Another excellent anthology from editor Brian James Freeman and Hydra. Standouts for me were the longer pieces such as Glen Hirshberg's "Mr. Dark's Carnival" and “The Pumpkin Boy” by Al Sarrantonio. Greatly enjoyed these and the whole anthology is highly recommended.

It's approaching halloween so if you can't beat them then join them. I've had these for quite a while and guess it's time to dust of the cobwebs.

This is a book of five short stories, by five different authors all centred around halloween. Now in the UK halloween wasn't a big holiday until recently. Guess we adopted it from our cousins across the pond. Now it is huge. I'd argue bigger than Easter but not as big as Christmas.

I usually have my niece and nephew as halloween falls on a half term holiday. We go trick or treating early because the are young then we build a fire in the back garden and tell ghost stories. Just brings back great memories.

These stories aren't too bad. One was better than all the others. That being the first one. There were a couple that made you think I won't be doing that. Guess they were more cautionary tales.

Overall not bad, but honestly I want ghost stories to scare me. So I give this a solid 3 stars.

If you like carnivals and scary stories then this is the carnival for you! This collection of scary short stories is one of the best I have ever read and I can't wait for more!

Like most collections of stories, this one included both hits and misses for me. The first story was my favourite.

Mr. Dark’s Carnival by Glen Hirshberg - 🎃🎃🎃🎃

Professor Roemer loves exploring the myths surrounding Mr. Dark’s Carnival with his freshman class each year. Everyone in eastern Montana knows the legend but while everyone claims to know a person who knows a person who has experienced the Carnival, no one has known the truth firsthand. Until now.

I really enjoyed the growing sense of dread as I read, where the anticipation of the scare was half the fun. Sometimes what remains unseen can be scarier, when you feel unbalanced as you wait for jump scare that may or may not be coming. I had some unanswered questions including the significance of “3-7-77” and the fate of Robert.

“Stepping into that foyer was like stepping into a coffin. Worse, actually. It was like walking completely out of the world.”

The Facts in the Case of My Sister by Lee Thomas - 🎃🎃🎃

Davey is three years older than Joyce, his sister, and as a child she enjoyed being his assistant as he tried out new magic tricks. Now he watches helplessly as she lays in a hospital bed. I found this story predictable and while Halloween was in the background it wasn’t the focus. The monsters in this story are of the human variety, which is scarier than if they’d been pretty much anything else.

“There are no monsters, Joyce. They’re just in your imagination.”

Mischief Night by Holly Newstein - 🎃🎃🎃

When some kids decide to prank their assistant principal on Mischief Night it sets off an unexpected chain of events. This story read more as a cautionary tale and the story of Willard Cole is quite a sad one. It didn’t have the creepiness I’d hoped for and didn’t even really feel much like a Halloween story.

“In Pennsylvania, the night before Halloween is known as Mischief Night. Kids play harmless but annoying pranks, like throwing toilet paper into trees, soaping windows, and egging cars. Occasionally lines are crossed, and what was annoying becomes malicious. Sometimes even deadly …”

The Ghost Maker by Del James - 🎃🎃

A hitman reminisces about his introduction to a life of crime, does another job and gets invited to a Halloween party. After stressing out about his costume he is ready to attend the party and before anything Halloweeny actually happens the story ends.

“All Saints’ Day is when the Saints in Heaven and the good Catholics of this world share the strongest bond.
It’s also the one day I feel least comfortable doing what I do.”

The Pumpkin Boy by Al Sarrantonio - 🎃🎃🎃🎃

Creepy clowns. That’s all I have to say about that.

“Uncle Lollipop loves you!”

Themes of loss and grief play out in various ways in most of the stories.

Content warnings include mention of alcoholism, child abductions, death by suicide, domestic violence, murder and physical abuse.

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

An anthology of disturbing stories, perfect for a Halloween season reading!
There are some short stories that makes you think about life and death, and how to live your life to not have a sad and lonely end. Really, an excellent collection!

HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL Volume Two, edited by Brian James Freeman, has nightmarish stories by some outstanding authors that you will love reading. I know I did. Even the cover page shows how intriguing these stories are. Take for instance, our first story titled, MR. DARK'S CARNIVAL by Glen Hirshberg and the way it starts out with a question.
"Does anyone know anyone who has actually been there?" was asked and hands were raised. This intrigued me to keep reading to find the answer to where (there) is. As the students discussed the situation and went a bit further, dark shadows began to descend on the town and Halloween festivities were being made ready. Will Kate and Professor R. find out what is really about to reveal itself in Montana? Remarkable story! Outstanding Characters!

Our next story titled, THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF MY SISTER by Lee Thomas, begins on a Sunday afternoon with a phone call from his mother about his sister. And, she sounded so upset as she told him to meet her at the hospital. He needed to get there asap. What will he find out once he arrives? Amazing plot!

This next story titled, MISCHIEF NIGHT by Holly Newstein, will leave you wondering in Pennsylvania, especially on the night before Halloween, what is about to become deadly? Will something happen in time to prevent an incident from occurring? Great read!

THE GHOST MAKER by Del James, begins with All Hallows' Eve and how these teens broke into this Catholic school, then suddenly everything went down hill from there, and just as suddenly, went from bad to worse. Great writing skills; plus the characters lived up to their standards, as a nightmare was born. Remarkable fast-paced story that made the old adrenaline jump up a little.

The best, I think was saved for last. THE PUMPKIN BOY by Al Sarrantonio, was uniquely different and, might I say, a little bizarre. The author's skills really showed through this one, as Jody Wendt, only five years old, saw the Pumpkin Boy. What will happen next? Will Jody follow after the Pumpkin Boy, or will he run and hide? This story left a picturesque scene that was so disturbing, it was right out of a nightmare dream that you would ask yourself, am I awake or still asleep? You might want to keep the lights on while you are reading, because these are the kind of stories that will keep you up long after you finish reading them. The setting, along with the dialogue, very impressive! A more than ordinary read!

Another solid Halloween Carnival anthology. Review for Monster Librarian forthcoming.

A fantastic collection that is not only superb for Halloween but also recommended for any dark night throughout the year. Some of the names will be familiar while some may be new. But either way, these stories will have your heart racing quicker than a Trick or Treat sugar rush. Indeed this collection is like an end of night candy back on 31st of October. A little something for everybody, Some favourites, some new tastes and some you never thought you'd enjoy until you devoured them.

This was a collection of stories by various authors all taking place at Halloween. The stories vary in nature. They also vary in the audience they are serving and in the quality of the story. Some of them I liked and some of them I didn’t.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

An enjoyable collection of unusual stories. These were fast reads for me. If you're looking for some quick scares, these will fit your busy schedule. There's something for everyone among these pages. This is also a great way to find some new authors.

Not quite as strong as volume 1, but "Dark Carnival", OMG makes the whole thing. We missed out on a great 450 page book here!!!!!!

Good reading list for the month of October, as other reviewers mentioned-The Facts in the Case of My Sister, Mischief Night, and The Pumpkin Boy were my favorites. I don't think any of the stories were exceptionally scary but i would recommend someone give the compilation a try.

I enjoyed the topic of Halloween carnivals, but the writing leaves something to be desired. I wouldn't look into the rest of the series, personally.

I don't very like this volume 2. I prefere the one. The first novel is not very interesting and the other are in the same way.

I really enjoy these books. Very nice collection of short stories that has something for everyone. Of course, some may be better than others, but that is the great thing about collections. A variety of writing.. My favorite: The Facts In the Case of my Sister. Creepy!!! Thanks to NetGalley, the authors and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

This book is a compilation of short stories that are creepy, creative, and leave you wanting to read more. I finished this in one setting, I was that hooked. I was not familiar with any of the authors before, but I will be looking for other books by them now. Well written, interesting storylines, creepy, and fun to read. Perfect for October!!

I love to sample different authors' works, and this is a perfect way to do that and get into the Halloween spirit at the same time. I appreciate a great cover too ;)

MR. DARK'S CARNIVAL: My first thought, after finishing this, was that it would be perfect for retelling around a bonfire. Deliciously creepy rather than gory or horrific. Loved it. Some will probably buy just because they sampled this. It takes up a hefty 34% of the book. 5 stars

THE FACTS IN THE CASE: Both chilling and heartbreaking. I do wish it had been a little longer, so we could have had a bit more detail. This only took about 10 minutes to read. 4 stars

MISCHIEF NIGHT: My least favorite. It's not scary or creepy, and frankly, it's not much of a story. The main thing it has going for it is Newstein's gift for turning an elegant phrase: "red-netted eyes," "using Nolan as an emotional tug toy." 2.5 stars for the writing

THE GHOST MAKER: Didn't like this gangster story. To me it didn't really belong in a Halloween collection, as the connection is thin and doesn't even appear until the end. 1.5 stars

THE PUMPKIN BOY: A bizarre, farfetched, crime story with a slightly fantastical element. Not one of my favorites, but undeniably well-written. One of the longer stories, it takes up another third of the book. 3 stars

Clickable links at the front take you right to each story, which is useful. There were two pretty outstanding stories out of the five (just my opinion). Since the collection costs $4.99 and it's not that lengthy, I'd wait for a sale or it to show up on KU.

*ARC via netgalley*

"Mr. Dark's Carnival" actually has a carnival like the title of the series, but it takes quite some time before we get to see it. Once we do, that's where the traditional horror story kicks in and I find it much more enjoyable than the slow meandering start.

"The Facts In The Case Of My Sister" is another one that starts off a little slow, but this one hit me in the gut when I realized what had happened. Monsters come in all forms, after all, and this kind of monster is only too real and common for comfort. This would be more psychological horror than the traditional gore fest that people think of for Halloween themed stories.

"Mischief Night" and "The Ghost Maker" are creepy, but ultimately didn't leave me haunted.

"The Pumpkin Boy," however, absolutely had me hooked from the start. Boys in a small town go missing, and the police officers looking for them are haunted by past cases. The story is creepy, the boys sympathetic, and the surreal nature of the pumpkin boy is the kind of image that can keep you up at night.

Overall, this is a creepy collection of stories, but not likely to cause nightmares after reading them.

‘Twas the night before Halloween and this reviewer finally got around to posting her review on Halloween Carnival Volume 2. Just in time for the spookiest day of the year.

This short story collection is comprised of five short stories:

Mr Dark’s Carnival is by Glen Hirshberg. It’s about a man, David, in search of the town’s long fabled Halloween carnival. When he finds it, it’s more of a scare than he’s bargaining for. This one was slow to get started, dragging out way too much backstory for a short story, but the twist at the end is well worth it. This was my favorite out of all of them.

The Facts in the Case of My Sister is by Lee Thomas. This one tells the story about a man, another David, and his sister. At a young age, David dabbled in magic and is seeing the consequences now that he is older. This story was not as creepy but the ending was slightly jarring. I’m not a huge fan of endings that make you say “Huh?” because it feels like a cheap trick when the rest of the story wasn’t as engaging.

Mischief Night is by Holly Newstein. This one is about Devil’s night, pranking kids, and an alcoholic. And it’s not Devil’s night unless someone dies, right? I wasn’t a fan of this story. Even though the timeline is based around Halloween, the vibes of the story are more from a morals standpoint rather than a fun scare. Again, the story focused too much on backstory rather than driving the here and now of the plot.

The Ghost Maker by is Del James. It’s basically about a mob hit man, where even on Halloween you’ve got to be on guard or risk swimming with the fishes. This was a fun read. The narrator is the real champ of the story, mostly because the writing has a good voice.

Finally, The Pumpkin Boy is by Al Sarrantonio. Written as more of a novella than a short story, the Halloween vibes are back in this story. There’s a creepy pumpkin boy, a disappearance, and a mystery to solve. This story was a bit longer than the rest and had more “meat on it’s bones.” While not my favorite, this one definitely wrapped up the collection with its spooks.

These stories are mostly chalk full of murder, gore, and horror, all revolving around All Hallows Eve. If you’re looking for short, spooky reads, this collection is right up your alley.

3/5 Stars.

I received a free e-ARC of Halloween Carnival Volume 2 from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4 Stars!

Richard Chizmar and Brian James Freeman may be the best editing duo in dark horror today. The Dark Screams series has become must-read fiction for horror fans and their new series, Halloween Carnival, seems destined for the same fate. After a very strong first book in the series, the duo return with Halloween Carnival: Volume 2 promising more thrills and scare in the short, holiday-themed collection of short stories.

The second volume kicks off with “Mr. Dark’s Carnival” by Glen Hirschberg. People do not just celebrate Halloween in Clarkson, Montana. They do not even obsess about it. It has become the focal point of the town’s existence. A historian has made it his mission in life to uncover the secret of the dark force behind the town’s Halloween celebration, the legendary Mr. Dark. Unfortunately, he is going to find out the Mr. Dark is more than just a legend and getting too close to the truth can be deadly. Hirshberg presents a well-written take on a Halloween curse that continues to the modern world from an ancient path. This dark story packs a serious punch as it comes to its conclusion and is a strong four-star start to the collection.

“The Facts in the Case of my Sister” by Lee Thomas was the second story of the book. This story tells the tale of a man who is thinking back on life at his sister’s deathbed. While the two were estranged, they have now come together for the occasion of her death and use that as a looking glass on their life. This is very good stuff as Thomas takes a trip into the dark side of the human mind. Thomas has become one of the premier writers of dark fiction that explores the evil that lies in the human mind and this story is another testament to his talent. This story is haunting through the human monsters that inhabit even though there is no hint of the supernatural here. Thomas keeps the book rolling along into the darkness with another four-star story.

Holly Newstein’s “Mischief Night” is the third story in the book and comes with a bit of a change of pace. The night before Halloween was a big a holiday as Halloween in Pennsylvania. It is a night for the young to play harmless pranks on those they wish to get petty revenge on. When a group of teens decide to play a prank on the vice principal, things take a very dark turn that leads one of them on a twisted adventure of life and death. I am not really sure that I would classify this story as horror but it did have a definite dark aspect to it. This was the weakest story in the collection but still an interesting read worthy of a three-star rating.

“The Ghost Maker” by Del James is up next and the story is more than up to the task. A hit man for the mob cannot help but be suspicious of everything. This suspicion can often be the only difference between life and death. He had always hated Halloween for one simple reason: You never knew who was knocking at your door. It could be a child dressed as the grim reaper seeking candy or it could be death itself. “The Ghost Maker” is an interesting story but one that never seemed to come full circle for me. Del James peaked my interest at the beginning of the tale but was never able to bring the story fully to life for me. Overall, this was an interesting three-star read that I feel could have been more.

Al Sarrantonio finishes the anthology with “The Pumpkin Boy.” Halloween had always been a night full of terror for the small town. The holiday took its tool every year as another child vanished. To go into the woods on that night was death or worse. One child would disappear every year and the small town would move along as if nothing had happened. That was the way the boy, now a man, remembered Halloween. Unfortunately for him, he is going to find out that memories may be false to hide a much darker secret better left forgotten. Fans of Sarrantonio will not be surprised at just how good this story is and new fans will be thrilled. I have read several stories by the author in the past and I was still surprised by the ending to this one. This was a great read and the best story of the book to close it out.

The Halloween Carnival series is proving to be as good as the Dark Screams series has been. Horror fans can only hope that there is more to come this series than the scheduled five books as this short collection series, much like the Dark Screams series, has become required reads for fans of short stories.


I would like to thank Random House Hydra and NetGalley for this review copy. Halloween Carnival: Volume 2 is available now.