Rating: out of five

URL: http://www.sonar4publications.com/decay.html

Tooth Decay, Vampires and Zombie Stories, edited and introduced by Tonia Brown, is a collection of thirteen horror stories.  Wouldn’t you just know it?  Isn’t that just a perfect number ("13") for such a type of anthology?  It makes one wonder if they did that on purpose.  I wouldn’t put it past them . . .

With such great authors as Shells Walter, Tonia Brown herself, Chris Bartholomew, Frank Roger, and others, this is a fascinating look into the really dark side.  Whether you like the newly dead, or zombie wed, you’ll like this anthology.  I’ve reviewed Ms. Shells Walter before, and have found her work consistently original, intriguing, and well written.  So every time I see her name, I immediately have a desire to read her work.  This is for good reason.  She’s good!

Tonia Brown was a pleasant and new surprise for me, as well.  She has a real talent for horror, no doubt.  And as with all anthologies, I found some stories more to my taste than others, but rest assured there is enough horror and supernatural variety here for something to appeal to everyone who has a love of such dark fiction.  My particular favorites were Tooth Decay, by Ms. Walter, My Goth Prom Date, by Brian Rosenberger, Resistance, by Kevin Wallis, Sweet Tooth by Tonia Brown, and Midnight Highway, by Lucas Pederson.  I enjoyed the others, but these were my definite favorites.

Again, to restate, as is usual with all anthologies, I had some stories, for various reasons, which appealed less to me than those mentioned above. This isn’t because of bad writing, but just because of my particular tastes in fiction.  Overall, I think that Tooth Decay, Vampires and Horror Stories, is well worth purchasing and reading, preferably on a dark and stormy night!  If you are planning to use it to lull yourself to sleep—forget it!  This one is definitely an edge-of-your-seat collection of stories, so keep the tranquilizers handy for afterwards!  Otherwise, you may have a long night ahead of you!

The complete list of authors and titles in this anthology are: Biting Choices, by Chris Bartholomew, My Goth Prom Date, by Brian Rosenberger, The Face of Fear, by John "Jam" Arthur Miller, The Breakthrough, by Frank Roger, Midnight Highway, by Lucas Pederson, The Dripping Nose That Wouldn’t Wipe, by James S. Dorr, Resistance, by Kevin Wallis, Squalus, by Michelle Garren Flye, Stage Fright, by Tonia Brown, Tooth Decay, by Shells Walter, Sweet Tooth, by Tonia Brown, The Dead Don’t Like the Sounds of Basketballs, by A. J. Brown, and What comes Next, by John Bruni.

I give Tooth Decay, Vampires and Horror Stories, 4 out of a possible 5 Aliens.  Buy it and read it. You won’t be disappointed.

I look forward to their next anthology.  And as a side note, I thought the part of the title, Tooth Decay, and the names of some of the stories were a clever and fun idea.  Candy is dandy, but this stuff may really rot your teeth!  But you’ll enjoy it.