[Book Review] Christmas in the Empty Cabin and Other Holiday Tales by E. Reyes 

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Christmas in the Empty Cabin and Other Holiday Tales by E. Reyes is a must-read for fans of holiday horror.

Go pick up your copy, grab a comfy blanket, and dive into this one on a windy or snowy December evening! You’re going to love it.

Let’s dive in!

My Thoughts on Christmas in the Empty Cabin and Other Holiday Tales by E. Reyes

I saw the cover of this one floating around on Twitter one day. Of course as soon as I realized it was Christmas horror, I snagged a copy for myself!

This collection is so much fun to read! There are tales that are lighter on the horror, while others went into the full-out terror.

I especially loved how this collection didn’t shy away from the darkness of the holiday season.

My favorites from this collection include:

• Midnight Visitors 
• The House by the Woods
• Christmas in the Empty Cabin

Here are my notes on each tale-

Midnight Visitors 
The night of November 1st, Sophie’s parents urge her to go to sleep. She finally does but is awoken at midnight by sounds in the kitchen. Of course she goes to investigate.

This one had suspense, a bit of spookiness, and a lot of love! Who wouldn’t give for one more meal all together? 

My Brother Daniel
From the start of this one, it’s clear something is going on. I just had no idea what until it was all laid out! This one threw me for quite the loop! 

The House by the Woods
When a beautiful girl asks this boy for help, he jumps immediately to do whatever she needs. She has him enter the woods with her to look for something…

This one seemed so innocent at first, but then it starts to get more and more unsettling. 

Christmas Blues
Short, heartbreaking, and sweet. A tale about a man that will do anything for family. 

Christmas in the Empty Cabin
While on their annual camping trip, disaster strikes leaving one man stuck in a tent with an injury while the other goes for help. He gets caught in a nasty storm, but the storm isn’t the only thing to worry about. 

Phew, this one was absolutely chilling. I was so nervous for these two every step of the way. I loved the ending!

A Scurry Furry Christmas 
The toy of the year is an ugly little thing. It’s impossible to find and obviously it’s the only toy this man’s daughter asked for. But when a woman curses others trying to get the last three, the toys become something else!

What a bloody way to end this collection! Phew! The ugliness that comes out during normal crazed shopping is intense, but this tale brought it to a whole new level. 

My Favorite Passage from Christmas in the Empty Cabin and Other Holiday Tales

Erica and Luke stepped into the woods. It was like a horror movie waiting to happen. The thunder started rumbling, and light rain started to come down, squeezing between the woods.

My Final Thoughts on Christmas in the Empty Cabin and Other Holiday Tales

I love holiday short stories, and this one really hit it out of the park for me. Many of these characters and plotlines settled fully into my brain while reading, and I know I won’t be forgetting about them anytime soon.

While this may have been my first read from E., it most definitely will not be my last! I cannot wait to dive into more works soon.

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Thanks for reading!