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Creature Feature
Gather round as today’s most diabolically clever authors twist simple moments into otherworldly horrors. An empty baby stroller. A scratching underneath the bed. A farmhouse in the moonlight. With an unnerving sense of the macabre, these stories transform our greatest fears into bone-chilling realities.
The Pram by Joe Hill
A husband’s obsessive desire for a child leads to an unexpected manifestation of his yearning in a nightmarish short story about fatherhood dreams by New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill.
Willy and Marianne’s farmhouse in Maine has acres of meadow and fresh air, and a lonesome bridle path in the forest along which Willy daydreams and ambles. When he’s loaned a decrepit old baby stroller to cart his groceries home, the rickety squeak of the wheels comforts him. So do the sweet coos of a baby Willy knows can’t be real. Can it? In this twisted thicket, wishes come true—with a price.
Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix
Obey the rules. It’s the only way to survive the night in a short story about what hides in the dark by the New York Times bestselling author of The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires.
Marcus grew up believing his father killed his mother—then blamed it on the boogeyman under the bed. Always leave the lights on, his father warned, or the boogeyman will get you. Marcus still heeds the superstition, especially when he invites his new girlfriend over. Is Marcus haunted by a creature or has he just inherited his father’s murderous delusions? The night will tell.
It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman
Some chilling campfire tales ring too true to ignore. For one young woman, an urban legend calls her into the woods in a spine-tingling short story by the bestselling author of Bird Box.
The dense Michigan forest. Haunting wails. The clip-clop of demon hooves on a bridge to nowhere. It’s more than a tall tale to Brenda Jennings, whose sister disappeared in those woods one fateful night. Three years later, on a solo stakeout in the dark, Brenda goes in after her. She’s desperate for answers, and terrified to find what lies waiting on the other side of that bridge.
In Bloom by Paul Tremblay
There’s something in the water in this hallucinatory short story by Paul Tremblay, bestselling author of The Cabin at the End of the World and The Beast You Are.
Journalist Heidi Cohen is in Cape Cod investigating the sources of recurring toxic algae blooms along the coast. A local named Jimmy has his own theory for her. Every year the fetid growth gets worse—but it’s been going on longer than anyone knows. Decades ago, something happened to Jimmy that he’s never forgotten. Is Heidi ready for the real story?
Best of Luck by Jason Mott
Did you ever hear the one about the man with a string of bad luck? The worst is still to come in a chilling short story of an insatiable friendship by the New York Times bestselling author of Hell of a Book.
For best friends with vastly different fortunes, what’s left to hash out other than a forced confession at gunpoint? All that the destitute, sickly, and grieving Will demands is that monstrously successful Barry admit to draining all the luck right out of him. Like blood. As the standoff escalates, the truth is not the only thing ready to come out.
Big Bad by Chandler Baker
For a family trying to make an isolated farmhouse into a home, fear and rage are getting harder to control in a primal short story by the New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Network and Cutting Teeth.
The Strauss family is on knife’s edge. Sam is a resentful stay-at-home dad. Rachel feels the restlessness in her blood returning. Their children are getting out of hand. And a recent mudslide has forced the wolves out of the woods to look for food.
As dusk falls and tensions rise, the family must come together to survive the night—from the threats outside and those within.
The Pram by Joe Hill
A husband’s obsessive desire for a child leads to an unexpected manifestation of his yearning in a nightmarish short story about fatherhood dreams by New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill.
Willy and Marianne’s farmhouse in Maine has acres of meadow and fresh air, and a lonesome bridle path in the forest along which Willy daydreams and ambles. When he’s loaned a decrepit old baby stroller to cart his groceries home, the rickety squeak of the wheels comforts him. So do the sweet coos of a baby Willy knows can’t be real. Can it? In this twisted thicket, wishes come true—with a price.
Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix
Obey the rules. It’s the only way to survive the night in a short story about what hides in the dark by the New York Times bestselling author of The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires.
Marcus grew up believing his father killed his mother—then blamed it on the boogeyman under the bed. Always leave the lights on, his father warned, or the boogeyman will get you. Marcus still heeds the superstition, especially when he invites his new girlfriend over. Is Marcus haunted by a creature or has he just inherited his father’s murderous delusions? The night will tell.
It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman
Some chilling campfire tales ring too true to ignore. For one young woman, an urban legend calls her into the woods in a spine-tingling short story by the bestselling author of Bird Box.
The dense Michigan forest. Haunting wails. The clip-clop of demon hooves on a bridge to nowhere. It’s more than a tall tale to Brenda Jennings, whose sister disappeared in those woods one fateful night. Three years later, on a solo stakeout in the dark, Brenda goes in after her. She’s desperate for answers, and terrified to find what lies waiting on the other side of that bridge.
In Bloom by Paul Tremblay
There’s something in the water in this hallucinatory short story by Paul Tremblay, bestselling author of The Cabin at the End of the World and The Beast You Are.
Journalist Heidi Cohen is in Cape Cod investigating the sources of recurring toxic algae blooms along the coast. A local named Jimmy has his own theory for her. Every year the fetid growth gets worse—but it’s been going on longer than anyone knows. Decades ago, something happened to Jimmy that he’s never forgotten. Is Heidi ready for the real story?
Best of Luck by Jason Mott
Did you ever hear the one about the man with a string of bad luck? The worst is still to come in a chilling short story of an insatiable friendship by the New York Times bestselling author of Hell of a Book.
For best friends with vastly different fortunes, what’s left to hash out other than a forced confession at gunpoint? All that the destitute, sickly, and grieving Will demands is that monstrously successful Barry admit to draining all the luck right out of him. Like blood. As the standoff escalates, the truth is not the only thing ready to come out.
Big Bad by Chandler Baker
For a family trying to make an isolated farmhouse into a home, fear and rage are getting harder to control in a primal short story by the New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Network and Cutting Teeth.
The Strauss family is on knife’s edge. Sam is a resentful stay-at-home dad. Rachel feels the restlessness in her blood returning. Their children are getting out of hand. And a recent mudslide has forced the wolves out of the woods to look for food.
As dusk falls and tensions rise, the family must come together to survive the night—from the threats outside and those within.
258 pages, ebook
Published September 26, 2023
19 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
Joe Hill
505 books29.9k followersJoe Hill's debut, Heart-Shaped Box, won the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel. His second, Horns, was made into a film freakfest starring Daniel Radcliffe. His other novels include NOS4A2, and his #1 New York Times Best-Seller, The Fireman... which was also the winner of a 2016 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Horror Novel.
He writes short stories too. Some of them were gathered together in his prize-winning collection, 20th Century Ghosts.
He won the Eisner Award for Best Writer for his long running comic book series, Locke & Key, co-created with illustrator and art wizard Gabriel Rodriguez.
He lives in New Hampshire with a corgi named McMurtry after a certain beloved writer of cowboy tales. His next book, Strange Weather, a collection of novellas, storms into bookstores in October of 2017.
He writes short stories too. Some of them were gathered together in his prize-winning collection, 20th Century Ghosts.
He won the Eisner Award for Best Writer for his long running comic book series, Locke & Key, co-created with illustrator and art wizard Gabriel Rodriguez.
He lives in New Hampshire with a corgi named McMurtry after a certain beloved writer of cowboy tales. His next book, Strange Weather, a collection of novellas, storms into bookstores in October of 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
August 2, 2025
Amazon Original Stories never disappoint. In this case, they're about the horror genre. It's also allowed me to discover new authors while revisiting familiar ones.
October 14, 2023
3.5/5 This was a decent collection of short stories. The Grady Hendrix was a stand out. Some others were ok and and one was pretty meh. Here’s a rundown.
The Pram by Joe Hill 3/5
This one was probably a little more interpretive than I’d prefer. Willy and Mary Anne have suffered a miscarriage and have decided to change their lives and move as an escape. Willy is given a Pram, old fashioned baby stroller, to help him carry groceries to and from the store. Soon after Willy is developing an unhealthy connection to the Pram and creepy things begin to happen around the new house.
Not bad but it’s a little jumbled for a short story and not as clear as I’d like.
Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix 5/5
This was easily my favorite in the collection. Marcus’ father killed his mother when he was 6 years old and then blamed it on the Boogeyman traumatizing him for life. An excellent short story. I really enjoyed this one.
It Waits in the Wood by Josh Malerman 3.5/5
This one wasn’t bad. I liked the concept but it was a little odd. Brenda’s sister goes missing in the woods. Years later Brenda is on the hunt following clues of an old urban legend involving a faceless imp and a hidden bridge.
In Bloom by Paul Tremblay 2.5/5
Half a story and pretty disjointed feeling at that. A fun concept but the tale meanders all over the place and then just ends. Heidi is a journalist investing toxic plant life. The little story within a story while Heidi interviews someone is ok but Heidi’s portion before and after are meh. Sadly the weakest in the collection for me. Kinda sad because I usually enjoy Tremblay’s work.
Best of Luck by Jason Mott 4/5
Barry’s neighbor Will has seemingly lost his mind. He’s got Barry at gunpoint and is blaming him for stealing all of his luck. This was fun little story. Creepy and doesn’t go quite the way you’d expect.
Big Bad by Chandler Baker 3.5/5
Marital troubles and werewolves in this one. Big bad is the longest story in this collection. June and Odie have to deal with their parents endless quarreling, a stranger at the door, mudslides and a creature in the woods. A fun story probably would be better as a fully fleshed out novel but it worked well as a longer short story
The Pram by Joe Hill 3/5
This one was probably a little more interpretive than I’d prefer. Willy and Mary Anne have suffered a miscarriage and have decided to change their lives and move as an escape. Willy is given a Pram, old fashioned baby stroller, to help him carry groceries to and from the store. Soon after Willy is developing an unhealthy connection to the Pram and creepy things begin to happen around the new house.
Not bad but it’s a little jumbled for a short story and not as clear as I’d like.
Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix 5/5
This was easily my favorite in the collection. Marcus’ father killed his mother when he was 6 years old and then blamed it on the Boogeyman traumatizing him for life. An excellent short story. I really enjoyed this one.
It Waits in the Wood by Josh Malerman 3.5/5
This one wasn’t bad. I liked the concept but it was a little odd. Brenda’s sister goes missing in the woods. Years later Brenda is on the hunt following clues of an old urban legend involving a faceless imp and a hidden bridge.
In Bloom by Paul Tremblay 2.5/5
Half a story and pretty disjointed feeling at that. A fun concept but the tale meanders all over the place and then just ends. Heidi is a journalist investing toxic plant life. The little story within a story while Heidi interviews someone is ok but Heidi’s portion before and after are meh. Sadly the weakest in the collection for me. Kinda sad because I usually enjoy Tremblay’s work.
Best of Luck by Jason Mott 4/5
Barry’s neighbor Will has seemingly lost his mind. He’s got Barry at gunpoint and is blaming him for stealing all of his luck. This was fun little story. Creepy and doesn’t go quite the way you’d expect.
Big Bad by Chandler Baker 3.5/5
Marital troubles and werewolves in this one. Big bad is the longest story in this collection. June and Odie have to deal with their parents endless quarreling, a stranger at the door, mudslides and a creature in the woods. A fun story probably would be better as a fully fleshed out novel but it worked well as a longer short story
March 2, 2024
Overall rating avg: 3.5 -- just some brief thoughts! i love short form horror, i find if a story can be evocative in a short amount of time it speaks to how well crafted it was. the concept of creature features drew me to this collection because i adore a creature feature. plus, this was comprised of several big name horror authors that i have been hesitant to read because i am very, very picky when it comes to horror. overall, this ran the gamut for me -- some bangers, some snoozers.
The Pram by Joe Hill: 3.5
i love folk horror and religious horror. had a really good lead up, but an underdeveloped pay off. he ~fed the creature with his resentment over the course of the month~ but that was not shown to us at all. we got like a day of open resentment. i do like the gender subversion of the father being connected to the malignant baby post-miscarriage instead of the mother.
Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix : 3
the concept of this one was much stronger to me than the ultimate execution. which tracks with how i've engaged with hendrix before, tbh. the boogeyman being real, great. the ultimate absolution of so many domestic abusers/killers under the guise of the boogeyman... less great. specifically when it came to how tess was talked about, too, even in her death scene. like, as she's being dragged under the bed, her leg disappears, HER NIPPLES?????, and then her collarbone, etc etc. i love a blending of sex and horror but not like this. plus there was too much wavering on if the MC believed in the ankle snatcher or not but like, no deliberation about it. just page to page, i was guessing if he was gonna believe in it or not.
It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman: 4.5
this one RULEDDDDDD. my only thing is that i was a bit disappointed with the ending. i thought it was set up to have a great ending that went all the way and swerved from a happy ending and it would have packed a good punch. when brenda found amanda, it should have been opso wearing amanda's face not actually amanda but maybe that's just me. so i was kinda like "oh. okay." when it ended not that way.
In Bloom by Paul Tremblay: 2.5
main snoozefest contender. just read a book about algae so i was kinda jazzed to see cyanotoxins as a part of this story. i didn't like the way the story was framed, didn't care for the unnecessary relationship drama that didn't add literally anything. the wink-nudge of the swamp thing comic was cute until it didn't really go anywhere. i've not picked up any of tremblay's stuff before and i'm even less inclined to do so now.
Best of Luck by Jason Mott: 3
runner-up snoozefest contender. however, this gets more credit because i love body horror <3 it was just mainly dialogue which i don't particularly care for in short form horror, it's less interesting to me. also it would have been better to me if it was manifested instead of ancient eldritch creature. but that's a personal preference! i do want to check out more mott stuff now, though, because i'm intrigued vs how i felt with tremblay.
Big Bad by Chandler Baker: 4.5
this one also ruled!!! i'm not surprised that my favorite stories in this collection were the "there's something in the woods" one and the werewolf one. cos like, duh. i love those concepts, tropes, themes, creatures, etc. i love a werewolf that has more to it, too, and i liked the kind of ambiguity of the lycanthropy being associated with both menstruation and also STIs. harold was the miss for me in this one, i found his character to be less relevant and there should have been more a focus on the marital problems as the stem in the standoff instead of an outside character jumpstarting it. monstrous motherhood is another theme i like. "when is a monster not a monster? oh, when you love it." etc etc etc. [yes i know now it's a supernatural poem from tumblr like a decade ago i didn't know when i wrote this review :((((((]
The Pram by Joe Hill: 3.5
i love folk horror and religious horror. had a really good lead up, but an underdeveloped pay off. he ~fed the creature with his resentment over the course of the month~ but that was not shown to us at all. we got like a day of open resentment. i do like the gender subversion of the father being connected to the malignant baby post-miscarriage instead of the mother.
Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix : 3
the concept of this one was much stronger to me than the ultimate execution. which tracks with how i've engaged with hendrix before, tbh. the boogeyman being real, great. the ultimate absolution of so many domestic abusers/killers under the guise of the boogeyman... less great. specifically when it came to how tess was talked about, too, even in her death scene. like, as she's being dragged under the bed, her leg disappears, HER NIPPLES?????, and then her collarbone, etc etc. i love a blending of sex and horror but not like this. plus there was too much wavering on if the MC believed in the ankle snatcher or not but like, no deliberation about it. just page to page, i was guessing if he was gonna believe in it or not.
It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman: 4.5
this one RULEDDDDDD. my only thing is that i was a bit disappointed with the ending. i thought it was set up to have a great ending that went all the way and swerved from a happy ending and it would have packed a good punch. when brenda found amanda, it should have been opso wearing amanda's face not actually amanda but maybe that's just me. so i was kinda like "oh. okay." when it ended not that way.
In Bloom by Paul Tremblay: 2.5
main snoozefest contender. just read a book about algae so i was kinda jazzed to see cyanotoxins as a part of this story. i didn't like the way the story was framed, didn't care for the unnecessary relationship drama that didn't add literally anything. the wink-nudge of the swamp thing comic was cute until it didn't really go anywhere. i've not picked up any of tremblay's stuff before and i'm even less inclined to do so now.
Best of Luck by Jason Mott: 3
runner-up snoozefest contender. however, this gets more credit because i love body horror <3 it was just mainly dialogue which i don't particularly care for in short form horror, it's less interesting to me. also it would have been better to me if it was manifested instead of ancient eldritch creature. but that's a personal preference! i do want to check out more mott stuff now, though, because i'm intrigued vs how i felt with tremblay.
Big Bad by Chandler Baker: 4.5
this one also ruled!!! i'm not surprised that my favorite stories in this collection were the "there's something in the woods" one and the werewolf one. cos like, duh. i love those concepts, tropes, themes, creatures, etc. i love a werewolf that has more to it, too, and i liked the kind of ambiguity of the lycanthropy being associated with both menstruation and also STIs. harold was the miss for me in this one, i found his character to be less relevant and there should have been more a focus on the marital problems as the stem in the standoff instead of an outside character jumpstarting it. monstrous motherhood is another theme i like. "when is a monster not a monster? oh, when you love it." etc etc etc. [yes i know now it's a supernatural poem from tumblr like a decade ago i didn't know when i wrote this review :((((((]
December 11, 2025
3.5 overall.
ankle snatcher - good horror about the boogie man under the bed, 3.5.
best of luck - it does feel like some people steal all your luck sometimes, huh. 3.
big bad - my favourite one, werewolf story, 4.5.
in bloom - sea blob thing? meh. and I really like paul trembley usually. 2.
it waits in the woods - wannabe blair witch project, 3.
the pram - maine guy fucking hates his wife, a story by stephen king, I mean, joe hill. 3,5.
ankle snatcher - good horror about the boogie man under the bed, 3.5.
best of luck - it does feel like some people steal all your luck sometimes, huh. 3.
big bad - my favourite one, werewolf story, 4.5.
in bloom - sea blob thing? meh. and I really like paul trembley usually. 2.
it waits in the woods - wannabe blair witch project, 3.
the pram - maine guy fucking hates his wife, a story by stephen king, I mean, joe hill. 3,5.
April 3, 2025
Six novellas from some talented horror authors. All of them were different and solid. My favorite was Big Bad by Chandler Baker. I hadn't read anything from them prior. I want to check out more from them.
January 1, 2024
3.0 ⭐️ Good Creature Feature
Cozy spooky reading for the Halloween season with a couple of gems.
Cozy spooky reading for the Halloween season with a couple of gems.
May 8, 2024
I really enjoyed this! All the stories were gripping good fun but they saved the best for last. Big Bad was my favorite of the collection.
November 6, 2023
I enjoyed most of the stories. Great selection of narrators. Fun, creepy, and [sometimes] gross!
October 19, 2023
This was a really fun and interesting collection of stories; some were a variation on a known monster - like a werewolf and others introduced new and horrific creatures all of their own. I think my favourite was probably Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix, but honestly, the whole series of stories was great and there wasn't a bad one among them.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 9, 2023
In Bloom: 3 Stars. Lost interest.
The Pram: Currently reading ebook and not listening to audiobook
Best of Luck: 4 Stars
Waits in the Woods: 4 Stars
Ankle Snatcher: 4 Stars
Big Bad: 4 Stars
The Pram: Currently reading ebook and not listening to audiobook
Best of Luck: 4 Stars
Waits in the Woods: 4 Stars
Ankle Snatcher: 4 Stars
Big Bad: 4 Stars
March 28, 2025
I have already read and loved Hendrix, Tremblay, Joe Hill, Malerman. So those stories I knew I would love. But Chandler Baker took the win for me on this, with Malerman's It WWaits in the woods a close second.
First, not a fan AT ALL of the ankle snatcher story. Wth - are we seriously going there? The crzy guy that kills his wife actually ISN'T crazy and there actually IS some monster living under the bed that commits the crime - like the one-legged man story but worse. What I hated most about it was how the MC decides to take ownership for his actions, seemingly admitting that he did in fact kill his girlfriend, but then allows other crazies in the prison to talk him back into throwing the blame on some invisible monster that did it. Kind of reminding me about the people who gather on message boards to prove to themselves they aren't crazy because other people are ... crazy too? So there is this underworld of other men that have been caught and arrested for killing their wives/girlfriends, but all of them are innocent because it was the thing under the bed! I didn't buy it. MC was creepy and sketchy from the beginning. He brings out his tragic history on the first date just to get the girl to feel sympathy for him - I mean, she shares some personal stuff too about why she isn't a drinker, so both of them were indulging in a little TMI on the first date. The whole thing ran like a stereotypical start to a toxic relationship. Both people needy, sharing too much, moving too fast, but one of them harboring a very dark secret that only gets unleashed when the woman is most vulnerable. Icky. There just wasn't enough meat to back up the monster. So, it existed the entire time MC was alive? I find it hard to believe he never accidentally unleashed it on someone or on himself all those years, not one night that he was drunk or half awake and Really needed to pee? The fact that it Only comes out when coincidentally some innocent girl is there in his bed. And what was the excuse for MC's mother? They were married all that time and not once in the preceding 6 + years she had to get up to use the bathroom in the dark? Even when she was Pregnant? Ok, ok, I know you can't seriously try to make sense of horror stories. But you need to have just a little doubt to make it scary. What would have made it Really scary, for me, would be if he went further towards the end of truth - showing some weird sort of shared pathology between domestic killers, and if the ankle snatcher was really some twisted psychological demon living inside their heads. That is way more scary - because it is entirely plausible.
I didn't like the Pram, because miscarriage isn't something I like to think about, it's just so sad. I did think the idea of a kind of haunting that would take place in the aftermath of one was very intriguing. If you think this story was at least interesting, you should read his dad Stephen King's much better version - Rattlesnake. That takes the idea of a haunted pram to a Whole new level. But you would have to read Cujo first, since Rattlesnake is the sequel. Or not, I didn't actually read Cujo. One of the few of his I haven't - mainly because animal cruelty is a hard trigger for me, and parts of Cujo are really sad in that regard. But, at least see the film first.
In Bloom had some good moments, some good potential. It reminded me of that Creepshow tale "The Raft" about the swamp stuff that eats people, love that one.
Best of Luck was predictable, but still spooky. I had it on audio, and when the story shifts and he suddenly goes "I'm sorrrrry ...." it gave me chills.
It Waits in the Woods - spoiler - spoiler - WHY did he not end it the way everyone must have thought it would end? The whole story talks about this thing that wears peoples faces, and we never get to see it actually wearing one? I was waiting at the end for the Twilight Zone moment when MC was gonna pull over the car and the sister was gonna say, "You wanna see something Really scary?"
Big Bad was just all-around great story. It was a new idea, it took a lot of unexpected turns, the characters didn't reveal themselves until late in the game, and it even took that last, final dark turn at the very end.
First, not a fan AT ALL of the ankle snatcher story. Wth - are we seriously going there? The crzy guy that kills his wife actually ISN'T crazy and there actually IS some monster living under the bed that commits the crime - like the one-legged man story but worse. What I hated most about it was how the MC decides to take ownership for his actions, seemingly admitting that he did in fact kill his girlfriend, but then allows other crazies in the prison to talk him back into throwing the blame on some invisible monster that did it. Kind of reminding me about the people who gather on message boards to prove to themselves they aren't crazy because other people are ... crazy too? So there is this underworld of other men that have been caught and arrested for killing their wives/girlfriends, but all of them are innocent because it was the thing under the bed! I didn't buy it. MC was creepy and sketchy from the beginning. He brings out his tragic history on the first date just to get the girl to feel sympathy for him - I mean, she shares some personal stuff too about why she isn't a drinker, so both of them were indulging in a little TMI on the first date. The whole thing ran like a stereotypical start to a toxic relationship. Both people needy, sharing too much, moving too fast, but one of them harboring a very dark secret that only gets unleashed when the woman is most vulnerable. Icky. There just wasn't enough meat to back up the monster. So, it existed the entire time MC was alive? I find it hard to believe he never accidentally unleashed it on someone or on himself all those years, not one night that he was drunk or half awake and Really needed to pee? The fact that it Only comes out when coincidentally some innocent girl is there in his bed. And what was the excuse for MC's mother? They were married all that time and not once in the preceding 6 + years she had to get up to use the bathroom in the dark? Even when she was Pregnant? Ok, ok, I know you can't seriously try to make sense of horror stories. But you need to have just a little doubt to make it scary. What would have made it Really scary, for me, would be if he went further towards the end of truth - showing some weird sort of shared pathology between domestic killers, and if the ankle snatcher was really some twisted psychological demon living inside their heads. That is way more scary - because it is entirely plausible.
I didn't like the Pram, because miscarriage isn't something I like to think about, it's just so sad. I did think the idea of a kind of haunting that would take place in the aftermath of one was very intriguing. If you think this story was at least interesting, you should read his dad Stephen King's much better version - Rattlesnake. That takes the idea of a haunted pram to a Whole new level. But you would have to read Cujo first, since Rattlesnake is the sequel. Or not, I didn't actually read Cujo. One of the few of his I haven't - mainly because animal cruelty is a hard trigger for me, and parts of Cujo are really sad in that regard. But, at least see the film first.
In Bloom had some good moments, some good potential. It reminded me of that Creepshow tale "The Raft" about the swamp stuff that eats people, love that one.
Best of Luck was predictable, but still spooky. I had it on audio, and when the story shifts and he suddenly goes "I'm sorrrrry ...." it gave me chills.
It Waits in the Woods - spoiler - spoiler - WHY did he not end it the way everyone must have thought it would end? The whole story talks about this thing that wears peoples faces, and we never get to see it actually wearing one? I was waiting at the end for the Twilight Zone moment when MC was gonna pull over the car and the sister was gonna say, "You wanna see something Really scary?"
Big Bad was just all-around great story. It was a new idea, it took a lot of unexpected turns, the characters didn't reveal themselves until late in the game, and it even took that last, final dark turn at the very end.
May 3, 2024
Six (mostly) scary novellas featuring different beings… Ranked in order, from strongest to weakest.
The Pram by Joe Hill
Best of the bunch.
A move to the country does nothing to stop a husband’s dreams of having children with his struggling wife. How far will Willy go? An antique baby carriage and blood rituals say…pretty damn far.
Creepy af. A stronger ending would make this one truly stellar.
Best of Luck by Jason Mott
Runner-up.
Will and Barry have been best friends for years. While Will has been doing great in life, Barry has had a lot of recent setbacks. But are the disappointments due to Henry? And is Will crazy?
Strong story. Bold choice to use dialogue so heavily for the narrative. And it pays off.
It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman
Middling.
A demonic imp named Opso owns a mysterious bridge in the forest. Or, at least, that’s how the story goes. Somehow Opso lost his face—and he wants a new one.
Lost girls in the woods…not giving up hope…the resolution is good, albeit too neat, clean, and simplistic. Stylistic issues lend this story more of a procedural vibe…rather than something super creepy…or even heartfelt.
Big Bad by Chandler Baker
Oregon. Rachel and husband Sam; two daughters: Odette and June.
This has promise, but it’s too bizarre to be scary. Also, hard to follow at times. Unnecessarily convoluted plot. Frenetic pace does not help…neither does the dud of an ending.
In Bloom by Paul Tremblay
Oof. All over the place. Most of the story being told in flashbacks does not aid in suspense.
Climate hysteria and racialization of everything and everyone.
Super odd. Mildly creepy. Far-fetched. Unearned ending.
Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix
Worst of the duds.
Not terrible in the beginning, but once Marcus is incarcerated, everything devolves. It’s not just that it’s ludicrous; the tale isn’t even entertaining. Bizarre and basic. Most grievous sin? It’s not just not scary, it’s not even creepy.
The Pram by Joe Hill
Best of the bunch.
A move to the country does nothing to stop a husband’s dreams of having children with his struggling wife. How far will Willy go? An antique baby carriage and blood rituals say…pretty damn far.
Creepy af. A stronger ending would make this one truly stellar.
Best of Luck by Jason Mott
Runner-up.
Will and Barry have been best friends for years. While Will has been doing great in life, Barry has had a lot of recent setbacks. But are the disappointments due to Henry? And is Will crazy?
Strong story. Bold choice to use dialogue so heavily for the narrative. And it pays off.
It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman
Middling.
A demonic imp named Opso owns a mysterious bridge in the forest. Or, at least, that’s how the story goes. Somehow Opso lost his face—and he wants a new one.
Lost girls in the woods…not giving up hope…the resolution is good, albeit too neat, clean, and simplistic. Stylistic issues lend this story more of a procedural vibe…rather than something super creepy…or even heartfelt.
Big Bad by Chandler Baker
Oregon. Rachel and husband Sam; two daughters: Odette and June.
This has promise, but it’s too bizarre to be scary. Also, hard to follow at times. Unnecessarily convoluted plot. Frenetic pace does not help…neither does the dud of an ending.
In Bloom by Paul Tremblay
Oof. All over the place. Most of the story being told in flashbacks does not aid in suspense.
Climate hysteria and racialization of everything and everyone.
Super odd. Mildly creepy. Far-fetched. Unearned ending.
Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix
Worst of the duds.
Not terrible in the beginning, but once Marcus is incarcerated, everything devolves. It’s not just that it’s ludicrous; the tale isn’t even entertaining. Bizarre and basic. Most grievous sin? It’s not just not scary, it’s not even creepy.
November 20, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up.
The Pram - Joe Hill: I liked the build of this, and the twist at the end. I thought I knew where it was going but I didn’t and I enjoyed the unique premise. 4 stars.
Ankle Snatcher - Grady Hendrix: The premise of this was interesting and overall I liked it, but the pacing was a little off and the ending didn’t feel as satisfying as it could have. 3 stars.
It Waits in the Woods - Josh Malerman: The premise and execution of this was really great. I wanted a little more out of the ending. Also the names of the characters took me out, no modern teenager would be named Brenda. 4 stars.
In Bloom - Paul Tremblay: I wasn’t as excited about this as I usually am about Tremblay’s works. It felt like the story cut off long before it was actually done, and I feel like this could have been a full length novel. 3 stars.
Best of Luck - Jason Mott: I felt like this was the best executed of the bunch, though a little predictable but not necessarily in a bad way. 3.5 stars.
Big Bad - Chandler Baker: This was truly frightening and I loved the switching perspectives. The end didn’t QUITE do it for me but I liked the plot points in general, just not quite how they wrapped up specifically.
The Pram - Joe Hill: I liked the build of this, and the twist at the end. I thought I knew where it was going but I didn’t and I enjoyed the unique premise. 4 stars.
Ankle Snatcher - Grady Hendrix: The premise of this was interesting and overall I liked it, but the pacing was a little off and the ending didn’t feel as satisfying as it could have. 3 stars.
It Waits in the Woods - Josh Malerman: The premise and execution of this was really great. I wanted a little more out of the ending. Also the names of the characters took me out, no modern teenager would be named Brenda. 4 stars.
In Bloom - Paul Tremblay: I wasn’t as excited about this as I usually am about Tremblay’s works. It felt like the story cut off long before it was actually done, and I feel like this could have been a full length novel. 3 stars.
Best of Luck - Jason Mott: I felt like this was the best executed of the bunch, though a little predictable but not necessarily in a bad way. 3.5 stars.
Big Bad - Chandler Baker: This was truly frightening and I loved the switching perspectives. The end didn’t QUITE do it for me but I liked the plot points in general, just not quite how they wrapped up specifically.
May 7, 2024
The Creature Feature Collection contains 6 stories originally released as Kindle shorts, now collected into one audiobook. The collection features some of the biggest names in horror and is, for the most part, an exceptional read. These include:
The Pram by Joe Hill — a heartbreaking look at grief and obsession after the loss of a baby.
Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix — what happens when you get out of bed in the middle of the night but don’t turn on a light?
It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman — a young woman goes out to investigate a local legend which might be associated with her sister’s disappearance.
In Bloom by Paul Tremblay — a man relates the story of a toxic algae bloom and how it relates to his father’s death.
Best of Luck by Jason Mott — a man breaks into his best friend’s house in the middle of the night, determined to reclaim his good fortune.
Big Bad by Chandler Baker — a troubled family tries to make it in their new country home while dealing with a terrible disease.
The stories are compelling, but surprisingly, a few fell flat at the end.
3.5 stars rounded up.
The Pram by Joe Hill — a heartbreaking look at grief and obsession after the loss of a baby.
Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix — what happens when you get out of bed in the middle of the night but don’t turn on a light?
It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman — a young woman goes out to investigate a local legend which might be associated with her sister’s disappearance.
In Bloom by Paul Tremblay — a man relates the story of a toxic algae bloom and how it relates to his father’s death.
Best of Luck by Jason Mott — a man breaks into his best friend’s house in the middle of the night, determined to reclaim his good fortune.
Big Bad by Chandler Baker — a troubled family tries to make it in their new country home while dealing with a terrible disease.
The stories are compelling, but surprisingly, a few fell flat at the end.
3.5 stars rounded up.
May 21, 2025
This collection has 3 of my favorite horror authors and 2 that I’d not read before. Overall it’s an excellent short story collection that I will recommend to any horror fan. I listened to the 6 stories on Audible and read a couple as well. I will share my review for each story individually.
—The Pram by Joe Hill: 4.5 stars. This was super creepy and I wish it had been longer!
—Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix: 4 stars, also very creepy.
—It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman: 5 stars. I do believe I’ve found my new favorite Malerman tale! I have never been to Michigan but boy the woods there must be scary if his short stories are anything to go by.
—In Bloom by Paul Tremblay: 4 stars, loved it! More nature revenge tale then a creature feature but I enjoyed it.
—Best of Luck by Jason Mott: 3 stars, original story but not my fav.
—Big Bad by Chandler Baker: 3 stars, I adore werewolf stories but this one was just ok, not overly scary for me.
**Thanks to the authors and Amazon for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Sorry it’s a couple of years late!**
—The Pram by Joe Hill: 4.5 stars. This was super creepy and I wish it had been longer!
—Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix: 4 stars, also very creepy.
—It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman: 5 stars. I do believe I’ve found my new favorite Malerman tale! I have never been to Michigan but boy the woods there must be scary if his short stories are anything to go by.
—In Bloom by Paul Tremblay: 4 stars, loved it! More nature revenge tale then a creature feature but I enjoyed it.
—Best of Luck by Jason Mott: 3 stars, original story but not my fav.
—Big Bad by Chandler Baker: 3 stars, I adore werewolf stories but this one was just ok, not overly scary for me.
**Thanks to the authors and Amazon for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Sorry it’s a couple of years late!**
Currently reading
January 14, 2026The Pram by Joe Hill:
Hill does it again... solidified as one of the best modern horror writers we have today. This has some creeps, a gory & crazy Hereditary-like ending, and a really thoughtful character & relationship study as the main throughline that can only be pulled off by a very polished writer. Have no experience dealing with a miscarriage, but Hill does an excellent job making me sympathize with the situation these 2 characters are going through. Have plenty of experience with martial/relationship arguments & spats, and he just hits the nail on the head with it. Great start to this collection, and again, just so stoked we have Hill writing for us for a long time to come.
9/10
Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix:
This being only my 2nd short story from Hendrix, but I am just loving this dude's writing style! So easy to read and making more excited to get to one of his novels. The actual horror of his writing is very subdued, but effective at the same time. This was super short at only 28 pages and thought it did a lot with it in that short timeframe, and liked the setting that the MC ended up in. Didn't particularly love the ending... I think it was going for a thoughtful "is this real or just his imagination" situation, but all seemed pretty dang real to me thinking back on it. Don't think he landed exactly what he was going for. Still a damn fine short story!
7.5/10
It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman:
Did enjoy this, although not sure it'll be super memorable. It's a folklore style of horror, with the monster Opso having a creepy element to it and pretty effective on it's own. The MC's motivations and traits of wanting to be a filmmaker were also fleshed out well. This being my first time giving Malerman a shot, I can't say I loved his writing style. Wasn't bad or clunky, but had trouble visualizing at times and didn't pull me in w/ ease in the way Hendrix or Hill does. Not avoiding him in the future, but also not rushing to pick up my next Malerman read. Still a solid entry none the less.
7/10
Hill does it again... solidified as one of the best modern horror writers we have today. This has some creeps, a gory & crazy Hereditary-like ending, and a really thoughtful character & relationship study as the main throughline that can only be pulled off by a very polished writer. Have no experience dealing with a miscarriage, but Hill does an excellent job making me sympathize with the situation these 2 characters are going through. Have plenty of experience with martial/relationship arguments & spats, and he just hits the nail on the head with it. Great start to this collection, and again, just so stoked we have Hill writing for us for a long time to come.
9/10
Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix:
This being only my 2nd short story from Hendrix, but I am just loving this dude's writing style! So easy to read and making more excited to get to one of his novels. The actual horror of his writing is very subdued, but effective at the same time. This was super short at only 28 pages and thought it did a lot with it in that short timeframe, and liked the setting that the MC ended up in. Didn't particularly love the ending... I think it was going for a thoughtful "is this real or just his imagination" situation, but all seemed pretty dang real to me thinking back on it. Don't think he landed exactly what he was going for. Still a damn fine short story!
7.5/10
It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman:
Did enjoy this, although not sure it'll be super memorable. It's a folklore style of horror, with the monster Opso having a creepy element to it and pretty effective on it's own. The MC's motivations and traits of wanting to be a filmmaker were also fleshed out well. This being my first time giving Malerman a shot, I can't say I loved his writing style. Wasn't bad or clunky, but had trouble visualizing at times and didn't pull me in w/ ease in the way Hendrix or Hill does. Not avoiding him in the future, but also not rushing to pick up my next Malerman read. Still a solid entry none the less.
7/10
September 11, 2024
I'll honestly read any horror short story collection, and this one was solid, but not remarkable.
The Pram by Joe Hill was a strong start and had all the elements I look for: quaint New England setting, a weird cult or folk horror element, and a campy monster reveal after serious suspense.
Ankle Snatchers by Grady Hendrix was, from my limited experience, Grady Hendrix.
It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman was the standout story in my opinion. It waxed a little too poetic about filmmaking for my taste, but the actual plot and newly conceived creature were riveting.
In Bloom by Paul Tremblay was definitely the weakest link. He did his best to make algae scary.
Best of Luck by Jason Mott kind of felt like something I would have been assigned to read in English class.
Big Bad by Chandler Baker was predictable but in a comfortable way.
The Pram by Joe Hill was a strong start and had all the elements I look for: quaint New England setting, a weird cult or folk horror element, and a campy monster reveal after serious suspense.
Ankle Snatchers by Grady Hendrix was, from my limited experience, Grady Hendrix.
It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman was the standout story in my opinion. It waxed a little too poetic about filmmaking for my taste, but the actual plot and newly conceived creature were riveting.
In Bloom by Paul Tremblay was definitely the weakest link. He did his best to make algae scary.
Best of Luck by Jason Mott kind of felt like something I would have been assigned to read in English class.
Big Bad by Chandler Baker was predictable but in a comfortable way.
October 16, 2024
Creature Feature, a collection of short stories by Joe Hill, Grady Hendrix, Josh Malerman, Paul Tremblay, Jason Mott, and Chandler Baker, was recommended to me by Goodreads. Two of my favorite stories from the collection are Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix and It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman. These stories resonated with me because they evoked a nostalgic feeling, reminding me of childhood bedtime tales. To this day, I refuse to sleep with my limbs hanging over the edge of the bed!
Malerman is a relatively new author for me, and I've thoroughly enjoyed exploring his work. On a side note, I purchased The Pram by Joe Hill and Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix individually, not realizing they were part of a larger collection. Unfortunately, I can't return them—but I digress.
Malerman is a relatively new author for me, and I've thoroughly enjoyed exploring his work. On a side note, I purchased The Pram by Joe Hill and Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix individually, not realizing they were part of a larger collection. Unfortunately, I can't return them—but I digress.
February 26, 2025
Creature Feature is an Audible Original collection of short stories. If you are an audiobook listener and a horror fan, especially a fan of monster/creature stories, this collection is a must listen! I truly wish each one was a full length book. And not because I was upset with how they ended, but they were just that good that I didn’t want them to end so soon!
It Waits in the Woods was my absolute favorite. If you’re going to listen to only one (and I don’t recommend this since they are all so good), this is the one! The narration is on point and adds so much to the creepiness of the story.
It Waits in the Woods was my absolute favorite. If you’re going to listen to only one (and I don’t recommend this since they are all so good), this is the one! The narration is on point and adds so much to the creepiness of the story.
August 17, 2024
Great collection of horror stories written by some of the most prolific horror writers of the day. I had previously read works by most of the authors and it was great to revisit their writing styles in this collection. The last story I read by Chandler Baker was probably my least favorite but it wrapped up well. I just had some difficulty getting into the story in the beginning.
If you are looking for a good, short horror story and an introduction to these authors, I highly recommend the book.
If you are looking for a good, short horror story and an introduction to these authors, I highly recommend the book.
July 8, 2024
Frikinnnn incredible!!!
I have to say that it was just amazing, and what a banger to finish with. Omaigaaad, if you were thinking of it, give it a try. This collection was so good.
I say this because, even when it's made by authors that I know we're going to deliver, it still impressed me in the most creepy and twisted way.
For me it was a great experience not really knowing a lot about the collection and then reading it, so I won't tell much. Just give it a try.
I have to say that it was just amazing, and what a banger to finish with. Omaigaaad, if you were thinking of it, give it a try. This collection was so good.
I say this because, even when it's made by authors that I know we're going to deliver, it still impressed me in the most creepy and twisted way.
For me it was a great experience not really knowing a lot about the collection and then reading it, so I won't tell much. Just give it a try.
October 26, 2024
Most of the stories in this collection are winners. Though I’m not sure everyone perfectly fits the “creature feature” definition
The last one works best I think. But I don’t want to reveal too much because there are some serious surprises.
If you like horror this is certainly the right book for you. The creatures are all quite imaginative. Some are in lakes, some folks live with them, and some folks go chasing them into the woods.
7/10.
The last one works best I think. But I don’t want to reveal too much because there are some serious surprises.
If you like horror this is certainly the right book for you. The creatures are all quite imaginative. Some are in lakes, some folks live with them, and some folks go chasing them into the woods.
7/10.
October 1, 2025
The Pram 3 1/2 stars
The Ankle Snatcher 3 1/2 stars
It Waits in the Woods 3 stars
In Bloom 3 stars
Best Of Luck 4 stars
Big Bad 4 1/2 stars
I had never read anything by Chandler Baker before. I’ll be sure to check out other works by this author! Paul Tremblay’s In Bloom was disappointing considering I’ve enjoyed other books by him. The Pram was not Joe Hill’s best work by any means but still a good story.
The Ankle Snatcher 3 1/2 stars
It Waits in the Woods 3 stars
In Bloom 3 stars
Best Of Luck 4 stars
Big Bad 4 1/2 stars
I had never read anything by Chandler Baker before. I’ll be sure to check out other works by this author! Paul Tremblay’s In Bloom was disappointing considering I’ve enjoyed other books by him. The Pram was not Joe Hill’s best work by any means but still a good story.
October 31, 2025
Some of my favorite modern horror novelists and their stories do not disappoint. They, as a grouping, are evident in their plotting, but their storytelling is spectacular, and their ability to write in prose is excellent. It also gives the perfect spooky-season feel, so if you are still looking for something to read for Halloween, pick this up!
October 28, 2023
This selection of spooky new short stories available from Audible was just what I needed right before Halloween. Some I enjoyed more than others, but all were worth reading/listening to. I am so glad I stumbled upon them.
November 1, 2023
I don’t often read short stories, as a matter of fact, it’s been years since I read a collection. This was a good one to read to break my streak. Each story had a creepy feel and a great plot. I have enjoyed several of these authors books previously and now have some new authors to try too.
May 4, 2024
(i didn’t listen to the audio of these i’m just using this copy to count all the books as one since they’re all so short)
“the pram” and “best of luck” were definitely my favorites
“big bad” and “it waits in the woods” were alright
and i didn’t like “ankle snatcher” or “in bloom”
“the pram” and “best of luck” were definitely my favorites
“big bad” and “it waits in the woods” were alright
and i didn’t like “ankle snatcher” or “in bloom”
October 28, 2024
3.5 stars- Most of these short stories were really cheesy, but I’d give more of an honorable mention to It Waits in the Woods and Ankle Snatcher. Nice length audiobooks for my shorter drives, and good for the Halloween season.
December 24, 2024
Tbh I dnf’d. I didn’t hate the ones I listened to, but I just don’t care enough to finish. I really liked Josh Malerman’s story. 5 stars. I didn’t listen to Big Bad or Best of Luck. I’m still counting this as a read.
September 2, 2025
A couple of these were really good (Ankle Snatcher and It Waits in the Woods), but I didn’t find any of the others engaging. Unfortunately, this collection is a prime example of “male authors writing female characters” and that made the entire collection unpalatable to me 🙄
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