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Christine A. (965 KP) rated Hark! the Herald Angels Scream: An Anthology in Books
Jan 22, 2019
Anthology of Christmas or winter themed horror stories
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
I waited until closer to the holiday to read this book and, with all of the rushing involved with the season, forgot to post my review. The Christmas season may be over, but it is still winter, so grab a cup of hot chocolate and be prepared to be entertained.
Hark! The Herald Angels Scream by Edited by Christopher Golden is an "anthology of all-new short fiction from some of the most talented and original writers of horror today." Included are eighteen stories of Christmas or winter themed horror from authors: Kelley Armstrong, Christopher Golden, Elizabeth Hand, Michael Koryta, Sarah Langan, Joe R. Lansdale, Tim Lebbon, Sarah Lotz, Jonathan Maberry, Josh Malerman, Seanan McGuire, John M. McIlveen, James A. Moore, Sarah Pinborough, Angela Slatter, Scott Smith,Thomas E. Sniegoski, and Jeff Strand.
The cover quickly bring to mind "Tales from the Crypt", a campy, horror anthology television series with a memorable narrator, Crypt Keeper. The stories written could have been been portrayed in any of the episodes. As with "Tales from the Crypt", the stories in "Hark! The Herald Angels Scream" were creepy, funny, chilling, gruesome, dark, and definitely worth your time.
The stories are well written and stand alone.
I waited until closer to the holiday to read this book and, with all of the rushing involved with the season, forgot to post my review. The Christmas season may be over, but it is still winter, so grab a cup of hot chocolate and be prepared to be entertained.
Hark! The Herald Angels Scream by Edited by Christopher Golden is an "anthology of all-new short fiction from some of the most talented and original writers of horror today." Included are eighteen stories of Christmas or winter themed horror from authors: Kelley Armstrong, Christopher Golden, Elizabeth Hand, Michael Koryta, Sarah Langan, Joe R. Lansdale, Tim Lebbon, Sarah Lotz, Jonathan Maberry, Josh Malerman, Seanan McGuire, John M. McIlveen, James A. Moore, Sarah Pinborough, Angela Slatter, Scott Smith,Thomas E. Sniegoski, and Jeff Strand.
The cover quickly bring to mind "Tales from the Crypt", a campy, horror anthology television series with a memorable narrator, Crypt Keeper. The stories written could have been been portrayed in any of the episodes. As with "Tales from the Crypt", the stories in "Hark! The Herald Angels Scream" were creepy, funny, chilling, gruesome, dark, and definitely worth your time.
The stories are well written and stand alone.
Darren (1599 KP) rated Tales From the Crypt (1972) in Movies
Oct 14, 2019
Characters – Where this film is an anthology we don’t get too much time with each character, Joanne is a married woman with her own desires for life, showing a darker side after killer her husband on Christmas Eve. Carl Maitland is a married man that is planning on leaving his wife and children, he is involved in an accident which brings into a new lease of horror. Grimsdyke is an older man, he has lived with his wife in one home, with her passed away he wants to die in this house and must deal with the snotty neighbours that is trying to force him out. Jason is a businessman that has spent more than he has earnt forcing him to face bankruptcy for his actions. Rogers is the final story as a manager of home, he comes in with his strict ideas struggle to connect with the people he is meant to be caring for.
Performances – By being an anthology the stars only get limited time, Joan Collins gets the ball rolling as is good in her role with us believing how calculated her actions are. Ian Hendry is solid in his role, he is behind the camera for the most part making it hard to believe everything. Peter Cushing shines as the kindly old man that is getting pushed out of town. Richard Greene is solid enough without getting too much time to show us what makes his character unique. Nigel Patrick does make this character one of the more unlikable with ease.
Story – The story here takes us down the horror anthology line, we get to see five stories of five characters deaths, this does give us something different in each side of the horror scale, we know some are shorter than others with Blind Alleys and Poetic Justice being the stand out of the five stories. There is a big twist in the connection to the stories, but if you do know the TV show you will know the outcome. For a horror anthology this is everything you need without being to the extremes they go nowadays. Each short could easily become a longer film which is always positive.
Horror – When it comes to horror we sometimes get to best moments in shorts, anthologies give us a chance to experience different types of horror which will offer something for all horror fans.
Settings – Each film takes us to the world where the character comes from which shows us how the normal lives they live have the darker secrets.
Special Effects – The effects in the film are good through the film they show us what is capable with good practical effects.
Scene of the Movie – Blind Alleys when the door opens.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – Some stories are too short.
Final Thoughts – This is a good anthology for horror, it gets the best moments correct and keeps us guessing to what will happen to the characters involved.
Overall: Simple anthology.
Performances – By being an anthology the stars only get limited time, Joan Collins gets the ball rolling as is good in her role with us believing how calculated her actions are. Ian Hendry is solid in his role, he is behind the camera for the most part making it hard to believe everything. Peter Cushing shines as the kindly old man that is getting pushed out of town. Richard Greene is solid enough without getting too much time to show us what makes his character unique. Nigel Patrick does make this character one of the more unlikable with ease.
Story – The story here takes us down the horror anthology line, we get to see five stories of five characters deaths, this does give us something different in each side of the horror scale, we know some are shorter than others with Blind Alleys and Poetic Justice being the stand out of the five stories. There is a big twist in the connection to the stories, but if you do know the TV show you will know the outcome. For a horror anthology this is everything you need without being to the extremes they go nowadays. Each short could easily become a longer film which is always positive.
Horror – When it comes to horror we sometimes get to best moments in shorts, anthologies give us a chance to experience different types of horror which will offer something for all horror fans.
Settings – Each film takes us to the world where the character comes from which shows us how the normal lives they live have the darker secrets.
Special Effects – The effects in the film are good through the film they show us what is capable with good practical effects.
Scene of the Movie – Blind Alleys when the door opens.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – Some stories are too short.
Final Thoughts – This is a good anthology for horror, it gets the best moments correct and keeps us guessing to what will happen to the characters involved.
Overall: Simple anthology.
Cyn Armistead (14 KP) rated Entangled in Books
Mar 1, 2018
I picked this anthology up because all proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which is a wonderful cause. Many of the authors' lives have been touched by cancer in one way or another, some first-hand. The volume is Halloween-themed, as well.
I don't believe I've read anything but short stories by any of these authors in the past except for [a:Jennifer Estep|580315|Jennifer Estep|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1264385515p2/580315.jpg], and I haven't read the Mythos Academy series in which her story is set. I'm more likely to read it now than I was before.
"Halloween Frost" by Estep and "Ghostly Justice" by Allison Brennan (set in her Seven Deadly Sins series) were the most polished stories in the anthology. Too many of the others had plot holes, or felt like teasers to get a reader to pursue more of the author's work. A short story should be self-contained.
Some of the authors let the "romance" get in the way of the plotting. If the main character acts like an idiot because she's distracted by the bulge in a man's pants, why make her the main character of a story? Especially if, as in "Sinfully Sweet" by Michelle Miles, you fail to resolve the major plot issue you raise?
While I admire the cause for which these ladies are writing, I can't help but think a shorter, higher-quality anthology might have been a better bet.
I don't believe I've read anything but short stories by any of these authors in the past except for [a:Jennifer Estep|580315|Jennifer Estep|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1264385515p2/580315.jpg], and I haven't read the Mythos Academy series in which her story is set. I'm more likely to read it now than I was before.
"Halloween Frost" by Estep and "Ghostly Justice" by Allison Brennan (set in her Seven Deadly Sins series) were the most polished stories in the anthology. Too many of the others had plot holes, or felt like teasers to get a reader to pursue more of the author's work. A short story should be self-contained.
Some of the authors let the "romance" get in the way of the plotting. If the main character acts like an idiot because she's distracted by the bulge in a man's pants, why make her the main character of a story? Especially if, as in "Sinfully Sweet" by Michelle Miles, you fail to resolve the major plot issue you raise?
While I admire the cause for which these ladies are writing, I can't help but think a shorter, higher-quality anthology might have been a better bet.
Merissa (11800 KP) rated Bad, Dad, And Dangerous Anthology in Books
Oct 6, 2020
This anthology gives you four amazing stories, complete by themselves, which definitely makes a nice change. All too often you get a story that ends with a cliffhanger in the start of a new series. Not here.
Each story is different but with a similar theme that ties them together in this anthology. From magical un-dead cats to peacekeeping wolves, from energy vampires to changelings.
As with most anthologies, there are some stories that I prefer but that doesn't mean the others are not as good. They are all brilliant and introduced me to two new-to-me authors so I'm very happy.
This was a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Each story is different but with a similar theme that ties them together in this anthology. From magical un-dead cats to peacekeeping wolves, from energy vampires to changelings.
As with most anthologies, there are some stories that I prefer but that doesn't mean the others are not as good. They are all brilliant and introduced me to two new-to-me authors so I'm very happy.
This was a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated The Grownup in Books
Feb 15, 2019
The set-up had me hooked for most of the short story, and then it got a <s>little</s> lot silly, and then it ended. So now I don't know what to think. I mean, I liked it, but overall it left me disappointed in where it went.
This story can also be found in the anthology: [b:Rogues|20168816|Rogues|George R.R. Martin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1404616147s/20168816.jpg|27565413]
This story can also be found in the anthology: [b:Rogues|20168816|Rogues|George R.R. Martin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1404616147s/20168816.jpg|27565413]
Sarah Betts (103 KP) rated Laughter at the Academy in Books
Dec 31, 2019
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
In every anthology I've read, there have been at least two stories I did not care for.
This is not the case with Laughter at the Academy.
Military mermaids, lonely dolls, and vengeful geniuses are a few of the friends you'll meet on this wild trip of a book and it is definitely worth the ride!
In every anthology I've read, there have been at least two stories I did not care for.
This is not the case with Laughter at the Academy.
Military mermaids, lonely dolls, and vengeful geniuses are a few of the friends you'll meet on this wild trip of a book and it is definitely worth the ride!
Dean (6925 KP) rated A Christmas Horror Story (2015) in Movies
Dec 17, 2017 (Updated Dec 17, 2017)
Great Christmas Horror anthology
I came across this last year and didn't expect much as a straight to DVD film. It turned out to be a little gem of a film. Mixing up various horror types from Slasher, Ghost story, mythical and the plain weird. All linked together by William Shatner as the small town local radio DJ. Reminded me of @Trick 'r Treat (2007) something for everyone, check it out.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2099 KP) rated Foxtrot, Assembled with Care in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The 8th anthology contains plenty more laughs with the Fox clan. Covering Fall of 1999 to Summer of 2001, we get such great moments as Jason looking forward to the Lord of the Rings, Paige making high school flashcards, and Peter trying to get through Hamlet. This family always makes me laugh, and this book is no exception.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-foxtrot-assembled-with-care.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-foxtrot-assembled-with-care.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Cyn Armistead (14 KP) rated Crimes by Moonlight: Mysteries from the Dark Side in Books
Mar 1, 2018
I should have written the review as soon as I finished the book. All I remember now is that this anthology tended to be much, much darker than most of the ones I read! I'd classify this volume as horror rather than dark fantasy, and paranormal romance fans should probably just skip it altogether even if they do see familiar authors' names. I should have skipped it, and I wasn't reading for any romance. I'm still shivering!
Dean (6925 KP) rated Nightmares and Dreamscapes in Books
Feb 18, 2018
Great Anthology of stories
This is a great book that fans of Stephen King will love. 23 stories of varying length that have all the trademarks of his stories. Some aren't so great and very short, but the majority of stories I would rate 7-10 individually. The stand out stories are:
Dolan's Cadillac
The Night Flier
Chattery Teeth
Dedication
Sorry Right Number
The Ten O'clock people
The Doctor's case.
Dolan's Cadillac
The Night Flier
Chattery Teeth
Dedication
Sorry Right Number
The Ten O'clock people
The Doctor's case.