Publication Date: 19th August 2023
Genre: Horror Short Story Anthology
Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/171681743-the-pumpkin-king-and-other-tales-of-terror
Age Range: This is an adult book but would be suitable for mature older teens who are familiar with the psychological horror genre.
Trigger Warnings:
Violence, murder, familial death, disturbing situations throughout
3.45 stars
One Liner: A decent collection
Book Blurb
The Pumpkin King
and Other Tales of Terror represents twenty of R. David Fulcher’s best horror
stories. Unlike slasher books, these stories create an eerie atmosphere of
dread, letting the reader’s own imagination fill in the terrifying details. In
the tradition of psychological horror and dark fantasy, they hint at sinister
things lurking in the shadows without fully bringing them to light.
***
My Thoughts:
I enjoy reading short story collections, so when
this horror anthology was available, I wanted to give it a try. The horror
levels are moderate and belong to the atmospheric category rather than outright
gore. Of course, there are a few gory elements but not so much to make a reader
uncomfortable (unless you have zero tolerance for horror).
The book starts with a eulogy to Poe in a short
poem. As I tend to do with anthologies, I’ve written my impressions of the
stories soon after I read each one.
Marienburg Castle: What
happens when the survivors of the WWII American Army try to take shelter in an
abandoned place? Nothing good for sure! Well, the story is atmospheric but
lacks the punch. 3.5 stars
The Pumpkin King: Ohhh…
this is creepy! No detailed gore but enough for us to imagine. Wouldn’t mind if
it was longer, but works as it is. 4.2 stars
Heavenly Strains: Another
chilly, creepy, and atmospheric tale. It deals with parental death and grief,
which turn into something else. Many unanswered questions, too! 3 stars
A Matter of Taste: A
slightly longer story that follows the well-known trope of wishes and fallen
angels. There’s a twist that I expected; a pretty average read. 3 stars
My Days With Mahalia: A
diary entry of a WWII soldier about an aircraft B-17 named Mahalia. 2.5
stars
A Night Out With Mr. Bones: More
like a twisty thriller/ suspense. A bit predictable. 3 stars
Merry Are We of the Lake: Now,
this is good! Atmospheric. Starts slow but ups the stakes gradually and ends on
a high. 4.2 stars
The Night Fighter: What
happens when a mysterious man steals a fighter plane to take it on a night
ride? Is it a mission? If yes, what? Another atmospheric tale with a couple of
twists. 3.5 stars.
Pumpkin Seed Spit: A
middle-grade horror set during Halloween. Creepy and dark for the age group but
works well for the adults, too. 3.5 stars
A Night for Animals: This
is nice. Yeah, it has some chills, but the overall vibe is ‘nice’. 3.5
stars
The Man Next Door: Oh,
this is good! A detailed story with a twist at the end. Atmospheric. Not gory
or scary. 4 stars
Extra! Extra!: What
happens when a bored journalist gets a frantic call? Well, this has the chills,
though it leaves many questions unanswered. 3 stars
For the Children: Oh!
A detailed story with a surprise twist at the end. 4 stars
The Watcher’s Web: What
happens when a robber goes on a heist? Who does he encounter? The story builds
and ups the pace as it progresses. Just the right amount of horror and terror.
Well done! 4 stars
Dreaming, The Copper City: A
sci-fi horror about a man on the Moon and what happens when he finds a piece of
meteor. I think we lost each other somewhere in the last section. 2.5
stars
The Huntress: Oh,
this is good. A short and entertaining piece. Predictable ending, of course,
but well-written. 4 stars
The Faerie Lights: Another
short piece. Good premise but needs to be longer to create a stronger impact. 3
stars
The October Man: Woo!
This is so good. The right touch of creepy and horror with a twisted ending.
The best of the lot. 4.5 stars
As you can see, most of the stories fall around the
average line, with some above and below it. The writing is easy to read. Some
pieces are on the slower side, though none are boring as such.
To summarize, The Pumpkin King and Other Tales of
Terror is a decent collection with diverse topics and themes (aircraft is a
recurring element). Anthologies are subjective, so try it based on your
preferences.
My thanks to Coffee and Thorn and the author of
eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the
book.
***
About the Author – R David Fulcher
FULCHER’S work has appeared in numerous small press
publications including Lovecraft’s Mystery Magazine, Black Satellite, The
Martian Wave, Burning Sky, Shadowlands, Twilight Showcase, Heliocentric Net,
Gateways, Weird Times, Freaky Frights and the anthologies Dimensions and Silken
Ropes. Fulcher’s work can also be found in the DPP collection Halloween Party
2019, available at Amazon and at the DPP online store. A passion for the
written word has also inspired Fulcher to edit and publish the literary magazine,
Samsara,(samsaramagazine.net), which has showcased writers and poets for over a
decade. Fulcher resides in Ashburn, Virginia, with his wife Lisa, and their
rambunctious cats.
Find more at rdavidfulcher.com
***
This has been a pitstop on the blog tour by Coffee and Thorn (Instagram). Thank you for stopping by!
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