Christmas and Other Horrors: A Winter Solstice Anthology — Horror Fiction

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🩸 Horror Fiction

Christmas and Other Horrors: A Winter Solstice Anthology

Name: Christmas and Other Horrors: A Winter Solstice Anthology
Price: 27.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781803363264

✍️ Josh Malerman

Reader Score

4.5

(2 reviews)

$27.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A winter solstice anthology by Josh Malerman exploring dark folklore and supernatural horror.

This collection examines the duality of the winter season through the lens of horror fiction. Josh Malerman assembles new narratives that contrast traditional joy with ancient fears. The work focuses on the period when nights are longest, a time historically linked to spectral activity. By integrating figures like the Mari Lwyd and the Schnabelperchten, the book bridges geographical divides in folklore. It does not merely retell old myths but presents them through contemporary short fiction. The structure allows for a varied exploration of fear, moving from European traditions to more generic supernatural threats like golems. This approach highlights how different cultures process the anxiety of the dark season.

Key Themes

winter solstice horror Austrian Schnabelperchten Welsh Mari Lwyd

Literary Context

The book sits within the tradition of winter solstice storytelling, where long nights have historically been associated with ghouls and hauntings. It draws on specific European folklore traditions, including Austrian and Welsh customs, to frame the horror of the festive season.

Josh Malerman

📚 all books by this author (49) →

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Shirley Jackson · Algernon Blackwood · Ramsey Campbell

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Titan Books (UK) 📅 2023 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781803363264

📚 This Book in Collections

📚 Horror Anthologies & Story Collections

📝 Description: Christmas and Other Horrors: A Winter Solstice Anthology

Josh Malerman curates a chilling collection titled Christmas and Other Horrors: A Winter Solstice Anthology. This volume explores the darker side of the festive season, focusing on the long nights that accompany the winter solstice. While many celebrate joy during this time, these stories highlight traditions involving ghouls, hauntings, and supernatural visitations. The anthology invites readers to consider the unholy and dangerous aspects of family gatherings. The text draws upon specific cultural folklore to ground its horror. Readers will encounter tales featuring the eerie Austrian Schnabelperchten and the skeletal Welsh Mari Lwyd. Other narratives include ravenous golems, uncanny neighbors, and unwelcome visitors. These elements capture the heart and horror of the festive season. The stories are presented as all-new works, offering fresh perspectives on familiar seasonal fears. The collection is published by Titan Books in the UK. This book suits readers who appreciate gothic fiction and supernatural tales rooted in specific cultural traditions. It may not appeal to those seeking purely lighthearted holiday cheer or secular celebrations without dark undertones. The anthology serves as a companion for those who find comfort in the frightful rather than the festive. It captures the mood of a time when the fire inside is hungry, reflecting the tension between warmth and dread.

💎 Our verdict on Christmas and Other Horrors: A Winter Solstice Anthology

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Josh Malerman curates a chilling volume that successfully bridges geographical divides in folklore, presenting fresh short fiction grounded in European traditions like the Schnabelperchten and Mari Lwyd. The anthology effectively highlights the unholy aspects of family gatherings and the long nights of winter, offering a sophisticated exploration of spectral activity. However, this book may not appeal to those seeking purely lighthearted holiday cheer or secular celebrations without dark undertones. It is best suited for readers who appreciate gothic fiction and are comfortable with themes of hauntings and supernatural visitations. While it captures the mood of a time when 'the fire inside is hungry,' it demands an appetite for the terrifying rather than the comforting.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

This collection is ideal for readers who appreciate the duality of the festive season, seeking narratives that explore ancient fears rather than traditional joy. It appeals to those drawn to gothic fiction and supernatural tales rooted in specific cultural traditions, offering fresh perspectives on familiar seasonal anxieties. By featuring all-new works involving ghouls, hauntings, and figures like ravenous golems, it provides a chilling alternative for those who find comfort in the frightful rather than the festive. The anthology captures the tension between warmth and dread, making it perfect for enthusiasts of cosmic and psychological horror who enjoy exploring how different cultures process the anxiety of the dark season through varied and evocative storytelling.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

Readers who revel in gothic horror and folk tales will find much to admire here. If you prefer purely lighthearted holiday cheer or secular celebrations devoid of dark undertones, this anthology's grim traditions may leave you cold.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 2 reviews

Beth A.

April 26, 2026

Very good

Was skeptical at first. The prose is clean and the scares land because the characters feel real. A couple of the side characters are thinly drawn. Still worth having on the shelf.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, it focuses on the darker, supernatural side of the winter solstice, featuring tales of hauntings and folklore rather than typical holiday warmth.

All narratives are brand-new works curated by Josh Malerman, providing fresh perspectives on seasonal fears instead of repackaged classics.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

This collection taps into the ancient dread surrounding the winter solstice, when the year’s longest nights invite supernatural visitations. By weaving in specific folklore like the Austrian Schnabelperchten and Welsh Mari Lwyd, it aligns with horror’s tradition of exploring the unholy aspects of family gatherings. It offers fresh, all-new narratives that ground seasonal fears in cultural history, transforming familiar festive tropes into chilling encounters with ghouls and ravenous entities.