| Title | : | It Calls From The Forest: An Anthology of Terrifying Tales from the Woods Volume 1 |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1777041015 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781777041014 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 386 |
| Publication | : | First published March 26, 2020 |
Ignore that pull, the need to escape from drudgeries of life and find peace and solitude within nature. It is not the cool breeze and the scent of pine that whispers your name.
No, these things within the forest will rip out your heart and devour your soul. You will tremble as they revel in your madness, taking everything from you and leaving you with nothing
Delve inside this anthology of what truly lurks within the shadows of the trees. Created by award-winning horror and fiction authors around the world. We dare you to take this journey with us and find out what horrors await you.
The Forest Is Calling. Will you answer?
24 terrifying tales ripped straight from your nightmares. There is evil in the forest, and it wants you dead.
It Calls From The Forest: An Anthology of Terrifying Tales from the Woods Volume 1 Reviews
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Before the pandemic, publishers were super-conservative when it came to buying fiction from less-established writers. Stick with the familiar and the best-sellers only, it seems. I hate to imagine what it will be like once things open up again. Small press publishers are the best outlet for the new writers of the future. For that reason, small press anthologies that collect stories from a variety of writers deserve a bigger audience than they might be able to attract.
IT CALLS FROM THE FOREST offers 24 tales of varying length and styles. Only three stories failed to meet my standards, while eight stores were promising enough to investigate the authors further.
The best story of the bunch is "Forest Man" by Holley Cornetto.
As is my habit with most anthologies and collections, I'll review this story by story using this 5 point rating system: Three stars is the medium rating, meaning the story was satisfactory and met my expectations. Four stars indicates the story was above average. Five star stories exceed my expectations, so much that the story is worthy of best-of-year consideration. Two star stories are below average, and did not meet my expectations. One star stories don't entertain or engage or don't seem to fit well within the collection's themes.
1) "A Wail Of A Tail" by Emma K. Leadley made me wonder if the author thought of the title first and then wrote the story to fit. A hunter fires at prey hidden in the brush, and manages to shoot off it's tail. He'll soon meet the rest of the body, of course. THREE STARS.
2) Some teenage boys discover a rock-thing in the woods and suspect it of alien origin in "The Thing In The Woods" by D. R. Smith. Strange things occur which leads to a grim resolution. Really enjoyed this one, wish there was just a bit more of an outcome. FOUR STARS.
3) "The Hike" by E. E. W. Christman. Steph goes looking for girlfriend Becca in the cold Oregon woods the morning after a verbal fight. However, Steph isn't the only one hunting for a companion. A little predictable, but the writing was crisp and moved me through the story. THREE STARS.
4) "When the sun goes away, the wolves come to play . . ." Too long to be considered flash fiction but too short to engage the reader sufficiently, "Only Snow" by Clint Foster offers a little background and then skips right to the climatic scene. That's disappointing. TWO STARS.
5) New business owner Benny returns to his hometown, gets reacquainted with Marsha who he lusted after in high school, and gets invited to a camping trip with promises of sex. In "Carhaze", writer Dale Drake mixes in some erotica with the horror, a nice change-up at this point in the anthology. However, it might have more impact if the characters were more likable. THREE STARS.
6) "Knotwork Hill" by C. W. Blackwell reads like a purplish noir thriller with dark elements. It's very engaging and gets stranger as it moves forward. Ex-cops, witch legends, and cultish Celtic rites. This would be a five star story if not for the improbable ending. There are limitations to writing in first person. FOUR STARS.
7) In "Lazarus' Respite" by Michael Subjack a middle-school boy abused by bullies finds an unusual solution to his troubles. FOUR STARS.
8) A group of teens meet every summer during family vacation at a lake resort in "Forest Man". They take a hike in the woods, find a cave with an odd tree-like formation, and then they start disappearing individually. Twenty years later, some of them return with chilling and disturbing results. This story hit all the marks. FIVE STARS.
9) "Return To The Woods" by G. Allen Wilbanks. A prisoner charged with the murder of his family has a special connection to a monster in the woods, a monster he claims is who really killed his wife and kids. THREE STARS.
10) Michael D. Nadeau utilizes some Irish folklore in "The Lady In The Woods", where a tourist enters a forest of legend, and has a serous injury. Alone, and unable to move he encounters a mysterious woman and is offered a choice that will determine his future. THREE STARS.
11 + 12) Tim Mendees contributes two FOUR STAR stories. In "A Matter Of Recycling" an introverted lad who spends his leisure time exploring the woods discovers a clearing where a wounded badger is quickly consumed by strange insects. Curious to learn more, he brings roadkill to the clearing and enters into a pact with the insects that will see him into adulthood and beyond. In "Rouse Them Not" a Druidic wassailing ceremony involving leaving spiced toast in trees takes a nasty turn when two mischievous twins decide to make an offering to the two graveyard apple trees they were warned to stay away from.
13) "Dig" by Elizabeth Nettleton. Be careful who you dig up your past with. THREE STARS.
14) "Pumpkinface" by T. S. Hurt is more of an excerpt or scene than a full story. Four high school chums share campfire stories about a serial killer and then meet him in person. TWO STARS.
15) "Neumack Woods" by N. M. Brown did not end to my satisfaction. Two eleven-year old boys decide to sneak out at nighttime and see if the rumors about the Woods are true. This is more of a campfire story, maybe one that should have been told in "Pumpkinface." TWO STARS.
16) "Thirteen" by Craig Crawford is narrated by the wraith-like hermit trapped in a wooded cabin some 100 years prior by a druid. He needs to lure hikers inside to feed from their essence. Will he finally succeed in ensnaring enough victims to gain release? Chilling. THREE STARS.
17) "Automatic Contamination" by M. A. Smith held my interest for awhile, but it's too inconclusive to be scary, or even different from a score of similar missing person with adults not believing the kids' stories. TWO STARS.
18) There are parts of "Interference" by Matthew A. St. Cyr that are very inventive in this mysterious, and intriguing yet frustrating story. The frustration comes from too many unexplained events as a young couple take too long on a hike and have to descend a mountain in darkness, with injuries occurring. I don't want to state my many questions about this story because it would end up spoiling it. This is one for the reader to decide. For me, it's worth THREE STARS.
19) An isolationist enters a park after closing for uninterrupted camping. The more cuts and scrapes he endures, the more he hears the voices. "Getting Away From It All" by Greg Hunter raised some questions that go unanswered, yet I'm giving it FOUR STARS mainly for inventiveness and creepiness.
20) The title of "Fairies In The Forest" by Jason Holden tells everything you need to know. Except, these fairies are not friendly, as Alex and son Warren soon find out. THREE STARS.
21) A middle-aged nature lover takes a mid-week break to visit an historic Chicago park in "The Von Brunner Woods" by Evan M. Elgin, hoping to have the isolated acres all to himself. He encounters an odd stranger on the trails, and fears for his life. THREE STARS.
22) "Jodie's Spot" by Mark Towse. A teenager enters a mysterious misty part of the forest where he believes his equally nature-loving sister disappeared a year earlier and has an encounter with Mother Nature. THREE STARS.
23) Two poachers stalking a wounded bear in "Seita" by Thomas K. S. Wade become the prey when the bear becomes indestructible in a strange area of the woods where spirits dwell. FOUR STARS.
24) In "Hollow Woods" by Brian Duncan a father and daughter move from Arizona to Florida. The teenage girl gets invited by her new friends to a wilderness park with a beach. Rather than a swimming trip, the girls want to hike to an off-the-trail area to check the validity of some folklore amid rituals and sacrifice. FOUR STARS. -
Does it call you?
Prior to reading this anthology, I had never heard of Eerie River Publishing and it showcases many indie authors. This horror anthology is a collection of 24 stories with a premise of unspeakable horror among the dark trees. Each story has been written with an aspect of a forest entwined. Each author brought their own writing style and perspective of a forest. The diversity of the stories were refreshing as it ranges from monsters to myths to witches and more.
Anthologies are tough to review since there are multiple authors and varying experiences between stories. I jumped into this without any prior knowledge of which authors were included and rated each story individually. Just like any other collection of stories (based on personal opinion), there are greats and there are some that missed the mark.
Highlighting those that were my favorites - "The Thing in The Woods" (by D.R. Smith) is a great story about 3 boys that discover an odd rock and take it home. It gave off Stephen King's "Weeds" vibe and I loved the ending. "Knotwork Hill" (by C.W. Blackwell) was well written and keep me intrigued until the very end. I wanted more and this could easy be a start for its own book. "Lazarus' Respite" (by Michael Subjack) is about a kid who makes an unlikely partnership with a homeless man in the woods. Although this is not really about a forest, the setting takes place in a wooded area and shows that kids can be jerks. "Forest Man" (by Holley Cornetto) brings a grim forest secret near a family camping retreat. I enjoyed the "flashback" format of this story but I also wanted to know more of the myth. "Hollow Woods" (by Brian Duncan) is about a young girl who recently moved to Florida with her father. She was invited to meet her new friends for a day at a wilderness park but is immediately taken on a hike deep into the forest to "see something cool" and learns that it is a lie. This collection seemed to hold a 50/50 ratio of good and mediocre stories, but still offered a great stepping stone for indie writers.
The opening story, "A Wail of a Tail" by Emma K. Leadley, was lacking and felt as though it belonged in anthology for adolescent readers. This was not a strong choice to start the series with and missed the theme compared to the other stories. In addition, author bios after each story takes away from the flow and should be listed in an appendix at the end of the book.
"It Calls From the Forest" overall brings a variety of imagination surrounding the theme and I look forward to volume two!
3.5 (rounded up to 4) out of 5 stars!
This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest review. Please visit my GoodReads profile for more reviews! Thank you! -
Like most anthologies, It Calls From the Forest is a mixed bag, but there were a few standout stories in here, and even the ones that weren't amazing were still decently entertaining.
My favorites include:
Knotwork Hill by C.W. Blackwell was one of the creepiest stories in the book and had an intriguing mystery at its center. While satisfying, its ending leaves as many questions as answers, and I would love to see this expanded into a longer work. The mythology at its center was intriguing, and the featured creature was wondrously strange and frightening.
Forest Man by Holley Cornetto was the longest story in the book and thus felt the most well rounded. A man reunites with some childhood friends in an effort to discover what really happened their last summer together. This was another one with an intriguing premise and interesting mystery at its core.
The Lady in the Woods by Michael D. Nadeau features Irish mythology. Though it's brief, I really liked the uniqueness of Nadeu's story, and the titular lady was fascinating.
Fairies in the Forest by Jason Holden was undoubtedly the most original story in the collection, and I thought the idea of a band of angry fairies was pretty entertaining, although Holden's take on the wendigo seemed a bit odd. Still the gleeful mashing of mischievous fairy and dangerous fairy tropes was delightful.
Evan M. Elgin's The Von Brunner Woods was the only other legitimately creepy story in the collection, but I might have enjoyed it more if it hadn't had a gruesome dog death. Other that my personal preference for avoiding animal death, I did enjoy this solid, scary tale.
I definitely enjoyed this collection and will be seeking out other collections from Eerie River publishers soon. -
I am not someone who gets scared easily. There was a time when I would happily watch three horror movies a day (back when Netflix was primarily a DVD rental service), so I could plop them in the mail and await my next shipment of New French Extremity or Italian Gialli or whatever else was on my must-watch list back in the early 2000s. I want you to know this about me, so when I say that some of the stories in It Calls From the Forest scared me, well . . . I don't say that lightly.
Before I start babbling about how this is one of the best short story collections I've ever read, a quick disclaimer: there were one or two short stories where the writing wasn't quite up to par. One had a dialogue tag problem; every single line was followed by "[character name] said" and by the fourth page, it was driving me up the wall. But I enjoyed the story (a nasty little grindhouse fable) so much that I was never tempted to stop reading. There was another story that shuffled between verb tenses in a super confusing and distracting way. But again, the story was entertaining, and, based on some of the other writing choices, I couldn't tell for sure if the inconsistent verb tenses were intentional or not. So as long you go into the collection not expecting twenty-four masterpieces, you'll enjoy every second of It Calls From the Forest.
Now onto the praise . . .
First of all, M.A. Smith's "Automatic Contamination" made me put the book down, close my eyes, and savor every word in her descriptions. She has an incredible gift, not for simply painting pictures in your mind, but also for imbuing those pictures with a sense of familiarity that reaches down deep inside of you and sticks there. I felt like I knew the estate she was talking about in her short story; I felt like I'd lived there myself. The line where she talks about the "keys" of Glen's spine will linger in my memory for months to come. Such beautiful and evocative language.
Many of these short stories focus on that awkward phase of childhood where children want their independence but can't be trusted not to make dumb decisions ("Automatic Contamination" amongst them). D.R. Smith's "The Thing in the Woods" goes down an '80s science-fiction path that pegs it as a much darker and more disturbing Stranger Things. Meanwhile, T.S. Hurt's "Pumpkinface" busts out all the slasher film conventions: a legendary local murderer! a possible escaped psychiatric patient! a gory (and memorable) modus operandi that might be supernatural! And the characters are all gloriously expendable. When one of them went off to piss in the woods, I was practically salivating at his imminent demise.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, some of these authors really made me care about their characters to the point where I almost stopped reading in order to protect them from their unfortunate ends. E.E.W. Christman's "The Hike" made me want to go back for Becca (the protagonist's girlfriend) even as the woods started closing in and the situation became more and more dire. Matthew A. St Cyr's "Interference" features a couple that quizzes each other on '80s and '90s sitcom themes while hiking, which automatically invested me in their relationship. Unfortunately, his short story also has the one moment in this anthology that chilled me to the core: And "Fairies in the Forest" has a relationship between a divorced dad and his son that tugs at your heartstrings from start to finish. (Don't be fooled by the title: this one is a surprisingly nasty bit of work. Absolutely loved it.)
There are three more that stuck with me long after reading them. Along with "Automatic Contamination", I'd call them the best of the bunch:
Evan M. Elgin's "The Von Brunner Woods" is a little slice-of-life story about a man who decides to go for a weekday hike at his local nature conservancy.
C.W. Blackwell's "Knotwork Hill" follows a man trying to track down the criminal who murdered his co-worker. But, as you might imagine, all is not what it seems. The crime scene crawled down my throat like a braid of wheat (read the story) and stuck there. Blackwell builds the tension until you want to stop reading, but you can't because you need to know what happens to Keeler. Blackwell has created a world full of characters I wanted to know so much more about, but he leaves us to draw our own assumptions. Like a boss.
If I had to pick a winner, one short story to rule them all, it would be Holley Cornetto's "Forest Man." At first, I was a little turned-off by the jumps in the timeline, but the way the story unfolded made all that switching back-and-forth worthwhile. The Forest Man has all the makings of an urban legend classic; he even comes with his own unsettling nightmares and children's nursery rhyme! But it's the protagonist that makes this story of a lakeside summer community gone wrong special. Cornetto masterfully weaves Nate's thoughts and feelings into the horrific events of that summer, so that when he makes his key decision at the end, we understand where it came from (and we might even find ourselves nodding in agreement).
Buy a copy of It Calls From the Forest. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. Especially if you're looking for a story to tell around the campfire this summer. (Good luck going to sleep in the woods after reading some of these bad boys.) -
Whatever you are currently reading during this time of social distancing, put it down and pick up It Calls From The Forest: An Anthology of Dark Tales from the Woods. Embrace a whole new level of isolation as you wander through the wild woods and twisted forests within this collection of short stories, brought to life by authors from all around the globe. Each tale is unique, exploring a new dark corner of the mind with a variety of creatures, spectres, and antagonists lurking in the shadows. It is clear from the anthology’s start, “A Wail of a Tail” by Emma K. Leadly, that the collection pulls no punches in terms of gore, and indeed, the stories are rife with horrifying moments that incorporate blood, dismemberment, sacrifice, and mutilation in ways that are brutally satisfying to lovers of the horror genre. The depth of characterization and creativity within these tales elevates them beyond superficial shock and gore to achieve a horror that lingers. I don’t often swear aloud when reading books, so when I reached the end of D.R. Smith’s “The Thing in The Woods” (the second story in the collection) and uttered, “holy shit,” I knew that I had stumbled upon a truly exciting anthology of short stories. There are longer stories with a great deal of emotional depth, like “Forest Man” by Holley Cornetto, which explores the trauma and complicated relationships of adolescence with an unforgettable horror that pursues the characters into adulthood. Other stories—like “Dig” by Elizabeth Nettleton and “Getting Away from It All” by Greg Hunter—are brief and shocking, like a quick stab in the dark. There is something for everyone in this anthology, so seize the opportunity to stray from civilization and lose yourself within these pages.
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A little birdy (Nat Whiston) introduced me to Eerie River Publishing, and piqued my interest from her youtube channel review of this book! I mean a forest theme linked in with horror, what is there not to like? Forests are peaceful with beautiful landscapes, but l can also imagine the eerie atmosphere of twisting branches snapping, howling winds at night and the sounds of rustling leaves, which leads me to introduce;
The Hike by E.E.W Christman, this was the first story to lure me in. l found myself listening intently as l wanted to know what had happened to Becca! At one point the familiarity of eighties psycological horror films started to conjure up ideas in my mind, and this in turn had me gripped! I found it more creepy when dialogue was not exchanged, instead a descriptive image of what could be seen of Becca. This kept me guessing, and with the ever building tension of not knowing. A twist that l did not see coming!
A Matter of Recycling by Tim Mendees, this was my favourite if l had to pick out of the two of his stories included in this anthology. The concept gave me a different perspective in terms of the way in which l view nature, and this took on a whole new meaning. Such as how nature could completely drive a person to lose their own sanity! It was as if nature had become a form of never ending hunger, and the very idea of this made me fearful.
Getting Away From It All by Greg Hunter. The thought of hearing your own wounds talk and guide you practically made my legs turn to jelly, as l actually looked down to imagine the feel of the vibration in my body coming from the talking voices! This notion had never entered my mind before, l found it extremely unnerving and at the same time thought provoking!
Out of all the stories Jodie's Spot by Mark Towse haunted me the most. Steve's sister Jodie had gone missing for over a year. She was never far from his thoughts or dreams. Whenever he goes hiking he still imagines seeing her. This leads to a questionable event, where we the reader can never be sure if this happened or whether it was his subconcious making an appearance due to the guilt he carried around with him for so long. When Jodie calls out for Steve, a big part of me wanted it to be her but another part of me did not want to believe that this was possible. The sights, smells and sounds of the forest could have evoked a need within himself to seek a form of closure. You could come to the conclusion of Steve having an overactive imagination, as he himself mentions. Though when faced with the one person you miss the most in that moment, who can say what is apprehensible as real or existant. -
It Calls From the Forest is a selection of 24 stories compiled by Eerie River Press (Michelle River and Alanna Robertson-Webb). As you’d expect, there are a lot of wild beasts and savage semi-humans, but no two authors have the same approach and that is exactly the beauty of an anthology like this.
The Hike by E.E.W Christman was the first story that really pulled me in. The climbing tension throughout kept me gripped right until the climactic twist. Knotwork Hill by C.W. Blackwell stands out with its command of sleek, stylish prose. Forest Man by Holley Cornetto strikes a perfect balance between present day events and flashback, gradually revealing more and more about the incidents of the past and their consequences for the future. Thirteen by Craig Crawford is a stand-out for its unique concept alone.
I adored the fusion of cynicism and simplicity in the narrative of Automatic Contamination by M.A. Smith, and the effort that had been put into the prose to make this a rewarding read on every line. Fairies in the Forest by Jason Holden is a solid story that doesn’t neglect its principle ingredient - personality. Hollow Woods by Brian Duncan is the perfect final story for an anthology like this. A story that reminds us that, sometimes, the most dangerous things aren’t the ones that call from the forest, but the ones that walk in there with us.
One unfortunate issue with some of the pieces in the book is that they can be derivative at times. There’s also a problem with overwriting in some of the longer stories. Horror can be very on-and-off for me. When it’s done well, I love it. It is not often done well. It Calls From the Forest has some tremendous fiction in it, some solid examples of note-perfect horror that give me hope for the genre. -
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I sometimes struggle reading too much within my favorite genres in finding originality and reading a story that feels fresh and really intrigues me again in a new way. A lot of the time while I still enjoy horror overall, I find myself not fearful or even suspenseful during my reading. This particular horror based anthology was a huge success for achieving just the opposite. Each author brought something peculiar to each story that really made it fun and exciting to read. At certain points it felt like I had never read anything like it. Each author had their own style but all the stories had this overall unknown foreboding to them that just made them all feel so eerie. I don’t think any of the stories were overall mind blowing and genre shattering but they were so fun, so creepy and so thoughtful that it really was a pleasure to experience again. I have to give credit to these authors and their chosen format. I think short stories can really be useful in horror, giving you no time to calm down once it starts, pulling you rapidly into fear and craziness, and reading it this way can really put you on edge in my opinion. This set of twenty-four stories took that format, gave you sharp stories and creepy scenes that really work well in partnership together. If you want to read something extremely quick paced with a lot of fun work with your imagination and really holds true to the unknown and animalistic qualities of the world being such a fear inducing experience, this is absolutely a read to check out. -
This anthology continues 24 quality stories themed around the forest. Like all anthologies, there were some stories that appealed more, and some less, however I found the standard uniformly high. My favorite story was Getting Away From It All by Greg Hunter, for its originality and chill factor. Honorable mentions go to Fairies in the Forest by Jason Holden, Forestman by Holley Cornetto and Lazarus’ Respite by Michael Subjack.
I received a free copy from book sirens in exchange for an honest review. -
An exceptional collection of horrific tales with something for every horror fan.
Eerie River follow up their drabble anthology, Forgotten Ones, with 24 terrifying tales from the forest - covering pagan rituals, hikes gone wrong, monsters, ancient gods, weird creatures of the woods and much more.
With a variety of story lengths written in different styles, It Calls From The Forest will contain many stories for readers to love and keep coming back to. The entries are inventive and unique, with the authors strong voices coming through loud and clear.
The anthology flows well too, from the short, sharp shock of the collections opener the the longer pieces dotted here and there. It Calls From The Forest is top quality horror and comes highly recommended. -
Two and a half stars for this one. There are a few really great stories but more duds than usual. Editing is an issue here as well, but moreso than that too many of these stories felt unfinished. The whole collection needed revisions. That said, there is some fun to be had here if you go in anticipating skipping whole stories.
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In the woods there are things spooky and unknowable, not to mention hazardous to your health and sanity. In this small press collection of horror fiction set in the forest there are some offerings consisting of little more than a set-up, others more backstory than story, and a goodly number of satisfying tales.
As with all themed anthologies, certain story elements tend to crop up. Druids, clearings, old legends and kids testing boundaries appear several times. Perhaps 24 stories on the same theme is a bit much. Like binge-watching a Netflix series, you can quickly find yourself getting ahead of the author.
Among the better woodsy yarns were:
"Knotwork Hill" by C.W. Blackwell
"Lazarus' Respite" by Michael Subjack
"Forest Man" by Holley Cornetto
"Rouse Them Not" by Tim Mendees
"13" by Craig Crawford
"Getting Away From It All" by Greg Hunter
"Hollow Woods" by Brian Duncan.
My favorite pair were Jason Holden's "Fairies in the Forest," in which a father and son learn that crazy old grandpa knew his cryptids. Also "Automatic Contamination" by M.A. Smith in which what's old is new and inclined to eat and run. I especially enjoyed some of the imagery, as in passages such as the "hard ratchet of the crows" and "the spiraling trill of summer robins."
Overall, fine reading for the horror aficionado, lovers of short fiction, and fans of timberland terror. -
24 stories and I enjoyed at least 20 of them. I like that there are short stories that allow you to get pulled in without being too long and getting boring. There are cautionary tales, mystical tales, gore and supernatural things. The fun part is that some of that could be real and happen! The characters were well done and entertaining and you get your monies worth with this book if you buy it . It is definitely worth checking out.
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Thank you Booksirens for the gifted arc, all thoughts are my own
So this anthology is a collection of 24 stories of varying lengths. It's dark, creepy, and I'm sure at some point it will feel like your skin is crawling.
If you love dark, scary, and creepy stuff or want more "Halloween feel" reading, this would be for you.
With 24 stories you're bound to find more than one that's perfect for you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ -
Anthologies in any genre are like a box of chocolates- there's usually some you love, some which are okay and perhaps two or three that you really don't like - you know - the coffee creme or the hazelnut whirl that everybody leaves. Certainly most anthologies that I've read, and I've read plenty, tend to be like that.
It calls from the forest, however, whilst having some stories that were stronger than others, didn't contain any poor or disappointing stories and was a fantastic read. Containing 24 stories from almost as many authors, there is a wide range of story content but all based around the same theme and it always fascinates me when a theme is interpreted in so many imaginative ways by some talented writers. There really is something for everybody contained within its pages.
If this is typical of the stories produced by this publisher, i will certainly be purchasing other anthologies. -
I've been fortunate with these audiobooks; lately, I haven't found one that I didn't like. Though I've probably jinxed myself now by saying that, but this anthology was a real treat. I've heard fantastic things about this collection, and I adored the front cover. It's so creepy and enticing and really makes you wonder what horrors are hiding inside. The first story, A Wail of a Tail By Emma K. Leadley, was an excellent starting story. The narrator added atmosphere with this one, especially with the creature that, in my mind, was like a demented version of Tigger. At least the dog Jasper wasn't hurt and got fed, even if it was an unexpected meal. You'll understand when you hear the story. The Thing In The Woods By D.R. Smith was incredible but also gave me bloody nightmares. D.R Smith, I had nightmares for a week of that bloody cat! It was like reliving the horrors of the film The Thing. And those poor animals! I'm sorry, but if I found a strange rock in the woods, it's staying no matter how shiny. The John Carpenter vibe was most definitely strong with that story. The Hike" By E.E.W. Christmas is a gruesome horror that held depth and suspense and a shocking ending. The love story mixed with horror was a nice touch, and the conclusion made it all the more twisted. Now we come to my favourite story, the Forest man By Holley Cornetto; the back and forth from past to present was easy to follow. Intense and had IT crossed with a slender man vibe. The characters were engaging and well thought out, and I loved the creepiness of the Forest man. Incredibly, each of these writers takes a creative take on the theme, from being hunted by wolves in the forest to fighting through the forests of the mind in Jodie’s spot by Mark Towse. There was so much depth in that story, and the symbolism of grief and guilt is done amazingly by Mark. Then I got to experience Tim Mendees work, two great stories, one involving old folk law in Rouse them and A Matter of Recycling works on the mind of a child dragged into the charms of the woods. Only to be possessed by the hunger of the creatures that occupy the clearing. Following Stuart's life as his mind slowly warps into adulthood, and how he starts to lose his handle on reality. Neumark woods was another twisted and imaginative use of something as innocent as a baby's cry and making it something far more sinister. My second favourite is Lazarus’ Respite by Micheal Subjack. I loved the way he made you feel for the character Walter. I'm not going to lie, and I did get an immense feeling of satisfaction with this story. Probably because of being bullied myself, let's face it, as kids, we all secretly wanted to get our own back on our tormentors. Dig had an exciting beat going through the story that made you question the word throughout the father and son expedition. Lady in the woods explores Irish folk law beautifully and scarily, and I loved it, especially the character's fate. 13 held mystery and wonder but also the fear of the unknown and made you step into the mind of a hungry predator. This is a collection beyond anything I could have imagined, from the terrifying static man to the truth that fairy tales are real and tooth fairies are the thing of Guillermo del Toro nightmares. Even creepy talking wounds that lure you to your doom. It's not the audiobook I expected, but I'm so grateful that I purchased this Eerie River publishing anthology. I can't wait to keep an eye out for more titles by the publisher and the authors. And you know what the worst part is? Because the stories were so good, I bought the damn paperback! Yes, my friends, another anthology made its way to the shelf and i'm not even ashamed.
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[This review appears on DeadHeadReviews.com] Prior to receiving this review consideration, I was unfamiliar with Eerie River Publishing. However, from this point forward, I will be paying attention. This publishing house specializes in anthologies of indie writers, which is pretty great. Their latest collection, It Calls from the Forest (Volume I), features twenty-three authors, none of which I have previously read. Right off the bat, that means you have a possibly enormous find of new writers to research if you like this collection. Personally, I was very satisfied, and have taken notes of numerous authors here for future consumption.
Anthologies can be a tricky thing, as you are probably aware. A lot of the time, I will only enjoy half the stories, making for an uneven experience. With It Calls from the Forest, the percentage was quite a bit higher (thank you!) - seeing as how hard it is to enjoy an anthology throughout, this is a feat to be applauded. Of course, no collection isn’t without its favorites, so those are the ones I will note.
“A Wail of a Tail” (by Emma K. Leadley) shows us one gruesome way to teach poachers and hunters a lesson; “The Thing in the Woods” (by D. R. Smith) was easily in my top three, thanks to its creepy and gory entertainment from start to finish; “Knotwork Hill” (by C. W. Blackwell) has the potential to be a well-stocked novella of power - in this format, it was still a damn good time, cool and well written; “A Matter of Recycling” and “Rouse Them Not” (both by Tim Mendees) also feature concepts that would make great longer stories, given additional background and substance; “Automatic Contamination” (by M. A. Smith) has a really unsettling ending and villain; “Getting Away from It All” (by Greg Hunter) is very weird, but in a really good way; “Fairies in the Forest” (by Jason Holden) surprised me with its mystical fun; “Jodie’s Spot” (by Mark Towse) featured excellent drama and atmosphere; and “Seita” (by Thomas Wake) had an ending I didn’t see coming.
As you can see, that is a hefty selection of recommended stories. Eerie River have done a great job in finding new voices of merit, and you can bet I will continue to devour their anthologies moving forward. Bring on Volume II! -
A solid anthology, there were some weaker tales in there but no more than a Stephen King short story collection.
Really interesting mix of different perspectives and writing styles. I was impressed at how they were all given the same prompt and yet did such vastly different things with it.
Some of them really stuck with me. 'Forest Man' definitely got me the most. It drew me in wonderfully and successfully creeped me out.
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Thank you to Book Sirens and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. -
The great thing about anthologies is that you never know where people will run with a collective theme or prompt. This collection is no exception, displaying a wide variety of tales all springing from the common thread of forested and wild places. And since I love rural horror, this is automatically up my alley.
There’s a little something here for everybody. Blood and guts? Check. Creepy atmosphere? Check. Suspense? Check. Monsters? You betcha.
In short there’s something here for everyone but some of my personal favorite moments upon first reading include: the creepy, creature, cult tale “Carhaze” by Dale Drake; Holly Cornetto’s atmospheric “Forest Man”; the bloody fantasy of Jason Holden’s “Fairies in the Forest”; and the fog shrouded waking nightmare in “Jodie’s Spot” by Mark Towse. -
“It Calls from the Forest,” is a finely seamed collection of well written horror at its best from a talented group of Authors in all levels of their careers. It is a unique collection of stories that will leave you afraid to go into the Forest forever and after having read it you will find yourself listening for what goes bump in the night!
From hunters who become the hunted to the story Carhaze, a creepy fairy tale, (my personal fave) The Twins of the Wassailing and Pumpkinface. The baby cries in the haunted Neumack Woods and a most frightening Forest Man... where nothing is as it seems and the only thing they all have in common is the forest... -
Wow...I loved this anthology!!! I love scary woods/monster/ghosts/demons stories that take place in the woods. I am an avid camper/fisherwoman and this is right up my alley.
Each story was so different from each other and they got scarier as I read each one.
Do yourself a favor and get this book!! All these authors did a phenomenal job...and I have not heard of any them. I will definitely be looking on their Amazon pages and getting their books!! -
More than 20 tales of what hides in the woods, ranging in style from dark fables to gritty realism. They make for a good, absorbing read and a source of chills down the spine. I especially enjoyed The Lady in the Woods by Michael D. Nadeau with its roots in Celtic myth, but there wasn't one that I didn't enjoy. Highly recommend picking this one up!
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The variety and quality of this anthology is excellent. If you are looking to recreate that eerie tingle you get down the back of your neck while walking alone through a dark woods, this book is perfect. Blood-thirsty creatures, cursed relics, haunted ruins, elemental nightmares, and homicidal forest-dwellers, there’s a bit of everything here.
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A fantastically creepy collection of tales all themed around the terrors that lurk in the forest. This book has everything from serial killers to ghosts, monsters to fairies, aliens to werewolves and everything in between. I definitely recommend it!!
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The awesome people of Eerie River Publishing were kind enough to send me a copy of 'It Calls From The Forest vol 1' for review.
And I am so glad they did as I am a sucker for horror anthologies.
24 stories of various length and horror tropes will guarantee you a fun time reading and the chance to meet new blood in the genre.
All stories have one thing in common. The horror calls from the forest...
1."A Wail of a Tail" By Emma K. Leadley involves a hunter and its dog hunting for food in the forest, but everything goes wrong when 'the food' hunts them back.
2."The Thing In The Woods" By D.R. Smith, is about three youngsters discovering an unusual stone in the forest. Things go totally wrong when they take it home. That's where the gore begins. This is 'The thing' meets 'Stranger Things' type of story and easily one of my top three in the anthology.
3.In 'The Hike by E.E.W. Christman, two lovers try to find each other in the forest after a quarrel they had the previous night. One looking for love and reconciliation and one hunting for love. This lovely story brings to mind films such as 'High Tension' and 'What keeps you alive'
4.In "Only Snow", Clint Foster created a story with 'fangs' but unfortunately not long enough to leave a sizable mark.
5."Carhaze", by Dale Drake is a horror love story or specifically a lust story were old flames lead to dangerous situations when they get you in the forest...
6. In "Knotwork Hill", C. W. Blackwell gets all creepy with a dark and lovely suspenseful story, introducing a creature that intrigued me to find out more about it. Right up my alley with the whole dark atmosphere, I wish this becomes one day a longer version. Another story in my top three.
7. Michael Subjack introduces one of my favorite horror themes in "Lazarus' Respite"; getting even with bullies. But this is no 'Revenge of the Nerds', this is creative and brutal.
8. "Forest Man" By Holley Cornetto just barely did not make my top three. But it is overall a great story, in the likes of 'IT' as it involves a group of friends, a hike in the woods, a strange cave and the weirdest occurrence. Reuniting some 20 years later to find out what really happened will only make things even more dreadful. Oh they should have left the past die....
9. "Return To The Woods" by G. Allen Wilbanks, is to me a horror drama mystery. One that calls you to find out if the protagonist is guilty or innocent. Are the heinous murders of the Durant family the result of Elliot's madness, or is there any truth in what he claims about the woods..
10. In "The Lady in the Woods" by Michael D. Nadeau, Irish mythology and folklore blend in a game of choices for the protagonist when he finds himself helpless in the forest. Helpless.. up until he encounters a fascinating, yet dangerous lady in the woods..
Tim Mendes delivers two weird slabs of Horror, ideal to become beasts at a longer version.
11~"A Matter Of Recycling", involves the strangest of incects contributing to a 'recycling' like no other. A 'recycling' that Stuart will take to the next level and with the most dangerous implications..
12~"Rouse Them Not" finds the annual wassailing in full swing and the stupidity of brothers Daniel and Jonah Green in full bloom as they mess the Ritual with the wrong offering resting in the bloodiest mess.
13."Dig" by Elizabeth Nettleton finds Dom and his son Peter hungry and trying to fight the urge to dig in the forest . But the forest commands them to dig. Dig until they unearth the past.
14.In T. S. Hurt's "Pumpkinface" campfire stories involving a bloodthirsty serial killer come alive as Lucky, Brewster, Seth and Harry meet true evil in the woods.
15.In "Neumack Woods" by N. M. Brown, curiosity does not work well for Aidan and Ricky as they decide to explore the legends of the haunted grounds past their curfew time with disastrous consequences.
16. A story I truly enjoyed and almost made it into my top 3 was Craig Crawford's "Thirteen'. 112 autumns have passed and the hermit is still trapped in his cabin prison waiting to feed and walk out free. The only problem is that his food walks on two legs and not an easy catch..
17." Automatic Contamination" by M. A. Smith finds youngsters, Clem, Jamie and Lucas visiting an underpass where a psycho resident is rumored to.. eat kids. This reminded me of an alternate version of 'IT'.
18. Interference by Matthew A. St. Cyr brought to mind parts of Adam Neill's 'The Ritual'. Samantha and Patrick find themselves stranded at a mountain hike when darkness falls. Tired, injured and afraid, they have to face their worst fears...
19. If you love the outdoors, camping expeditions with peace and quiet then “Getting Away from It All” by Greg Hunter is the right kind of horror story for you. Creepy and weird ( oh you will notice from the first centence) this short read will keep you engaged and interested.
20. I have been reading some weird fairy tales lately, but "Fairies in the Forest" By Jason Holden takes it to a whole new fantastic level. Alex and Warren should have taken crazy old grandpa more seriously before going in the forest, as this unique story involves 'evil fairies hiding in the trees, k.i.l.l.i.n.g'. I loved it.
21. Careful of who you encounter in "The Von Brunner Woods". Evan M. Elgin, puts his protagonist in a tuff spot. When all he asks for is some peace and quiet, he gets the opposite and soon it all descents to madness. **Giving you the heads up for animal cruelty in this story.
22. "Jodie's Spot" by Mark Towse is a dramatic story of loss, as the protagonist visits the place where his sister has gone missing only to find out that nature takes a toll on him.
23. You will not see the ending of Thomas K. S Wade 'Seita' coming..
Carl and Steve are on a hunting trip. One that takes a really wrong turn when the bear they just hunted comes to hunt them back. Did I mention the bear levels up as spirits emerge in the story? A fantastic read!!
24. Call me sentimental but since I became father to a lovely daughter, this story struck a nerve. The last in my top three, "Hollow Woods" by Brian Duncan is every father's nightmare as their young daughter messes with the wrong kind of friends in a tale that involves ritualistic sacrifice. Scared the crap out of me and therefore I loved it.
The anthology is a perfect read for the lovely, fast approaching Halloween season. -
For more reviews, check out my blog:
Craft-Cycle
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A creepy collection filled with stories that will make you question whether you really want to step foot into those woods. With an array of stories that are eerie, horrific, disgusting, gory, saddening, hopeful, suspenseful, spooky, and mystifying, this book will surely give you a scare.
My absolute favorite in the anthology was
Holley Cornetto's "Forest Man". It had the perfect balance of suspense that made me want to keep reading. I also really enjoyed
Jason Holden's "Fairies in the Forest" (creepy, gross, and intriguing),
Mark Towse's "Jodie's Spot" (beautiful and haunting), and
Brian Duncan's "Hollow Woods" (mysterious and satisfying).
This book has such a great variety of stories. No one is quite like another. They all share in the fear of the forest, but each in their own unique way. I'm looking forward to reading Volume 2. -
“It Calls From The Forest”—Eerie River Publishing [4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️] First off, this is an awesome and super creepy cover which perfectly matches this book and it’s stories. This is a compilation of 24 short horror stories that tell us about the evil lurking in the woods from award-winning horror and fiction authors from around the world. I enjoyed some stories more than others, to include the ones just based on horror that could actually occur. One that stood out for me was “The Von Brunner Woods” where a man was going on a hike through the woods when he comes across this creepy guy staring at him and not saying anything with what appears to be blood on his mouth. He walks a little further and discovers the source of the blood, and tries to get away quickly when the creepy guy suddenly starts coming after him. SO Scary!!!! I was never a fan of being out in the woods anyway but after reading these stories, it just reaffirms it for me! I would definitely recommend checking this out if you’re a fan of horror 👍🏼💀*Thank you to BookSirens for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*
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*Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy for an honest review*
This anthology was a bit hit and miss. There were many stories I enjoyed, but about a third of them seemed out of place in this anthology. Some I didn’t feel featured enough forest, others would have been better suited to a children’s anthology.
Having said that, the majority of the stories were well written and engaging.
While Carhaze wasn’t a stand-out, the ending made me laugh. Interference was interesting. At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but it stayed with me the next day and I decided I liked it for its uniqueness.
My favourites stories were, Forest Man, A Matter of Recycling, Rouse Them Not, and Thirteen. 3 & 1/2 stars.
