This was a fun and spooky collection of 'scary stories'. Ideal for creating an eerie atmosphere during 'Summerween' or your normal Halloween season.

Very hard these days to find an entire collection of stories that are actually good and memorable.
I highly recommend all the Dark Screams books!!!!

I enjoyed this anthology. My favorite stories were Brian Hodge's West of Matamoros, North of Hell and James Renner's A Monster Comes to Ashdown Forest (In Which Christopher Robin Says Goodbye) followed closely by Robert McCammon's Lizardman. Highly recommended.

I was disillusioned by some horror anthologies last year but October is calling to me, so here I am again. I’m not sure what it is about horror short stories but I don’t find them scary and would rarely even classify their content as horror. While all of these stories are okay, I didn’t find any scares amongst them.

My favourite was James Renner’s ‘A Monster Comes to Ashdown Forest (In Which Christopher Robin Says Goodbye)’.

Lizardman by Robert McCammon - 🎃🎃🎃

The lizardman has been searching for Old Pope for a long time. Tonight he will find him.

“Oh, yeah, the swamp had teeth. Eat you up, bury you under. That was how it was.”

A Monster Comes to Ashdown Forest (In Which Christopher Robin Says Goodbye) by James Renner - 🎃🎃🎃🎃

You’ll never see Winnie-the-Pooh the same again.

“Sometimes the bad things take up the most room in your heart. Don’t they?”

Furtherest by Kaaron Warren - 🎃🎃🎃

Those boys died in the dunes but there’s more to the story.

“So don’t go into the dunes, kids. You never know who’s lurking in there.”

West of Matamoros, North of Hell by Brian Hodge - 🎃🎃🎃

This is the photoshoot from hell.

“Everybody’s got a plan until the knives come out.”

The Expedition by Bill Schweigart - 🎃🎃🎃

Nazis vs. the wolf.

“Had they known then of the chest and the doom that awaited them all, Bruner would have chosen prison.”

Snow Shadows by Mick Garris - 🎃🎃🎃

A man and boy are haunted by the death of a woman.

“Did you love her?”

Content warnings include death by suicide.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hydra, an imprint of Random House Publishing Group, for the opportunity to read this book.

Dark Screams, Volume Seven, continues the series of short horror stories with a lineup of amazing authors and well chosen stories. These stories are intense, imaginative, and not one of which I don’t plan to reread. It’s really that good!

Five Stars! Looking forward to Volume Eight.

I'm addicted to good horror stories, and have a special weakness for the short collections. Enough to give me a thrill, but never bore me. This collection didn't dissapoint.

I promise, pick this one up and you will never look at Winnie The Pooh the same way again.

As a whole it was fantastic, although a few shone brighter than the others.

Several of these stories are connected to age and aging: "Lizardman," "Furtherest," and "A Monster Comes to Ashtown Forest" - and I have to say, I will never be able to think of Winnie the Pooh quite the same way ever again! "Ashtown Forest" was my favorite, with its themes of age and mother's love, closely followed by "The Expedition" due to its seamless insertion into real history, in addition to adding one more monstrous thing to WWII.

This is the seventh volume in the <em>Dark Screams</em> anthology series and I believe I've read them all, so far. As with most anthologies, there were some strong showings here and some that didn't quite stand up to the others.

Like the previous edition, this volume features six short stories - or more accurately, five short stories and one novelette/novella.

Robert McCammon's "Lizardman" has a great premise and tremendous setting for a horror story, but it just never connected with me.

"A Monster Comes to Ashdown Forest" by James Renner was one of the most original stories, and had me thoroughly invested in the story and frightened out of my wits. I suspected what was coming at the end but I was still on edge all the way through. In this story Christopher Robin, now an old man, revisits the Hundred Acre Wood, which isn't as serene as the fairy tales present it.

"Furtherest" by Kaaron Warren is a short in which a young girl dares the other kids at the beach to go out past the dunes where some boys died years ago. This story plays on the psychological horror, which I generally enjoy. There was nothing wrong with the story but it wasn't memorable at all. Once you turn the last page it's forgotten.

"West of Matamoros, North of Hell" is by Brian Hodge in which a photo shoot in Mexico gets creepy. I enjoyed this dark story. The cultural differences (from what I am typically familiar with) really help play up the dark attributes of this story.

Bill Schweigart's "The Expedition" was another story that I just couldn't connect with. Here a German office hopes to bring glory to the Fatherland with his expedition through the Carpathian mountains but there is something following them. It could be that I don't really get in to Nazi/horror stories.

"Snow Showers" by Mick Garris was the longest work in the collection and might have been a better tale had it been shorter by half. A schoolteacher's affair turns into a spooky, long-running visitation.

As always, there are hits and misses here which puts my rating for the book right in the middle. I've come to wonder if I lean more to one or the other of the editors in terms of what I like.

Looking for a good book? <em>Dark Screams Volume Seven</em> is a collection of dark(ish) stories that are overall pretty average - though those above average are well worth reading.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This collection of short stories had more misses than hits for me. Frankly, there was just one story that I truly enjoyed and that was A Monsters Comes to Ashdown Forest. There is just something so chilling when it comes to a horror tales about beloved figures from children's books. This tale was haunting and really good and I wished the rest had been as good. - 4 stars to this tale!

Then we have Lizardman and The Expeditions. They were OK, not as good as A Monsters Comes to Ashdown Forest, but they didn't bore me and had an interesting story to tell. What they lacked, however, were any chilling feeling. - 3 stars to these tales.

Finally, at the bottom, we have Furtherest, West of Matamoros, North of Hell and Snow Shadows. These three stories really didn't work for me. When a short story feels too long then you know you have a problem. Furtherest was just odd and not in a good way. I was bored reading that one. West of Matamoros, North of Hell could have been interesting, with the Santa Muerte theme. But, it was just a long short story that I couldn't wait to get through. And then we have Snow Shadows. I just don't see the point of adding this story to this collection? Now the other two at least felt like they belonged in this collection (even though I didn't enjoy them). But, this story? Sure, it seems like there is some kind of ghost thing going one, but it was lacking anything remotely chilling or thrilling. - 1 star to these stories.

There we have it. Not the best collections I've read, although I need to check up James Renner's work.

Very good book with lots of spine tingling shivers. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting something spooky. Happy reading!

Dark Screams: Volume Seven Kindle Edition
by Brian Hodge (Author), Robert McCammon (Author), Bill Schweigart (Author),
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Screams-Seven-Brian-Hodge-ebook/dp/B01ND0KNYM/
Another in the excellent series of anthologies that includes established masters and extraordinary new talents. Each is a spine-shivering story that will keep you up at night.Jamr
Robert B McCammon contributes the first story, Lizardman. His soft Southern style that created such classics as Wolf's Hour, Swan's Song and A Boy's Life is highlighted here. That style is combined with a gator hunt reminicent of Hemmingway's Old Man and the Sea. The 'villain' and the ending would make HP Lovecraft shiver in pride. However the normally deep character exploration that McCammon is known for is not quite there. This story receives a 3 out of 5. As a McCammon story, this part of the anthology is Book Nerd Approved.

A Monster Comes To Ashdown Forest (In Which Christopher Robin Says Goodbye) is James Renners offering to Dark Screams Vol 7, proving that our childhoods neither leave us or are what we remember. The lead character is a caretaker in a convelesant home, in which Christopher Robin Milne (now using the last name Sanders) is spending the last of his days. Renners's descriptions of scents and and textures is nothing is not visceral, and not in a good way. The description of Tigger, yes THE Tigger who has a bouncey tail, is both frigntening and sad for those who grew up sing the song “The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers.” Putting a dark spin on everyone's favorite honey seeking bear and a sorrowful ending, this story earsn a 4 out of 5 and is Book Nerd Approved

The second story within the anthology, coincidently, brings up Pooh as a comforting object, but that isn't what sticks out. Descriptions like “the negative of noise” bringing to mind that pressure of pure silence on your ears, that moment when you hear neither the constant hum of electricity, the whoosh of cars or even the tweet of birds. A dark tale of family troubles, dead bodies and zombie stuffed animals.
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Screams-Seven-Brian-Hodge-ebook/dp/B01ND0KNYM/
4 out of 5 This story is book nerd approved


Extrasensory (The Phoenix Agency Book 2)
Aug 1, 2017 | Kindle eBook
by Desiree Holt
I received an uncorrected ARC of this book from NetGalley for review purposes
“The Phoenix men were well trained for all occasions.” Including dealing with a precognitive like Mia and her visions of Carpenter Technologies latest gadgets. Visions she can't even figure out herself. Dan and his team of ex-military and computer geniuses must work with her to pick apart the mystery hiding in her visions.
The story it self was interesting, however for men of action, men who were SEAL and such, they do a lot of talking and sitting, so the action moves slowly. A book that should have taken me a day to read took several. It was only my love for the concept that kept me going.
The solution to villianry is plainly given away when we first meet the mastermind. But the book is a sweet love story wrapped in a silly mystery. Given half a chance and maybe a little chat actual military men (I come from a family of officers, presidential helicopter guards, a real Spec Ops, and my father won a distinguished flying cross and flew for 22 years, most of them SAC – they are men of moment even when planning) or a little Christine Feehan or Donald MacDonald mentoring, Desiree Holt's series will improve.
4 out of 5 – This book is Book Nerd accepted if not approved.
https://www.amazon.com/Extrasensory-Phoenix-Agency-Book-2-ebook/dp/B06XTC8DM9/
Dark Screams Vol 7
Edited by Richard Chizmar and Brian James Freeman
I received an uncorrected ARC copy of this book from NetGalley for review purposes.
Both Chizmar and Freeman are veteran editors of the gloriously horrifying Cemetery Dance. The talent to pick the best of horror, old and new takes us on a world wide tour de force of terror.
From the blood soaked streets of cartel and Santa Muerto controlled Mexico to a haunted English private school, I was truly entranced and thrilled, and for a changed mightily scared.
West of Matamoros, North of Hell, with it use of very real, very horrifying events that took place in the 80's and the inclusion of the very real cult of Santa Muerto gave me the most chills. Kudos to Brian Hodge – you managed to scare me as much as Peter Straub's Floating Dragon. The only book to ever to keep from sleeping.
Bill Schweigart's The Expedition, on the other hand, had the opportunity to use the very real horror of the SS and Himmler's search for artifacts, but dropped the ball. There was no scare, just a really warped version of Indiana Jones if he were a Nazi.
Robert McCammon has always been on of my favorite author's. I've read most of his books at least twice and his brilliant Swan's Song a half a dozen time. His trip to the Southern Swamps of America after the Lizardman fell kind of flat. It was more Fortean the frightening.
My Eyeore toys are now safely in storage, thank you very much James Renner! Piglet and Owl and the gang will never be the same to me after A Monster Comes to Ashdown Forest.
Mick Garris is always a treat to read, and his tale of regret, revenge and first loves, Snow Shadows leaves you with the feeling there is no real villain in the world, just very screwed up people and one very screwed up supernatural force trying to balance the scales.
Furtherest by Kaaron Warren takes us to the Australian beach where childhood tales, dares and secrets end up cost adult lives, leaving one young woman waiting out death.
This book is very much Book Nerd Approved. 5 out of 5 scary stars! Thanks guys from Cemetery Dance for the great read.
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Screams-Seven-Brian-Hodge-ebook/dp/B01ND0KNYM/

You can't go wrong with the anthologies...especially when Robert McCammon is included. Dark Screams had me almost screaming in the dark with its dark, disturbing tales.

Way back when, I was asked by Brian Freeman if I would be wiling to read (and review) a new venture for Cemetery Dance Publications called Dark Screams. It contained short stories by some of the premier horror authors. I jumped at the chance. Seven volumes later and I'm glad they haven't stopped.

Volume 7 starts off with a bang:

Lizardman by Robert McCammon - Anytime you can have a collection and be able to include McCammon, you know you've got something special. This was an interesting tale about a gator hunter looking for the monster of all gators; and may regret finding it.

A Monster Comes to Ashdown Forest by James Renner - This was my favorite of the group. It was an interesting, and frightening take on Winnie-the Pooh. I will never look at the Milne books the same way again. I enjoyed this story so much that I sought out Mr. Renner to let him know what I thought.

Furtherest by Kaaron Warren - Growing up on Long Island and spending a lot of time at the beach - and near dunes - this one hit home. A bunch of kids, rental houses, a creepy neighbor, and "who-knows-what" deeper and deeper into the dunes. Don't read this one at the beach.

West of Matamoros, North of Hell by Brian Hodge - This story had a very Clive Barker feel to it. It was frightening, weird, fantastical, and supernatural. A band decided to head to Mexico to shoot photos for their next album. What they discover is enough to make your skin crawl.

The Expedition by Bill Schweigart - As with all anthologies, there's bound to be one that doesn't "tickle your fancy". For me, this was it. The story takes place in WWII. An SS officer leads a group to find "evidence of the superiority of the Aryan race." What they find was something worse than any virus. I liked the story, but was disappointed at the ending; it fell flat.

Finally we end this anthology the same way it began - with a bang:

Snow Shadows by Mick Garris - Mick has been one of my favorite directors ever since I knew what a director was. Thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications, I found out he was also an author, and have since read most of what he's written. I love the way Mick describes things. This story takes place in a youth academy in England and I actually felt like there should have been snow outside my window. Love, loss, and revenge are the themes here. Another one of my favorites in the book.

Folks, I've said it before, and I'll say it again - don't pass up on these books. The talent across these seven volumes is incredible and for less than a cup of Starbucks, you can experience the best of the best.

Lizardman (Robert McCammon)
While the subject of the story wasn't really my cup of tea, the writing totally made up for that. Each word, each sentence shows that the author is a true master at his art. ***

A Monster Comes To Ashdown Forest (James Rennet)
I loved the original and surprising idea behind this story, which also made it my favorite in this anthology. *****

Furtherest - (Kaaron Warren)
Subtle, this worked like the calm before the storm that hits you with the following story... **

West Of Matamoros, North Of Hell (Brian Hodge)
I think this was my first encounter with Brian Hodge, but it will definitely not be my last. Powerful, brutal and shocking, but more than just gore. ****

The Expedition (Bill Schweigart)
Another experienced horror story, but not remarkable in comparison. Guess this was my least favorite of the collection. **

Snow Showers (Mick Garris)
Spooky and mysterious, this was a nice ghost story, but too long for my liking. **

The seventh Dark Screams anthology provided two surprising stories, introducing me to two authors I haven't read of before, but will definitely check out in the future.

I enjoyed all the stories in Dark Screams 7, especially A Monster Comes to Ashdown Forest where a 75-year-old Christopher Robin wants to return to the 100 Acre Wood, but things are not quite as cute and cuddly as you would expect. Great and very original storytelling!

Excerpt from Review: "...Each and every story offers up an interesting twist. No straight forward horror here! No, these stories offer up horror with a twist and endings you might never have expected. I found myself mesmerized by each story and finished this anthology in two days (would have finished in one, but I did have to work so I could pay bills and all)! Well done! I can’t wait to read the next edition of Dark Screams!"

Hydra and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Dark Screams: Volume Seven. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Authors Robert McCammon, James Renner, Kaaron Warren, Brian Hodge, Bill Schweigart, and Mick Garris have all contributed twisted tales that will spook, scare, and delight many readers. Some of the short stories are more successful than others, especially in regard to the level of horror.

My favorite offering in this anthology is A Monster Comes to Ashdown Forest (In Which Christopher Robin Says Goodbye) by James Renner. The author has taken beloved childhood story characters and has twisted their environment in the most unrecognizable way.

Robert McCammon's Lizardman was good, but not exactly what I had been expecting from this veteran author. The scare factor was there, especially in regards to the setting, but the ending was less than thrilling.

Snow Shadows by Mick Garris was the most predictable, with a plot that will appeal to readers who do not normally read horror fiction.

West of Matamoros, North of Hell by Brian Hodge just did not speak to me and I found myself struggling to continue reading the story.

The Expedition by Bill Schweigart is a Nazi themed story, good but not exactly memorable.

The least successful story in the book was Furtherest by Kaaron Warren, as I was completely bored by the characters and the thin plot line.

As with all of the other volumes of Dark Screams, the book has offerings that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Overall, Dark Screams: Volume 7 was a good read and I would recommend on the strength of the James Renner story alone.

I snagged this book to review for one reason, Bill Schweigart, has a story in it. I have become a fan of Schweigart's work, ​even when I struggle to spell his name. Yeah for book titles! The rest of the stories range from pretty good to well... ok... but it has more of the rather good ones than not. I'm glad to read more of Schweigart's stories.

My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.

Creep good. Not my kind of book but it grows on you.