While the book is very creepy and I loved that, there’s way too much going on and too many characters to keep up with and I struggled hard

This book had a lot going on and a lot of characters. It is really creepy, but has so many characters that I was getting confused sometimes. Simplicity can sometimes bring out the eerie elements. The writing is good and with a few tweaks and streamlining this could be amazing.

This book was creepy (which I love). It takes place on Halloween (here for it). It’s the 80’s (go on). Three weirdo kids are wandering the neighborhood, terrified of The Cunning Man (I’m in!).
But, none of it works. There are so many characters (too many) and none seems to be the protagonist. There are something like seven different conflicts, none of which I got invested in (cheating spouses, kids moving, teens coming out, last neighborhood Halloween party, unhappy marriages, sadistic kidnappers, and more). Except for The Cunning Man. I really wanted to know about that. And the reveal was two sentences explaining what he is. No suspense, no world-building, no creativity.
I didn’t get the point of this book and I didn’t enjoy it. Who lives and who dies seemed decided by a dice roll, the death scenes often ending with a sentence like, “And then he died.” Half of it was a YA novel and the other half a Miserable Adult novel. And it also tried to be horror. Mostly it felt like a first draft that needed some direction. I think it had promise, but it didn’t make good.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Christopher Golden has captured a certain coming of age nostalgia and paired it with a genuinely unsettling and creepy horror story that just feels like a bottled essence of Halloween. I liked how he explored both the perspectives of the neighborhood teens and tweens as they are slowly realizing that something is VERY wrong in their neighborhood on Halloween night, as well as the perspectives of some of the parents and other adults as they are too distracted by their own personal anxieties, secrets, and misdeeds to notice that something sinister is at work. It felt like a really honest and relatable (in some ways) intersection of growing up with a backdrop of suburban ennui and dysfunction. And then you add in some genuinely scary horror moments, be it strange children begging for help (even though they also feel a little off) or the whispers of a "Cunning Man" who preys upon vulnerable kids. I liked the twists and turns, and while I thought that one particular reveal needed a LITTLE more exploration (but no spoilers here), overall I liked ALL HALLOWS.

DOn't want until Halloween to read this book. Read it any time and bring the Halloween feel back outside of the spooky season!

If you love Halloween, Stranger Things, or the eighties, you might be drawn to the upcoming spooky read, All Hallows.

Set on Halloween night in 1984, this story follows the townspeople of Coventry, Massachusetts as they prepare for the annual spooky festivities. Halloween has always been kind of a big deal on Parmenter Road, yet this year everything feels much scarier. As one family prepares to move, older teens brace themselves to leave home, and secrets sit on the verge of being exposed, the practical horrors of everyday life make Halloween feel like child’s play.

Embroiled with neighborhood drama, the residents are too preoccupied to pay attention to an even more terrifying turn of events that await them. Walking among the trick or treating children are those that are not like the others. These children warn of someone called The Cunning Man, begging protection until midnight comes around. Some of the neighbors attempt to protect these kids, assuming it’s just garden variety toil and trouble, but as midnight approaches and more horrors are revealed, it’s every man, woman, and ghoul for himself.

All Hallows was an interesting read with a bit of an identity crisis. Marketed as horror, the majority of the story centered around the nastiness that existed in the neighborhood. A LOT of characters were introduced in this book. If this was a series I could see this enriching the story, but in the span of one novel, at times it was hard to keep track of all of them. Comparisons to Stranger Things also run deeper than small town retro horror with many of the characters, (Barb, Nancy, Billie and even Steve) sharing names with those on ST. Coincidence? You decide.

When the community’s catastrophes finally meets the callous Cunning Man, the climax falls flat. I wish author Christopher Golden would have infused more origin into this aspect of the story. Instead the readers were left holding the proverbial bag full of more tricks than treats.

It's Halloween night in a small town and many of its residents are gearing up for fun and revelry. One family is running a haunted trail through the woods, another is hosting a block party and lots of teens and kids are getting ready to trick or treat. But, no one will make it through this night unscathed. An evil force is lurking and there will be a high body count by midnight.

This one was a bit too all over the place for me. There were way too many characters introduced early on in alternating chapters. The stories weaved together to form one big one, but there were lots of individual characters it took me a second to care about. That said, the two main families whose lives are a complete mess are less horror than humiliation. I'm not sure who the target readers are here, people who like domestic dramas or people who like horror. It's got a bit of both. It gave me a Pandora's box vibe, once the evil is released havok is being released in so many ways. I would have prefered a little less of the domestic drama in the first half and a dive right into the horror. There is a ton of action in the second half and the evil is creepy and entertaining but you gotta slog though the first half to get there.

This reminds me of Imaginary Friend meets Big Little Lies. Just because that mix didn't work for me doesn't mean it won't work for you, so give it a try. It's worth buying just for that amazing cover!

Thanks to St Martin's Press for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

Don’t ask me how I missed reading Christopher Golden until I received a DRC of Red Hands in 2020. Newsflash: I loved it and I’m trying to make my way through his back list. Then the opportunity to read a DRC for All Hollows came my way and how could I say no(spoiler: I couldn’t). Though I didn’t understand why this book based on the synopsis wasn’t being published in October. Now that I’ve read it I understand why it would work at any time of the year.
It’s the day before Halloween, 1984 and Tony Barbosa and his daughter Chloe are putting the finishing touches on their annual haunted Halloween woods walk. Not only will this be the last one before they move, it will also be an unforgettable night. People in the neighborhood are keeping secrets from their loved ones and friends, and some very strange and terrified children will appear this year. Each of them seem scared that The Cunning Man will find them and each of them are begging the children from the neighborhood for help.
The chapters alternate between a rather large cast of characters. We learn about the good and bad side of the adults who live here, as well as the POVs from some of the neighborhood children and teenagers. A lot of the story let’s us get to know some of these neighbors quite well. Interspersed are the creepy children who gravitate towards the neighborhood. It’s the story of not only the people who live on Parmenter Road but also some thing or someone with an evil agenda. I’m sure a lot of people will buy this book and put it aside until October, but honestly it’s a story that to me really would work at any time of the year. I really enjoyed this story.

The synopsis of this book, particularly the setting being Halloween in the 80s, really drew me in. The atmosphere ended up being pretty disappointing because it failed to deliver all the 80s vibes. It also failed in keeping up the suspense. Every time something spooky happened, the mood was killed by what felt like endless exposition. It took far to long to actually pick up pace and by that point I didn't care anymore.

I wish I had more to say but overall this isn't going to be a memorable one for me.

A miss for me. Told from multiple perspectives, this is the story of a Halloween night in a neighborhood full of secrets, AND there are creepy strangers floating around. There's some gruesomeness, some silliness, and it just didn't engage me but to be fair, horror isn't one of my genres. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Over to others.

Ah, I needed a spooky Halloween read to get me back in the spirit for the best season ever... even though we are months away from October. I am so thankful to Christopher Golden, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for granting me an e-ARC of this highly anticipated horror flick before its publication date of January 24, 2023. Everything about All Hallows screams slasher film/ancient paranormal witching hour haunt, and I'm here for it. Who says we can't celebrate Halloween all year round?

This tiny yet connected neighborhood goes all out for Halloween, hosting massive ragers, and decorating their porches. If you're the Barbosa family, that means bringing out the big guns for their Haunted Woods attraction and donating portions of proceeds to charitable functions. Deemed as the last year for its run, the Barbosa clan is going all out in its final year due to some family money issues.

As the reader, we get POVs from multiple family members battling their issues and struggles, including their neighbors, old and young. As you read onward, you'll find that with rumors and affairs messing up this community, something more sinister and paranormal is happening on Halloween this year.

Rick Barbosa, his friend Billie, Julia Sweeney, and Vanessa Montez stumble upon a few out-of-place children running from "The Cunning Man," who is coming to take them away... Who is The Cunning Man, and what are his intentions with these seemingly innocent and helpless children??? You'll have to read to find out, but trust me; the twist will leave your jaw hanging open!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

*3.5 stars rounded up to 4 due to the Goodreads rating system*

Christopher Golden's "All Hallows" takes place over the course of Halloween in 1984 on one street in Coventry, Massachusetts. Throughout the day and evening, we encounter different families and people whose lives are unravelling with their secrets being revealed for their neighbors to see and gossip. Amongst all of the domestic chaos, four strange children show up begging the kids and their families for safety from someone they call the Cunning Man. What will these families and their children do in the wake of this Cunning Man?

If you know me, you know I love reading horror and have more often than nought been disappointed with recent horror. While this isn't a perfect story, I still enjoyed myself. I have never read anything by Golden so I was excited to see what he had to offer in this Halloween treat. I will say that it's an interesting choice of the publishers to publish this in January and not October of last year but I figure there may have been a lot of things going on behind the scenes that led to the January release date. Anyways moving on..."All Hallows" really intrigued me with the summary provided on Netgalley. I tend to really enjoy stories that take place on Halloween. I especially love when stories utilize Halloween the way Golden does in this book.

I honestly enjoyed the story of the Cunning Man and Carmun and wish there had been more time for exposition but I also know that if that happened in-story, that I would have thought it was revealing too much. That said, I LOVED hearing the bits of lore around all of that. It kind of added an extra level to the book because there was just this bit of otherworldly lore that we will never know. I also thought that Golden did a good job with the level of gore in the book. I think he could have easily veered into doing too much but I think he did a good job of describing just enough gore to provide some shivers.

The one thing that I really struggled with were the multiple perspectives for the chapters. I'm fairly used to them but at some point when things really start to pick up, I was a bit confused. It's not necessarily a lot of characters that we're given the perspective of, but amidst the chaos that takes place, it certainly asks for a more active reader. I will also say that if you are someone who tends towards happier endings (not sure if this is spoilery?), then this book is definitely not for you. Given the themes this book deals with (teenage queerness, racism, infidelity, pedophilia/child murder, and minimal gore), the ending didn't surprise me or bother me, but it may bother others who want a more neat and happy ending.

Overall, I enjoyed this arc and with how gloomy it's been lately it really suited the vibes. If you liked the anthology horror movie, "Trick r' Treat", I think you'll enjoy this one. There's a darkness and loneliness here that reminded me a lot of that movie.

I really need to start reading the synopsis of books before I request them on Netgalley…

I will say that this is a great Halloween story especially if you’re into monsters. I really enjoyed most of the story, but it got a little too weird for my liking towards the end. I’m also someone who likes happy endings when reading & I wouldn’t consider this to be one.

I'll be honest, horror is really not my preferred genre, especially at Christmastime. 😅 But I was captivated by this creepy, nostalgic, book set on Halloween night in 1984. There's gore and guts, for sure. There're scary scenes that made me want to sleep with the lights on. But there's also a substantial amount of depth to the interwoven stories.

All Hallows follows a large cast of characters over the course of one day/night. We meet several children and teens, as well their parents, who all live in the same small town. It deals with adultery, alcoholism, sexuality, friendship, and more. And while these normal people are going about their normal lives, preparing for an ordinary Halloween, something sinister is lurking in the woods, ready to make this All Hallows Eve one they won't soon forget!

I definitely recommend this one for horror fans! Or for anyone who wants to he scared! 😱

Thank you St Martin's for my gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.❤️

It started off very intriguing and I got to about halfway before I stopped for a day or two and found it hard to want to pick it back up. I finally finished it and it was just alright (2⭐️ rating in my book). It might be cool as a Halloween/scary movie but was just ok as a read for me.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before it published. This is my opinion only.

A good creepy Halloween time tale. I love reading coming of age takes or stories involving kids. Christopher Golden is an excellent horror writer.

This was an interesting read. I have never read anything by Christopher Golden before so wasn't sure what to expect.

While I did enjoy the story and The Cunning Man and the children sent by the witch Carmun, I did find that the chapter being told by a different character a little confusing. Especially because there were so many. I did feel that this too away from the overall story and flow that I felt could have been a little better.

The description of the 'children' that were being hunted was really good - I could really picture them. And Halloween is my favorite so that helped as well.]

I would recommend it, just know going in that it is a little disjointed, at least it was for me.

This book, wow, what a read. This book once you start reading there is no putting it down. It will grab you and keep you reading until the last word is read. It moves along at a pace that makes for an easy and enjoyable read. You will love these characters and no matter what happens you want to be there for them. This book needs to be on your TBR list for 2023, you will not be sorry that you did.

All Hallows is set on Halloween night in 1984 on Parementer Road in Coventry, Massachusetts. A creepy quartet of children who don't belong there join in the trick of treating. This creepy story was more than just a horror story, it really delved into the people on the street and what is going on. Very enjoyable.

Thank you St Martin's for All Hallows by Christopher Golden (read on NetGalley). This is a solid thriller, a great blend of strong pacing and themes that resonate with me, including themes on family relationships, 1980s setting, and the magic intensity of childhood friendship. This has a lot of nostalgia for the 80s, strong Stranger Things vibes, kind of a scary Goonies as well if you will (i love that movie!) and that drew me in. Solid scares too, a lot of genuine chills and creepy moments, the kind of book I didn't read before bed because of my overactive imagination. This book was effective in highlighting the vulnerability of youth as well as their strength, bravery, and resilience; the different perspectives from the characters and the backdrop of family relationships helped add depth to this strong narrative story.

This is the perfect read for horror and scary thriller/suspense fans, just be prepared for the intensity of the scares and content and sit back, find your favorite book snack or your halloween candy stash and enjoy this read.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: January 24, 2023
It’s Halloween night, 1984 on Parmenter Road in Massachusetts. The community is preparing for trick-or-treating, and the yearly ritual of the “Haunted Woods”, set up by one of the locals. It is the perfect night for four children, children no one has ever seen before, to mix in with the local trick or treaters. But these strangers have the same story to tell- the Cunning Man is coming for them, and none of the children are safe. Although the adults don’t believe the insane stories the children tell, they can’t explain the clearing that appears in the woods that wasn’t there before, or why they keep seeing a shadow figure in the trees. Everyone on Parmenter Road has until midnight to decide what they believe in- before it’s too late.
“All Hallows” by Christopher Golden is the perfect spooky read (even though it’s released in January). Haunted woods? Halloween? Strange figures that capture children to steal their souls? There is absolutely nothing about this book that was not completely terrifying- and I loved every minute.
Each section of the novel is narrated by one of the characters in the neighbourhood, so although the novel is not broken down into chapters per se, it has clear and definitive stop-and-start points, all the while allowing the reader to get to know the players on Parmenter Road. We hear from teenagers, adults and children alike, allowing the full experience to play out in its terrifying entirety.
The Cunning Man and his gaggle of spooky children add an entire new level of horror to this already haunting story. There’s a lot of gore, a lot of violence, and a whole pile of jump scares, culminating in a pulse-pounding (and heartbreaking) ending. With the 1984 backdrop, “Hallows” provides the nostalgia that made “Stranger Things” what it is, and it is absolutely the perfect time period for this novel. Before cell phones or the Internet, when people spoke to each other and did not hide behind screens, Golden chose the perfect backdrop to tell his spooky tale.
Golden is an award winning horror author but he is a new author to me, and that is a mistake on my part that I will not be making twice. As a horror addict (movies and books both) I’m already adding his previous works to my TBR list, and will keep an eye out for his future works.