Haunted Nights is a collection of sixteen short stories of horror, each one connected to Halloween. Edited by Ellen Datlow and Lisa Morton, the stories are written by well known authors such as Kelley Armstrong, Garth Nix and Stephen Graham Jones.

The connection to Halloween was very different for each story so along with scheming jack-o’-lanterns, strange changelings, scary masks that aren’t near as frightening as what they are covering, there are also stories about trick or treating in the future and horrifying urban legends. For me, as with all short story collections, some worked better than others, but all in all, this was an excellent Halloween treat filled with striking images and plenty of chills. ( )

FYI review - Table of Contents:
-With Graveyard Weeds and Wolfsbane Seeds by Seanan McGuire
-Dirtmouth by Stephen Graham Jones
-A Small Taste of the Old Country by Jonathan Maberry
-Wick’s End by Joanna Parypinski
-The Seventeen-Year Itch by Garth Nix
-A Flicker of Light on Devil’s Night by Kate Jonez
-Witch Hazel by Jeffrey Ford
-Nos Galan Gaeaf by Kelley Armstrong
-We’re Never Inviting Amber Again by S. P. Miskowski
-Sisters by Brian Evenson
-All Through the Night by Elise Forier Edie
-A Kingdom of Sugar Skulls and Marigolds by Eric J. Guignard
-The Turn by Paul Kane
-Jack by Pat Cadigan
-Lost in the Dark by John Langan
-The First Lunar Halloween by John R. Little

This anthology by the horror writers association was a mixed trick or treat bag of goodies for all fans of short horror fiction and of course Halloween. A couple of the stories leaned more towards sci-fi and although that's just not my thing I still enjoyed this book.

The stories that really stood out for me were With Graveyard Weeds and Wolfbane Seeds by Seanan McGuire about an old abandoned house that never seems to fall into disrepair and some teen vandals who intend to break in.

Dirtmouth by Stephen Graham Jones in which a man who is grieving the loss of his wife plans a get away with his children over Halloween, the one night of year when anything is possible.

A Small Taste of the Old Country by Jonathan Maberry concerns two men who are treated to a most delicious and well deserved meal.

Wick’s End by Joanna Parypinski Two strangers in a tavern tell each other scary stories in a competition where the stakes are higher than they appear to be.

The only story that really scared me was We’re Never Inviting Amber Again by S. P. Miskowski A man regrets inviting his quirky sister-in-law to his Halloween party, she always ruins everything but this night is really hell on his guests!

A Flicker of Light on Devil’s Night by Kate Jonez What's a poor single mother to do when she's lost control of her children and Halloween is coming?

All Through the Night by Elise Forier Edie is a hauntingly tragic tale of a destitute widowed mother trying to make a life for herself and her baby when she meets a strange man in a tavern who might not be human.

I received an advance copy for review. ( )

Favorites from the book:
- We're Never Inviting Amber Again- by S.P. Miskowski 4*
- The Turn- by Paul Kane narrated by Michael Kramer 5*. The narrator made a good story even better.
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I had searched the library catalog for audiobooks by Jeffrey Ford. This collection came up. great :) I'm really only here for that story but will give the others a chance.

- Intro by Lisa Morton was great. History of Halloween. Credits USA to current celebration and I forgot about the Irish influence. Turnip carvings ---> pumpkin carvings.

- With Graveyard Weeds and Wolfbane Seeds- by Seanan McGuire 1*
ugh I restored my review from backup but my spoiler/reminder notes were eaten in the process.

- Dirtmouth- by Stephen Graham Jones 2*
The narrator of the story is talking to the police after the disappearance of his very small children.

- A Small Taste of the Old Country- by Jonathan Maberry DNF
I tried really hard but had to quit. A baker from the old country is luring some men to his home to have a traditional meal because all his people are dead and he just wants to share the good foods of his heritage. But the lure has to be for sinister reasons but it's way too long of a build up without any reader rewards along the way except weak anticipation...

-Wick's End- by Joanna Parypinski DNF
The "Irish accent" of the audiobook narrator may have been a deterrent because I couldn't hang too long with this one either. (sorry ancestors) A male character says his light is running low (maybe he said fading) and needs to find a mark. He finds a female character in a bar with really black eyes (not human?) and they have a scary story contest. They will each tell a scary story and the winner buys the drink round. I heard her story and he started his and I quit. something about an ancient coin. He used an ancient coin for the who-goes-first coin toss *yawn*

-The Seventeen Year Itch- by Garth Nix DNF
"12 days before halloween, 10 days before halloween, 1 week before halloween...." I tapped out.

-A Flicker of Light on Devil's Night- by Kate Jonez 1*
A troubled teen keeps his poop in a jar. oh great. Done with story now. That was an absolute waste of time. Hey let's watch a struggling single mother with some children she can't care for, can't supervise and can't protect. Was that the horror? Real life? What was the flicker of light mentioned in the title? The neighbor who gave her some soup which she was grateful for because they were about to only have toast [with jelly] for dinner. No one actually ate the soup. How about the gas from the neighbor? She was going to steal it but he gave her some. The can was rusted and when she picked it up, the gas spilled out. Did she return home to die in a fire? Will skip all future stories by this author. Not clear enough for me.

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wow. all the above are fails for me. I've read reviews that say the 2nd half saved it. *fingers crossed*
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-Witch-Hazel- by Jeffrey Ford 2*
First half of story is good but the last half was meh. A historical horror story. Perhaps I listened to it in too many chunks rather than running straight through but it got choppy. Too ambiguous and disjointed.


-Nos Galen Gaeaf- by Kelley Armstrong DNF the main characters are children. Maybe MG or early HS. I don't want to hear a story with children protagonists at this time. I gave it a chance but decided to skip.

-We're Never Inviting Amber Again- by S.P. Miskowski 4*
finally what I consider a story. Husband and wife throwing Halloween party. Sister in law is always bringing the drama and the husband knows it. Hopefully the sister/wife is on board now.

-Sisters- by Brian Evenson 3*
we don't know what type of beings we are dealing with but they are trying to fit in with humans. It is Halloween and one of the 'beings' wants to trick or treat so she is trying to understand the "holiday" so the story is funny in that way. I listened on audio so I can't easily go back and find a passage but I'll paraphrase "you mean you go to a door and say - do you want me to rip your arm off and slap you with the hand or are you going to let me take a bunch of sweet treats?" The mom, says "where did you hear that, I'm not sure that is how it's done" She says "I'm improving it". If you like this story I recommend another. It's about an alien coming down to our planet and misunderstanding all he sees. It's called Lost by Leanne Frahm and I read it in Chrysalis 10

-All Through the Night- by Elise Forier Edie - started, but decided to DNF shortly after.

-A Kingdom of Sugar Skulls and Marigolds- by Eric J. Guignard 2*
Oh good another story I can follow along with. *please take my hand, tell me a story*
Clack-clack-clack
Under all the Day of the Dead window dressing is a partial story about a man being helped to make peace with his dead friend. They shared a kiss which was witnessed by a local gang.

-The Turn- by Paul Kane 5*
Loved the narrator's voice. If anyone can tell me who he is please do! ETA: I think I found him Michael Kramer ( https://www.audible.com/ep/NGHV3-Kramer Mistborn sample. That has got to be him) This was my favorite story of the book so far. Told from 2 perspectives. A man who has trained all his life in the old ways of avoiding evil. And a form of evil, doing his thing on Halloween Night. They meet up.

stole from a better review but it's perfect, I'm sorry!

On re-read... He is not a supernatural. He turned!!!

-Jack- by Pat Cadigan Started but DNF too chick-lit for me

-Lost in the Dark- by John Langan Started but DNF.
I want interesting short stories, not a really long boring short stories. Something about college professor & a student's past and present, documentaries, movies, a mine. *yawn* I decided to listen to THE TURN again instead and was not disappointed. THAT NARRATOR!!! But if you read the reviews many people call LOST IN THE DARK the only good story in the book. I'm definitely going to need a short story break after this book.

-The First Lunar Halloween- by John R. Little 3*
Has one of those classic ironic endings.

own "The Turn" audio but it has its own separate listing ( )

A collection of short stories published by Blumhouse Books, part of Blumhouse Productions.
Here are stories that feature traditional horror tropes, such as the haunted house or secluded cabin, but each story has an unexpected twist that brings a freshness and true creepiness. These are character driven stories rather than gory, in fact there's little blood. All the stories have at least a part that takes place on Halloween.
In "We're Never Inviting Amber Again" by S.P. Miskowski, a jerk who hates his sister-in-law is given proof that she isn't just an attention-seeking weirdo. In "The Seventeen Year Itch" by Garth Nix, the long-time employees of a psych ward try to convince a new doctor that they need to take special precautions on Halloween with a certain patient.
Well-chosen, well-written and highly recommended. ( )