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yeah_nahnia's review
4.0
It's never too late to read Christmas stories! As much as I loved this book, some stories did take a while to get to the horror, but they were regardless great tales. My favourites have to be Christmas in Barcelona, Good Deeds, Home (that ending!!!!), and The Hangman's Bride.
michellewords's review
4.0
I picked up Hark!The Herald Angels Scream based on the editor alone. I'm a longtime fan of Christopher Golden, so I was stoked to see a short story collection he edited.
Generally, I'm not a big fan of short story collections. I lose momentum half way through and really struggle through to the end. This collection is compiled in a way that it kept the pace up and didn't feel like a drag at all.
The book did not disappoint. The stories range from cringy, weird, unnerving, creepy, and darkly funny (one author really doesn't like the Christmas shoes song).
I had so much fun reading Golden's Christmas horror collection. It reminded me a lot of The No Sleep Podcast with the scares and the fun. I especially enjoyed 'Yankee Swap', 'Good Deeds', and 'It's a Wonderful Knife'.
If you are looking for a little scare to add to this year's Christmas festivities, I highly recommend this wonderful book of fun and chills.
Thanks to Net Galley for an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Generally, I'm not a big fan of short story collections. I lose momentum half way through and really struggle through to the end. This collection is compiled in a way that it kept the pace up and didn't feel like a drag at all.
The book did not disappoint. The stories range from cringy, weird, unnerving, creepy, and darkly funny (one author really doesn't like the Christmas shoes song).
I had so much fun reading Golden's Christmas horror collection. It reminded me a lot of The No Sleep Podcast with the scares and the fun. I especially enjoyed 'Yankee Swap', 'Good Deeds', and 'It's a Wonderful Knife'.
If you are looking for a little scare to add to this year's Christmas festivities, I highly recommend this wonderful book of fun and chills.
Thanks to Net Galley for an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
fearnerd's review
3.0
Hark! The Herald Angels Scream is a solid Christmas anthology with your usual mixed bag of good stories and some that are just meh and some that feel like a waste of time. Thankfully, there's more good than bad, and there is one exceptionally great story from Scott Smith (author of The Ruins) that is frustrating, weird, and then pays off with one of the best twists.
I saw someone else describe this book like episodes of Creepshow, and I had a similar feeling (but thinking more Tales from the Crypt). If you're a reader not afraid to DNF, then you'll likely get through the book faster. I would implore you not to give up on the novella length "The Hangman's Bride" by Sarah Pinborough. It's another great story, but it may not immediately grab you.
Also, I have to acknowledge the funny Black Mirror-esque "Not Just For Christmas" which I enjoyed more than the other humor-based story "Good Deeds." "Not Just For Christmas" was that right blend of weird and believability.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5. Fear Nerd says, "Check it out!"
I saw someone else describe this book like episodes of Creepshow, and I had a similar feeling (but thinking more Tales from the Crypt). If you're a reader not afraid to DNF, then you'll likely get through the book faster. I would implore you not to give up on the novella length "The Hangman's Bride" by Sarah Pinborough. It's another great story, but it may not immediately grab you.
Also, I have to acknowledge the funny Black Mirror-esque "Not Just For Christmas" which I enjoyed more than the other humor-based story "Good Deeds." "Not Just For Christmas" was that right blend of weird and believability.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5. Fear Nerd says, "Check it out!"
alexisdoingok's review
5.0
This is how horror should be done - short, haunting stories cut perfectly for suspense & a lasting eeriness.
tablife's review
4.0
3.5 stars - Despite their being a very demonic Santa on the cover, I didn't immediately realize that all of these stories would be Christmas-themed. It wasn't exactly what I was going for for my chosen Halloween read, but it fit the bill well enough. This book of short stories started out strong with Christmas in Barcelona probably being my favorite. I didn't love every single story but I overall enjoyed the collection.
eamwilliams504's review
5.0
Christmas comes early this year thanks the new short story collection Hark! The Herald Angels Scream.
If you like your Christmas more "Silent Night, Deadly Night" than "it’s a Wonderful Life", then Blumhouse and Anchor Books (a division of Penguin Random House) has the book for you.
Hark! The Herald Angels scream is a fantastic collection of short stories edited by Bram Stoker Award-winning author, Christopher Golden that is sure to add that Halloween feeling to your holiday season.
There are 18 stories written by award winning authors including Josh Malerman author of Bird Box, Scott Smith author of The Ruins, Seanan McGuire author of the Wayward Children series, Elizabeth Hand author of the Cass Neary novels, Generation Loss being one of my personal favorites and Sara Pinborough whose 2017 novel Behind Her Eyes topped international bestseller charts (that ending!!)
The stories run the horror gamut from sinister babysitters to animate creche figures, absinthe induced hallucinations to uninvited Christmas party guests. From an old fashioned Christmas in London to a Hollywood insider’s Christmas party and the worst version of a Yankee gift swap ever, there is something for everyone.
My personal favorite stories were “Good Deeds” by Jeff Strand about a Christmas song written after being overcome by the spirit of holiday giving and “Not Just for Christmas” by Sarah Lotz, about actually getting that puppy for Christmas.
I definitely recommend this book and some of my friends will be finding this under their Christmas tree this year.
My review will be published on https://scariesthings.com/category/books/
in early November so others can add this to their holiday shopping list as well!
If you like your Christmas more "Silent Night, Deadly Night" than "it’s a Wonderful Life", then Blumhouse and Anchor Books (a division of Penguin Random House) has the book for you.
Hark! The Herald Angels scream is a fantastic collection of short stories edited by Bram Stoker Award-winning author, Christopher Golden that is sure to add that Halloween feeling to your holiday season.
There are 18 stories written by award winning authors including Josh Malerman author of Bird Box, Scott Smith author of The Ruins, Seanan McGuire author of the Wayward Children series, Elizabeth Hand author of the Cass Neary novels, Generation Loss being one of my personal favorites and Sara Pinborough whose 2017 novel Behind Her Eyes topped international bestseller charts (that ending!!)
The stories run the horror gamut from sinister babysitters to animate creche figures, absinthe induced hallucinations to uninvited Christmas party guests. From an old fashioned Christmas in London to a Hollywood insider’s Christmas party and the worst version of a Yankee gift swap ever, there is something for everyone.
My personal favorite stories were “Good Deeds” by Jeff Strand about a Christmas song written after being overcome by the spirit of holiday giving and “Not Just for Christmas” by Sarah Lotz, about actually getting that puppy for Christmas.
I definitely recommend this book and some of my friends will be finding this under their Christmas tree this year.
My review will be published on https://scariesthings.com/category/books/
in early November so others can add this to their holiday shopping list as well!
c0smic_mistak3's review
3.0
catch me dropping my jaw at some of those stories!! Spooky christmas is always a good time!!
callieisreading's review
3.0
Many stories entertaining. I'd rate it a 3.5, if possible. Doesn't deserve a 4.
camilleisreading24's review
4.0
Super fun anthology with a BUNCH of stories. They varied a lot in quality and genre but the ones I liked, I REALLY liked so I gave it a high rating. There was also a not as good story with a hilarious premise— the man who writes the song “Christmas Shoes” plays it for people and they all kill themselves in increasingly slapstick ways.
Christmas in Barcelona
The Hangman’s Bride
Tenets
Yankee Swap
Honor Thy Mother
Christmas in Barcelona
The Hangman’s Bride
Tenets
Yankee Swap
Honor Thy Mother
hyggedreamer's review against another edition
2.0
Don't let the rating fool you - there are some good stories in here. But too many of them didn't really interest me (especially the last, very long story). I loved the first two - the Kelley Armstrong one, especially. And Good Deeds, while not exactly horror, was pretty good.
I think the problem with anthologies is that the mood changes so much with each story that it's hard to keep interest. That and there's a mix of different genres - some are interesting and some not so much.
I probably wouldn't recommend this one if you're looking for a Christmas read.
I think the problem with anthologies is that the mood changes so much with each story that it's hard to keep interest. That and there's a mix of different genres - some are interesting and some not so much.
I probably wouldn't recommend this one if you're looking for a Christmas read.