Bad Dreams in the Night

by Adam Ellis

[Quirky Cat]

Summary:

Bad Dreams in the Night is a collection of short stories from the mind of Adam Ellis. More importantly, they're all horror stories. So get ready for chills and thrills because Adam Ellis is not afraid to deliver on that front.

This anthology is perfect for fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and similar formats. It's nostalgic and creepy all in one. Included inside, you'll find eleven horror stories: Me and Evangeline at the Farm, Milk Door, Butter Corn Ramen, Green Ribbon, Forest Fruit, Bus Stop, Hangnail, Better Kate than Never, Little House in the Sea, Murder Party, and Viola Bloom.

Review:

Ohhh, these are perfect! I've read a few of the shorts from Bad Dreams in the Night (thanks to Patreon), but I definitely did not get to read all of them, so this was an absolute delight (terror). It's hard to pick my favorites, but I'd say that I loved Me and Evangeline at the Farm, Green Ribbon, Bus Stop, and Better Kate than Never the most.

Me and Evangeline at the Farm
★★★★★
Me and Evangeline at the Farm is deeply atmospheric, and that's why I love it. There's also that sense of nostalgia, which somehow makes it even creepier? I loved this story – and I loved it even more when I read Adam Ellis' inspiration for it.

Milk Door
★★★★
I'll give you this - Milk Door is creepy. It takes a simple (yet odd) occurrence and turns it to extreme levels in a way that only Adam Ellis can.

Butter Corn Ramen
★★★★
Don't read Butter Corn Ramen while eating. No, I didn't make that mistake (thank god), but I can see it getting bad. This is great if you like creepy tales with body horror elements.

Green Ribbon
★★★★★
I remember reading (being told?) a story about the girl with the ribbon around her throat. It's one of those tales that schoolchildren tell. Adam Ellis clearly had fun playing with that concept and making it his own. I liked this twist.

Forest Fruit
★★★
Forest Fruit is quick and brutal. The implications are horrifying, as interned. It's a simple yet effective horror short.

Bus Stop
★★★★★
Bus Stop is definitely a short that will make you stop and think. It has a bit of the classic moth man vibes but also not? I love how Adam Ellis takes these familiar tones and warps them into his own creation.

Hangnail
★★★★
Hangnail is another quick and brutal story. This one is basically a longer version of that Adam Ellis comic that went viral years ago. Still gives me the chills.

Better Kate than Never
★★★★★
I really love the atmosphere of Better Kate than Never. Think classic 80s and 90s shows – but with a horrifying twist. The horror is more subtle in this one – at first. I would love to see this one turned into a full novel; it has SO much potential.

Little House in the Sea
★★★★
Little House in the Sea is another short that will make you stop and think, and that's probably why I like it. There are so many questions, and the lack of answers makes it pretty terrifying.

Murder Party
★★★
Murder Party is an interesting horror short. Its setup is pretty fantastic, but I had to stop and think to remember how it ended. So, I feel like more could have been done with it.

Viola Bloom
★★★★★
Viola Bloom will always be creepy. Don't try to tell me otherwise! I love how Adam Ellis plays with the concept here, especially in the context of the medium (graphic novels we read at home). It's so perfect.

Highlights:
Horror Story Anthology
Adam Ellis Comics
Twisted Ideas & Stories

Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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