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The Gathering Dark: An Anthology of Folk Horror
These are the stories that haunt us
A cemetery full of the restless dead. A town so wicked it has already burned twice, with the breath of the third fire looming. A rural, isolated bridge with a terrifying monster waiting for the completion of its summoning ritual. A lake that allows the drowned to return, though they have been changed by the claws of death. These are the shadowed, liminal spaces where the curses and monsters lurk, refusing to be forgotten.
Hauntings, and a variety of horrifying secrets, lurk in the places we once called home. Written by New York Times bestselling, and other critically acclaimed, authors these stories shed a harsh light on the scariest tales we grew up with.
A cemetery full of the restless dead. A town so wicked it has already burned twice, with the breath of the third fire looming. A rural, isolated bridge with a terrifying monster waiting for the completion of its summoning ritual. A lake that allows the drowned to return, though they have been changed by the claws of death. These are the shadowed, liminal spaces where the curses and monsters lurk, refusing to be forgotten.
Hauntings, and a variety of horrifying secrets, lurk in the places we once called home. Written by New York Times bestselling, and other critically acclaimed, authors these stories shed a harsh light on the scariest tales we grew up with.
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2022
427 people are currently reading
38851 people want to read
About the author
Tori Bovalino
9 books665 followersTori Bovalino is a bestselling author of young adult horror and fantasy fiction. She loves obscure academic facts, folklore, and oversized sweaters. Find her on Twitter as @toribov and Instagram as @toribovalino.
Tori also writes adult fantasy as V.L. Bovalino.
Tori also writes adult fantasy as V.L. Bovalino.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 939 reviews
February 8, 2023
there is nothing in this life i love more than a creepy fairytale.
except i should have included that i love creepy fairytales that feel, you know, like fairytales. or even, to be more general and (you would think) forgiving, like stories.
that is not quite what we have here.
tragically, for me, because i am addicted to pleasure and do actually want to like everything even though i have a heart filled with hate, it could not have been more obvious that this is a collection of authors used to writing 400 page books trying to write a 25 page story. almost everything felt half-baked or flat or overly ambitious, and these varied a lot in basic quality.
but damn i love a spook! i love eerieness! i wanted to like these more than i did, and still i didn't hate them!
i just love complaining.
bottom line: not bad. not good.
(thanks to the publisher for the arc)
except i should have included that i love creepy fairytales that feel, you know, like fairytales. or even, to be more general and (you would think) forgiving, like stories.
that is not quite what we have here.
tragically, for me, because i am addicted to pleasure and do actually want to like everything even though i have a heart filled with hate, it could not have been more obvious that this is a collection of authors used to writing 400 page books trying to write a 25 page story. almost everything felt half-baked or flat or overly ambitious, and these varied a lot in basic quality.
but damn i love a spook! i love eerieness! i wanted to like these more than i did, and still i didn't hate them!
i just love complaining.
bottom line: not bad. not good.
(thanks to the publisher for the arc)
December 11, 2022
man, i love horror
June 28, 2022
This anthology was nothing like I expected. Really disappointing to say the least.
First and foremost I need to address something, this anthology is titled a folk horror anthology, and I might not be an expert on the genre, but I did watch a couple of movies and read a couple of books/stories of this genre and this anthology, sadly, had none of it. Most of these stories were urban myths/legends and this trope got boring very quickly, simply because ALL of the stories were the same. A weird legend about a house in a town, a weird legend about a bridge in a town, a story of a burning of the church town, a story about the former owners of the house in the 1800´s, you get the gist. It was repetitive, lacked originality, and also is the wrong type of marketing/description to call this folk horror. There was ONE story that had folk horror vibes (even if just a little). There wasn't a single pastoral, idyllic setting type of community, featured in this anthology, the atmosphere and heavy focus on nature/seasons or even use of nature as a type of horror weren´t also there, and not even some cult/religion thing was featured as well. To sum up: in my humble opinion, this is not an anthology of folk horror. In fact, is barely a horror anthology. These stories were not horrific. They were not scary at all. There is a heavy focus on a young adult audience here, but I´ve read ya books that were scarier than this one, so that´s no excuse. Again my point is simple, these stories are the suspense, barely chilling, kind of type. So this whole thing just felt like a huge miss to me. I was expecting a totally different thing and what was delivered was... bad.
On another note, many of the stories in this anthology suffered from something I particularly hate when reading short stories, which is that when I read I feel the story was rushed and underdeveloped and unfortunately many of the stories here were like that, most of these stories were very short indeed and I feel like that was a bad choice in terms of pacing and development of the stories.
OVERALL RATING: 2.5 stars
Now to the breakdown of each short story:
Stay - 3 stars
Interesting way to approach the subject, but just too short. If it was a bit longer it could have been great.
The Tallest Poppy - 4 stars
Really liked the weirdness and eeriness of this one. The ending was a bit confusing and I felt like there was some connection point missing, but if not for that it would have been perfect.
Loved By All, Save One - 2 stars
This was a bit creepy. But it just didn´t work for me. Hated the premise and the execution.
One-Lane Bridge - 1 star
This was the worst of all. Confusing. The writing was all over the place, the plot was incredibly predictable and the ending was disappointing.
The Ghost on the Shore - 2 stars
This one tried to be something and... failed. The ending left me very mad lol, I really feel like this whole story was not thought through.
Petrified - 3 stars
This is the only story that felt like folk horror to me. Though the writing was incredibly messy and confusing, towards the end you can start to make sense of things. This was also the shortest story, so I feel like if it were longer and more polished it really could have been great.
Third Burn - 2 stars
This was one was a massive yawn. Middle towards the end there was a bunch of info-dump that was supposed to make things "make sense" but that just felt like sloppy writing.
It Stays With You - 3 stars
I almost gave this one a four-star, if not for the ending. It was so rushed and didn´t make any sense. The whole pacing and development of this were really good, and with very movie-like descriptions that I could see in my head and also creepy vibes as well. If this one was featured in a different theme of an anthology like classic urban legends or something 80´s themed it would have made SO much more sense.
Truth or Dare - 4 stars
I´m giving this one a four because the writing is SO good. I adored it. The concept of the story is also really clever and sort of unsettling and I really enjoyed it. Again, nothing folk horror to see here but the use of gaslighting and an abusive type of relationship did echo some folk horror works for me.
The Burning One - 4 stars
Incredibly original. Weird writing that takes a while to get acclimated to, but also that works wonders for the whole concept of the story. This was creepy, monstrous, and very satisfying to read. Another one that had very movie-like feels and very strong imagery descriptions. I liked it.
↠ 2,5 stars✨
Thank you to Macmillan and Page Street Kids for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First and foremost I need to address something, this anthology is titled a folk horror anthology, and I might not be an expert on the genre, but I did watch a couple of movies and read a couple of books/stories of this genre and this anthology, sadly, had none of it. Most of these stories were urban myths/legends and this trope got boring very quickly, simply because ALL of the stories were the same. A weird legend about a house in a town, a weird legend about a bridge in a town, a story of a burning of the church town, a story about the former owners of the house in the 1800´s, you get the gist. It was repetitive, lacked originality, and also is the wrong type of marketing/description to call this folk horror. There was ONE story that had folk horror vibes (even if just a little). There wasn't a single pastoral, idyllic setting type of community, featured in this anthology, the atmosphere and heavy focus on nature/seasons or even use of nature as a type of horror weren´t also there, and not even some cult/religion thing was featured as well. To sum up: in my humble opinion, this is not an anthology of folk horror. In fact, is barely a horror anthology. These stories were not horrific. They were not scary at all. There is a heavy focus on a young adult audience here, but I´ve read ya books that were scarier than this one, so that´s no excuse. Again my point is simple, these stories are the suspense, barely chilling, kind of type. So this whole thing just felt like a huge miss to me. I was expecting a totally different thing and what was delivered was... bad.
On another note, many of the stories in this anthology suffered from something I particularly hate when reading short stories, which is that when I read I feel the story was rushed and underdeveloped and unfortunately many of the stories here were like that, most of these stories were very short indeed and I feel like that was a bad choice in terms of pacing and development of the stories.
OVERALL RATING: 2.5 stars
Now to the breakdown of each short story:
Stay - 3 stars
Interesting way to approach the subject, but just too short. If it was a bit longer it could have been great.
The Tallest Poppy - 4 stars
Really liked the weirdness and eeriness of this one. The ending was a bit confusing and I felt like there was some connection point missing, but if not for that it would have been perfect.
Loved By All, Save One - 2 stars
This was a bit creepy. But it just didn´t work for me. Hated the premise and the execution.
One-Lane Bridge - 1 star
This was the worst of all. Confusing. The writing was all over the place, the plot was incredibly predictable and the ending was disappointing.
The Ghost on the Shore - 2 stars
This one tried to be something and... failed. The ending left me very mad lol, I really feel like this whole story was not thought through.
Petrified - 3 stars
This is the only story that felt like folk horror to me. Though the writing was incredibly messy and confusing, towards the end you can start to make sense of things. This was also the shortest story, so I feel like if it were longer and more polished it really could have been great.
Third Burn - 2 stars
This was one was a massive yawn. Middle towards the end there was a bunch of info-dump that was supposed to make things "make sense" but that just felt like sloppy writing.
It Stays With You - 3 stars
I almost gave this one a four-star, if not for the ending. It was so rushed and didn´t make any sense. The whole pacing and development of this were really good, and with very movie-like descriptions that I could see in my head and also creepy vibes as well. If this one was featured in a different theme of an anthology like classic urban legends or something 80´s themed it would have made SO much more sense.
Truth or Dare - 4 stars
I´m giving this one a four because the writing is SO good. I adored it. The concept of the story is also really clever and sort of unsettling and I really enjoyed it. Again, nothing folk horror to see here but the use of gaslighting and an abusive type of relationship did echo some folk horror works for me.
The Burning One - 4 stars
Incredibly original. Weird writing that takes a while to get acclimated to, but also that works wonders for the whole concept of the story. This was creepy, monstrous, and very satisfying to read. Another one that had very movie-like feels and very strong imagery descriptions. I liked it.
↠ 2,5 stars✨
Thank you to Macmillan and Page Street Kids for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2022
This was definitely something. I enjoyed reading it, the book was spooky with twist, turns and unexpected endings. I would read this again around the time of Halloween. This book gave me goosebumps and left me at times shocked with my mouth hanging open.
November 30, 2022
While I definitely think a handful of the stories strayed very far from being actual
folk horror,
this was still perhaps my favorite YA anthology I've ever read. There were a ton of incredible, creepy, touching stories in this collection and I'm so glad I read it! I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys horror short stories, but in case you need further convincing, here are my thoughts on the individual stories:
→ Stay by Erica Waters ★★★★★
This first story was one of my favorites from the entire collection, and despite being my intro to Waters' writing, made me immediately want more from this author. I loved the bleak, dismal "stuck in a rotting small town" vibe this had and the twist at the end was absolutely tragic and exactly what I wanted from this story.
→ The Tallest Poppy by Chloe Gong ★★☆☆☆
Unfortunately, the second story resulted in a bit of emotional whiplash from how severely I disliked it. This was my intro to Gong's writing, too, and sadly it gave me zero interest in their other works based on their writing style and the way this plot played out.
→ Loved By All, Save One by Tori Bovalino ★★★★★
Back on track with story #3: I adored everything about this. I fully saw the ending coming from a mile away, but I was so happy that Bovalino went in the direction they did with it!
→ One-Lane Bridge by Hannah Whitten ★★★★★
I went into this story knowing I loved Hannah's writing anyways, and it was perfect. I would say this one felt more solidly "folk horror" than most of the other stories, but most of all, I appreciated the exploration into friendships and relationships going sour over time, and how we can hold on to those crumbling partnerships despite knowing that they're hurting us, because it feels safer than walking away.
→ The Ghost on the Shore by Allison Saft ★★★★★
This piece was so damn sad and it just broke my heart over and over again, but wow, it was beautiful. I'm incredibly fond of the whole "ghost hitchhiker" trope and I thought this story gave it a big breath of fresh air!
→ Petrified by Olivia Chadha ★★☆☆☆
The plot on this one held my interest for a moment, and overall had a cool concept, but I'm sad to say I loathed this author's writing style! It felt incredibly disjointed and unnatural, and I can safely say I have no desire to ever experience it again.
→ Third Burn by Courtney Gould ★★★★★
Oh, I loved this so much. Very cool premise, loved the ending, and in general I just really enjoy seeing a character who is so fed up with the small-town bullshit that they reach their breaking point and want to do something to shake things up.
→ It Stays with You by Aden Polydoros ★★★★★
Honestly, this story came for my throat and I just cried through pretty much all of it. Aden Polydoros pulled no punches and this is an incredibly dark and triggering piece of the collection, but it's also one of my favorites in the anthology and has made me extremely eager for more of Aden's writing in my life. Justice for Gabe, please. 😭
→ Truth or Dare by Alex Brown ★★★★★
If I had to pick a single favorite from the collection, it would be this one, with It Stays with You coming in at a very close second. This piece takes an urban legend theme I've never seen before, but one that feels so natural, it seems like it could exist in a thousand towns around the world. The toxic relationship in the story hit brutally close to home for me and some of my past experiences, which made this a painful but ultimately very cathartic read. The writing was lovely on top of it all, and I'm just genuinely in awe over how much I loved this story.
→ The Burning One by Shakira Toussaint ★★★☆☆
Alex Brown's story was a hard one to follow, sure, but I also struggled with the fact that this story didn't feel like a horror piece at all. While it definitely does examine some real-world horrors, thematically, I'd call it speculative at most and kind of wondered why it was included in this anthology, but I digress. It was fine, just not memorable or what I expected.
Overall, The Gathering Dark was a mostly very successful collection for me, as you can see! I highly recommend picking up this anthology and giving it a try, and I have a few new-to-me authors that I can't wait to read more from thanks to this book!
Buddy read with the wonderful Ashley! 💖
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
✨ Representation: many stories feature queer and/or BIPOC characters and are written by queer and/or BIPOC authors
✨ Content warnings for:
———
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How much can you give to a place before it swallows you whole?
→ Stay by Erica Waters ★★★★★
This first story was one of my favorites from the entire collection, and despite being my intro to Waters' writing, made me immediately want more from this author. I loved the bleak, dismal "stuck in a rotting small town" vibe this had and the twist at the end was absolutely tragic and exactly what I wanted from this story.
→ The Tallest Poppy by Chloe Gong ★★☆☆☆
Unfortunately, the second story resulted in a bit of emotional whiplash from how severely I disliked it. This was my intro to Gong's writing, too, and sadly it gave me zero interest in their other works based on their writing style and the way this plot played out.
→ Loved By All, Save One by Tori Bovalino ★★★★★
Back on track with story #3: I adored everything about this. I fully saw the ending coming from a mile away, but I was so happy that Bovalino went in the direction they did with it!
And wasn't that the worst part, every time? How the love and the caring stayed, even as everything around it rotted?
→ One-Lane Bridge by Hannah Whitten ★★★★★
I went into this story knowing I loved Hannah's writing anyways, and it was perfect. I would say this one felt more solidly "folk horror" than most of the other stories, but most of all, I appreciated the exploration into friendships and relationships going sour over time, and how we can hold on to those crumbling partnerships despite knowing that they're hurting us, because it feels safer than walking away.
→ The Ghost on the Shore by Allison Saft ★★★★★
This piece was so damn sad and it just broke my heart over and over again, but wow, it was beautiful. I'm incredibly fond of the whole "ghost hitchhiker" trope and I thought this story gave it a big breath of fresh air!
→ Petrified by Olivia Chadha ★★☆☆☆
The plot on this one held my interest for a moment, and overall had a cool concept, but I'm sad to say I loathed this author's writing style! It felt incredibly disjointed and unnatural, and I can safely say I have no desire to ever experience it again.
→ Third Burn by Courtney Gould ★★★★★
Oh, I loved this so much. Very cool premise, loved the ending, and in general I just really enjoy seeing a character who is so fed up with the small-town bullshit that they reach their breaking point and want to do something to shake things up.
→ It Stays with You by Aden Polydoros ★★★★★
Honestly, this story came for my throat and I just cried through pretty much all of it. Aden Polydoros pulled no punches and this is an incredibly dark and triggering piece of the collection, but it's also one of my favorites in the anthology and has made me extremely eager for more of Aden's writing in my life. Justice for Gabe, please. 😭
It was impossible to keep something that never intended to stay.
→ Truth or Dare by Alex Brown ★★★★★
If I had to pick a single favorite from the collection, it would be this one, with It Stays with You coming in at a very close second. This piece takes an urban legend theme I've never seen before, but one that feels so natural, it seems like it could exist in a thousand towns around the world. The toxic relationship in the story hit brutally close to home for me and some of my past experiences, which made this a painful but ultimately very cathartic read. The writing was lovely on top of it all, and I'm just genuinely in awe over how much I loved this story.
→ The Burning One by Shakira Toussaint ★★★☆☆
Alex Brown's story was a hard one to follow, sure, but I also struggled with the fact that this story didn't feel like a horror piece at all. While it definitely does examine some real-world horrors, thematically, I'd call it speculative at most and kind of wondered why it was included in this anthology, but I digress. It was fine, just not memorable or what I expected.
Overall, The Gathering Dark was a mostly very successful collection for me, as you can see! I highly recommend picking up this anthology and giving it a try, and I have a few new-to-me authors that I can't wait to read more from thanks to this book!
Buddy read with the wonderful Ashley! 💖
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
✨ Representation: many stories feature queer and/or BIPOC characters and are written by queer and/or BIPOC authors
✨ Content warnings for:
———
twitter | booktok | bookstagram | blog
February 27, 2024
This is NOT Folk Horror. It's a collection of rather same-y YA horror stories that lean more toward an urban legend vibe. I'd give most of the stories 3 stars individually, but I'm rating down for false advertising. If this had been accurately marketed I wouldn't have picked it up.
August 18, 2022
A solidly enjoyable and varied collection of folk horror tales. Some were purely fantastical, some horrifying, and some magical but all had their roots in reality.
Stay by Erica Waters - 4/5 stars
A lyrically penned and emotionally harrowing short story, with a supernatural twist. I was very invested in the sinister occurrences, remained surprised by the twists, and happy at the ending.
The Tallest Poppy by Chloe Gong - 3.5/5 stars
Gloomy and isolated houses with dark and sinister reputations are one of my favourite literary tropes. Here, the potential for paranormal occurrences was high but the unreliability of the protagonist led me to question everything the reader was exposed to. I loved this eerie tale but the ambiguous ending did not work for me personally as I prefer more concrete conclusions.
Loved By All, Save One by Tori Bovalino - 3/5 stars
A snowy night, an isolated setting with a creepy history, and three bored teens looking for a distraction. This was set up like many haunted tales I have read before, which I did not mind as they are tropes I enjoy, but the storyline traversed fresh territories and delivered the unexpected. I wish a little more had been packaged into the later half but this was solidly enjoyable, regardless.
One Love Bridge by Hannah Whitten- 2/5 stars
A haunting legend and bored teenagers is the classic spooky story foundations but I found I wanted more from this story which I felt I'd experienced in many different formats many times before.
The Ghost on the Shore by Allison Saft - 2/5 stars
A girl drives far from home to a legendary lake in the hope of commuting with hmthe spirit of her best friends, who was taken there. I liked the premise but nothing felt delivered beyond it.
Petrified by Olivia Chadha 3/5 stars
I liked the focus on nature and the wooded setting, but the story felt a little too short for me to garner much of a connection to the characters. I can definitely say I didn't anticipate the contents though.
Third Burn by Courtney Gould - 3/5 stars
An intriguing insight to a town with a dark past and a history that soars so brightly it illuminates the present. The story ended abruptly yet with enough closure but air would have liked to spend more time with these characters.
It Stays with You by Aden Polydoros - 4/5 stars
This managed to be both emotionally charged and horrifying at the same time. Fears, both real and those conjured by imagination, permeate throughout this and the protagonist's reveal made me long for extended time with the brave and beautiful soul she quickly proved herself to be.
Truth or Dare by Alex Brown - 4/5 stars
I slated other stories in this collection for their ambiguity and yet that's all that was presented here and adored it. It felt surreal and metaphorical and like the reader was entirely in control of the true meaning in the piece.
Winter Has Come by Shakira Toussaint - 4/5 stars
This was probably the most unique and fantastical addition to the collection and I really loved the quietly eerie tone and unique nature of the premise.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the editor, Tori Bovalino, and the publisher, Macmillan, for this opportunity.
Stay by Erica Waters - 4/5 stars
A lyrically penned and emotionally harrowing short story, with a supernatural twist. I was very invested in the sinister occurrences, remained surprised by the twists, and happy at the ending.
The Tallest Poppy by Chloe Gong - 3.5/5 stars
Gloomy and isolated houses with dark and sinister reputations are one of my favourite literary tropes. Here, the potential for paranormal occurrences was high but the unreliability of the protagonist led me to question everything the reader was exposed to. I loved this eerie tale but the ambiguous ending did not work for me personally as I prefer more concrete conclusions.
Loved By All, Save One by Tori Bovalino - 3/5 stars
A snowy night, an isolated setting with a creepy history, and three bored teens looking for a distraction. This was set up like many haunted tales I have read before, which I did not mind as they are tropes I enjoy, but the storyline traversed fresh territories and delivered the unexpected. I wish a little more had been packaged into the later half but this was solidly enjoyable, regardless.
One Love Bridge by Hannah Whitten- 2/5 stars
A haunting legend and bored teenagers is the classic spooky story foundations but I found I wanted more from this story which I felt I'd experienced in many different formats many times before.
The Ghost on the Shore by Allison Saft - 2/5 stars
A girl drives far from home to a legendary lake in the hope of commuting with hmthe spirit of her best friends, who was taken there. I liked the premise but nothing felt delivered beyond it.
Petrified by Olivia Chadha 3/5 stars
I liked the focus on nature and the wooded setting, but the story felt a little too short for me to garner much of a connection to the characters. I can definitely say I didn't anticipate the contents though.
Third Burn by Courtney Gould - 3/5 stars
An intriguing insight to a town with a dark past and a history that soars so brightly it illuminates the present. The story ended abruptly yet with enough closure but air would have liked to spend more time with these characters.
It Stays with You by Aden Polydoros - 4/5 stars
This managed to be both emotionally charged and horrifying at the same time. Fears, both real and those conjured by imagination, permeate throughout this and the protagonist's reveal made me long for extended time with the brave and beautiful soul she quickly proved herself to be.
Truth or Dare by Alex Brown - 4/5 stars
I slated other stories in this collection for their ambiguity and yet that's all that was presented here and adored it. It felt surreal and metaphorical and like the reader was entirely in control of the true meaning in the piece.
Winter Has Come by Shakira Toussaint - 4/5 stars
This was probably the most unique and fantastical addition to the collection and I really loved the quietly eerie tone and unique nature of the premise.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the editor, Tori Bovalino, and the publisher, Macmillan, for this opportunity.
September 5, 2022
thank you page street publishing for the arc !!
overall i really enjoyed this anthology. THE COVER IS GORGEOUS. here are some really quick ratings for each short story :))
erica waters | 3 stars
it felt a little incomplete. it was slow for the most part we never really got an explanation for the ending
chloe gong | 4.5 stars
started slow but spooky/ominous vibes were so good !! my heart was racing a little (disclaimer: i get spooked easily SO take this whole review with a grain of salt lol)
tori bovalino | 4 stars
i liked this one a lot !! involves a ghost👻
hannah whitten | 3.5 stars
the idea was great !! but i found the characters a bit harder to care/root for
allison saft | 3 stars
i have nothing good or bad to say :3
olivie chadha | 3.5 stars
i like the different approach in this short story !! but the horror vibes was missing
courtney gould | 4 stars
i think this one slayed💁🏻♀️ girlboss, gaslight (⛽️🔥) literally, gatekeep
aden polydoros | 3.5 stars
i liked the beginning a lot but the end rest was okay. i wasn't captivated as much
alex brown |
bro what ???? (*yells* what was the reason !!)
shakira toussaint |
idk how i feel about this one
overall i really enjoyed this anthology. THE COVER IS GORGEOUS. here are some really quick ratings for each short story :))
erica waters | 3 stars
it felt a little incomplete. it was slow for the most part we never really got an explanation for the ending
chloe gong | 4.5 stars
started slow but spooky/ominous vibes were so good !! my heart was racing a little (disclaimer: i get spooked easily SO take this whole review with a grain of salt lol)
tori bovalino | 4 stars
i liked this one a lot !! involves a ghost👻
hannah whitten | 3.5 stars
the idea was great !! but i found the characters a bit harder to care/root for
allison saft | 3 stars
i have nothing good or bad to say :3
olivie chadha | 3.5 stars
i like the different approach in this short story !! but the horror vibes was missing
courtney gould | 4 stars
i think this one slayed💁🏻♀️ girlboss, gaslight (⛽️🔥) literally, gatekeep
aden polydoros | 3.5 stars
i liked the beginning a lot but the end rest was okay. i wasn't captivated as much
alex brown |
bro what ???? (*yells* what was the reason !!)
shakira toussaint |
idk how i feel about this one
September 15, 2022
not a fan of horror but this anthology surprisingly allowed me to ease myself into folk horror with the lighter yet more suspenseful undertones—instead of the usual heavy veins—especially with excellent storytelling by some of the best, tying individual stories with a strong thread of terror.
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July 29, 2022
Stay by Erica Waters: liked the cemetery with the restless dead! The twist was predictable, but still pretty emotional. | 3 stars
The Tallest Poppy by Chloe Gong: started out slow, but this left me so incredibly unsettled. I loved the build up when things started to go really wrong and the chilling end. | 4 stars
Loved by All, Save One by Tori Bovalino: such a quick little thing with a surprising amount of violence! I always enjoy ghost stories; especially when they take revenge. | 4 stars
One-Lane Bridge by Hannah Whitten: be careful what you wish for! I really liked the setting here and how the story went in an entirely different direction from what I was expecting. And personal note - I really felt this since I'm also a Juju. | 5 stars
Ghost on the Shore by Allison Saft: eh, this one didn't really do it for me. I did like the idea of the lake keeping the dead, though. | 2 stars
Petrified by Olivia Chadha: I love creepy forests so much! And the way in which some of the trees "grew" here was amazing and should be the destiny of every person like that. | 5 stars
Third Burn by Courtney Gould: really liked the set up with a big question about what was going on! The curse element was also super interesting and I loved the ending. | 5 stars
It Stays With You by Aden Polydoros: okay so the idea behind doing something new with a familiar urban legend was interesting, but I really disliked the execution due to how that was presented. | 2 stars
Truth or Dare by Alex Brown: nothing about this one worked for me. | 1 star
The Burning One by Shakira Toussaint: this one also didn't work for me, but it was because the purposeful writing style made it difficult for me to connect with the premise. | Not Rated
The Tallest Poppy by Chloe Gong: started out slow, but this left me so incredibly unsettled. I loved the build up when things started to go really wrong and the chilling end. | 4 stars
Loved by All, Save One by Tori Bovalino: such a quick little thing with a surprising amount of violence! I always enjoy ghost stories; especially when they take revenge. | 4 stars
One-Lane Bridge by Hannah Whitten: be careful what you wish for! I really liked the setting here and how the story went in an entirely different direction from what I was expecting. And personal note - I really felt this since I'm also a Juju. | 5 stars
Ghost on the Shore by Allison Saft: eh, this one didn't really do it for me. I did like the idea of the lake keeping the dead, though. | 2 stars
Petrified by Olivia Chadha: I love creepy forests so much! And the way in which some of the trees "grew" here was amazing and should be the destiny of every person like that. | 5 stars
Third Burn by Courtney Gould: really liked the set up with a big question about what was going on! The curse element was also super interesting and I loved the ending. | 5 stars
It Stays With You by Aden Polydoros: okay so the idea behind doing something new with a familiar urban legend was interesting, but I really disliked the execution due to how that was presented. | 2 stars
Truth or Dare by Alex Brown: nothing about this one worked for me. | 1 star
The Burning One by Shakira Toussaint: this one also didn't work for me, but it was because the purposeful writing style made it difficult for me to connect with the premise. | Not Rated
Want to read
July 2, 2021
January 20, 2023
I didn't realize this collection was YA, because it doesn't reflect that in the title or synopsis. I thought it was folk horror because that was in the title, but it's barely urban legends, if that. It's also much shorter than the page count, because the line spacing has clearly been padded to take up more room on the page. This should have been presented as a shorter book, or there should have been more stories.
The stories that are here aren't good. There's a real heavy-handed melodrama that really revolves around teenagers and their crush and a Spooky Thing That Happens. The closest the anthology comes to folk horror is with Petrified, and it was honestly confusingly written that I didn't understand why someone was clearly doomed until the end, and it wasn't even an interesting revelation
Definitely not my cup of tea and definitely not folk horror.
The stories that are here aren't good. There's a real heavy-handed melodrama that really revolves around teenagers and their crush and a Spooky Thing That Happens. The closest the anthology comes to folk horror is with Petrified, and it was honestly confusingly written that I didn't understand why someone was clearly doomed until the end, and it wasn't even an interesting revelation
Definitely not my cup of tea and definitely not folk horror.
December 5, 2022
Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars
Possibly one of the best horror anthologies i’ve
Seriously, Tori Bovallino is an author never to be missed, and so are most of the featured authors, as well!!! This was an absolute joy to read for a horror lover! Even the authors of the one or two stories not for me had SO MUCH TO OFFER !!!
Loved it, loved it, LOVVVVEEEDDDD IT!
Highly, highly recommended to newbie horror lovers, & horror veterans liked!
Possibly one of the best horror anthologies i’ve
Seriously, Tori Bovallino is an author never to be missed, and so are most of the featured authors, as well!!! This was an absolute joy to read for a horror lover! Even the authors of the one or two stories not for me had SO MUCH TO OFFER !!!
Loved it, loved it, LOVVVVEEEDDDD IT!
Highly, highly recommended to newbie horror lovers, & horror veterans liked!
May 4, 2024
Alrighty! I don’ have much to say about everything, I’ll talk about my faves. Special shout outs to Tori Bovalino’s story cause it was a 4.5. Love you bestie.
All of these could have a Taylor Swift song written about them. I was picturing a movie in my head, one of those that have a narrator sitting in a cozy room looking creepy, and they tell you a bunch of 15’ stories. Get on it.
‘’Stay’’ by Erica Waters - 5/5
There’s something about small town, yeehaw-creepy, stories I jus eat up. I loved Erica’s writing style in Ghost Wood Song and it remains perfect for me; not too flowery, simple enough to not drag but intricate enough to be beautiful. This is horror in the way The Haunting of Bly Manor is horror: sapphic and heart-wrenching.
‘’The Tallest Poppy’’ by Chloe Gong - 5/5
Sea-side gothic. Sold. I believe you will enjoy this if you’ve loved The Haunting of Hill House and that Supernatural episode with the two girls and the tall at the Inn with the big pool (please remember it as well as I do)
‘’Ghost on the Shore’’ by Allison Saft - 5/5
I just love everything this woman writes, being honest. Again, I’m here giving five stars to the sapphic girly with letting-go issues. Good for them and good for me, because I’m having. Blast. This one felt like an episode of supernatural, probably around season 3/4, so you know it’s good-good.
‘’Third Burn’’ by Courtney Gould - 5/5
I’m a sucker for small towns with curses and secrets. I’m also a sucker for women in their ‘’Fuck it, I’ll be the villain and I hate you all’’ era. Love witches, love arson.
4.5
Had a few 3 stars as well, but so many 5 stars and a couple of 4 stars so I'm rounding the rating up
All of these could have a Taylor Swift song written about them. I was picturing a movie in my head, one of those that have a narrator sitting in a cozy room looking creepy, and they tell you a bunch of 15’ stories. Get on it.
‘’Stay’’ by Erica Waters - 5/5
There’s something about small town, yeehaw-creepy, stories I jus eat up. I loved Erica’s writing style in Ghost Wood Song and it remains perfect for me; not too flowery, simple enough to not drag but intricate enough to be beautiful. This is horror in the way The Haunting of Bly Manor is horror: sapphic and heart-wrenching.
‘’The Tallest Poppy’’ by Chloe Gong - 5/5
Sea-side gothic. Sold. I believe you will enjoy this if you’ve loved The Haunting of Hill House and that Supernatural episode with the two girls and the tall at the Inn with the big pool (please remember it as well as I do)
‘’Ghost on the Shore’’ by Allison Saft - 5/5
I just love everything this woman writes, being honest. Again, I’m here giving five stars to the sapphic girly with letting-go issues. Good for them and good for me, because I’m having. Blast. This one felt like an episode of supernatural, probably around season 3/4, so you know it’s good-good.
‘’Third Burn’’ by Courtney Gould - 5/5
I’m a sucker for small towns with curses and secrets. I’m also a sucker for women in their ‘’Fuck it, I’ll be the villain and I hate you all’’ era. Love witches, love arson.
4.5
Had a few 3 stars as well, but so many 5 stars and a couple of 4 stars so I'm rounding the rating up
January 15, 2023
top 3 stories for me:
1. "Truth or Dare"
2. "Stay"
3. "Triple Burn"
creepiest for me: "It Stays With You" because I hate scary mirror scenes
most unique: "The Burning One"
overall, a solid anthology, despite the misses. i rate story collections per story typically, and i rated a few 2 stars. but as a whole, i think each story explored a wide variety of themes, which I enjoyed. "Truth or Dare" really took me by surprise though like WOW did i feel seen as fuck.
1. "Truth or Dare"
2. "Stay"
3. "Triple Burn"
creepiest for me: "It Stays With You" because I hate scary mirror scenes
most unique: "The Burning One"
overall, a solid anthology, despite the misses. i rate story collections per story typically, and i rated a few 2 stars. but as a whole, i think each story explored a wide variety of themes, which I enjoyed. "Truth or Dare" really took me by surprise though like WOW did i feel seen as fuck.
Want to read
July 2, 2021YES YES YES
September 22, 2022
I ranked each short story in this book and my average rating was basically a 4.0! I'm very impressed by that because short stories are very hit or miss typically I think. This was a nice selection of odd stories and I actually found myself sad when the collection was over.
Stay by Erica Waters - 3.5 stars
This didn't really do anything new or fresh but it was still a juicy story. A girl feels trapped in her small town, by her family specifically.
The Tallest Poppy by Chloe Gong - 3.5 stars
I like Chloe's writing but I feel like the things that happened in this story were a little all over the place. The main character gets a summer job at a creepy house.
Loved by All, Save One by Tori Bovalino - 5 stars
Close friends go through a home invasion in their haunted home.
One Lane Bridge by Hannah Whitten - 5 stars
I genuinely felt a little creeped out reading this one. A once-close group of friends had a weird experience on a spooky bridge and then there are consequences.
The Ghost on the Short by Allison Saft - 4 stars
Someone the main character was close to died, and the main character would do anything to get to talk to her one more time.
Petrified by Olivia Chadha - 4 stars
A revenge story in a creepy forest, simply put
Third Burn by Courtney Gould - 3 stars
Cool concept, not the most engaging execution. The MC finds out that her town has burned down twice and it's been prophesized that the third time will be the last.
It Stays With You by Aden Polydoros - 5 stars
Extremely cinematic, delved well into character motivations and backstories in 30 pages while still having major and minor action arcs. I was the most excited for Aden's story and it totally delivered. A group of 4 friends play Bloody Mary one night with major consequences.
Truth or Dare by Alex Brown - 3.5 stars
A weird set of tunnels appears any time people in the MC's area have a decision to make. Our MC has a decision to make...
Winter Has Come by Shakira Toussaint - 2.5 stars
Unfortunately my least favorite of the group - our MC meets someone from a new group of people even though they aren't supposed to go down the mountain from where they live. The writing is in a primitive dialect and it made it sort of difficult to connect, personally
Reading this gave me the same vibes as watching a few episodes of Who's Afraid of the Dark, just short spooky stories with generally contemporary settings, mostly in small sleepy towns. Totally think it's worth picking up, and Aden Polydoros is a total standout, as expected.
Stay by Erica Waters - 3.5 stars
This didn't really do anything new or fresh but it was still a juicy story. A girl feels trapped in her small town, by her family specifically.
The Tallest Poppy by Chloe Gong - 3.5 stars
I like Chloe's writing but I feel like the things that happened in this story were a little all over the place. The main character gets a summer job at a creepy house.
Loved by All, Save One by Tori Bovalino - 5 stars
Close friends go through a home invasion in their haunted home.
One Lane Bridge by Hannah Whitten - 5 stars
I genuinely felt a little creeped out reading this one. A once-close group of friends had a weird experience on a spooky bridge and then there are consequences.
The Ghost on the Short by Allison Saft - 4 stars
Someone the main character was close to died, and the main character would do anything to get to talk to her one more time.
Petrified by Olivia Chadha - 4 stars
A revenge story in a creepy forest, simply put
Third Burn by Courtney Gould - 3 stars
Cool concept, not the most engaging execution. The MC finds out that her town has burned down twice and it's been prophesized that the third time will be the last.
It Stays With You by Aden Polydoros - 5 stars
Extremely cinematic, delved well into character motivations and backstories in 30 pages while still having major and minor action arcs. I was the most excited for Aden's story and it totally delivered. A group of 4 friends play Bloody Mary one night with major consequences.
Truth or Dare by Alex Brown - 3.5 stars
A weird set of tunnels appears any time people in the MC's area have a decision to make. Our MC has a decision to make...
Winter Has Come by Shakira Toussaint - 2.5 stars
Unfortunately my least favorite of the group - our MC meets someone from a new group of people even though they aren't supposed to go down the mountain from where they live. The writing is in a primitive dialect and it made it sort of difficult to connect, personally
Reading this gave me the same vibes as watching a few episodes of Who's Afraid of the Dark, just short spooky stories with generally contemporary settings, mostly in small sleepy towns. Totally think it's worth picking up, and Aden Polydoros is a total standout, as expected.
May 7, 2025
Desperately wishing it was October, so I’m reading horror stories during summer to get the same feeling.
My favorite thing in horror is when the creepy hauntings are a metaphor for something else, typically trauma or loneliness or oppression. I also love how queer these stories are. Queerness and horror just fits.
A review on each of the stories below:
Stay - Erica Waters (5/5)
Started off with a lesbian main character breaking free from generational trauma. The burden of being weighed down by the place she was born into. Loved the descriptions of a small town farm setting with a graveyard.
The Tallest Poppy - Chloe Gong (4/5)
Another story about hoping to break free from the small judgmental town one was born into. It took place in New Zealand, and I loved the incorporation of the sea as a source of horror for the main character, representing her fear of being drowned by this place and stuck forever inside it. The porcelain doll aspect with the main character was a cool visual.
Loved by All, Save One - Tori Bovalino (4/5)
“She was a woman who would’ve otherwise been forgotten by history if it weren’t for the brutality of her death.”
Commentary on how people often focus only on the brutality of a woman’s end when it comes to true crime stories, rather than on who she was. The connection between past and present was cool and I love when women feel solidarity with a ghost.
One-Lane Bridge - Hannah Whitten (5/5)
“And wasn’t that the worst part, every time? How the love and the caring stayed, even as everything around it rotted?”
Loved this story about a toxic friend group that boils over after continuous passive aggressive snippets. Only ever brought together by convenience, they grew to resent each other.
The themes of the main character learning to hold onto her anger were incredible. Anger can be a great burden, but to repress it for the comfort of others is to erase who you are. To vanish your convictions and become a blank slate of nothingness. Instead of shoving the anger down, the main character realizes it can be a strength when channeled to make an impact on the world.
Ghost on the Shore - Allison Saft (5/5)
This might be my favorite story in this collection. I LOVE stories about lesbians who can’t let each other go, when their ghosts haunt each other in death. The exploration of grief was heartbreakingly written. The main character’s passive suicidality in the year after her best friend’s death, the regrets she couldn’t let go of, the extreme lengths she’d go to just for a chance to talk to her again.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt alive or like myself, assuming there’s anything left of myself after June took part of me with her to the grave.”
Random detail, but at the beginning, I love that paragraph about summer teaching the main character that life is fleeting, with everything teetering on the in-between of life and death. I love nature as metaphors for the characters’ emotions, but it gets rather basic when the same rain=sadness visual is used in almost every piece of media, so this was great to see.
I love how this explored homoerotic friendships. There are the happy moments, but there’s also the self-blame. Because the main character feels she has no right to be possessive over her friend, to feel betrayed The choking pain of keeping her feelings hidden. Yeah this story was top tier. I’m excited to read Allison Saft’s other writing.
Petrified - Olivia Chadha (1/5)
The only one out of the collection that I truly disliked. A clear example of the writing fumbling what could’ve been an interesting story. The incessant telling and not showing. The stilted dialogue. It felt like it couldn’t make up its mind between telling a story about a brainwashed main character who grew up in a cult, and a story of poetic justice.
The theme of the trauma from sexual assault was also glossed over. This story needed more detail and rounds of editing to make it good.
Third Burn - Courtney Gould (4/5)
The lesbianism in this story was top tier. The tension between a witch (ghost?) girl and the girl fed up with her bigoted town who committed arson weeks beforehand. Loved the anger against rich people and the moments showcasing how they look down on those in poverty. This gave me Fear Street trilogy vibes with the concept of wronged women from the past giving strength to the lesbians in the present. I fucking love those movies.
It Stays with You - Aden Polydoros (5/5)
The genius of using a haunted carnival setting to convey the horrors of childhood sexual assault. A place marketed to children, designed to bring them joy, instead turned into a place that haunted the main character for the rest of his life. The trauma left him feeling stuck, left to rot just like the carnival was once it was abandoned. It leads to his suicidal thoughts, passive ideations.
I love how this explores the fact that there’s no such thing as a “perfect” victim. I love the friend group facing their trauma together, letting their rage and pain have an outlet, and comforting each other afterwards. The fun-house scene with all the mirrors was incredible to imagine visually. It reminded me of the movie Us, except this time the main character stays in the fun-house for longer with different themes. I want this to be a movie.
Truth or Dare - Alex Brown (3/5)
Takes place in a cave, serving as a metaphor for the main character escaping an abusive relationship. Not my favorite, sometimes the addressals to the reader were a little too straightforward in communicating the message, but enjoyable regardless.
The Burning One - Shakira Toussaint (5/5)
Taking place on an island with themes of colonization. I fell in love with the unique and poetic writing style. I felt so much for this main character. Her feelings of being trapped, the complex dynamic she had with her mother, her connection with nature. The mystery surrounding her situation was intriguing, and I loved the metaphors communicated through the landscape. I wish this author had a novel because I want more of her writing style so bad.
I’m happy I enjoyed this, especially because that cover is beautiful.
My favorite thing in horror is when the creepy hauntings are a metaphor for something else, typically trauma or loneliness or oppression. I also love how queer these stories are. Queerness and horror just fits.
A review on each of the stories below:
Stay - Erica Waters (5/5)
Started off with a lesbian main character breaking free from generational trauma. The burden of being weighed down by the place she was born into. Loved the descriptions of a small town farm setting with a graveyard.
The Tallest Poppy - Chloe Gong (4/5)
Another story about hoping to break free from the small judgmental town one was born into. It took place in New Zealand, and I loved the incorporation of the sea as a source of horror for the main character, representing her fear of being drowned by this place and stuck forever inside it. The porcelain doll aspect with the main character was a cool visual.
Loved by All, Save One - Tori Bovalino (4/5)
“She was a woman who would’ve otherwise been forgotten by history if it weren’t for the brutality of her death.”
Commentary on how people often focus only on the brutality of a woman’s end when it comes to true crime stories, rather than on who she was. The connection between past and present was cool and I love when women feel solidarity with a ghost.
One-Lane Bridge - Hannah Whitten (5/5)
“And wasn’t that the worst part, every time? How the love and the caring stayed, even as everything around it rotted?”
Loved this story about a toxic friend group that boils over after continuous passive aggressive snippets. Only ever brought together by convenience, they grew to resent each other.
The themes of the main character learning to hold onto her anger were incredible. Anger can be a great burden, but to repress it for the comfort of others is to erase who you are. To vanish your convictions and become a blank slate of nothingness. Instead of shoving the anger down, the main character realizes it can be a strength when channeled to make an impact on the world.
Ghost on the Shore - Allison Saft (5/5)
This might be my favorite story in this collection. I LOVE stories about lesbians who can’t let each other go, when their ghosts haunt each other in death. The exploration of grief was heartbreakingly written. The main character’s passive suicidality in the year after her best friend’s death, the regrets she couldn’t let go of, the extreme lengths she’d go to just for a chance to talk to her again.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt alive or like myself, assuming there’s anything left of myself after June took part of me with her to the grave.”
Random detail, but at the beginning, I love that paragraph about summer teaching the main character that life is fleeting, with everything teetering on the in-between of life and death. I love nature as metaphors for the characters’ emotions, but it gets rather basic when the same rain=sadness visual is used in almost every piece of media, so this was great to see.
I love how this explored homoerotic friendships. There are the happy moments, but there’s also the self-blame. Because the main character feels she has no right to be possessive over her friend, to feel betrayed The choking pain of keeping her feelings hidden. Yeah this story was top tier. I’m excited to read Allison Saft’s other writing.
Petrified - Olivia Chadha (1/5)
The only one out of the collection that I truly disliked. A clear example of the writing fumbling what could’ve been an interesting story. The incessant telling and not showing. The stilted dialogue. It felt like it couldn’t make up its mind between telling a story about a brainwashed main character who grew up in a cult, and a story of poetic justice.
The theme of the trauma from sexual assault was also glossed over. This story needed more detail and rounds of editing to make it good.
Third Burn - Courtney Gould (4/5)
The lesbianism in this story was top tier. The tension between a witch (ghost?) girl and the girl fed up with her bigoted town who committed arson weeks beforehand. Loved the anger against rich people and the moments showcasing how they look down on those in poverty. This gave me Fear Street trilogy vibes with the concept of wronged women from the past giving strength to the lesbians in the present. I fucking love those movies.
It Stays with You - Aden Polydoros (5/5)
The genius of using a haunted carnival setting to convey the horrors of childhood sexual assault. A place marketed to children, designed to bring them joy, instead turned into a place that haunted the main character for the rest of his life. The trauma left him feeling stuck, left to rot just like the carnival was once it was abandoned. It leads to his suicidal thoughts, passive ideations.
I love how this explores the fact that there’s no such thing as a “perfect” victim. I love the friend group facing their trauma together, letting their rage and pain have an outlet, and comforting each other afterwards. The fun-house scene with all the mirrors was incredible to imagine visually. It reminded me of the movie Us, except this time the main character stays in the fun-house for longer with different themes. I want this to be a movie.
Truth or Dare - Alex Brown (3/5)
Takes place in a cave, serving as a metaphor for the main character escaping an abusive relationship. Not my favorite, sometimes the addressals to the reader were a little too straightforward in communicating the message, but enjoyable regardless.
The Burning One - Shakira Toussaint (5/5)
Taking place on an island with themes of colonization. I fell in love with the unique and poetic writing style. I felt so much for this main character. Her feelings of being trapped, the complex dynamic she had with her mother, her connection with nature. The mystery surrounding her situation was intriguing, and I loved the metaphors communicated through the landscape. I wish this author had a novel because I want more of her writing style so bad.
I’m happy I enjoyed this, especially because that cover is beautiful.
January 8, 2024
and is the folk horror in the room with us right now?
November 2, 2022
full book review coming soon!
> Snippet of book review
This book is an anthology (noun. a published collection of poems or other pieces of writing) of folk horror themed stories written by numerous authors some familiar to me and others not so much. I was not really sure how I should review an anthology– whether I should review this book in it's entirety or individually review each story.
At the end, I decided to review every single story just because there's only about 11 stories in this anthology. Keep in mind, my reviews won't be too long since the story themselves are pretty short and I worry I'd spoil too much. In the end, I will base my star rating as the average of all the individual rating for each story.
Stay by Erica Waters | 4 star | - I thought this first story started the anthology quite strongly. I feel like it really set the tone– really eerie and unsettling. The twist towards the end was a bit predictable, but that did not waver my positive thoughts about this story.
The Tallest Poppy by Chloe Gong | 4 star | - Gothic galore. This one was incredibly atmospheric and left goosebumps on my arms by the end. I had heard of Chloe Gong before (If you are on Instagram or TikTok book community, who has not heard of Chloe Gong and her books?), but now that I've been given a taste of her writing, I will definitely check out her own published books.
Loved by All, Save One by Tori Bovalino | 3 stars | - This one was one of the shortest stories in this anthology, and it was surprisingly one of the creepiest ones. I really admire how much plot and horror the author was able to provide in such a short piece. Ghosts aren't generally my thing, but I really enjoyed this one.
One-Lane Bridge by Hannah Whitten | 3 stars | - The beginning of the story started off a little too slow for my liking, but the second half was worth it. The whole premise surrounds the idea of "being careful of what you wish for", but with a twist that I was definitely not expecting.
Novelstorian (Blog) ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter ✨
> Snippet of book review
This book is an anthology (noun. a published collection of poems or other pieces of writing) of folk horror themed stories written by numerous authors some familiar to me and others not so much. I was not really sure how I should review an anthology– whether I should review this book in it's entirety or individually review each story.
At the end, I decided to review every single story just because there's only about 11 stories in this anthology. Keep in mind, my reviews won't be too long since the story themselves are pretty short and I worry I'd spoil too much. In the end, I will base my star rating as the average of all the individual rating for each story.
Stay by Erica Waters | 4 star | - I thought this first story started the anthology quite strongly. I feel like it really set the tone– really eerie and unsettling. The twist towards the end was a bit predictable, but that did not waver my positive thoughts about this story.
The Tallest Poppy by Chloe Gong | 4 star | - Gothic galore. This one was incredibly atmospheric and left goosebumps on my arms by the end. I had heard of Chloe Gong before (If you are on Instagram or TikTok book community, who has not heard of Chloe Gong and her books?), but now that I've been given a taste of her writing, I will definitely check out her own published books.
Loved by All, Save One by Tori Bovalino | 3 stars | - This one was one of the shortest stories in this anthology, and it was surprisingly one of the creepiest ones. I really admire how much plot and horror the author was able to provide in such a short piece. Ghosts aren't generally my thing, but I really enjoyed this one.
One-Lane Bridge by Hannah Whitten | 3 stars | - The beginning of the story started off a little too slow for my liking, but the second half was worth it. The whole premise surrounds the idea of "being careful of what you wish for", but with a twist that I was definitely not expecting.
Novelstorian (Blog) ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter ✨
August 11, 2025
“I heard once that there is a curse on Amberville. They said it would burn three times to the ground and then it would never rise again. It’s burned once, twice…”
October 11, 2022
Really enjoyed this!
Short stories always leave me wanting more bc they tell part of the story, i get hooked, but i’m often left having to decipher the message for myself. But the horror aspect in this made it work - i didn’t want to question the spookies haha
I was able to read this at night so it wasn’t suuuper scary but i’m genuinely considering keeping this anthology on deck to reread every spooky season :)
Thank you NetGalley and Page Street Kids (distributed by Macmillan) for providing me with this advanced reader’s e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Short stories always leave me wanting more bc they tell part of the story, i get hooked, but i’m often left having to decipher the message for myself. But the horror aspect in this made it work - i didn’t want to question the spookies haha
I was able to read this at night so it wasn’t suuuper scary but i’m genuinely considering keeping this anthology on deck to reread every spooky season :)
Thank you NetGalley and Page Street Kids (distributed by Macmillan) for providing me with this advanced reader’s e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2023
So good! But, “Petrified” and “The Burning One”, were my favorite stories in this collection!
October 2, 2024
I received an ARC from the publisher
TW: burrowing parasites/delusional parasitosis & referenced addictions (in "Stay"), theme of home invasion & decapitation (in "Loved By All, Save One"), sacrifice (in One-Lane Bridge"), themes of drowning & attempted strangulation (in "The Ghost on the Shore"), arson & prejudice including ableism and homophobic hatecrimes (in "Third Burn"), sudden death, cancer, suicidal ideation & mentioned parental abuse (in "It Stays Wit You"), slavery & colonization (in "The Burning One"), skin picking (in "Stay" and "The Tallest Poppy"), themes of sexual assault (in "Petrified" and "It Stays With You"), mentioned immolation (in "Third Burn" and "The Burning One")
4.5
I loved this so much! Rarely do you find a collection so solid! While not all of the stories resonated with me personally, each and every one is well written, unique, and stays with you.
My favorite stories were "Stay", which emanated such a visceral feeling of small town suffocation and carrying the world on your shoulders it left me breathless, and the fascinating Bloody Mary story, "It Stays With You". The writing was fantastic for both, with premises that promised to get under my skin and sit with me a while.
"Third Burn" was also interesting with a curse that made me cheer and writing that made me want to read slow, and I found myself so intrigued by "The Burning One", a story that took me a moment or two to sink into the writing of but left me with hundreds of questions and a copper taste in my mouth.
I would recommend this collection to any folk horror fans, to any young readers- or old readers!- of horror, and anyone who incorrectly found themselves thinking they can't be haunted.
Pre-review comments below
FOLK HORROR FOLK HORROR
Update 2/14 Okay was no one going to tell me about this absolutely killer cover
TW: burrowing parasites/delusional parasitosis & referenced addictions (in "Stay"), theme of home invasion & decapitation (in "Loved By All, Save One"), sacrifice (in One-Lane Bridge"), themes of drowning & attempted strangulation (in "The Ghost on the Shore"), arson & prejudice including ableism and homophobic hatecrimes (in "Third Burn"), sudden death, cancer, suicidal ideation & mentioned parental abuse (in "It Stays Wit You"), slavery & colonization (in "The Burning One"), skin picking (in "Stay" and "The Tallest Poppy"), themes of sexual assault (in "Petrified" and "It Stays With You"), mentioned immolation (in "Third Burn" and "The Burning One")
4.5
I loved this so much! Rarely do you find a collection so solid! While not all of the stories resonated with me personally, each and every one is well written, unique, and stays with you.
My favorite stories were "Stay", which emanated such a visceral feeling of small town suffocation and carrying the world on your shoulders it left me breathless, and the fascinating Bloody Mary story, "It Stays With You". The writing was fantastic for both, with premises that promised to get under my skin and sit with me a while.
"Third Burn" was also interesting with a curse that made me cheer and writing that made me want to read slow, and I found myself so intrigued by "The Burning One", a story that took me a moment or two to sink into the writing of but left me with hundreds of questions and a copper taste in my mouth.
I would recommend this collection to any folk horror fans, to any young readers- or old readers!- of horror, and anyone who incorrectly found themselves thinking they can't be haunted.
Pre-review comments below
FOLK HORROR FOLK HORROR
Update 2/14 Okay was no one going to tell me about this absolutely killer cover
Want to read
May 20, 2022ARC received!!! Thank you so much, Page Street Kids!!!
Folk Horror is one of my favorite subgenres of Horror and frankly, it doesn't get enough love. Super stoked to get to this anthology!!!
Folk Horror is one of my favorite subgenres of Horror and frankly, it doesn't get enough love. Super stoked to get to this anthology!!!
July 5, 2022
When I saw many of my favourite authors had come together to create an anthology of folk horror (one of my favourite horror sub genres) excited is an understatement for how I felt. Authors include Hannah Whitten, Tori Bovalino and Allison Saft to name a few.
Unlike many folk horror books which are quite dense, this is far lighter in comparison. With this in mind, the Gathering Dark would be a great place to start if you’d like to dip your toes into folk horror in a non intimidating way.
My personal favourite was IT STAYS WITH YOU by Aden Polydoros which was about the folk legend Bloody Mary. I loved this one. I couldn’t look at mirrors after this without getting a little freaked out and it reminded me of my childhood when it absolutely petrified us to say her name.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book to read and review in advance!
Unlike many folk horror books which are quite dense, this is far lighter in comparison. With this in mind, the Gathering Dark would be a great place to start if you’d like to dip your toes into folk horror in a non intimidating way.
My personal favourite was IT STAYS WITH YOU by Aden Polydoros which was about the folk legend Bloody Mary. I loved this one. I couldn’t look at mirrors after this without getting a little freaked out and it reminded me of my childhood when it absolutely petrified us to say her name.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book to read and review in advance!
November 6, 2022
This is not an anthology of folk horror, it's an anthology of teens living in small towns who don't like living in small towns so they steal their parents' vodka. Incredibly boring. Last story was actually good and quite scary.
February 26, 2023
DNF after three stories. Just not into it. Really cool cover though, which is what made me request it.
July 4, 2022
3.75 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Stay - Erica Waters - 3.5 stars
A very creepy start to the anthology, very atmospheric and eerie. I was hooked straight away! I did find it to be a little predictable and confusing, but a great short story nonetheless!
The Tallest Poppy - Chloe Gong - 4 stars
Even creepier! Honestly one of my worst nightmares come to life in this story, it was actually kind of horrible for me to read. Chloe Gong's writing really lends itself to the genre of horror. It was a bit of a confusing end, but very enjoyable and very creepy.
Loved by All, Save One - Tori Bovalino - 4.5 stars
Ooooh, I loved this one! Creepy and very probable, in my eyes. I loved the way the ghost came into the story at the end and the role they played; the whole story was so creepy and definitely not one to read if you are home alone! However, the start of the story was a little predictable.
One-Lane Bridge - Hannah Whitten - 3 stars
I just wasn't all that interested in the plot of this one sadly. The idea of the monster under the bridge is pretty cool, but it's never really brought to fruition. It didn't feel that creepy or horror-esque, and the ending seemed a bit stupid to me.
The Ghost on the Shore - Allison Saft - 3.5 stars
Very beautiful writing, and I love the concept, but sadly I just don't think it was pulled off quite right. I was a bit confused by the story, and I didn't really feel like any of the consuming grief that the MC is meant to be feeling came across.
Petrified - Olivia Chadha - 4 stars
A little confusing; this was one of the shorter stories, but I think this would be sooo cool as a full length novel - a forest that devours those who have wronged others? Vengeance-reaping main characters? Loved that! It was so cool but we do miss out on quite a lot of useful detail that could have really fleshed out the story, even a bit more would have added to the atmosphere.
Third Burn - Courtney Gould - 4 stars
Very intriguing. I really enjoyed the way the story was told, and the reasonings behind it all. However, it did just feel like it was missing out on something (but I can't really put my finger on what that is, so that's not entirely helpful of me!) I really wanted to see where it would lead!
It Stays With You - Aden Polydoros - 4.5 stars
I really liked this! It was creepy, but not too much, there's an abandoned amusement park, a weird presence haunting these 3 kids. I liked how it was kind of an allegory for defeating the demons from your past.
Truth or Dare - Alex Brown - 3 stars
I don't really understand why this one was in here...? I don't think this can really be classed as horror. It was basically a lot of walking and internal monologue, but nothing horror about it really, in my opinion anyway. It was more about choosing yourself after spending a long time putting another person before yourself.
The Burning One - Shakira Toussaint - 3.5 stars
A very cool concept. I loved seeing the story from the perspective of the "monster", but there were some things that weren't explained and left me feeling quite confused.
Overall, a very enjoyable collection of short horror stories, perfect for reading around Halloween time, and I think there's one for everyone in here!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Stay - Erica Waters - 3.5 stars
A very creepy start to the anthology, very atmospheric and eerie. I was hooked straight away! I did find it to be a little predictable and confusing, but a great short story nonetheless!
The Tallest Poppy - Chloe Gong - 4 stars
Even creepier! Honestly one of my worst nightmares come to life in this story, it was actually kind of horrible for me to read. Chloe Gong's writing really lends itself to the genre of horror. It was a bit of a confusing end, but very enjoyable and very creepy.
Loved by All, Save One - Tori Bovalino - 4.5 stars
Ooooh, I loved this one! Creepy and very probable, in my eyes. I loved the way the ghost came into the story at the end and the role they played; the whole story was so creepy and definitely not one to read if you are home alone! However, the start of the story was a little predictable.
One-Lane Bridge - Hannah Whitten - 3 stars
I just wasn't all that interested in the plot of this one sadly. The idea of the monster under the bridge is pretty cool, but it's never really brought to fruition. It didn't feel that creepy or horror-esque, and the ending seemed a bit stupid to me.
The Ghost on the Shore - Allison Saft - 3.5 stars
Very beautiful writing, and I love the concept, but sadly I just don't think it was pulled off quite right. I was a bit confused by the story, and I didn't really feel like any of the consuming grief that the MC is meant to be feeling came across.
Petrified - Olivia Chadha - 4 stars
A little confusing; this was one of the shorter stories, but I think this would be sooo cool as a full length novel - a forest that devours those who have wronged others? Vengeance-reaping main characters? Loved that! It was so cool but we do miss out on quite a lot of useful detail that could have really fleshed out the story, even a bit more would have added to the atmosphere.
Third Burn - Courtney Gould - 4 stars
Very intriguing. I really enjoyed the way the story was told, and the reasonings behind it all. However, it did just feel like it was missing out on something (but I can't really put my finger on what that is, so that's not entirely helpful of me!) I really wanted to see where it would lead!
It Stays With You - Aden Polydoros - 4.5 stars
I really liked this! It was creepy, but not too much, there's an abandoned amusement park, a weird presence haunting these 3 kids. I liked how it was kind of an allegory for defeating the demons from your past.
Truth or Dare - Alex Brown - 3 stars
I don't really understand why this one was in here...? I don't think this can really be classed as horror. It was basically a lot of walking and internal monologue, but nothing horror about it really, in my opinion anyway. It was more about choosing yourself after spending a long time putting another person before yourself.
The Burning One - Shakira Toussaint - 3.5 stars
A very cool concept. I loved seeing the story from the perspective of the "monster", but there were some things that weren't explained and left me feeling quite confused.
Overall, a very enjoyable collection of short horror stories, perfect for reading around Halloween time, and I think there's one for everyone in here!
December 13, 2024
*1.5
Okay y'all this is the LAST time I get duped by a pretty cover. The LAST time, I swear.
So. Not sure what it was ...maybe it was the cover art or the literal use of "folk horror" in its title but I thought this book was going to be a lot more...y'know...folksy.
First thing that threw me off was that these were all contemporary (except for the last one strangely enough?) And like trust me, I'm not saying you can't tell a good folk tale in a contemporary setting but it struck me as really strange that all of these short stories (again, except for one?) took place in modern times. Like was that a rule or something?
I just think you get the most mileage out of your folk horror tale by setting it in yesteryear and I'm shocked that most of these authors didn't do that. Because of that, they mostly felt like urban legends rather than folk tales.
Maybe I just was expecting something a little more like Over the Garden Wall (foolish of me, nothing can match that masterpiece).
Here's my brief thoughts on each story (spoilers ahead!):
1. Stay by Erica Waters. Started off pretty okay but failed to see the folk horror aspect. Just felt like a mildly scary story.
2. The Tallest Poppy by Chloe Gong. Again, started off fine but it didn't make any sense that she turned into a poppy at the end when it would've made a lot more sense if she turned into a doll (and would've been a lot creepier). Her turning into a flower and being cut down at the end just felt very cheesy, like one of Goosebump's weaker stories.
3. Loved by All, Save One by Tori Bovalino. I just don't think that ghost story is synonymous with a folk tale? And on top of that I cannot think of anything LESS folksy than someone breaking into your house. I don't care if a ghost saves you. That's a spooky story, sure but again- do most of these authors know what folk horror is?
4. One Lane Bridge by Hannah Whitten. Was actually really looking forward to this one. Got close to being in line with folk horror with like a goat man bridge type thing (*cue Shane Medej dancing and screaming on said bridge*). But I just COULD NOT FOCUS on that aspect because I was just way too annoyed with these characters.
Now, in short stories, especially short horror stories, it's not essential that you flesh out your characters or even make them likable...like if they're going to be ripped to shreds or meet some horrible fate, what's the point? It can even make the tragic end more enjoyable since you weren't attached. But that didn't happen? The main girl Jules defeats this?? presumably centuries old monster by...yelling at it. Barely. She says "How dare you?" sort of tells it off? and then the thing just UP AND DISAPPEARS. And she's all like "that thing is AFRAID of me..."
Guys we've been doing it ALL WRONG. No more candles and ancient rituals or spells or holy water or any of that shit. Quit trying so hard! We just need to tell the monster to FUCK OFF and it will! Why didn't I think of that!?
5. Ghost on the Shore by Allison Saft. Allison Saft was the only author I had read anything by before reading this (she wrote A Far Wilder Magic which I really loved). But again...presence of ghost does not a folk horror make.
6. Petrified by Olivia Chadha. This one had potential but the writing style was so rushed and stilted, I could hardly grasp onto a single part of this story so it just sort of fell flat for me. As soon as I was getting into the story, it ended.
7. Third Burn by Courtney Gould. OKAY! Courtney, as the kids say, UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT. I really liked this one! I had given up thinking I would really like any of these stories so this was a pleasant surprise. It managed to 1. actually give me some chills, 2. actually made me care about the main character, Charlie, in the short time we had with her and 3. Actually felt like folk horror! Imagine that! I actually wouldn't mind reading an entire book about this plot. Gave me major The VVitch vibes.
8. It Stays with You by Aden Polydoros. I don't know if this one really felt like folk-horror (more like urban myth, again can't quite pin down the distinction but it's there) but this was the only other one I really enjoyed. Polydoros and Gould had really great writing styles that didn't feel like a chore to read. I really felt connected to these characters and genuinely felt like I had been told a full, rich story by the end of it. Again, would totally be down to read a full length novel about this concept with these characters.
9. Truth or Dare by Alex Brown. Nope. Sorry. This one was so weird and vague and not even scary in the slightest. Just sort of annoying. That's all I can say.
10. The Burning One by Shakira Toussaint. I have no idea how to talk about this one. It was SO tonally different than the rest, it felt so out of place. It was really interesting, don't get me wrong! Went with a very different type of folk horror (the worst kind...white men lol). But again, this did not fit into this anthology at ALL, so it was really weird to have it slapped in at the end. It was also the only one not to go with a contemporary, American setting, which would've been great if all the other stories had gone a similar route.
Really disappointed by this anthology. Was expecting something totally different (I blame the marketing entirely). I don't think most of these authors really dug into what really makes folk horror great, nor did they show an understanding of what folk horror even is. I felt like they got the email, saw 'horror', quickly wrote the thing, turned it in, and forgot about it. Goddamnit, between this and the Tales from the Hinterland, I just want a good dark fairytale/folk tale anthology! Is that too much to ask!? (I have my eye on Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo so maybe that will sate my hunger)
Okay y'all this is the LAST time I get duped by a pretty cover. The LAST time, I swear.
So. Not sure what it was ...maybe it was the cover art or the literal use of "folk horror" in its title but I thought this book was going to be a lot more...y'know...folksy.
First thing that threw me off was that these were all contemporary (except for the last one strangely enough?) And like trust me, I'm not saying you can't tell a good folk tale in a contemporary setting but it struck me as really strange that all of these short stories (again, except for one?) took place in modern times. Like was that a rule or something?
I just think you get the most mileage out of your folk horror tale by setting it in yesteryear and I'm shocked that most of these authors didn't do that. Because of that, they mostly felt like urban legends rather than folk tales.
Maybe I just was expecting something a little more like Over the Garden Wall (foolish of me, nothing can match that masterpiece).
Here's my brief thoughts on each story (spoilers ahead!):
1. Stay by Erica Waters. Started off pretty okay but failed to see the folk horror aspect. Just felt like a mildly scary story.
2. The Tallest Poppy by Chloe Gong. Again, started off fine but it didn't make any sense that she turned into a poppy at the end when it would've made a lot more sense if she turned into a doll (and would've been a lot creepier). Her turning into a flower and being cut down at the end just felt very cheesy, like one of Goosebump's weaker stories.
3. Loved by All, Save One by Tori Bovalino. I just don't think that ghost story is synonymous with a folk tale? And on top of that I cannot think of anything LESS folksy than someone breaking into your house. I don't care if a ghost saves you. That's a spooky story, sure but again- do most of these authors know what folk horror is?
4. One Lane Bridge by Hannah Whitten. Was actually really looking forward to this one. Got close to being in line with folk horror with like a goat man bridge type thing (*cue Shane Medej dancing and screaming on said bridge*). But I just COULD NOT FOCUS on that aspect because I was just way too annoyed with these characters.
Now, in short stories, especially short horror stories, it's not essential that you flesh out your characters or even make them likable...like if they're going to be ripped to shreds or meet some horrible fate, what's the point? It can even make the tragic end more enjoyable since you weren't attached. But that didn't happen? The main girl Jules defeats this?? presumably centuries old monster by...yelling at it. Barely. She says "How dare you?" sort of tells it off? and then the thing just UP AND DISAPPEARS. And she's all like "that thing is AFRAID of me..."
Guys we've been doing it ALL WRONG. No more candles and ancient rituals or spells or holy water or any of that shit. Quit trying so hard! We just need to tell the monster to FUCK OFF and it will! Why didn't I think of that!?
5. Ghost on the Shore by Allison Saft. Allison Saft was the only author I had read anything by before reading this (she wrote A Far Wilder Magic which I really loved). But again...presence of ghost does not a folk horror make.
6. Petrified by Olivia Chadha. This one had potential but the writing style was so rushed and stilted, I could hardly grasp onto a single part of this story so it just sort of fell flat for me. As soon as I was getting into the story, it ended.
7. Third Burn by Courtney Gould. OKAY! Courtney, as the kids say, UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT. I really liked this one! I had given up thinking I would really like any of these stories so this was a pleasant surprise. It managed to 1. actually give me some chills, 2. actually made me care about the main character, Charlie, in the short time we had with her and 3. Actually felt like folk horror! Imagine that! I actually wouldn't mind reading an entire book about this plot. Gave me major The VVitch vibes.
8. It Stays with You by Aden Polydoros. I don't know if this one really felt like folk-horror (more like urban myth, again can't quite pin down the distinction but it's there) but this was the only other one I really enjoyed. Polydoros and Gould had really great writing styles that didn't feel like a chore to read. I really felt connected to these characters and genuinely felt like I had been told a full, rich story by the end of it. Again, would totally be down to read a full length novel about this concept with these characters.
9. Truth or Dare by Alex Brown. Nope. Sorry. This one was so weird and vague and not even scary in the slightest. Just sort of annoying. That's all I can say.
10. The Burning One by Shakira Toussaint. I have no idea how to talk about this one. It was SO tonally different than the rest, it felt so out of place. It was really interesting, don't get me wrong! Went with a very different type of folk horror (the worst kind...white men lol). But again, this did not fit into this anthology at ALL, so it was really weird to have it slapped in at the end. It was also the only one not to go with a contemporary, American setting, which would've been great if all the other stories had gone a similar route.
Really disappointed by this anthology. Was expecting something totally different (I blame the marketing entirely). I don't think most of these authors really dug into what really makes folk horror great, nor did they show an understanding of what folk horror even is. I felt like they got the email, saw 'horror', quickly wrote the thing, turned it in, and forgot about it. Goddamnit, between this and the Tales from the Hinterland, I just want a good dark fairytale/folk tale anthology! Is that too much to ask!? (I have my eye on Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo so maybe that will sate my hunger)
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