If you haven’t read any of Nick Clausen’s work yet, you gotta check this one out! Chills & Creeps Vol 1 contains eight amazingly horrific tales. Each is so unique and they will totally suck you in.
While labeled as YA, these tales will really spook you and they will definitely get under your skin!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my review in any way.
Let’s dive in!
My Thoughts on Chills & Creeps: Eight Scary Stories by Nick Clausen
Each story in this collection was amazing. I was totally immersed in each and couldn’t stop reading them until I had hit the end of the tale. I also loved that the author added a little authors note to the end of each story to share where the idea from the story came.
Here are my quick reviews for each tale in the collection:
Under the Skin – 5 Stars
Eek! I wanted to scream at this kid to get out of there! Follow your gut instincts, kids! Phew, what a terrifying story with such a gross and creepy premise! And such a great ending!! I will forever think of this tale when someone compliments my skin, and boy am I glad I have tattoos and scars!
I loved the authors note on this one that came with a recommendation for other reading.
Snapper the Fish – 4 Stars
Oh my goodness! What a terrifying creature! Right from the start, you knew something bad was going to happen. After all, how many tales of dads throwing their money at someone to appease their child actually have happy endings? This ending was brutal!
Deadly Dreams – 5 Stars
Oh my gosh!! Getting sucked into a video game is always such a terrifying premise. This story is centered upon the curiosity we all have when someone tells us not to do something. I loved that the two boys in this story worked together, but the poor kid that was just trying to help his friend…
All birds hate me – 5 Stars
Holy! I watched The Birds for the first time when I was far too young… and this one certainly makes me think of that movie! Being bombarded by birds is such a terrifying thought! This one really spooked me! I’m very happy that this isn’t an actual condition!
Ghost Tennis – 4 Stars
Woah! Talk about a major red flag at the beginning! I both loved and hated this main character. But phew, what a crazy situation! And yet again, that ending!! I’m so glad I don’t live near a tennis court!
Drip-Drip-Drip – 5 Stars
Oh my gosh! This is definitely a nightmare!! The plot of this one is such a crazy thought, but one I’ve actually also had before. This one made me super anxious! The suspense was great, but I definitely felt claustrophobic quite a bit while reading this one!
When I Snap My Fingers… – 5 Stars
Woah! Horrifying. I equally love and hate this one because of how dark this got! Phew. Hypnosis freaks me out so much. And what a crazy thought to mix it with a seance-like session, to call forth a past life.
Lights Out – 5 Stars
Woah! Having a super power of turning lights on and off? What an awesome idea! But of course, with great power… comes great responsibility. This kid certainly learned a lesson.
My Final Thoughts on Chills & Creeps: Eight Scary Stories
This collection was so much fun to read! I loved each of the stories so much. The two that I gave 4/5 were simply ones with slightly unlikable characters, which aren’t my personal favorites.
Each and every story was creepy and dark! I highly recommend this collection if you’re looking for a handful of short stories that you can really get lost in. But make sure that you’re prepared to be spooked!
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Thanks for reading!
Feel free to check out my reviews for some of Nick’s other works:
Another collection with all 4 and 5 star stories! It sounds like Clausen is a great short story writer. Glad you enjoyed this one!
He sure is! I highly recommend him if you’re looking for something spooky!
Wow, all 4 or 5 star short stories. It sounds like this is truly a wonderful collection!!
It was AMAZING!