concept of someone working for the devil to recruit men who commit crimes against women to a damnation in Hell...well, that was an awesome story!
The only reason I had to take a star off of my review is simply because the book could use some editing and revision. There were some simple errors that may have been typos, but there were other areas where the wording was awkward and drew me out of the story I was immersed in. (EDITED TO ADD: The author has since created another edition that corrects may of the previous errors.)
Overall, I would FOR SURE recommend this book to horror lovers and horror newbies alike, and I will certainly be looking for more E. Reyes in the future!
November 9, 2019
I loved the idea of making a connected short story collection. It works well, entries playing off one another. And Reyes has some good ideas on a regular basis here. It's just that Devil's Hill could benefit greatly from more editing and polish.
October 22, 2020
Well, pffft. I have pros and cons for this book. I want to say, first of all, that it is a good book and absolutely worth reading.
That said, let's get the cons out of the way first and then we can talk about the good stuff. The first thing this book needed was a little "spit and polish". There are times when the writing comes across a bit amateurish: lots of telling and not enough showing, awkward phrasing, some very...well, juvenile writing. But what this book really needs is a decent editor. In two separate stories, a character's name is written wrong in one single sentence (for example, in 'Isabella's Doll', the doll named Maggie is called Lily, just once). I spotted a "you're" that should have been "your". The writing switches over and over again from past to present tense. Parentheses are used far too often. And the phrase "laughed deep throatily" made my eye twitch. All of these are things would have been caught by an editor. As I like to say, "Kill your darlings but pay your editors."
Now, with that out of the way, this is still a great book. The stories all center around Halloween in this creepy little town, later stories referring back to events that took place in earlier ones. There's a good bit of gore, plenty of supernatural shenanigans, zombies, killer clowns, cat cults, and of course Mother Horror and Lord Samhain. Many of the stories reminded me of something like nineties slasher flicks. In a good way.
My favorite story of all has to be 'First Day on the Job', which follows an undead bounty hunter, newly employed by Hell to wreak vengeance on abusive men.
Negatives aside, Devil's Hill is a freaky book about a freaky place and I wouldn't mind going back sometime. Just to visit. This was Reyes' first book, so I am hoping his writing gets a bit more polished in later works because his imagination is wonderfully horrific.
That said, let's get the cons out of the way first and then we can talk about the good stuff. The first thing this book needed was a little "spit and polish". There are times when the writing comes across a bit amateurish: lots of telling and not enough showing, awkward phrasing, some very...well, juvenile writing. But what this book really needs is a decent editor. In two separate stories, a character's name is written wrong in one single sentence (for example, in 'Isabella's Doll', the doll named Maggie is called Lily, just once). I spotted a "you're" that should have been "your". The writing switches over and over again from past to present tense. Parentheses are used far too often. And the phrase "laughed deep throatily" made my eye twitch. All of these are things would have been caught by an editor. As I like to say, "Kill your darlings but pay your editors."
Now, with that out of the way, this is still a great book. The stories all center around Halloween in this creepy little town, later stories referring back to events that took place in earlier ones. There's a good bit of gore, plenty of supernatural shenanigans, zombies, killer clowns, cat cults, and of course Mother Horror and Lord Samhain. Many of the stories reminded me of something like nineties slasher flicks. In a good way.
My favorite story of all has to be 'First Day on the Job', which follows an undead bounty hunter, newly employed by Hell to wreak vengeance on abusive men.
Negatives aside, Devil's Hill is a freaky book about a freaky place and I wouldn't mind going back sometime. Just to visit. This was Reyes' first book, so I am hoping his writing gets a bit more polished in later works because his imagination is wonderfully horrific.
January 31, 2022
In Devil’s Hill, E. Reyes gives you 15 imaginative dark tales, all with a foot in the various sub-genres of horror. All these stories have a modern-day feel to them, but they also echo the sentiments and feelings of old school times past. Things such as that rustic feeling of Halloween, the crispness of chillier weather, the crackle of leaves as you walk down the darkened sidewalk of a neighborhood, and things that lurk in the night. I always loved reading one of these stories before turning in for the night; it was like I was a kid again, those times when your parents told you a good spooky tale before the lights were turned out. You have stories centered around killer clowns and scarecrows, ghosts, cult activity, serial killers, bizarre creatures, and many more. These are the characters you’ll find within Devils Hill. And most are centered around Halloween. There is something in here for everyone. I highly recommend some E. Reyes as he weaves a great horror tale.
August 31, 2023
Wonderful
I enjoyed this book. All of the stories are set in one location. Often in books of short stories, some are good, bad, or mediocre. I think all of the stories in this book were good. I will read more by this author. On a side note, I would recommend a good editor or proofreader.
I enjoyed this book. All of the stories are set in one location. Often in books of short stories, some are good, bad, or mediocre. I think all of the stories in this book were good. I will read more by this author. On a side note, I would recommend a good editor or proofreader.
April 11, 2020
Esta colección de cuentos, que se entrelazan, tiene un sabor muy a horror adolescente de los 80's y 90's. Devil's Hill es un lugar muy especial que, confieso, me gustaría visitar y experimentar.
Horror refrescante y nostálgico que vale la pena leer.
Horror refrescante y nostálgico que vale la pena leer.
April 8, 2019
Previously reviewed here on GR and Amazon. Fantastic book!!
October 21, 2021
This was a lot of fun. Each story genuinely felt like it’s own tiny goosebumps book for adults. Not that goosebumps books aren’t for adults, I read them, stop throwing pumpkins at me! Reyes has a great writing voice here, each story has some great back and forth dialogue. The interweaving narratives of all the stories made me feel like I was reading a written sequel to Trick R’ Treat.
August 25, 2023
It gave all the vibes of like 90s slasher/horror. There are 18 stories in this anthology. These fictional horror stories are all connected by Satan’s Tree in Devils Hill Az. Every Halloween weird things happen in the town of Devil’s Hill. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a spooky/horror read.
November 30, 2022
Very well done. Loved the stories and how they fit together.
July 26, 2023
DNF
I received a free audiobook copy in exchange for a review.
I like that the author used the same town for all the stories. There were times when I wondered if this collection of stories, or certain specific stories, were written for the younger crowds (teenagers/kids) because they seemed a little childish to me (I’m 42). Or maybe I’ve just seen and read too many “scary” movies/stories, so that’s why most in this collection didn’t do anything for me. I’m not sure if it’s just because these were short stories or because I’m not a youngin’, but I didn’t feel a connection to any of the characters, so I didn’t care what happened to them. I just went from one story to the next.
Going from the present to the future, back to the present, at times, was a little confusing. As others have mentioned, some wording could have been written differently/better, but, overall, I think his writing skills are pretty good. This just wasn’t a batch of stories for me.
The narrator did a good job in that he did different voices and spoke naturally. My only complaint was that his tone would change, sometimes getting quieter. But there were also times when the characters sounded younger/stupider. I’m not sure if that’s his fault, per se, or what, but…
If I didn’t rate a story, it’s because I wasn’t a fan.
“Satan’s Tree”
This story was boring because the author just told the reader what happened as opposed to letting them experience it.
“The Scarecrow”
Unfortunately, this story was kind of boring, too, because a bunch of stories have already been written relating to scarecrows coming to life and killing people and whatnot.
I’ve never heard the stereotype of Walmart employees wearing muumuus, and I’ve been to many in many states.
If Haley was bleeding into a bowl for several days to get a significant amount for the ritual, how would her sister not have known until she was handed the bowl? Sorry, but period blood stinks. She and whoever else used that bathroom (if the bowl was left there) would have noticed the smell.
Mess-up: The scarecrow’s hand was decapitated. Nope, decapitation relates only to the head.
“Clowns” 3/5
This was an okay story. I’ve never had a fear of clowns, but even I would know to run if I stumbled across some in the woods, especially if they were acting weird.
“Serial Killers” 3/5
This was okay. I couldn’t help but notice that it seemed the longest story out of the bunch.
Mess-ups: First, Instagram doesn’t allow pictures relating to death scenes, blood, gore, etc. Secondly, if these women were killed recently and no killer was found yet, there’s no way in the world pictures of their corpses would be online, especially that soon. Nope, sorry. Try again.
“Cats of Friday the Thirteenth”
Agnes, the witch, wants protection from the cat people. So what does she do? She kills cats. How would that not have been an insult to them?
Mess-up: At one point, Michael’s throat and mouth are as dry as the “Sonoran” desert.
“Groceries”
Mess-ups: First, Amber is wearing shorts. I can’t remember if the material was mentioned. Either way, her phone gets knocked out of her hand, knocked to the ground, and breaks. Yet, some of the “tiny pieces of glass” end up stabbing through the material into her butt cheek. I consider this a mess-up because the pieces were described as “tiny” and should have been flat on the ground, especially considering the glass came from a phone. Secondly, when the killer picks her up, her phone suddenly falls from her pocket. … It was still on the ground, though.
Goodreads says the author lives in Arizona. I’m curious if he’s always lived in the US because he uses “floor” multiple times when referring to the ground outside. That’s not a common US reference.
Overall, I feel like there wasn’t much to this story. I mean, it would have been one thing if Liz had gotten away at the end, but nope. The killer kidnapped girls, killed them, and was that. He doesn’t get caught. I wasn’t looking for a happy ending, either. Like have her escape from the van and a town person see her/what’s going on.
“The Worst Hangover” 2/5
I got excited when zombies were mentioned, but that excitement fizzled. What was the point of this one?
“La Llorona Returns” 2/5
How the ghost came about was interesting and creepy.
I’m curious why Maria and Mark’s mom took so long to help them.
“The House of Souls”
...
I received a free audiobook copy in exchange for a review.
I like that the author used the same town for all the stories. There were times when I wondered if this collection of stories, or certain specific stories, were written for the younger crowds (teenagers/kids) because they seemed a little childish to me (I’m 42). Or maybe I’ve just seen and read too many “scary” movies/stories, so that’s why most in this collection didn’t do anything for me. I’m not sure if it’s just because these were short stories or because I’m not a youngin’, but I didn’t feel a connection to any of the characters, so I didn’t care what happened to them. I just went from one story to the next.
Going from the present to the future, back to the present, at times, was a little confusing. As others have mentioned, some wording could have been written differently/better, but, overall, I think his writing skills are pretty good. This just wasn’t a batch of stories for me.
The narrator did a good job in that he did different voices and spoke naturally. My only complaint was that his tone would change, sometimes getting quieter. But there were also times when the characters sounded younger/stupider. I’m not sure if that’s his fault, per se, or what, but…
If I didn’t rate a story, it’s because I wasn’t a fan.
“Satan’s Tree”
This story was boring because the author just told the reader what happened as opposed to letting them experience it.
“The Scarecrow”
Unfortunately, this story was kind of boring, too, because a bunch of stories have already been written relating to scarecrows coming to life and killing people and whatnot.
I’ve never heard the stereotype of Walmart employees wearing muumuus, and I’ve been to many in many states.
If Haley was bleeding into a bowl for several days to get a significant amount for the ritual, how would her sister not have known until she was handed the bowl? Sorry, but period blood stinks. She and whoever else used that bathroom (if the bowl was left there) would have noticed the smell.
Mess-up: The scarecrow’s hand was decapitated. Nope, decapitation relates only to the head.
“Clowns” 3/5
This was an okay story. I’ve never had a fear of clowns, but even I would know to run if I stumbled across some in the woods, especially if they were acting weird.
“Serial Killers” 3/5
This was okay. I couldn’t help but notice that it seemed the longest story out of the bunch.
Mess-ups: First, Instagram doesn’t allow pictures relating to death scenes, blood, gore, etc. Secondly, if these women were killed recently and no killer was found yet, there’s no way in the world pictures of their corpses would be online, especially that soon. Nope, sorry. Try again.
“Cats of Friday the Thirteenth”
Agnes, the witch, wants protection from the cat people. So what does she do? She kills cats. How would that not have been an insult to them?
Mess-up: At one point, Michael’s throat and mouth are as dry as the “Sonoran” desert.
“Groceries”
Mess-ups: First, Amber is wearing shorts. I can’t remember if the material was mentioned. Either way, her phone gets knocked out of her hand, knocked to the ground, and breaks. Yet, some of the “tiny pieces of glass” end up stabbing through the material into her butt cheek. I consider this a mess-up because the pieces were described as “tiny” and should have been flat on the ground, especially considering the glass came from a phone. Secondly, when the killer picks her up, her phone suddenly falls from her pocket. … It was still on the ground, though.
Goodreads says the author lives in Arizona. I’m curious if he’s always lived in the US because he uses “floor” multiple times when referring to the ground outside. That’s not a common US reference.
Overall, I feel like there wasn’t much to this story. I mean, it would have been one thing if Liz had gotten away at the end, but nope. The killer kidnapped girls, killed them, and was that. He doesn’t get caught. I wasn’t looking for a happy ending, either. Like have her escape from the van and a town person see her/what’s going on.
“The Worst Hangover” 2/5
I got excited when zombies were mentioned, but that excitement fizzled. What was the point of this one?
“La Llorona Returns” 2/5
How the ghost came about was interesting and creepy.
I’m curious why Maria and Mark’s mom took so long to help them.
“The House of Souls”
...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2024
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 published Devil's Hill in 2019. The book's stories range from 2016 to 2019, and I still wasn't ready, now that I look back on it. Since the 2019 release, I republished Devil's Hill in 2020 and 2021, and now, Velox Books has reissued it in 2023, and it's much better than the previous times it was published. I clearly was a young writer, but the stories are there; I enjoy them, and I hope readers will enjoy them, too, but remember, this is my first effort that had tripped and fell hard on its launch before Velox Books gave me a hand.
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!
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 published Devil's Hill in 2019. The book's stories range from 2016 to 2019, and I still wasn't ready, now that I look back on it. Since the 2019 release, I republished Devil's Hill in 2020 and 2021, and now, Velox Books has reissued it in 2023, and it's much better than the previous times it was published. I clearly was a young writer, but the stories are there; I enjoy them, and I hope readers will enjoy them, too, but remember, this is my first effort that had tripped and fell hard on its launch before Velox Books gave me a hand.
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!
October 16, 2021
How many of you loved Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark? I read the entire series every fall growing up. Here, we are lucky to have an anthology written in a similar style, but for us adults.
This is the perfect Halloween read. Especially if you want to break it up into bite sized pieces when you are busy but still want to get in the holiday mood. I read one of the fifteen stories each morning and it put me in a great mood to start off the day!
You'll get a wide variety of subjects at Devil's Hill, the town connecting all the stories to one night after a ritual was cast. From witches to clowns to cults to a scary 80's slasher style jack-o-lantern (which was epic, might I add). The location that strung it together worked well for me. Nothing felt out of place and there were moments in the short stories that connected the others - which I thought was a neat touch.
I know this book has received some criticism so here's my thoughts on it: it's an anthology. You're not bound to love every single story in it. However, there wasn't a single one I didn't enjoy. Yes, I had my favorites, but none were poorly written and the ideas were creepy as well as fun! I purchased the second edition and saw no grammatical errors in it (at least that I can tell).
For all my Halloween lovers out there: buy this. I'm making it a tradition to read every October (alongside the upcoming Devil's Hill II!). I look forward to reading more short story collections and novels from the author.
My Favorites:
- Groceries
- House of Souls
- A New Cult
- Mister Razor
- Clowns
- Halloween Ritual
- The Monster Slash
This is the perfect Halloween read. Especially if you want to break it up into bite sized pieces when you are busy but still want to get in the holiday mood. I read one of the fifteen stories each morning and it put me in a great mood to start off the day!
You'll get a wide variety of subjects at Devil's Hill, the town connecting all the stories to one night after a ritual was cast. From witches to clowns to cults to a scary 80's slasher style jack-o-lantern (which was epic, might I add). The location that strung it together worked well for me. Nothing felt out of place and there were moments in the short stories that connected the others - which I thought was a neat touch.
I know this book has received some criticism so here's my thoughts on it: it's an anthology. You're not bound to love every single story in it. However, there wasn't a single one I didn't enjoy. Yes, I had my favorites, but none were poorly written and the ideas were creepy as well as fun! I purchased the second edition and saw no grammatical errors in it (at least that I can tell).
For all my Halloween lovers out there: buy this. I'm making it a tradition to read every October (alongside the upcoming Devil's Hill II!). I look forward to reading more short story collections and novels from the author.
My Favorites:
- Groceries
- House of Souls
- A New Cult
- Mister Razor
- Clowns
- Halloween Ritual
- The Monster Slash
July 3, 2021
Not only did the heat remind me that I was and never will be ready for Summer but this anthology reminded me that I’m so looking forward to the fall especially Halloween which is exactly in four months!!!
Devil’s Hill is @ereyesauthor debut horror anthology and I am all for anything Halloween!!
This 15-story anthology takes place in Devil’s Hill, Arizona and creepiness exudes from each one of the stories and I need more!! I always love stories that somehow are connected to the previous ones, even when they're mentioned by other characters.
The story consisted of scarecrows, serial killers, cults, and my personal soul crushing phobia; clowns! The collection is creepy and entertaining; some were intense and others, like the last story, were filled with comedy relief which liven up the intensity.
I especially enjoyed the preface; where Reyes expresses what Halloween means to many of us; not just a holiday but a lifestyle and how Halloween “is like the mother ship of everything creepy and scary” which could not be more true.
If you want a creepy and Goosebumps-y Halloween read, pick this up, even if we're in July!
Devil’s Hill is @ereyesauthor debut horror anthology and I am all for anything Halloween!!
This 15-story anthology takes place in Devil’s Hill, Arizona and creepiness exudes from each one of the stories and I need more!! I always love stories that somehow are connected to the previous ones, even when they're mentioned by other characters.
The story consisted of scarecrows, serial killers, cults, and my personal soul crushing phobia; clowns! The collection is creepy and entertaining; some were intense and others, like the last story, were filled with comedy relief which liven up the intensity.
I especially enjoyed the preface; where Reyes expresses what Halloween means to many of us; not just a holiday but a lifestyle and how Halloween “is like the mother ship of everything creepy and scary” which could not be more true.
If you want a creepy and Goosebumps-y Halloween read, pick this up, even if we're in July!
February 3, 2024
I purchased this book off of Amazon after I saw one of E. Reyes tiktoks. I love horror and I am always looking for new authors. I was a little surprised by this book as it made me feel as if I was reading an adult version of the Goosebumps books from my childhood. I may just feel that way because most of the stories are either about kids or involve kids. Most of the stories were very enjoyable for my horror side but my favorite was The Monster Slash. I feel like as adults we sometimes feel this way in our heads when we get extremely frustrated, but never take it into the real world as these people did. And the ending to this story was priceless. My least favorite story was Clowns and that's for two reasons. One, I hate clowns and two I feel like clowns are so over done and sort of a fall back when you need filler. Overall this was a great book and I can't wait to read more of his work. I highly recommend this book.
October 16, 2020
This is a perfect book for The Halloween season or in June when it feels like October is still so far away this book of stories will give u that fall feeling you crave. The stories are all connected over the Halloween season in Devils Hill Arizona a creepy town with more ghosts and ghouls than it can handle. You get crazy pumpkin creatures, cult leaders, serial killers, crazed teachers and more. The author obviously loved the genre and the season he sets his stories in so it doesn’t feel forced or contrived. A few characters come across as kind of caricatures but overall the stories are filled with interesting people both living and dead. If you enjoy the Halloween season or a good horror story there is much to appreciate here so enjoy your stay in Devils Hill I know I did
October 29, 2020
I wanted something to get me in the Halloween mood, and this book did not disappoint!
Devil's Hill is a collection of short stories set in a town called...surprise! Devil's Hill, Arizona. The flow of each story is wonderfully paced, and the book carries you through different occurrences as they unfold all on the same day -- Halloween. Let me say, I would not want to live in Devil's Hill! Between the ghosts, kidnappings, murders, clowns, scarecrows, and childhood/teen angst, this town has some intense history. Each story kept me on the edge of my seat and sent a chill up my spine. I look forward to reading more work from Reyes!
Devil's Hill is a collection of short stories set in a town called...surprise! Devil's Hill, Arizona. The flow of each story is wonderfully paced, and the book carries you through different occurrences as they unfold all on the same day -- Halloween. Let me say, I would not want to live in Devil's Hill! Between the ghosts, kidnappings, murders, clowns, scarecrows, and childhood/teen angst, this town has some intense history. Each story kept me on the edge of my seat and sent a chill up my spine. I look forward to reading more work from Reyes!
October 6, 2022
This book was like Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (which I loved and was terrified of as a kid), but for adults.
The stories were spooky, but fun, and just the right amount of messed up to make you cringe but not feel physically ill.
My favourites were Mister Razor and The Monster Slash.
This book probably could have done with another round of edits as there were a few typos and poor grammar choices, but overall it was a fun and easy read that definitely put me in the Halloween spirit!
I could see myself re-reading or re-telling these stories to my kiddos once they get a little bit older.
Plus the cover is top notch!
The stories were spooky, but fun, and just the right amount of messed up to make you cringe but not feel physically ill.
My favourites were Mister Razor and The Monster Slash.
This book probably could have done with another round of edits as there were a few typos and poor grammar choices, but overall it was a fun and easy read that definitely put me in the Halloween spirit!
I could see myself re-reading or re-telling these stories to my kiddos once they get a little bit older.
Plus the cover is top notch!
October 27, 2020
I really enjoyed this! Definitely recommend for a Halloween read since all of the stories are set on Halloween. I also found it neat that all of the stories were about that one town (Devil's Hill) and the first and last stories went together to really bring it full circle.
I also thought the stories in this book would make a super neat Halloween tv anthology series! I was imagining how each one would be perfect for that. I'm really excited to read the Grindhouse book now.
I also thought the stories in this book would make a super neat Halloween tv anthology series! I was imagining how each one would be perfect for that. I'm really excited to read the Grindhouse book now.
October 13, 2023
If you’re looking for some spooky Halloween stories, look no further. Devil’s Hill is a collection of short stories all centered around the same town in Arizona. They were all creepy and fantastic. I’m so glad I saved this for October. So good!
February 15, 2024
Good Ha!loween stories
I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did volume 1. I thought there was too much of the villains getting away with their evil deeds. The last story was really good.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did volume 1. I thought there was too much of the villains getting away with their evil deeds. The last story was really good.
September 15, 2020
perfect for this time of year
If this doesn't get your mind ready for Halloween 🎃 NOTHING WILL. I am so ready a and in the spirit!!!!!
If this doesn't get your mind ready for Halloween 🎃 NOTHING WILL. I am so ready a and in the spirit!!!!!
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