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Monstrous Tales: Haunting Encounters with Britain's Mythical Beasts
This isle is full of noises...
From the finfolk of the beaches of Orkney to the plague monsters of the Welsh mountains, and the giant slugs of the Derbyshire peaks to the Beast of Bodmin Moor, Britain is home to many strange creatures of folklore. Some are ancient, as enduring as the forests and mountains they inhabit. Others live among us, in our cities, creating new legends as they scuttle through the shadows. And none of them are to be trusted.
In this deliciously chilling collection, award-winning and bestselling authors bring you tales inspired by the monsters that share our land. The perfect read for anyone who's ever spotted something slimy and unexplained in their peripheral vision, or seen eyes reflecting back in the forest where no eyes should be.
Includes new and original stories
Janice Hallett
Abir Mukherjee
Rosie Andrews
Stuart Turton
Dan Jones
Jenn Ashworth
Sunyi Dean
Jane Johnson
Rebecca Netley
From the finfolk of the beaches of Orkney to the plague monsters of the Welsh mountains, and the giant slugs of the Derbyshire peaks to the Beast of Bodmin Moor, Britain is home to many strange creatures of folklore. Some are ancient, as enduring as the forests and mountains they inhabit. Others live among us, in our cities, creating new legends as they scuttle through the shadows. And none of them are to be trusted.
In this deliciously chilling collection, award-winning and bestselling authors bring you tales inspired by the monsters that share our land. The perfect read for anyone who's ever spotted something slimy and unexplained in their peripheral vision, or seen eyes reflecting back in the forest where no eyes should be.
Includes new and original stories
Janice Hallett
Abir Mukherjee
Rosie Andrews
Stuart Turton
Dan Jones
Jenn Ashworth
Sunyi Dean
Jane Johnson
Rebecca Netley
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2025
12 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 26, 2025
Pleasantly surprised at the general quality here! Intended just to dip into it for Janice Hallett’s contribution (I was curious about how her signature style would translate to a short story), but I ended up wanting to read the whole thing. Rosie Andrews’ ‘The Yellow Death’ is a great opener. I’d read Jenn Ashworth’s ‘Old Trash’ before, but it’s an excellent story and more than deserves its inclusion here. Dan Jones’ ‘These Things Happen’ is pure daft schlocky fun, Abir Mukherjee’s ‘The Doctor’s Wife’ beautifully crafted, Jane Johnson’s ‘The Beast of Bodmin’ sweet and understated. Hallett’s story, ‘Boneless’, is fantastic – weird and funny – I could have read a whole book of this. A couple of weaker entries, of course, but even those don't fall below the level of ‘absolutely fine but not for me’. A treat!
October 17, 2025
Monstrous Tales: Haunting encounters with Britain's mythical beasts is a short story anthology set around the British Isles. Though I am not usually drawn to reading short stories, I prefer getting my teeth into a novella or full length novel, a few of the authors in this anthology caught my eye as I have read their work before and enjoyed their style immensely. This led me to reading more stories from the anthology and being fascinated with British mythology I’ve not encountered before. I feel this collection is a good one to dip in and out of, to read on cold nights. It will surely satisfy those looking for a short spooky read.
Below I will share mini reviews for a couple of the stories which I found to be really impressively done.
“According to legend, Eynhallow is a place of intense mystery, steeped in folklore and ancient magic, even in the present day. It is a place where - according to locals - animals refuse to live, bad luck befalls inhabitants, tourists go missing, and ghosts can be found.”
Eynhallow Free by Sunyi Dean follows a young woman wrapped up in grief and guilt who has come to an island in Orkney with her husband. The island holds many mysteries and mythical stories surrounding its history but the woman must uncover and face her own past as well as whatever haunts the island.
This was a fantastic story with a rather surprising dark ending. Dean is just fantastic at portraying messy, flawed and raw characters, the prose oozes with atmosphere and poignancy and the island is brought to life with such vivid descriptions.
“Something cold and wet presses itself against my back.
It reeks of old bodies on a slab. Dirty hair falls across my cheek, dripping rainwater onto my jumper.
I stand perfectly still, too scared to move. Even if I could, those talons are digging into my shoulder, piercing my skin.
It sniffs me.”
Deaths in the Family by Stuart Turton tells the story of Ben who makes a deal that sees he and his family get their heart’s desire but at a cost. A debt must be paid, a soul must be sacrificed-someone must die.
An action packed, intense and violently bloody story that just grips you throughout. Turton never fails to hook his readers and here he delivers an array of mythical monsters such as Black Annis and Redcaps which were truly horrifying. Of course there was also a killer twist!
“The figure reached the edge of a precipice, stopped once more, turned and gestured him closer. He didn't know how, he had not moved, but suddenly he was there, at the edge, looking down into a ravine, at the bottom of which lay the broken figure of a man.”
The Doctor’s Wife by Abir Mukherjee tells the story of Steven, a locum GP who moves with his wife Mel to Glentorrance to fill in for the previous doctor who suddenly left. Though the more he learns about his predecessor and his abrupt departure, the stranger things become.
Mukherjee’s punchy prose really works to set an uneasy atmosphere right from the beginning. The cottage the couple moved into is filled with strange paintings, a mountain and a faceless woman, and then the pair begin to have the same nightmares, over and over. The creepiness heightens and I enjoyed having a story that included Indian mythology onto a Scottish mountainside.
Then from the shadows he speaks her name in a voice like steel scraping rust from the air. A voice that seems to hang between familiar and imaginary worlds; Bessie is not even sure if she hears it on the outside of herself or if it is on the inside only. But it is both an acknowledgement and a question. What question?
Mr Mischief by Rebecca Netley is the story of ten-year-old Bessie who moves with her uncle Kit, to Rowan’s Garth on the Yorkshire moors. Local legend there speak of Mr. Mischief, a boggart which local people leave offerings to in exchange for gifts from Mr Mischief. No one has ever seen this Boggart but his gifts are always gruesome and unsavoury. Yet Mr. Mischief may be exactly what Bessie needs to tackle the cruelty of her uncle.
Netley begins this story by painting a picture of the barren, isolated and lonely Yorkshire moors, igniting our senses. Bessie is such a lonely child, orphaned, homesick and missing the love and warmth of her grandma, so immediately I felt such empathy for her character. Then, as we discover just how her uncle frightens her, suddenly Mr Mischief doesn’t seem so much of a villain. That is until the ambiguous end!
“Then the air was full of noise, a great roaring whoosh of sound. A rumble that started beyond, and became trapped in the breastbone, where it reverberated ill their blood shook. There was something with them; something behind them; something all around.”
The Beast of Bodmin by Jane Johnson centres on Gina, a young woman who after the death of her parents and the breakup of a boyfriend, starts a new life in a remote village in Cornwall. When her inherited cat Roxy goes missing, she seeks out the local villagers and so they have not seen Roxy, they do tell of the beast of Bogdin. Gina then becomes increasingly afraid of what may have happened to her poor old cat.
This story was a bit more strange and unusual than the others that I have read. Johnson’s prose begins by being atmospheric but quickly turns quite metaphorical. Instead of being spooked, I actually appreciated the explorations of themes such as female empowerment, new beginnings and finding love.
ARC provided by Abigail at Bloomsbury Publishing in exchange for an honest review—thank you for the copy!
Monstrous Tales will be released 23rd October 2025
Below I will share mini reviews for a couple of the stories which I found to be really impressively done.
“According to legend, Eynhallow is a place of intense mystery, steeped in folklore and ancient magic, even in the present day. It is a place where - according to locals - animals refuse to live, bad luck befalls inhabitants, tourists go missing, and ghosts can be found.”
Eynhallow Free by Sunyi Dean follows a young woman wrapped up in grief and guilt who has come to an island in Orkney with her husband. The island holds many mysteries and mythical stories surrounding its history but the woman must uncover and face her own past as well as whatever haunts the island.
This was a fantastic story with a rather surprising dark ending. Dean is just fantastic at portraying messy, flawed and raw characters, the prose oozes with atmosphere and poignancy and the island is brought to life with such vivid descriptions.
“Something cold and wet presses itself against my back.
It reeks of old bodies on a slab. Dirty hair falls across my cheek, dripping rainwater onto my jumper.
I stand perfectly still, too scared to move. Even if I could, those talons are digging into my shoulder, piercing my skin.
It sniffs me.”
Deaths in the Family by Stuart Turton tells the story of Ben who makes a deal that sees he and his family get their heart’s desire but at a cost. A debt must be paid, a soul must be sacrificed-someone must die.
An action packed, intense and violently bloody story that just grips you throughout. Turton never fails to hook his readers and here he delivers an array of mythical monsters such as Black Annis and Redcaps which were truly horrifying. Of course there was also a killer twist!
“The figure reached the edge of a precipice, stopped once more, turned and gestured him closer. He didn't know how, he had not moved, but suddenly he was there, at the edge, looking down into a ravine, at the bottom of which lay the broken figure of a man.”
The Doctor’s Wife by Abir Mukherjee tells the story of Steven, a locum GP who moves with his wife Mel to Glentorrance to fill in for the previous doctor who suddenly left. Though the more he learns about his predecessor and his abrupt departure, the stranger things become.
Mukherjee’s punchy prose really works to set an uneasy atmosphere right from the beginning. The cottage the couple moved into is filled with strange paintings, a mountain and a faceless woman, and then the pair begin to have the same nightmares, over and over. The creepiness heightens and I enjoyed having a story that included Indian mythology onto a Scottish mountainside.
Then from the shadows he speaks her name in a voice like steel scraping rust from the air. A voice that seems to hang between familiar and imaginary worlds; Bessie is not even sure if she hears it on the outside of herself or if it is on the inside only. But it is both an acknowledgement and a question. What question?
Mr Mischief by Rebecca Netley is the story of ten-year-old Bessie who moves with her uncle Kit, to Rowan’s Garth on the Yorkshire moors. Local legend there speak of Mr. Mischief, a boggart which local people leave offerings to in exchange for gifts from Mr Mischief. No one has ever seen this Boggart but his gifts are always gruesome and unsavoury. Yet Mr. Mischief may be exactly what Bessie needs to tackle the cruelty of her uncle.
Netley begins this story by painting a picture of the barren, isolated and lonely Yorkshire moors, igniting our senses. Bessie is such a lonely child, orphaned, homesick and missing the love and warmth of her grandma, so immediately I felt such empathy for her character. Then, as we discover just how her uncle frightens her, suddenly Mr Mischief doesn’t seem so much of a villain. That is until the ambiguous end!
“Then the air was full of noise, a great roaring whoosh of sound. A rumble that started beyond, and became trapped in the breastbone, where it reverberated ill their blood shook. There was something with them; something behind them; something all around.”
The Beast of Bodmin by Jane Johnson centres on Gina, a young woman who after the death of her parents and the breakup of a boyfriend, starts a new life in a remote village in Cornwall. When her inherited cat Roxy goes missing, she seeks out the local villagers and so they have not seen Roxy, they do tell of the beast of Bogdin. Gina then becomes increasingly afraid of what may have happened to her poor old cat.
This story was a bit more strange and unusual than the others that I have read. Johnson’s prose begins by being atmospheric but quickly turns quite metaphorical. Instead of being spooked, I actually appreciated the explorations of themes such as female empowerment, new beginnings and finding love.
ARC provided by Abigail at Bloomsbury Publishing in exchange for an honest review—thank you for the copy!
Monstrous Tales will be released 23rd October 2025
October 10, 2025
Review to follow nearer the publication date.
Published today 10th October.
I was drawn to this book by the authors I recognised and have previously read. Not a big fan of short stories normally but I liked the fact that the tales were about mythical creatures and folklore. Some of the stories were better than others, but they were all good and imaginative.
My favourite were Old Trash by Jenn Ashworth and These Things Happen by Dan Jones. Neither of these authors had I previously read.
I would recommend this book to Mythology fans.
Thank you to Netgalley and the authors for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Published today 10th October.
I was drawn to this book by the authors I recognised and have previously read. Not a big fan of short stories normally but I liked the fact that the tales were about mythical creatures and folklore. Some of the stories were better than others, but they were all good and imaginative.
My favourite were Old Trash by Jenn Ashworth and These Things Happen by Dan Jones. Neither of these authors had I previously read.
I would recommend this book to Mythology fans.
Thank you to Netgalley and the authors for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 13, 2025
This is a great new collection of short stories inspired by British folklore. I was drawn to it because it included several authors whose work I’ve previously enjoyed, but I was pleased to find that the stories by authors who were new to me were just as strong. The book has also given me the opportunity to learn about lots of creatures from British myth that I’d never come across before; only one or two of them were familiar to me.
I’ll start with the three stories by authors I hadn’t tried before. I particularly enjoyed Jenn Ashworth’s Old Trash, set in the Pendle area of Lancashire where a mother has taken her troubled teenage daughter camping for the weekend, hoping to keep her away from the bad influence of an older boyfriend. Ashworth does a wonderful job of creating a creepy atmosphere as darkness falls over the hills and Rachael and Mae listen to tales of the gytrash, a huge black dog thought to be an omen of death. Abir Mukherjee’s The Doctor’s Wife is another highlight, following a doctor and his wife who move to a small village in the Highlands of Scotland. Once there, the doctor becomes obsessed with the fate of his predecessor and a mysterious woman dressed in red. This story combines a British setting with elements of Hindu mythology, which is fascinating and adds some diversity to the book.
Sunyi Dean’s Eynhallow Free didn’t work for me quite as well as the others, which I think is due to the story being written in second person (addressing the reader directly as ‘you’, putting us in the position of the protagonist, a style I never really get on with). I did love the Orkney setting, though; it’s a very eerie story, incorporating figures from Orkney folklore such as the Goodman of Thorodale and the Finfolk. There’s one more story also set in Scotland: These Things Happen by Dan Jones. I’ve read some of Jones’ history books, but this is my first experience of his fiction. I disliked the main character which put me off the story a little bit, but I was fascinated by the descriptions of the Cat Sith, the large black cat of Scottish mythology that walks around on its hind legs.
Welsh folklore is represented by the Fad Felen, or yellow plague, which appears in Rosie Andrews’ story, The Yellow Death. The story is set at the end of the First World War and the Fad Felen can be seen as a metaphor for the yellow of mustard gas. This is one of only two stories in the book with historical settings. The other is Rebecca Netley’s Mr Mischief, in which ten-year-old Bessie moves to a big house on the Yorkshire moors with her Uncle Kit who has a job as gamekeeper. Here she learns about a mysterious being known only as Mr Mischief and the lengths the superstitious locals go to in order to keep him happy.
I think my favourite story in the book was probably Boneless by Janice Hallett, about a writer investigating reports of a giant slug in Derbyshire. Written in Hallett’s usual style incorporating emails, articles, texts etc, it explores issues such as climate and habitat change and how animals are forced to adapt and evolve. The ending is great – I hadn’t expected the story to go in that direction at all. I also liked The Beast of Bodmin by Jane Johnson, which is set, like a lot of Johnson’s work, in Cornwall. Gina moves into a cottage on the edge of Bodmin Moor, hoping to make a new start in life, and almost immediately her black cat, Roxy, goes missing.
The collection is completed by Stuart Turton’s Deaths in the Family. It follows the story of Ben and his family, who gather together for Christmas every year, barricading themselves indoors while an army of grotesque and murderous Redcaps amasses outside. I wasn’t sure what to make of this story as it was so strange and felt different in tone from the others in the book, but it was certainly entertaining!
Nine stories in this collection, then, and although I inevitably enjoyed some more than others, there wasn’t a single bad one here. I’m looking forward to exploring more of Ashworth, Mukherjee and Dean’s work now, so if you can recommend anything please let me know.
I’ll start with the three stories by authors I hadn’t tried before. I particularly enjoyed Jenn Ashworth’s Old Trash, set in the Pendle area of Lancashire where a mother has taken her troubled teenage daughter camping for the weekend, hoping to keep her away from the bad influence of an older boyfriend. Ashworth does a wonderful job of creating a creepy atmosphere as darkness falls over the hills and Rachael and Mae listen to tales of the gytrash, a huge black dog thought to be an omen of death. Abir Mukherjee’s The Doctor’s Wife is another highlight, following a doctor and his wife who move to a small village in the Highlands of Scotland. Once there, the doctor becomes obsessed with the fate of his predecessor and a mysterious woman dressed in red. This story combines a British setting with elements of Hindu mythology, which is fascinating and adds some diversity to the book.
Sunyi Dean’s Eynhallow Free didn’t work for me quite as well as the others, which I think is due to the story being written in second person (addressing the reader directly as ‘you’, putting us in the position of the protagonist, a style I never really get on with). I did love the Orkney setting, though; it’s a very eerie story, incorporating figures from Orkney folklore such as the Goodman of Thorodale and the Finfolk. There’s one more story also set in Scotland: These Things Happen by Dan Jones. I’ve read some of Jones’ history books, but this is my first experience of his fiction. I disliked the main character which put me off the story a little bit, but I was fascinated by the descriptions of the Cat Sith, the large black cat of Scottish mythology that walks around on its hind legs.
Welsh folklore is represented by the Fad Felen, or yellow plague, which appears in Rosie Andrews’ story, The Yellow Death. The story is set at the end of the First World War and the Fad Felen can be seen as a metaphor for the yellow of mustard gas. This is one of only two stories in the book with historical settings. The other is Rebecca Netley’s Mr Mischief, in which ten-year-old Bessie moves to a big house on the Yorkshire moors with her Uncle Kit who has a job as gamekeeper. Here she learns about a mysterious being known only as Mr Mischief and the lengths the superstitious locals go to in order to keep him happy.
I think my favourite story in the book was probably Boneless by Janice Hallett, about a writer investigating reports of a giant slug in Derbyshire. Written in Hallett’s usual style incorporating emails, articles, texts etc, it explores issues such as climate and habitat change and how animals are forced to adapt and evolve. The ending is great – I hadn’t expected the story to go in that direction at all. I also liked The Beast of Bodmin by Jane Johnson, which is set, like a lot of Johnson’s work, in Cornwall. Gina moves into a cottage on the edge of Bodmin Moor, hoping to make a new start in life, and almost immediately her black cat, Roxy, goes missing.
The collection is completed by Stuart Turton’s Deaths in the Family. It follows the story of Ben and his family, who gather together for Christmas every year, barricading themselves indoors while an army of grotesque and murderous Redcaps amasses outside. I wasn’t sure what to make of this story as it was so strange and felt different in tone from the others in the book, but it was certainly entertaining!
Nine stories in this collection, then, and although I inevitably enjoyed some more than others, there wasn’t a single bad one here. I’m looking forward to exploring more of Ashworth, Mukherjee and Dean’s work now, so if you can recommend anything please let me know.
October 27, 2025
I devoured this collection in a single day. As each tale finished, I couldn't wait to hear what the next one had in store for me. I knew about half of the authors beforehand, and now I'll definitely be seeking out the others' work. It was actually the cover design that first drew me in. I loved the eerie artwork with its hints of monstrous things inside and the excellent font choice that perfectly captured the mood of the collection.
Each story is narrated by a separate narrator, which gives every tale its own distinct feel, something I absolutely loved. The voices were clearly chosen with care to match each story's tone, and it really paid off. The performances work so well together while still letting each story stand on its own.
The collection opens powerfully with Rosie Andrews' tale, such a monstrous start! I thought, Wow, this collection isn't going to pull any punches. Her writing was exactly what I'd hoped for, and Kimberley Nixon's narration was beautifully done. Jenn Ashworth's story then shifted the tone, more heartbreaking, with upsetting background subject matter that gave it real emotional weight.
Sunyi Dean delivers a brutal revenge tale, sharp and unforgettable. Janice Hallett's "Boneless," read by Oscar Kennedy and Hallett herself, was my absolute favorite. It gave me real American Werewolf in London vibes. The imagery was shocking and vivid, and the dual narration worked perfectly. It went in a direction I never could have guessed, and I loved every twist.
Jane Johnson's "Beast of Bodmin" was atmospheric and tense. Dan Jones' "These Things Happen" started lighter and irreverent but quickly descended into genuine spookiness. Rebecca Netley's "Mr Mischief," voiced by Ralph Ineson, had a good story, though his gravelly tone was a touch heavy for my taste. Finally, Stuart Turton's "Deaths in the Family" reminded me of The Mist or a tight TV bottle episode, all action in one location, and when the truth hit, it was genuinely shocking.
What stood out most was how each story felt unique in tone, theme, and voice, yet the collection fit together seamlessly. Monstrous Tales is a darkly delightful listen from start to finish, perfectly produced and brilliantly performed.
You are rewarded here for choosing the audio format.
Each story is narrated by a separate narrator, which gives every tale its own distinct feel, something I absolutely loved. The voices were clearly chosen with care to match each story's tone, and it really paid off. The performances work so well together while still letting each story stand on its own.
The collection opens powerfully with Rosie Andrews' tale, such a monstrous start! I thought, Wow, this collection isn't going to pull any punches. Her writing was exactly what I'd hoped for, and Kimberley Nixon's narration was beautifully done. Jenn Ashworth's story then shifted the tone, more heartbreaking, with upsetting background subject matter that gave it real emotional weight.
Sunyi Dean delivers a brutal revenge tale, sharp and unforgettable. Janice Hallett's "Boneless," read by Oscar Kennedy and Hallett herself, was my absolute favorite. It gave me real American Werewolf in London vibes. The imagery was shocking and vivid, and the dual narration worked perfectly. It went in a direction I never could have guessed, and I loved every twist.
Jane Johnson's "Beast of Bodmin" was atmospheric and tense. Dan Jones' "These Things Happen" started lighter and irreverent but quickly descended into genuine spookiness. Rebecca Netley's "Mr Mischief," voiced by Ralph Ineson, had a good story, though his gravelly tone was a touch heavy for my taste. Finally, Stuart Turton's "Deaths in the Family" reminded me of The Mist or a tight TV bottle episode, all action in one location, and when the truth hit, it was genuinely shocking.
What stood out most was how each story felt unique in tone, theme, and voice, yet the collection fit together seamlessly. Monstrous Tales is a darkly delightful listen from start to finish, perfectly produced and brilliantly performed.
You are rewarded here for choosing the audio format.
October 26, 2025
I was interested in the Monstrous Tales collection because I hadn't read anything by any of the authors, so it was a really good opportunity to experience lots of new-to-me authors!
The collection has 9 short monster stories, all set in Britain and I listened to the audiobook, which had different narrators for each story. The audiobook format was amazing for this anthology, with the narrators' accents going perfectly with the main character of their story. Some of the authors narrated their own stories and the quality of the narration was amazing all round. It was a really cohesive collection as well - they were all atmospheric, creepy, and unpredictable, and there wasn't a single weak link! I don't even want to say much about the individual short stories because going into them blind is probably the best way to get the full effect!
I thought it was a great collection of stories for spooky season, or for readers who like to be scared year-round! I definitely recommend the audiobooks for even more immersion and spooky vibes.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Listener Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
The collection has 9 short monster stories, all set in Britain and I listened to the audiobook, which had different narrators for each story. The audiobook format was amazing for this anthology, with the narrators' accents going perfectly with the main character of their story. Some of the authors narrated their own stories and the quality of the narration was amazing all round. It was a really cohesive collection as well - they were all atmospheric, creepy, and unpredictable, and there wasn't a single weak link! I don't even want to say much about the individual short stories because going into them blind is probably the best way to get the full effect!
I thought it was a great collection of stories for spooky season, or for readers who like to be scared year-round! I definitely recommend the audiobooks for even more immersion and spooky vibes.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Listener Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
October 9, 2025
The one thing that caught my attention was the name Dan Jones.
I have read his Essex Dogs series, and he was the one to pull me in to read that wonderful short story collection.
Every story holds a great punch, like an Italian espresso kicking up your pulse with dread, a haunting atmosphere, and remarkable use of folklore that gave it that grounding feeling.
The short story format made it even more captivating, and These Things Happen by Dan Jones didn't disappoint, and along with Eynhallow Free by Sunyi Dean, were my favorites.
Definitely recommend for mythology readers.
I have read his Essex Dogs series, and he was the one to pull me in to read that wonderful short story collection.
Every story holds a great punch, like an Italian espresso kicking up your pulse with dread, a haunting atmosphere, and remarkable use of folklore that gave it that grounding feeling.
The short story format made it even more captivating, and These Things Happen by Dan Jones didn't disappoint, and along with Eynhallow Free by Sunyi Dean, were my favorites.
Definitely recommend for mythology readers.
October 31, 2025
A really fun book. My favourites were Eynhallow Free and A Death in the Family. I've written mini reviews for each tale;
The Yellow Death - Rosie Andrews. 2/5 stars. An atmospheric tale set at the end of WW1, exploring two girls and their different feelings and life experiences with the men of the house. The tension ramped up beautifully, although there were moments where it felt obvious what would happen next. A good story that felt more like the first chapter of a book as opposed to a complete tale which is why I rated it so low. Narrator was very good and drew you into the story.
Old Trash - Jenn Ashworth. 3/5 stars. A mother and daughter try to find common ground. Plays with the idea of what is the real monster, the supernatural dog or man. Set at one of my all time favourite places, Pendle Hill. Liked how, as with Yellow Death, the narrator had the right accent to fit with the location. Soothing reader.
Eynhallow Free - Sunyi Dean. 5/5 stars. Instantly gripping, a tale following a woman who is dealing with the death of her child and has come all the way to Orkney in a vain bid to cope, but nothing is exactly as it seems. A wonderful written tale about grief and the dark. Written in a mix of 1st and the rarely used 2nd person PoV. This one is read by the author, he has a very compelling voice.
Boneless - Janice Hallet. 4/5 stars. A really cool idea, a 'found footage' style story about a student who is trying to prove the existence of a giant slug like creature. He approaches it in a scientific manner but there is more going on than just research. Was maybe just a tiny bit too meta for my personal tastes. Narrator was a mix of author herself (as herself) and another, worked well.
The Beast of Bodmin - Jane Johnson. 5/5 stars. A woman inherits a fierce black cat from her parents and moves to Bodmin moor to start a new life. She almost instantly loses the cat and spends the story risking it all to find her. A bright spot in the horror, heart-warming and just lovely. Narrator was perfect for the story.
These Things Happen - Dane Jones. 4/5 stars. Cats, templars, a professor with a very awesome looking walking stick, a recipe for near perfection. Follows a writer/director for a paranormal show who is more than a little bit of a jerk. He drinks a lot and his life is a mess. But it isn't long before his actions start having creepy consequences. Narrator was author, entertaining.
The Doctors Wife - Abir Mukherjee. 3/5 stars. A doctor is called at last minute to be a temp for six months in a small Scottish village and as always, there is more going on. A lovely mix of cultures and beliefs on show here. Perhaps more predictable than the other tales but that only added to the tension, knowing what was probably coming. Another read by the author themselves, I am liking this trend, best person to know the impact of each word.
Mr Mischief - Rebecca Netley. 3/5 stars. A ten year old orphan moves to an isolated home with her uncle, who scorns the old ways, but she believes in them. Another great tale that plays with the idea of who is the bigger evil between the natural and the supernatural world. So much is subtext, its great. This was the first time that I didn't really gel with the narrator. He was fine but I couldn't connect as much as I would have liked and probably influenced my rating slightly.
Deaths in the Family - Stuart Turton. 5/5 stars. Dark and delicious, this jumps right into the middle of a terrible night and gradually fills in the gaps. Full of some delightful folk horror characters and lots of drama. Ok I have to admit bias, this was my favourite narrator because I love the actor. Brilliant reading.
All in all, well worth a read, thoroughly enjoyed it on audio book.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
The Yellow Death - Rosie Andrews. 2/5 stars. An atmospheric tale set at the end of WW1, exploring two girls and their different feelings and life experiences with the men of the house. The tension ramped up beautifully, although there were moments where it felt obvious what would happen next. A good story that felt more like the first chapter of a book as opposed to a complete tale which is why I rated it so low. Narrator was very good and drew you into the story.
Old Trash - Jenn Ashworth. 3/5 stars. A mother and daughter try to find common ground. Plays with the idea of what is the real monster, the supernatural dog or man. Set at one of my all time favourite places, Pendle Hill. Liked how, as with Yellow Death, the narrator had the right accent to fit with the location. Soothing reader.
Eynhallow Free - Sunyi Dean. 5/5 stars. Instantly gripping, a tale following a woman who is dealing with the death of her child and has come all the way to Orkney in a vain bid to cope, but nothing is exactly as it seems. A wonderful written tale about grief and the dark. Written in a mix of 1st and the rarely used 2nd person PoV. This one is read by the author, he has a very compelling voice.
Boneless - Janice Hallet. 4/5 stars. A really cool idea, a 'found footage' style story about a student who is trying to prove the existence of a giant slug like creature. He approaches it in a scientific manner but there is more going on than just research. Was maybe just a tiny bit too meta for my personal tastes. Narrator was a mix of author herself (as herself) and another, worked well.
The Beast of Bodmin - Jane Johnson. 5/5 stars. A woman inherits a fierce black cat from her parents and moves to Bodmin moor to start a new life. She almost instantly loses the cat and spends the story risking it all to find her. A bright spot in the horror, heart-warming and just lovely. Narrator was perfect for the story.
These Things Happen - Dane Jones. 4/5 stars. Cats, templars, a professor with a very awesome looking walking stick, a recipe for near perfection. Follows a writer/director for a paranormal show who is more than a little bit of a jerk. He drinks a lot and his life is a mess. But it isn't long before his actions start having creepy consequences. Narrator was author, entertaining.
The Doctors Wife - Abir Mukherjee. 3/5 stars. A doctor is called at last minute to be a temp for six months in a small Scottish village and as always, there is more going on. A lovely mix of cultures and beliefs on show here. Perhaps more predictable than the other tales but that only added to the tension, knowing what was probably coming. Another read by the author themselves, I am liking this trend, best person to know the impact of each word.
Mr Mischief - Rebecca Netley. 3/5 stars. A ten year old orphan moves to an isolated home with her uncle, who scorns the old ways, but she believes in them. Another great tale that plays with the idea of who is the bigger evil between the natural and the supernatural world. So much is subtext, its great. This was the first time that I didn't really gel with the narrator. He was fine but I couldn't connect as much as I would have liked and probably influenced my rating slightly.
Deaths in the Family - Stuart Turton. 5/5 stars. Dark and delicious, this jumps right into the middle of a terrible night and gradually fills in the gaps. Full of some delightful folk horror characters and lots of drama. Ok I have to admit bias, this was my favourite narrator because I love the actor. Brilliant reading.
All in all, well worth a read, thoroughly enjoyed it on audio book.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
December 20, 2025
Jenn Ashworth takes us to Lancashire, where a satanic dog spirit still roams the Pendle hills. It's strange to have two very imperfect characters – a mother and daughter that are equally combative, it seems. But then, the first story here by Rosie Andrews had antagonism, too – a pair of different families in North Wales, with very contrasting outcomes from sending their men to World War One. Sunyi Dean takes us to the Orkneys next, for a tale of revenge featuring the Finfolk.
Janice Hallett is perhaps the first to disappoint, especially considering how much heavy lifting her name is doing here, sales-wise. Her tale is Derbyshire-set, and looks at cryptids, but while it has a distinctive idea it's surely not the best or most logical. The almost '50s B-movie flavour to things didn't seem to fit with the intent of this book.
And what is that intent, then? Well, to me it's to spin a literary light on the subjects of rural and local legends and lore, to bring them to the attention of the general, "modern" reader. I mean we shouldn't need nudging to read stories about Black Shuck, selkies, the Beast of Bodmin (which Jane Johnson gives us, albeit somewhat predictably), but they do get ignored – perhaps at our peril – and so this decides to foreground them with a bit of glamour and gloss.
So, yes, turning them into something the sci-fi film buff of the black and white age would have enjoyed might not be the best approach. Dan Jones' is better – make something darker and grittier than a lot here, even from something that seems rather daft, as he takes Baphomet to the Scottish Isles, and gets revenge on all his TV directors. Abir Mukherjee does things differently, too, in that it's not a traditionally British evil, even if the remote Scottish village setting could not really be anywhere else.
We close with Rebecca Netley – and her boggart, or devil, or Mister Mischief, with his awful talent at gift-giving – and Stuart Turton, whose effort is just OTT – "The Purge" meets "Donnie Darko" meets Black Annis, embarrassed as she is to be there. My copy of this was so early it came without biogs, images and introduction (if any) but the fact remains the compilation is a solid one – the stories are always readable, and very competent, with only the pair of slip-ups. Such a strike rate ensures this gets four stars, even if two authors let themselves and the side down. On the evidence of the rest, admiration for folkloric monsters is still suitably strong...
Janice Hallett is perhaps the first to disappoint, especially considering how much heavy lifting her name is doing here, sales-wise. Her tale is Derbyshire-set, and looks at cryptids, but while it has a distinctive idea it's surely not the best or most logical. The almost '50s B-movie flavour to things didn't seem to fit with the intent of this book.
And what is that intent, then? Well, to me it's to spin a literary light on the subjects of rural and local legends and lore, to bring them to the attention of the general, "modern" reader. I mean we shouldn't need nudging to read stories about Black Shuck, selkies, the Beast of Bodmin (which Jane Johnson gives us, albeit somewhat predictably), but they do get ignored – perhaps at our peril – and so this decides to foreground them with a bit of glamour and gloss.
So, yes, turning them into something the sci-fi film buff of the black and white age would have enjoyed might not be the best approach. Dan Jones' is better – make something darker and grittier than a lot here, even from something that seems rather daft, as he takes Baphomet to the Scottish Isles, and gets revenge on all his TV directors. Abir Mukherjee does things differently, too, in that it's not a traditionally British evil, even if the remote Scottish village setting could not really be anywhere else.
We close with Rebecca Netley – and her boggart, or devil, or Mister Mischief, with his awful talent at gift-giving – and Stuart Turton, whose effort is just OTT – "The Purge" meets "Donnie Darko" meets Black Annis, embarrassed as she is to be there. My copy of this was so early it came without biogs, images and introduction (if any) but the fact remains the compilation is a solid one – the stories are always readable, and very competent, with only the pair of slip-ups. Such a strike rate ensures this gets four stars, even if two authors let themselves and the side down. On the evidence of the rest, admiration for folkloric monsters is still suitably strong...
October 27, 2025
Some very good stories and excellent narration
In full
There are nine stories in this anthology and they cover a decent range I think. They are all about "strange/mythical" beasts in the UK. They range quite well geographically and take you from The Orkneys through Scotland, northern England through Wales to Cornwall. Some are a little lighter than others, some are very definitely dark or verging on horror. Some may well surprise people in their take on these creatures and the way they are crafted.
Any of these sort of anthologies will have some that appeal more and some that don't quite make it for the individual listener/reader. A couple of them lost me a bit however most of them were pretty good. In particular a couple of the stories stood out for me. Eynhallow Free by Sunyi Dean set on the Orkneys was one of those. Initially I wasn't quite sure what was going on however once I'd got that I loved it. The other one that grabbed me powerfully was Old Trash by Jenn Ashworth set on Pendle hill. It wasn't a legend I was aware of however it maintained an excellent underlying tension/dread and affected me!
I do prefer to give away as little as possible with these sort of books. We are all different and will understand/appreciate these sort of stories differently. I do think that the variety here is good and I think there should be something for everyone who likes these sorts of tales. For me the majority of the narration was excellent and even in a couple of the tales that I didn't love the narration was so good it kept me listening. I always think these anthologies may well introduce people to authors that they have not come across before and there are a couple of authors here that I would like to read more of.
Note - I received an audio copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
In full
There are nine stories in this anthology and they cover a decent range I think. They are all about "strange/mythical" beasts in the UK. They range quite well geographically and take you from The Orkneys through Scotland, northern England through Wales to Cornwall. Some are a little lighter than others, some are very definitely dark or verging on horror. Some may well surprise people in their take on these creatures and the way they are crafted.
Any of these sort of anthologies will have some that appeal more and some that don't quite make it for the individual listener/reader. A couple of them lost me a bit however most of them were pretty good. In particular a couple of the stories stood out for me. Eynhallow Free by Sunyi Dean set on the Orkneys was one of those. Initially I wasn't quite sure what was going on however once I'd got that I loved it. The other one that grabbed me powerfully was Old Trash by Jenn Ashworth set on Pendle hill. It wasn't a legend I was aware of however it maintained an excellent underlying tension/dread and affected me!
I do prefer to give away as little as possible with these sort of books. We are all different and will understand/appreciate these sort of stories differently. I do think that the variety here is good and I think there should be something for everyone who likes these sorts of tales. For me the majority of the narration was excellent and even in a couple of the tales that I didn't love the narration was so good it kept me listening. I always think these anthologies may well introduce people to authors that they have not come across before and there are a couple of authors here that I would like to read more of.
Note - I received an audio copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
October 26, 2025
This review is for the audio version of the book, narrated by:
Kimberley Nixon
Julie Hesmondhalgh
Ian Hanmore
Oscar Kennedy
Janice Hallett
Catrin Walker-Booth
Dan Jones
Abir Mukherjee
Arthur Darvill
Ralph Ineson
This was an excellent collection of short, monster, stories by prominent authors that touched on some of the folklore/monsters of legend in the British isles.
I had some reservations going into this, I've mentioned before that I'm not really big on anthologies, but this turned out far better than expected. These stories were short, but they were also crafted by people who knew how to build tension and how to make you care about, or at least empathize with, characters even if your time with them was limited.
I got on with most of these stories and even the 2 that, kind of, fell flat with me weren't bad, they just didn't hit as hard for me as the others.
The whole time reading this, I was thinking to myself, this is like the old book we had in school "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark", but for adults. It just had that kind of vibe.
This was definitely worth the time to read.
Kimberley Nixon
Julie Hesmondhalgh
Ian Hanmore
Oscar Kennedy
Janice Hallett
Catrin Walker-Booth
Dan Jones
Abir Mukherjee
Arthur Darvill
Ralph Ineson
This was an excellent collection of short, monster, stories by prominent authors that touched on some of the folklore/monsters of legend in the British isles.
I had some reservations going into this, I've mentioned before that I'm not really big on anthologies, but this turned out far better than expected. These stories were short, but they were also crafted by people who knew how to build tension and how to make you care about, or at least empathize with, characters even if your time with them was limited.
I got on with most of these stories and even the 2 that, kind of, fell flat with me weren't bad, they just didn't hit as hard for me as the others.
The whole time reading this, I was thinking to myself, this is like the old book we had in school "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark", but for adults. It just had that kind of vibe.
This was definitely worth the time to read.
September 19, 2025
This was a very good horror short story collection. I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the publisher and the authors.
Every single one of these stories was fascinating. I usually read short story collections over several days but I did this book in two sittings. I just found it absolutely fascinating. Horror works so well in short story format and these perfectly encapsulate this, bringing dread and atmosphere in abundance.
What made this feel so special was how all of these stories were set in the British Isles and they were all folklore related in some way. Even though the stories are taking place in different landscapes and settings, there was this beautiful undercurrent that made for a cohesive collection.
I enjoyed every one of these stories but I did have a favourite. Sunyi Dean’s story was so clever and creepy that I just adored it. All of the stories were great and memorable though. I loved the various folkloric creatures we got to meet throughout this collection, it was delightfully frightening.
Every single one of these stories was fascinating. I usually read short story collections over several days but I did this book in two sittings. I just found it absolutely fascinating. Horror works so well in short story format and these perfectly encapsulate this, bringing dread and atmosphere in abundance.
What made this feel so special was how all of these stories were set in the British Isles and they were all folklore related in some way. Even though the stories are taking place in different landscapes and settings, there was this beautiful undercurrent that made for a cohesive collection.
I enjoyed every one of these stories but I did have a favourite. Sunyi Dean’s story was so clever and creepy that I just adored it. All of the stories were great and memorable though. I loved the various folkloric creatures we got to meet throughout this collection, it was delightfully frightening.
October 18, 2025
This is a super spooky short story collection that’s great to get you in the Halloween mood! Once I saw the authors collaborating on this collection, I knew I just had to read it. Janice Hallett and Stuart Turton are auto-buy authors for me, and Dan Jones is my favourite historian, so it didn’t take much to persuade me.
What connects each of these stories is British folklore tales - each beast or ‘monster’ hails from a different corner of the British isles, from the far off wild landscape of Scotland down to the ancient stone circles of Cornwall. The emotions these stories invoked were visceral (particularly Hallett’s story about the giant slug!), eerie, and the authors often left them open-ended, leaving you to wonder about the fate of their characters. And of course, though I came for my auto-buy authors, I left with at least a couple more authors whose works I’m now interested in reading!
[thanks to the publishers for sending an ARC]
What connects each of these stories is British folklore tales - each beast or ‘monster’ hails from a different corner of the British isles, from the far off wild landscape of Scotland down to the ancient stone circles of Cornwall. The emotions these stories invoked were visceral (particularly Hallett’s story about the giant slug!), eerie, and the authors often left them open-ended, leaving you to wonder about the fate of their characters. And of course, though I came for my auto-buy authors, I left with at least a couple more authors whose works I’m now interested in reading!
[thanks to the publishers for sending an ARC]
November 9, 2025
A mixed bag of monstrous tales by well known modern authors mostly very recognisable from their styles of writing. I think Janice Hallet’s was my favourite told in her usual ‘found evidence’ style of narrative. I wasn’t keen on Dan Jones’ contribution partly because of the amount of swearing which is probably more noticeable in an audiobook. The final story by Stuart Turton I found a bit silly although the premise behind it was good. The stories were atmospheric, mysterious and haunting in many ways, driven by human behaviour going a bit awry and imbued with ancient myths and legends invading modern life.
The narration was excellent, each story with a different narrator. The contrast in voices gave the stories individual character and were well suited to the themes.
A perfect listen for dark winter evenings, each story self contained in less than an hour.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
The narration was excellent, each story with a different narrator. The contrast in voices gave the stories individual character and were well suited to the themes.
A perfect listen for dark winter evenings, each story self contained in less than an hour.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
October 8, 2025
Folk horror can be a fascinating basis for a short story and this anthology sits very well in that category. But the contemporary authors bring many of the old traditional tales a little more up to date.
I quite enjoyed the collection as a whole but didn’t find many of the stories to be outstanding – either good or bad – they were all just ‘fine’. Which is a bit of a shame. Maybe it is the contemporary nature of these stories that didn’t quite gel for me with the old myths. Folktales involving wi-fi, Land Rovers and jet aircraft are not a natural fit in my book… Maybe I like my folktales to be set in another time – the distance of time making history almost a myth to my modern eyes.
However, I did fly through the book and somehow enjoyed the overall experience of reading it like a novel, more satisfying than any of the individual stories.
I quite enjoyed the collection as a whole but didn’t find many of the stories to be outstanding – either good or bad – they were all just ‘fine’. Which is a bit of a shame. Maybe it is the contemporary nature of these stories that didn’t quite gel for me with the old myths. Folktales involving wi-fi, Land Rovers and jet aircraft are not a natural fit in my book… Maybe I like my folktales to be set in another time – the distance of time making history almost a myth to my modern eyes.
However, I did fly through the book and somehow enjoyed the overall experience of reading it like a novel, more satisfying than any of the individual stories.
October 27, 2025
I thought this was a great anthology of creepy stories and enjoyed every one that I listened to. The only title I skipped was Mr Mischief by Rebecca Netley because the narrator sounded quite muffled through my earphones. I will try it again to see if it improves and amend the review if I manage to listen to it in full.
The rest of the titles were all spooky, with some being more gruesome than others and one or two even had nice endings! My favourites were: The Beasts of Bodmin, Old Trash, The Doctor's Wife and These Things Happen, but all of them were very well written and engaging.
I would highly recommend this collection.
A huge thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for the ALC
The rest of the titles were all spooky, with some being more gruesome than others and one or two even had nice endings! My favourites were: The Beasts of Bodmin, Old Trash, The Doctor's Wife and These Things Happen, but all of them were very well written and engaging.
I would highly recommend this collection.
A huge thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for the ALC
October 10, 2025
Monstrous Tales is an anthology of folk horror short stories, based around the mythical beasts and legends around Britain and all in a modern setting to look at how they fit into our world today. None of the individual tales really stood out but there is a nice variety of authors and stories, which are more creepy than outright horror, and cover a good range of creatures and places. It’s a good book to pick up and put down, a story at a time, and perfectly suited for the dark winter nights. 3.5 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in returrn for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in returrn for an honest review.
Read
October 27, 2025I was genuinely excited to dive into the Monstrous Tales compilation, expecting spine-tingling horror in the vein of CreepyPasta, Mr. Ballen, or classic Goosebumps. While the stories weren’t bad by any means, they didn’t quite deliver the level of fear or suspense I was hoping for. The tone felt much lighter than anticipated, making this collection better suited for those who prefer milder, more accessible storytelling rather than intense horror. If you're looking for something eerie but not terrifying, this might be a good fit. It didn’t scratch the itch I had for truly chilling tales.
Thank you for the ALC.
Thank you for the ALC.
November 3, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury UK Audio for this arc.
3.75 stars
As someone who grew up in the UK and ended up doing many GCSE English mock exams on the Beast of Bodmin Moor this audio book was in fact for me. Saying that, I did enjoy some of the stories more than others with notable favourites being the one about slugs and the final one about the hare.
The narrators all did a good job depicting the different emotions of the characters from their fear to the blank loss of memory and train of thoughts they experienced. I'm also really glad each story had their own narrator I found it added more individuality to each story as each narrator brought something slightly different.
3.75 stars
As someone who grew up in the UK and ended up doing many GCSE English mock exams on the Beast of Bodmin Moor this audio book was in fact for me. Saying that, I did enjoy some of the stories more than others with notable favourites being the one about slugs and the final one about the hare.
The narrators all did a good job depicting the different emotions of the characters from their fear to the blank loss of memory and train of thoughts they experienced. I'm also really glad each story had their own narrator I found it added more individuality to each story as each narrator brought something slightly different.
November 17, 2025
It’s not often that I enjoy every short story in a collection equally, but that was in fact the case with this one.
Each tale was told in its own unique way, some authors even using second person narrative which I haven’t seen very much at all. There were varying levels of gore in each story but all of them had a real sense of uneasiness and terror.
Unlike some other short story collections, I didn’t find myself needing to take breaks between each tale. This is definitely something you can binge read without feeling burnt out, which I can appreciate. Just don’t read it before bed…
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Each tale was told in its own unique way, some authors even using second person narrative which I haven’t seen very much at all. There were varying levels of gore in each story but all of them had a real sense of uneasiness and terror.
Unlike some other short story collections, I didn’t find myself needing to take breaks between each tale. This is definitely something you can binge read without feeling burnt out, which I can appreciate. Just don’t read it before bed…
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2025
Monstrous Tales is an anthology of folk horror short stories, based around the mythical beasts and legends around Britain and all in a modern setting to look at how they fit into our world today. None of the individual tales really stood out but there is a nice variety of authors and stories, which are more creepy than outright horror, and cover a good range of creatures and places. It’s a good book to pick up and put down, a story at a time, and perfectly suited for the dark winter nights. 3.5 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in returrn for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in returrn for an honest review.
November 21, 2025
With thanks to the authors, publishers Bloomsbury UK Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
This is a very enjoyable collection of short stories, each containing it's own type of monster from British folklore. As with any group of stories, some resonated with me more than others (my favourites were Eynhallow Free, These Things Happen, The Doctor's Wife, and Mr MIschief), but with so many terrifying beasts presented here there will certainly be something for everyone to enjoy!
Special mention to the narrators, who each did a wonderful job in bringing their particular story to life.
This is a very enjoyable collection of short stories, each containing it's own type of monster from British folklore. As with any group of stories, some resonated with me more than others (my favourites were Eynhallow Free, These Things Happen, The Doctor's Wife, and Mr MIschief), but with so many terrifying beasts presented here there will certainly be something for everyone to enjoy!
Special mention to the narrators, who each did a wonderful job in bringing their particular story to life.
September 1, 2025
I do not normally rate projects where I'm the writer, but for an anthology, I feel that is a little different. My star rating reflects how I feel about the other authors' stories in this book, as well as the love and enthusiasm poured into it by the Bloomsbury team. It's quite rare to see so much energy put behind a short fiction collection these days.
Thank you to all involved (and for my own story, I give the usual rating of 3/5).
Thank you to all involved (and for my own story, I give the usual rating of 3/5).
October 3, 2025
Monstrous Tales is a spooky anthology of folklore and legends stories based around Britain, delivering a fascinating but creepy collection of tales keeping you on the edge of your seat. It's a perfect read for autumn and you fancy something spooky but not full-on horror 👻🍂
This was a fun collection, some of the stories were more engaging than others but each had their own unique method of storytelling. A few tales I recognized but most I hadn't heard before, the same with some of the writers. I enjoyed some of the writing style so much I had to look up some of their main works.
I was going to include a ranking of the stories, but you can read it and make your own mind up on that!
This was a fun collection, some of the stories were more engaging than others but each had their own unique method of storytelling. A few tales I recognized but most I hadn't heard before, the same with some of the writers. I enjoyed some of the writing style so much I had to look up some of their main works.
I was going to include a ranking of the stories, but you can read it and make your own mind up on that!
October 5, 2025
A fitting book to read at Halloween, this is a collection of short stories, some are a retelling of stories that have been around for hundreds of years. For me the second story was the best, set in the Orkney islands a wife gets revenge on her husband.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.
November 2, 2025
An excellent collection of short stories full of creatures from folklore. Nine stories in all covering different mysterious tales.
Very well written collection with good narrators (I listened to the audiobook). Excellent characters in a variety of tales. I enjoyed each for different reasons. All well paced and you just want more.
Very well written collection with good narrators (I listened to the audiobook). Excellent characters in a variety of tales. I enjoyed each for different reasons. All well paced and you just want more.
November 24, 2025
Delivered on its promise. A compilation of monstrous tales centered around mythical creatures set in Britain.
Mostly enjoyable, some better than others, some moments that will stick with me a bit longer (thinking here of Boneless by Janice Hallett. Some really good narration.
Thanks NetGalley and Bloomsbury UK for a Review Copy
Mostly enjoyable, some better than others, some moments that will stick with me a bit longer (thinking here of Boneless by Janice Hallett. Some really good narration.
Thanks NetGalley and Bloomsbury UK for a Review Copy
October 19, 2025
This is a nice little book about tales from within the UK, which was nice to read as I haven't read many before.
As with most short stories there is some I liked and some I didn't. The ones I did like left me feeling creeped out and on edge.
Thanks Netgally for my copy
As with most short stories there is some I liked and some I didn't. The ones I did like left me feeling creeped out and on edge.
Thanks Netgally for my copy
October 26, 2025
4.5 stars
December 3, 2025
A great collection of stories. very entertaining.
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