A Collection of Short Stories Review – Author Anthony Avina’s Blog

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Authors such as D.C. Gomez, S.R. Griffith and more gather to share a fun and spooky collection of supernatural meets fantasy short stories in the collection “Tales of Howloween”.

The Synopsis

A Red Moon Rises this Halloween, so heed the howls and enter a world of wonder, danger and desire. Tales of Howloween presents a thrilling collection of nine supernatural tales that will keep you guessing until the final stroke of midnight.

In “Forest Fated”, wolf shifter Cassius captures renegade mage Ariella, sparking an electric connection hinting at a prophecy older than the forest itself. As an evil wizard spreads, Cassius and Ariella must team up against all instincts.

Nature spirits Cait and Milo struggle to find their place in “A Red Moon Rises” grim future world. And when reality itself is questioned in “The Midnight Pack”, logic-seeker Avalon finds her ancestry holds secrets unlocking a world she never believed.

You will fall in love with these spellbinding romances, “Moonlit Desires” where a fated meeting awakens new possibilities. As well as “White Falls Haunt” where a magical marriage isn’t what it seems. In “Celestial Rescue” where an alien rescue leads to cosmic desires, satisfy all cravings for chills, thrills and intimate encounters.

A twisted tale of football players turned werewolves in “The Wolves” while keep you guessing, as the team seeks for easy ways to win.

The magic continues in the fun shape-shifting mystery of “For Shuck’s Sake.” Sometimes an accident will change your life.

Join the Reapers Crew in the Urban fantasy adventures “Bloodstone” as they tried to stop a cult from waking the God Set.

So stalk these pages and feel the moon’s call. Delve into a menagerie of mischief and magic under star-pricked skies. But be warned – mysteries abound in these Woods and ghosts linger beyond the last page. The howling has only just begun…

The Review

This was such a fantastic collection. The authors all found the perfect balance of spooky atmosphere for the Halloween season with the rich world-building in which fantasy genre storytelling is proficient. Each author’s powerful imagination translates perfectly into these stories, and the fast pacing and the way the tension compliments the more fun and humorous moments between the characters made this collection fun to get lost in.

While each of these stories was amazing, one story that stood out was from D.C. Gomez, an author who I have reviewed many of their books, and their story Bloodstone. The story ties into the author’s Intern Diaries series, following Bartholomew the Reaper, in an international story directly into Egyptian mythology and werewolves. As a fan of both and a fan of this series, getting to see Bartholomew rise as the protagonist of this particular tale and the back-and-forth relationship between him and Bob was so much fun and allowed the chilling nature of these wolves and their cult dedicated to Set to rise naturally.

The Verdict

A powerful collection of short stories that speak to readers of the fantasy genre in a way that makes them feel included in the Halloween season, Tales of Howloween is a must-read short story collection. The infusion of romance, supernatural thrillers, and fantasy storytelling allowed the collection to shine brightly during Halloween. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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