11/15/2025 - Danielle's Dark Corners

Happy Saturday! I can’t believe it’s my last round of UDH Saturday morning blog reviews for 2025. It has been a hell of a year, and I am genuinely thrilled with how I am ending it. Today, I take a look at two KJK anthologies, an Eric LaRocca masterpiece, and the newest release from Jason Nickey, which also happens to be published by UDH! Let’s dive in, and other than a few special things here and there, I will see you all next year!

THE HORROR COLLECTION: MORTE EDITION

Curated by Kevin J. Kennedy

Narrated by Todd Waites

I am always a huge fan of KJK anthologies. The TOC of authors is always fantastic, and I always find that I enjoy all of the stories. This one was no different. The only difference for me when I read this anthology was that I did the audiobook. And, if you know me, you know that I typically don’t do audiobooks. (Simply because of life, reading is easier for me) – That being said, I made the time to listen to this one, and I LOVED it! The narrator was fantastic, and I will admit, I am picky about narrators.

Typically, when I review an anthology, I take each story one by one. I also take extensive notes. Doing the audible version of this book did make it harder with my note-taking BUT given there are almost 20 authors featured in this book, it would be a novella in itself for me to review each one individually. I am not one to cherry-pick either, so I will speak for the anthology as a whole and say that each author did a brilliant job. Each story was extremely unique. They ALL had fantastic twists and featured their own set of horrors.

I absolutely recommend this book, whether it's the physical copy, the eBook, or yes… even the audible!

SYNOPSIS:

Kevin J. Kennedy’s newest release weaves a chilling tapestry of fear, blending the grotesque, the supernatural, and the utterly bizarre. This gripping horror anthology brings together nineteen stories, each more terrifying than the last, as it delves into the darkest corners of human experience and the unexplainable horrors that lurk just out of sight. From high-tech terror to ancient folklore, these tales are bound to haunt readers long after they’ve turned the last page.

The Horror Collection Morte Edition taps into primal fears with each story, expertly blending dread with the unknown. From the macabre and eerie to the outright monstrous, these tales will leave you questioning what lurks just beyond the edges of reality, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Perfect for fans of unnerving horror and spine-tingling tales, this anthology is a journey into the darkest parts of the human mind and the realms beyond.

Amazon: https://a.co/d/7toIZZ6

THE HORROR COLLECTION: CHRISTMAS EDITION

Curated by Kevin J. Kennedy

It has only been over the last couple of years that I got into the horror books that are holiday driven. For some reason, they were never superbly appealing to me. Well, I am really glad I got over that, or I would have missed out on this gem. The newest KJK release is a phenomenal anthology featuring over 15 stories surrounding Christmas. The author lineup is incredible for this one, too. Every story is beyond what I could have expected. The authors absolutely nailed it. So unique. So creepy. So in the Christmas spirit. I really can't say enough good things about this one. It’s the new holiday horror staple, in my opinion. I could not recommend this more if I tried!

SYNOPSIS:

“’Tis the season… to scream.”

Tinsel and terror return in The Horror Collection: Christmas Edition, the latest chilling installment of Kevin J. Kennedy’s bestselling anthology series. This festive fright-fest unwraps a sleigh full of sinister tales from an all-star lineup of horror’s finest authors. Where the season of goodwill turns into the season of screams.

Deep in the snow-shrouded North Pole, Santa Claus hides a century-old secret that could end Christmas forever, while Mrs. Claus, tired of her husband’s jolly façade, plots a dark revenge that drips with blood-red ribbon. Krampus stalks the naughty once more — but this year, he’s brought friends. From haunted dolls that whisper in the night to killer advent calendars counting down to your final breath, each story is a gift you’ll wish you’d left unopened.

With its blend of twisted tradition, folklore, and modern terror, The Horror Collection: Christmas Edition proves that even under the mistletoe, no one is safe. Grab a mug of cocoa, stoke the fire, and prepare for a festive season you’ll never forget — if you live to see the New Year.

With stories by Ronald Kelly, Lindsay Crook, Dexter McLeod, Milan Kovačević, Viggy Parr Hampton, Glenn Rolfe , Devin Cabrera, Graham Masterton, Ryan Colley, Lisa Morton, Brad Ricks, Iain Rob Wright, David Moody, Veronica Smith, Amy Cross & James Newman

Amazon: https://a.co/d/3H1Pkpa

WE ARE ALWAYS TENDER WITH OUR DEAD: BURNT SPARROW, Book 1

By Eric LaRocca

"The guardsmen prod the faceless family like cattle until they're shuffling off the stage and back into the dark room from where they came. Rupert's eyes follow them until they vanish beyond the door. He wonders how a family of three could organize and execute something so monstrous, so evil.

He's unnerved at the recollection of their facelessness and the small pinholes they breathed through. Rupert's not necessarily surprised that something so evil doesn't have a face. He had expected it. He thinks about that while he and his father make the drive back home, the country road zigzagging in front of them. When they pass people on the street, Rupert now has to do a double take to make sure that they still have faces."

This was hands down the hardest book for me to read so far this year. I have zero triggers. I have read some wild books. But this one takes the cake. It is NOT a gross-out. It is NOT filled with body fluids, and that type of extreme. But when I say I was nauseated while reading this book, I literally had to put it down more than once and walk away from it. And when I finished reading, I had to sit on for a solid three days before I could even think about a review.

This book was amazing. Brilliant in every way possible. My favorite of LaRocca’s work yet. It is a dystopian feeling. It’s horror with me lies with the fact that it’s plausible to happen… and that is terrifying to me. As a New Englander, I have a soft spot for books set here, and it’s an extremely atmospheric story, so I loved that. LaRocca’s writing style is very unique, and I loved the additions of diary entries and newspaper articles sprinkled throughout the book.

I cannot praise this book enough. I cannot recommend this book enough. And there aren’t enough stars in the sky that I could give this book. Simple as that.

SYNOPSIS:

Michael McDowell’s Blackwater meets Clive Barker’s The Great and Secret Show in the disturbing first installment of a new trilogy of intense, visceral, beautifully written queer horror set in a small New England town.

A chilling supernatural tale of transgressive literary horror from the Bram Stoker Award® finalist and Splatterpunk Award-winning author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke.

The lives of those residing in the isolated town of Burnt Sparrow, New Hampshire, are forever altered after three faceless entities arrive on Christmas morning to perform a brutal act of violence—a senseless tragedy that can never be undone. While the townspeople grieve their losses and grapple with the aftermath of the attack, a young teenage boy named Rupert Cromwell is forced to confront the painful realities of his family situation. Once relationships become intertwined and more carnage ensues as a result of the massacre, the town residents quickly learn that true retribution is futile, cruelty is earned, and certain thresholds must never be crossed no matter what.

Engrossing, atmospheric, and unsettling, this is a devastating story of a small New England community rocked by an unforgivable act of violence. Writing with visceral intensity and profound eloquence, LaRocca journeys deep into the dark heart of Burnt Sparrow, leaving you chilled to the bone and wanting more.

Amazon: https://a.co/d/jfVofcx

BADLANDS

By Jason Nickey

"I could see the monster behind his eyes, the monster I had dealt with for years. I had felt trapped with this monster for too long and was desperate for an escape."

Jason Nickey blew me away with this story. I was fortunate to read it probably over a year ago now, when he first had the idea. Now to see it come fully to life and have it published through UDH is amazing to see. That being said, this book is emotionally damaging to the max, all in less than 100 pages. Nickey comes out swinging hard with this and doesn’t let up until the end. There are so many elements here, too.

If you have ever read WRECKAGE by Jason Nickey, then you know the psychological warfare he’s capable of, and with BADLANDS, he says, “hold my beer” and rips your heart out. I often say that Nickey’s writing style actually reminds me a lot of LaRocca’s in ways. So there’s some slight irony to reviewing them both on the same day. I cannot recommend this book more. It’s one of my favorite books by him. If you’re already familiar with his writing, this one will make you love it even more. If you aren't familiar with his writing, this is a great place to start!

It releases on Godless 11/21 and then will be available on Amazon 12/5. You can preorder is using the links below.

SYNOPSIS:

When Jimmy meets up with his old high school friends, including a former crush, it's a bittersweet reunion, balancing old friendships with the challenges of adulthood.

To make matters worse, Troy shows up with Paul, a new friend who seems determined to take over their plans, leading them deep into the New Mexico desert.

Jimmy already has a bad feeling, but things are about to get so much worse once they enter the Badlands.

“Badlands is not your typical horror read, all flashy or full of jump scares- it’s a slow, character-driven horror story that builds its tension from real emotion and guilt. It weaves a tale of old friendships and love, all to be rekindled for a trip in the desert that you will not see coming.”—Dan Shrader, author of CABIN BLACK

Godless: https://godless.com/collections/jason-nikey

Amazon: https://a.co/d/42GmPXa