The Exchange and Other Calamities

by Mallory McCartney

Evil lurks in the darkness, clawing its way towards unsuspecting victims . . .



A woman living with fibromyalgia finds an artifact that unleashes a reality she never thought possible . . . at a steep price.



Two high school seniors take part in a tradition that brings them face-to-face with the monstrous truth behind a haunting, dark urban legend.



The face behind a popular YouTube ghost hunting show travels to the scene of a horrific event to find fresh horrors there.



Fate takes a bite out of a young woman who ventures into the wilderness to grieve her mother.



Best-selling author, Theo Anderson, takes part in a sleep study that turns her into the very thing she fears.



Hold your breath as you immerse yourself in five harrowing stories written by bestselling author, Mallory McCartney. Fans of her gripping Black Dawn series will be kept on the edge of their seat by this horror collection inspired by real life events!

Genres: Horror, Short Stories

246 pages, Paperback

Published July 22, 2025

About the author

Mallory McCartney currently lives in Sarnia, Ontario with her husband, their dachshunds Link, and Leonard and their sphynx cats Luna, Legolas, Ivy and Lily. When she isn’t working on her next novel or reading, she can be found day dreaming about fantasy worlds or bingeing her favorite horror movies.

Reviews

[Charlene (Char)🍁☕️📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of horror stories that are a story within itself. It can be best described as being creepy, haunted and horror filled. First let me say the fact there is a playlist of songs for this book is most definitely a green flag!

Each story was well written and full of dread. I do love the authors diversity in her stories and how all of the stories were connected in a way. Although there are only 5 stories in this book that is more than enough. Each story contained depth and relatable characters it doesn’t get much better than that.

I seriously enjoyed all the stories in the book and it would hard for me to pick 1 or 2 I liked. So I’m not even going to try! To the author Mallory, thank you for being completely transparent with your medical history. It’s unfortunate how the healthcare system has failed so many people. You are a survivor and you’ll continue to thrive.

With you being completely transparent this makes the stories more rich, I felt your presence in every story you written. I cannot wait to read more of your books. If you are a fan of the morbid, dark, creepy, horror, ghosts, haunting and possessions this is definitely the story for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mallory McCartney,Anuci Press and BookBuzz.Net for providing me with an ARC! I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mallory McCartney]

OFFCIAL COVER REVEAL COMING Feb 2025 from Anuci Press

[Bbecca_marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review 📖🕯️👻
Thank you so much partner @twinsandtalent for the gifted copy!

The Exchange and Other Calamities
by Mallory McCartney

About the book 👇🏽

Hold your breath as you immerse yourself in five harrowing stories written by best-selling author. Mallory McCartney.

Evil lurks in the darkness. clawing its way towards unsuspecting victims...

A woman living with fibromyalgia finds an artifact that unleashes a reality she never thought possible...at a steep price.

Two high school seniors take part in a tradition that brings them face to face with the monstrous truth behind a haunting dark urban legend.

The face behind a popular Youtube ghost hunting show travels to the scene of a horrific event to find fresh horrors await there.

Fate takes a bite out of a young woman who ventures into the wilderness to grieve her mother.

Best-selling author, Theo Anderson. takes part in a sleep study that turns her into the very thing she fears.

🕯️ My thoughts:

This was a very personal collection of stories. Although fictional, it is inspired by real life events. The authors note at the beginning is a look into the stories you’ll find and realize how personal these stories really are and I feel makes the experience that much more palpable. Each story was haunting and the perfect length to spook and satisfy your need for a scare. If you enjoy books you can binge in one sitting and stories that offer a way to connect with the writer, The Exchange and Other Calamities is a good one! And it is out TOMORROW 7/22/25!

Happy reading 📖🕯️👻

[Candace Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC!

[Patrick Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. McCartney has boldly taken her first foray into horror, and I'm proud to say it's ridiculously fun. I've read my fair share of horror, but McCartney writes in a way that made even my stomach turn at points. It takes a lot of skill to successfully create an atmosphere suitable for the horrific things happening throughout this book, but she does it here and then some, making you feel like you're smackdab in the middle of it all. By the time I turned the last page I felt like I'd been put through the wringer, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

[Leigh Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

McCartney has entered the horror fray with intent. A bleak but wonderful cyclical journey through pain and hardship told by someone who understands both.

[Irene Well Worth A Read]

DNF@ 30% Some excellent ideas but too much telling, not enough showing. Repettitive, disjointed, draggy in spots. I'm not a fan of writing yourself into a corner and then skipping ahead years or decades as the way out.

[Maddi Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚, 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚. 𝙐𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛, 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙮. 𝙐𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙮.”

I ate this up!!! I loved it so much I sat outside reading it for too long and fried myself. ☀️🥵

Mallory masterfully blends body horror, supernatural horror, and dare I say, maybe even a little religious horror, into a group of interconnected stories that will keep you up at night! Her writing simultaneously makes me want to cry and makes my skin crawl.

I don’t want to give anything away, but the overarching theme of the stories is so well done. It’s so easy to love the characters that when something inevitably bad happens to them, you take it personally. The descriptions of the horrors they face had me closing the book and staring at the imaginary camera in my house “The Office” style. There’s even a twist that absolutely made my head spin 🫨

The authors note at the beginning brings a new depth to each story and the ending had me on the complete edge of my seat. I truly couldn’t stop turning the pages.

Mallory, thank you for sharing a piece of your story with us. You absolutely didn’t have to, but it brought the book to a whole new level. 🖤

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a gruesome set of stories filled with dread. Get those preorders in! You’re not going to want to miss this one 👻

Thank you so much to Mallory McCartney and Twins and Talent for the gifted copy! I appreciate you all! 🥰

There are some heavy topics discussed in this book, so be sure to check the triggers before diving in. Remember kids, we always read horror responsibly around here. 🪱

[Jess Kovacs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and terrifying. Each story is its own unique version of well crafted horror. The storytelling is beautiful AND disturbing, the best of both worlds in horror.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Exchange and Other Calamities is my first read from Mallory McCartney, and I really enjoyed it. This collection of five short horror stories was a creepy, atmospheric ride. The writing was strong—easy to get into but still vivid and unsettling in all the right ways.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book!

[Megan Rang · Rating 5 out of 5]

***** I received this ARC ebook free from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Usually when I read a collection of short stories I always find some of them boring. This collection was all good! Great creepy horror short stories.

[Rebecca White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good short story collection and especially when all the stories connect in one way or another. I thought this one did that part well and it kept the book progressing nicely. I also loved the representation of the characters but with that being said, I’d recommend reading the Author’s Note at the end as it unfortunately takes some of the suspense out of the stories.

The body horror in this collection was fantastic and gave me the proper creeps. The inner dialogue was a bit overdone and at times it felt a lot like telling and not showing the reader what was going on. There were also times it took me out of the story as the character felt like they were just droning on.

Of course some stories were creepier than others but The Bite gave me the best ick.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC!

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great collection of horror stories. The author did a great job of telling these tales and making them captivating reads. I liked some stories a bit more than the others, but all were enjoyable and well written. This collection of stories is perfect for the upcoming spooky season.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.

[PlotTwist&Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Exchange & Other Calamities is like inviting a ghost to tea—equal parts unsettling and oddly comforting. Mallory McCartney serves up five twisted tales laced with grief, dread, and just enough supernatural spice to keep you checking the shadows. The prose is sharp, the emotions sharper, and the horror creeps in like a polite intruder—quiet at first, then impossible to ignore. I docked a star only because a few stories left me wanting just a bit more… but maybe that’s the point. Horror should haunt, after all.

[LAW · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and it left a lasting impression. The subject matter and imagery were startling, tense and terrifying. The way it brought horror aspects to the medical world was genius and all of the stories had a way of pulling you in, creeping you out and making you queasy (sometimes all at once). The correlations between disease and pure terror were amazing (the first story will never be forgotten in my mind). I will be interested to see future works from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Anuci Press, BookBuzz.Net and Mallory McCartney for the advanced copy

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each short in this collection is a terrifying piece of a full spine-chilling horror.

note: I have never read such a perfectly accurate description of what living with Fibromyalgia is like.

Thank you to NetGalley, Anuci Press and Mallory McCartney.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I loved how all of the stories were interconnected and in the same universe of horror in Ontario. As someone who lives in Ontario, I recognized a bunch of the spots and felt like it made it even more creepy.

I enjoyed how brutal these stories are and the body horror. A few times I was like oh yuck. If you don't like body horror this isn't the book for you. I feel like some of the horror I've read builds up a lot of suspense and draws it out but Mal did a great job at setting the stage for the story and then things go from bad to worse for the characters. I appreciate and value the chronic illness representation. I feel like it brings an extra layer to the stories and it's deeply moving.

As someone who also struggles with health related issues including chronic pain I felt validated with the anger I've felt and grief I live with trying to come to terms that this is part of my life and it might never go back to what once was. Living in a body, grieving your life, living in pain, medical gaslighting when all you want is to get better and dealing with a broken medical system is horror.

Thank you to Netgalley, Anuci Press, Mallory McCartney and BookBuz.net for the opportunity to read this book and provide my voluntary review.

[: ̗̀➛ c h e l s e a ✩‧˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ghosts are isolating, and ravenous.”

Knowing Mal’s previous work, I was not prepared for The Exchange & Other Calamities in the best way possible. Mal delivers us five equally terrifying, intertwining stories with a side of body horror, flesh-eating bugs, hometown nostalgia, and chronic illness representation.

Being from Sarnia, I loved all the mentions of my little hometown that Mal included in the book. It’s nice to share such a special place with an amazing author and friend.

"I was like Persephone in a withered garden, breathing and echoing the life all around me."

Mal’s writing is dark, atmospheric, and poetic. She managed to not only thoroughly keep me engaged with the story, but at times I had to stop and look over my shoulder to make sure none of my nightmares were waiting for me. 👀

I absolutely loved this story, especially with the nods to some of my favourite horror legends like Mike Flanagan. Fans of him, and otherworldy horror will enjoy The Exchange & Other Calamities.

Thank you to Mal, Netgalley and Anucci Press for an early eARC copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Charlotte Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review: The Exchange & Other Calamities by Mallory McCartney
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Mallory McCartney’s The Exchange & Other Calamities is a feverish, haunting plunge into horror — but not just the kind that lurks under your bed. This short story collection is drenched in metaphor, shaped by the author's own lived experience with chronic illness, and offers a powerful, often unsettling window into what it means to live with invisible pain.

Told through five interconnected horror stories, each tale explores a different facet of fear, from urban legends and supernatural hauntings to the psychological toll of illness and trauma. Yet beneath the monsters, demons, and cursed artefacts, a deeper horror unfolds — the medical gaslighting, misunderstanding, and isolation so many with chronic illness endure. McCartney doesn’t just write about nightmares — she writes from them, channelling the surreal and fragmented quality of chronic pain and fatigue into stories that feel both otherworldly and emotionally raw.

As someone with chronic illness, I found the metaphorical depictions of pain incredibly relatable. When you’re unable to articulate the intensity of your suffering, the mind paints pictures: claws in the dark, shifting shadows, distorted realities. McCartney captures that perfectly. Her prose reads like the kind of fever dream you fall into during a flare-up, migraine, or total burnout — unsettling, surreal, and impossible to forget.

At times, the pacing and scene transitions were disorienting, with the plot jumping unexpectedly — but this felt more like a deliberate echo of the chaos that chronic illness can bring, both physically and mentally. The fact that the stories intersect while also standing alone adds depth to the collection, and makes the reading experience more layered.

Horror fans will also appreciate the many nods to classic horror novels and films, cleverly woven into McCartney’s own twisted worlds. From ghost hunting to sleep studies gone wrong, she taps into familiar tropes but infuses them with personal vulnerability and urgency.

I devoured this book in just a couple of sittings — not only because it was compelling and creepy, but because it resonated. McCartney’s unique voice and personal insights give weight to each page, blending emotional depth with imaginative, spine-tingling horror. I hope that this book helps to raise awareness globally of the impacts of chronic illness, and helps people to empathise and understand the experiences of those suffering, and battling through the pain every day.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Mallory McCartney for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Exchange & Other Calamities in exchange for an honest review.

[Johnny Byutorie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't hate this collection, but I didn't love it either. While I absolutely sympathize and empathize with the messaging about getting medical issues like fibro and Lyme disease more public attention, I do think the introduction kind of undercuts any build up of tension or momentum for most of the stories. Maybe it would have been better structured with the introductory content and the ending acknowledgements combined, but as it stands, it immediately sets up the expectation of what these stories are about and the stories themselves confirm that, often in a heavy-handed tell-don't-show sort of way. This is unfortunate considering a lot of the horror does work, notably the body horror seen in the first half. The final story, more a novelette than a short story, is hampered by large chunks that might have been better kept a non-fictional essay or memoir as they repeat much of the introductory content. I also wonder whether the format of a short story collection could have been better realized as a cohesive novel considering the stories' connectivity taking place in the same small community of Haden (see Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad or qntm's THERE IS NO ANTIMEMETICS DIVISION for examples of where this worked well). Another struggle I had in the writing was with what we might call the adverb problem: almost no one ever "said" anything; they "bellowed," "whispered," "shrieked," and at least once "hiccoughed." Sometimes these flourishes can be to a story's detriment when they are overused. Overall, not terrible prose despite some of the overt telling throughout and some sections dragging their feet more than others. Anything with teeth icks me out good and proper, and one early story has this in spades. As eluded to, "The Bite" was by far the story that worked most for me and left me squirming through much of the read. Kudos.

Thank you to Anuci Press and NetGalley for this digital ARC in return for an honest review.

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded to 4. I did enjoy this collection of five interrelated stories (more precisely, it's a novel-in-stories kind of thing, each tale building on the previous one, and the closing story, a novelette, coming back to the opening story), but I had a lot of issues with it. I'll mention a couple, on account of their occasionally making it rather difficult for me to keep reading to the end. First of all, the pacing is terribly uneven: when the action gets good, and the suspense quite high, with many scenes structurally inspired by Mike Flanagan's TV series, the author chooses to dwell on the protagonist's internal struggles, shortcircuiting the tension by daydreaming, reminiscing, or examining her feelings, for quite a lot of paragraphs. The motivation is clear: the author's own background struggles with horrific medical issues; but I kept wondering whether a horror story is the appropriate outlet to vent or convey these, admittedly very important, personal matters, through a proxy in the story. Secondly, the fact that the stories are meant to be read as standalone rather than chapters of a book, demands lots of repetition and some unattractive infodumps, not to mention some suspension of disbelief about crucial issues (for example, the sleep study in the closing story has to take place in a haunted building with an awful past etc., of which the protagonist, who is a horror author, and grew up in the same town, is unaware).

That said, the scenes where the supernatural elements crop up were nicely done, very creepy and quite unsettling. They helped me reach the end with no regrets.

[Kristi · Rating 2 out of 5]

✧. 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 .✧

⭐️⭐️ / 5

📖: The Exchange and Other Calamities
✍️: Mallory McCartney
📆: 07/22/2025

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤.
_____________________________

📸 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭
This is a collection of short stories focused on a town with a darkness lurking within it. The stories are interwoven and set within the same place in different time periods. There are themes of body horror, sleep paralysis, and the author’s fictional interpretation of her own chronic illness represented through horror.
_____________________________

💬 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
I’m not a big short story girl but after a good experience with the last collection I tried in the horror genre, I was excited to give this a whirl. I’ll preface this by saying that I can empathize with the idea of medical professionals not taking those with chronic illness seriously. We see it all too often in our society where people live in pain far longer than necessary due to negligence and awful bedside manner. I feel this book was a bit heavy handed with its emphasis on these things, though. The inner monologue was extremely repetitive from the jump and there was a decent chunk of the book that could have been taken out in that regard. If this were shorter and sweeter, it may have hit differently. What I did like was the visceral depiction in the body horror aspect of the stories. Yuuuuuuck! But in the best way. I prefer my horror less graphic in that way usually but I have to give credit where it’s due!

[Sam H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a collection of five short stories, each one being different enough yet all five connecting with eachother and all leading back to one place, and made for one great book which I did not want to put down!

My favorite stories in this book were The Bite (a woman is in the wild grieving her mother and discovers that she has been bitten by something unknown to her. Filled with grief and body horror it had me sad, disgusted, and wanting more) and The Study ( bestselling author Theo Anderson takes part in a sleep study and we learn nightmares can be very real. This one is packed with blood and emotion and you will not want to stop reading!)

I love that the author put a playlist at the beginning of the book of songs to go along with the stories and the author's note at the beginning of this book gives you a look into their life. As you read the stories you will realize that the books comes from a deeply personal place. The pages of this book are dripping with pain and emotions and it sheds light on living with chronic illness and invisible disabilities, and if you or someone you know deal with these conditions this book will resonate very deeply with you.

I could describe this book in so many ways. It is dark, haunting, emotional, bloody, but it is also so much more and definitely needs to be read! I can not wait to see what horrors come next from the author!

[Sonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I swear I had all the lights on while reading this book. This book is a collection of 5 short stories that intertwine into a larger story overall. The author instills real fear throughout this book. I know someone living with Fibromylagia and I thought I understood the pain they deal with on a daily basis, but this story gave me another perspective and insight into not only the physical pain and vulnerability but the actual torture and torment it places on the human mind.

The human mind is beautiful, intricate, powerful and absolutely terrifying. Each story in this book is crafted so that the reader can vividly imagine and feel exactly what the characters are going through. As heartbreaking and creepy as this book was it truly gives you some insight on the daily battles people face every day.

We have absolutely no clue what people hide behind their smile. We can't fathom the depth of the tears they've shed in their vulnerable state. Nor can we understand the effects of a debilitating illness unless we've experienced one ourselves. My heart was breaking with each story I read and the fear I felt while reading this story was real.

Thank you Rockstar Book Tours, Anuci Press and Mallory McCartney for the gifted ARC.

[Portlock Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

🪲𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙴𝚡𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙾𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚢 𝙼𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝙼𝚌𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚗𝚎𝚢💀👻

Ratings:
5/5 ⭐️
Gore 3.5/5 🩸
Horror 🏠 5/5!!! Almost peed myself 😆

Just finished my first horror novel of the year and I DEVOURED it!!! The perfect blend of spooks, gore, and emotional depth. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Mallory’s writing is something else. This is the fourth book of hers I’ve read, and she continues to amaze me with how vividly she brings her characters to life. 🏚️♥️👻

What hit me hardest in this one was how she captured the raw, haunting reality of chronic illness. The pain, the exhaustion, the horror of simply trying to survive each day. It felt so personal, like she poured her soul into every line ♥️. Stories like this, where the author leaves a piece of themselves behind, always stay with me the longest.

Also side note for Mallory! I loved all the Stephen King and 80’s music references! Made my old soul so happy 🕺🏻!

🪲 Favorite Quotes:🪲
- Horror in real life was just about as natural as breathing. The light and the dark can exist without each other, right?
- To be free, was to be a writer ✍🏻.
- 80’s horror made my soul sing with joy. (Me too!!)

[Christine Rees · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A series of hauntings you’ll devour.”
- Christine Rees, author of The Hidden Legacy

If you're looking for a book you can binge in one sitting, that ups the creep factor with every short story, and offers a deeper connection with the author — add The Exchange & Other Calamities to your TBR pile!

This work is fictional but inspired by real events. Mallory McCartney is transparent about using horror to paint a vivid picture of what living with chronic illnesses and obtaining diagnoses has felt like for her. She has a rich way of capturing emotions in 5 short stories that are sure to get your pulse racing with possessions, hauntings, ghosts, bugs, and a high creep factor. (I had to double-check that ghostly hands weren’t opening my closets or drawers while I was reading.)

Total side note, but I love the inclusion of Harold. The dachshund. Reminds me of a few cuddly dachshunds I know…

While I’m familiar with McCartney’s fantasy works, this book feels raw, real, and personal… with a dash of morbid curiosity. I am impressed and in awe of McCartney’s writing talents and, as always, I look forward to reading her next book!

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Exchange And Other Calamities by Mallory McCartney is a short story collection all set in the same place in Canada the horror goes from body horror to the paranormal and everything in between. I really liked most of the stories especially the haunted house time slip/distortion story And I also liked the one in the ocean and some other ones they really do have some great stories in this collection my only complaint is there’s a topic she talks about throughout the book I just thought could’ve been mentioned in the preamble to the book but I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy them because I enjoyed most of them although they do seem to have a similar Something about the stories I just can’t put my finger on that made them Feel similar despite the fact they’re pretty different. I would definitely recommend this book for those who like new riders because she absolutely has great potential and imagination and I would definitely read another book by her in the future. #NedGalley#TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #MalloryMcCartney,#TheExchangeAndOtherCalamities,

[Shireen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

If these stories truly are based on real-life events then I am NEVER going back to Sarnia again!!

Seriously though, as a fellow Southern Ontario small-town girl who's a big fan of horror and also deals with multiple chronic illnesses, I felt absolutely seen by this author as I read this book. And being able to immerse myself in the nuances of the rural setting, as someone who also lives close to Lake Huron, made these stories so much more of a visceral experience overall. I love that each of the stories are loosely bound together by time and space (and that's all I'll say about that.) The descriptions of the horrors that descend upon these characters in each story are terrifyingly vivid and deliciously scary.

Thanks to NetGalley, author Mallory McCartney, and Anuci Press for granting me access to a free digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.

[Country Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Exchange and Other Calamities by Mallory McCartney is a horror anthology of short stories of various types. I really liked this book, overall as it has some horror elements involved in a very personal story written by the writer. I really liked the fear in the first story, The Exchange, and was nervous about going anywhere in my house at night after reading it. That was great! I really liked how the author could take a chronic illness and put it into the story with the message about Kelsey wanting to do anything to be rid of her pain and struggle. Most people are willing to do anything to be free of pain and also hurt. It is a true and realistic message to include in a book. All the stories had their own messages and I highly recommend this book to fans of horror/fear books and someone looking for a more personal story from an author. You can tell that this book means a lot to her overall and I think that this book was the best I read this year so far!

[Maddie Elam · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, thank you so much for a review copy- it will be treasured!

We start with an open, honest, and courageous note from the author, which really (for me) helped set the tone of the stories that followed. I think this, and the characters in each story being so raw and so relatable, really added to the horror of each storyline.

What stuck out to me was how each story balanced physical and psychological horror. As someone who has loved horror and thrillers for forever, it’s not often you find a story that mixes both in a way that makes so much sense, so I really enjoyed that!

This one was really hard to put down honestly. After each story I was determined to figure out what would come next, and each story flowed super well.

I can’t wait to read what else the author has in store in the future- and I personally hope it’s horror, because clearly they have a gift for it!