Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a great collection of stories. Eerie, Moody and the perfect fall read.

This anthology was brought to my attention by following Cynthia Pelayo on social media, so I requested it on NetGalley solely on the basis that I enjoyed her book Forgotten Sisters - I was pleasantly surprised that I was already familiar with some of the other authors in the collection (Darcy Coates, Tim Waggoner for his work writing novelizations of the show Supernatural, Josh Malerman the author of Bird Box which I’ve actually only seen the movie of but still enjoyed) & was also introduced to other talented writers I’d like to read again in the future.

The introduction discussing the bleakness of winter & how the holidays can be a haunting time of year for some definitely set the mood, & it was fun to see all the different cold-weather & Christmas themes incorporated into the stories. From a body in a frozen lake to an office party to a nursing home to a desert highway & everywhere in between, this volume will send a chill up your spine & have you sitting closer to the fireplace when the snow flies this year. With a release date in late September this would be a perfect spooky season & holiday read.

Thank you to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A chillingly smooth compilation considering the jagged stories tinkled between the better ones. The tales which make this collection worth collecting, are must reads:

I Hope This Finds You Well by LaRocca
Eggnog by deMeester
Mr. Butler by Chapman
Threads of Epiphany by Tantlinger
The Mouthless Body in the Lake by Kiste
Being Nice by Strand
Father's Last Christmas by Murray
The Ladies' Society of the Dead by Coates
Bruiser by Flanagan

-The Mouthless Body in the Lake by Gwendolyn Kiste
Poignant and unnerving. Not a big fan of second person pov but it works in this story.

-Cold As Ice by Tim Waggoner
Another second person pov. Disturbing yet doesn't push the envelope far enough.

-Children arent the only ones who know where the presents are hidden by Josh Malerman
A memory of Christmas past and a lonely highway with a terrible secret revealed. Spooky and unsettling!

-The Vermin Moon by Hailey Piper
A mother's grief and a vision of reunion. Unexpected haunting end.

-The Body of Leonora James by Stephanie M. Wytovich
Witchy reminiscence of James O'Barr's The Crow but without the cool revenge sequences.

-Mr. Butler by Clay McLeod Chapman
Outstanding! Eerie, disturbing, great structure and characterization. I'll never look at a box the same way again, and I have slews of empty ones in my living room right now. Oy. A definite must read!

-Feast of Gray by Lindy Ryan and Christopher Brooks
Hands down the weakest story in this whole collection. Maybe too many drivers at the wheel? The constant change of tenses and boring descriptions make this cliche-filled drama skippable.

-I Hope This Finds You Well by Eric LaRocca
A gentlemen's club with dark forebodings. Dazzling ending! Best horror writer of the decade. A must read.

-The Buried Child by Mary Rickert
Dream-like imagery of regret, fear, and longing. Very poetic.

-Father's Last Christmas by Lee Murray
Yes! The dying king must pick an heir to replace him based on the gift given him. This story stuck out to me because of its simplicity and time period as well as the clever denouement.

-The Warmth of Snow by Cynthia Pelayo
Morose with a drabbing of Shakespeare. A true winter's lament.

-Wintry Blue by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon
A Christmas journey interrupted by insanity, claws, and the cold. Could've used less changing POV but indeed a teeth-chattering story.

-Carol of the Hells by Kelsea Yu
A blunder of the past echoes in the now. Cold ending.

-Full of Toys, a black-out poem by Jessica McHugh
Not sure what to make of this. See this art for yourself.

-Nice by Nat Cassidy
An elf's plans backfire when a kid getting on the naughty list is too easy. Teeters on edge of extreme horror but never quite goes all the way.

-Thaw by Rachel Harrison
A snowman which moves and a deserted cabin in the woods. Twisted ending!

-Candy Cane by Thommy Hutson
A Hostel type story for Christmastime. Not my fav, mainly because of the writing techniques used.

-Eggnog by Kristi deMeester
Now THIS is a Christmas story! Found myself clapping at this enjoyable fantasy that feels too real. Revenge is a cold dish filled with eggnog!

-Threads of Epiphany by Sara Tantlinger
A spinning yarn of a witch and young woman reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm. Ended too soon. I wanted the story to keep going. Excellent!

-The Ladies' Society for the Dead by Darcy Coates
Goose-pimple tingling ghostly tales and an unusual séance feels like a gripping old school Hammer Horror.

-Being Nice by Jeff Strand
A humorous story with a few good zingers. This Santa should have his own show.

-Ghosted by Mercedes M. Yardley
Wonderful prose in an untypical ghost story. Seems like this should be a comedy but isn't. Still worth a read.

-Bruiser by Jamie Flanagan
Moody piece with a bit of stale hope at the end. More depressing than horror, but definitely worth the time. Very good.

I recommend this collection!

Really good set of stories. I love some of the authors in this collection, so I definitely had to get this one. Especially Josh Malerman! He didn’t disappoint either.

I can’t give a full review on this since I couldn’t bring myself to finish it. A lot of these stories weren’t really scary IMO,they were more so just weird and I found myself saying out loud wtf? There’s a lot of stories so I’m sure people will be able to find some they enjoy but for me there’s way more bad than good to continue.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for giving me this arc in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC for this anthology of horror stories.

I actually enjoyed most of them. These short stories are a perfect blend of gore, murder, death, revenge, supernatural stuff, and creepy horror. As with most of the anthologies, some stories were definitely better than the others. But all in all, these stories will make for a perfect read during chilly winter nights as the title suggests.

Most of them are set around the time of holidays and snowfall. The ones that include witches and magic and folklore are literally eerie and gripping. You keep on guessing about their end.

And one thing is for sure, once you start reading them, you will want to read them all as fast as you can even in case of you finding a few of them confusing or dull. They certainly keep the reader hooked.

I was quite looking forward to this read. I'm not a huge short story fan, but the idea of horror tales based around Christmas and winter was appealing. Reminds me of some of those old horror movies, like Silent Night Deadly Night. Sometimes taking that jolly theme and turning it on its head can be fun!

Unfortunately, a lot of the short tales failed to deliver, and I only found a few that I would highly rate Every story is written to theme, which was promising. But I'm sure that other readers will enjoy the stories I didn't, which I suppose is the beauty of a collection like this. There's always something for everyone.

The stories I really enjoyed are:
Nice, by Nat Cassidy: this really twisted the Christmas spirit and I enjoyed the idea of the mischievous elf.
Eggnog, by Kristi DeMeester: I can see some readers shying away from the ending of this, but I thought it very well done.
The Vermin Moon, by Hailey Piper: this really built well and I liked the blend of emotion and horror.
Wintry Blue, by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon: this took me back to some of the horror novels I read in the 90s. Really enjoyed it.

There are many big authors in this collection, so I'm sure there's something for everyone. There are some not listed above that are still worth a read, but they just weren't centred in my wheelhouse.

Video link will be added later.

"The Darkest Night" is an exquisite collection of horror short stories curated by Lindy Ryan, featuring a stellar lineup of renowned authors. Each story is a masterful blend of terror and intrigue, skillfully crafted to haunt your thoughts long after the last page. The diversity in narrative styles and settings keeps the collection fresh and gripping, ensuring there's something to thrill every horror aficionado. The eerie atmosphere and spine-chilling tales make "The Darkest Night" a must-read for anyone seeking to explore the darker corners of human imagination. This anthology is a brilliant homage to the genre, showcasing the best of what horror fiction has to offer. Highly recommended!

This collection of stories is haunting in all the best ways. Though I read this in the summer, I was chilled to the bone and left longing for those days of reading by the fireplace and Christmas tree. I loved some stories, and some I felt just weren’t for me personally. That’s unfortunately the way it usually goes with anthologies. I will say that this is a brilliant collection, and the stories do work well as a whole.

I can not give a full review as I struggled to get through just half of this book. Some stories were great stories, others not so much. Some had a lot of potential to be better than they were.

I love short story collections! Especially when they are spooky and atmospheric. This one is excellent and has a ton of great horror authors included. Standouts for me are Rachel Harrison, Darcy Coates, and Christopher Golden. If you're looking for a chilling winter anthology make sure to get this one.

This anthology is absolutely stacked with some of my favorite horror authors so, naturally, I was thrilled to be able to receive this ARC. And, man, it did not disappoint!

All of these stories are set in the cold, icy, forlorn months of winter, the perfect setting for some serious scares. You'll find such a superb diversity of themes and tropes that it's extremely difficult to pick favorites.

You have the creepy and strange, the bloody and gory, the sad and terribly haunting, and even the slightly more humorous tongue in cheek.

From Santa to wood witches. Lovers and Kings. Loneliness and longing. They're all in this collection.

Clay McLeod Chapman even manages to bring terror to something as simple as an empty cardboard box! Hailey Piper gives us a story of profound loss which turns into something darkly fantastical. Jeff Strand and Nat Cassidy both bring stories which bring the pain... and some chuckles. Eric Larocca gives us a creepy look into a secret society. The list goes on and on.

This is an absolutely stellar collection of horror stories and I highly recommend it.

The Darkest Night, 22 Winter horror stories by Lindy Ryan and multiple other authors. This is a book full of stories buy some really great well-known writers in horror like Rachel Harrison, Josh Malermen, Clay McLeod Chapman, Christopher golden, Darci Coats, Eric LaRocca, Lindy Ryan Christopher Brooks and so so much more. There’s even more than one collaboration by these authors and these stories have everything from a new moms revenge, a snowman that can’t stand still, a little boy wanting to get on the naughty list and one of the strangest stories someone sees there identical self under The ice behind their family farm in every few years when they go back the frozen twin is still there and oh yes they have no mouth. The authors of these short stories or well-known because they’re really good and the proof is in their stories I couldn’t wait to read this and now I’m stuck with the problem of having had finished, but luckily for me a lot of the stories are worth a second read something I know I will be doing in the near future. I can’t express how much I love short horror stories and how these are among some of the absolute best. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.#CrookedLaneBooks, #NetGalley, #LindyRyan, #TheDarkestNight,

This is the perfect book to have on your nightstand and pick up occasionally when you want to be spooked. Very talented writers delivered freighting stories.

An absolutely fantastic collection of stories. There is literally something for everyone and every genre. Spooky, scary, unsettling and even some gore for those that partake! Definitely one I'll be getting a hard copy of!

I really looked forward to this, and was slightly disappointed. I only vibed with a few stories, and most weren’t really horror to me. The more notable authors really left me wanting something more or “better” as the stories seemed rushed or giving “bare minimum”

There are some powerful writers and voices that explode across the page in this collection.

The Darkest Night is a collection put together by Lindy Ryan and with a star studded lineup, I knew I immediately I had to read this. Not to mention the introduction is done by George C. Romero and that just sets the stage for these words to haunt me for times to come! As I found myself devouring this collection, each story blends masterfully and just tells truly a dark version of those cold and frigid nights.

What follows are some of my immediate thoughts and reactions as I finished each story in this collection.

To Hell With Hibernation
- I loved this to start out this collection. It’s campy but also has tinges of what I hope comes later! I’ve also never had a collection start with artwork like this making this a unique start!
The Mouthless Body in the Lake
- This was eerie and haunting. It gave me creepy vibes and has the best folk horror type ending!
Cold as Ice
- First of all, any time that I see Tim Waggoner’s name I get a special chill because his writing is just dark and twisted and he really is a master of horror writing.
- This story was exactly what I’ve come to to expect from Mr. Waggoner. This was dark, mysterious, had some fun fantastical elements and ended with a tongue in cheek ending that I never saw coming!
Children Aren’t the Only Ones Who Know
Where the Presents are Hidden
- Josh Malerman knows how to write some twisted family dynamics. Dynamics so twisted that when evil is introduced it feels welcomed. And these twists always unnerve me. Like I’m truly creeped out reading this.
The Vermin Moon
- Literary horror at its most squirmiest! This gave me the biggest ick like only Hailey Piper is able to do.
The Body of Leonora James
- Oh WOW! Okay this one surpassed me and I would KILL to get more of this story but told in an epic folk horror slasher!
Mr. Butler
- Clay. MCLEOD. CHAPMAN!!! Not only is this man a master of making the ordinary - petrifying, but his stories keep you nestled deep inside until he is ready to deliver the final soul crushing word. Loved this 100000%!!
Feast of Gray
- The mire that I continue to read by Lindy Ryan the more that I’m finding myself completely enmeshed with the story. The writing here is clean and superb but made me dark and seedy by the end of it!
I Hope This Finds You Well
- Eric LaRocca’s writing is positively despicable and disgusting and I for one CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF IT!! This story was unsettling to start and left me gasping for air by the end!
The Buried Child
- 😱😱😱 - this was as shocking as it was misleading! I find myself dry heaving just from the visual imagery alone!
Father’s Last Christmas
- This was amazing and I hope it is simply a prequel for a future Grim Dark series to come because this was a perfectly evil story from start to finish that surpassed any expectations I could have had!
The Warmth of Snow
- This was poetic and haunting! Not only did this feel beautiful but its lyrical composition grips the reader intensely!
Wintry Blue
- First of all Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon is a powerhouse duo!
- What a fun and interesting twist on the idea of a Wendigo. This myth has always been something I’ve enjoyed and this was a fun story showcasing it!
Carol of the Hells
- Dark and deliciously fun! A bit predictable in the end but I enjoyed it nonetheless!
Full of Toys
- Another really creative component of this collection that I think sets this apart from everything else!
Nice
- Nat Cassidy - you are one evil despicable person. But the way your brain works is truly next level horror. I’ve never had a harder time picking my jaw off of the floor. The buckets of blood abounded and I now worry about myself because of how much I really loved this.
Thaw
- I might have missed the catch on this one, but as anything Rachel Harrison writes, this was a campy good time! Though I definitely might be haunted by the Snowman from this story.
Candy Cane
- Ughhh this was creative and dark. This is another story that I’d love to get more from. I think there is so much more to explore and hope that we might see something similar or expanded in here!
Eggnog
- After Such a Pretty Smile, I knew that this writing style and theme exploration is one I’m into. However, this story reminded me even more how dark and twisted being a new mom can be. Gosh this was evil, but it was great.
- Perfect for upcoming fans of The Eyes are the Best Part!
Threads of Epiphany
- This is another GrimDark Esque story and was a fun adventure!
The Ladies’ Society for the Dead
- This story gave me goosebumps. It was mystical and magical and the last sentence was tragic and beautiful!
Being Nice
- When you think of campy Christmas horror this will forever be the story that comes to mind. Jeff Strand created yet another hysterical, but vastly enjoyable and dark, story!
Ghosted
- A fun tongue in cheek story where you can decide certain parts of it yourself!
Bruiser
- This is a resounding end to this collection and really I think pulls one last emotional impact!


After 22 entries in this collection, I can honestly say that I loved every moment of this. Readers are going to delight getting to experience some of the darkest nights that I’ve ever had the pleasure to read about!

The problem with anthologies is that unlike picking a book based in an author you know you like, anthologies often have so many different authors involved that sometimes you end up with stories that you don't like by authors whose writing style isn't for you. This was the case with about half the authors who wrote stories for this book. Overall I enjoyed the theme, but many of the stories just weren't for me just based on the individual authors writing.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. The Darkest Night was an interesting mix of 22 horror stories. Of course with something like this you won't click with every story as one doesn't always love every author's writing style, but I found that I enjoyed most of them, and really felt invested in each one. I'll certainly be rereading this during this winter, and recommending to my fellow horror lovers! Anthologies are the best way to find new authors, and this one definitely did that for me! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

It was a little strange reading winter horror stories in June but I thoroughly enjoyed these tales. I will never try to look at my reflection in a frozen lake again ! Actually I was impressed by how clever most of the stories were, not just carried along by outright hire like some. Would make a great Christmas stocking filler.