4.5 stars!

The Seeds of Nightmares is a collection of wide variety and scope. It truly stands above most other collections and anthologies I've read this year, or any other year, really. Rarely is it that I am so impressed with an author with whom I was totally unfamiliar.

Nearly every story in the book worked for me, but these are the ones that made the strongest impressions:

Stardust Amazing, sad and beautiful, this story of twins with an abusive father will stick with you for a long time. Maybe even forever.

The Strange Saga of Mattie Dyer When I met Tony and bought this book last October, he signed it with the warning "Stay away from the holes." I didn't know what the hell he was talking about, but last week, (after a late night book buying spree), I read this story and it all became clear. This tale is definitely in my top ten short stories of all time, just because it's so strange and original. Plus, the author doesn't spoil it all by trying to over explain things. Once you read it, you'll see. In the meantime, stay away from the holes.

The Soldiers Wife I'm not sure why short stories about soldiers work well for me, but they do. At first, I was comparing this story to Robert McCammon's Nightcrawlers, (from his Blue World collection), and then The Soldier's Wife took such a twisted turn, I gasped out loud. Well done!

An Alabama Christmas This was another poignant tale that nearly broke my heart.

Lastly, Husband of Kellie Extremely short, but packing a punch that will knock you right out.

The Seeds of Nightmares made an impact on me due to its originality and the author's skill. It takes a special kind of talent to write stories with staying power, and Mr. Tremblay has that talent, in spades.

You can get a copy here: The Seeds of Nightmares


*I paid for this book with my hard earned money, and Mr. Tremblay did sign it for me. Even though I consider him to be an online friend, this did not affect the content of my review. * ( )

I've been reading Tony Tremblay for a few years now, but this is the first time I've read any of his fiction. Most of what I've read previously are his posts on Facebook. Tons of them. Tony has quite the presence on social media and that's a good thing, particularly if you're a fan of literary horror. Tony's support of the genre is nothing short of legendary. If you're a fan of Horror, as I am, he's certainly worth following on Facebook.

When I saw he was releasing his first book of short stories, I had to see what he had to offer, and I'm happy to report it's a book worth getting excited about. The Seeds of Nightmares features thirteen stories, some previously published, many new to this collection, all entertaining in their individual ways.

One of the nice things about this collection is the series of author's notes before each story, giving the reader some insight into how the story came about and it's history.

The Strange Saga of Mattie Dyer - Weird westerns are a lot of fun and when you mix in a bit of H.P. Lovecraft, well, get ready for a wild ride, and just when you think the worst is over...oh, no!

The Old Man - A bit of noir and a clever tale of mistaken identity.

The Burial Board - A burial board, meant to keep the body of a couple's deceased daughter until the ground thaws for internment, seems to have mystical powers.

Something New - A haunting fantasy story of a man who comes home to find his wife in the arms of another man.

Stardust - A melancholic fantasy tale that leads from pain to wonder.

The Soldier's Wife - A powerful ghost story with a gut-wrenching twist.

Tsunami - The author's backstory for this tale is fascinating. When you read The Seeds of Nightmares be sure to read the author's notes. Tsunami is the story of a family torn apart by disaster. It's only natural to grasp at any ray of hope to be together again. But, oh, what a twist.

The Black Dress - "Dash had killed her a little over two months ago." Her revenge is oh, so sweet.

Chiyoung and Dongsun's Song - Another story with a colorful history. A titillating and humorous tale of forbidden love.

Husband of Kellie - Many of Tony's stories have an unexpected twist and this one is a doozy.

An Alabama Christmas - A gruesomely dark tale of an Alabama Christmas.

The Pawnshop - My favorite story in the collection. A fine tale of the lengths we are willing to go for family.

The Visitors - There's a touch of fantasy mixed in with many of the horror stories in this collection. The Visitors is a perfect example.

The Seeds of Nightmares is available as an e-book and is published by Crossroad Press.

Highly recommended.

In addition to being a horror fiction writer, Tony Tremblay is also a founding member and host of The Taco Society Presents, a series of webcasts featuring horror books and the people who write them. You can find the episodes on YouTube and they are definitely worth checking out. ( )