Review of A to Z of Horror by Kevin J. Kennedy
A.E. Jackson Review Score: 3 / 5 Ravens
How was this review scored?
A to Z of Horror is a collection of Kevin J. Kennedy’s own short stories. Best known for his anthology collections it was nice to hear from the storyteller himself!
From the start, the stories felt full of exposition. For those readers who prefer a deeper point of view - you may not find it here. These shorts feel more like a framework for larger ideas and longer stories. Kennedy seems to be ‘poking the bear’ to see which one rears up to maul him. When he hits the mark, the cuts are deep, and the stories satisfying.
This collection will NOT be for everyone. There is excessive adult language and the book should carry an explicit content warning.
Overall, the cross-section of tales gives readers a glimpse into the darker, scarier side of the United Kingdom.
A to Z of Horror gathers twenty-four stories, ten drabbles, and three poems covering every sub-genre of Horror. Readers ricochet from the extreme to the outright bizarre and back while Kennedy holds the pen. Between the pages, readers are confronted with monsters of humanity and beyond, including shapeshifters, cryptids, and vampires. This creepy, bloodthirsty tomb is not for the faint of heart.
These stories stood out from the rest as having a full narrative to convey, while still being palatable to the average horror reader. Again - many of these short stories beg for an explicit content warning. Consider yourself warned.
"Crabs Vs the A.Y.T." was an entertaining read. There was far too much swearing for my taste. However, this taunt tale felt like a cross between Shaun of Dead, Pirahna, and Red Dawn. “Wolverines!”
“H is for Hooch and Honey” was a strong story with a horrific twist ending that is certain to satisfy horror fans. Once readers come to a full realization about the hooch’s origins, they are near the conclusion of this wild ride. The story almost has a moral analyzing what people trade away for what they want.
“J is for Jawbreaker” shows readers what happens when a parent’s warning goes unheeded - this is the terrifying result. What a sweet treat for uncanny readers!
“K is for Killer ** Spiders” is a story short on content, and long on language. For readers who can stomach the venom of vitriol, this is a fun tale. If swearing doesn’t sit well with you, avoid this tiny terror.
“S is for Satan's Apocalypse” carries readers to the end of the world for a very satisfying survival story. This trek through the apocalypse was like a cross between “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy, and “From Dusk Till Dawn” from Quinton Tarantino. Loved it!
“T is for Time Left” is an interesting speculative science fiction story about a government of the rich who are eliminating the poor, and anyone on the dole, in the name of population control. There was a very good twist ending setup by the narrator which readers will find quite satisfying.
“W is for Where am I?” appears to lead readers back to Kennedy’s Halloween Land for a quick Halloween Carnival story. It was fun to see what the Carnival was up to at other times, and with other people.
“X is for Xana” is a science-fiction changeling horror based on a Scottish-Irish myth. It was quite satisfying, and will bring a smile to reader’s faces while warning them to reconsider choices made by humanity.
Kevin J. Kennedy is the author of Halloween Land, also reviewed here. He is co-author of You Only Get One Shot and Screechers & Stitches. Kennedy released three solo collections of short horror stories and is one of the UK’s most prominent horror anthologists.
Kevin and his wife live in the heart of Scotland with three small fur people - Carlito, Ariel and Luna.
Read more from Kevin J. Kennedy at https://www.kevinjkennedy.co.uk and find him on social media at Facebook(@authorkevinjkennedy), and Twitter(@KevinJKennedy01).