Rudy R’s Reviews > Christmas and Other Horrors: A Winter Solstice Anthology > Status Update

I was right! "No Light, No Light" was good for a nice chill (although whether it's a "correct" representation of Loki is up for debate that I'm not equipped to settle).

There are three categories rn. Bad ("Mawkin Field" and "The Blessing of the Waters", tho neither is as unbearable as "Master of the House"), mid to good (like the one I just finished, "Loyly Sow-na", and "Our Recent Unpleasantness", which was saved from the prior category by the title and the genuinely creepy imagery), and excellent (most everything else).

"Our Recent Unpleasantness" is going to haunt me for a WHILE (like "Rats" or "Snow Devils"). Adding it to the list of standouts.

"Ghost of Christmases Past" is good too

Now I desperately need to know more about Bear Creek Lodge. That creature sorta gave me Jenkin vibes, sans the appearance stealing.

After two straight disappointments HERE COMES DRY AND READY WITH THE STEEL CHAIR!!!!!

Again I ask "what is that ending?"

(that's probably a more accurate figure)

At least I'm not the only one who isn't completely sold on "Mawkin Field". WTF was that ending? Did he die? Did Jeff die? Is everybody fine and nothing bad happened? tbh if you're gonna be in a horror anthology something bad should happen.

I expected this to be something like Bad Santas, a nonfiction account of folklore creatures. Informative, but dry and treading the same ground I'd seen before.

I like the short story approach much better, especially for communicating folklore.

Also I really liked the focus on the unhoused in "The Importance of a Tidy Home" and what that means when considering spirits that care about cleanliness.