horror collections – Author Anthony Avina

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Follow the chilling yet humorous events of this haunting horror filled short story collection “Blood Pudding & Other Horrific Delicacies”.

The Synopsis

Blood Pudding & Other Horrific Delicacies Winning Collection 2022

We proudly present the winning collection from our 2022 short story Horror comedy contest! Featuring illustrations by Shander Carrero and four short stories by, Dawn DeBraal’s, Cliff McNish, Martha Everitt, and Jim Horlock.

Follow the peculiar perils of a germophobic vampire in Dawn DeBraal’s My Dear Mrs. Cunningham—just, be careful not to track mud through the kitchen.

Next, in Cliff McNish’s Problems With Online Dating, Ty confronts the challenges of finding someone who understands her particular quirks, all she wants is love. The kind that lasts forever.

In Martha Everitt’s The Bhad Wolf, Charlotte is on staff at Lunar Corps, and may be asking for a raise after her encounter with a very Bhad wolf.

Last but not least, Jim Horlock’s short that took top prize, Blood Pudding, is set in a world taken over by blood-thirsty desserts, and death is all that’s on the menu.
What could go flan?

The Review

What a brilliant blend of humor and horror. The authors did an incredible job of weaving together a tale that captured the witty dialogue and interactions between the characters and the spine-chilling terror they witness or sometimes partake in. The imagery and atmosphere in the book will keep readers enthralled and engaged with each story.

The unique spin on the horror genre will speak to fans of the genre extensively. One story that really stood out was Cliff McNish’s “Problems with Online Dating.” It takes the relatable horrors of online dating profiles and gives them a deadly spin, showcasing the far more often truth that humanity is frequently far scarier than anything inhuman. The atmosphere and tension balance well with the funny, dark humor that usually permeates throughout this collection.

The Verdict

Shocking, entertaining, and memorable, “Blood Pudding & Other Horrific Delicacies” is a must-read horror short story collection. The twists and turns in the genre and the heart-pounding terror that will keep readers hanging onto the author’s every word will keep the reader invested until the book’s final pages. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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Blood Pudding & Other Horrific Delicacies (Digital Download)

The Synopsis

A vengeful owl haunts the man who poached her. A desperate entrepreneur holds a ghost hostage for profit. An addict finds hope and terror in an imprisoned angel. A father and son search their dying world for something to eat other than human flesh. Eric Raglin, author of Nightmare Yearnings, returns with his second collection of horror and weird fiction. Strange, terrifying, and tender, these eighteen stories explore what happens when extinction comes for us all.

The Review

This is both an emotional and frightening collection of stories. The author does an incredible job of capturing the grief and emotional weight of these characters and their circumstances, all without shying away from the terrifying and haunting atmosphere these stories instill in the reader. The equally haunting imagery that these tales conjure up captures the chilling nature of these stories and reflects the horrors of humanity and our world in general, from grief and loss to addiction and greed.

The heart of all of the author’s stories has to be the world-building and character development that these stories brought to life. Whether it was the injured workman using the ghost in his home to bring him much-needed money, or the man desperate to understand his husband’s tragic loss, the decisions made in desperation and grief added depth to the author’s plunge into horror. The variety of supernatural occurrences made this an equally entertaining and chilling collection as much as it was poignant.

The Verdict

Haunting, thrilling, and engaging, author Eric Raglin’s “Extinction Hymns” is a must-read horror short story collection. The inclusion of LGBTQ+ themes and characters throughout these stories added more layers to this growing collection and kept the collection more relatable and engaging for readers overall. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10