Halloween Carnival Volume 1 is an entertaining collection of five novella length tales taking place on or around Halloween. The collection is very well written and each story is interesting in its own right, whether it adds a creepy twist at the end as in The Rage of Achilles or is creepy from the start as in #MakeHalloweenScaryAgain. Each story has its own twists and whether its scary or not is engaging and kept me turning pages. With elements of family, love, loss, and finding your roots, there's nothing over the top scary, but this collection is great for kicking off the season.

This is how I marked October first. I wanted to read half of it, but I ended up getting too absorbed and finishing the whole thing in one sitting. It's not long, and features five short stories with one thing in common: Halloween. Some are creepy, some actually made me sad, and I got at least some enjoyment out of each one. I'm going to skip writing a synopsis for each and just write my thoughts. They're short stories, I don't want to give anything away!

Strange Candy - 4 Stars
I had doubts about this one when it started, but it ended up being sad and hopeful at the same time. Not super creepy, but a great start to the collection. My second favorite in the book.

The Rage of Achilles - 3.5 Stars
Touching, but I had some issues with the way it was written, got lost about who was talking and the timing of events. I backtracked and read certain parts over, but it didn't help. Would be helped by a little bit of editing. This story was also sad, and I started wondering if they all would be! This one seems to be a favorite with other reviewers, so I think I just missed the boat. I was expecting something creepier.

Demon Air - 3 Stars
Probably the shortest story in the book. A bit gross. The juxtaposition from the last story was jarring. Upped the creep factor but just felt like something was missing.

La Hacienda de los Muertos - 3 stars
A little goofy at times. Appreciated a new take on an old legend and the setting, but didn't like the characters very much. Also felt like it added some parts just as filler that didn't really contribute anything to the story.

#MakeHalloweenScaryAgain - 4.5 Stars
This is the longest story, and actually gave me the chills a couple of times. Great ideas, I feel like it would make a good short film. (Or a feature film, if expanded upon.) My favorite in the collection, it made me laugh a couple of times while still managing to creep me out a bit. It's easy to visualize everything that's happening in the story, which added to the appeal of it.

Recommended reading for October! I'm going to look into the other volumes of Halloween Carnival. It's great to read some quick and creepy tales when you don't have the time to devote to a long book.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and Hydra, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

I generally don’t review each story in a short story collection individually, but I will very briefly in this one. The first story STRANGE CANDY by Robert McCammon was very heart-warming and had lots of feels. I didn’t expect that in the beginning. The second story THE RAGE OF ACHILLES by Kevin Lucia was excellent. I didn’t see the end coming and loved the slightly eerie feel of it. I would love to know more about the shopkeeper. DEMON AIR by John R. Little, I have to confess, was a little underwhelming. I found the concept very interesting, but there wasn’t much follow-through. It just ended and I was expecting more. It was well-written, however. LA HACIENDA DE LOS MUERTOS by Lisa Morton was slightly longer than the others, and I liked how the story ended. It didn’t seem as eerie as it could have been, but it was still an excellent story. And, lastly, #MAKEHALLOWEENSCARYAGAIN by Mark Allan Gunnells was very good. I hate finishing a story not quite knowing what has happened, and this story did that. It was the most “creepy” of the stories, however. Overall, I really liked these stories, but I do have to admit I expected a little more “spooky” with my Halloween reads, and these didn’t quite do that. They were very good, but just not what I expected. I do, however, recommend it! Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Hydra for the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.

The first in a new series of short story collections, Halloween Carnival is the perfect read to get in the mood for Halloween. And just like the sweets you trick or treat, you never know what you end up with until you upend your bag at home, riffle through your treasures and have a taste:

Strange Candy (Robert McCammon)
A solid story to start this collection. Enjoyable, but not too memorable. ***

The Rage of Achilles (Kevin Lucia)
Wow! Creepy, sad, this emits the strongest Halloween vibe. My favorite of the bunch. *****

Demon Air (John R. Little)
Demons on a plane. Silly & bloody my least favorite in this collection. **

La Hacienda de los Muertos (Lisa Morton)
Entertaining. ***

#MAKEHALLOWEENSCARYAGAIN (Mark Allan Gunnells)
I liked it. Very much. A bit predictable, but the writing was superb. Who is this author and why haven't I heard of him before?! (rushing off to check his other works) ****

Now that I got my first taste of Halloween Carnival, I want more!

5 short stories that all revolve around Halloween. Easy and fun to read.

STRANGE CANDY by Robert McCammon
Chocolate bars and sour suckers are trick-or-treat staples, but beware the odd sweet at the bottom of your bag. You never know who it’s from—or what it might do to you.

THE RAGE OF ACHILLES by Kevin Lucia
Father Ward should have heeded the warnings about hearing confession on All Hallow’s Eve. Because a man is about to tell him a secret more haunting than any he has heard before.

DEMON AIR by John R. Little
Fear of flying is not uncommon. But on this transpacific airline, the real danger isn’t the flight itself. It’s whoever—or whatever—is up in the air with you.

LA HACIENDA DE LOS MUERTOS by Lisa Morton
Trick McGrew, former cowboy star of the silver screen, has never believed in tall tales. But down in Mexico, the land of La Llorona, he’s about to find out just how real urban legends can be.

#MAKEHALLOWEENSCARYAGAIN by Mark Allan Gunnells
Some people will go to any lengths to rack up retweets, likes, and follows on social media, no matter who they end up hurting . . . or even killing.

Review I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This collection of horror focuses on, as the title suggests, Halloween. Given the time of year, I was very excited to read it, but I ultimately walked away feeling slightly disappointed.

Most of the stories seem to fall into the 'wholesome horror' category, lacking any real chills but ending with a distinctly warm note. There's nothing wrong with that style of story, necessarily, but I'm the first to admit that they aren't my favorite. "Strange Candy" and "The Rage of Achilles" very much fall into those tropes, and while both are well written, they feel mild, even bland.

Other stories end up feeling rushed or even unfinished, as if the authors were rushing to fill a deadline or page requirement. "Demon Air" and "La Hacienda le los Muertos" fall into those traps, which is unfortunate, as the latter story has a good premise and a strong start, faltering in the ending and stopping so abruptly that I thought I had somehow missed a few pages.

The strongest tale in the collection is, by far, "#MakeHalloweenScaryAgain." It had the spook factor, and though the ending was extremely predictable, I found myself enjoying the journey almost enough to make up for the rest of the collection.

Halloween Carnival would be great for readers who like their Halloween without much bite, but lacks zest for the seasoned horror fanatic, and I ultimately can't see myself revisiting it.

The Halloween Carnival Vol 1 is the first in a five e-book horror series launched just in time for the spooky season. Each book serves up five short stories by genre masters – as well as some talented up-and-comers – for the low cost price of $2.99 and will be released, one a week, throughout October in the lead up to Halloween.

Volume 1 sees stories by Robert McCammon, Kevin Lucia, John Little, Lisa Morton and Mark Allan Gunnells and is a solid introduction to the series. Of the five stories on offer three are fantastic and only one, Little’s Demon Air about a ghoulish flight crew really misses the mark.

Highlights include Lucia’s The Rage of Archilles, a chilling story of a father who’ll do anything for his autistic son and Morton’s La Hacienda de Los Muertos, is an eerie take on the wailing woman legend set during the filming of a low-budget Mexican horror film.

Allan Gunnells’ #MakeHalloweenScaryAgain is the longest story of the book and the stand out piece. A short novella it tells the story of a small time horror author who gets drawn into a series of brutal murders around Halloween. It’s a cracker of a yarn that keeps the tension tight all the way to its shocking conclusion.

It’s a fantastic start for a great little series that’s meaty enough to hook you in and short enough to burn through in a sitting or two as you eagerly await the next installment out on October 10.

🎃 Heralding Halloween Book! 🎃

Halloween Carnival Volume 1 is the first of five volumes of short stories being released in time for Halloween. Brought together by Brian James Freeman of Cemetery Dance Publications fame, this book contains five stories inspired by Halloween.

Strange Candy by Robert McCammon - ⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Chris Parker eats the unwrapped sparkly white candy shaped like a hand he and his wife found at the bottom of his daughter's trick or treat loot bag, he finds he's no longer sitting in his lounge room watching his annual Halloween late night horror movie.

With messages from the dead being the ultimate focus of this story, I mostly felt sad at the grief felt by the characters. Hope was given through the messages to loved ones and it was a nice story but it didn't really come across as a much of a Halloween story to me. The candy could have been substituted for just about anything else and the story still would have worked.


The Rage of Achilles or When Mockingbirds Sing by Kevin Lucia - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Father Ward sits meditating in the confessional on Halloween night, not expecting visitors. The story he hears that night will change him forever. Kevin Lucia's story came with a great twist.

This was quite a sad story with themes of guilt, anger and revenge. I don't want to give anything away but it was very well written and made me want to read more from this author.


Demon Air by John R. Little - ⭐️⭐️

When Halle Barry boards Diamond Air Flight 194 to Sydney on 30 October, she's planning on finding out who she really is. When the clock strikes midnight, a series of events unfold midair that show her what she's made of.

Demon Air read like two stories had been joined together. The first story was one of identity and I enjoyed this section. I would have liked Halle's ancestry journey to have continued to Australia, New Zealand and Scotland. I was interested in finding out more about her history. Naturally that story wouldn't have fit this collection.

Once Halloween began mid air, I felt the cohesiveness was lost and it tried to become a different story just to introduce the Halloween theme. Had the story been exclusively about what happened on Demon Air I would have enjoyed it more as sufficient time would have been spent setting up the scenario and playing the games on board. As it was it felt like only a few minutes of story time had occurred and then suddenly a whole day had passed. This section didn't gel with me and the joining of the two stories felt flimsy, using Halle's limited knowledge of Australian Aboriginal culture to determine her course of action.


La Hacienda de los Muertos by Lisa Morton - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After thirty years of acting in cowboy movies, Trick McGrew's career died along with Blazer, his horse, six years ago. His agent has arranged a part for Trick in a Mexican horror movie. Taking place during Day of the Dead celebrations in 1958, Trick inadvertently becomes involved in the local legend of La Llorona.

This ghost story was an interesting take on a real legend and featured the Day of the Dead celebrations. I liked the growth of the main character throughout the story.


#MakeHalloweenScaryAgain by Mark Allan Gunnells - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dustin Davis, an author from Greer working on his latest novel, wants his #MakeHalloweenScaryAgain to go viral. He is disappointed by peoples' apathy toward Halloween, especially those in his neighbourhood and hopes if his hashtag garners enough attention it will help generate interest in his writing.

As Halloween draws nearer locals start getting murdered, with Dustin's hashtag featuring at each crime scene. Questioned by Officer Workman and with local reporter Shawn Moore hoping to catch his big break from this story, Dustin's hopes for fame turn into suspicion when the people of Greer suspect he is the murderer. The killer ups the ante when they let the locals know that the family inside one house that isn't decorated for Halloween will be murdered on Halloween night. Chaos ensues.

I really enjoyed this story. There was a creepy atmosphere and a sense of dread built throughout the story as Halloween drew closer. I liked the snippets of how different locals were dealing with the murders in their town and the interactions between Dustin, Shawn and Officer Workman. I did pick who the killer was (yay me!) but I was still entertained throughout the story.


The Rage of Achilles or When Mockingbirds Sing and #MakeHalloweenScaryAgain were my favourites in this collection.

A common theme running through this collection was that at least one character experienced loss and grief. The stories weren't scary at all which disappointed me. I had hoped for some real fear and the closest I came to it was some creepy fun in the final story. However, they were mostly well written and they all took place around Halloween. The final story was a fun introduction to the season of scares and I look forward to reading the other four volumes.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Hydra for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.

Once again I have to give a HUGE thank you to Brian James Freeman of Cemetery Dance Publications, as well as Hydra for allowing me to receive this ARC in exchange for a review. I absolutely love the Dark Screams series, and to see a new line-up specifically for Halloween is an awesome treat.

I have to say, this didn’t let me down. In fact, out of the nine Dark Screams volumes and then this one Halloween Carnival anthology, I have to say this is my favorite so far. What I really liked is that all the stories revolve around Halloween and not just “horror” stories. Reading this was like a throwback to the old EC comics: Tales from the Crypt, Vault of Horror, etc. The stories included had humor, lessons, horror, and twists – well rounded choices. There was only one author I haven’t read anything by - Mark Allan Gunnell –but will seek him out. As for the others, well, if you haven’t read anything by them, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

1) STRANGE CANDY by Robert McCammon: Anyone with kids know the “joy” of having to go through their Halloween “loot” looking for unwrapped, or inappropriate, candies (and maybe snatching one or two Snickers bars for yourself). Well, what happens when you find an odd candy – a skeleton hand that looks like a Day of the Dead Sugar Skull, but smells of peppermint? Well, don’t be surprised if someone offers you comfort later that night. This was a very sweet (pun intended) tale, and a nice way to start the book.

2) THE RAGE OF ACHILLES or WHEN MOCKINGBIRDS SING by Kevin Lucia: Within my 40+ years in Scouting, I have always had a place in my heart for special needs people. I was a sign language interpreter, I organized many a “Handi-Capable Camporees”, and even now, my assistant Scoutmaster is a savant. So when I say this story hit me between the eyes and completely broke my heart, you can believe it. A fantastic story about a family’s struggle with an autistic child, and the depths they go for him.

3) DEMON AIR by John R. Little: I’ve been a HUGE fan of John’s from the first story I read of his in LITTLE by LITTLE. And he doesn’t let down in this one. I fly often, and in fact will be heading out to New Mexico the week before Halloween. After reading this story, I’m glad I’m not flying ON Halloween.

4) LA HACIENDA de los MUERTOS by Lisa Morton: You can’t have a Halloween themed anthology and not include the premier authority on the holiday. This is an interesting ghost tale that takes place on the set of a Mexican horror movie.

5) #MAKEHALLOEENSCARYAGAIN by Mark Allan Gunnell: First, I love all the references to Stephen King that Mark throws in – specifically an obscure reference to King removing his story RAGE from publication. But this story, with an interesting ending, mixes social media posts from a horror novelist with the dying industry of newspaper print, with a smattering of the decline of Halloween for good measure. Well written. I’m interested to see more from this author.

So there you have it. Normally I find fault with at least one story in an anthology – but not in this one. Every story had something different to offer and each one was a pleasure to read. Pick this one up on release – it may become a perennial favorite.

This series is fab and fun! Halloween is my favourite holiday and I’ve really enjoyed reading these to get into the Halloween spirit. These stories are definitely creepy and each one ties into Halloween in some way. The stories aren’t terribly long so they’re quick reads. Very highly recommended! Get a cup of tea and a warm blanket and settle in!

Interesting compilation. I thought they would be scary stories though. But mostly just stories that take place on Halloween. A couple were kinda creepy. Story number 2 really tugged at my heart strings it was so sad. Looking forward to the other Volumes.

I love so much about this anthology. The stories are quick reads, the content has good horror throughout, and it is overall a great collection. Review for Monster Librarian forthcoming.

I love horror collections because they give me a chance to discover new authors and reconnect with some old favorites. Robert McCammon. Need I say more?! I love his books and will gladly read anything he has written. I was so thrilled to see him included in this collection. This collection of spooky, creepy Halloween tales is right on time. There is something for everyone here but be forewarned...you may have trouble sleeping. A combination of staying up late to read these deliciously devious tales and being too scared to close my eyes. Please keep more like this..

Halloween is the time to get cozy with the lights turned almost off ,and have hot cocoa to drink with a book of ghost to read, so while these stories aren't scary, or spooky ,they are strange in their own way, which is just as good in my opinion. The different authors have a way of bring them to life. So if you love the strange then these stories are for you, with that said I would love to say thinks to NetGalley for giving me a chance at reading this Volume One of Halloween Carnival ,and can't wait to check out the rest of them.

A good and creepy, Halloween themed read. I enjoyed each and every one of these stories. Definitely entertaining.

Once again thank you Net Galley for the book in order to get an honest review.
I have included the promotional blurb followed by my thoughts on the stories.

STRANGE CANDY by Robert McCammon
Chocolate bars and sour suckers are trick-or-treat staples, but beware the odd sweet at the bottom of your bag. You never know who it’s from—or what it might do to you.

To me, the weakest story here. I love McCammon, but this one failed to resonate with me.

THE RAGE OF ACHILLES by Kevin Lucia
Father Ward should have heeded the warnings about hearing confession on All Hallow’s Eve. Because a man is about to tell him a secret more haunting than any he has heard before.

I never heard of this author before, and after reading this story I can see what a mistake that was. This was a rich tapestry of love and loss and the pain that never dies nor does ones devotion. A great little supernatural tale that will linger on long after you finish it.

DEMON AIR by John R. Little
Fear of flying is not uncommon. But on this transpacific airline, the real danger isn’t the flight itself. It’s whoever—or whatever—is up in the air with you.

Fast paced and freaky little tale by a great author. This one was a fun read.

LA HACIENDA DE LOS MUERTOS by Lisa Morton
Trick McGrew, former cowboy star of the silver screen, has never believed in tall tales. But down in Mexico, the land of La Llorona, he’s about to find out just how real urban legends can be.

Mexican myth, racist old actor, filming a movie on location. What can go wrong? Plenty. Good story, nice retelling of a oft told tale. Solid characters. Very good story.

#MAKEHALLOWEENSCARYAGAIN by Mark Allan Gunnells
Some people will go to any lengths to rack up retweets, likes, and follows on social media, no matter who they end up hurting . . . or even killing.

Great author, and a nice well crafted horror tale about Halloween. Cool use of hashtag and incorporation in the story, nice on the level of slasher genre and mystery. Great read.

I loved this book, all the stories were so spooky, can't wait to read the next in the series! If you like a good scare this is the book for you! Don't miss out on this collection of wonderful spooky tales.

This is an anthology of short stories that focus on Halloween. They are light horror and read up easily and fast. Especially in the daytime. I'd suggest reading them in the daytime...

Hydra and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published October 3rd.

Here's the list of stories:

STRANGE CANDY by Robert McCammon

Chocolate bars and sour suckers are trick-or-treat staples, but beware the odd sweet at the bottom of your bag. You never know who it’s from—or what it might do to you.

THE RAGE OF ACHILLES by Kevin Lucia

Father Ward should have heeded the warnings about hearing confession on All Hallow’s Eve. Because a man is about to tell him a secret more haunting than any he has heard before.

DEMON AIR by John R. Little

Fear of flying is not uncommon. But on this transpacific airline, the real danger isn’t the flight itself. It’s whoever—or whatever—is up in the air with you.

LA HACIENDA DE LOS MUERTOS by Lisa Morton

Trick McGrew, former cowboy star of the silver screen, has never believed in tall tales. But down in Mexico, the land of La Llorona, he’s about to find out just how real urban legends can be.

#MAKEHALLOWEENSCARYAGAIN by Mark Allan Gunnells

Some people will go to any lengths to rack up retweets, likes, and follows on social media, no matter who they end up hurting . . . or even killing

My favorite story was: LA HACIENDA DE LOS MUERTOS by Lisa Morton. It has to do with a legend I've heard here in New Mexico about the wailing woman who is searching the river for her children. This version has a different twist to the ending and I like it.

They were all entertaining. The last one was a bit weird but Halloween brings that out in people. What do you do for Halloween?

Strange Candy – A man is going through his kids Halloween candy when he finds a mysterious piece shaped like a hand. After eating the candy he falls asleep, or so he thinks and dreams of 5 different people giving him messages for their loved ones. The next morning someone rings his doorbell, it’s a man with a message from his recently passed daughter. The man realizes it wasn’t a dream at all and goes to deliver his messages. I thought this story was pretty good. Family is the most important thing to me and I’ve lost so much family, so this really hit home for me. It was slightly spooky, but mostly heartwarming.

The Rage of Achilles or When Mocking Birds Sing – This is the story of a man who lost his son when he was hit by a car crossing the road. He comes to a confessional and tells a priest that he is going to get revenge on the man who hit his son. The priest goes to stop him, but thinks he’s too late when he see flashes from gun fire through the trailer window. A second later and everything is gone, the lot is empty and he realizes that he’d been talking to a ghost all night. This story was sad and then creepy. All along there was a sense that something wasn’t exactly right about the story. I thought it was very well done.

Demon Air – A girl, who’s mother recently passed away, took a DNA test to find her ancestry. Upon learning where she is from she sets out to visit this place, taking a flight on Diamond Air. When the plane flies over the dateline, and the day becomes Halloween, the staff on the plane turn into demons, intent on torturing the passengers. This could have made for a terrifying story. But when the passengers realize (very quickly, I might add) that they could easily outnumber the demons, they simply corralled them all into the cockpit to wait for Halloween to end, and the demons to return to human form. It felt like a great idea, but one that wasn’t used for its full potential.

La Hacienda De Los Muertos – Tim McGrew is hired to play a part in a movie. He goes to the film location and things are… haunted? This story bored me. It just skimmed it. What I did see though was a lot of information about Day of the Dead and Mexican culture. Which, from what I can tell is it’s only redeeming factor.

#MakeHalloweenScaryAgain – A writer with a love of Halloween makes a few posts on social media with the self-created hashtag #makehalloweenscaryagain. Soon after a body is found, with the hastag found at the scene written in blue sharpie. Then a boy is hospitalized and his girlfriend abducted. Someone puts up fliers, written in the same blue sharpie, warning people in the town of Greer, that any home without Halloween decorations up on Halloween night is in dangerous Why? Because he’s going to pick one un-decorated home and kill everyone inside. Naturally every thinks the writer is to blame, he created the hashtag after all. Is he really the killer? This particular story took up literally 50% of this book. I have no complaints though, because it was by far my favorite. I would love to see this story fleshed out into a novel. It could stand on it’s own.

Over all, Volume 1 of the Halloween Carnival wasn’t bad. I’m only giving it three 3 stars though. (one for each story that I actually liked.) There is something here for everyone and none of the stories are too long. They’re great for Halloween time, and getting into a spooky mood!

It's hard to beat Halloween as a theme for a horror anthology. And this is a pretty solid multiple author anthology. Robert McCammon can almost always be counted on for a good story, and "Strange Candy" is no exception. But more exciting to me was finding two authors that I wasn't aware of before who both contributed great stories here. Kevin Lucia's "The Rage of Achilles or When Mockingbirds Sing" is a sad, spectacular ghost story. I was pleased to see after I read it that its setting, Clifton Heights, is the setting for multiple stories by Lucia. I purchased one of those collections right away. The other story I loved was Lisa Morton's "La Hacienda de Los Muertos". It's another ghost story, this time focusing on a fading cowboy actor who goes to Mexico to make a horror film. This story would make a perfect episode of a horror anthology, or even a movie if fleshed out a little more.