Ok, so I was waiting for the final straggler to make it in before I left my reviews. Here goes...
Liquid Lust: I've been following these characters for a while, and I like being able to see them in a relaxed environment. Even superheroes need time off from saving the world sometimes.
Stalker: This was creepy on so many different levels. Good job. *shudder*
Blue Eyes: Crispin was a bit creepy himself, but I'm glad he got revenge, the jerk deserved it.
Bones: Not really my thing, but no one likes everything. Good job on bringing the gruesome.
Black Cat: Aww I love this. I've got my own little black kitty, and she's my sweetheart. I'm one of those weird people that adore black cats. Shame on those that try to hurt them.
The Price of the Land: I like how you brought a sequel to last year's story to the party. Mayhaps next year we will see more? Is this a new tradition I see building?
The Last House: Creeeeepy. I almost wanna say I need more, like what was in the dark, but I don't want to know cuz it's creepier not to know.
A Very Crappy Halloween Short: I can't wait for the books to come out with these guys. This short'll make a lot more sense to the rest of the people when they do. I thought it was funny :D
A Very Crappy Halloween Short - The_CL
I was kinda hoping the mask was a real human face (ie, murder victim, parted out),. Overall, an entertaining short :)
BronxWench, "The Price of the Land"
What's Halloween without a story about foolish teenagers bringing otherworldly doom upon themselves? Seriously, I like that you took a trope like that one and then shined it up by putting an Irish cultural and mythological twist on it. And the shine brightens with the contrast between modern, everyday Ireland and mythical, spooky-ass Ireland.
I don't really blame Connor for his choice at the end. It looked like his friends were doomed regardless of what he did, and he'll have to pay "the price" for the rest of his life.
Also, I loved this description: "their robes made the same slithering sound, as if one let a long, thin chain fall into one's palm."
Amusing side note: The reader app on my phone mangled all the Irish names but pronounces "Samhain" properly.
Thanks for a good Halloween tale.
Liquid Lust:
Now that was absolutely sweet! A Halloween party full of treats, and the only trick is having to admit what you really wanted all along... Honestly, they were all completely adorable, and the sex was the best treat of all! :D
Stalker:
Now this was a nice twist on the trick-or-treat motif. I imagine if my spawn were still small enough to go around and bedg for treats, I'd be thinking of this for sure. But wouldn't it be the perfect time to practice one's homicidal technique... Lovely story! :D
Blue Eyes:
Right, this was definitely chilling. Wonderfully chilling, actually. I quite liked Crispin, and his respect for the dead. I worked for a time in a cemetery, and I can tell you, the morticians are a definite odd bunch. For all the somber sympathy of their appearance at a viewing, they are bawdy, irreverent, and downright contemptuous when bringing a body to be buried, or interred. Rudd did little to change my impression of the profession, and I didn't shed a tear for his fate.
But, oh...the imagery is so very vivid... lovely!
Bones:
I have to confess, I was wincing through this entire story, mostly for the scat but also because of the savagery of the religion in this. It's very funny, because as a pagan myself, I'm more used to seeing my beliefs portrayed with such venom, and I find I'm no more comfortable with the shoe being on the other foot, so to speak.
But really, as a story of the perils of indoctrination, and abuse, this is outstanding. A cure for any residual late-night munchies, but that could prove to be an unexpected bonus, perhaps the grace note for wading through the effluvia.
Black Cat:
This was wonderful, and made me giggle. Would that it were true, and perhaps black cats wouldn't be at risk from the superstitious among us. But I will be cheered to think they get their own back. Ah, Karma, you deft bitch... :D
The Last House:
Okay, this was the perfect ending for the compilation, or at least as much as we have so far. I'm telling you, I am starting to LOVE living in an apartment. All we have to contend with is the neighbor kids, adorable costumes, and one or two crotchety types who grumble every year, and the only thing disappearing is my resolve in the face of leftover chocolate...
Wonderfu story!
KoKoa_B's "The Last House"
I was grinning like an idiot at the end of this story. The whole first part, while I was reading, I was trying to guess what abrupt horrors it was going to end on. My first guess was Hansel and Gretel style witches. But it was even more awesome than that - it was abrupt and horrific and still left me with so many questions.
Awesome story!