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.

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"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.

_The Darkest Night: 22 Winter Horror Stories_, edited by Lindy Ryan, is a dark compilation of short stories that involve aspects of the chilling cold such as unsettling winter weather, paranormal encounters, and the holidays and terrors that can accompany them. Told by popular horror authors, the disturbing tales elicit experiences of family trauma, the unknown, and our inner fears. This is a good read for colder days and fans of the horror genre.

“The Darkest Night” is a horror anthology featuring 22 tales with the theme of winter horror, edited by Lindy Ryan of Black Spot Books, who is a successful author in her own right.

The anthology features an incredible lineup in the table including Gwendoly Kiste, Josh Malerman, Hailey Piper, Clay McLeod Chapman, Eric LaRocca, Cynthia Pelayo, Kristi DeMeester, Rachel Harrison, Sara Tantlinger, Darcy Coates, and more.

One of the things about the release date that confused me was that this is like… the perfect holiday horror book that should come out near November or December, but that’s a publishing/editorial/marketing decision that the editor and other folks on the production team may not have had control over so I am just going to mention that as a minor aside.

Kiste’s story is one of the best, right away starting with a protagonist finding their own body beneath the ice of a lake. If that doesn’t get your attention, I don’t know what will! Throughout the story, Kiste builds suspense and definitely offers a chilling (pun intended) tale that starts the anthology off on a solid footing.

The next story that grabbed me most was Hailey Piper’s tale called ‘The Vermin Moon’ and it starts off with smoeone holding a burial for a rat.
Definitely also one of the more creative tales in the bunch.

Wytovich’s story has a very witchy “Snow White but gone horribly wrong” vibe and fans who love her short stories will enjoy this tale as well. Very much a dark fairy tale.

Cynthia Pelayo’s piece also has a very dark fairy tale vibe to it. Stylistically, this was one of the more dynamic pieces with and of longing for a mother’s love but finding coldness instead, of a mother who tricks the daughter into saying there is no love for people like them. So they turn to the written word and Shakespeare. The story really forces readers to remember and look carefully at the words of Ophelia in Hamlet. It’s a beautifully written piece.

Other stories I enjoyed were “Eggnog” by Kristi DeMeester and “Threads of Epiphany” by Sara Tantlinger. Definitely save this title on your TBR to read in November or December to feel the atmosphere more.

I was excited to receive this ARC as it promised chilling yuletide stories from some of the top names in modern horror: Josh Malerman, Clay McLeod Chapman, M. Rickert, Nat Cassidy, Rachel Harrison, Darcy Coates, and more! With tales of grief and familial disputes to creature features and hauntings, there is bound to be something in this collection for every kind of horror lover. Best read—I imagine—with a cup of hot apple cider on a snowy day during the winter solstice.

Thoughts:
It’s a bold move to begin a collection with two stories told in second person narrative as I know this could turn a lot of people off. While reading the second story, I found myself begging with the short story gods that this was not going to be a recurring theme and that all of the stories would not be in second person. Luckily, my prayers were answered. Still, many of the stories in this collection were rather mundane and failed to grasp me in their claws. Some were great, some were not. And since the audience seems so skewed on their likes and dislikes, I can’t really recommend one story over another… You will just have to read and find your own favorites!

Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the digital copy! Out 09/24/2024!

Dark, spooky winter stories! This is a collection of 22 short stories based in winter and over winter holidays. Some stories I found to be very well written, exciting and spooky. However, there was a handful that I was underwhelmed reading.
I enjoyed Cold As Ice by Tim Waggoner the best. It is such an original and interesting story!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this fun collection of short stories. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

et in Texas, we meet the Evans women. As the town falls victim to a vampire plague when a local woman named Mina (!) returns from the dead as a bloodsucker, the women take charge and fight back. We’re introduced into a new mythology of the Strigoi—where the returning creatures seem to be part vampire, part ghoul. It’s an interesting, creative take, for sure. There were a lot of late ‘90s references and I liked how there was a good dose of humor throughout, contrasting nicely with the numerous kills. This also felt like it’s definitely the opening shot of a larger series, which is pretty fun to think about. Lots of possibilities.

It’s hard to not root for Lenore Evans and her family. They’re great characters and I felt them come off the page and heard many of their voices in my head about halfway through the book. I also loved the settings, which all felt real and dimensional. Another rare thing for me is that I read the book very quickly. It moved so fast that I was able to read it in three sessions. I was anxious to know what happened, who the Big Strigoi was, and where things would end up. Overall, a very enjoyable read.