Dark Valentine Holiday Horror Collection: A Flash Fiction Anthology by Eleanor Merry

Dark Valentine Holiday Horror Collection: A Flash Fiction Anthology Reviews

• 
  Louie the Mustache Matos

  I recently acquired several flash fiction, holiday-themed, horror anthologies edited by Eleanor Merry. Because I am new to flash fiction, and I love holiday-themed horror (and let me be honest 99 cents for 5 books totaling more than 1000 pages), I was sufficiently intrigued at reading these drabbles to not mind the expense (tongue firmly planted in cheek.) I really love this short form because you intentionally sacrifice all the trappings of story – characterization, mood, plot twists, red herrings – for the quick punch payoff. (I love all the "trappings" of story, but it is also interesting to read what an author can create when unencumbered with the need to amplify a story.) In Dark Valentine, there are 200 pages of drabbles (short, short stories of 100 words more or less) of varying aspects revolving around the holiday, its mythologies, and romantic love which, let’s face it, can be murder. (Hah, hah, hah! Evil laugh!) I recommend these books (admittedly only two read so far, but there’s more to come and I will definitely communicate if the quality lags, but I am pleasantly surprised.) Since Eleanor Merry edits them all, I do not expect the quality to change. 4 and a half Grey Geeks, but for Goodreads 4 stars.
• 
  Belle

  Check out the kittens review on instagram.
  
  https://www.instagram.com/p/CLSRLbrgO...
• 
  Brittany (brittreads)

  My festive read for this weekend was Dark Valentine. A collection of 99 flash fiction horror stories set around Valentine’s Day. ❤️🍷🥀
  
  At the beginning I was really enjoying it and flying through the stories! A lot of these stories were pretty great! But at about the halfway mark it kind of felt like every story was exactly the same. Same concept, same murders, etc. I think this would have been a way better collection had it been way more narrowed down. I don’t want to take away from some of the really good stories that made me audibly “oooo” at the end. It’s a collection I’d recommend checking out but just be ready for a lot of repetitiveness.
• 
  Aaron

  I enjoy a good anthology book and this one caught my eye. Literally, a bloody hook came out and hooked itself into my eye to make me notice it. Then it spoke to me. Not in the typical “read me” way a book say to a new viewer. No, it repeated “be mine” over and over and over. It....got in my head. Like a continuous cycle of both love and possessive control. It wouldn’t stop. It wouldn’t let me put it down until I would naturally fall sleep due to fatigue. As I finally finished the last page, it disappeared into the night like an off the clock prostitute.
  
  Overall, it’s a good book, 4/5
• 
  Jim Glover

  Was hoping someone would do this!!!!!
  
  I am a huge fan of horror anthologies and when it comes to themed ones I have always hoped someone would do a Valentines Day one. My prayers have been answered! With this one I have been able to find new authors to follow who’s writing is great and so twisted! It also contains some authors that I am a fan of. If you want to read some stories that will almost make you terrified of this holiday of love, sex, and lust, check it out you will not regret it. Beautifully twisted and bloody.
• 
  Dawn Shea

  So many great stories in there!! Plant by Chris Miller, Sweethearts by Angela C Glover, Clean Up Crew by Eleanor Merry, Catering for the Hoard by Zoey Xolton, Getting Handsy by Jason Myers, and Pierced by Mike Ennenbach some of favorites!! Definitely worth the read!!
• 
  Pat Eroh

  I love horror anthologies and this one is right up my alley! Great stories that kept me creeped out for a few days! I devoured all of the stories and found almost all of them fabulous. Great book.
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Sharon

  In this book I found some authors I knew and some I had never heard of which made for an exciting read. All the stories are short horror based around the Valentine theme. A delightful mix with something for everyone.
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Christina Eleanor

  This was another book sitting on my kindle waiting to be opened! What a fun Anthology! This book has 99 stories in it! Some stories are only a few pages long, but boy do they hit with a punch! This is my first experience reading flash fiction and I really enjoyed it.
  
  There are multiple authors that make up this anthology. Some of those authors have multiple stories included in the book! There are too many good stories to name favorites, but please notice that several of the stories are authored by several people within the Facebook Books of Horror group!
  
  The stories are about Valentine’s Day and some are extremely dark. Some made me laugh and others left me in a state of shock! This is a great book to get you in the Valentine’s spirit the macabre way! It’s a fast read with such short stories! Go check this one out!
  
  
• 
  Allison

  Love Hurts
  
  Great collection of love stories with a twist. Lots of great authors with their own twists on love gone wrong or right. Depending on your point of view. A great read from first to last page.