Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "anthology"

Halloween Pieces: A Mobile Writers Guild Anthology by Joyce Scarbrough

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Treats and tricks galore in this anthology from the Mobile Writers' Guild in celebration of the spookiest season of the year.

‘Halloween Pieces’ is a collection of eighteen pieces of writing from writers from Mobile, Alabama; the fourth of (currently) five collections. Including twelve short stories, five poems and a play, there is something to suit all tastes, with gothic fiction, mystery, folklore, hauntings, horror and comedy all finding their way within the pages.

My personal highlights were:

‘The Tree Remembers’ by Joyce Scarbrough – Invited to a school reunion, Janelle is at first reluctant to accompany her husband, as she hasn't fond memories of her time at school. But when the opportunity arises to teach the school bullies a lesson, Janelle decides it’s one she cannot miss.

‘Once in a Blue Moon’ by CJ Petterson – When her car breaks down in a secluded area, Katherine is relieved when a stranger comes upon her and offers to assist. Agreeing to accompany him back to his village and join their Samhain celebration, she soons discovers that something sinister is afoot and the villagers may not be as they seem.

‘The Portrait of Eliza Melling’ by Carrie Dalby – Five years after the death of his beloved Eliza, Sean remains heartbroken, attending a Halloween dance in an effort to keep her memory alive. But his devotion to clinging to the past proves dangerous as he returns home to a visitation from the spirit world. (Working well as a standalone story, this is also connected to Dalby’s ongoing gothic family saga ‘The Possession Chronicles’.)

‘A Time to Believe’ by Theola Bright – Accosted by an old lady in the street, Edwina’s day takes a bizarre and terrifying turn, one that threatens her life and that of everyone she cares for. Just what witchcraft has befallen her, she does not know, and tries desperately to escape the clutches of this malign scheme.

Overall this is an enjoyable selection of fiction and poetry for Hallowe’en, including some that can be read aloud and even shared with the whole family (parental discretion advised, of course). So grab your cocoa, your apple cider, or pumpkin spice beverage of choice, and sit back ready to embrace the season with thrills, terrors and supernatural delights.



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Bitter Chills: Holiday Edition by Jay Alexander

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A delightfully devilish collection of short fiction from the pens of indie horror writers.

Each Bonfire Night, a group of teenagers are haunted by a boy whom they left to burn...
Driving home, a man is stranded by a relentless snowstorm...
A bedtime story of the culmination of the Wild Hunt on the night of the Winter Solstice...
A grieving father is determined to keep a promise to his dead son which he failed to while he lived...
The mystery behind the disappearance of a teenage girl begins to unravel...
The tale of a killer snowman...
Christmas dinner takes an unexpected turn...
A lonely woman grants shelter to her ex and his new partner one snowy Christmas Eve...
A man is hunted by a mythological monster...
A fight for survival in a collapsed and frozen world...
A fossilised larynx unleashes the stuff of nightmares...

'Bitter Chills' is the first of several anthologies from indie publisher Blood Rites Horror, curated and edited by author Jay Alexander. Featuring tales of psychological horror, supernatural horror, environmental and natural horror, dystopia and a touch of black comedy, the collection covers a breadth of horror tropes and sub-genres with something to appeal to all tastes; these quality tales representing the indie horror community at large.

The Holiday Edition also includes a raft of bonus material, including artwork, poems and new stories, some being sequels to previous stories, making this volume a luxury celebration of the work of the featured authors.

My personal favourites were:
'The Burning Boy' by Denver Grenell - feeling like a nostalgic throwback to young adult horror, the sort of tale that introduces you to the genre, with karma reaching out its hand from beyond the grave;
'My White Star' by Carla Eliot - a mystery and ghost story combined into a tale of retribution, the main character haunted by the presence of his missing friend, a horrifying truth unraveling before his eyes;
'The Christmas Eve' by Carmilla Yugov - a sublime tale of psychological horror, with its premise of revisiting an emotional trauma, building to bloodshed and terror; a thrilling story of horror and suspense;
'The Violent Snow' by Patrick Whitehurst - with its archaeological theme, claustrophobic suspense, but nevertheless the fun of adventure, this natural horror story evolving into full-blown creature-feature has a cinematic feel and a neat conclusion, as well as an equally satisfying sequel. Would love to read a part three!

A feast of horrors from the depths of winter, 'Bitter Chills: Holiday Edition' is perfect for filling the Hallowe'en-sized hole in your reading list long after the jack o'lantern has ceased to flicker.



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Afraid of the Shadows: An Anthology of Crime Stories by Victoria Selman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A charity anthology of spooky short stories from multiple crime writers.

‘Afraid of the Shadows’ in the third anthology in the ‘Afraid of the Light’ series, featuring nineteen stories from the group of creators plus some contributions from guest authors. Profits from each anthology are donated to frontline domestic abuse charities ESDAS and Rights for Women, with this third also sponsoring mental health charity Samaritans.

M.W. Craven opens the collection with ‘Strange Ink’, featuring Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw, probably the most traditionally crime fiction story with its police procedural elements. An eclectic mix of the fiendish, creepy, humorous and bizarre follows throughout the collection, with twists and psychological melodrama galore, culminating in T.M. Logan’s chilling ‘With the Others’.

My personal favourites were:
“Mirror Mirror” by Trevor Wood, for its tragic romance;
“When I Grow Up” by Robert Scragg, when trick-or-treating takes an unexpected turn;
“Hidden” by Victoria Selman, a revenge plot with a twist;
“The Jumper” by S.R. Masters, exploring the power of superstition;
“Indelible” by Elle Croft, a touch of dystopian sci-fi;
“With the Others” by T.M. Logan, a dark and emotive psychological thriller.

Overall, this is an enjoyable collection that captures the chills, magic and fun of the season and is a showcase of the work and talent of all its featured writers. As Peter James himself states in his foreword, short stories are the perfect medium for capturing a moment in time and accessible to many people in our modern world of a dizzying amount of choices of entertainment. I shall certainly be looking out for more from these authors, whose contributions here have helped support those in need through sales of this book.

Delectable slices of the horrifying and the criminal, ‘Afraid of the Shadows’ is a great collection to whet your appetite during the Hallowe’en season.



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October Blood: A Book of Halloween Horror by Hawke Haus Books

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


An anthology of Hallowe'en-themed horror stories by a variety of indie authors.

'October Blood' is a showcase of talent from the indie horror writer community, featuring work centred around Hallowe'en. With an opening poem by Bee Davis and thirteen short stories across the spectrum of horror themes and tropes, including gothic, supernatural, psychological and slasher, with chills, folklore, superstition, urban legends and violence entwined amongst the prose.

These are not the first stories I've read by several of the featured authors, while I also discovered some great new writers I'll be looking out for again, and hope to read many more from them all in the future! Not only is this a great compendium of work, but the profits go to Calgary Food Bank, a charity working to fight hunger and help those in need.

It's always difficult to pick favourites amongst anthologies with so much variety; personally, I most enjoyed:
"Blood of the Moon" by Sabrina Voerman, a dark fable, about a man who comes to the aid of a lost woman in the woods, with a superb twist;
"The Cameraman" by Michael R. Goodwin, an atmospheric tale of a teenager who spends Hallowe'en night alone and dares to watch a mysterious videotape;
"The Bitter Man" by Marcus Hawke, exploring the truth behind an urban legend surrounding a murderous dentist.

Overall, 'October Blood' is a fabulous collection celebrating our favourite dark holiday; a collection of tricks and treats for both the seasoned horror fan and those who wish to test the waters during the season. Happy Hallowe'en!



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HorrorScope: A Zodiac Anthology by H. Everend

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


An anthology of zodiac horror.

'HorrorScope' is a collection of short stories and poetry, thematically linked to signs of the zodiac, featuring work by thirty-six indie horror and dark fantasy authors. Edited by H. Everend, it features a wide array of sub-genres, including forays into mythology, creature features and cryptozoology, slashers and serial killers, curses and witchcraft, and the looming spectre of death. It’s a thrilling concept, to present a horror-esque horoscope through storytelling, split into a section per zodiac sign, each section including three pieces.

My personal favourites were:
‘The Twin Keepers’ by Alex Tilley, a blend of psychological and dystopian suspense;
‘You Die...I Die’ by Jessica Huntley, a twisted game at the hands of a serial killer;
‘The Virgin’ by Brooklynn Dean, a delicious slice of erotica and brutal ritual;
‘The Lovers’ by Sabrina Voerman, a sensuous fantasy of tragedy and morality;
‘The Sting of the Scorpius’ by Kay Hanifen, a tale of mysticism and retribution;
‘The One Who Came to Save Her’ by Nico Bell, a visitation of revenge in a small town;
‘My Little Minnow’ by Nina Tolstoy, a psychological portrait of a serial killer.

Overall, this is a brilliant dossier of work, covering a wide range of sub-genres. As one would expect, it contains its fair share of explicit violence, sexual content, and torture, as well as some less explicit animal cruelty. Boasting diversity across genre, themes, tropes and characters, even the most casual horror fan will likely find something that speaks to them within this volume, much like might be found in a traditional horoscope.

Overseeing proceedings is H. Everend; as well as an author of several horror stories, she is also a committed supporter of the indie author community. Here she has curated a superb anthology that showcases the talent and hard work of its writers, with a mix of established names with work already published and new authors presenting their debuts. As an indie author myself, I understand the challenges and the sheer willpower, commitment and passion it takes to produce the work and send it out into the world, and everyone should feel incredibly proud of their contributions. Indie voices may typically be small, but nevertheless they have something to say.

A delight for both enthusiasts of horror and indie supporters, ‘HorrorScope’ marks a fabulous achievement for all the creators involved. Future volumes have been announced, with 'HorrorScope, Volume II' arriving this summer.



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Afraid of The Christmas Lights by Miranda Jewess

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A charity anthology of festive short stories from a variety of crime writers.

'Afraid of the Christmas Lights' is the second collection in 'Afraid of the Light', a series of charity anthologies that began in the lockdown of the 2020 pandemic. This seasonal selection from later the same year, edited by Victoria Selman and Miranda Jewess, with a foreword by Val McDermid, features eighteen stories; Mark Billingham opens the collection with DI Tom Thorne investigating the murder of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, the list of contributors also including Sophie Hannah and Harriet Tyce as special guests for this second volume.

My personal favourites were:
"Bad Guy" by Kate Simants, for its keen characterisation and devastating twist;
"Heavenly Peace" by Heather Critchlow, for its psychological and gothic undertones;
"The Switch" by James Delargy, for its moral dilemma and emotional turmoil;
"Driving Home for Christmas" by Rachael Blok, for its twisty thriller plot;
"Bloody Christmas" by Harriet Tyce, a seasonal splash of the author’s domestic/legal blend.

Overall, 'Afraid of the Christmas Lights' is an enjoyable compendium of festive morsels to partake of during Advent evenings; entertaining slices of murder and malice with plenty of splashes of blood and dashes of snowfall. As Val McDermid notes, perfectly capturing the essence of everything this book was about, “the comfort of reading is constant. It’s a salve for isolation and a haven when we need to escape into someone else’s imagination.”

Crucially, all profits from sales of this second volume go towards supporting two charities - East Surrey Domestic Abuse Services; and Rights of Women. Both organisations do incredible work to support people suffering domestic violence, which alarmingly became a shadow pandemic at the time when we all remained in our homes to fight the COVID pandemic, victims stranded with their abusers and little avenue for escape. Even as the world returned to normality, the work of both these charities remains vitally important and a truly worthy cause for a seasonal anthology of crime fiction.



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Grizzly: A Charity Anthology by January Ember Press

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A collection of tales of survival and feminine rage.

'Grizzly: A Charity Anthology' is a limited release horror anthology, edited by S.C. Fisher and H. Everend, featuring twenty short stories, an opening essay, and a piece of poetry, by female and femme-identifying indie authors and survivors of sexual assault - inspired by the Man vs. Bear debate. It is sadly both illuminating and unsurprising that many women choose the bear – we need to do so much better.

Tragic, heartbreaking and often brutal – amongst these narratives are hauntings, curses, psychological horror, slashers, revenge thrillers, body horror, and even a touch of satire. Unflinching, yet always empathetic, these hard-hitting tales explore sexual, physical and psychological violence and abuse; not only stranger rape, but predominantly attacks by those whom victims know, love and trust - family members, authority figures, romantic/sexual partners, friends, and colleagues.

Screaming from the heart of each story is the trauma - exploring the turmoil and confusion brought on by feelings of dissociation and shame, conflicting feelings that may be felt towards attackers, and the lifelong struggle to not simply be a victim but a survivor. Horror provides a lens through which we can view the darkest aspects of our society - sometimes that will be unsettling, and so it should be.

Within this incredibly strong selection of stories, my personal favourites were:
"The Cannock Chase" by S.C. Fisher, for its resonating message of love being the light that conquers fear;
"Condemned" by. M. Edusa, for its haunting atmosphere as ghosts of the past are exorcised;
"The Dead Man" by Bethany Russo, for its dizzying psychological excavation;
"Jane" by Amber Hathaway, for its slasher qualities and satisfying twist;
"Song of the Rusalka" by Kay Hanifen, for its folkloric and karmic haunting narrative.

Available between 31st July and 10th September 2024, the anthology was released to support charity Take Back the Night. Since the 1970s, the organisation has been working to raise awareness of and end sexual and relationship violence through global events and initiatives. With staggering statistics that 1 in 3 women experience sexual violence, 2 in 3 transgender people, and 1 in 6 men, their mission is crucial and this collection helps contribute towards their vital work.

A fabulous selection of stories, 'Grizzly: A Charity Anthology' proves that, together, we can help shatter the silence.



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BLOODY HELL: An Anthology of UK Indie Horror by Sarah Jules

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A stunning showcase of British indie horror.

‘Bloody Hell’ is an anthology of short stories written by multiple authors and set in locations across the British Isles – England, Wales, Scotland, and a bonus story set in the Republic of Ireland. Edited by Sarah Jules, with beautiful illustrations by Rachael Rose, the collection features twenty-seven stories across the spectrum of the horror genre from a legion of indie horror talent, taking us on dark adventures featuring ghosts, stalkers, creatures, supernatural entities, aliens – an assortment of hauntings and folklore, magic and mayhem, slasher and splatter, natural and body horror, tales of vengeance and malign intent, twists of fate and misfortune, and even touches of comedy. Each story offers its own unique premise and style, each author’s signature woven tightly within the DNA of their work – some slow-burning, others fast-paced; some psychological, others visceral; some atmospheric and dripping in suspense, others brutal and bloodthirsty.

Difficult though they were to select, my personal favourites were:
“The God Botherers” by Ashley Lister, for its religious themes and pitch black comedy (I fear I am guilty of all three signs of being a dæmon);
“Pergyl” by C.S. Jones, for its Welsh wilderness and crawling, creeping dread;
“The Dark Heart” by Jim Ody, for toying with our perceptions so brilliantly all the way through;
“Sand” by David Watkins, for its beautiful setting and grotesque hopelessness;
“Brompton Road” by Elizabeth J. Brown, for its haunting atmosphere and delicious twist;
“Down T’Pit” by Sarah Jules, for its claustrophobic tension and jarringly spatial horror.

Overall, this is an incredibly high quality collection, featuring a wide variety that will appeal to all tastes, offering readers the chance to discover new stories from authors they may be familiar with and also discover new writers, all masterfully curated by Sarah Jules. My own story, “Cythraul”, is part of the assembled tales, and it is an incredible privilege to be included in such a strong collection amongst so many of my talented fellow indie authors. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the other writers’ stories and look forward to more from both the authors whose work I was familiar with and those whom I read for the first time in this book.

‘Bloody Hell: An Anthology of UK Indie Horror’ in a superb selection of horror stories, perfect for sampling on dark autumnal and wintry nights. Prepare yourself to embark on a journey, as we travel around the United Kingdom (and Ireland), facing mortal perils and dangerous foes, and unleash bloody hell!



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Death Comes at Christmas by Marie O'Regan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A festive selection box of murder and mystery.

'Death Comes at Christmas' is a anthology of eighteen short stories, all written by crime and thriller authors, edited by Marie O'Regan and Paul Kane. From stories in the style of Golden Age classics to gritty modern thrillers, set in the snowy English countryside to the heat of Bombay, India, we are treated to a delightfully gripping mix of brutal crimes and complex puzzles, with flourishes of comedy, romance and creepy chills, all with a sprinkling of seasonal fun.

My personal favourites were:
'Christmas Yet to Come' by Helen Fields, for its strong characters and devious plotting [a legacy sequel to Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'];
'The Red Angel' by Russ Thomas, for its gothic isolation and chilling atmosphere;
'The Midnight Mass Murderer' by Alexandra Benedict, for its twisty plot, deranged killer, and returning characters [a sequel to Benedict's own 'The Christmas Jigsaw Murders'];
'A Deadly Gift' by Angela Clarke, for its classic locked-room mystery complete with festive trimmings.

Overall, this is a collection of well-written, thrilling tales, many in the tradition of much-loved and classic Christmas tales and mysteries, and a fantastic showcase of writers from the world of modern crime fiction, each tale an enjoyable slice of Yuletide magic. Highly recommended reading for these cold nights as we count down to Christmas.



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Horror Tales From Wales by Kevin J. Kennedy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A chilling collection from the heart of ancient Cymru.

‘Horror Tales from Wales’ is an anthology of horror short stories, presented by author and publisher Kevin J. Kennedy as a volume in his ‘Places’ series. Featuring five stories by five Welsh authors, we delve into a blend of hauntings and folklore, encountering supernatural and mythical entities in narratives that will make your blood run cold.

“They Come at Night” by Richard Clive – A deliciously creepy tale of a man haunted by the ghosts of children and his well-meaning friend trying to help him, leading them on a hike into the wilderness of Snowdonia in search of an old wishing well, where the man's recently deceased partner had made a wish...be careful what you wish for!

“Dogs of Hell” by C.L. Raven – A gorgeous Samhain tale, a suicide pact leading to a chase through the realm of Annwn, the Welsh Otherworld, pursued by a pack of dogs, horses and gods, trapped in a soul hunt on Hallowe’en night. A thrilling piece of mythological horror for our favourite night of the year.

“The Vengeance of Black Bart” by C.S. Jones – An emotive, historical horror, blending an historic haunting and legends of pirates with the wartime plight of refugees, sent to rural Wales to escape the dangers of the cities; exploring themes of love and loss, and the desperation they can ignite, in a sprawling nautical tale of vengeance.

“Bravo” by David Watkins – Journey from Wales to the Himalayas in a cryptid natural horror with a group of Welsh soldiers, participating in an international competition. But the soldiers are no match for the wild, coming up against a relentless predator in the snow. Pitted against the Yeti, the men find themselves in a tense fight for survival, lost in the Asian wilderness.

My own story, “Lunar Eclipse; or, Melltith y Ddraig”, concludes the collection, a tale of gothic romance, folk horror, and erotic fantasy.

Thrilling and entertaining, ‘Horror Tales from Wales’ is a fabulous showcase of indie horror and the diverse elements of the genre, all told from the heart of a land of ancient castles, mighty dragons and the rugged beauty of wild nature, where passion runs in the blood. This a superb collection to be a part of and I’m honoured to feature a story alongside my fellow Welsh authors, as part of Kennedy’s growing catalogue of indie horror voices.



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