7-13-25 - Christina Critiques (SPA Best Anthology AND a special review)
- Christina Pfeiffer
- Jul 13
- 4 min read
This is going to be a rough week with my reviews. So, I wanted to start off with a special one that was the highlight of my weekly reads.
Let’s rip the band-aid off and get into them.
SPECIAL REVIEW
DRIVE-THRU OF THE DEAD: DRAYTON FALLS
By: Bryan Smith
Release: 7/10/25
Page count: 171
KU: Yes Hoopla: No
Synopsis: Four stories and a teaser, Smith gives us zombies, a not so happy class reunion, sexy time in the woods, and a fangirl gone wrong.
First line: “Once upon a time in a shitty little southern town called Drayton Falls, a lot of fucked up shit happened.”
Favorite line: “It ain’t misogynistic to say the truth.”
“Drive Thru of the Dead” - Dave started his job tonight at the Big Fiesta Burger with Kelsey as his co-worker. He’ll find out quickly that Karen’s in the drive-thru are the least of his worries.
“Class Reunion Slaughter” - What happens when the girl everyone forgot about hasn’t forgotten about their trespasses? Twenty-five year later - there will be a reckoning they won’t be able to forget.
“Lust from Beyond the Stars” - Fat Bob is a bit sweet on Bonnie Grace even if she is the town bicycle (everyone gets a ride). When he finally gets her all alone in the woods, he gets more than he or his Trojans bargained for.
“He Walks at Night” - A once notorious prowler of the night gets his boomer ass in gear to make a comeback until he meets a fan that is a bit too much of a fangirl.
Thoughts: I have been reading these on his Patreon as he released them, and I they are even better as a collection. Drayton Falls is such a blast to visit (I’m not going to move there, for sure). Smith is in his element in this wild and crazy universe. I cannot wait until the next story comes out!
Rating: 5/5
Other recommendations: DEAD STRIPPER STORAGE, THE KILLING KIND SERIES
SPA BEST ANTHOLOGY NOMINATIONS
DETHFEST CONFESSIONS: THE DEVIL’S PLAYLIST
Edited by: Mark Tullis and Lyndsey Smith
THIS ANTHOLOGY IS NOT ELIGIBLE DUE TO BEING RELEASED 12/23/23
THE OBITS #6
Edited by: Beauregard, et al.
Release: 6/1/24
Page count: 114
KU: No Hoopla: No
Synopsis: Four stories of love, devotion, and a whole lot of blood.
First line: “I’m so nervous’, I said.”
Favorite line: “What will everyone say, huh? That I have a crazy for a kid?”
Thoughts: Unfortunately, this anthology was a bit of a disappointment. Three of the four stories just didn’t work for me. But Daniel Volpe’s story is the redemption and worth the price of admission. It’s clever, unsettling, and terrifying.
Rating: 3/5
Other recommendations: Previous Obituaries releases
https://www.obitshorror.com/product/the-obituaries-issue-6-featuring-c-v-hunt-signed-by-four-authors
SPLATOLOGY 2.0
Edited by: Sidney Shiv and Chisto Healy
Release: 7/10/24
Page count: 306
KU: Yes Hoopla: No
Synopsis: Eighteen stories to push your gag reflex to your very limit.
First line: “As Rock drove down the interstate, only one thing was on his mind: the cargo in his trailer.”
Favorite line: N/A
Thoughts: There were a few standouts: “The Garden, The Bridge” by Judith Sonnet (this is one of the BEST short stories I have ever read), “Call Me Daddy” by Yvonne Miller, and “Strapped” by Z. Martin. A huge complaint I had was the editing. It definitely hurt its rating as there were just too many that couldn’t be ignored.
Rating: 3/5
Other recommendations: N/A
SHOCKING SOJOURNS
Edited by: Sidney Shiv
Release: 5/7/24
Page count: 348
KU: No Hoopla: No
Synopsis: Thirteen tales to shock, disgust, and reveal the worst of humanity.
First line: “What in the name of God is that thing?”
Favorite line: “Who fights the devil when our limbs are broken.”
Thoughts: There were three stories that really stood out: “The Vicarious Vent” by Sarah DeRosa, “The Getaway” by R.J. Daly, and “Backwood Gothic” by Dan Shrader. A few could have been honorable mentions but there were a lot of them that just didn’t work.
Rating: 3.5/5
Other recommendations: SHOCKING SOJOURNS 2
Y’ALL AIN’T RIGHT
Edited by: K. Trap Jones
Release: 2/6/24
Page count: 195
KU: No Hoopla: No
Synopsis: Seventeen absolutely batshit insane stories to keep you busy on a lonely night.
First line: “‘Know what’s better than beer?’ asked Gator.”
Favorite line: “Awright, word t’the wise here, don’t you ever go tellin’ a gal she got titties like baby piglets. She ain’t gonna take it fer a compliment, prolly slap you cross eyed.”
Thoughts: A great anthology with veteran writers and new authors. The standouts: “Toad Juice” by Patrick McDonough, “Genital Grinder 2.0” by Ryan Harding, “Back Road” by Candace Nola, and “Welcome to Clifton, TX” by Eric Butler. Minus a few, this is a stellar anthology that every extreme horror reader should have on their shelf.
Rating: 5/5
Other recommendations: DEAD AND BLOATED
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