Hi everyone! Something a little different from me today, I read an anthology of horror books so I’ve decided to do short two or three line reviews of each story and then rate them in pumpkins (in keeping with the Halloween theme!) All ratings will be out of 5.
Link to book – 13 Tales To Give You Night Terrors
Crashing Mirrors – Well I wasn’t expecting that ending, it was a complete twist! Bravo to the author. Whilst the writing did leave a little to be desired it was more than made up for with the story and that shock twist.
🎃🎃🎃 out of 5
Ad Infinitum – aw this was so good! I absolutely loved the ambiguity that the story had and coupled with that story of chaotic way the story was being told to us, it was just brilliantly done. I love that whole crazed vibe and this story certainly had a lot of it.
🎃🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.
Black Holes – well this was fucking traumatising. Jfc. This was actually quite a horrific story, and it made me feel genuinely sick when I finished reading it :))))) bravo to the author though, who clearly put their heart and soul into crafting such an eerie and tense atmosphere, coupled with an impeccable story.
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.
Clown – oh my good lord, this book is genuinely trying to kill me. I hate clowns and I’m scared of the dark so this story, coupled with those fears was just about enough to tip me over the edge to a full blown breakdown. This was so tense and genuinely creepy, it felt dark and it was incredibly hard not to imagine the scene in your head. It was a lot.
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.
Back Home – this one was actually quite sad, a tale of loss and ghosts. It was very well done I just didn’t feel the same thrill I felt with some of the others unfortunately.
🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.
Waiting For The Wolf – a shorter story that definitely packed a punch! I loved the ending and the whole chain mail vibe of this story just took me back to my younger days. I was just disappointed it wasn’t longer to allow that tension to build, but it did do well in time it had.
🎃🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.
Store Macabre – DNFR.
Search History – while I did enjoy this one I felt a little mislead by the title, I was expecting something different which was a shame. Aside from that, the story was really good, I loved the way the notes formed a puzzle for Mary but also encouraged the tense feeling for the reader too. The ending did feel a bit of a let down though.
🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.
Gone For Good – I think this one was just too long and didn’t have enough substance to it. Plus I guessed the ending like straight away so.
🎃🎃 out of 5.
One and Done – I was more confused by this one tbh, there were points that didn’t really make sense and that spoiled it for me a bit. It did have a lot of potential though!
🎃🎃 out of 5.
Blackened Fireworks – I’m in 2 minds about this as the actual story was good and I really liked it, it was a compact read that packed a punch. But, the ending did seem a little odd, and could have ended better.
🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.
It’s Different When You Have Your Own – WTF did I just read. I genuinely think this was the most disturbing one of them all.
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.
The House Sitter – I feel disappointed 😦 this was such a good story and had everything you need to be frightened, it was tense and atmospheric and it made you fearful of things that go bump in the night. It was creepy and eerie and ghostly and I was terrified to move whilst I read it. But the ending, the ending sucked and really let the story down.
🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.
On the whole, this was a really good collection of short horror stories and while some were better than others I definitely would recommend this one!
Until next time, Em xxx
What Em's Reading 