I am a sucker for horror anthologies. It can be a great way to be introduced to new writers or to read stories in specific themes/genres. The Darkest Night collects specifically winter horror stories, which also means a lot of Christmas/NYE settings.

Horror is a favorite genre and one of my favorite settings within horror is snowy/wintry settings and vibes. Most of the stories hit their mark but unfortunately I cannot say that every story hits it out of the park. I was also surprised that of the authors who contributed that I'm familiar with (maybe half), I didn't find a lot of favorites!

With 22 stories, I'm going to focus on my favorites and a couple duds. Any I don't mention are perfectly fine and good.

Favorites:

The Body of Leonora James by Stephanie M. Wytovich - the best story in the collection, in my opinion. A strong and scary horror short about a witch. Very evocative and atmospheric. I was left very impressed with Wytovich as a writer by the end and look forward to reading more from her. I would love this as a novel.

Mr Butler by Clay McLeod Chapman - a horror story taking on cyclical trauma/abuse in an odd way. Honestly was torn on whether it was good or whether I liked it but it's the story that's probably stuck with me the most out of all of them for some reason.

I Hope This Finds You Well by Eric LaRocca - I'll be honest, I tried to read LaRocca in the past and failed. Almost failed with this one too because the setting and dialogue kind of confused me? They talk like Victorian times but there's cell phones and email? All very odd, but by the end it adds something. It feels like a Twilight Zone episode, where you have no idea of setting or time period, which adds to the unsettling atmosphere.

The Buried Child by M. Rickert - a lot of stories in this collection start with leading you one way and then subverts expectations with a twist. This one does that too but it's subtle? I wound up immediately re-reading it because my dum dum head didn't catch it at first lol

Threads of Epiphany by Sara Tantalinger - Successfully does what Father's Last Christmas attempted. A winter horror fairy tale that is genuinely scary. Gave me flashbacks to Baba Yaga. Chills. For some reason as I read I was imagining everything like the movie Coraline, which made it even scarier lol

Duds:

Feast of Gray by Lindy Ryan and Christopher Brooks - unfortunately comes after Mr Butler, a similar but much stronger story

Father's Last Christmas by Lee Murray - Let me start with a disclaimer that this is a good story, well written, in the style of a fairy tale. I liked it. I just don't feel like it fits the collection? Not a bit of horror. It's Game of Thrones in a couple pages, basically.

Candy Cane by Thommy Hutson - cheesy and goofy, I just didn't enjoy it. Twist could be seen coming from a mile away.

Eggnog by Kristi DeMeester - I think it's attempting something like Rachel Yoder's Nightbitch but is far more boring, unfortunately. Also no horror.

Being Nice by Jeff Strand - Another case of Feast of Gray... there's another story before this one, similarly called Nice, which is basically the same concept done better. Sorry Strand.

Overall though the stories are worth the purchase, I think. Especially if you're in the mood for something wintry.

One of the things I love about short story collections is discovering new authors and with 22 names in The Darkest Night, there was plenty of opportunity for that. There were a number of stories that didn’t really impact me and which I think I’ll have forgotten by next week, but that’s always the case with these collections. Overall, I thought the standard was really high. All of the stories were short and sharp, so I was able to fly through them. This is a perfect read for the cold winter months of the year.

My absolute favorites were “Mr. Butler” by Clay McLeod Chapman and “Father’s Last Christmas” by Lee Murray—both of these authors were new to me and I’ll definitely be checking out more of their work!

I enjoyed these horror stories. Overall the book is well written and kept me entertained. I enjoyed the length of the stories and the style in which they were written.

It's a book that will haunt you long after you've finished reading, leaving you looking over your shoulder at every creak in the night - especially if you’re by a lake. If you're a fan of horror, this is one book you won't want to miss.

A collection of holiday short stories from all the best in the game, this will put the fear in you and keep you up at night. As short stories go, don't expect backstories, character development, or even reason. These are built to scare and cause dread. For those that have heard of the old show, Tales from the Darkside, some of these were so reminiscent of that. From an evil elf to a monster in the closet, this will give you the merriest of nightmares. This one definitely left its mark. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books, for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Darkest Night.

I'm wary of short story collections but if its horror, sign me up!

The Darkest Night features short stories centered the happiest of all seasons, Christmas from some of today's popular horror and thriller writers.

Just because it's Christmas doesn't mean it can't also be horrifying!

Usually, I only like one or a few stories in a compilation but I'm happy to say there were a lot of stories I enjoyed including "Nice."

There's a little something for everyone here; from creepy to spooky to downright gory blood-soaked mayhem.

This is a great collection of stories for any horror fan or readers who enjoy Christmas themed stories that aren't...jolly.

Twenty-two short horror stories about winter and the Christmas holidays by authors including Josh Malerman (BIRDBOX) and Rachel Harrison (BLACK SHEEP).

Short story collections are always a mi Ed bag but this one was actually pretty strong overall. Some really good talent here. I was surprised, though, to see a story from the editor as one of the selections…is that a thing? Anyway, my favorites were “I Hope This Finds You Well” by Eric LaRocca (definitely my favorite thing I’ve read of his,) “Mr. Butler” by Clay McLeod Chapman, “Eggnog” by Kristi DeMeester and “Threads of Epiphany” by Sara Tantlinger. If you enjoy horror anthologies don’t miss out on this one.

4.5

This is an awesome collection of holiday horror. Again some names I’m familiar with and some names I just found. I haven’t found a story I didn’t like in this collection. Each one held its own. I will say there were a few that were just a touch above (no names here, we dont play favorites around the holidays), but overall this is one of the best collections I’ve read in a while. I’m sure to revisit during the appropriate season.

Even in the off-season, "The Darkest Night” delivers a chilling blend of holiday cheer and spine-tingling terror. Seasoned masters of horror come together in this collection, crafting a diverse blend of fear. Each story offers a unique take on the holiday season, blending the festive with the frightful and offering a fresh spin on seasonal storytelling. This anthology's strength lies in its ability to evoke a sense of dread throughout each story while maintaining the essence of Christmas spirit. "The Darkest Night” is a must-read for fans of both horror and holiday tales.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review " The Darkest Night " before its publication date.

From some of the biggest names in horror comes an Advent calendar of short stories perfect for the darkest nights of the year. Edited by award-winning author and anthologist Lindy Ryan, this horrific anthology will chill you to the bone.From New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box Josh Malerman, a story of a dark Christmas past in “Children Aren’t The Only Ones Who Know Where the Presents Are Hidden.” From national bestselling author Rachel Harrison, “Thaw,” in which a couple spends their first Christmas together in a cabin—but are they alone, or does something else watch them from the tree line? New York Times bestselling authors, Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon’s “Wintry Blue” sets an innocent child on the road with a strange and monstrous creature. Bram Stoker Award®-winning screenwriter of Netflix’s Haunting of Bly Manor and The Fall of the House of Usher, in Jamie Flanagan’s “Bruiser,” something sinister stalks the chilling hallways of a nursing home at night. Author of Such a Pretty Smile, Kristi DeMeester, tells a tale of “Eggnog” a Christmas party, an over-friendly female coworker, and an angry wife are the recipe for a deadly cocktail party. Plus stories by Nat Cassidy, Darcy Coates, Clay McLeod Chapman, Tim Waggoner, and many more, with an introduction by George C. Romero and art by renowned British horror

As the description says, this is an advent calendar of sorts. A collection of holiday horror stories by some of todays best horror and thriller authors. As in most collections like this, some stories are better than others. I did however find the general quality on most of them to be quite high and I really enjoyed reading through this one. Would highly recommend to horror fans, especially holiday horror fans like me:)