This was an interesting and creepy collection of holiday horror. I found the majority of the stories to be very somber and more grief horror than expected. While I'm not typically a fan of grief based horror I can honestly say there wasn't a story in this collection that I didn't like. The stories and authors included in this collection offer something for everyone from masters to gore. It was a quick read and perfect for those looking for a darker side of Christmas.

This was my first Kevin J. Kennedy Christmas Horror Shorts read, and it will not be my last. As per usual with anthologies, I enjoyed some stories more than others, but in this case, there were none that I didnt like. This was a really fun way to get some christmas horror in during December. There was enough variety to keep me wanting to read more than one per sitting, and the length of the stories was great for quick reading. Here are some of my favorites:

Lord of the Sleigh by Gage Greenwood: This story explores themes of poverty, addiction, and childhood trauma as three friends around the age of 10 grapple with the reality of their lives, and the desire to wish for better and believe in something. When they see an opportunity to take revenge for the unfairness they have experienced, things get horrifying and brutal, and downright weird. The way Greenwood is able to pack so much heart and emotion into a short horror story is next level.

Three Sizes too Small by John Durgin: This story was a scary as hell Grinch retelling that we didnt know we needed. The atmosphere of this small secluded town horror is wonderfully eerie. I would love to read more about this town and its inhabitants. Durgin is also a master in invoking heart and emotion into his writing, and the amount he was able to provide in so few pages is amazing.

The Fourth Emergency by Lex H Jones: I loved this story so much. The premise was brilliant and the way it was equal parts heartbreaking and horrifying was so good. I dont want to go into much detail, I think its best to go in blind.

Cant wait for the next installment of Collected Christmas Horror. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!

I absolutely love this collection. There's many types of horror featured in it. This story is perfect for the holiday season.

Loved this one. All new authors to me so I’ll be looking up other books and stories from them. Full of holiday horror,; demented and drug crazed Santa’s, a killer Grinch, an emergency line for the recently deceased.

My favorites were the first and last stories respectively. The Fourth Emergency Service by Lex H Jones and Three Sizes Two Small by John Durgin. All the stories were fun and I’d definitely recommend to horror readers!

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. The Collected Christmas Horror Shorts Vol 3 was so much fun to read especially this time of year. Christmas isn't all happiness and light and this collection speaks to this. This grouping of authors also introduced me to talent I haven't read before, but I will be reading again, and championing and encouraging other people to read as well.

A Great Collection of short Horror Stories.

Each and everyone one had me saying ‘what the hell’, genuinely creeped out by some of the stories that will stay with me for a long time.

I 100% recommend to other people, if you want a short story book to bump up your reading target or just want to get creeped!

This collection delivers exactly what you would expect: Christmas themed horror stories. I really liked a couple of these stories, but there were several that I didn't care for at all. Definitely check this out if you are in the mood for some holiday horror. Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC for me to review.

If you’re looking for something festive yet frightful, look no further than this collection of Christmas horror.

Overall it was a decent collection, There wasn’t much that stood out to me and the writing needs editing but it was fun and festive and it’s hard to find good Christmas horror.

I read horror all the time and I loved reading this to get me in the mood for the holidays. This was a pretty good book of short stories. Thank you Netgalley.

This is a mixed collection of ten Christmas horror short stories by various authors, edited by Kevin J. Kennedy. Some are funny. Some are gory and grotesque. Some are funny and gory and grotesque.

This was definitely a different look at Christmas and I enjoyed the horror look at this usually festive holiday.

I received this advanced reading copy from Net Galley. The opinions I've written are my own.

Horror stories set in a Christmas theme? Yes, please. If you are looking for something different to read.....pick Kevin Kennedy's selection of short stories and get ready to be amused and entertained.

Thank you for the ARC. I enjoyed the short stories. My favorite being ‘Tis the Season’. I recommend this book to those wanting short bursts of horror. :) Truly a good read.

“ℐ 𝒹𝑜𝓃'𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓊𝓈𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸. ℐ 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸."

In this book where my three favorite things meet - Horror, Christmas and Anthologies. Where everything is possible from beasts, 911 operators that helps the dead find peace to an ax wielding man dressed as Santa. Truly anything and everything is possible! The short stories aren’t just chilling and so brilliant they have one thing in common which is death. They discuss grief and loss so beautifully and deeply. Reading this masterpiece I found peace and comfort, in each story there was something I learned and connected with. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone who loves reading horror stories and loves Christmas.

I’m incredibly grateful for all the authors who worked on this anthology to Kevin J. Kennedy who put together this miracle and to NetGalley for letting me read it.

Collected Christmas Horror Shorts 3 is an eclectic mix of creepy Christmas stories ranging from the macabre to the bizarre. There are ten different stories from various authors. All of the stories are centered around the Christmas holiday.

I didn’t find the stories horrifying, just creepy and unusual. Although some of the stories were pretty gory. I enjoyed most of the short tales with notable shorts that included: The Fourth Emergency Service, We Want to Sing You a Song, A Wanted Man, and Three Sizes Too Small.

Collected Christmas Horror Shorts 3 is my first novel from author Kennedy. It won’t be my last and I look forward to reading the next collection of horror shorts. Four solid stars.

I received a DRC from Kevin J. Kennedy through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

This collection of short, horror stories centered around Christmas is just what I needed. I really enjoyed most of the stories in this collection. They are the stuff of nightmares. Not your children's bedtime stories. Not unless you want them to stop believing in Santa.

There is a story about a 911 operator that helps the dead, a boy who gets lost in a snowstorm and meets Krampus, another boy who meets an ax wielding man dressed as Santa, or how about Santa tripping on LSD!

No matter what your dark cravings are, there are stories for everyone who likes their Christmas to be "black".

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I love horror short story collections and was happy to see this one since the holiday season is upon us. This is a nice quick read and I loved most of the stories in this book. There was one that was just "ok" but I still didn't hate it. I really liked how these stories went, they were different. I'll have to check out the first two books of this series!

This is the perfect anthology for the post-Halloween, pre-Christmas time of year! If you're trying to keep the spooky season alive while also easing your way into the holiday spirit, this collection is for you.

4 stars

KJK anthologies are honestly my go to’s and automatic purchases these days. He certainly knows how to put together a great collection. Every story was done well and I was introduced to a couple of new authors as well as some I already know and love. Perfect short horror reads to keep the spooky season alive through the holidays 😈