If you are anything like us, you tend to try and find new stories to read during each season to get into the mood and this particularly goes for the Christmas season. Enter The Darkest Night. From some of the biggest names in horror comes an Advent calendar of short holiday horror stories perfect for the darkest nights of the year.

The Darkest Night was edited by award-winning author and anthologist Lindy Ryan and with contributions from masters of horror like Josh Malerman, Christopher Golden, and Clay McLeod Chapman and more! While the entire anthology is worth a read, we wanted to focus on a few of our favorite stories from The Darkest Night.

New York Times bestselling author Josh Malerman’s tale, “Children Aren’t the Only Ones Who Know Where the Presents Are Hidden,” intertwines eerie visuals, familial strife, authentic Yuletide terror, and a remarkable conclusion, delivering a chilling take on a not-so-merry Christmas. Honestly, this one had our mouth gaping and a few tears in our eyes.

“Mr. Butler” by Clay McLeod Chapman stands out for its distinctive creativity – featuring eerie ideas, a chilling atmosphere, and remarkable finesse. Chapman had some out-of-the-box thinking on this tale crafting a tale of terror using a cardboard box. Clay succeeds in delivering an impressive story that keeps you engaged.

Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon, both celebrated New York Times bestselling authors, weave a gripping narrative in “Wintry Blue” that gives us two perspectives as a monster is being created. The story thrusts us into an eerie tale of a family, a woman and a bizarre and fearsome being. This story flawlessly captures the essence of its characters’ journeys, embedding the narrative with a mix of suspense and action that had us chilled. Completely terrifying, “Wintry Blue” is a testament to the talent of these two writers.

Nat Cassidy‘s “Nice” masterfully dances between uproarious hilarity and spine-chilling darkness. The tale takes a normal child’s tradition and morphs it into a tale of child terror that had us say cussing out loud. The story was terrifying and unexpected with a startlingly grim conclusion that we could not see coming. The balance of dark comedy and horror was perfect for this holiday anthology. A truly frightening experience.

Immerse yourself in a seasonally chilling anthology teeming with unforgettable stories, all chilling to the bone. This anthology is an essential pick for horror readers looking for a horrific read this winter. Though each tale boasts its unique individuality, the commonality lies in their compelling conclusions. An truly enthralling read for this winter (or any season), it stands as a testament amazing talent in horror storytelling we have at the moment.

The list of authors include Josh Malerman, Clay McLeod Chapman, Gwendolyn Kiste, Tim Waggoner, Hailey Piper, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Lindy Ryan and Christopher Brooks, Eric LaRocca, M. Rickert, Lee Murray, Cynthia Pelayo, Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon, Kelsea Yu, Nat Cassidy, Tommy Hutson, Rachel Harrison, Kristi DeMeester, Sara Tantlinger, Darcy Coates, Jeff Strand, Mercedes M. Yardley, and Jamie Flanagan.