Stories With Horror & Heart (Volume 2) by Thomas Gloom
Stories With Horror & Heart (Volume 2) by Thomas Gloom is a collection of four short horror stories. It was published by Gloom Publishing on September 15, 2021 and weighs in at 63 pages.
I had only read Gloom’s work prior to picking up this collection in the recent charity anthology Terror in the Trench: An Aquatic Horror Anthology (Dead Seas Book 1). His story “Deep Purple” was included in the anthology by Dead Sea Press. I’d seen some people sharing out his Stories With Horror & Heart (Volume 2) collection on social media, and I decided to grab a copy for myself.
There are four stories in this collection:
Free Snacks
Chairwolf
Vengeance is Mine
Breach
“Free Snacks” is a story told from the point of view of the main character at two very different times in his life. It’s a horror story with a bit of fantasy mixed in, and it was my favorite story in the collection. A circus comes to the small town of Fog Creek, AL and turns a young boy’s life into a living hell. I really enjoyed the plot of this story. The ending makes me want more! There are small town coming of age moments that morph into evil incarnate. This is a really fun read.
“Chairwolf” is a story about a boy who is a kid but feels grown up and wants to show off his newfound maturity. No longer wanting to seem like a young kid who eats up his grandfather’s tall tales, he decides to take fate into his own hands. The premise of this story is quite clever, and I enjoyed this unique and unusual tale in this horror and folklore piece.
“Vengeance is Mine” is just what it says - a story about getting vengeance for past wrongdoings. I enjoyed being a fly on the wall throughout this piece, and I felt for the main character. I especially liked the moments when Jim was unstable and out of control. This one is horror fantasy.
“Breach” is a folk horror story that has a more emotional plot to it. I liked how it seemed to break the fourth wall, too. There are themes of mental health issues and grief throughout the piece. The story begins with the narrator holding gasoline and matches, and later you learn why. It’s a gut-wrenching story for the narrator, and you go on an emotional ride with him until the end.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the inclusion of “Story Notes From The Author” after each story. I’m the kind of person who wants to know why songs are written. I want to understand the inspiration behind them, and I often feel the same way about stories and books. Gloom actually includes this information for each tale, and it made my day. Not only did I get that secret background info I crave, I got to know him a little better as an author. It was a win-win scenario.
I enjoyed this collection, and I’m looking forward to reading more of Gloom’s work and perhaps even getting the chance to listen to his podcast or one of the audiobooks he has narrated.
Get more Thomas Gloom in your TBR!
The Man Behind The Fear
Thomas Gloom is an indie horror author, audiobook narrator, and host of the Into The Gloom podcast. From a young age, he’s been in love with all things horror. In 3rd grade the book fair came to his school, bringing with it plenty of scary stories. Since then, he’s been seeking light within the darkness, and wants to share that journey with others.
***taken from Thomas Gloom’s website
Check out my review: Terror in the Trench: An Aquatic Horror Anthology (Dead Seas Book 1) featuring “Deep Purple” by Thomas Gloom.
