Christmas and Other Horrors: An Anthology of Solstice Horror

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Ho-Ho-Horror! This holiday horror anthology begs you to not let the Christmas spirit in.

The holidays may be the most magical time of year, but what if that magic turns against you? In this short story anthology, some of our top horror writers imagine the winter solstice as a time of dark and brutal cosmic retribution. We are introduced to stories about spirits, gods, witches, saints and more whose powers are used to punish as easily as they are to reward. Stories represent all different religions, myths, folktales and more (not just Christmas). "There's nobody who deals in joy and horror more than the big man - Santa - who is always watching, always judging, and punishes or rewards us like a terrible god."

I picked up this anthology because it included one of my favourite horror writers, Cassandra Khaw. Her story, 'Cold', is a stand out because of her trademark prose and her folkloric inspiration. "She was a girl when the saint collapsed at her door, which is how all such stories begin." Wear a sweater for this one.

I may never get into a sauna again because of Josh Malerman's story, 'Löyly Sow-na". Our main character is visiting his Finish girlfriend's parents, and has been invited to sauna with her dad. The sauna experience turns suffocating and mystical. Just like Malerman's most famous book, BirdBox, this story makes you feel the world tightening around you with no real answers as to why, or what to do next.

The surprise stand out for me is Christopher Golden's 'The Importance of a Tidy Home'. It's based on Germanic folklore about spirits who visit houses during the new year and reward tidy homes. In this version, our main character is homeless, and is able to see these spirits enter and inspect homes. However, if the home isn't up to par, the spirits resort to gruesome punishment.

If you are like me, and get overstimulated by holiday cheer, this book is a great balance. Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the advanced reader copy.

This book is best read during the winter solstice, but only after you’ve locked all your doors and checked that the chimney flue is closed tight.