Welcome to Litsy!

I was aiming to finish this by Epiphany, but I want a day over 🤷😜
As anthologies go, this is one of the better ones I've read recently. There were some very intense, very creative entries, and I enjoyed the author's notes after each. The only ones I didn't enjoy much were more about the theme (food and erotica)(not the same story) than the writing. I especially enjoyed Josh Malerman's story.

Christmas and Other Horrors, ed. Ellen Datlow (2023)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Premise: An anthology of horror stories engaging with the darker traditions of the the Winter holidays

Review: As with most anthologies, this was very uneven, but it contains some great stories. And I really appreciated how it brought in so many different holiday traditions, from Christmas to Festivus to Kwanzaa to Theophany. ⬇️

The old pagan traditions and lore of the winter solstice are a lot like Halloween, and I love them! I never do well with anthologies—I only ever end up liking a few stories in the collection. There were a few good ones here. Sadly, Krampus is not in the book. My favorite was ‘Cold‘ by Cassandra Khaw.

The majority of the stories were good. Spooky, creepy and made me slightly uncomfortable. Loved it!

For the rest of my review, visit my Vlog at:

https://youtube.com/shorts/Rhqi0dhquZE?feature=share

Enjoy!

This is a lovely assortment of creepy holiday stories, sort of like the seasonal ghost story version of a Whitman's Sampler (which used to capture my imagination as a child, with its little map and exotic-sounding candy names). I feel like there's a little bit for everyone here. My favorites at the moment are the stories by Christopher Golden and Kaaron Warren, but each story in the collection holds its own. (No icky orange creams.)

I felt well enough yesterday to lead my offspring in finally constructing and decorating gingerbread houses. We still don't know what I have (not covid, not pneumonia), but there's incremental improvement each day. It's really messing up all of our fancy plans for the holiday break. At least I have energy for some low-key fun stuff...and reading!

Thank you @Avanders I love it all!!! Can't wait to read the books, light the candle, eat all the snacks and have a delicious cup of one of my favorite coffees! I love Dunkin peppermint coffee! And thanks for all the knickknacks! @WildAlaskaBibliophile #Naughtylistholidayswap

Camille is working hard to help me continue recovering from this illness that's still holding on rather more tightly than I'd prefer it to. She stays by me all night, even with all of my coughing and tossing and turning. I'm feeling incrementally better each day. It's slow, but it's progress. At least I have lots to read---and kitty snuggles, of course.

The chocolate with almond disappeared already 😳😋 chocolate 🍫🤣 It was delicious Love the book😍👌Thank you so much @alexus_sb

#JolabokaflodSwap24 @MaleficenBookDragon

This was a very mixed bag. A lot of so-so stories, with just a couple stand-outs. My favorites were by Tananarieve Due, Christopher Golden & Stephen Graham Jones. 3⭐️
#bookspin done!

Like a lot of short story collections some stories were good and some…not so much. A few were quite unique but to be honest most of them just didn‘t really capture my attention. It definitely counts as something different for Christmas reading so that‘s a plus in my book! 🌟🌟🌟

1. Making pumpkin pie at least twice (Thanksgiving and my birthday), lasagna for Christmas dinner, tidepooling, seeing light displays (professional and amateur).

2. Tagged, but really all of them. I'm just looking forward to reading!

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

I couldn't help it, I just had to make myself another holiday horror aesthetic. 😁 #naughtylistholidayswap #NLHS

Matches are sent—time to share your horrific holiday aesthetic! Post images, fave movies or lore to inspire your secret match while they shop.

I‘m into Krampus, ghost stories & holiday horror like Gremlins & Violent Night. I also love cute movies with a creepy edge, like The Grinch (loneliness & redemption) & Rudolph (bullying, societal pressure, & harsh parenting). What inspires your delightfully dreadful holiday style? #naughtylistholidayswap

This Christmas horror anthology looks good!

#Aboutabook
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

Yay! A new “winter solstice” anthology. We read this for book club and I was happy it was a pretty solid collection with a good range of what can make up this sub-genre. The writers that I thought nailed the assignment were the ones that did something relatively simple very well. There were a few duds (and no Krampus, even though he‘s on the cover!!), but overall I thought it was a solid collection! Check it out.

#WGDPC #WhiteorSilver
#StayCurious #Clwojick

For those who like to read horror and ghost stories around Christmas, the tagged is an excellent anthology. The lineup of authors is awesome, and Ellen Datlow is a great editor.
@Alldebooks @TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit @Jenniferw88

Like most short story anthologies, this collection runs the gamut between great and awful. Some of these are terrifying creature tales, some are more noir, and others are more tedious lit-fic. I had hoped for more Yule folklore terror.

#WPC #White
#RestingGrinchFace

I love anthologies edited by Ellen Datlow. She knows how to put together an enjoyable reading experience. The horror found within ran the gamut from gory to more cerebral. 5 stars. Whopping 5,160 Word Search.
#Adventathon @BookmarkTavern
#AtoZ @Texreader
#Candyland @Catsandbooks
#PromptMaze @TheAromaofBooks
#BookSpin
#Rushathon @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#ScaryChristmas @Patchshank
#WinterCosy @PuddleJumper
@Julsmarshall #RestingGrinchFace

My book might seem a little out of sorts for the #HyggeHourReadathon, but I‘m enjoying it. I have on my festive and comfy leggings.
@Alldebooks @TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit @Jenniferw88

Taking a break from Christmas horror drabbles and reading this book of short stories.

#WinerGamesDailyPictureChallenge #Holidays
@Clwojick @StayCurious
#RestingGrinchFace

#DecemberDreams #WhiteStack
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Julsmarshall #RestingGrinchFace

Picked up my library hold today. I‘m ridiculously excited about it. 🎄💀🎄

So this arrived today. Because I am the Grinch

Scheduled for pub 10-24-23.
Sounds terrific & what a cover!