Haunted Nights is a collection of sixteen short stories of horror, each one connected to Halloween. Edited by Ellen Datlow and Lisa Morton, the stories are written by well known authors such as Kelley Armstrong, Garth Nix and Stephen Graham Jones.

The connection to Halloween was very different for each story so along with scheming jack-o’-lanterns, strange changelings, scary masks that aren’t near as frightening as what they are covering, there are also stories about trick or treating in the future and horrifying urban legends. For me, as with all short story collections, some worked better than others, but all in all, this was an excellent Halloween treat filled with striking images and plenty of chills. ( )

FYI review - Table of Contents:
-With Graveyard Weeds and Wolfsbane Seeds by Seanan McGuire
-Dirtmouth by Stephen Graham Jones
-A Small Taste of the Old Country by Jonathan Maberry
-Wick’s End by Joanna Parypinski
-The Seventeen-Year Itch by Garth Nix
-A Flicker of Light on Devil’s Night by Kate Jonez
-Witch Hazel by Jeffrey Ford
-Nos Galan Gaeaf by Kelley Armstrong
-We’re Never Inviting Amber Again by S. P. Miskowski
-Sisters by Brian Evenson
-All Through the Night by Elise Forier Edie
-A Kingdom of Sugar Skulls and Marigolds by Eric J. Guignard
-The Turn by Paul Kane
-Jack by Pat Cadigan
-Lost in the Dark by John Langan
-The First Lunar Halloween by John R. Little

This anthology by the horror writers association was a mixed trick or treat bag of goodies for all fans of short horror fiction and of course Halloween. A couple of the stories leaned more towards sci-fi and although that's just not my thing I still enjoyed this book.

The stories that really stood out for me were With Graveyard Weeds and Wolfbane Seeds by Seanan McGuire about an old abandoned house that never seems to fall into disrepair and some teen vandals who intend to break in.

Dirtmouth by Stephen Graham Jones in which a man who is grieving the loss of his wife plans a get away with his children over Halloween, the one night of year when anything is possible.

A Small Taste of the Old Country by Jonathan Maberry concerns two men who are treated to a most delicious and well deserved meal.

Wick’s End by Joanna Parypinski Two strangers in a tavern tell each other scary stories in a competition where the stakes are higher than they appear to be.

The only story that really scared me was We’re Never Inviting Amber Again by S. P. Miskowski A man regrets inviting his quirky sister-in-law to his Halloween party, she always ruins everything but this night is really hell on his guests!

A Flicker of Light on Devil’s Night by Kate Jonez What's a poor single mother to do when she's lost control of her children and Halloween is coming?

All Through the Night by Elise Forier Edie is a hauntingly tragic tale of a destitute widowed mother trying to make a life for herself and her baby when she meets a strange man in a tavern who might not be human.

I received an advance copy for review. ( )

A collection of short stories published by Blumhouse Books, part of Blumhouse Productions.
Here are stories that feature traditional horror tropes, such as the haunted house or secluded cabin, but each story has an unexpected twist that brings a freshness and true creepiness. These are character driven stories rather than gory, in fact there's little blood. All the stories have at least a part that takes place on Halloween.
In "We're Never Inviting Amber Again" by S.P. Miskowski, a jerk who hates his sister-in-law is given proof that she isn't just an attention-seeking weirdo. In "The Seventeen Year Itch" by Garth Nix, the long-time employees of a psych ward try to convince a new doctor that they need to take special precautions on Halloween with a certain patient.
Well-chosen, well-written and highly recommended. ( )

Young people these days
taking part in ancient rites
bleeding out in caves. ( )