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The Poorly Made and Other Things: A Story Collection
An unsettling and creepy story collection of literary horror set in the Renfield universe from “major new talent” (R.L. Stine) Sam Rebelein, author of Edenville.
“I hope I get to go back to Renfield County again, before too long.” —LitHub on Edenville
There’s something wrong in Renfield County.
It’s in the water, the soil, the wood. But worst of all, it’s in the minds of the residents, slowly driving them mad. When Lawrence Renfield massacred his family and drew The Giant in his farmhouse with their blood, no one imagined the repercussions. At the very least, the bloodstained wood should have been set aflame, not chopped down and repurposed as furniture, décor, and heirlooms across the county. But that’s exactly what happened. Now regular people—like you and me—are sitting on… eating with… admiring… the cursed wood and reaping the consequences.
These are their stories.
In “My Name Is Ellie” a young girl uncovers disturbing secrets hiding in the walls of her beloved grandmother’s home. An unassuming box, built with reclaimed wood, connects a grieving widower with his late wife’s lingering spirit in “Hector Brim.” In “Detour” a father, desperate to return home, finds himself trapped in a dizzying maze, haunted by stories of lurking monsters that live off the remains of weary travelers.
Playing with the uncanny to explore themes of loneliness and grief, Sam Rebelein returns upstate to unravel the mysteries of Renfield. But regardless of what started the trouble, there’s one thing of which we can be for those living here, the nightmare is far from over.
“I hope I get to go back to Renfield County again, before too long.” —LitHub on Edenville
There’s something wrong in Renfield County.
It’s in the water, the soil, the wood. But worst of all, it’s in the minds of the residents, slowly driving them mad. When Lawrence Renfield massacred his family and drew The Giant in his farmhouse with their blood, no one imagined the repercussions. At the very least, the bloodstained wood should have been set aflame, not chopped down and repurposed as furniture, décor, and heirlooms across the county. But that’s exactly what happened. Now regular people—like you and me—are sitting on… eating with… admiring… the cursed wood and reaping the consequences.
These are their stories.
In “My Name Is Ellie” a young girl uncovers disturbing secrets hiding in the walls of her beloved grandmother’s home. An unassuming box, built with reclaimed wood, connects a grieving widower with his late wife’s lingering spirit in “Hector Brim.” In “Detour” a father, desperate to return home, finds himself trapped in a dizzying maze, haunted by stories of lurking monsters that live off the remains of weary travelers.
Playing with the uncanny to explore themes of loneliness and grief, Sam Rebelein returns upstate to unravel the mysteries of Renfield. But regardless of what started the trouble, there’s one thing of which we can be for those living here, the nightmare is far from over.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published February 11, 2025
About the author
Sam Rebelein
25 books281 followersSam Rebelein writes (and teaches writing) in Poughkeepsie, NY. His short fiction has appeared in PseudoPod, The Deadlands, Press Pause Press, Ellen Datlow's Best Horror of the Year, and elsewhere. His debut novel EDENVILLE was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award, and won a Wonderland Book Award for Best Novel. Sam's recent collection of interconnected short fiction, THE POORLY MADE AND OTHER THINGS, is set in the same fictional world as EDENVILLE; GALLOWAY'S GOSPEL (Sep 2025) is set in the same world as well.
For more about Sam's work, and pictures of his scruffy pooch Frodo, follow him on Instagram @rebelsam94.
For more about Sam's work, and pictures of his scruffy pooch Frodo, follow him on Instagram @rebelsam94.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
May 31, 2025
The Poorly Made and Other Things is a collection of short horror stories based on the world Sam Rebelein created in his first novel, Edenville. Sitting in Renfield County, Edenville is tucked away in the mountains of New York. Renfield County is rich with a dark history, which literally bleeds into the events that take place on the pages of these books.
Have I made you want to read the books yet? I often wish I was a mega influencer of the BookTok or Bookstagram variety. Sam Rebelien is one of the authors I'd shout about from rooftops. Alas, I refuse to make videos of myself even talking about my favorite books. So I'll just have to count on readers of my humble reviews to decide for themselves if they'd like to invest their hard earned money and time in these books I love so much.
The stories in this book are dark, disturbing, and full of body horror. I don't read much (or any) splatter punk, so I don't know if this goes as far as all that. But, trust me, it's plenty gory and disturbing! But not without some charm. I'm not sure how, but there's honest to goodness charm, bright spots, and a bit of dark humor dispersed between the goriness. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to read it.
Stories that stood out to me in this collection are "Detour," "Wag," and "RedX." Honestly, I enjoyed them all. There's a running stream of emails between the stories connecting them all together. The connection was good and explains a lot for folks who aren't familiar with Renfield County lore. But I felt it was also the weakest part of the collection. It's the only thing that brought my rating down from 5 stars to 4.
Sam Rebelein has another Renfield County novel coming out in September. I already have it in my possession as an ARC! Look for my review for it sometime later this summer!
Have I made you want to read the books yet? I often wish I was a mega influencer of the BookTok or Bookstagram variety. Sam Rebelien is one of the authors I'd shout about from rooftops. Alas, I refuse to make videos of myself even talking about my favorite books. So I'll just have to count on readers of my humble reviews to decide for themselves if they'd like to invest their hard earned money and time in these books I love so much.
The stories in this book are dark, disturbing, and full of body horror. I don't read much (or any) splatter punk, so I don't know if this goes as far as all that. But, trust me, it's plenty gory and disturbing! But not without some charm. I'm not sure how, but there's honest to goodness charm, bright spots, and a bit of dark humor dispersed between the goriness. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to read it.
Stories that stood out to me in this collection are "Detour," "Wag," and "RedX." Honestly, I enjoyed them all. There's a running stream of emails between the stories connecting them all together. The connection was good and explains a lot for folks who aren't familiar with Renfield County lore. But I felt it was also the weakest part of the collection. It's the only thing that brought my rating down from 5 stars to 4.
Sam Rebelein has another Renfield County novel coming out in September. I already have it in my possession as an ARC! Look for my review for it sometime later this summer!
December 21, 2024
I loved EDENVILLE and this collection expands upon that cursed blood soaked world, an eclectic mix of stories that are seemingly unrelated but masterfully woven together, terrifying and unnerving this was oozing with gothic atmosphere but had heaps of modern day horror, captivating and hellish, Sam makes the illogical seem completely logical, when I read his debut I know he would be an auto buy author and this collection has only solidified it!
January 25, 2025
The Poorly Made and Other Things is a unique and twisted collection of interconnected short horror stories laced with cosmic horror, body horror, and local legends. The stories take place in the same universe as Sam Rebelein's novel "Edenville" which I have not read, but now I think I may have to.
The stories in here were dark, grisly, and deeply unsettling. There wasn't a single story in here that I didn't enjoy, but the two standouts for me are "Allison's Face," in which a group of college kids looking for some fun wind up in the basement of a strange house with a mysterious woman who wants to cut them up for ...reasons, and "So My Cousin Knew This Guy," in which we are being told a story about the terrifying side effects that come after one man loses his eyes...
In between stories we get interstitial chapters of a woman named Rachel emailing her brother about an infamous murder that took place in the area and the lore behind certain keepsakes from the crime scene. These chapters help to keep up the flawless connection between each of the stories and I loved when one story or email referenced another story from the book. Overall, the writing was easy to digest and the stories hooked me early on. I would easily recommend this to horror lovers, but be warned, this book had me uncomfortable, appalled, and cringing inside at some of the scenes.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to review.
My individual rating for each story:
Hector Brim - 3 ⭐
My Name Is Ellie - 3.5 ⭐
Detour - 3.5 ⭐
Wag - 4 ⭐
Red X - 3.5 ⭐
10PM on the Southbound G - 3 ⭐
So My Cousin Knew This Guy - 5 ⭐
Allison's Face - 5 ⭐
And Every Thursday We Feed the Cats - 4 ⭐
Glitch - 3.5 ⭐
The stories in here were dark, grisly, and deeply unsettling. There wasn't a single story in here that I didn't enjoy, but the two standouts for me are "Allison's Face," in which a group of college kids looking for some fun wind up in the basement of a strange house with a mysterious woman who wants to cut them up for ...reasons, and "So My Cousin Knew This Guy," in which we are being told a story about the terrifying side effects that come after one man loses his eyes...
In between stories we get interstitial chapters of a woman named Rachel emailing her brother about an infamous murder that took place in the area and the lore behind certain keepsakes from the crime scene. These chapters help to keep up the flawless connection between each of the stories and I loved when one story or email referenced another story from the book. Overall, the writing was easy to digest and the stories hooked me early on. I would easily recommend this to horror lovers, but be warned, this book had me uncomfortable, appalled, and cringing inside at some of the scenes.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to review.
My individual rating for each story:
Hector Brim - 3 ⭐
My Name Is Ellie - 3.5 ⭐
Detour - 3.5 ⭐
Wag - 4 ⭐
Red X - 3.5 ⭐
10PM on the Southbound G - 3 ⭐
So My Cousin Knew This Guy - 5 ⭐
Allison's Face - 5 ⭐
And Every Thursday We Feed the Cats - 4 ⭐
Glitch - 3.5 ⭐
February 25, 2025
The Poorly Made and Other Things by Sam Rebelein is a compelling collection of horror stories set in the unsettling Renfield County, expanding upon the universe introduced in his debut novel, Edenville. This collection delves into the eerie consequences of a gruesome family massacre, where bloodstained wood from the crime scene was repurposed into everyday items, infusing malevolence into the community.
What I enjoyed about this collection is Rebelein’s prose is visceral. It effectively conveys a sense of dread and unease in each tale. The stories are interconnected, with recurring motifs such as cursed objects and the pervasive influence of the county’s dark history, creating a cohesive narrative thread throughout the collection. However, the graphic depictions of physical horror, including cannibalism and self-mutilation, may be unsettling for some. Overall, these twelve stories offer a rich and immersive experience. Anyone who enjoys dark, supernatural horror will love this. Rebelein is definitely creating a reputation as a noteworthy talent in the genre. So far, my favourite horror book of year.
April 3, 2025
Overall: 4/5
Narration: 4.5/5
What a perfectly gory and horrific bundle of joy! Thanks NetGalley & William Morrow for this egalley!
If you don’t like horror books, you probably won’t enjoy this one. But as someone who loves horror, this was an immediate 4.5 out of 5 stars for me. I don’t want to deep-dive into individual stories or spoil anything—I want you to go in as blindly as I did—because there’s something so gory and unsettling about this collection that I just really enjoyed. Even individually, the lowest rating I had for a story was three stars, and that was more because it just didn’t do much for me personally rather than it being bad. At the same time, I’ve already seen that among horror readers, people have completely different favorites, which speaks to how strong this collection is.
This is especially true because of how interconnected the stories feel. And I know I’m not alone in saying that the in-between, transitional pieces were some of the most gripping parts of the book. Not to say that they were better than the actual stories, but they were so well done. Personally, I would love to see this as a limited horror anthology series. I can already picture each episode starting with someone at a computer typing out that email before transitioning into the next story. I know I say that a lot, but I also love horror TV and film, and I genuinely think this could translate really well on screen.
Another huge plus? The audiobook. It absolutely did not disappoint. The narration elevated a lot of the tension and atmosphere in a way that kept me fully engaged. I rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars, deducting just a bit because there were one or two stories that could’ve been a little shorter.
If you’re a horror reader, I highly recommend checking this one out. But be warned—this book is packed with all kinds of horror, and if body horror makes you uncomfortable, this will be a tough read. If you’re not into body horror, gore, or horror in general, do not pick this up. I don’t want to hear people giving it negative reviews just because they don’t like horror and this book disturbed them. That’s literally the point. If you’re even slightly on the fence about horror, I’d say pick up something else, because this one is for people who appreciate all things strange, creepy, and unsettling.
Individual Story Ratings:
Hector Brim – 4.5/5
My Name is Ellie – 5/5
Detour – 3/5
Wag – 5/5
Red X – 3.5/5
10PM on Southbound G – 4/5
So My Cousin Knew This Guy – 3.5/5
Allison’s Face – 5/5
And Every Thursday We Feed the Cats – 4.5/5
Glitch – 3/5
Narration: 4.5/5
What a perfectly gory and horrific bundle of joy! Thanks NetGalley & William Morrow for this egalley!
If you don’t like horror books, you probably won’t enjoy this one. But as someone who loves horror, this was an immediate 4.5 out of 5 stars for me. I don’t want to deep-dive into individual stories or spoil anything—I want you to go in as blindly as I did—because there’s something so gory and unsettling about this collection that I just really enjoyed. Even individually, the lowest rating I had for a story was three stars, and that was more because it just didn’t do much for me personally rather than it being bad. At the same time, I’ve already seen that among horror readers, people have completely different favorites, which speaks to how strong this collection is.
This is especially true because of how interconnected the stories feel. And I know I’m not alone in saying that the in-between, transitional pieces were some of the most gripping parts of the book. Not to say that they were better than the actual stories, but they were so well done. Personally, I would love to see this as a limited horror anthology series. I can already picture each episode starting with someone at a computer typing out that email before transitioning into the next story. I know I say that a lot, but I also love horror TV and film, and I genuinely think this could translate really well on screen.
Another huge plus? The audiobook. It absolutely did not disappoint. The narration elevated a lot of the tension and atmosphere in a way that kept me fully engaged. I rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars, deducting just a bit because there were one or two stories that could’ve been a little shorter.
If you’re a horror reader, I highly recommend checking this one out. But be warned—this book is packed with all kinds of horror, and if body horror makes you uncomfortable, this will be a tough read. If you’re not into body horror, gore, or horror in general, do not pick this up. I don’t want to hear people giving it negative reviews just because they don’t like horror and this book disturbed them. That’s literally the point. If you’re even slightly on the fence about horror, I’d say pick up something else, because this one is for people who appreciate all things strange, creepy, and unsettling.
Individual Story Ratings:
Hector Brim – 4.5/5
My Name is Ellie – 5/5
Detour – 3/5
Wag – 5/5
Red X – 3.5/5
10PM on Southbound G – 4/5
So My Cousin Knew This Guy – 3.5/5
Allison’s Face – 5/5
And Every Thursday We Feed the Cats – 4.5/5
Glitch – 3/5
March 5, 2025
This is a really great collection of horror stories that are masterfully woven together. They are all very atmospheric and well written. I would recommend this! I will definitely be checking out Edenville very soon! Special Thank You to Sam Rebelein, William Morrow and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2025
I actually really struggled with this one, unsure if it was the inclusion of the emails that threw me out of the story. Some stories were obviously better than others, as is the way with short story collections but the first half of the book was certainly better than the last half.
February 6, 2025
*will return tomorrow with review* ...
I am back ...
"There’s something wrong in Renfield County" ... VERY. WRONG. The Poorly Made is a collection of short stories is a follow-up of Sam's debut novel Edenville, and reading this book makes me want to immediately pick it up. Edenville was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award and, despite not having read that one yet, I am not surprised. This collection of stories is set in the same universe as its predecessor and oh boy, is that one messed up universe. I thoroughly enjoyed every single story and the way they were all connected. I'll be truthful and say this is up there along with SGJs collections so do not miss out on reading this, if that's your jam. Thank you so much to NetGalley & William Morrow for the ARC. Pick this up when it publishes February 11, 2025!
I am back ...
"There’s something wrong in Renfield County" ... VERY. WRONG. The Poorly Made is a collection of short stories is a follow-up of Sam's debut novel Edenville, and reading this book makes me want to immediately pick it up. Edenville was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award and, despite not having read that one yet, I am not surprised. This collection of stories is set in the same universe as its predecessor and oh boy, is that one messed up universe. I thoroughly enjoyed every single story and the way they were all connected. I'll be truthful and say this is up there along with SGJs collections so do not miss out on reading this, if that's your jam. Thank you so much to NetGalley & William Morrow for the ARC. Pick this up when it publishes February 11, 2025!
April 12, 2025
I'm sorry. What did I just read? This was batshit crazy. We have one main story that consists of a sister emailing her brother, and then we have a bunch of interconnected short stories inside between emails that are all connected to this creepy ass stained wood. This was just unhinged. My favorite stories were Allison's Face and And Every Thursday We Feed the Cats(WTF).
February 16, 2025
I absolutely love the world of Renfield County that Sam has created with this story collection and his novel Edenville. It’s strange and gross and SO MUCH FUN!!
I talk about it more in this YouTube video: A random week of reading https://youtu.be/k6uJVxNPqkE
Stories:
- hector brim 5⭐️
- My name is Ellie 5⭐️
- Detour 3⭐️
- Wag 5⭐️
- Red X 5⭐️
- 10pm on southbound 5⭐️
- So my cousin knew this guy 5⭐️
- Allison’s Face pt 1&2 5⭐️
- Every Thursday We Feed the Cats pt 1&2 4⭐️
- Glitch 4.5⭐️
- The Stain (all email sections) 5⭐️
I talk about it more in this YouTube video: A random week of reading https://youtu.be/k6uJVxNPqkE
Stories:
- hector brim 5⭐️
- My name is Ellie 5⭐️
- Detour 3⭐️
- Wag 5⭐️
- Red X 5⭐️
- 10pm on southbound 5⭐️
- So my cousin knew this guy 5⭐️
- Allison’s Face pt 1&2 5⭐️
- Every Thursday We Feed the Cats pt 1&2 4⭐️
- Glitch 4.5⭐️
- The Stain (all email sections) 5⭐️
December 31, 2024
STAR review in the January 2025 issue of Library Journal.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Cursed Land, Madness, Unnerving
Draft Review:
Before publishing the acclaimed debut Edenville, set in Renfield County, NY, Rebelin had written a series of stories framed around the place, stories which not only elevate the novel but also proclaim Rebelein as a must read voice in Horror. Beginning with an email from a manic Rachel to her brother Tom, explaining that she has been researching the notorious history of their hometown and has found that land itself may be responsible for innumerable deaths over the decades, including their own mother’s. The emails keep coming, sent from “8 hrs ago” to “26 minutes ago”, but in between there are terrifying, unnerving stories steeped in madness, evil, and violence featuring other characters, all connected to the same place. Taken on their own, each tale is horror perfection as dread seeps in slowly until it bursts open and readers are left in breathlessly horrifying awe, yet when framed by Rachel’s urgent revelations and a final story starring Tom, Rebelein ratchets up the terror and brings it straight into the reader’s own home.
Verdict: A stellar collection that is not merely for fans of authors who have created connected mythos centered around the horror of a place such as Lovecraft or Josh Malerman (Goblin), but also for readers who appreciate illicitly alluring, biting* short stories that smack them over the head as written by Sarah Read and Cass Khaw.
OMG THIS BOOK!!!! I liked Edenville but this book is the collection of stories about the land in Renfield County. It gives context to the place and the adds a deeper level of terror to that novel. Get this collection. You will not be sorry.
The book begins with a frantic email from a sister to her estranged brother. And then there is a story set around Renfield. After each story there is another email. They continue until the end. The stories and the emails alternating. The emails give us the "history" of Renfield (a fictional place but after reading this, you might believe it is really there in upstate NY) and the stories are of the people who live there or are connected to this cursed land.
Dread seeps in on every page and then it bursts open...in every story. You know it is coming and yet you are lulled into thinking the next story won't be as bad. but nope!
I am having trouble picking a favorite story but really you can't because they all build off of each other and are informed by each other, plus the emails in-between. But I will say "Detour" early in the book and "Every Thursday We feed the Cats" second from the end are a great example of what I said in the sentence before this. I won't say more than that.
I need to go back and read Edenville now because I think it will be better, even creepier now that I have read this collection.
For fans of authors who create a town with a terrifying back story like Josh Malerman in Goblin ( and all his works) but also the individual stories remind me of Sarah Read and how they both write with stories that start off engaging and calm, lure you in, and them smack you over the head, even take a bite out of you.
Cold Black & Infinite by Keisling is similar as well. Of course all in the tradition of Lovecraft and his towns as well.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Cursed Land, Madness, Unnerving
Draft Review:
Before publishing the acclaimed debut Edenville, set in Renfield County, NY, Rebelin had written a series of stories framed around the place, stories which not only elevate the novel but also proclaim Rebelein as a must read voice in Horror. Beginning with an email from a manic Rachel to her brother Tom, explaining that she has been researching the notorious history of their hometown and has found that land itself may be responsible for innumerable deaths over the decades, including their own mother’s. The emails keep coming, sent from “8 hrs ago” to “26 minutes ago”, but in between there are terrifying, unnerving stories steeped in madness, evil, and violence featuring other characters, all connected to the same place. Taken on their own, each tale is horror perfection as dread seeps in slowly until it bursts open and readers are left in breathlessly horrifying awe, yet when framed by Rachel’s urgent revelations and a final story starring Tom, Rebelein ratchets up the terror and brings it straight into the reader’s own home.
Verdict: A stellar collection that is not merely for fans of authors who have created connected mythos centered around the horror of a place such as Lovecraft or Josh Malerman (Goblin), but also for readers who appreciate illicitly alluring, biting* short stories that smack them over the head as written by Sarah Read and Cass Khaw.
OMG THIS BOOK!!!! I liked Edenville but this book is the collection of stories about the land in Renfield County. It gives context to the place and the adds a deeper level of terror to that novel. Get this collection. You will not be sorry.
The book begins with a frantic email from a sister to her estranged brother. And then there is a story set around Renfield. After each story there is another email. They continue until the end. The stories and the emails alternating. The emails give us the "history" of Renfield (a fictional place but after reading this, you might believe it is really there in upstate NY) and the stories are of the people who live there or are connected to this cursed land.
Dread seeps in on every page and then it bursts open...in every story. You know it is coming and yet you are lulled into thinking the next story won't be as bad. but nope!
I am having trouble picking a favorite story but really you can't because they all build off of each other and are informed by each other, plus the emails in-between. But I will say "Detour" early in the book and "Every Thursday We feed the Cats" second from the end are a great example of what I said in the sentence before this. I won't say more than that.
I need to go back and read Edenville now because I think it will be better, even creepier now that I have read this collection.
For fans of authors who create a town with a terrifying back story like Josh Malerman in Goblin ( and all his works) but also the individual stories remind me of Sarah Read and how they both write with stories that start off engaging and calm, lure you in, and them smack you over the head, even take a bite out of you.
Cold Black & Infinite by Keisling is similar as well. Of course all in the tradition of Lovecraft and his towns as well.
Read
February 8, 2025WELCOME TO HISTORIC RENFIELD COUNTY.There’s Edenville College, with its sunflowers and nearby ice cream shop. There are roads that take you on a winding route beneath overhanging trees. There’s even a lake nearby.
Renfield County delivers everything the brochures promise, and more. It’s a great place to find your zen. You may come away feeling like a whole new you.
I hear Harv’s got an opening at his diner if you’re looking for work. It’s a great place to meet the locals; they’re an eclectic bunch.
There’s arts and crafts, and if you’re looking for a quirky souvenir, I’d recommend the cheery aprons. If you ask nicely, Ellie may even show you her collection of ceramic figurines.
If you’re into antiques, this is the place for you. The woodwork in this place is to die for.
This collection of short stories gave me everything I loved about Edenville. Go Crows! It also introduced me to even more locals I’m not likely to forget in a hurry and fleshed out the Renfield history I’d been craving.
History infects everything.There are stories of deep despair and loneliness, and a reminder that the past is always lurking, ready to pounce on the present.
The body horror is absolutely delicious, the twists and turns are positively deadly and my need to spend even more time in Renfield County is growing. Some might say it’s spreading like a stain…
I tend to have mixed luck with short stories so approach them with a mixture of dread and cautious optimism these days. There’s nothing poorly made about this collection, though. There wasn’t a bad one in the bunch. My favourite was the first story.
Hector Brim evoked the same feelings Roald Dahl’s short stories gave me when I was likely too young to be reading them. They tasted of forbidden fruit taste and the reveals, which probably should have given me the urge to turn away, delighted me. Life has gotten in the way recently and this story rekindled in me the joy of escaping into another world.
And that, of course, is where things get weird.Yes, I sent test emails to Rachel and Tom’s email addresses. No, they didn’t bounce back, but neither responded. Perhaps they’ve had other things on their minds.
Handy hint: don’t forget to feed the cats on Thursday.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read this book.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
January 21, 2025
The Poorly Made is anything but! This is an outstanding collection of wicked tales connected by the evil that seeped into the wood, water, and land of Renfield County and spread through the country in the form of blood-stained souvenirs.
At the start of the book and in between each story is a frantic series of emails from a woman who is desperate to connect with her brother to share what she has learned about Renfield and its connection to their mother's death. These emails provide insight into the dark history of Renfield and the far-reaching consequences suffered by those who have come in contact with it. They also help to create a sense of urgency because for goodness sake why doesn't he answer her?
As for the stories themselves, they bring the tangible fear of finding yourself on a road that never ends, body horror, cannibalism, lost souls, and more. They are dark, disturbing, and imaginative. The writing is impeccable. This is the first time in a while that I have felt truly lost in a book as if the vivid descriptions made the real world disappear.
5 out of 5 stars.
My thanks to William Morrow for the e-ARC
At the start of the book and in between each story is a frantic series of emails from a woman who is desperate to connect with her brother to share what she has learned about Renfield and its connection to their mother's death. These emails provide insight into the dark history of Renfield and the far-reaching consequences suffered by those who have come in contact with it. They also help to create a sense of urgency because for goodness sake why doesn't he answer her?
As for the stories themselves, they bring the tangible fear of finding yourself on a road that never ends, body horror, cannibalism, lost souls, and more. They are dark, disturbing, and imaginative. The writing is impeccable. This is the first time in a while that I have felt truly lost in a book as if the vivid descriptions made the real world disappear.
5 out of 5 stars.
My thanks to William Morrow for the e-ARC
March 3, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up because some of these stories, I NEEED FULL NOVELS ON!
This still suffered from the collection of stories issue, that some are meh, but the ones that were amazing... were just chef's kiss 👩🍳
This still suffered from the collection of stories issue, that some are meh, but the ones that were amazing... were just chef's kiss 👩🍳
March 22, 2025
The Poorly Made and Other Things
Sam Rebelein
A very creepy, odd, gothic, atmospheric collection.
Left me feeling very unnerved.
I can't wait to take another trip to Reinfield.
Reads like a scenic route through Derry, Maine.
5 / 5
Sam Rebelein
A very creepy, odd, gothic, atmospheric collection.
Left me feeling very unnerved.
I can't wait to take another trip to Reinfield.
Reads like a scenic route through Derry, Maine.
5 / 5
October 21, 2025
Great collection of short stories
August 6, 2025
Oscillated between 4 and 5 stars but this is so well done I’m erring on the side of 5. The meanest and bleakest story collection I’ve read in some time. By the time you reach the end you fully expect the worst possible thing to happen to the characters, which is maybe the book’s biggest weakness — undercutting the surprises a bit. But all in all, really good.
August 7, 2024
Rebelein continues to build his world on the strong foundation set by Edenville! The stories, contrary to what the title suggests, are extremely well crafted. Go check it out if you liked Edenville! Or if you didn’t like Edenville for some reason, take a week, rethink your life choices, then do yourself a favor and check the new one out.
October 14, 2025
Sam snuck up on me yall.
I read Edenville last year for a book club and was taken by surprise by how much I enjoyed his weird brand of cosmic horror, then had the pleasure of meeting him at HRW. This ARC has catapulted him into the immediate auto-buy title.
Poorly Made is everything I had wanted Josh Malerman’s Goblin to be. Set in the same universe at Edenville, this collection is presented to us as an overarching bigger story of connection. Sam perfectly executes ten slow release of “oh my god they knew this person” and “ohhh that’s this person grown up” so that these stories feel well connected but not forced into anything.
The individual stories (as well as the hidden larger story told to us in email format) hold their own, experimenting with different POVs and notching up the dread and gore scale. Several of these stories had me absolutely squirming. There was one story in the whole collection that didn’t really do it for me, and even that one was obviously written well and could be perfect for someone else.
This collection goes on sale February 11, 2025, and I plan on buying my own copy and hope yall genuinely give this book a try. You don’t need to read his debut first, but if you enjoy this collection please check Edenville out as well!
Story ratings;
Hector Brim: 5 ⭐️
This was a perfect opening to me. The dread I felt by the end really set up the rest of the book.
My Name is Ellie: 5 ⭐️
I loved the narration of this, and the plot progression was so good.
Detour: 5⭐️
THIS IS SUCH A GOOD STORY. I hesitate to not list this as my favorite, and some days it might be. The second person POV was such a good choice for this story telling bc it really makes you root for the MC.
Wag: 3⭐️
This one was okay, but not my favorite. I think if it had been the first story i’d read i’d have liked it a bit more, but by this point my bar was set very high.
Red X: 5⭐️
I could not stop thinking about this story afterwards. Sam does a wonderful job of describing descent into madness and blurring the lines between reality.
10 pm on the Southbound G: 2.5⭐️
This was my least favorite story. It felt unfinished and as though lit didn’t really connect to the other stories.
So My Cousin Knew This Guy: 5⭐️
The narrative voice for this one was so damn good. This is also when the connections are really obvious, making this chapter and onward feel high stakes.
Allison’s Face: 5⭐️
This is my favorite story, as much as I wanted to give that title to Detour. I cannot stop thinking about the gore. Also, this story is one of the few happy endings.
And Every Thursday We Feed the Cats: 5⭐️
AGAIN, SO GOOD. I figured out the connection almost immediately, and this made my heart ache while reading it. This one also had a lot of LotR references, which I’m a sucker for.
Glitch: 3.5⭐️
I wanted a bit more from this given who the main character turns out to be. I would have enjoyed this story a lot more on its own otherwise.
I read Edenville last year for a book club and was taken by surprise by how much I enjoyed his weird brand of cosmic horror, then had the pleasure of meeting him at HRW. This ARC has catapulted him into the immediate auto-buy title.
Poorly Made is everything I had wanted Josh Malerman’s Goblin to be. Set in the same universe at Edenville, this collection is presented to us as an overarching bigger story of connection. Sam perfectly executes ten slow release of “oh my god they knew this person” and “ohhh that’s this person grown up” so that these stories feel well connected but not forced into anything.
The individual stories (as well as the hidden larger story told to us in email format) hold their own, experimenting with different POVs and notching up the dread and gore scale. Several of these stories had me absolutely squirming. There was one story in the whole collection that didn’t really do it for me, and even that one was obviously written well and could be perfect for someone else.
This collection goes on sale February 11, 2025, and I plan on buying my own copy and hope yall genuinely give this book a try. You don’t need to read his debut first, but if you enjoy this collection please check Edenville out as well!
Story ratings;
Hector Brim: 5 ⭐️
This was a perfect opening to me. The dread I felt by the end really set up the rest of the book.
My Name is Ellie: 5 ⭐️
I loved the narration of this, and the plot progression was so good.
Detour: 5⭐️
THIS IS SUCH A GOOD STORY. I hesitate to not list this as my favorite, and some days it might be. The second person POV was such a good choice for this story telling bc it really makes you root for the MC.
Wag: 3⭐️
This one was okay, but not my favorite. I think if it had been the first story i’d read i’d have liked it a bit more, but by this point my bar was set very high.
Red X: 5⭐️
I could not stop thinking about this story afterwards. Sam does a wonderful job of describing descent into madness and blurring the lines between reality.
10 pm on the Southbound G: 2.5⭐️
This was my least favorite story. It felt unfinished and as though lit didn’t really connect to the other stories.
So My Cousin Knew This Guy: 5⭐️
The narrative voice for this one was so damn good. This is also when the connections are really obvious, making this chapter and onward feel high stakes.
Allison’s Face: 5⭐️
This is my favorite story, as much as I wanted to give that title to Detour. I cannot stop thinking about the gore. Also, this story is one of the few happy endings.
And Every Thursday We Feed the Cats: 5⭐️
AGAIN, SO GOOD. I figured out the connection almost immediately, and this made my heart ache while reading it. This one also had a lot of LotR references, which I’m a sucker for.
Glitch: 3.5⭐️
I wanted a bit more from this given who the main character turns out to be. I would have enjoyed this story a lot more on its own otherwise.
May 28, 2025
3.45 ⭐
Hector Brim ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Name is Ellie ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Detour ⭐⭐
Wag ⭐⭐⭐
RedX ⭐⭐⭐
10pm On the Southbound ⭐⭐
So My Cousin Knew This Guy ⭐⭐
Allison’s Face ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
And Every Thursday We Feed the Cats ⭐⭐⭐1/2
Glitch ⭐⭐⭐
The Stain ⭐⭐⭐1/2
Hector Brim ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Name is Ellie ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Detour ⭐⭐
Wag ⭐⭐⭐
RedX ⭐⭐⭐
10pm On the Southbound ⭐⭐
So My Cousin Knew This Guy ⭐⭐
Allison’s Face ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
And Every Thursday We Feed the Cats ⭐⭐⭐1/2
Glitch ⭐⭐⭐
The Stain ⭐⭐⭐1/2
May 15, 2025
It's not often I have to take breaks while reading because it felt too much. You are a disturbed individual, Rebelein.
I like it, Picasso.
I like it, Picasso.
January 27, 2025
Okayyyy I asked this when I read Edenville but, Sam, are you good buddy?! I haven’t felt so haunted (hunted?!) by a short story collection, or really any book, in a long time. This one is f*cked up and I loved every second of it.
My main endorsement for this book is that it gave me a nightmare so bad that I woke up from a nightmare saying “get away from me!” and scared the sh*t out of my husband. These stories were the perfect bedtime spookies and I really stretched this one out for maximum enjoyment.
If you’ve read Edenville, Rebelein’s debut novel from last year, you will be familiar with a lot of the settings in these stories. I loved learning about more of the lore and seeing how these tales slotted together - with each other and with the novel. I am personally glad I experience Edenville prior to these stories but IMO you could read them in either order. I think I had more of an appreciation for the stories having experienced a bit of the bigger picture already.
I knew going into this collection that is was going to be gory and dark but damn was it BLEAK as well. These stories hit, bite, and don’t stop. My favorites were Red X, Every Thursday We Feed The Cats, and Allison’s Face.
I genuinely can’t wait to see what this author comes out with next! Check this one out if you like body horror, haunted objects, goo, and terror!
**Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the eARC of this terrifying title!**
My main endorsement for this book is that it gave me a nightmare so bad that I woke up from a nightmare saying “get away from me!” and scared the sh*t out of my husband. These stories were the perfect bedtime spookies and I really stretched this one out for maximum enjoyment.
If you’ve read Edenville, Rebelein’s debut novel from last year, you will be familiar with a lot of the settings in these stories. I loved learning about more of the lore and seeing how these tales slotted together - with each other and with the novel. I am personally glad I experience Edenville prior to these stories but IMO you could read them in either order. I think I had more of an appreciation for the stories having experienced a bit of the bigger picture already.
I knew going into this collection that is was going to be gory and dark but damn was it BLEAK as well. These stories hit, bite, and don’t stop. My favorites were Red X, Every Thursday We Feed The Cats, and Allison’s Face.
I genuinely can’t wait to see what this author comes out with next! Check this one out if you like body horror, haunted objects, goo, and terror!
**Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the eARC of this terrifying title!**
April 9, 2025
CW: Child death, death, murder, violence, gore, cannibalism, medical content, medical trauma, body horror, eye horror, animal death, kidnapping, confinement, PTSD/emotional trauma, self harm, suicide, alcoholism, eating disorder
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way impacted my final rating.
Did I read an ARC of this collection even though it was published well over a month ago?
Yes. Because, as we have seen, I am always late to the party.
The Poorly Made and Other Things is an unsettling, weird, and genuinely creative series of interconnected stories. Although these relate to the author's previous publication, Edenville, it isn't necessary to read it first. (I haven't, but I am definitely interested in it now!)
I find it difficult at times to rate short stories, especially in a collection like this where they all share a universe. I do believe it is far more than the sum of its parts, though. There were many excellent stories, although a couple that I thought dragged on for a bit too long, but my favorite element was definitely the interstitial chapters from Rachel to her brother. These chapters shared the real horror behind the setting.
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way impacted my final rating.
Did I read an ARC of this collection even though it was published well over a month ago?
Yes. Because, as we have seen, I am always late to the party.
The Poorly Made and Other Things is an unsettling, weird, and genuinely creative series of interconnected stories. Although these relate to the author's previous publication, Edenville, it isn't necessary to read it first. (I haven't, but I am definitely interested in it now!)
I find it difficult at times to rate short stories, especially in a collection like this where they all share a universe. I do believe it is far more than the sum of its parts, though. There were many excellent stories, although a couple that I thought dragged on for a bit too long, but my favorite element was definitely the interstitial chapters from Rachel to her brother. These chapters shared the real horror behind the setting.
January 19, 2025
lf you have are like me and full of morbid curiosity then this collection of short, horror stories will not disappoint.
There's something really wrong in Renfield County and yet I feel like I need to visit 😂 very much like Derry in Stephen King's novels. You just can't help but feel a pull towards these cursed places and Renfield County has a whole load of monsters. It's not like other places and there's a long history of horrors showing the poison affecting people that are unfortunate to live there.
The stories are pulled together by the ramblings of Rachel who's trying to reach her brother whilst revealing some of the history of Renfield that she'd been delving into. The correspondence is broken with mini tales of horror and woe. They're all wonderfully written, with twists and turns and a different monster each time. Hard to say which is my favourite as they're all really different. I did like Wag who shows that it doesn't always pay to be curious and maybe some folk should just be left alone 🤣 My name is Ellie is also a fun read and reminds us of family and the importance of tradition and handing them down to the next generation
There's something really wrong in Renfield County and yet I feel like I need to visit 😂 very much like Derry in Stephen King's novels. You just can't help but feel a pull towards these cursed places and Renfield County has a whole load of monsters. It's not like other places and there's a long history of horrors showing the poison affecting people that are unfortunate to live there.
The stories are pulled together by the ramblings of Rachel who's trying to reach her brother whilst revealing some of the history of Renfield that she'd been delving into. The correspondence is broken with mini tales of horror and woe. They're all wonderfully written, with twists and turns and a different monster each time. Hard to say which is my favourite as they're all really different. I did like Wag who shows that it doesn't always pay to be curious and maybe some folk should just be left alone 🤣 My name is Ellie is also a fun read and reminds us of family and the importance of tradition and handing them down to the next generation
February 18, 2026
This collection of short, interconnected stories was AWESOME! I was not familiar with the Edenville universe before diving into this collection, but boy, I need to go back and check out more. These stories were DARK. They were emotional, scary, gory, and messed up, but I really enjoyed each of them. Each story took on a life of its own due to the way that the author adapted his style to fit the different narrators and the way he was able to use descriptive language to set the scene so well. I really couldn't think of anything I didn't like about this collection, but I will warn you: the subject matter of some of these stories and the events that take place are sometimes hard to read since they deal with very touchy subjects.
September 3, 2025
a really dark and disturbing collection of loosely connected horror stories centered around the dark and disturbing Renfield County. As always with a collection like this some stories stand out more than others but it is a really cohesive collection of horror that I really enjoyed.
February 7, 2026
If I had known this was a continuation of the world established in Rebelein’s first novel I likely would have read Edenville first, but these stories were enjoyable enough that it wasn’t really much of an issue. Great horror, and Edenville is next on my list.
April 29, 2025
The best horror collection I've read in a bit. Not every story hits, but the ones that do hit HARD. "Wag" and "My Cousin Knew This Guy" take urban legend and creepypasta horror to nightmarish new places, while "...And Every Thursday Night We Feed the Cats" is one of the bleakest things I've ever read.
Rounding things out and tying them together are the epistolary sections that flesh out the book's larger universe. It's all seemingly connected to Rebelein's novel Edenville, which jumps to the top of my "must-read" list after this.
Rounding things out and tying them together are the epistolary sections that flesh out the book's larger universe. It's all seemingly connected to Rebelein's novel Edenville, which jumps to the top of my "must-read" list after this.
January 2, 2026
i absolutely loved this book. there were a couple stories i couldn't stomach to finish, but i was glued to everything else!
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