Haunted Nights is an anthology of Halloween and autumnal horror stories edited by Lisa Morton and Ellen Datlow. It’s an absolute monster of anthology with a bumper 16 stories to read. There are ghosts, monsters and revenge abound.
“With Graveyard Weeds and Wolfbane Seeds” by Seanan McGuire was a great haunted house and urban legend tale. Mary is looking forward to Halloween and so is Emily and her friends but for different reasons.
“Dirtmouth” by Stephen Graham Jones” is scary and horrific. The loss of a loved one can badly affect the choices you make and love for your family transcends even death.
“A Small Taste of the Old Country” by Jonathan Maberry was a great horror revenge story with both the supernatural and the horror of human nature.
“Wick’s End” by Joanna Parypinski contains horror stories within horror stories. This is a revisiting of an old Halloween tale, where the devil takes his due.
“The Seventeen Year Itch” by Garth Nix is a strange story of madness and friendship. Friendship you wish you hadn’t made and an horror within.
“A Flicker of Light on Devil’s Night” by Kate Jonez is a story about the hardship of parenting with a horrific choice made.
“Witch-Hazel” by Jeffrey Ford is a fantastic revenge supernatural story based in 1853.
“Nos Galen Gaeaf” by Kelley Armstrong. It was great to come across a Kelley Armstrong short story based in the Cainsville world because I am currently reading “Rituals” based in that very same. Lance plans to teach Seanna a lesson on Halloween night. In Cainsville, they follow the old ways. I also recommend trying the Cainsville series of books.
“We’re Never Inviting Amber Again” by S. P. Miskowski is another great story about human nature and the nature of belief of the supernatural, based on one persons perceptions of another.
“Sisters” by Brian Evenson. A strange story featuring visitors celebrating the holiday in a strange world.
“All Through the Night” by Elise Forier Edie is a story about one Halloween night and the fight for the life of a child when you think the fey and spirits are conspiring against you. It is a story of the old beliefs in the new world.
“A Kingdom of Sugar Skulls and Marigolds” by Eric J. Guignard is a story of calling your ancestors and regrets. It is an original and fantastic story.
“The Turn” by Paul Kane. Don’t look behind you, you never know what you’ll see.
“Jack” by Pat Cadigan another Jack O’ Lantern retelling and the role of witches in keeping the balance.
“Lost in the Dark” by John Langan a found footage style story about the inspiration of a horror movie.
“The First Lunar Halloween” by John R. Little. Humans are trying to make a new life on the moon but bringing back the old holiday of Halloween. But is there something out there in the dark?
5 out of 5. This anthology is full of well written, solid spooky stories that would keep you occupied for much of those cold October nights. While not every single story was my cup of tea, there is certainly something for everyone looking for some spooky tales. Going back through the stories to remind myself, I was impressed with how much I loved most of them. The stories were original and from some excellent authors.
Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for an eARC for an honest review.
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