This started so strong for me. 1980s setting, going all out for Halloween, spook factor...here for it.
But ever since having kids, I can't handle anything that deals with people preying on kids without it being too triggering for me.

The last bit felt like a slasher film, which had its fun, but overall this one wasn't a homerun for me, but I do think a lot of people would like it!

I think teens and fans of horror would love this one!

Sometimes you come across a novel by a well established author and you think to yourself how on earth did this guy get published?!?! That is me with this book and Christopher Golden. I hate to be harsh but I'm always honest. You've been warned.

"All Hallows" unfolds on Halloween night in 1984, in Coventry, Massachusetts, with two families unraveling amidst secrets and eerie occurrences. As the tale weaves through the trick-or-treaters, four mysterious children appear, seeking refuge from The Cunning Man. However, the book's potential is marred by a lack of character development and a disjointed narrative.

The novel, unfortunately, falls short in allowing readers to connect with and understand the characters. It's only towards the very end that a glimpse of their personalities is offered, but by then, it feels too late to form a meaningful attachment. The narrative feels chaotic and disjointed throughout, leaving uncertainty about whether this was intentional to serve the plot's pacing. However, this aspect doesn't seem robust enough to lend purpose to the disjointed feel of the storytelling.

While the premise holds promise with its Halloween night setting and the mysterious arrival of the children, the execution falters in providing a cohesive and engaging narrative. "All Hallows" struggles to establish a strong connection with its characters, hindering the overall impact of the story. As a reader, the lack of a solid foundation for character relationships and development left the unraveling of events feeling less impactful than it could have been.

There is no better Halloween than Halloween in the 80s, end of story. This book used that nostalgia and makes it so much more. I was all in on the vibes in this one.

Thank you #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

I had high hopes for this book as the reviews were great but i couldnt get into the story. Sadly i couldnt finish.

On Halloween night in 1984, in the quiet town of Coventry, Massachusetts, two families are coming undone. As the night unfolds, chilling secrets are exposed up and down Parmenter Road. Amidst the trick-or-treaters of all ages, four mysterious children, dressed in vintage costumes with faded, unsettling makeup, wander door to door, seamlessly blending in with the local kids. These displaced children appear to be in distress, seeking refuge from a sinister figure known as The Cunning Man. A strange clearing in the woods and an out-of-place blackthorn tree add to the eerie atmosphere. They implore the neighborhood kids to protect them from the impending threat of The Cunning Man, who they believe is closing in on them.

As the families on Parmenter Road struggle with their own internal turmoil and tensions, who will ultimately step up to save the enigmatic children from the clutches of The Cunning Man? The narrative initially unfolds at a measured pace, allowing readers to get acquainted with both the children and the adults, delving into the challenges they face in their lives. All Hallows is a truly engrossing novel that maintains a subtle undercurrent of creepiness. While it remains mostly restrained, there are a few chapters that deliver spine-tingling moments. Notably, the writing in this book is superb, and it left me deeply impressed. I highly recommend this book for those who appreciate a well-crafted and haunting story.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this is the best book i've read in a long time! i was not expecting this to be one of my favorite reads but here we are!

it's very slow (in the best way). not a whole lot of spooky things even start to happen until around the half way mark. but i was still fully engaged because i loved the set up of small town secrets being revealed on Halloween night, and the characters were great. plus the audio book was fantastic.

i hope someone makes this into a mini series!

‘Tis the time of year where the leaves change color, I bake red velvet skull cakes, and read gruesome horror by candle light.

Eek! ‘All Hallows’ by Christopher Golden! What a cozy book to curl up with.

▪️Halloween Night, 1984, Massachusetts.
Up and down the road horrifying secrets are being revealed and families are spiraling out of control. Creepy children are found running away from a creature they call ‘The Cunning Man’ and the adults are too busy drinking and having affairs to help them. Of course there’s a haunted woods, mayhem, and death. That’s the gist. Lol

The first half of this book was basically neighborhood drama and in the second half $h!t hit the fan! Was this the same book?! No one was safe from The Cunning Man. Because of this, it felt like too separate stories… not super cohesive.

Thank you to @netgalley for this digital copy! Liked the story enough but LOVE THAT COVER. There I go, judging again.

Q. Do you like haunted houses? My favorite haunted house (if you consider it that) is Zak Bagan’s Haunted Museum in Las Vagas. I LOVED IT AND I NEED TO GO BACK. I hear he has acquired some new items!!

🖤🎃👻

All Hallows is the perfect October read. (Why was this book published in January?) It follows a neighborhood of families on Halloween night. There are adults dealing with adult troubles - financial struggles, cheating, drinking. There are also teens dealing with friendships and relationships, and there are children excited to trick or treat with their friends. Mixed in with all of these people are four children in vintage costumes who are trying to hide from the cunning man.

This book starts out great introducing us to the various families and their plans for Halloween night. Then the pace picks up as everyone begins their Halloween night plans and the real horror starts.

This book was the perfect atmospheric read to get you in the mood for spooky season.

I’m definitely more of a ‘Scream’ or ‘Halloween’ horror person, the ones where it’s real people terrorizing a small town BUT as one of my first paranormal horror books, I really enjoyed this! I did decide to saving it for spooky season, because I knew I’d enjoy it most then and I was right! Since it all takes place on Halloween night and has creep kids dressed up and the cunning man (who sounds like a scarecrow type with candles for eyes) is running around.. it definitely brings the right spooky vibes to the Halloween season.

This didn’t scare me that much or give me any thrills, which is why I gave it three stars but I still think overall, it’s the perfect vibe for this time of year!

The story had some good aspects of horror and tension but at times it felt like it wasn't sure what genre it was trying to be.


Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed within this review are my own.

I wanted to like this book but it didn't work for me. The main problem is the amount of POV's. I got lost trying to keep up with who was who and what was going on with them. There were some creepy moments though and feel that it could be better with some extra editing.

I loved the timing of the novel however, it moved very slow. It also seemed almost juvenile with all of the characters being unbelievable in their ages. There were good horror moments but it was lost in the pages with too much detailing of mundane things.

All Hallows is the perfect read for the upcoming spooky season. Halloween night of 1984, say no more. Books set in the 80s are a favorite and bring on some neighborhood drama, I am here for it. This book released early January and while I really enjoyed it, I think waiting until the cool crisp October evenings would make it even better.

All Hallows follows A LOT of people in a neighborhood in a Massachusetts town. The number of characters really worked against this story. There were so many that I found it hard to remember who was who and what was going on with each one. I actually had to write down all of the characters and notes about them so I could remember who they were, even though their lives are intertwined with one another’s. There were definitely characters I liked following more than others, but overall having the perspective change so frequently made me feel detached from the story.

This book is classified as a horror novel, however, it reads more like a domestic drama. The focus of the book really revolves around the lives and relationships of one neighborhood. There are random, creepy children in vintage Halloween costumes thrown in to help the horror plotline ahead, but there is very little horror in the book. It was a SUPER slow burn and didn’t get into the horror portion until the last 1/4 of the book. Unfortunately, the horror portion wasn’t scary and I found it kind of boring. I almost would have preferred it just stayed a drama to stay consistent. The horror piece just felt thrown together at the last minute.

The nostalgia vibes were on point and the writing itself was good. I did feel that some aspects of the story were slightly reminiscent of Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky, but that may have just been a connection I made in my mind. Overall, I didn’t really enjoy this book and probably wouldn’t recommend it. I will say, however, that I’m definitely willing to give Christopher Golden another shot in the future.

<i>All Hallows</i> comps itself to <i>Stranger Things</i>, but I have to say this reminded me more of <i>Fear Street: 1994</i> mixed with a neighborhood drama. It's got complex relationship dynamics, queer romance, and of course, especially towards the end, gore and death.

I think if you go into this book knowing it's a slow burn horror that focuses more on character and relationships, you'll really enjoy it! The bulk of the reveals and horror come during the final act of the book, and I have to say it was satisfying to watch the action rollout. I wish we would've learned more about the origins of some of the horrors, but I really enjoyed what we did get.

Definitely a good read for fall and, specifically, Halloween Night!

Fantastic seasonal read. I love that it takes place on Halloween night and harkens back to those nostalgic Halloweens of my youth, watching Michael Myers stalk babysitters and scaring the crap out of myself with those movies! This one is just plain spooky and I liked the supernatural elements as well. I did find the number of children as victims pretty disturbing, but it reminded me a LOT of Stephen King. A great spooky season read.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an ARC Z IN EXCHANGE FOR a review.

Anyway, I love Golden's writing and this is no exception. The dread just builds and builds and I have to say I finished this book in a day. Golden is slowly becoming a must-buy author for me. I recommend.

This was a solid horror but nowhere near my favorite. I kept expecting twists and I felt like I was let down quite a bit.

This is a spooky read that would be perfect to read around Halloween time! It was creepy and atmospheric and keeps the reader on the edge of their seats. With the upcoming spooky season, this one will be one to check out for sure for any horror lover! 3.5/5 stars, rounding up to 4 on Goodreads.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Christopher Golden for providing me with this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.