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sng2098's review against another edition
1.0
Very disappointed in this book. The "horror" stories weren't even scary. Most of them tried to be scary without actually saying what happened at the end.
marieintheraw's review against another edition
2.0
When you want to call this a mixed bag, but really one liked like two stories. womp womp.
badseedgirl's review against another edition
There are so many great horror authors in this series:
Absinthe & angels by Kelley Armstrong -- 3.5 stars
Christmas in Barcelona by Scott Smith -- 4 stars
Fresh as the new-fallen snow by Seanan McGuire -- 3 stars
Love me by Thomas E. Sniegoski -- 3 stars
Not just for Christmas by Sarah Lotz -- 3 stars
Tenets by Josh Malerman -- 3 stars
Good deeds by Jeff Strand -- 5 stars
It's a wonderful knife by Christopher Golden -- 3 stars
Mistletoe and holly by James A. Moore -- 5 stars
Snake's tail by Sarah Langan -- 2 stars
The second floor of the Christmas hotel by Joe R. Lansdale -- 4 stars
Farrow Street by Elizabeth Hand -- 2.5 stars
Doctor Velocity: a story of the fire zone by Jonathan Maberry -- 2 stars
Yankee swap by John M. McIlveen -- 2 stars
Honor thy mother by Angela Slatter -- 3 stars
Home by Tim Lebbon -- 5 Stars (probably my favorite story in the book. )
Hiking through by Michael Koryta -- 4 stars
The hangman's bride by Sarah Pinborough -- 5 Stars (Tied with Home for the best story in the book)
Absinthe & angels by Kelley Armstrong -- 3.5 stars
Christmas in Barcelona by Scott Smith -- 4 stars
Fresh as the new-fallen snow by Seanan McGuire -- 3 stars
Love me by Thomas E. Sniegoski -- 3 stars
Not just for Christmas by Sarah Lotz -- 3 stars
Tenets by Josh Malerman -- 3 stars
Good deeds by Jeff Strand -- 5 stars
It's a wonderful knife by Christopher Golden -- 3 stars
Mistletoe and holly by James A. Moore -- 5 stars
Snake's tail by Sarah Langan -- 2 stars
The second floor of the Christmas hotel by Joe R. Lansdale -- 4 stars
Farrow Street by Elizabeth Hand -- 2.5 stars
Doctor Velocity: a story of the fire zone by Jonathan Maberry -- 2 stars
Yankee swap by John M. McIlveen -- 2 stars
Honor thy mother by Angela Slatter -- 3 stars
Home by Tim Lebbon -- 5 Stars (probably my favorite story in the book. )
Hiking through by Michael Koryta -- 4 stars
The hangman's bride by Sarah Pinborough -- 5 Stars (Tied with Home for the best story in the book)
thejejo's review against another edition
5.0
Short Christmas horror stories! I know tis not the season, but whatever it’s cold and I love horror so I’ll pretend it’s dec 24 (not march 13).
The first half was only bangers.
The second half…some better than others…but overall what an awesome collection.
Fun horror! Creative! Even had some dreams inspired by a few of the stories!!!!
My favorites were probably ‘It’s a wonderful knife’
The first half was only bangers.
The second half…some better than others…but overall what an awesome collection.
Fun horror! Creative! Even had some dreams inspired by a few of the stories!!!!
My favorites were probably ‘It’s a wonderful knife’
labunnywtf's review against another edition
4.0
I don't always have luck with anthologies, but when Christopher Golden puts out a horror anthology, I sit up and pay attention. I may be biased when it comes to him, but I'm not biased towards any of the other authors. But I trust Golden to find some true gems in his genre.
And good grief, he did not disappoint me here. I don't reach for holiday books of any genre, but I was more excited than I'd like to admit about a collection of horror stories set around That Holiday, the one that drives certain people to madness, screeching about wars and Starbucks cups.
BRING ON THE BLOODSHED.
And I am happy to report that of the 18 stories collected here, very few disappointed me. And of those, they weren't bad, they just didn't catch my attention. I know for fact there is an audience for each of these stories, and the ones I was most intrigued by are going to be incredibly popular.
In fact, without naming names (because I'm not that jerk) (well, I'm not that jerk today), one of these authors wrote one of the most hated books I've ever read. And their story here is my absolute favorite of all of them. It wasn't until I got to the "About the authors" page that I even realized who they were, and my jaw hit the floor.
We have every type of story imaginable here. From supernatural to good old fashioned human wickedness, there is something for every taste bud here. The first story sets an incredibly creepy tone. I've never heard of Yuletide mummers. I don't know if this is an actual thing, but as far as I'm concerned, it's not and I'll hear nothing about them ever again. And from here, we deep dive.
There are some stories you have to sit and think about awhile to catch the real Christmas connection. There are some where you just have to put the book down, take a step back, a deep breath, and, if it's light outside, perhaps stand outside in the cold air and think about your life choices in deciding to read horror.
Seeing as how he put the collection together, I will give Christopher Golden HUGE props for his particular story, It's a Wonderful Knife. Timely with a twist, with just the teensiest touch of supernatural to it. It was intensely satisfying.
Again, not every story is a winner, but there isn't one that left me feeling like it should've been left out. There's a little something for everyone in this twisted Santa's bag.
And good grief, he did not disappoint me here. I don't reach for holiday books of any genre, but I was more excited than I'd like to admit about a collection of horror stories set around That Holiday, the one that drives certain people to madness, screeching about wars and Starbucks cups.
BRING ON THE BLOODSHED.
And I am happy to report that of the 18 stories collected here, very few disappointed me. And of those, they weren't bad, they just didn't catch my attention. I know for fact there is an audience for each of these stories, and the ones I was most intrigued by are going to be incredibly popular.
In fact, without naming names (because I'm not that jerk) (well, I'm not that jerk today), one of these authors wrote one of the most hated books I've ever read. And their story here is my absolute favorite of all of them. It wasn't until I got to the "About the authors" page that I even realized who they were, and my jaw hit the floor.
We have every type of story imaginable here. From supernatural to good old fashioned human wickedness, there is something for every taste bud here. The first story sets an incredibly creepy tone. I've never heard of Yuletide mummers. I don't know if this is an actual thing, but as far as I'm concerned, it's not and I'll hear nothing about them ever again. And from here, we deep dive.
There are some stories you have to sit and think about awhile to catch the real Christmas connection. There are some where you just have to put the book down, take a step back, a deep breath, and, if it's light outside, perhaps stand outside in the cold air and think about your life choices in deciding to read horror.
Seeing as how he put the collection together, I will give Christopher Golden HUGE props for his particular story, It's a Wonderful Knife. Timely with a twist, with just the teensiest touch of supernatural to it. It was intensely satisfying.
Again, not every story is a winner, but there isn't one that left me feeling like it should've been left out. There's a little something for everyone in this twisted Santa's bag.
aspygirlsmom_1995's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
spacemonkey25's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mrnumi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
yattergirl's review against another edition
1.0
My personal hell would be having to sit and read this book. I’m not a fan of audiobooks but this book forced me to find an audio version of it because I could not, for the life of me, read one more word of this bland book with my own two eyes.