Fright Before Christmas: 13 Tales of Holiday Horrors

Bah Humbug.Don't take that wrong. I love Christmas. But I also love Halloween and horror stories. And all that treacle and sweetness agitates my Diabetes. I'm not alone in this . In fact I have pretty good company in Charles Dickens whose A Christmas Carol is unapologetically a ghost storyd was probably fairly horrifying to the Victorian set.Fright Before Christmas: 13 Tales of Holiday Horrors is in that tradition even though most of the stories do not have the positive ending that Dickens settl [...]

My Review: I was going to sit and write a short review for all 13 stories in the book but after reading it I realized that the stories are rather short and I would give to much away so I will review this as a whole instead. Well, I will be skipping Christmas this year…just kidding…I still love Christmas even though this book pretty much scared the stockings right off my fireplace. This was 13 pretty creepy stories and how they were written gave you just enough to creep you out and the end of [...]

Christmas, a time for Nativity Scenes, baby Jesus, Christmas trees, Santa, reindeer, gifts and magic and spells. Wait! Wait! Magic? Spells? What kind of Christmas are we talking about here?The anthology FRIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS may be talking about Santa, but not the Santa one normally pictures. The reader may be looking at coal in a boy’s stocking because he was naughty. Aw, Santa wouldn’t do that, would he? Or is it even coal? And usually the snow men we read about in most books remind us o [...]

Oh was this ever a treat to read! It seems geared for a younger group of people perhaps middle school but it is so very good that anyone should enjoy reading it. The title says it all. We think of Christmas as warm and cuddly sitting by a fire with hot chocolate and love all around but we forget that there can be another side to Christmas (think A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens). Every story is completely original and well written and I was so tempted to to let my kids read a few of them but [...]

After reading this book, I am not sure how to rate it. There are 13 pretty good scary stories, culled from legends, hearsay, stories people have been told or just plain gold old imagination, which are similar to the Goosebumps! books. I enjoyed reading them, but I am not sure I will look at Christmas the same way again. The stories tell tales of snowmen who come to life, a smelly spirit who visits, a devil who comes in the guise (sort of) of Father Christmas, and Jack Frost, to name a few. The s [...]

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.Fright Before Christmas contains 13 stories that twist Christmas traditions into spooky nightmares for middle grade readers.The stories themselves are very creative and very short and contain both twists on classic tales and new concepts. There are a variety of monsters [...]

Did you think Christmas was the most wonderful time of the year? Think again. Fright Before Christmas is a collection of stories from thirteen authors that show that Christmas may be the scariest time of the year. Evil Santas, menacing nutcrackers, and sinister snowmen will have readers hiding under their blankets.This is not a book for young readers. There are no cute ghost stories here. It's all about blood, gore, and horror. If you're looking for an edgy holiday read, this is it. Recommended [...]

I discovered this book on Net Galley the other night and was so intrigued I decided to purchase it through ; I'm very glad that I did. I thoroughly enjoyed every story and recommended it to several friends and the members of my book club. Five frightening and spooky stars. ☠

Audible:This was a 'fun' read in a frightful way.Darren Marlar was a fine narrator for the material.There are horrors,even at holiday time.I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”

Great group of stories! “The Stench of Christmas” by Lea Story – An ancestor leaves a gruesome Christmas Eve legacy. Loved the Nova Scotia setting, and I liked how much of the creepiness was off-screen, allowing the reader's imagination to fill in the blanks. Some things are scarier in your mind than on the page.“Clockwork Christmas” by Richard Ankers – A clockwork Santa delivers a girl's gifts, and she finally gets what she's always wanted. I don't read a lot of steampunk, so I can' [...]

Pretty Intense - These are Definitely Horror, not Funsy Ghosty, StoriesThe foreward to this book reminds the reader that Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is, after all, a ghost story. That kind of intro always suggests to me that we are in for a bit of Christmas themed Victorian bump-in-the-night whimsy. Not so.The body count builds up fairly quickly as you read through this anthology. SPOILER EXAMPLES. When naughty boys get "white coal" in their stockings, it is a bit bracing to discover that this [...]

Familiar holiday tales of wonder and awe, wrapped in spooky, creepy, and mysterious packages.The collection of stories are tweaked just enough with the odd and eerie to put a new spin on beloved Christmas elements. One story will make you think twice about the true meaning of Santa's Naughty list, while another will convince you to buy an artificial tree for your living room next year.A few tales tell of gory fates, nothing too descriptive or visual, but will leave the imagination of some reader [...]

A group of talented authors have compiled 13 amazing tales to give you a different perspective on holiday stories this seasonIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS: 13 Tales of Holiday Horrors will have you smiling just before you lose your breath when a twist throws you off ground.Each author has masterfully penned a tale relating to the Christmas holiday, but with a naughty twist. These tantalizing tales include such stories as: Machette Santa by Medeia Sharif, North Pole Coal by Patrick Hueller, Frosted by Al [...]

Okay, so if you're looking for something to stir up some warm fuzzy Christmas feelings, you'd better go watch one of those old schmaltzy movies we all know and love, because you sure aren't gonna find them in any of these stories. Not unless the idea of a machete-wielding Santa or an ultra-creepy nutcracker with homicidal tendencies gives you a warm holiday glow, that is. Nope, the warmest thing in these stories is the blood oozing out of bodies. But what can I say? Each of these stories is ente [...]

How did I spend my free time over the Christmas holiday? Sneaking in story after story from Fright Before Christmas. From Big Foot to Santa, and even a nutso Nutcracker, this collection has a lot going for it. Some of the stories are creepy fun, and some are creepy make-you-think long after you turn the page.I would recommend this collection for any middle grade reader who enjoys, and can handle, a good scare. I would also recommend this to the young adult and adult readers who want a fun escape [...]

I found this collection a good read as well as a good scare. Some you thought about even after reading the last page. The stories are short but give all the information that is needed. From looking for Bigfoot or a video game who brings an evil Santa, or a bad boy getting a visit from Krampus. Also a boy getting coal in his stocking that was a better gift then some got. Also a music teacher brings a spirit into existence, to a haunted house and a boy. Then an ancestor who caused a not so enjoyab [...]

Fright Before Christmas: 13 Tales of Holiday Horrors has 13 great horror stories with a Christmas theme. While I was reading these stories, I couldn't help but think that many of them represented a child's worst nightmares. My favorites were Medeia Sharif's story, about a video game that evokes a very evil Santa, Ally Matthews' story about two brothers who venture into the cold forest to test out a legend, and Patrick Hueller's story about a little boy who gets coal in his stockingd learns he's [...]

A collection of tiny and twisted taleslled with terror!They are short and pack a punch!Stories include the following: a "fleshy" debt; vindictive snowmen on a murderous mission; an eerie clockwork man; an antique book and evil Christmas carol; a sinister scarf that takes on a life of its own; hundreds of evil crows; a machete-wielding Santa; a demon-possessed nutcracker, and many more, that will push your imagination into overdrive and have you quaking in your boots! *shudders*Great entertainmen [...]

What a fun bunch of spooky stories. Frights range from subtle eeriness to outright scares. Each of the 13 stories is short and well-written, and middle-graders and older will likely get a kick out of them. Three tales stood out above the others. Full review posts 12/4/15 on Hall Ways kristinehallways/Thank you to Leap Books for providing me an eBook copy in exchange for my honest opinion -- the only kind I give.

I received this book via LibraryThing as part of their monthly Early Reviewer program.The anthology is aimed at Middle grade readers. Each of the short stories are quick, uncomplicated reads which deliver a darker side to the typically upbeat Christmas. They all pack a punch as they close their story and are very entertaining. A perfect reminder that frights should continue even at Christmas, and what you wish for may not always be what you want.

Christmas and frightening tales go together so well. This little collection of holiday frights is wonderful for the festering festive season. Seat yourself before an open fire with a warm drink and shiver with delight.

Oddly, I actually liked these. Some were better than others, as you always get in an anthology, but I really, really enjoyed this book! The stories were short, but the last sentence always stuck with you. Totally worth the time it takes to read this. 4.5 out of 5 stars.