STRANGE CANDY - by Robert McGammon - A ghost story that is not scary, but sad and bittersweet.

THE RAGE OF ACHILLES or WHEN MOCKINGBIRD'S SING - by Kevin Lucia - Another sad ghost story.

DEMON AIR - by John R. Little - This is a more traditional scary story. Interesting concept.

LA HACIENDA DE LOS MUERTOS - by Lisa Morton - My least favorite of the bunch. Maybe because I have read too many La Llorona stories.

MAKEHALLOWEENSCARYAGAIN - by Mark Allan Gunnell - The longest one in the bunch. Easy to figure out the bad guy. Another great concept

I enjoyed this collection very much. There was not a bad story in the bunch. Ranging from scary to sad, this book has everything. I recommend it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley to read and review. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, authors, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review.

HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL: Vol. 1 is a mutli-author horror anthology. Each story can be read individually and as standalones. This publication consists of short stories, not novel-length pieces. This first volume consists of stories written by Robert McGammon ("STRANGE CANDY"), Kevin Lucia ("THE RAGE OF ACHILLES or WHEN MOCKINGBIRD'S SING"), John R. Little ("DEMON AIR"), Lisa Morton ("LA HACIENDA DE LOS MUERTOS"), and Mark Allan Gunnell ("MAKEHALLOWEENSCARYAGAIN").

This was an extremely fast read with a couple hidden gems. I read the entire collection in an hour. I enjoyed the stories, but I found them to be more creepy (and a little strange) than scary. I recommend this anthology if you're looking for a good Halloween story rather than a scary story. 3.5 stars.

It looks like we are in for a rash of anthologies this Halloween. Editor Brian James Freeman is planning to debut five such books for fright night 2017.

"Strange Candy"
By Robert McCammon

McCammon never disappoints, and in this tale of Halloween in a small town lives up to expectation. Oh yes, you might want to have a hanky handy for this one.

"The Rage of Achilles or When Mockingbirds Sing"
By Kevin Lucia

All Hallows' Eve is the night when spirits walk, and things are possible like on no other night of the year. A priest in his confessional might have to consider that very thing.

"Demon Air"
By John R. Little

Not a good story for anyone with a fear of flying.

La Hacienda de los Muertos
By Lisa Morton

Lisa Morton weaves a tale of horror movie making that becomes all too real for the cast and crew.

#MakeHalloweenScaryAgain
By Mark Allan Gunnells

Facebook and hashtags aside, someone is out to make Halloween scary again.

Once again, Brian James Freeman gathers tales about things that go bump in the night. In other words, this is a perfect anthology for Halloween night.

Halloween Carnival had a few scary moments, but as a whole it was more sad and sometimes just downright fun. I don't always need the wollygaggins scared out of me, especially when it's been replaced by some darn good storytelling!
1. Robert McCammon-Strange Candy...Excellent story. It was definitely a feel good story, with a side of spook.
2. Kevin Lucia-Rage of Achilles etc...Another Clifton Heights tale. I've been visiting this location for a few years now, and its a great place to visit "on page" but I sure as heck wouldn't want to live there! Why Mr. Lucia hasn't been signed up at one of the big publishing houses is a great mystery to me.
3. John Little-Demon Air...My main thought after reading this shorty was w.t.h? I didn't get the purpose of this story.
4. Lisa Morton-La Hacienda de los Muertos...Morton always rocks it, and this was one humdinger!
5. Mark Allan Gunnells-#Make Halloween great again...Not one of Mr. Gunnells' best works, and it was easily solved, yet I still enjoyed it.
I have no problem recommending this collection of stories, as there wasn't a dull moment. My thanks to Hydra/Random House, and Netgalley for letting me read and review this.

an interesting collection of stories, halloween carnival volume 1 was an enjoyable and fast read. the most impressive of the lot was kevin lucia's "the rage of the achilles or when mockingbirds sing" - a horror filled with love, fear, and the loss of hope that will stay with readers long after its conclusion.

I love Halloween and the only thing that could make it better would be to read this excellent collection of dark fiction tales in October. Well done!

I did liked the stories in the book but the cover needs a huge makeover.
Are nice stories for Halloween and I almost wishing for that day.

J'ai beaucoup aimé les premières histoires qui sont très prenantes. Les dernières sont un peu moins bonnes mais cela ne gâche pas la qualité du bouquin. Je recommande ce livre sans hésitation pour halloween.

While I enjoyed the short stories in the book, many I found quite scary! I found myself bored after reading a few in a row and would have to take frequent breaks from reading..
a good book for Halloween time to scare the kids, but sadly wasn't the book for me.

HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL, Volume 1, edited by Brian James Freeman is a collection of four short stories, and one novella-length piece.

Personal favorites of mine were:
#1: "The Rage of Achilles or When Mockingbirds Sing", by Kevin Lucia. This story takes place in his fictional town of Clifton Hts. For those unfamiliar with Lucia's work, this town is one on the "border" between reality as we know it, and something....else. The residents here have come to accept that their town is unlike others, and the most bizarre occurrences are generally accepted as "common" for them. In this tale, an autistic boy with a love for small china animals, is woven into a story told to Father Ward in a confessional. To say anymore about the story itself, would be giving it away, but I will say that Lucia did a fantastic job evoking just the right emotions. This is one of those poignant tales, where the ending will haunt you long afterward.

#2 favorite: "Strange Candy", by Robert McCammon: an odd, hand-shaped piece of candy on Halloween night gives a man a visit from five spirits, who have messages that they want him to pass on to loved ones. The ending hit the perfect note as far as I was concerned.

Another one I enjoyed the concept of was Lisa Morton's "La Hacienda de los Muertos". A real life "ghost" story happening around a man only accustomed to acting out make-believe scenes in movies.

"Demon Air", by John Little, and the novella, "#MakeHallolweenSafeAgain# were not among my favorites, as the first seemed a tale that was "overdone'" , and the latter had a great premise, but lacked in execution. I found myself skimming towards the end since I had long ago figured out the murdered.

While not all stories took MY fancy, there is something for all horror lovers within these pages.

Recp,,emded.

3.5 stars.

I loved 2 out of 5 stories in this collection but the stories I loved, I loved hard. Strange Candy by Robert McCammon and The Rage of Achilles by Kevin Lucia are worth the admission price alone. Demon Air by John R. Little was okay but underwhelming. I did not finish La Hacienda De Los Muertos by Lisa Morton and I skimmed parts of #MAKEHALLOWEENSCARYAGAIN by Mark Allan Gunnells because I was bored.


I received an e-ARC of this from Hydra and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“Halloween Carnival” is the definitive anthology for every fan of Halloween (and who isn’t?). It is a collection of five quick yet fantastic reads, all with a Halloween theme. The stories are all different, some longer and some shorter, but there is something for every reader, and all are engrossing. This collection allows a fan to read and finish a compelling story all in one sitting. It is perfect for plane trips, car rides, or while waiting for appointments or when taking others (CHILDREN) to practice, or lessons, or games, or meetings, or after-school events – the list goes on!

I received an advance copy of “Halloween Carnival” from Penguin Random House, Hydra, and NetGalley to read and review, and I was able to finish the stories on my time schedule without interrupting my other plans or forgetting where I was in the book. I could read these Halloween stories every year and love them each time.

Halloween Carnival Vol. 1 is a short story collection featuring a few Halloween themed stories. They saved the best for last #makehalloweenscaryagain was the most well plotted of the stories (however featured a more characters than necessary).

This was a ghoulishly good collection of thrills and chills by some of the genres BEST authors. These stories are sure to make you jump at anything that goes bump in the night!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this story collection from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Hydra in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Halloween has been my favorite holiday since childhood. Costumes. Ghost Stories. Jack O'Lanterns. Gruesome legends. Things that go bump in the night. Love it all! So when I saw the awesome cover for this short story collection, I had to read it! Sucked me right in -- I'm already SO ready for autumn with pumpkin-flavored everything and Halloween! Bring on the ghosties!

Halloween Carnival,Vol 1 features five Halloween theme stories. I was not familiar with any of the authors and that made me even more excited about this book. I love discovering new-to-me horror writers! I'm already planning my October TBR pile -- all things scary!

This collection of creepy stories includes:

Strange Candy - Robert McCammon. A weird, unwrapped piece of Halloween candy sends a man on a supernatural mission. McCammon is the author of several books including They Thirst and Blue World. Check out his website here: http://www.robertmccammon.com/ Strange Candy is an excellent story! Great way to start out this anthology!

The Rage of Achilles or When Mockingbirds Sing - Kevin Lucia. A new priest hears an unusual story in the confessional on Halloween night. Author of The Jabberwock and Things Slip Through, Kevin Lucia's website is here: http://www.kevinlucia.com/ The covers for his horror novels look so creepy-cool! If this short story is any indication of his talents as a horror writer, I can't wait to read more by this author!

Demon Air - John R. Little. A discount flight to Australia takes a hellish turn. John R. Little is the author of several books including Soul Mates and DarkNet. Check out his website here: http://www.johnrlittle.com/ Demon Air defnitely made me rethink discount airfares!

La Hacienda de los Muertos - Lisa Morton. A Mexican legend turns out to be true. Author of horror stories and non-fiction books about the history of Halloween, Lisa Morton definitely entertains with this short story about spooky occurrences on a Mexican film set. For more information on the author and her books, check out her website here: http://lisamorton.com/zine/

#MakeHalloweenScaryAgain - Mark Allan Gunnels. A Facebook post by a writer about bringing fear back to Halloween has unexpected consequences. This story is set in a town 40 minutes from where I live....definitely made it a creepy read for me! :) Loved it! If Halloween in Greer and Spartanburg gets all shades of horrific crazy this year, we all know who to blame! :) Mark Allan Gunnells has written nearly 50 horror novels, novellas and short stories. Check out his website here: http://markgunnells.livejournal.com/

I enjoyed all 5 stories in this anthology. #MakeHalloweenScaryAgain is my favorite....not only because it's well written, but also because it's set in my neck of the woods. All 5 writers showcased in Halloween Carnival Vol 1 are new to me....I look forward to reading more by each of them!

I highly recommend this book to any fan of short stories and Halloween-theme horror. There will be five volumes in the Halloween Carnival collection. I'm definitely going to read all five!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Random House Publishing (Hydra) via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own**

These stories do revolve around Halloween but they are more than just horror. They are tales of grief, of love and loss, spirits with unfinished business, all surrounding the most otherworldly night of the year. They can be savored slowly to help you get into the spirit of Halloween or devoured quickly for a rush of spooky fun any time. I read them over a particularly hot week in July while I was away from my home and my air conditioner. I was almost able to convince myself that I could hear rustling leaves and a cool October wind. All were good, but for me the most notable in the bunch were...

Strange Candy- A story about a grieving man who finds peace after consuming an odd confection brought home in his child's trick or treat bag.

#MakeHalloweenScaryAgain -in which a writer who wishes to draw some interest and attention to his work stirs up a serial killer with his simple hashtag.

The Rage Of Achilles - A priest hears a haunting confession on Halloween from a man who has suffered a tragedy.

Highly recommended to all lovers of horror and Halloween.

Another great collection of horror and mayhem. A fun easy read. Already looking forward to volume 2.
A short collection I recommend to all horror fans.

Halloween Carnival Volume 1 is a tasty treat for horror lovers everywhere!

First off, I have to mention the opening story, Robert McCammon's Strange Candy. I'm a huge McCammon fan and this story was originally found in the FANTASTIC collection Blue World. Poignant and sweet this tale will always remain one of my favorites.

With that out of the way, the story that impressed me the most here was Kevin Lucia's The Rage of Achilles, or When Mockingbirds Sing. At first, what started out to be a story of the difficulties of parenting a special needs child turned into a story of such bittersweet pain and love, I thought I heard my heart crack. Beautifully written with prose that cuts straight through your chest, this was the star of Volume 1.

La Hacienda de los Muertos by Lisa Morton was a neatly wrapped up tale about shooting a movie in Mexico. And maybe a ghost?

John Little can always be counted on to deliver and that he does with Demon Air.

Lastly, Mark Allen Gunnells' #Makehalloweenscaryagain was my first read of this author's work. While I generally don't care for hashtag anything, and even though I partially guessed how this story would end, I still enjoyed the journey and I look forward to reading more from Gunnells in the future.

Other than Strange Candy, I am not sure if these other stories have been published elsewhere previously. If so, I haven't come across them. I enjoyed the fact that these tales were mostly gore free, quiet horror since that's the type I prefer these days.

If quiet but powerful horror is your thing, I highly recommend this collection-especially for your Halloween reading pleasure!

You can pre-order your copy here: Halloween Carnival Volume 1

*Thanks so much to Hydra and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This is it!*
Halloween hydra dark fiction Net Galley Chars Horror Corner

This is one helluva way to kick off a new anthology series! This anthology is great!

Strange Candy by Robert McCammon is excellent! A man bites into a ghostly candy hand and he is taken on a journey that will change his Halloween forever. He is tasked with delivering messages from beyond the grave.
5/5 stars!

The Rage of Achilles or When Mockingbirds Sing by Kevin Lucia is great! A man walks into a church to confess on Halloween night. The man's son was hit by a truck. The man seeks his revenge. The new priest is freaked out and asks about the man. That ending got me!
5/5 stars!

Demon Air by John R. Little is so good! Halle Berry is on a flight from hell. She is flying to Sydney, Australia, but there is something sinister about the flight crew.
5/5 stars!

La Hacienda de los Muertos by Lisa Morton is awesome! A former cowboy star of the silver screen named Trick McGrew doesn't believe in urban legends or tall tales. All that changes when he visits Mexico, the land of La Llorona. Trick McGrew finds out just how real urban legends can be.
5/5 stars!

#MakeHalloweenScaryAgain by Mark Allan Gunnells is one of the best stories in this anthology! A scarecrow is wreaking havoc on the small town of Greer. Everyone is warned about the consequences of not having your house decorated for Halloween. From start to finish, this story was kick-ass!
5/5 stars!

This anthology is amazing! Each author brought something different to the table, which made it that much stronger. The stories are well balanced and I liked the way they are ordered in the book. I love a good Halloween themed anthology, and this one didn't disappoint. The cover is cool as well! I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this anthology series!

I highly recommend this anthology to fans of horror and Halloween!

5/5 stars!

Halloween Carnival Volume 1 edited by Brian James Freeman was received direct from the publisher. Halloween, short horror stories and fall all came early with this read. With some big horror genre names we can hope for the best. The best? Maybe not. While these Halloween stories are not boring and did not cause much skimming, I was disappointed in that much like Hollywood "horror" movies nowadays, there was not much horror going on. I guess what I am trying to say is #makehalloweennscary again, which is my favorite story from this book. If you are buying a Halloween book for the 'tween crowd, give this rated PG tome a shot. If you are looking for gore filled Halloween horror, this is not it.

4 Stars