A review by ericarobyn
The Horror Collection: Splatterpunk Dreams by Kevin J. Kennedy, Gord Rollo, Edward Lee, Edward Lee

challenging dark tense fast-paced

4.0

The Horror Collection: Splatterpunk Dreams presented by KJK Publishing is one of those books that comes along and challenges the limits of what I think I can stomach. This splatterpunk nightmare certainly pushed my personal boundaries and let me tell you, there were moments I found myself skimming through some of the really extreme parts. Despite the madness, I couldn’t put it down!

There’s such an awesome range here, but a range that goes far past my stopping point! The “worst” (for me) was saved for last! The last four in a row I had to skip or skim. Absolute all-out brutality! 

My favorite tales:

• Easy Money by  P.J. Blakey-Novis
• Hard Headed by Kevin J. Kennedy
• Hell on the Highway by Candace Nola

Foreword –

Kicking things off with an explanation of the term splatterpunk, readers will either be nervous or pumped to dive in! I loved this passage: These stories are a little bit of madness, brought to you by some of the best horror authors working in the industry, today, that wanted to show off their love for splatterpunk.

Walter With an Axe by Steve Stred – 

While watching a film one night, this young man’s evening takes quite a turn when he hears something outside. 

I love it when stories have stories within them! Seeing what was happening in the movie this character was watching g was wild! And oh my gosh, that ending! I wanted to scream at this character! 

Sister Silence and Lady Strange by Gord Rollo – 

While locked up, this woman has taken a vow of silence. But when her past comes back and tries to take advantage of that, we all learn why this woman was there in the first place.

Phew, the sudden shift was intense! 

Crazy Horse by David Owain Hughes – 

After catching her man cheating, this woman finds herself desperate for a shop. While there, she’s given the chance to play a game. With nothing to lose, she takes part… 

Oh my gosh, the situations she gets into here are WILD! I was so nervous to see what was going to come next! This had so many horror elements included. Phew! 

Easy Money by  P.J. Blakey-Novis –

Always on the search for random things that will pay easy money, this character signs up for some kind of horror experience. Little do they know, this experience is about to test how far they would go for money. 

Oh my gosh, this was terrifying! The action starts so quickly and it just keeps getting more and more brutal! What a tale! I was so nervous to see what would come next!

Death By Pumpkin by Jason Nickey – 

After being killed by a pumpkin, this young man is shown flashes of what he is to do next. 

This poor kid! The second you read about the pumpkin, the dread kicks in and things get darker from there. 

Skin Game by Adam Millard – 

Sent out to do a task to please their mother, these two men try to come back with something special. 

The body horror here was intense! And ugh that ending made me feel so sick. 

The Digger by D.W. Hitz –

This man gets paid by storing corpses on his property. But this day, he’s given something that throws off his routine. 

Oh, so many elements here made me so uncomfortable while reading! Sensitive readers, proceed with caution on this one! 

Hard Headed by Kevin J. Kennedy – 

Not shy when it comes to fighting back, this man is approached one day to be asked to join an underground fighting league. With the payday that came with each fight, he couldn’t turn the work down. But what he finds surprises him.

This was so much fun! I loved the little twist that comes once he gets fighting! And that ending… 

Scratching that Itch by Veronica Smith –

Seeing an interesting piece of tech in a commercial, this woman decides to give it a shot. But it is way better than she was anticipating. 

The body horror here, my gosh! 

Hell on the Highway by Candace Nola – 

When the body count along I-90 piles up, one trucker refuses to step away when the killer goes after one of her chosen family members. 

This was terrifying! This entire story from start to finish has a thick sense of dread that will leave readers antsy to see what’s to come while also absolutely not wanting to see what could be around the next bend. 

Pig by Ryan Colley – 

Oofh, I couldn’t read this one! I tried, but it was too much for me! 

The Birderer by Chisto Healy –

After being pushed over the edge, this character is ready for revenge. 

Oh… my… gosh. Brutal. By far one of the most graphic things I’ve read. 

It’s a Good Day for a Sexorcism by Matthew Vaughn –

Not one for me! 

The Crew by Edward Lee – 

When vigilantes take matters into their own hands when it comes to the worst of the worst, one cop can’t condone the behavior… He openly approves of it.

Good god, this was another that I had to skim. Too much for me!

My Favorite Passage from The Horror Collection: Splatterpunk Dreams –

The darkest hours of night were the only witness to the small van pulled onto the shoulder; rear doors opened wide as the bulky form of a man heaved a bundle from the back.
– Hell on the Highway by Candace Nola

My Final Thoughts on The Horror Collection: Splatterpunk Dreams –

Splatterpunk Dreams is a blood-soaked rollercoaster of horror that may just push readers to their limits, but if you’re willing to hang on, it’ll take you places few books dare to go! And honestly, as horror fans, would we have it any other way?