100 Word Horrors: Book 4
Edited by Kevin J. Kennedy
KJK Publishing
The fourth and final volume of the series (according to the editor’s notes) is proof positive you don’t have to be long in the tooth in order to make a lasting mark. The collection delivers a cornucopia of thrills and chills from various authors who’ll have you driven into a dog-eared frenzy as you’ll no doubt want to mark your favourite entries for repeat visits along the way.
Considering the relentless bombardment of images, plots and mayhem of over a hundred different stories, I would have enjoyed definable sections separating themes, styles or otherwise for easier digestion. At times I worried my personal favourites might get lost in the heavy traffic of their oncoming predecessors, though to be fair I also looked forward to revisiting several entries upon devouring them.
The collection runs the full gambit of the horror spectrum from classic monsters to creepy hauntings, to cosmic terror and the killer next door along with a few of the more extreme, taboo variety to round things out. Suffice to say, no tombstone was left unturned in the creation of this book. Hell, there’s even an entry about the perils of compiling a hundred-word collection of stories which, evidently, is far deadlier than you might think. While some entries read like an excerpt of a larger piece, most allude to a much bigger picture than what appears on the page.
Unlike the long-term relationship of a novel or even the heated tryst of a short-lived novella, the drabble is not unlike the fast kiss which demands the desire for more. So, whether you’re between bus stops, in line at the bank or stooped over that afternoon java, there’s no excuse not to be able to trade a minute of mundane reality for a well-deserved dose of tiny terror.
Grab your copy now right HERE!
This review first appeared in Rue Morgue Magazine, issue # 193
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