A Grave Duet: Collected Halloween Horror

by Kasey Fallon, Melisa Peterson Lewis, Rissa Miller

Seven horror-infused novelettes for mature readers who crave the macabre. Within these pages wait twisted tales of possession, ravenous monsters, vengeful demons, and deeply rooted phobias clawing their way to life.

Each story is a separate haunt on Halloween — from modern horrors to ghost-haunted histories, and a bleak future scarred by a deadly plague.

After three years working on writing projects together, Fallon and Lewis debut their first anthology with guest author Rissa Miller; Historian and Seer.

Combining horror, speculative fiction, and gritty characters, these authors twist dark fiction into reality.

Genres: Horror

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2025

Reviews

[paula ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐

Thank you BookSirens, for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

Overall, I found it quite entertaining and very good for the spooky season. Below are my ratings for each story:

-Haute Halloween~Rating: 3.5
-Feed My Babies~Rating: 3.5
-Again, Sharee~Rating: 5
-Nyctophobia~Rating: 3
-Once In a Blue Moon~Rating: 2.5
-Veil Bride~Rating: 3
-Planchette~Rating: 2

Total: 3.25 stars

[R.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want something scary to read for the Halloween season, this book hits the spot! From a design gone wrong to spiders galore to a never ending day of horror to a witch’s curse to werewolf’s revived to a grieving wife’s oath and climaxing with a woman who won’t die - this book is destined to leave you sleepless and afraid of the night! Either read during the day or you’ll need more than a night light to feel safe!

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed getting into reading this book, it had that Halloween element that I was looking for and enjoyed getting into the horror element of this. Each novelette worked well overall and thought this was everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the way each story worked in the genre and how the characters were done. I really enjoyed the Haute Halloween and Again, Sharee, they were my favorites element in this and how everything worked together to be a great scary collection.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Madelon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Grave Duet contains seven stories by the listed authors along with one written by guest author Rissa Miller. All of the tales are tied to Halloween—a holiday much loved by both horror writers and editors. The veil between life and death is thinned, monsters can have free rein, and scary campfire stories can be amplified. The tales are written by women about women—an important consideration in today's world. I choose my books for their titles, authors (whoever they might be), and the covers—some of the best books really do have the best covers. I’m happy to discover new authors to read, no matter their identity.

Anthologies are notoriously difficult to review. Each tale stands—or falls—on its own, so rating the entire book is all a bit of math and magic. My favorite story from the list below is Blue Moon and my least favorite is Planchette. And, I learned a new word from the title Nyctophobia. Overall, the collective stories do fulfill the objective of adding to the already vast Halloween narrative. Halloween is my favorite holiday; its mythology is legion.

• Haute Halloween by Kasey Fallon - Fancy dress taken to a whole new level.
• Feed My Babies by Melisa Peterson Lewis - Spicy tale of motherly love; she'd do anything for her babies.
• Again Sharee by Melisa Peterson Lewis - A deathly Ground Hog Day on a Halloween party night.
• Nyctophobia by Kasey Fallon- Fear of the night or darkness - it's all about facing one's fears.
• Once in a Blue Moon by Rissa Miller - A howling good tale.
• Veil Bride by Kasey Fallon - A woman obsessed.
• Planchette by Melisa Peterson Lewis - A near future horror?

A Grave Duet fits neatly into the spirit of Halloween with stories for every taste—spicy to just plain gruesome. And for those inclined to judge a book by its cover, the cover art is a death's head moth. It is a spirited anthology that honors Halloween’s eerie charm, with standout stories and a few bumps in the night.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unified by something of an eerie, supernatural, or horrific nature occurring on Halloween, A Grave Duet: Collected Halloween Horror by Kasey Fallon, Melisa Peterson Lewis, and Rissa Miller features seven stories that explore inhuman beings and fabulous fashion, dangerously insatiable appetites, a death loop with creepy, cryptic calls, a series of fears manifesting into deaths, a story of revenge and myth involving werewolves and ghosts, a bride willing to pay an unfathomable cost to see her departed husband again, and a bleak future with a doomed family within a community rebuilding itself years after deadly sickness that drastically changed life.

To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.

Offering a range of tales connected by a common thread of strange and eerie events taking place in the characters’ lives on or around the time of Halloween, the stories collected in these pages provide entertainment with elements of horror that haunt. As a collection, different stories will be likely to resonate more strongly with individual readers, leaving some as stronger or punchier narratives than others. Each story is brief and moves at a relatively quick pace as the suspense or creepy factor builds up, yet the concepts are generally well-developed, and in melding the supernatural with the mundane, it’s done in a way that makes sense for each story’s world, though it may be interesting, or in some instances more satisfying, for some of these tales to have this aspect or portions of the lore expanded upon further. The various characters throughout the stories are depicted with an adequate level of depth to generate reader investment in wanting to learn about their fate, which is often rather unfortunate, though fitting with the spirit of the Halloween theme.

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Shannon Giertz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a summer beach read. This is a fall, cloudy, rainy day book. I’m not typically a short story reader but as a fan of one of the authors, I was willing to give it a try. I do love the genre so the expectations were high. The stories were brief and teasing. Some of them left me wishing for more words, deeper histories, something to keep the suspense going. I could definitely see some of the stories evolving into stand alone novels. Did I love all of the stories. No. But the ones I enjoyed I was very invested in the outcome. I would definitely recommend this book to others because each reader is unique and I feel others would find the enjoyment in the variety of stories.

[C_Reads8811 · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 l received this eARC from Ms. Kasey Fallon. Thank you soo much it's a great collection of horror stories perfect for Halloween season 💀👻🎃 I enjoyed it very much I definitely have favorites in this one. The. 5 missing is just because 2-3 stories seemed a bit dull in my opinion but the other ones sure made up for it. Again, thank you. I do recommend as it is perfect for a late night read 🤗
#halloween #horrorstories
#planchett #onceinabluemoon #kaseyfallon #hautehalloween #feedmybabies

[Makayla Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve rated these stories out of ten and then taken the average for the final rating. I will list each story and their rating starting from least liked to most liked.

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON (Rissa Miller) 7.5/10

I feel like this could’ve been more suspenseful.

HAUTE HALLOWEEN (Kasey Fallon) 7.75/10

Made me a little nauseas. Lost me a bit at the end, but I love the news article at the end.

AGAIN SHAREE (Melisa Peterson Lewis) 8.5/10

I’m a sucker for Groundhog Day tropes.

FEED MY BABIES (Melisa Peterson Lewis) 9/10

Love a good ‘villain vixen’.

VEIL BRIDE (Kasey Fallon) 9.5/10

It felt like a whole complete story, which is hard to find in short stories.

PLANCHETTE (Melisa Peterson Lewis) 9.5/10

Kept my on my toes! I did not want to put it down.

NYCTOPHOBIA (Kasey Fallen) 10/10

Great example of ‘show-not tell’

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading these authors, and the book was fun! The stories work well together, and the Halloween theme (not always equally present) provided an easy way in. Seven spooky tales of Halloween horror, of which the werewolf, the spider, the phobias, and the groundhog day tales ("Once in a Blue Moon", "Feed My Babies" by Melisa Peterson Lewis, "Nyctophobia" by Kasey Fallon, and "Again, Shared" by Melisa Peterson Lewis, respectively) were my favorites. Light reading overall, but well-written, with interesting premises. The perfect gift for Halloween!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Naito Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Grave Duet is an amazing horror anthology, fueled by emotional exhaustion and crafted with the best flavor of horror one could ask for. This is not an anthology you rush through — it’s one to savor, to let each story settle under your skin. The first story resonated with me deeply as a creator; the image of creating with one’s own blood struck close to home. As a writer, I often say I bleed into my works, and Honte Halloween captured that feeling perfectly — a designer literally stitching a costume from his own vessels. The story of the demon mother, drained yet desperate to feed her children, was equally powerful. Every tale in this collection holds a mirror to our society, exposing the unseen tolls and quiet horrors that often remain hidden. This is the kind of horror I adore — thoughtful, symbolic, and deeply human. Absolutely loved it and highly recommend.

[S.B. (Beauty in Ruins) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Grave Duet was a solid, thoroughly enjoyable collection of short stories that delivers just the right blend of atmosphere, style, and dark humor for the spooky season. "Haute Halloween" by Kasey Fallon and "Again Sharee by Melisa Peterson Lewis" were my two favorites, stories that helped kick things off and encouraged me to keep reading, while "Veil Bride" by Kasey Fallon was another stellar entry, (nearly) closing the collection out on a high note.

[Samantha Millican · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seven horror stories to get you in the mood for Halloween. It has a creative blend, from monsters to arachnids, to keep you entertained. Again, Sharee and Feed My Babies were definite standouts for me, but each one was good. The bonus was finding other authors I intend to check out other books from.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[James Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Solid anthology of short stories. While it falls into the same typical compilation pitfalls of some stories are more appealing to different readers than others, each one to me stood solidly on their own. I enjoyed some of the queer aspects of the some of the stories as well. Overall a good Halloween themed read perfect for spooky season.

[Rachel Tenderenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy via Goodreads Giveaway**

I liked this anthology of short Halloween horror stories. It was entertaining and reminded me of the Creep Show movies. Definitely an entertaining read for big fans of Halloween 🎃

[Amy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect October read if you want spooky, but unserious. I like the idea of horror, but I usually end up not liking horror books because they typically don't have a break from the intensity. These stories were perfect for me because they were gruesome while still being shockingly relatable or funny. Mothman literally eating the rich, spider mom just trying to feed her thousand babies, groundhog day as punishment.

These are great for a dark, rainy day read. Not every story was for me, but I did like the writing styles and the queer representation. Thank you to BookSirens and the authors for the free eARC.

[Emily Haynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales full of magic monsters and horrors.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Halloween and getting lost in a story, then A Grace Duet is for you. Seven short stories that take you on a journey through different elements of horror. Melisa, Kasey, and Rissa are the kind of storytellers that transport you into their world. I could envision each character and feel the horror that lurked around the corner. A great read for all those who love spooky!

[Audrey Stars in Her Eye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories:
Haute Halloween
Kasey Fallon
The collection starts off strong. This absolutely is the best and scariest story in the collection. Fallon’s descriptions give you goosebumps. It is easy to see how this became the cover’s focal point.

Feed My Babies
Melisa Paterson Lewis
I was warned about the spice in this one twice. I have no problem with spice. But this one goes too far. I don’t mean in what’s in the spice, but that the spice overshadows the whole story because there is way more than needed for the plot, which is sad because I liked the plot.

Again, Sharee
MPL
This is a fun Halloween Groundhog Day story (I’m a sucker for a time-loop story). I thought the author’s twist was masterful. I just wish all the aspects of the story circled around and connected.

Nyctophobia
KF
Nyctophobia is the fear of the dark. This story feels like the Halloween stories I grew up with as a child. Starting with a diary and then breaking down into vignettes, it leads to an eerie grand finale.

Once in A Blue Moon
Rissa Miller
This is my other favorite story in the collection. There is truly something original and charmingly eerie here. Miller hits on a variety of themes, including female rage, family, community, and karma.

Veil Bride
KF
Veil Bride shows you not to play and disrespect hoodoo. Fallon looks at grief and how far we go to relieve the pain of losing a loved one. This theme is wrapped in gruesome horror, which creates a macabre Day of the Day spectacle that is not to be missed.

Planchette
MPL
The collection ends with Lewis’s best story, and it’s an unnerving one. Once again, a toy is used as a point of evil, but that evil is so bad it could have used a spoon to communicate. I would have liked more of the lore of the world, but that ending! That town got what they deserved (you’ll have to read it to find out why, though!).

Overall
A Grave Duet: Collected Halloween Horror is a great collection of stories for the spooky season. The stories are creepy and have cute icons in each story that reflect the theme of each. With each novelette focusing on a Halloween night, horror fans need this in their collection today.


I received an ARC from the authors, but all opinions are my own.

[Robin Ginther-Venneri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Grave Duet: Collected Halloween Horror (A Grave Horror)
By Melisa Peterson Lewis, Kasey Fallon, and Rissa Miller
Publisher: Independently Published
Published Date: October 1, 2025
ASIN: B0FGZFHT8S
Page Count: 313
Triggers: spiders (and not the cute fuzzy ones), possession, body horror, grief, demons, obsession, phobias galore.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skull Dread Rating: ☠️☠️ (spooky-season perfect)

What Did I Just Walk Into?
Seven Halloween short stories that run the gamut from “I’ll never try on another costume again” to “oh cool, now I need therapy for spiders.” Anthologies can be hit-or-miss, but this one is more hit than a werewolf on a full moon bender.

Here’s What Slapped:
“Haute Halloween” proves pettiness + fashion = horror runway.

“Feed My Babies” is an erotic spider nightmare that had me screaming and yet… strangely invested.

“Again, Sharee” is Groundhog Day in hell. 10/10 would watch Bill Murray cry.

“Nyctophobia” manages to make every light switch in my house feel like a death trap.

“Once in a Blue Moon” gives us a classic werewolf tale with bite.

“Veil Bride” serves gothic obsession with a side of heartbreak.

“Planchette” reminds us all to STOP PLAYING WITH THE DAMN OUIJA BOARD.

The writing is tight, the pacing is quick, and the vibes are 100% October. Also, bonus points for queer rep and women writing women in horror.

What Could’ve Been Better:
As with all anthologies, not every story will be your absolute fave. But the lows are still enjoyable, and the highs more than make up for them.

Perfect for Readers Who Love:
Creep Show vibes in bite-sized chunks
Spiders (or maybe don’t love spiders, but want new nightmares)
Werewolves that aren’t angsty YA tropes
Halloween anthologies that are fun and freaky

Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review

[Jennifer Abrahamsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once upon a time, I was a huge fan of horror stories. I admit, I have fallen out of that genre over the last twenty years or so. Maybe it's because there are so many real horrors in adult life? But...here we are in October and I felt like I needed a Halloween book. If you have that craving as well, this is the book you should grab. I was able to land an ARC, and I am glad I did because I remember why I used to love reading horror.

It's marketed as a collection of short stories, but you'll find the stories are not as "short" as some others. Each of the stories is more of a novella and feels "complete." I couldn't read any of the stories in a single sitting, but I was able to find a good place to bookmark each night before bed. Yes, I read before bed. On THAT note, this might not be the BEST book for that type of reading. It is a tip of the hat to the authors that the stories followed me into my dreams a few times!

I enjoyed the writing for all of the stories, though I admit I could've done without "Feed My Babies." It had nothing to do with the writing and the story is actually very good...It's all me here. I absolutely HATE spiders. I did enjoy the way this spider story read more like a vampire novella though!

Speaking of hating spiders, I accidentally learned that I might have more than one named phobia while reading one of the stories in this book. Each story is so different from the next that if you find one to be too scary/creepy/gross/sexy...you'll likely love the next. The writing is excellent and the pace is fast. The perfect October read!

[Michael F Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and varied Halloween-themed collection from three talented storytellers - the seven novelettes featured here are all engaging reads offering depth and originality, and I could have quite easily taken more of every one, even if there was still some scope for improvement.

Originality was my main takeaway here, whether that's due to a completely unique idea I'd never seen before, a subversive take on an established horror convention, or an original combination of subgenres. This means the collection is never boring, and always entertaining. At their best, these authors deliver on everything a reader might want from the promise of a Halloween anthology.

The one thing holding it all back slightly is the lack of polish, with most of these stories bringing with them typos and awkward phrasing a little too frequently to be ignored, with one story also having a noticeable internal inconsistency. A few more edits could have lended these stories that extra oomph, turning every one of them into the brilliant tale I can see these authors are capable of.

Still, this is a collection I very much enjoyed my time with, one that fits the season it was created for perfectly, and one that is easy to recommend to horror fans looking for versatility and creativity. I'd definitely take another collection like A Grave Duet if these authors were to collaborate again in the future.

[Advanced Reader Copy provided by the author]

[Axel-Elliot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Melisa Peterson Lewis for sending me a review copy.

Since it’s a short story collection, it’s a little tricky to review as one whole piece, because each story has its own vibe. From a creepy sewing incident to twisted time loops, every tale had its own charm and definitely gave me chills.
My favorite was without a doubt the second story, Feed My Babies. It was creepy in the best way, with me actually rooting for someone who wasn’t exactly good. And seriously… the thought of being eaten by tiny spiders? Instant shivers.
Because all the stories are set around Halloween, this feels like the perfect pick for October. The writing pulls you in with descriptive detail that sets the creepy tone just right for each character’s experience. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and this book captured the eerie, unsettling mood so well.
Even if you don’t have much time, it’s an easy collection to dip into. Sitting down for about an hour is enough to get through one story (especially if you read as slowly as I do). It’s definitely a great choice for anyone looking for a spooky seasonal read.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping anthology that tackles the toughest parts of being human through classic horror themes and tropes. Psychologically poignant, provocative, and gracefully gruesome. Ensemble casts are distinct in their delivery: cheeky lines had me grinning beneath my nightlight; others, though, were so haunting I didn't feel my hands tightening my grip on the blanket.

From monsters to monstrosities, from human to inhuman, this compilation challenges you to let fear in, and enjoy the adrenaline.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

And, eagerly.

[Tig Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A largely successful collection of "Halloween" stories.

As is usual with most similar publications, there are hits and misses mMisses come in the form of everything from dull soft porn, seriously irritating characters and use of a gimmick that works on screen but fails miserably "on paper" and rambles way too much. More successful efforts have original and clever ideas and a strong werewolf tale (pun intended). A very small but incredibly silly error in the final story drove me potty. The tool is called a PICKAXE! Who on earth thinks a digging/breaking implement would be called a PITCH AXE?!?!

[Tina Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a collection of spooky stories to start the Halloween holidays with a gentle lead-in, then I recommend A Grave Duet. As with all anthologies, some stories are going to jibe with you better than others. However, the skill of the editor is what you're really relying on to make the collection terrify as a whole.

For me, A Grave Duet doesn't pack much of a punch for me, in that the stories felt a bit 'meh'. However, saying that, my favourite story was Nyctophobia by Kasey Fallon- Fear of the night or darkness - it's all about facing one's fears. This story had real emotional weight, making the terror feel deeply personal and inescapable.

[Mary Urban · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seven Halloween horror stories, each more delicious than the last: a masquerade ball, a loving mom, the worst Groundhog Day ever (probably my favorite), phobias, werewolves, obsession… There is a story for every reader. An entertaining read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mike Hepp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Goodreads Giveaway (Thank you). I find that short story compilations usually contain about half that I enjoy and half that I don’t. However, I enjoyed all 7 stories in this collection. They were all original and kept my interest throughout.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A frighteningly good collection! Each story is unique and different. Enjoyed very much!

[Jim Holscher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Book Sirens and
To the goblins who live for the shrieks, the shadows, and the strange – may this feed your nightmares.

This is a collection of novels perfect for Halloween and the overall spooky season.

The first story Haute Halloween is about a designer one-upping an Obnoxious customer at a costume shop. Includes a truly creepy scene towards the end!

Feed my babies a super erotic spider story.

Again, Shared. Groundhog day in hell. a lot of fun!


Perfect for Halloween and the fall season! We get 7 stories all set during Halloween.

Nychtophobia an interesting story featuring several phobias that eventually wrap up in a faintly coherent story.

Once in a Blue Moon. A werewolf story.

Planchette. Please put the ouija board down!!!

Veil bride
Lots of fun ****