I was a little hesitant going into [book:Howls From Hell|57226073]. Anthologies can be a mixed bag at the best of times and these stories were written by emerging horror authors. I assumed there would be a few food tales with some downright awful ones mixed in. As it turns out, I had no need for concern. [book:Howls From Hell|57226073] is an exceptional collection of tales that range from good to superb. There are a wide range of styles and subgenera covered here and plenty of imagination on display. It's hard to pick just a few favourites off the top of my head, but Sprout, Junco Creek and Possess and Serve come to mind immediately. Hopefully the HOWL Society will make these anthologies an annual tradition. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy.

This is a really enjoyable anthology, with a broad range of styles and themes from authors who were mostly new to me. All the stories are intriguing and well paced. Definitely worth reading.

I don’t usually love anthologies but I saw a few authors I’ve read and loved before! And this did not disappoint, while some aspects did not totally work for me the majority of this anthology was really engaging and I even found a few new authors to me that I’ll check out in the future. I really look forward to more anthologies like this one in the future. Thank you Netgalley for an early copy to review.

A great, fast and exhilarating read. The authors clearly know and love horror—giving the reader fresh new takes on the genre. Pure fun!

Nice selection of different horror stories by up and coming writers with a forward by Grady Hendrix. I love Grady Hendrix so I'm buying whatever he's selling but this was a miss for me. The stories are ok, but nothing stood out for me. This isn't a book that I would need to keep on my shelf, but I don't regret reading it.

Howls From Hell is an anthology by the HOWL Society, a community of horror readers and authors on Discord. Featuring a foreword by Grady Hendrix, this collection showcases new and upcoming authors. The stories are unique and varied, with compelling narratives and engaging storylines. I appreciate the illustration accompanying each story as well, it’s a brilliant move to set the scene for readers. I had a great time reading this book!

Body horror, loss of control, and the familiar horror tropes all come into play. In Possess and Serve by Christopher O’Halloran, police officers assume control of other people’s bodies to diffuse a tense situation but something goes wrong. In A Fistful of Murder by Lindsey Ragsdale, a man starts behaving strangely after seeing a dollar bill with a disturbing message. It Gets In Your Eyes by Joseph Andre Thomas is about a woman who comes back from vacation with alarming eye pain. In Gooseberry Bramble by Solomon Forse, a man’s testimony at a murder trial reveals a horrifying memory. Manufactured God by P.L. McMillan is a science-fiction horror combining exploration with the otherworldly. In Junco Creek by S.E. Denton, a vacation nightmare for a mother and son gets a slice of eco-horror. Suspended In Light by Alex Wolfgang is a take on found-footage horror where a student discovers distressing images in old film reels

While I enjoyed the different types of stories, I prefer a more cohesive anthology with a common topic so I ended up taking a longer time to finish this book. I also wish the stories are more uniform in length. But that’s my personal contention and I believe horror readers would have a blast with this collection.

In this anthology, I was delighted to read the stories in it. The stories are creepy, dark. scary and weird — full of horror such as you can only imagine! The foreword by Grady Hendrix to the collection of stories was excellent and so as the introduction to HOWL Society. It made me happy to learn that my favorite genre won’t disappear in fiction. The authors were all new to me. Their stories are excellent and well written. Do I have favorites? Yes, I do but don’t want to influence what story you read first. It’s a great way to be introduced to new authors. The stories all have their unique touch. Don’t miss reading it!

Howls from Hell is a collection of short stories by members of the HOWL Society. I was unfamiliar with this group before reading this collection, but after reading all of these fun stories, I plan to look up this group. There are 16 stories total, with a foreword written by horror master Grady Hendrix. I rate each story in an anthology separately and then do an average for an overall rating for the book as a whole. Most of the stories were a 3-4 stars, with a couple of 2 star stories. My favorites were Red Punch Buggy, Possess and Serve, It Gets in Your Eyes, Red and the Beast, and Junco Creek. My favorite of the whole collection was Red and the Beast. All in all, if you enjoy horror, then you should enjoy at least some of these stories. My overall rating is 3 stars for this collection.

It's obvious from the word go that these stories were written by people who adore horror. Everything within these stories shows a vast familiarity with the medium, taking bits and pieces from existing works while still feeling fresh and original. When I first heard it stemmed from a Reddit board, I worried it might take on the slapdash nature of NoSleep Sleepy pasta, but there's real backbone and meat to these stories. Very few feel derivative, and though there are a few missteps (some of the stories drag, some are slightly too stylized), on the whole, it's an experience well worth taking into the minds of true horror lovers, the folks we hope will take horror into exciting new frontiers.

Howls From Hell is one of the most entertaining anthology books I’ve read in a loooong time. It starts strong and continues that way until the very last page. These writers are people that legitimately love horror in all of its different facets. This is 100% going in my physical book collection as it would be foolish not to add it.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, HOWL Society, and all these terrific authors for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This was an excellent book of short stories. I enjoyed every one. Had some favorites but they all were really good.

This collection includes 16 stories, and I loved every minute of reading them! I want to highlight a few stories, but I'm having a hard time picking my favorites, because they were all so dang good.

1. Red and the Beast by Thea Maeve
Little Red Riding hood meets Beauty and the Beast.
This was a mashup that I didn't even know I needed. This story was very well written, and has made me realize that I need more fairytale mashups like this in my life.

2. The Pigeon Lied by J.W. Donley
A world where humans and demons co-exist. Can Little Rob-Robb show his worth when he gets mixed up in the dealings of demons?
I absolutely loved this world. The story was well paced, and I was sad to see it end. I would definitely read more about these characters and the society that they live in.

3. Manufactured God by P.L. McMillan
Futuristic anthropologists travel to an abandoned Earth. They stumble upon an Ancient Egyptian structure that was never found when humans occupied Earth. What they find in the tomb might have been better left undiscovered.
This story gave me chills. I was terrified for the characters while they were exploring the structure. The villain of this story would be a horrible sight to see.

Again, I loved all of these stories. I'm going to definitely buy a physical copy for my library!

If you love the thrilling, chilling, and horrifying give this collection a read!

Thank you to NetGalley and HOWL Society Press for the ARC

Awesome variety of horror stories from the HOWL Society. I enjoyed reading this anthology and appreciated the foreword from Grady Hendrix. Some of my favorite stories here were from Alex Wolfgang, Shane Hawk, and Christopher O' Halloran.

3.5 stars.

1. A Casual Encounter - Quinn Fern:
• We start off with a man and woman setting up to meet for sex in a hotel. This story started off interesting but it's a story I've read before. I wish it could have gone a way you didn't expect. (2 stars)
2. The Pigeon Lied - J.W. Donley:
• This is a story about a man wanting a hat. In this world you get a different hat to show everyone your different level. Had a Sci-Fi feeling to it that reminded me of The Dresden Files. This would have been a straight 5 stars for me but then there's a part that happens in a certain furniture store that reminded me of a certain Grady Hendrix book. (4.5 stars)
3. Manufactured God - P.L McMillan:
• A story about how the world has been destroyed and humans are dealing with the effects. We meet Gab as she works for Space Station 8. She with 3 of her students are tasked with going underground, something that’s been frowned upon and advised to stay above ground only. I liked this one I guess I just thought there would be more of a twist to the story than was laid out for us. I do love a apocalyptic world and story (3.5 stars)
4. Red Punch Buggy - B.O.B Jenkin:
• The story is about an accident with a red Buggy. It seemed like a interesting idea. I liked this one but ending was a dud for me.(3.5 stars)
5. She's Taken Away - Shane Hawk
• This story begins with a girl talking to her therapist about her sister that committed some terrible crimes. It reminds me of Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes. This didn't have an ending that was surprising. (2.5 stars)
6. Suspended in Light - Alex Wolfgang:
• A woman is asked to come in to look over old films by her professor. It's an odd request but they are paying her so why not. Weird things happen while watching the films. I adored this story and was so so good. I would gave bought this if it were a book. (5 stars)
7. Gooseberry Bramble - Solomon Forse:
• This is about a trial. It was weird and not in a good way. Fell flat. (2 stars)
8. Clement & Don's - Joe Radkins:
• A woman buys a house with her son. This book lost me right out the door. I HATE the troupe of someone buying a house without seeing it. I've never known anyone to do it. I'm convinced only rich people can do this or people that are flipping houses. Huh? This one just no. Where did her son go? (1 star)
9. Possess and Serve - Christopher O'Halloran:
• In the future technology allows officers to enter the body of someone whose in need. This rang a lot like the movie Surrogates. This had the troupe of "Girls not like other girls". Sarah is ridiculous in that she has her face beat in but manages to overpower a man and tie him up too. The ending was not good. (2 stars)
10. Duplicitous Wings - Amanda Nevada Demel:
• A woman uses witchcraft to get the will to bend to her demands. To much to say about this one as it’s short and kind of just okay. You know where the story is going. (1 star)
11. It Gets in Your Eye - Joseph Andre Thomas:
• This! Was the best story in the book! It's starts with Marine returning from a cruise with her family and something in her eye. She struggles to figure out what it is and it's so gory and wonderful. (5 stars)
12. Red and The Beast - Thea Maeve:
• A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and Belle meeting up. I found this one a little blah for my tastes but I don't like retellings of fairy tales though. (2 stars)
13. The Intruder - Justin Faull:
• A story a mean man that appears to hate life and people meets something that is an intruder. I found this one short but good. (3 stars)
14. Sprout - M. David Clarkson
• The story is about a man's Lust over seeing an attractive woman dancing by a fire. This was a good story and I thought it was clever. (4 stars)
15. Junco Creek - S.E. Denton
• A woman and her son rent a remote cabin in the middle of the woods. They meet the owner of the cabin but he's weird. I loved this story and found I wanted to read more (5 stars)
16. A Fistful of Murder - Lindsey Ragsdale
A man is given a $10 bill with the words "kill" written on it and it pushes him over the limit to want to kill. I enjoyed this story but I wish it could have been longer. (4 stars)

I was approved to receive an e-Galley ARC of Howls From Hell, edited by Howl Society, from Howl Society Press and NetGalley, for review consideration. Cover design by Molly Collins, book layout by Alex Wolfgang, and illustrations for stories by P.L. McMillan, Joe Radkins, Solomon Forse, and Drew Nault. If there are any artists not listed, it is by my fault, and no other. I tried to find all the ones listed from their Facebook page before posting but you know how that goes. My apologies to any missed. What follows below is my honest review, freely given.

I rated this anthology 4.5 stars. The forward was written by Grady Hendrix, and he really captured the purity and joy of being a part of the healthy horror community.

A CASUAL ENCOUNTER by Quin Fern
As sometimes happens, I was left wanting more, the questions I had making me restless instead of nodding sagely. This could be expanded on, grown into a novel easily. I would read it.

THE PIGEON LIED by J. W. Donley
I have a soft spot in my heart for Hell related stories, ever since picking up an Edward Lee novel in my teens. Every author will have their own vision, actors, and overall vibe for h – e – double toothpicks and I really dug this one. Easter is not about hats, but maybe hell is.

MANUFACTURED GOD by P. L. McMillan
Give me all of the Egyptian horror now, please and thank you! Where has this been all my life? Believable, vicious, and utterly perfect. Top 5

RED PUNCH BUGGY by B. O. B. Jenkin
“We have such sights to show you.” I don’t know if there is a name for this particular, fear is too strong a word, but creep factor maybe? I get bothered by a particular use of pain in stories; Martyrs (2008) is a perfect example, this is another. Top 5

SHE’S TAKEN AWAY by Shane Hawke
I also have a soft spot for hospital type horror, any era. Most of the time the care can be as terrifying as the horror you add to the plot. This was an all around creepy little story.

SUSPENDED IN LIGHT by Alex Wolfgang
This went over my head mainly, I think because in the MC’s shoes I would have called uncle way at the beginning. Not very brave or final girl of me I guess, but man that did not seem fun at all.

GOOSEBERRY BRAMBLE by Solomon Forse
I will believe anything this old man tells me, so help me God. Brilliantly written. Top 5

CLEMENT & SONS by Joe Radkins
I liked the tones on loss, felt the set up was well done; I was lost at the end. I liked the story but I didn’t understand how it got to the very end. It read a little like a crypt keeper episode, or outer limits, where the ending was partly up to your own interpretation.

POSSES AND SERVE by Christopher O’Halloran
Speculative fiction of a helpful big brother tech that gives me chills (do no want!), please let this be a warning, not some bigwig’s wishlist.


DUPLICITOUS WINGS by Amanda Nevada DeMel
I just could not imagine having a front row seat to something, thinking it’s going to go one way and it goes another. We have a saying in our house, “You get what you get, and you don’t get upset.” Which is comical considering our 8 yr old came up with it and he is upset over pretty much everything. Stuck in my head over this.

IT GETS IN YOUR EYES by Joseph Andre Thomas
I read about a woman who had over twenty contact lenses removed from the back of her eye, all in a lump. Things in the eye is just a fear, things get in your eye all the time. This story is full of terror fuel, this goes to 11, you will never be able to have an eyelash in your eye again and not think of this story and weep. Loved it. Top 5

RED AND THE BEAST by Thea Maeve
Re-imagined fairy tales are my jam! I have the six book anthology set edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, and this could fit right in. Or they could make a seventh. This could be the first story, I need more fairy tale tales. Top 5

THE INTRUDER by Justin Faull
Late night hot take, but this intruder reads like someone who doesn’t like being medicated for depression. I guess that would be me.

SPROUT by M. David Clarkson
The opening line for this one is a doozy; read it aloud and the face my partner made was priceless. Stories with Mother, capital M are always brutal. We always deserve what we get.

JUNCO CREEK S. E. Denton
I want to thank the horror genre for instilling in me a nice strong fear of wooden cabins in the woods, I feel it will stay with me for the rest of my existence. Now we are just adding new and exciting flair to my basic fear. Read this story for to learn more.

A FISTFUL OF MURDER by Lindsey Ragsdale
A quick and brutal cut of a story. Kick to the guts. It’s magic really.

dnf after roughly a third of the book

trigger warning
<spoiler> mental illness, author who doesn't know shit about mental illness but writes about it nevertheless, gore, torture </spoiler>

This is a horror anthology edited by Grady Hendrix, and the title is nice pun, considering the publisher's name. Different authors, but in theory, there should be something for everyone in here. Right?

I can pinpoint three main problems, and the last is the one that made me quit.
1. In the foreword, Grady Hendrix doesn't manage to realise that his life experience is not the norm, so we're already off to a bad start.
2. I recently read The Best of World SF and without really meaning to, I compared both of them. And then thought of my fanfiction days which I quit because of the bad, bad writing.
3. There's a story about a mentally ill person. Hmkay, we <i>could</i> argue about how harmful it is to real people who are actually mentally ill to be always depicted as the villians, but I am not willing to spend that much time here.
No, the author of that particular story made the mistake of saying shizophrenia and meaning dissociative disorder - and <i>nobody caught that</i>. Not the editor who has his name big on the cover, no people from the publisher, no beta readers, nobody. It's a huge red flag.

Short explanation: Shizophrenia is either having hallucinations or delusions on a paranoid level. A family member has the latter and it's not fun. Dissociative disorder is when you're constantly dissociating and might even develope multiple personalities. A friend has it and it's not fun.
If you're exploiting people for amusement, at least have the basic decency to do a minimum of research.

Does anyone of those who read my reviews want to make bets how long it'll take till I am told in the comments that I should stay away from genre literature if I am a special snowflake who can't take it?

No recommendation.
The arc was provided by the publisher.

For Horror short stories both astonishingly insightful and wide-ranging, check out the new Anthology HOWLS FROM HELL, comprised of stories and illustrations from the members of the HOWL Society on Discord. 16 stories accompany a foreword by acclaimed Author Grady Hendrix. These stories request savoring, so read each individually and take your time; don't rush through.

I'm now a member of the Horror-Obsessed Writing and Literary (HOWL) Society, though I wasn't when this anthology was put together. It added an extra layer of fun to reading it, matching the people I've come to know through the Discord chat to the stories that they chose to showcase in this anthology.

And reading the anthology was so much fun! I enjoyed that there wasn't a specific theme: I'm one of those people who makes playlists that jump musical genres and decades in a way that would make some people's heads spin. Reading this wasn't quite at the head-spinning level (unless that's your thing), but it was a really enjoyable dive into the horror genre, which at its core is marvellously broad.

In this collection we've got:
- Transcripts & twists (A Casual Encounter by Quinn Fern and She's Taken Away by Shane Hawk)
- Violent dives into the weird - if I didn't know these were all written by different people, I might suspect an ongoing storyline with the same author throughout (Red Punch Buggy by B.O.B. Jenkin, The Intruder by Justin Faull, and A Fistful of Murder by Lindsay Ragdale [which has as much right as the movie to alternately by titled "Kill Bill")
- Hardboiled noir via pigeons and demons (The Pigeon Lied by JW Donley - also with my favourite art of the book: not only creepy, but the pigeon is wearing a fez!)
- Horror by way of cyberpunk thriller (Possess and Serve by Christopher O'Halloran - bonus points for writing a realistic-feeling female POV as a guy writer)
- Dark fantasy and fractured fairy tales (Duplicitous Wings by Amanda Nevada DeMel and Red and the Beast by Thea Maeve)
- Flash horror written entirely in dialect (Gooseberry Bramble by Solomon Forse)
- Good-for-her, the-earth-is-healing horror (Sprout by M. David Clarkson)
- Some classic-feeling haunting horror (Clement and Sons by Joe Radkins)
- And, good Lord, eye horror (It Gets in Your Eyes by Joseph Andre Thomas. I'm super cool with gore, but eyes!?)

And finally, a special callout to my personal top 3 stories, in no particular order:

Junco Creek by SE Denton - survival horror-esque, heart-thumping and page-turning with a mother-son relationship in there

Manufactured God by PL McMillan - post-apocalyptic sci-fi Frankenstein-y sort of story, with Egyptian mythology!

Suspended in Light by Alex Wolfgang - found footage story with the moment that spooked me the most of the anthology and made me feel like I was also doing a semester in Europe otherwise

Overall, really fun dive into the horror genre. And the art was such a special added treat! Really well done pieces that connected to each story.

Note: I got a free copy from Netgalley and the publisher for review, but I also plan to buy a paperback when it's available!

Very nice collection of horror stories. Some were very goods, others not so much. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

So this book is full of short horror stories from various authors fyi. It was definitely entertaining and cringe worthy in some stories. You get a different theme and they are all unique. I would say this is a great way to see other author’s sense of writing style because truth be told, I don’t half of these authors but I actually enjoyed their story.

There was literally half of the stories that were good and the other half were just kinda dull with the plot and it felt like it was going nowhere and dragging something for too long. I’m still giving the authors a chance with their novels because you really can’t based their work with just one story, or can you? 🤔

Overall this is good book to get your hands on since you can read one chapter a day or not lol. A great choice if you are in a reading slump or if you are looking into some fast pace horror then give this book a go. I give it 4 out 5 stars.