Thank you NetGalley and HOWL Society Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was very excited to get approved for an ARC of this book especially because Grady Hendrix was promoting it and wrote the forward. I read the first two stories and realized that I am not the right audience for this book. While the stories were creative and you can tell the authors put a lot of effort into them, they just weren't for me. I may come back to this at a later date to finish it, but for now it is a DNF for me.

I loved this!! This is a wonderful anthology featuring numerous well known horror authors. The e-book has some pretty awesome illustrated headers for each story that directly relate to the subject. The stories somehow pull you in and have such an impact in such a short time. Plenty of graphic scenes and dark humor sprinkled throughout. I've also been introduced to some new authors I normally wouldn't have read but now plan to. I really had a good time reading this and will be getting a physical copy. This is definitely something I would pick up and reread, especially during the fall.


Thank you netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Howls From Hell is an entertaining Horror Anthology packed full of over-the-top, toe-cringing content!!

Prior to reading, I discovered that this well-rounded collection was collectively edited by, HOWL Society, which if I understand correctly, is an online group for Horror Readers and Writers. I think this is fascinating and such a great example of the camaraderie that can be found within the Horror Fiction community.

Yes, I know we have our problems, but the whole essence of this collection is what it should be all about. Supporting one another in this genre we all feel so passionately about. With this being said, in addition to its compelling origin, this is a wildly varied and engrossing collection. It's absolutely worth the read.

If I were to select my three favorite stories of the collection, they would be: Gooseberry Bramble by Solomon Forse, It Gets In Your Eyes by Joseph Andre Thomas and Junco Creek by S.E. Denton.

Overall, the entire collection is great though. The Foreward by Grady Hendrix brought me to the brink of tear; oh the nostalgia. I think of the 16-stories included, only two didn't resonate with me.

I definitely think there is something in this book for every Horror Reader. If you consider yourself a fan of the genre, give it a go, support your community and have a fun time doing it!

I love horror fiction. The short stories in particular are my favourite to read. Howls from Hell is a horror anthology comprising of 16 fictional stories created by authors from Horror-Obsessed Literature Society on Discord. A supportive online community with hundreds of members bought together by their common love for horror. I’m definitely going to follow them and try to participate in their weekly book club talks.

Coming to the stories - not every story impressed me very much, there were good parts and then some parts made me go “what? That is it?!”,“No I need more”. Its a mix of all things horror that gave me chills and entertainment. My most favourite story is Manufactured God by McMillian. Its weird, dystopian and so so good!!

Also, the foreword by Grady Hendrix is *chef’s kiss* one of the best I’ve read in a while and clearly an ode to his love towards the genre.

3.75/5 ⭐️ - Thank you Netgalley, Independent author publishers for the arc.

If you read the Howls From Hell anthology only for Grady Hendrix's introduction this book will be worth it! He opens with discussing his introduction to horror while providing his reflections on the nature of horror. However, it is definitely worth your time to read all of the stories in this collection written by members of HOWL. HOWL is an acronym for Horror Obsessed Writing and Literature society, which is an online community for horror lovers. I love horror but only just found out about this community through the epilogue of this Netgalley ARC, which only shows the wealth of resources for niche literary communities online! Since the stories in this anthology appeal to my literary interests, it is a resource that I will definitely utilize in the future!

I was sucked in with the first story,"A Casual Encounter" by Quinn Fern, giving the collection a solid start. There is a wide range of stories in this book. One of my personal favorites was "Manufactured Gods" by PL McMillan, which is a science fiction tale about an archeological dig that takes a horrific twist. My other favorite was "Duplicitous Wings" by Amanda Nevada Demels where a winged woman was summoned by a spell. But the range in stories are not merely in content, but also in style, as "She's Taken Away" by Shane Hawk read like a transcript between a patient and therapist and "Red and the Beast" by Thea Maeve invoked classic fairy tales. All of the stories in this anthology proved to be entertaining.

The criticism that emerges from having such a wide range of stories is that other than being under the umbrella of the horror genre, there is no unifying theme with all of the stories. One of the thing that is appealing about the horror genre is that there are so many different types of horror, making it difficult to figure out what kinds of stories should go together in an anthology. In spite of this, having similar themes to stories in an anthology can make the stories feel woven together a lot better. My personal favorite anthologies are great for mood reading.

However, the combination of having a well loved author like Grady Hendrix writing the introduction to the anthology and emerging out of a large online community will likely make this a much loved anthology in the horror community. The writers in this collection are worth paying attention to. Fans of horror fiction will definitely want this book on their shelves.

2 Stars ⭐⭐
Howels From Hell is an anthology of horror stories from up and coming horror authors. Going into this collection I had not heard of anyof the authors before. The only one I knew was Grady Hendrix, and he just wrote the forward at the beginning.
This collection was really not for me. Only two of the stories really stood out to me
1. A Casual Encounter by Quinn Fern : Gives a whole new meaning to the term Man Eater.
2. Red Punch Buggy by Bob Jenkin:
This story will make you take extra precautions when driving anywhere.
I believe anthologies are hard to review because they have a different impact on each person. I know someone will love this collection as a whole.
Thank you to netgalley for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

This was a solid group of supernatural horror tales. I enjoyed reading and was especially happy to help support this amazing reading group! Thank You to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Some of my favorite stories:

I loved the sci-fi/horror story Possess and Serve by Christopher O’Halloran. This was such a unique twist on traditional policing. While on the surface it seems like it gets results, there is still a seedy underbelly and the less fortunate are still being taken advantage of.

It Gets in Your Eyes by Joseph Andre Thomas was body horror at its finest. The most sensitive of body parts, the eyes, are the target of this tale. It was also a deep look into psychosis and the truth of what happens when no one believes.

The Intruder by Justin Faull started out with an elaborate detailing of road rage. This character has anger issues and it shows. By the end your wondering if the intruder was the person at the end or maybe the beginning of the book? Suck a mind twist!

Great group of stories!

The HOWL (Horror-Obsessed Writing and Literature) Society came to being as a subreddit gathering of horror fans and writers, and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. Howls from Hell is their first anthology, featuring sixteen emerging authors.

Anthologies are always a mixed bag, but they are a great way of finding new authors. I’d never heard of any of the authors, so my expectations weren’t high, but a few of the stories pleasantly surprised me, and author names have been added to my ever-increasing ‘Keep an Eye Out For’ list.

Three of the stories stood out for me. The first is Manufactured God, by P.L. McMillian, a sci-fi/horror tale of a group of futuristic anthropology academics sent to investigate Ancient Egyptian ruins who end up finding way more than they could have ever anticipated. Suspended in Light, by Alex Wolfgang, is a quietly creepy horror about an old set of film reels and the unfortunate film student tasked with reviewing and cataloguing them.

By far my favourite is Possess & Serve, by Christopher O'Halloran, a story which I’d class more as sci-fi than horror. A new and experimental police department has opened for those who can afford to pay: The Assumed Control Unit doesn’t just sent police to the scene of a crime, it sends them into the head of the person who summons them, allowing the Summoner to step back and hand over control of their body to somebody trained to deal with whatever situation has arisen. All well and good, but what happens when the Summoned officer betrays that trust?

For the record, my ratings for each story are:
A Casual Encounter by Quinn Fern – 2/5
The Pigeon Lied by J.W. Donley – 3/5
Manufactured God by P.L. McMillian – 4/5
Red Punch Buggy by B.O.B Jenkin – 3/5
She’s Taken Away by Shane Hawk – 3/5
Suspended in Light by Alex Wolfgang – 4/5
Gooseberry Bramble by Solomon Forse – 3/5
Clement & Sons by Joe Radkins – 3/5
Possess & Serve by Christopher O'Halloran
Duplicitous Wings by Amanda Nevada DeMel – 3/5
It Gets in Your Eyes by Joseph Andre Thomas – 3/5
Red and The Beast by Thea Maeve – 3/5
The Intruder by Justin Faull – 1/5
Sprout by M. David Clarkson – 2/5
Junco Creek by S.E. Denton – 3/5
A Fistful of Murder by Lindsey Ragsdale – 3/5

I received an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. I love a good short story collection, and they can be wildly hit or miss, especially with anthologies. This was a pretty well rounded anthology, a lot of hits with only a few near misses. I can’t say that there was a single story that I truly didn’t like. For this anthology being born out of a discord group that came from a Reddit, I was really pleased with how much I liked the stories. Looking forward to seeing what these authors come out with in the future!

This horror anthology has something for everyone. Authors from a Discord group called Howl Society banded together to create these 16 short stories and I will for sure be joining the group.

I have two favorites.

The first one is The Pigeon Lied by J.W. Donley. Low life criminals doing deeds for demons to gain repertoire and hats. Its interesting and gory and should be written into a full novel.

The second is Manufactured God by P.L. McMillan. Civilization lives in space after a calamity renders Earth uninhabitable. A teacher and their three anthropology students are taking a trip to earth to discover pre-calamity artifacts. They discover something large and Egyptian and terrifying. I’m not saying there are any perfect short stories out there but…………

I spent half the book looking up all the writers to follow to make sure I see what else they put out there. A must read for horror fans.

A literature society dedicate to write and read horror. It sounds like something from the 18th Century but it's not. At least not this one. Born on Discord, the chat platform, The Horror-Obssesed Writing and Literature Society is a club for those who like to spike their lives with horror-induced adrenaline highs.

Together, by a process of submission and general membership voting, they selected a year's best in short stories and the result of this selection is Howls From Hell.

Not every story in this anthology is a hit (at least not for me), but since horror is such a personal taste, I imagine that what didn't make it for me, may just well be someone else's cup of blood (or tea, if you're not of the vampiric persuasion).

For anyone who wants to read horror but is not so committed to the genre as to take on a whole novel, at least not at first, this is a good entry point. The stories here include pretty much every horror subgenre, from slash porn, all blood and running, to horror in space, where no one would hear you scream.

I particularly liked The Pigeon Lied by J.W. Donley. This story offers an interesting take on Luciferian folklore, including some clever takes on Sumerian Mythology and sparse but well chosen Biblical references. Interesting, Hell-adjacent funny, and at times just funny, this one caught my attention right from the start.

Then there was Red Punch Buggy by B.O.B. Jenkin, where much like the driver in the story, I didn't know where anything of it was going. Confusion was the emotion at hand, for me as much as for the characters, but the horrible realization was there, waiting for all of us in the final lines, and it was all too shocking not to get shock.

Red and the Beast by Thea Maeve is also a good one. Here, the author takes us back to the origin of every fairy tale. Yes, nowadays Disney Co. has done its best to convince us that fairy tales are sweet bedtime stories, but that's far from the true. Folktales and fairy tales were born from our collective fears, they are nothing else but cautionary tales, warning us about the dangers of the world. Well, both Red and Beauty sure learned who to fear and who to chase.

As a whole, a 3.5 stars rounded to 4 because the world does need a bit more horror of the literary kind.

Overall, the stories in this anthology did not impress me. Rather than being actual horror or thriller, I found them to be campy or cheesy. Another reader might find them more terrifying, but they pulled from tropes that are common enough in B list horror and overused. I found the writing styles not what I would look for in horror. There wasn’t build up of anticipation or terror. Even the climax was disappointing for each story.

A great book for those who love horror and looking for short stories to read, vs a long time consuming tale. The various authors clearly have skill in bringing out ones greatest fears in horror. Each story is a very different flavor and worth this lovely taste.

I thought this collection of horror stories was an enjoyable read! It was diverse, and there is sure to be something for everyone within these pages. Plus, the forward by Grady Hendrix kicked things off on a positive and exciting note.

Like with all anthologies, inevitably there will be stories that are stronger than others. The same goes for the contents of Howls From Hell. I especially enjoyed Suspended in Light by Alex Wolfgang. It's about a student who's health starts to deteriorate after discovering a strange set of film reels from long ago. Another one that stuck out was The Pigeon Lied by J.W. Donley. It was so strange, but that's what I liked about it. A unique story with some wonderfully gross imagery.

That's just scratching the surface though, there are plenty more tales of horror to love in Howls From Hell! 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to review.

A really enjoyable collection of horror stories all from Authors that I've not encountered before.

Some of my favorite stories were

A Casual Encounter - Quinn Fern. A really good start to the collection, great monster tale

The Pigeon Lied - J.W. Donley. Demons, hats and untrustworthy Pigeons. Lots of fun

She's Taken Away - Shane Hawk. A transcription of an interview between a DR and his patient about her evil twin and the struggles of being the good one

Possess And Serve - Christopher O'Halloran. In the future there is a branch of the Police that can assume control of people to solve problems, but what if one of these officers was causing problems

Duplicitous Wings - Amanda Nevada DeMel. Family revenge that goes about as well as you expect

It Gets In Your Eyes - A women comes home from vacation with something irritating her eye. Eyes are one of the things that freak me out the most so this was a great story for me

If you want to find some new horror authors to try this collection is worth your time

The Howls from Hell is a wonderful anthology of horror stories that come in all shapes and sizes.

I particularly enjoyed the welcoming foreword of the book explaining the back story of the horror community as it makes you feel like one of the family and a sense of acceptance into it.

My favourite story was definitely Red and the Beast. A twist on the traditional red riding hood and beauty and the beast!

Definitely read this anthology if you enjoy the whole spectrum of horror! Thank you Grady Hendrix for putting this together !

Howls From Hell was a thoroughly refreshing anthology to read. Filled, as it was, with names largely unfamiliar to me from my extensive reading, I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this ARC of the book.
The stories are as diverse as a horror anthology can be, with tales that entertain, unsettle, or force the reader to question what they've just read.
The foreword provided by Grady Hendrix took me back to my teens in a way I enjoyed. Though I must admit that my friends and I never played a game quite like "rehash" and I'm not sure I could have convinced anyone that it was a game worth playing, no matter how hard I might have tried. The theme of that foreword is one many--perhaps all--horror fans will find familiar, the way the films and literature of our youth provide us comfort as adulthood takes its toll, and we often find ourselves returning to the unconventional things that help to reinvigorate us and, at least temporarily, return us to those golden years of our youth.
It was no surprise, after reading that, to find the fantastic selections collected in this anthology. These were horror stories written by those who deeply and unabashedly adore horror in the way one does when it was one of their first loves.
There isn't a bad story to be found in this book, but there were some that stood out more for me than others, so I'll focus on them.
The infernally-oriented urban fantasy of J. W. Donley's "The Pigeon Lied" paints a fascinating picture of a Seattle underground that puts the underground music scene there to shame.
"She's Taken Away" by Shane Hawk is an entertaining and disturbing take on the evil twin tale.
The surreal, horrific folklore underlying Solomon Forse's "Gooseberry Bramble" reminded me of the late 19th and early 20th-century horror stories of the American gothic authors.
"Possess and Serve" by Christopher O'Halloran blends a bit of Philip K. Dick's "The Minority Report" with Richard K. Morgan's "Altered Carbon" to produce a near-future mystery/suspense tale that kept me focused on the screen of my tablet until the end.
Finally, "It Gets In Your Eyes" by Joseph Andre Thomas showcases an eye infection from hell...something I found personally disturbing because I've got a bit of a phobia centered around eyes and injuries associated with the eyes.
These were just my favorites, your favorites might be different. You'll have to read the book to find out for yourself.

HOWLS (Horror-Obsessed Writing and Literature Society) will be releasing this anthology in May 2021.  If you are looking for a great variety of short stories by some truly promising up-and-coming horror authors, be sure to add this to your TBR list!  This anthology offers a wide range of styles, from  sci-fi-esque to a modern fairy tale (and everything in between).  As with all collections/anthologies I've read, there are those individual stories I love and those that just didn't click with me.  But the best part is I now have a long list of new-to-me authors and I look forward to reading more of their work in the future.

As with most anthologies, there are highs and lows. This one contained very few lows. I was able to read this in a few hours, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My favorite stories happen to book end this collection: A Casual Encounter is an entertaining monster story that takes place in a seedy hotel, and A Fistful of Murder is a tale that features a ten dollar bill that gives off murderous impulses to whomever has it.

Not an altogether spooky read, but it is a fun collection of stories to while away an afternoon with.

Howls From Hell -
Published May 18th 2021*

I was lucky enough to get a librarian advanced eBook copy of Howls From Hell because of NetGalley! This book would have honestly slipped right by, if not for their suggestions! I’m going to be flat out honest what immediately drew me to this short story collection, was Grady Hendrix's name. And after reading his foreword I knew I was going to be in for a special treat! I mean what more could you ask for, he selected them! I just love how supportive the Horror community is, always mentioning their own favorite stories, or what inspired them. Am I the only one who keeps a list of recs that you receive while reading these books? No? Okay, proceed. This is a collection of 16 well assorted horror anthologies, from Authors that maybe you haven’t heard of just yet, but will want to after reading this. I loved every single unique style offered, get ready to fully immerse yourself with these talented emerging writers! At the beginning of each story you’re gifted with a visual depiction of your next read, & at the end of each you get a little tidbit about the Author. This review will give my personal mild descriptions without any major spoilers.

1st story- A Casual Encounter by Quinn Fern
Cat & mouse internet meetup, what could possibly go wrong? Appreciated the twists and turns! Though you may have an idea of what’s to come, you really don’t! This one immediately draws you in from the very first page. You kind of want to be over, but you really don’t! Would have loved more, but perfect story to kick this collection off!
Rating * 5 out of 5

2nd story- The Pigeon Lied by J.W. Donley
The narrator is promised something he really desires, if he merely does what the possessed pigeon asks for. It’s never that simple, is it? Cherished the concept, but I had to re-read a few pages to quite understand what was going on. Not really my wheelhouse but was entertaining, I think certain wording kind of lost me & had me looking up a quite a few parts.
Rating *3 out of 5

3rd story- Manufactured God by P.L. McMillan
A professor brings her students along for a region excavation that was previously discovered by another team, during a surface scan. Who wants to be the guinea pig? Spacey Lovecraftian vibes* I think this was my favorite! I love humor mixed into in a good horror story, what can I say? Very detailed writing without losing the reader with too much unnecessary rambling. I like I was along for the ride. A+ for gore, I treasured everything about this. P.L McMillan I'm a new fan!
Rating * 5 out of 5

4th story- Red Punch Buggy by B.O.B Jenkin
A not your average hit & run with a delightful turn! You may think you know, but you really haven’t a clue! Quick read but packed with humor & chaos, just a few of my favorite things!
Rating *4 out of 5

5th story- She’s Taken Away by Shane Hawk
A therapy session between a doctor and his patient slowly gets very uncomfortable. Slightly predictable, short but not sweet! Loved the way this one was told!
Rating *3 out of 5

6th- Suspended in Light by Alex Wolfgang
A film student reviewing old reels discovers something she really shouldn't have. This one put me through the loops, I love not knowing where a story will go!
Rating * 4 out of 5

7th story- Gooseberry bramble by Solomon Forse
A court case where a man is potentially going to be charged with the deaths of a dozen children may not quite be what is seems. Short story- loved it, had no clue what was going to happen next! I’ve also never read anything quite like it, really appreciated!
Rating *5 out of 5

8th story- Clement & sons by Joe Radkins
A house that can't seem to keep its occupants, has a new tenant move in. Who’s happy to start fresh in her fixer upper. A little cheesy/corny for me but was very well written. I don’t think I quite understood the ending.
Rating * 2 out of 5

9th story- Possess & Serve by Christopher O'Halloran
A privately funded police force for hire by those who can afford their services, take calls as 911 operators would, but by inhabiting the callers body. I really loved the how different this one was! This one gave me the genuine creeps!
Rating * 5 out of 5

10th Story- Duplicitous Wings by Amanda Nevada DeMel
Have you ever heard the saying “be careful what you wish for?” A grieving woman summons something far worse, to try and console her. This one had me from the beginning, very impressed!
Rating * 5 out of 5

11th story- It Gets in Your Eyes by Joseph Andre Thomas
Girlfriend returns from her family trip to discover something is wrong with her eye- monsters inside me vibes, gross and raunchy, but isn't that what you came for? Blurs the line between real and imaginable! This is not for the weak stomached. Cannot wait to find more!
Rating * 5 out of 5

12th story- Red and The Beast by Thea Maeve
Brothers Grimm doesn't have anything on this little red riding hood graphic horror story Mashup! Brutal throughout, but the ending didn’t quite have me. I was along for the majority of this bad a**ery.
Rating* 3 out of 5

13th story- The Intruder by Justin Faull
An irritated fellow gets the confrontation he's been itching for, or so he thinks. This one didn't have much depth compared to the other shorts but I really dug the beginning!
Rating* 3 out of 5

14th story- Sprout by M. David Clarkson
Narrator is mesmerized by a woman he sees at a bonfire, which quickly turns into an unhealthy obsession. Pretty brutal & twisty throughout. “Curiosity killed the cat? “
Rating* 3 out of 5

15th story- Junco creek by S.E. Denton
A mother trying to repair her relationship with her teenage son plans a getaway out in the woods. Things immediately feel unsettling... you can guess all you want with this one, but I bet you won't have a clue until its right in front of you! - My cup of tea!
Rating* 5 out of 5

16th story- A fistful of murder by Lindsey Ragsdale
Starts off with the narrator being handed his change, from his purchase, with mysterious red writing on one of the bills. Will make you double check your money, at least I will…
Rating* 3 out of 5

All in all, awesome variety, I look forward to finding more from theses Authors. Even though I may not have praised each & everyone, I thoroughly cherished reading them! I am very grateful I got the chance to read this! What are you waiting for, READ THIS WHEN YOU CAN!