Another great installation of the Dark Screams series brought to us from Cemetery Dance's Brian Freeman and Richard Chizmar. Surprisingly, I was only familiar with 3 of the 6 authors in this incarnation of the series.

Even more surprising was that my favorite story was A Monster Comes to Ashdown Forest (In Which Christopher Robin Says Goodbye) by James Renner, one of the authors with whose work I was previously unfamiliar. We find out that Ashdown Forest was actually the 100 Acre Wood from those lovable Winnie the Pooh books when Christopher Robin, the patient in an convalescent home, requests to go back one last time. When they arrive, they are greeted by the "real" Eeyore and meet the rest of the somewhat timeworn gang. It's kind of a nightmare version of Winnie the Pooh - a great read for anyone who has read those books or watched those movies a thousand times to children who just can't get enough. (I can still sing those damn songs due to a little girl I babysat 20 years ago.)

Lizardman by Robert McCammon is also worth a mention. While the story was pretty good, the description was amazing. I don't know if McCammon has spent much time in swampy areas, but the depiction of it had me twitching my nose, waiting to be eaten by mosquitoes. It is extraordinarily compelling.

While it was not really my type of story, West of Matamoros, North of Hell by Brian Hodge was without a doubt the most terrifying story in the collection for me. I am well aware of the problems of drug cartels within the boundaries of our southern neighbor, and have seen videos of their savagery. This story seriously hits a nerve. And the ending is a bit of surprise. Definitely worth a read.

Dark Screams Volume 7 edited by Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar was received direct from the publisher. The Dark Screams anthologies have alwys been solid performers from the start and this edition is no different. Stories of alligators, silly old bears, dunes, Mexican Saints, laughing Nazi's, schoolteachers and the like cause this book to rate a high 3 rounded up to four. If you like quick and easy to read horror tales, give this one a read.

3.5 stars

This is my 3rd installment of the Dark Screams anthologies, and probably my least favorite so far. But don't get me wrong-this is still a worthy read!

Volume 7 consists of 6 shorties, most of them by new or unknown authors to me. While they all didn't fall into the true 'horror' genre in my opinion, they certainly were dark.

The stand out for me was Snow Shadows, with Futherest a close second. Lizardman seemed vaguely familiar, so I might have read this one in another anthology possibly.

If you are a fan of the dark and enjoy the variety that anthologies offer, make sure you grab a copy-there is something in here for everyone's taste!

ARC provided by NetGalley

Dark Screams 7 is a very good anthology of dark fiction. 3 out of the 5 featured authors were completely new to me. That’s pretty ballsy for an established series to put out there, but I dug it. I enjoyed every one of the stories and have a few new authors to keep an eye out for to boot. Can’t ask for more than that.

Great anthology! I highly recommend this book to fans of horror! You can read my full review at www.cedarhollowhorrorreviews.com.

Collection of short, horror stories that are more miss than hit. I enjoyed the story by Mick Garris the most.

The Dark Screams series continues to be one of the best — and most affordable — horror series on the market and Volume Seven is no different.
Continuing its trend of featuring stars of the genre with new and upcoming authors, volume seven pulls together short horror tales by Robert McCammon, James Renner, Kaaron Warren, Brian Hodge, Bill Schweigart, and Mick Garris for possibly its finest release to date.
The stories enclosed here vary showcase a variety of horror styles but each deliver plenty of chills to the reader.
Highlights include Robert McCammon’s reprint Lizardman — a fun southern monster yarn about a crocodile hunter that oozes character and with the scares; James Renner’s A Monster Comes to Ashdown Forest which adds a chilling twist to the stories of Christopher Robin and the Hundred Acre Wood; and Brian Hodge’s West of Matamoros, North of Hell which is a menacing look into the abyss of human darkness in the heart of Mexico.
It’s an unbelievable collection at a bargain basement price.

Another great installment of Dark Screams. Review for Monster Librarian forthcoming

Dark Screams has quickly become one of my favorite Horror Anthology series of all time. I was excited not only to see a volume 7, but the name Mick Garris who wrote one of my favorite stories back in Dark Screams volume 5. So it came as no surprise to me that Snow Shadows ended up making my favorites in this volume. It opens on a cold winter's day at Ravensbrooke Youth Academy for the Arts. Miss Featherstone, the drama teacher is about to have a very dramatic moment indeed.

A Monster Comes To Ashdown Forest (IN WHICH CHRISTOPHER ROBIN SAYS GOODBYE) by James Renner brings beloved childhood characters back to gruesome life. An excellent story.


Furtherest by Kaaron Warren is a spooky summer time tale of camp fires, cook outs, and corpses. I could almost smell the Coppertone it was so well written and descriptive.

As much as I love short horror stories it's always a bit difficult for me to review them without giving too much away. So that is why I have just touched briefly on my absolute favorites.

4 out of 5 stars from me.

LIZARDMAN by Robert McCammon is the only story in this collection that's a reprint. Previously published in 1989, this is pure horror from McCammon. I must have read it, but I don't remember it. It was fun - like reading a brand new story for me! I pictured George C. Scott playing the lead role. (That's a hint to you filmakers.)

A MONSTER COMES TO ASHDOWN FOREST (IN WHICH CHRISTOPHER ROBIN SAYS GOODBYE) by James Renner - OK, the title says it all. As I sat there wearing my Eeyore pajamas, I had a tear in my eye. But, this is still a very dark story.

FURTHEREST by Kaaron Warren - Beach homes and summer fun add up to an ending that belong in the dark of winter.

WEST OF MATAMOROS, NORTH OF HELL by Brian Hodge - Always a favorite of mine, Brian Hodge goes very dark in this not to be missed story about ink and music.

THE EXPEDITION by Bill Schweigart - We know the SS were searching for mystic proof of der Motherland's superority. This story just might keep you awake after reading.

SNOW SHADOWS by Mick Garris - Love is the scariest of all, isn't it?

I think that number 7 is the winner for best Dark Screams yet. It's one hell of a ride. Make plans to read it.

Thanks to Random House/Hydra for letting me read and review in advance of publication.

I'm gonna go ahead and proclaim it the best Dark Screams volume yet...at least of the ones I've read. Great line up this time, though interestingly enough my favorite story comes from an author I've never heard of before, James Renner. Try looking at a popular kid's story the same after that one. Terrific variety, but all leaning mostly toward literary horror, my favorite kind. Especially the last one by Mick Garris, a haunting winter tale of isolation and regrets. Funny, I typically think of Garris as the scary movie/tv guy, but he's quite a talented author in his own right. Always great to see versatility. Really great bunch of stories, exceptionally entertaining, spooky, well written and tons of fun to read. Enthusiastically recommended. Thanks Netgalley.